Today is the day....

Ok, I'm at work, it's just 9:00 am, and I'm all ready wanting to go to the gym and check my weight. All I want is to be at 220 today. That will have meant I set a goal, and kept it. I grew up my whole life always hearing about goals, going through job after job that talked about goals, but until I got this motivated, and started seeing that if I worked hard and put my mind to it, I could achieve a goal that benefited myself. I want so badly to be able to walk up to Chelsea's house, and have her jaw hit the floor when she opens the door. I want Ricky to just be shell shocked as all hell. The only ones in my family that I have told I am working out this vigorously is Mom and Dad, and of course, Kik. Well, I will post them thar results when I get done tonight.


Well, 220.75......does that count? I don't know. I mean, I am building muscle at the same time, and I did work the the hell out of my arms, Mario is telling me that my arms are starting to fill out nicely. So, I guess I am still losing fat, but gaining muscle. Which is nice I guess :) I just want to be below 200 by the time November is over. I hope I can do it. It will be interesting to see what happens.

On a personal note, I'm feeling a bit blah today. The gatehost manager position got posted today, and I still can't shake the feeling that somehow, Patrick has all ready gotten the job, and this is all just a farce. How do I shake that feeling? I wish to blazes I knew. I think that has got me mildly depressed. That affected my workout today, I'm sure. I just didn't feel into it all all today, and normally, I feel pretty psyched about going. I just used psych in a sentence. I'm showing my age now I suppose. Dinner I suppose. I am going to have breakfast for dinner. Haven't done that in years.

fun fun fun

Todays weight: 221. I have one more pound to lose in 2 days. I will do it! I will have lost 20 lbs in one month. It's starting to show I guess. I see myself in the mirror every day, so it's harder for me to notice these things, but apparently, it's getting more noticable. Vonnie told me this morning that I was looking a lot thinner (right after she offered me a pastry.....) and Paul told me he could definitely tell there was more missing off my stomach. My head is expanding as I hear these things! Oh, yeah, I dropped my belt a notch too!! That is only tempered by the fact that one of these days in the near future, I will actually be able to wear them around my waist, instead of 3 inches below.

I went to " Boot Camp" yesterday. OMFG, I don't think I was quite prepared for that. 1 hour of high intensity aerobics. Darlins, I'm telling you, I just about died. In that hour, there were only two sixty second breaks. And when they say "High Intensity", they are not just bull shittin! I made it through. I have abs and leg adductors that burn like crazy. It's good though, I like it. I think I like strength training more, but I need aerobic excersice to lose the fat. Next month, I will make it through a hell of a lot better. I hope :)

Today, I did more chest and back. I upped the weights on the chest press by 5 lbs, did 90 on the incline press, did 40 on bi-cep curls, upped the seated row by ten, and the lat pull by 10.
I pushed myself as hard as I could on iso-planking the abs, and the Bosu ball crunches. Ouch.
It's all good though. I treated myself to a dip in the hot tub and a lazy swim around the pool. I'm nice and relaxed. Now it's bed time.

the on time post for today...

YAY, I made it on time today. Mike got stuck at work waiting for checkins, so it was just me again tonight. Worked out with Phil tonight, Jimbo was doing paperwork. Worked on some shoulders tonight. I frickin love this shit! I learn something every time I go in. While Phil is showing me new excercises, he makes sure I am in proper form, and it is amazing at how even just a small variation has a totally different effect in targeting the proper musculature. This stuff fascinates me like crazy. I think I have a new goal. I want to research a few things, such as if it is physically wise for me to undertake this, but I think When Aunt Jason comes back to town in february with tim for the Rock n' Roll marathon, I think I want to do at least the 15K run with Jason. That would be fun I think. Even though I usually hate running. It would still be interesting. Oh, yeah, down another 2 lbs!!!! I WILL have this next two pounds off by the end of this month to meet my goal of 20lbs this month. I will damn it!!!!
Ok, off to bed, going to boot camp in the morning at the gym. see what new fascinating stuff I can learn.

couple days late

I should have posted this a couple of days ago, but, ah well. 223.4 was my last weight. Did some arms, Jimbo was training another girl, so I worked out with her at the same time. Did more arms and back. Of course, did the iso-plank, and crunches on the Bosu ball. Did 25 minutes on the cross-trainer. I like the cross trainer for some reason. It makes me more focused. I think it has to do with the criss-cross action of it. Balances my nerves some how. I have been doing cardio on the odd days. I work out tonight with Mike, he has an appointment with Jimbo, so we will see how that goes, and tomorrow is Boot-camp at the club, so I promised Mario I would be there at 10:00 AM.
I think I am becoming addicted to the gym. I like going. Not only am I losing weight, but it's almost a refuge. I know I am not totally alone when I go there, but I can focus soley on me for the most part. It's a nice feeling to do something totally for my own benefit, and not for the benefit of someone else. I don't mean that in a negative way, but sometimes, it's hard for me to keep giving out my energies, and not save something for myself. This is giving me something for me to focus on for a totally selfish reason. It's a good selfish, but selfish none the less......I think everybody needs that one thing that is just theirs, and theirs alone. Mine is making me a better me.
K, time for my relaxing day off to continue.

Mondays are good.....

All righty then..... 224. YAY! did my legs bit today, as it's Jimbo's day off. Must remember Monique! I keep forgetting the front desk girls name, and I see her almost every time she is in there. I feel much better today. I did the stairmaster for 20 minutes, followed by ten minutes on the cross trainer. I think I like the cross trainer because it moves my entire body, and helps push the lymph through, helping me get rid of all that junk faster. I also looked down tonight, and I have a little bit more mass to my chest! I was a bit surprised, wasn't planning on seeing it that obvious of an improvement. I decided today when I hit my goal of 150, I'm framing the black shirt I wear to almost every workout as a reminder, and an inspiration to keep off the fat the rest of my life. I'm almost afraid I'm in danger of becoming a gym bunny. Is that bad? I just love it, it helps me focus, makes me feel better, and I enjoy the atmosphere. I never used to understand gym bunnies, but now, I think I'm starting to. I don't think it's vanity for the most part, I think that is something that most of them have come to enjoy. For me, it's not having to come home right after work, it gives me that time I need to myself to focus and clear my mind.
Ok, I'm off to a healthy dinner......

Measureable results!

Today was a good day. Mike ditched me because he got drunk last night and was still hung over. No worries. This is about me, and not anyone else. Jimbo did measurements today. I can't remember most of them, so I will get them next time I go and write them down. The one number I do remember is I'm down 3% bodyfat. My arms are getting bigger, I'm losing fat off the shoulders, the waist is getting smaller, and this is all since the beginning of October mind you!
I feel great today. I'm happy, contented, and inspired! I had a good time after the main work out with Jimbo and a co-worker of his. I learned some things, and generally had a good time talking with the both of them. Out of all of this, I have become inspired to do more massage. I gave timmy a massage for his bday today, and Jimbos coworker seemed interested. I need a name, I need to get business cards. I have so much I need to think about to get things started. I am going to abbreviate this one, I have to be up for work, and it's getting late. I will append this later.

Day Late....

Ok, I'm a day late on posting this. I just felt so tired last night. I was beat. I did make it to the gym last night. Didn't have an appointment set up with Jimbo, but he was just coming off of lunch when I got there. He pointed me towards my blue card, and I decided to work on chest again. did pretty much everything we did last time, I just did 25 minutes on the treadmill.
I felt ok for a while, but last night, my head just started throbbing. I can't wait for this shit to be over. I want to breath free and clear again. But the good news for the day: I put on my pair of black board shorts today....and they fit REALLY loose. Mike commented the other day that my work pants looked a big loose on me too. Thank god. It's getting visible a little bit at a time. I can see where I am thinner around the stomach in areas too. I have a goal to be at 215 by October 31st. That will tie me for the most I have ever lost. My next mini-goal after that is 198. That will be the least I have weighed since I was a teenager. I have a lot of work to do, im not minimalizing it at all, but sometimes having little goals gets you to the big goal without it seeming amazingly daugnting. Ok, I still feel a bit blah, so im off for a bit. Got an appointment with Jimbo tomorrow at 2 and mike is going too. I look forward to it.

yipee skipee!!!! Tuesday Update

Today finds me a lot happier after working out than when I went in. I have been fighting a fricking head cold for the last couple of days, and I was feeling a bit blah today, as I took some Advil PM last night along with my Claritin so I could get a good nights sleep. yeah, groggy... that was me.
Also, One of the things I forgot to mention in my last blog is that I actually weighed myself twice on Sunday, one pre-workout, the other post-workout. Pre I was 227, post was 229. I wasn't sure what was up with that, so I asked Jimbo today, and his response was that it was due to the activity of the body. I also think it had something to do with that 40 0z of water I drank during the workout. I know I didn't sweat 40 oz., that would mean a nice wet floor. I stepped on the scale at work, which, yes, is broken, and not very acurate, it swings about 5 lbs on any given day. I just jumped on it because it was pretty accurate when I hit the 240. Today, it said 230. I was a bit depressed, because that would mean I had actually GAINED. Let me give you my state of mind at the moment. This is day 5 of an 8 day stretch at work. I am ready for a day off, I'm physically exhausted from work, and fighting a cold. My brain immediatly jumps to the worst possible conclusion: All this hard work you have put in is for NOTHING!. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, the great diety laughs on your petty face! That is how my mind functions when I get tired. Sweet revenge is at hand! 225 POST workout! I am now a much happier camper.

The work out today was arms and back. Bicep curls, seated rows, and lats, then moved on into the free weight room, did tricep extensions, and more bicep curls. did the Iso-plank, and sit-ups on the Bosu Ball, and finished with 20 minutes on the elliptical machine. I feel pretty good. By the time I get to see my family in December, they are not going to know who is at the door. And thats why this is all worth it my friends.

thats all for now, tune in again on Thursday.

Super sunday morning :)

here is my sunday update. Initial weight this morning was at 227!!!!!! YAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
I decided to go this morning since the gym is only open till 7, and I work until seven tonight.
My sinus cavities are still draining, so my throat is a little sore, but physically, I feel fine, my energy level is good. Worked the legs, burnt them out, did abs, and then hit the elliptical machine for 20 minutes. I must tell you, I love working out in the mornings, It just makes you feel so good :)
I had a slim-fast shake before going, so I consumed about 200 calories for that, and just on the elliptical, with the warm up included, I burned 400+ calories. I have no idea what I did during the work out. But damn, I feel good!! I will be going on tuesday with Mike to the gym. had a sausage, egg, and cheese wrap afterwards. I need to go iron my slacks for work.....

Friday update

Ok, so I got the right day on this one. I guess I was a day off on my last post.
On this last weigh in, I hadn't lost much weight, but still under 230. Jimbo attributes it to also gaining muscle at the same time. I also got some more advice from him on what I should be eating and of what kinds of things. I started feeling a little under the weather yesterday, so I didn't post anything last night. We worked on Pecs and Rhomboids, did some push ups on the Bosu ball, which I reached a point of major failure on. I just couldn't get them to hold me up. I had never hit that kind of a physical wall before. It fell really weird, and made me feel extremely weak. But then, thats what im doing this for. I will not be like this for long. After we did strength training, he put me on the stair machine for 20 minutes at level 5. I thought I was going to die..... bumped it down to level 3, and finished the 20 minutes without expiring on the spot. Afterwards, Went home and had dinner, watched BSG and promptly passed out at 8pm. I am hoping that what I am feeling is just allergies acting up. I took a Claritin, and my throat is not bothering me as bad, and I feel mostly ok today. I think I'm gonna have dinner with Charlie tonight, I want a burger as a small reward for what I have accomplished in the last few weeks, I need some man food. Then, I am going to go home and rest. No working out today, my body feels hashed. I'm not sure what I am going to do about Sunday, I forgot I was working 11-7 that day. During the week, thats not a problem, but on sundays, the gym is only open till 7. I'm gonna have to play this one by ear. If I still feel crappy in the morning, I don't think I will go work out before going to work. If I feel ok, I need to go.

Wednesday update

Well, I hit my goal. I weighed myself when I worked out the other day without Jimbo, and was at 231.5 lbs. Today, I was at 229.75 lbs. Thats just over 10 lbs in two weeks!! If I can keep that rate up, in 12 weeks, at an average of 5 pounds a week, I will hit 150! I haven't been 150 since I was a wee child! By the time I was 16, I had all ready hit 200 plus, and my full height.... I mean, this is like wow, baby! My co-worker came with me today, for fun sake, we will call him Cyrano. No, not De Bergerac. He joined, I do believe! My goal is to lose fat, his is to gain muscle, and trim up. I am hoping I can get a work out partner out of this, it will help in the long run. It would help to have someone there to push me when I don't have Jimbo pushing me.

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention this in the first one, I bought Apex Performance Multi Vitamin, and today, I got the nutrition bars. We will see how these all turn out. I just put this in here, so when I look back, i have some record of what I did. The bars were chocolate chip cookie dough.

A look at my mental and physical state:

Mentally, I have noticed that I am more focused, I don't forget things as easily ( my memory still sucks, but not as bad), In general, I tend to smile more for no reason, and I will just start singing or humming things to myself. I feel a lot better about a lot of things. The world doesn't seem like its going to end. I guess I should qualify that statement. Probably the last year or two, my mood has just gone from bad to worse. I never felt like I had anything to look forward to. Now, I look forward to hitting my goal. I look forward to having a body that I never thought could be mine. I find with each pound I lose, I become more committed to that goal. The more I become committed, and see the results I have achieved so far, I gain more confidence. The more confidence I gain, the more I push myself to lose those pounds. It's a self reinforcing positive circle.

As for my physical condition, when I warm up on the elliptical, it takes me longer to hit my target heart rate, and my heart rate is no longer sky rocketing every time I step on the damn thing. Oh, it does go up, but it doesn't spike as high. It's getting easier for my abs to hold the bridge excercise he has me do.

I really truly do look forward to each and every session with Jimbo. I am hoping to pick his brain for more knowledge and information. I have always looked at the world in a scientific manner, and I just like to know the hows and whys of things.

Overall, yeah, it's 10 lbs, and I can see that something is different, but Im just not sure where its coming from mostly. I think its an overall reduction over the entire mass. It will probably be a few more weeks before I start seeing larger muscles and more definition. I am patient. I will prevail.

I think that is it for now, I may start cooking dinner here in a while. Yes, a healthy one.

start of something new...OR...Diary of a Fat White Homo

I am starting this, more for me, than anyone else. I am not using myspace for this because I'm not really looking for validation or anything, just a way for me to track my thoughts and progress.

This is to mainly track my progress on my commitment to lose this fat and get fit, trim, and healthy.

My first one on this will be in medias res, just because I only thought of doing this a couple of days ago.
Beware, It's hella long.............

Part One: The apifany

Several years ago, I had started working out at a gym in my home town, and had gone from 240 down to a much ligher 210. At that time, I really didn't know much about what I was doing, and mainly was doing 15-20 minutes of cardio to get my heart rate up, and then doing two laps around a circuit, working all the muscle groups. Yeah, I know now that was better than nothing, but I wasn't getting anywhere near my potential best benefits.

I had been doing this for about 4 months, and I moved to Phoenix for school. With the disruption of school, work, and a severe lack of funding, going to a gym was just not in the equation. I went up and down between 220 and about 235. I had promised myself I was never going to let myself get to 240 ever again. As long as I stayed under that, for some reason, I had convinced myself that was perfectly acceptable. I know, I was a moron. Hind site is 20/20. My excuse for never joining a gym, as the last couple places I have lived have not had a gym, was the money factor. Bad excuse, I know. During the last two years, I have known I need to do something. I had decided at one point to go to a gym and at least get information on the membership. I was in the parking lot, and just about to go in, and then I saw two or three guys walk out. They were perfect in so many was, I just got intimidated....I looked, and I just couldn't go in. I felt so small and weak. I felt like no matter how much I tried, I could never even get close to that level of perfection, so in my mind, it was like "why even try, you will fail". So, I have a habit of sabotaging myself. I did this several times.

You are wondering where the apifany comes in. Here it is. I stepped on a scale a few weeks ago, and it hit dead on 240. Something snapped in my head. I started thinking about what I was doing to myself, and how this weight was keeping me back from a lot of things that I really wanted to do. I want to learn to fly. Guess what. They actually have to charge you more for your intro flight if you weigh over 180. One of the reasons i haven't gone to do that yet. Also, related to flying was a segment I saw on the news one night about airlines actually increasing the size of the seats on the aircraft to accomdate Americas ever expanding asses. Also, the added weight increases the cost of fuel. According to a 2005 USA Today article (just the first one I googled, what can I say?) 62% of American adults are overweight. I don't want to be part of that statistic anymore.

One of the other experiences in my life that I thought about during this BFO (Brilliant Flash of the Obvious...from a former boss), was about 3 years ago, I returned to Utah to go visit my closest and dearest friend. On this visit, we went to Zion National Park, and did something I have never done before, which was climb up to Angels Landing. Now, if you have never been there, and don't know of what I speak, I will just say, if you are out of shape like me at that time, I would seriously reconsider before you attempt. My friend bounded up this trail like he was a frickin mountain goat. A 1/3 of the way up the trail, I thought I was gonna die. Literally. I made it up and back, but it has nagged at me since then that I could not keep up with my friend.
Also, during this BFO,I REALLy started to notice the people around me. I just recently moved to North Scottsdale, and if you have been here, you know that the pretty people flourish out here. I mean, they are everywhere! I see them and I realize how far out of shape I really am.

I started to put all of these things together During my BFO, and when it all came together, I knew I had to do something, and now!

Part Two: Taking Action

Now I knew what I had to do, I actually had to put a plan in action to get where I want to be, which is slimer, trimer, and healthier.

I knew that my company has a corporate deal with a local fitness club, but I could not find the information on it, so I emailed a link on the clubs website to find out more information.
Apparently, the flyer they had sent around a few months back required that you join during a certain window, and that I had missed it. However, if I was willing to join, he would let me join at their current rate that was actually cheaper than the flyer they had sent around. Well, I had a 100 extra bucks from the double time I had gotten for working on Labor Day. As soon as I realized that I could do it, I did. For the corporate bit, you had to sign up on-line. I did it at work on Saturday, September 30th, 2006. I went to the location that I had joined that day after work, as the email I had gotten back after joining said to go there to get all the finer details taken care of. Being anxious to get this started, I didn't think about it being the weekend, and that nobody was probably doing any paperwork related stuff and that I probably should have waited till monday. I was super motivated, waiting was not in my bag of tricks at the moment. Anyway, While I was there, I set up the first of two training sessions that were included with the membership for that next Monday, Oct. 2nd. I also made a firm mental decision that right then, i had to eat right. I know from reading things in the past that its better to graze on healthy foods than to eat 3 square meals a day, and that you need to increase your water intake. I gave myself that last Saturday to do a bit of splurging. I know part of my weakness is soda. Dr. Pepper is my one true friend and love......or was till I dumped him! I had one last Dr. Pepper that saturday. So far, I haven't had a soda since. I had some ice cream that night, after I had a nice hunk of steak and a loaded baked potato at Outback. Sort of a "Last Indulgence" if you will. Since then, I have been pretty damn good. Went directly from 2% mild to fat free, that next day.

I knew ahead of time the trainer would be a female. When I got there monday, I did have a good session with Vicki (names are changed just cuz). We did several upper body excersizes, and she did suggest a vitamin supplement, and a few dietary changes, which I pretty much had all ready pretty much knows. I have cut overall fat and sugar intake a hell of a lot from what I used to. Staying away from fried foods, staying out of fast food restaurants, drinking craploads of water, and all that jazz.

Due to scheduling problems that Vicki had, I wasn't able to see her until that Friday for the second session. We did a few more things, worked my arms, triceps, biceps, a few squatty type things. All well and good. I was all ready stoked to keep coming back, as I know with out a doubt I have to do something.

My decision during this time is that 3 days a week isn't what I want to do. I am going to go 4 times a week. All in all, I think I am doing pretty damned good. At this point, I have used the 2 free training sessions that come with the membership, and I'm pretty much winging it. Vicki tried very hard to get me to continue with her, but I live on a super tight budget, and what it would cost me a month was just short of my car payment. I wanted to, so very, very badly but I just couldn't afford it. Though I still planned on trying to figure out how to. I mean, I don't know what I'm doing. You don't know what you don't know, you know?

Part Three: My Savior

Last Tuesday, Oct 3rd, I went to the gym after a seriously long seeming day at work. For some reason that day, nothing seemed to click, from the moment I woke up, throughout the entire day. I was just aggravated by it all by the time I got off work. This was the first time I was going to go it alone at the gym. I almost talked myself out of it several times during the day. At the end of the day, I had to tell myself "Just go you stupid idiot, don't sabotage yourself all ready". I have to pretty much go straight from work to the gym, otherwise, I will go home and relax, and then talk myself out of going. So, I drove to the gym. Oh, that was an aggravation all by itself. I am usually off by 3 o'clock and hit the 101 by around 3:20. Guess what has started? Yeah, that would be rush hour in the city with the worst drivers on the planet. Did you know that on a Cadillac Escalade, as well as Aston Martins, turn signals are completly optional accessories? Yeah, me neither. When I get to the gym, I still feel at odds with the universe, so I warm up with about 20 minutes of cardio, and then go of to the machines. I decided to do some leg work since Vicki had worked my arms 2 days ago. I know I had this look to me like I had just wandered off the street randomly and decided to look at the pretty metal things inside this big building with lots of buff people in it. While I was doing a random excercise, because I just wandered aimlessly that day, one of the trainers walked by, and said "Hi". I said hi back, and went on with my pointless workout. I did a couple more excercises and looked for the machine I wanted to use next. There were 3 guys alternating on it, so I knew it would be a while, and my brain just gave out at that point. I thought to myself "Screw it, go do more cardio, at least you will be doing something".

As I am on the elliptical machine, I believe about 5 minutes or so into it, I see this trainer come back by, and walks up to my machine. He asks me a few questions, and we start chit chatting, and somewhere in the middle of it, I say something along the lines of "I wish I could figure out how to afford more training, I am pretty much clueless as to what I am doing"
At that, Jimbo (so, I like that name, am I weird?) said "I'll train you if you want, you got some time?"

This is the beginning of something beautiful. Jimbo takes me over to the area where they do all their tests and weighing, and introduces me to two trainees he is working with. I am cool with this, I mean, I went to massage therapy school. I have been on a table, naked, between two sheets with 50 people watching. Being watched while Jimbo puts me through my paces doesn't faze me a bit.

Ah, yes. Paces. That doesn't do it justice. Jimbo kicked my ass up around my ears and then pulled the excess back down to my nuts. We continued on legs since that is what he saw me doing originally. And he threw some abs in, and then did this step-up, step-down routine. Trust me, by the time I was done, I was soaked from head to toe, and my heart was beating so hard and fast, I was afraid it would just go "Ha, screw you, I quit!"

All through this, Jimbo is being extremely good natured and friendly, however, when I am doing the excercises, he is very forceful about what I am doing, and very stern about form and function. He said I was going to hate him by the time I was done. I tell you now, I never for one minute hated him. I know this is something I have to do, and it is something I should have done years ago. He is simply pushing me to my maximum to help me achieve the results I want. He kept saying things when I was close to the end of the thirds sets, when my body wasn't sure it could give more, and just wanted the excercise to be over, things like "See the results in your mind, see what you are working for!" You know, that helped more than anything! I knew he wasn't trying to be a dick, he just wanted to help me get where I need to be to live a healthy, happy life.

After the session, we book our next appointment for the following Thursday, two days from then. I am sweaty, shakey, and really ready to just sit and breath for a few minutes. Its around 6:15 by the time we are done with this, and it's still pretty thick traffic out there. I am stuck at a stop light, and all the sudden, for no apparent reason, I just start laughing. I laugh for like 5 minutes (it took two changes of the light for me to make it through, and Scottsdale lights are LONG). Then it hits me, endorphines. The bodies feel good hormone. I am flush with it. And do I feel GOOD! I realized in that moment that not only had I done the right thing, but Jimbo had literally saved my life. I also realized that I really, truly, loved the feeling of being pushed to my limit. It was a feeling of being alive, really, truly, for the first time in my life, alive. I swear, when I got home, I could see the world with more crystal clear detail than I had ever seen before, it was just simply amazing. It's also a little weird that when the acute pain starts to wear off, and my body doesn't feel any lingering sensation of what I had done, I miss it. The pain of doing something good for myself is a great feeling. Is that just a little weird?

I go back to the gym on our scheduled Thursday. I get changed, and go to the counter and as for Jimbo, as I hadn't seen him when I got there. They told me that he wasn't there. I was a little bummed, I thought he had forgotten me. So, I went and did some upper body and more cardio for a while. I get a call the next day from Jimbo asking where I was. Somehow, the "Six dollar and hour help" as Jimbo pretty much put it, didn't know where he was, but didn't bother to page him either. He was in another room, and didn't realize what time it was and just kept on doing what he was doing. We schedule for my next day off, which is Saturday. Again, pushed to my limit, with me thinking I was gonna break, and all the people in the gym going "God, he's being mean to the fat kid". Actually, the two people he was trainging thought he was being overly hard on me. He told them that you can't be nice to people, you have to be hard on them if you are to really help them achieve their goals. Would you believe, I totally agree with Jimbo 1oo percent? If he had not pushed me, I would have never known that feeling of being alive, and would have probably just walked away from that first day less inspired, and less likely to want to reach my goal, and in the end, fail. I am not sure Jimbo meant to do it, but after our initial two sessions together, I am more inspired and determined than I have ever been at anything in my life! By <\insert your favorite diety here>, I will reach my goal!

I thank Jimbo every time I see him. I really, truly, do appreciate the time he took to help a bewildered fat guy, and help him see that there was a direction to go in, and that he is helping me find the tools I need to be successful in my journey down it. I don't know how he found his way into my life at exactly the time I needed him, but I thank the cosmos for him every day.

Ok, now to the part I plan on updating every time I go to the gym, my progress report.
My starting weight, officially, as measured by Vicki on day 1 was 240 Lbs.
On the first visit with Jimbo, I had dropped 4 lbs, and was at 236. Second weighing, as of 10/7/06 was 234 lbs. Today, my weight was down to 231.5 lbs. I am scheduled with Jimbo this Wednesday, and will make another progress report, and hopefully record my feelings, new insights, and gained knowledge.

To anyone who has managed to stay with me this long, If you are overweight, please, take the time to help yourself. 63% of Americans being overweight is not "genetics". I grant you that some people do have medical issues that keep them from losing weight. Most of us though, are just put plainly, too goddamn lazy to get off our asses and take care of ourselves. Don't become, or stay, part of this countries epidemic, be part of the solution. If I can find it in myself to do this, I am positive as all hell you can to. If you are not overweight, but know somebody who is, take the time to be a positive influence in someones life, please?

Ok, now, off to relax a bit.