January 9th, 2009 — Introspection, exercise from macdaddy @ Get Fit Slowly
Since my 10-miler on Saturday and all my cocky talk I’ve really been struggling this week. I took Sunday off, but got back on the treadmill on Monday (4 mi), Tuesday (3 mi), Wednesday (3.5 mi), and Thursday (3 mi). Each day has been significantly harder; I’ve been breathing harder than normal; my legs feel [...]
Continue reading → 2-Hour-Half-Marathon? What Was I Thinking?
December 30th, 2008 — Introspection, Real-Life, exercise from macdaddy @ Get Fit Slowly
If there were two aspects of my life that my wife would like me to improve upon they would be my desire to pay attention to details (see: anal retentive) and my desire to be more of a runner.
In fact, the other day, Pam came up to me out of the blue and said, [...]
October 22nd, 2008 — Introspection, Progress from macdaddy @ Get Fit Slowly
Monday and Tuesday I experienced almost no back pain–woohoo! And this comes after a weekend of moving heavy furniture down stairs and onto a moving truck for some friends’ parents. I was a little leary of the work, but when a friend asks for help, you have to give it to them.
Sometimes it takes a [...]
Continue reading → Feelin’ Good: Another Bump Cleared (I Hope)
October 20th, 2008 — Behavior, Introspection from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
It seems odd to me that of all the components to my fitness regimen, it’s my weight-lifting that’s going best. When I started this several months ago, I did so with a grudging heart.
Make no mistake: I do not love lifting weights. Sometimes it’s a chore. But it’s a chore I perform dutifully and [...]
Continue reading → Uplifting: Learning from the Things I Do Right
October 15th, 2008 — Eating, Introspection, Real-Life from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
Vegetables are the big reason I’m not a vegetarian.
Don’t get me wrong — I do like some vegetables. Corn is great, and so are carrots. I like both peas and asparagus (which are basically the same taste in different packages). I like onions and garlic and potatoes and lettuce and spinach. And…
Well, that’s about [...]
October 13th, 2008 — History, Introspection from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
I’ve struggled with my weight for nearly thirty years. In grade school, I was an average-sized boy, but by the time I started junior high, I had already become chunky. My soccer coach used to make me run an extra lap at practice because he said I needed the exercise.
Puberty slimmed my figure for [...]
October 5th, 2008 — Choices, Introspection, Real-Life, exercise from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
Today was a great day.
As many of you know, the Portland Marathon was held this morning. I spent most of the spring and summer training for the race, suffering a series of injuries, and learning how real runners run. My goal was to run 26.2 miles this morning.
I didn’t do it.
I didn’t walk the race, [...]
October 1st, 2008 — Introspection, Real-Life from macdaddy @ Get Fit Slowly
Most of you know that for the past three weeks, I’ve been loving the Stronglifts 5X5 beginning weight lifting program. I’m noticeably stronger, thinner, and firmer in just three short weeks. My legs are harder, my stomach is flatter, my clothes around the waist fit looser, and best of all, my chest is firmer too. [...]
Continue reading → Maybe I Need A Remedial Weightlifting Program
September 17th, 2008 — Eating, Introspection from macdaddy @ Get Fit Slowly
Our meal at Morton’s on Saturday night was full of interesting conversation. We hadn’t been out with JD and Kris for a very long time so we caught up on our respective families, our homes and gardens, our careers, and on parenting. I really enjoy talking with people who don’t have kids about parenting. I [...]
September 16th, 2008 — Choices, Eating, Introspection, Real-Life, What's For Dinner? from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
Saturday was my “free day” on the Body for Life program; I could eat what I wanted. What I wanted — what I’ve been craving for weeks — was blueberry pancakes. I went to a local diner and enjoyed two enormous pancakes topped with blueberries — not the blueberry compote found in most places (comprising [...]
September 11th, 2008 — Hints and Tips, Introspection, Progress, Real-Life, Setbacks from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
It feels good to be back in the gym. I’m taking things slow, staying within myself, and simply focusing on following my daily agenda. Four days down, eighty more to go. (Well, eighty more on the Body for Life program, and then a lifetime beyond that.)
On Monday, as I talked about correcting my course, Greenman [...]
Continue reading → Five Lessons Learned During My Adventures in Fitness
September 8th, 2008 — Behavior, Introspection, Real-Life from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
J.D.’s weight over the past two weeks
Number of hours spent exercising over the past two weeks: 2
Number of hours playing World of Warcraft over the past two weeks: 40
Gym memberships lapsed: 1
Weight on July 30th: 186.0
Weight on September 7th: 193.5
On Friday, Mac explained why he is fat. For him, it’s because it’s easier to be [...]
September 5th, 2008 — Choices, Eating, Introspection, weight loss from macdaddy @ Get Fit Slowly
In a nutshell, I’m fat because it’s easier to be fat than it is to be a healthy weight.
It’s easier to be sedentary than to make time to exercise every day.. It’s easier to eat at Sonic, Outback, Denny’s, and Taco Bell than it is to shop for and cook healthy food for your family [...]
August 29th, 2008 — Guest Posts, Introspection, Real-Life, exercise from macdaddy @ Get Fit Slowly
This is a guest post from my wife, Pam, the fittest person I know. I wish some of that would rub off on me. Pam is trying to balance a full time family, a full time job, and a full time ultra-marathon training schedule–a tough task for anyone–and she handles it remarkably well.
Today after work [...]
August 21st, 2008 — Behavior, Introspection, Progress, Real-Life from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
Yesterday was a good day. Finally.
The last month has been difficult for me, both mentally and physically. My mother has been in the hospital, I’ve been injured, and I’ve done a poor job of prioritizing fitness. If you think I’ve been whiney here, you should try living in my head!
“You need to go to the [...]
August 12th, 2008 — Introspection, Real-Life, Setbacks from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
The last few weeks have been some of the toughest in my life.
I’ve powered through, though, on adrenaline and because there’s no other option. My mother is in the hospital and must be cared for. I’ve elected to become a “professional” blogger, and I must write to eat. My in-laws, who were in town [...]
Continue reading → Handling Stress: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
August 7th, 2008 — Guest Posts, Introspection from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
This is a guest post by Brigid. It originally appeared in Public Safety Communications, the magazine of The Association of Public-Safety Communication Officials.
When we were growing up, we learned a lot about life through stories. Some of these stories, although full of good intentions, didn’t convey the best message. Cinderella and Snow White gave hope [...]
July 24th, 2008 — Behavior, Choices, Introspection, Real-Life, Setbacks from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
On Tuesday’s discussion about defining fitness, I mentioned that my own pursuit of that ideal had been derailed. “I’ve been eating poorly and taking no exercise,” I wrote. “Tell us more,” said a couple of readers.
After Saturday morning’s aborted attempt at a sixteen mile run, I was feeling miserable. It wasn’t just that my physical [...]
July 19th, 2008 — Choices, Introspection, Real-Life, Setbacks from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
I feel pretty defeated today.
For the second Saturday in a row, I had to cut my marathon training run short. The pain in my knee was too intense to continue. Today’s three-mile walk back to the car was excruciating. I had a lot of time to think about my progress, my current physical state, and [...]
July 17th, 2008 — Introspection, Real-Life from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
For me, the best part about getting fit is my improved self-confidence. As I lose weight, perform amazing feats of speed and strength, and generally improve my fitness, I become much more comfortable with my body image.
And really, that’s what a lot of this is about — not just for me, but for everyone. We [...]
Continue reading → Positive Body Image: My Favorite Part of Getting Fit
July 15th, 2008 — Introspection, Progress, Real-Life, Setbacks from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
It’s been a while since I posted about the current state of my physical fitness. Though I don’t mind rambling on about how I’m doing, I know that it gets old listening to other people talk about their physical woes and successes. Still, it’s time for an update.
Have a heart
I’ve been especially pleased with the [...]
July 8th, 2008 — Basics, Introspection from J.D. @ Get Fit Slowly
Last week I began a month-long experiment during which I’m trying to drink only water. In response, Greenman2001 wrote:
This post, like many others I read here, makes me wonder how exactly you’re defining the word “fit.” I’d love to see a blog post on that topic.
This seems like an innocuous question. In reality, it cuts [...]
July 2nd, 2008 — Introspection from macdaddy @ Get Fit Slowly
On Sunday, Pam and I went down to Eugene to witness some people who epitomize fitness. The US Track and Field Olympic Trials were amazing to watch. What those athletes do with their bodies is absolutely mind boggling. Even as I’m starting to call myself fit, I know that I can’t perform [...]
June 11th, 2008 — Introspection, Real-Life from macdaddy @ Get Fit Slowly
Monday night, my wife told me that every diet I’ve ever failed has failed because of a vacation. And she’s right. I’ve often dieted ahead of vacations so that I could both look better on the beach AND not worry about food when I was on vacation. Then when the vacation ends, I don’t ever [...]
Continue reading → Vacations: I’ll Take The Bad With The Good