I ran for how long?

Well, I didn't go to the gym yesterday. Or the day before yesterday. And I was starting to feel guilty. Its odd how these things happen. If you would have asked me a year ago, or even 6 months ago how I would feel about not going to the gym for two days and I would have said, "so?" and there wouldn't be another thought. But now, somehow I feel guilty? Wow have times changed. Its quite shocking really. But I suppose its a good thing. I mean I know I don't want to look like this:

So, I picked myself up off the couch and went to the gym. Chad and I had a discussion and we decided that since we hadn't gone to the gym in so long we needed to make a real effort for the next three days. And while at the gym we have to run for 60 minutes for the next three days. Today was the first day for this horrid agreement.

The treadmill I chose, or should I say, I was forced to get on because the rest of them were taken, was obnoxious. All I could hear was this high pitched squeal that kinda bounced everytime I took a step. It was real fun and games when I went to start running. I just turned the music up real loud and tried not to feel too bad for the people around me.

But that compassion for those around me for the noise was quickly subsided by another pity. I hadn't eaten much today. I had a nice breakfast that Chad had gotten at Burger Jim's this morning and that was it. So around 6pm, I was hungry. Because we needed to rush to the gym before it closed, I quickly grabbed some snacks. I stupidly chose to have some fiber one bars and two apples. Now, one might wonder what happens after consuming nearly 100% of your daily value of fiber. Well I can tell you. When you get on a treadmill and start to run and all that fiber can really get into your gastrointestinal system, well, it needs a place to go and the only place is out. So I started my trot and the gas had to come out. Those poor folks probably needed gas masks, and to make matters worse, we all know what its like to be running and gasping for air and then the air is full of stank smells of ass. Whoops.

So I ran for 13 minutes straight today. I was quite proud of myself. I just kept pushing. This is definitely what I need to learn to do more. I set goals for myself and then ran again and ran some more. I was pretty proud of myself. Then I walked for about 3 minutes and ran another 6 minutes. Its quite surprising to see how fast time goes by when you mix it up a bit. I hit the 40 minute mark and I really didn't think I could go on. I ran for a few more minutes and then power walked for the rest of the time. I made the 60 minute mark and almost threw my hands up in excitement. But I refrained from looking like a complete and utter idiot at the gym. I even burned 600 calories. I would say it was a good night.

Now, Chad is trying to bully me into getting up early on a Sunday morning to work out again. Pretty sure I just compromised by doing some reverse negotiations and won the 10am spot. Lets see if it sticks.

For now, enjoy some additional pictures at www.peopleofwalmart.com

Dr. Travis

It is that time again

Well, as it happens every 7 days, it is Wednesday. That means it is weigh in time. Now, if you have been following this blog for the past several weeks, you will remember that this is usually a difficult day for me. It is full of ups and downs, yells, tears and sometimes gnashing of teeth. So I am sure you all wait with baited breath for me to post to either share in my joy or laugh and point at my despair. Its all good though, I mean we all like to laugh at the fatsos of the world. At least I can admit it.

Before we get to the actual weigh in, because, you know, this is what they do with all the shows - heighten the anticipation. So, we go to this nice gym. Its great. The particular one we go to though, is like going through a gauntlet to get in. By gauntlet, I mean it has a left hand turn in order to get into the parking lot. Two weeks ago, I was driving in and my contact decided it didn't want to play with my eye ball anymore. So mid-drive I had to take it out. When you have only one contact in, typically you lose some depth perception. I experienced this. As we waited for the turn signal to turn green, I was having some difficulties. It turned green and I went. Suddenly, there was a huge bump and a gutteral scream from the car. I had hit the nice little median that somehow is about 3 feet high (well more like a foot or so, but still, its abnormally high). We got to the parking spot and I was already sweating - I like to think I burned a few extra calories with that one - and noticed that I had nicely shaved off a portion of the under body paint. Alas, I dealt with it. Well tonight, same spot, same situation (minus the contact problem) and I hit the damn thing again. This time it was more towards the back end of the car so I didn't do nearly as much damage, if any at all. All of this is to say that I am pretty convinced that this is a very prominent sign that someone does not want me to go to the gym!

Okay, on to the real deal stuff tonight. I worked out last night pretty hard core. I mean, I ran for awhile. Chad decided he was too much of a wimp to participate, so I went alone. Ha! I got one on him! I have my running up to a steady 10 minutes of running before I drop down to a walk. I am pretty stoked about that. I didn't do any weights or anything, but I am pretty sure that I ran about 20 of the 30 minutes I was on that stupid machine. I was thankful that I was there just in time for The Biggest Loser weigh in. Thats really all I am interested in these days anyway. I ran as much as I could and was sweating like crazy.

This morning I woke up and did my biznass before getting on the scale. Those damn zeros kept flashing for an eternity, much like it probably feels reading this blog trying to get to the big number. Finally it flashed: 245.8. Thats right, you read it correctly, another 3 pounds lost. I am down 7 pounds from my first weigh in where I gained a pound. Its coming off people. Be ready, I am planning on selling all the fat I lose on ebay. It will be very reminicent of the wagon full of fat that Oprah carted on her stage back in the late 80s or early 90s one of the first times she lost the weight. I am stacking my pounds like Chad likes to stack his dollars.

I am getting more and more motivation as I go along. It actually gets to the point where it kinda feels good to sweat that much. I actually found myself smiling the other day. Now, don't wet your pants just yet, part of it was because I was listening to a very enjoyable song - Ke$ha's Tik Tok - and I was right in rhythm with the beat so I was stoked. Tonight I was actually able to get up to 11 minutes straight running. I was watching the State of the Union address and was trying to convince myself that I could run for as long as the address, but clearly, after those 11 minutes I remembered that Obama is quite the talker and can go on forever. In fact, when we left the gym, the speech was still going on, so that was not quite an attainable goal.

Here's to making it to 12 minutes tomorrow!

Dr. Travis

Paparazzi

This weekend was fun. Really fun. Family is probably one of my favorite things these days. However, it also caused great havoc around my diet and exercise plan. I would like to think that I did pretty good. However, i am fairly confident that there was nothing good about this weekend. Its almost like I was trusted to go off the Biggest Loser ranch and try a weekend on my own. And I failed. Now, one might be wondering right about now why I titled this blog Paparazzi. That's because I felt like I was being harangued by a bunch of money hungry photographers trying to find me in a compromising position. And I think they might have. The dirty bastards.

In the next few days as you happen upon my facebook page, or perhaps you decided to do some re-reading of this blog and notice comments pop up with pictures attached, remember that I spoke first about this. I broke the story. Yes, on Friday night I ate some definitely unhealthy lasagna. And Yes, I also consumed several pieces of texas toast. And I may have even enjoyed a piece of chocolate cake and ice cream. NOW, if I can come to my own defense, I would say that the portions were created for me. Also, the ice cream was Breyers, so you know, thats all natural. Would it help if I told you I didn't like it all that much? I mean, I would say that, even if it is a big lie.

Then Saturday hit. Starbucks and Noah's bagels in the AM. And while I should have chosen something relatively healthy like a skinny, sugar free vanilla latte or something, I opted for my usual...Venti Iced Caramel Macchiato, extra sweet - heavy on the syrup, heavy on the caramel. Pretty sure I gained a pound or two back from that little tasty delight. That evening, it was pizza at Stonefire Grill. It was just cheese - but I had three pieces. This was all followed by two scoops of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream from Baskin Robbins. AND a trip to the dollar store to include multiple candies. I am a sinner. And as a sinner, it is only right for me to confess my sins to all of you loyal followers. I am sorry.

This morning I had the "opportunity of a lifetime" to go and run up a bunch of stairs at 8am. One would think that I would have done it. I mean, the family was all doing it, so why wouldn't I fall for the peer pressure. yeah, please refer to a previous post about Saturdays and early morning workouts and apply the same theory to Sunday mornings. it ain't gonna happen. Instead, I conned my 18 year old cousin in to getting me a yogurt parfait from Noah's Bagels this morning. Then I was refined and had a 6 inch sub from Subway....followed by a delicious and calorie filled Jamba Juice. So I am going to make an attempt at the gym tonight, in great hopes of making up for this weekend. The weigh in - which has officially moved to Wednesday mornings so as to get a real weight - will more than likely be disasterous, so you must tune in.

On a happy side note - I did make it up to 7 minutes of running non-stop on Friday morning before the great decline. Lets see if I can make it 8 tonight.

Dr. Travis

Where's the motivation

Well, here it is, 10:15 on Friday morning. I was lucky enough to take a furlough day today so I didn't have to go to work. That should mean that I take the chance to get up early and hit up the gym to lose some serious weight. But...there is no motivation. I have hit a wall.

I worked really hard on Wednesday night. Yesterday, walking felt like a chore. More than a chore, it felt like a painful obligation that my body was lashing out about. I was also exhausted. Who knew that running would take so much out of someone? I mean its just fast walking, and I walk all day long. So why should it be so hard? It makes me angry. I mean, if they want us to be healthy and fit and all that stuff, why do they make it so hard? Its pretty frustrating.

So here I sit. In my workout clothes and all I can think about is just crawling back into bed. Do you think once I get to the gym everything else will just fade away? One of the really hard parts about this new running thing is that the gym we go to downtown has all the treadmills facing out the window and not looking at the TV. Usually I can be easily distracted by something on. Like Wednesday night it was Law and Order: SVU. Wow those minutes just flew by. But now, I am going to have to stare out the window? Downtown Bakersfield isn't exactly a bustling metropolis, so I can't just people watch. I am dragging my feet on this one big time. Thankfully Chad has a nice TV show on right now and he seems pretty comfortable. I am buying time left and right.

OOOH and here is a nice little update: I weighed myself on Wednesday morning first thing and I lost even more weight! I am down to 248.6. Thats right! That puts me at .99% weight loss. I am so close to 1%! At least, I think I am doing this whole math thing right.

Okay, show is going to end soon and I am going to pick myself up my ass and take it to the gym. 30 minutes running (alternating between running and walking). I am going to get up to 2.5 miles today. Then some ab work. I am over this flabby stuff!

Dr. Travis

Weigh In Times Dos

Remember in elementary school when the fat kids would always come in from recess with a soaking wet neck from working hard outside playing tag or whatever? Yeah that was me after tonight's last chance workout.

I decided it was time. I have been talking about it for awhile now and decided to put words into action. I stared it down from across the gym. I passed by the Elliptical machines to give a sigh and a goodbye and walked to the elusive and overwhelmingly frightful treadmills. I must admit it took awhile to figure out just how to get the damn thing to turn on. Its a lot easier on the other machines - you just start walking and hit the big green "START" button. Oooh no, not on these behemoths. I have to actually press a bunch of buttons, answer a ton of ridiculously personal questions like my age and weight. I am surprised it didn't ask me for a blood sample or something. I mean, I usually don't give out that kind of information until the second date. But I caved because I just wanted the thing to start working. I started out slow - walking slowly, then quicker and finally pushed it to 6.2 mph. Yeah, that was rough.

I took some solace in the fact that The Biggest Loser was on and they were doing the weigh in. Inspiration? I think so. I pumped it up and started to run, and run, and run. By the time I thought I was going to drop dead, I realized they had only weighed in one couple! Damn it all, it had only taken about 45 seconds for me to wish I was dead. Realizing its much to pathetic to just run for 45 seconds, I pushed it for another 15 before feeling like the world was crashing in on me. I rested by walking for about 5 minutes to regain my composure before starting the brutality all over again. It seems to be a common theme here, but I was again shaking my fists at the heavens and weeping and gnashing my teeth. I am sure those at the gym think I am insane - but they clearly have never worked out like this before. I was able to finally make it up to 2 minutes of pure running. The sweat was thick on my neck and back. If the treadmill pad was stationary, I am sure that it would have run into my socks. After 30 minutes, I was done. I figure I had run about 10 of it. Thats a good first step, right?

I attempted weights but quickly gave up. Thats ridiculous, I told myself. I deserve a rest. I mean I was experiencing some serious tunnel vision and my legs were almost bending backwards I was so exhausted.

We got home and I was ready for the weigh in. Now, mind you, about an hour and a half earlier, I had eaten a significant number of my daily calories. AND I consumed about a gallon of water to rehydrate myself since somehow most of my fluids ended up on the outside of my body. SO, while I did the obligatory weigh in, both Chad and I agreed that we would do a more official weigh in tomorrow morning. But for the numbers: Last week I weighed in at 252.2 (everyone gasp deeply and rip your clothes. If you have oil, I suggest you pour it on your head now). This week, I weighed........

249.2. Thats a pound weight loss! Because they break it down on the show - thats a .98% weight loss. Again, please, no applause - thank you thank you - tomorrow will be a more accurate and official weight loss with hopefully everything processed in the digestive system and I have mictrated appropriately.

Thank you all for your comments, they keep me motivated and inspire me to not give up because I have followers.

For tonight - take a shower: you stink!

Dr. Travis

I totally kicked its ass!

Well, after two days of laying on my fat ass, we went to the gym. Now, if you will flash back to the last update you might be scratching your head as to how it all adds up to two days off since it was only last Friday that you found me on the couch typing to all you dedicated souls while sipping a glass of wine. In that said update, I declared that night to be a night of rest. However, after I posted, we had a discussion about what to eat and since we couldn't decide, we decided to simply go to the gym instead. If you are wondering how that decision was made, you will be sad to learn I do not even understand it. But we went, and then took the next two days off.

But, lets be serious, I didn't spend the entire time laying around. On Sunday we actually drove all the way up to Monterey and enjoyed the town that Steinbeck spoke so highly of. Well, actually, we drove through Salinas, where the Steinbeck museum is, on our way to Monterey where Cannery Row is. It was so exciting to see all of the history....but I am distracting myself from the task at hand. The gym.

I almost allowed a small wound - namely the near loss of my pinkie finger in a scary pico de gallo experience - to sway me from going to the gym again, but I stood on the highest mountain and cried, "HELL NO I WILL GO!" I superglued the finger shut (yes I know its not a very gay-esque thing to do, but whatever, desperate times, folks, desperate times) and changed clothes and marched myself over to the gym. I must admit that I still look at those stupid machines and shake my fists at the heavens wondering why someone would create them to abuse us fat souls. But I hopped on the Elliptical machine and began pedaling. Tonight, it was hard. It was really hard because on the three tvs in front of me I was forced to watch 3 (!) different basketball games. They really should plan that better. How can one successfully watch all these games at the same time? Thankfully, I hate sports so I didn't care if I missed one. But I was rather pissed that there was nothing else on. I mean it was 7:00 pm, that means on one channel we could have enjoyed Jeopardy. And I am fairly certain someone could have blessed me with some Keith Olbermann at some point. Since there was nothing entertaining to distract me I stared at the numbers on the machine. How is that no matter how fast I pedal, the number of calories burned never speeds up? Its much like the timer I guess. You can't speed up time or calories burned.

So the final tally when the end of one game of basketball ended and I refused to start another one, was 40 minutes and 4.5 miles! Plus I burned 450 calories. Now, I am going to inflate that number because I was sweating like a pig up on that machine, so lets just round up to 500 calories. Thats a lot! Especially since I only consumed 820 calories before I went to the gym.

Then I decided to torture my legs a bit more by doing some leg presses and donkey dips or whatever the hell they are called. I am hesitant to call it fun, since, well, it wasn't. But it happened. Low weight, lots of reps. Tone that body!!!

Tune in tomorrow for yet another episode. Thats right! Two in a row! But thats only because I have my last chance workout tomorrow followed by my weigh in. Lets cross our fingers and hope that I can actually lose weight this time. And, no, I don't need an inspirational talk about how muscle weighs more than fat. I don't care. I just want it all off!

Dr. Travis

Its all about the foodSo

So, I am hungry. I am always hungry though. Food, well, food is probably the greatest invention since....okay, its just fantastic. I love to eat. Its odd that I enjoy it so much since I am probably the pickiest eater on the planet. I don't do white sauces (i.e., mayo, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, etc) and I don't like many of those green things coming out of the ground. I don't do a lot of fish, but if its deep fat fried I will try it fo sho. I don't like salad dressings, period. I don't like curry, I don't like ethnic foods very often. BUT! I absolutely love food. Its an odd thing, really.

This obsession with food probably explains a lot of why I am in this predicament. To start, I don't eat many healthy foods, reference the above list of dislikes. This immediately poses the problem of healthy eating. I would much rather stop off at any number of fast food restaurants (minus KFC, of course). And slather any food with deep fried goodness and I am a broken man. Another large issue surrounding my large problem is the fact that I love to eat large portions. I am not sure that I have ever allowed my eyes to get too big for my stomach. I will eat and eat and eat. And then I will take a break, say, when my jaw gets sore from gnawing on something, until I can return without the fear of TMJ or something. So one scoop of delicious ice cream becomes oh, you know, an entire tub of ben and jerry's coffee heath bar ice cream. Dammit all! Then there is this other thing where if I see food out, like at a nice social gathering or party, I will gravitate toward it and become its guardian. I will surround the table and fight off anyone trying to get at the precious goodies. And then I steal a bite, and then a plate, and then before you know it, I am coating my body in the bbq sauce from the little wienies. Its a sad state of affairs.

Now, I am here trying to figure out how to curb the appetite and find better foods to eat. We were getting "delicious" organic vegetables weekly from a local company (abundantharvestorganics.com) but alas, the charge was simply too much for our pocketbook. Instead, we buy this rock-gut produce from the grocery store, that I am sure is coated in pesticides and hormones. I am just waiting for a third arm to grow out of my back from eating too much broccoli. Yes, I said it. I am eating broccoli (you know, that nasty green stuff with fur on it?) I eat it all up. I don't particularly care for the flavor, or the texture, but if you spray it down with enough I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray, you would be surprised to find it has no real remnant of broccoli taste. We eat veggies a lot. I try and have littler meals spread out over the day and try not to binge too much.

Several days ago, you will recall I spoke about my beloved Diet Pepsi. I have since taken the initiative to cut back dramatically on it. I only have one a day. Yesterday, I didn't even have one. Its sad that there are so many cans sitting in the fridge all cold and lonely waiting for me to help them complete their life long mission of tickling my taste buds. I know it can't possibly be the end of my diet pepsi drinking days, but I must seriously cut back.

We are taking a night off from the gym. Then its back to the grind tomorrow. Just the thought of working out tonight makes me want to vomit. I mean, really, its been 5 days of work (50 hours), I deserve a night to myself. So I am enjoying a glass of wine (you know, for my heart health) and i am going to live it up!

Here's to eating all that nasty "healthy" stuff.

Dr. Travis