Week 12

I was 1 second off my personal best and lost a little bit more weight. But the 5lbs/week stuff seems to be a thing of the past. I was able to do a 5 mile run at a little bit better than 10min/mile pace, which is OK I suppose. I think one promising data point is, in my time trial, I ran my fastest lap 2 (the "back" of the there-and-back) by 15 seconds. So the gap between the there and back is getting smaller.

Week 12 - Slowing rates of progress

Basketball events: 0 (I need to start waking up early to do this)

Strength training: 2

Running Events: 5 (3 on treadmill, 1 five-mile run)

Best Time:

• Distance 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:03
• Minutes per mile 8:18

Weight: 255 *LOST 3 POUNDS*

Week 11

My resolve to use manorexia as a weight-loss method waned a little this week. I had a few glasses of milk (I miss milk so much it hurts sometimes), over-indulged in a few meals, and found I'm a huge fan of Dave's Killer Bread and jam. I'm serious, you think you like your bread. You don't. You don't know how bad your bread sucks until you try this bread. It reminds me of the homemade loaves my Aunt Laurel used to make me when I was in college.

Week 11 - I like Dave's Killer Bread

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 2

Running Events: 5 (4 on a treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:25
• Minutes per mile: 8:24

Weight: 258 *LOST 2 POUNDS*

Week 10

I must have underestimated my calories everyday because I couldn't break 260 on the scale. So no weight lost this last week. But I had a personal best on the 3.5 mile course. My pace was effectively 2.5 miles at 8 minutes and 1 mile at 9 minutes. To shave another minute off my time, I'll have to keep an 8 minute pace for 3.5 miles.

Week 10 - Plateau?

Basketball Events: 0

Strength Training: 0

Running Events: 5 (3 on a treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:02 *NEW PERSONAL BEST*
• Minutes per mile: 8:18

Weight: 260 - Same as last week. BOO!!!

Week 9

My darn times are getting worse. I think it is the result of running more during the week. I'm more tired when I have my "time trials." But I can still keep my time on the 3.5 mile course below 30 mins. Still making good progress and my resolve to not over-eat is getting easier, but is still a struggle. I've found that I get fuller faster, and have a taste for more wholesome food.

Week 9 - Still losing weight

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 0 ( it was close week, so i only have about 20 mins/day so I did cardio)

Running Events: 6 (4 on a Treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:54
• Minutes per mile: 8:33 (I was so disappointed that I was back above 8.5 min miles.)

Weight: 260 lbs *LOST 5 POUNDS*

I'm down 20 lbs for the year. Only 25 more to go!

Week 8

My time on the 3.5 mile course wasn't my personal best, but I was only 11 seconds off the time from last week, and still under 30 mins. I'm still losing weight at a good pace. Hoping to maintain the 5lbs a week pace at least until I get below 250lbs.

I cannot believe the energy I have. Nothing sucks the life out of you like being overweight. I eat a lot less food each day, but I really don't go hungry. I played in a basketball game on Saturday where only 5 showed up. I had to play all 40 mins and I was fine. It was so much easier to move and jump and run. So with less food, I have more energy. And I'm still 30 pounds overweight, so I'm looking forward to all the energy I'll gain as I lose.

Week 8 - Keeping at it

Basketball Events: 2

Strength Training: 2

Running Events: 3 (2 on the treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:34
• Minutes per mile: 8:27

Weight: 265 *LOST 5 POUNDS*

Week 7

I used to eat for non-nutritional reasons. You know ... something to do when you're bored. And eating crap makes you feel like crap, which strangely makes you want to eat more crap. It's kind of like a fat cycle. What I'm experiencing now is that improvement boosts morale, and a boost in morale leads to improvement. It's a much better cycle.

But when you start out, it's hard to see improvement. That's why I'm so glad I tracked my running times because I saw improvement in the running times before I saw progress on the scale. And now I'm so glad I see progress on the scale because I don't see it in the mirror. You remember that robust double chin. I still got one of those. You see? Robust double chin:

But that robust double chin just beat his personal best for 3.5 miles by 40 seconds, and that robust double chin averages better than a 8.5 minute mile over that distance. This week, I could argue that my robust double chin was to my advantage because it was much colder and windier than last week. And my thin ... well okay, mildly thick ... layer of blubber kept me warm. But imagine what I'll be able to do on a nice day in a body that isn't 25% fat. Let's just go ahead and say it. We're looking at a Presidential Physical Fitness Award. But enough of that, I don't want to jinx it.

It's a there-and-back course that I run. And now that I'm losing weight, I'm seeing improvements on my "there" times, which as I demonstrated in week 5, have been fairly steady. On my run on Saturday, my average minute per mile pace "there" was just UNDER 8 minutes. There are a lot of people that can't even run 1 mile in under 8 minutes (I know because I was one of them 7 weeks ago). I nearly ran 2 miles at that pace. Seven weeks ago, I could barely keep a 10 minute mile pace. I've said it once and I'll say it again: The best way to improve your results, is to track them.

Week 7 - Plugging Away

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 3

Running Events: 4 (3 on a treadmill)

Best Time:

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 29:23 *NEW PERSONAL BEST* **First time breaking 30 min!**
• Minutes per Mile: 8:24

Weight: 270 *LOST 4 POUNDS*

Week 6

I've slowly been seeing progress while running, but have yet to see progress at the weigh in. Well this week was a good one. I lost 5 pounds and destroyed my previous personal best time of 31:52 by 1:40! I blew past 9 minute miles to nearly 8.5 minute miles. Imagine what I'll be able to do when I get this 40 pound bag of weights off my butt?

I started utilizing Intel's on-site gym. The two other guys on my team go with me and we work out 3 times a week. It means the three of us have to log in at night and answer emails we missed from 4pm-5pm on those days, but I prefer being able to be home with my family and not make this weight loss adventure the focus of our lives. The advantage is I've started strength training which I think is going to be huge. It's easier to lose weight when you drive an F-150 than a Prius, if you catch my meaning. But I hate treadmills. They are so boring, and hard to get excited about. But I somehow suffer through the 25mins of running in place followed by a brisk 5 min walking in place.

Week 6 - Losing Weight!

Basketball Events: 1

Strength Training: 2

Running Events: 4 (3 on a Treadmill)

• Best Time:
• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Time: 30:12 *NEW PERSONAL BEST*
• Minutes per Mile: 8:38

Weight: 274 lbs *LOST 5 POUNDS*