Since the beginning of the year, I have been working hard to get more fit. Being a programmer & small business owner, I spend a lot of time behind a desk. That is not conducive to being very fit. 20 years ago, I could jump on a bicycle and ride 100 miles pretty much at will. In January when I really got serious about getting fit, a 2 mile run was barely doable, and a 10 mile bike ride was a stretch. That was 30+ lbs ago, and just a bit over 600 miles ago.
Yes, 600 miles. Combined walk, run and bicycle miles. No, I am not following one of the big diet plans, I am working on a plan geared towards my goals, and weight loss isn't a goal, it is a by product. You see my goal is to run and finish a marathon with my brother. In order to accomplish that goal, I had to fix some things in my life and lifestyle.
For me, it is fairly simple.
1. Get back into a routine of fitness. (Run Mon,Wed,Sat - Ride Fri,Sun - Golf(walk) Thur)
2. Don't eat like an idiot (No more french fries or chips, smaller portions, fewer 'cokes')
3. Don't snack
4. Sleep
Cutting the Cokes and the snacks is tough in the office, but doable. Not eating like an idiot however, is incredibly difficult with office lunches. It takes discipline, and gratuitous use of tools to learn the what to eat and more importantly, what NOT to eat. Sleeping is another discipline thing. I've functioned for way too many years by making up for lost time during the day by working late into the evening. Functioning on 4-6 hours of sleep at night has been the norm for over 20 years now. That is a habit that I still struggle to break.
But the hardest part, has been getting the fitness routine stable.
I like to exercise. I stress about the time it takes. In the end, I find that I have to make the time, and try to let go.
The end result has been positive. My stress levels overall are down. The weight is down, but most importantly, I think I am going to be able to accomplish my goal. Last week, I ran 22 miles, bicycled 60 miles, walked 2.5 miles (golfing) and swam a solid 60 laps in a 38 foot pool. More importantly, I feel good. Better than I have in several years.
The downside is that none of my clothes fit anymore. Even some of my riding gear is a little roomy. It's just a side effect, but a good one.
While I may not be to the end goal, I wanted to share. The thing is, that getting fit again is very much personal journey, and one that I recommend to everyone. Each of us will need to find our own path. What motivates us, and what goals we want to reach. Every person that does find what it takes though will hopefully find the same thing I have.
If you find the right goal, changing your lifestyle is easy, and the other things that come with it are just very happy side effects.