Rest Day

So yesterday I said, presumptuously, that I would be running today. I actually took some to time to build a weekly workout plan, and in the end, Sunday became a good day for recovery. During the week at my job, I am always lifting heavy things, and my muscles never get a chance to recover after a day of strength training. Now that I have taken this into account, Sunday remains the day for me to do nothing, and actually have a real recovery day.

That being said, I was sore as hell today from the gym and the run yesterday. While I was sore for most of the day, I just took it easy around the house, did some stretching, read, and got a workout plan for the week. For tomorrow I am again doing an hour of strength training, and probably 4 miles on a treadmill.

I have also had this feeling for the last few days, like I just graduated from something. The trainer I have been going to has moved and I am now the one making the workouts for myself. I have noticed that it gives me this sense of possibility; that now I get to direct where I am going. I know where that is, and the trainer always seemed to have his own agenda. There was also always this sense of having someone you had to be accountable to for the past year. What I think is funny, is that I am way more demanding as my own trainer, (which is why I was so sore today).

For today, not a lot of physical activity, but that's for the best. Now, it's off to study the sports nutrition book I am reading. I have decided to set aside at least 30 minutes everyday to read about the subject. I do a lot of that online, reading various articles, but I decided to dedicate 30 minutes a day to study a specific topic.

That is all for tonight, and I leave you with a quote, "At this moment there are only two things that concern me, the wall blocking my way, and the weapons I'm going to use to blow it up".

1st day of training

Just got back from the gym and an hour of strength training. The trainer I had been seeing moved recently, so now I'm doing it myself and I think I will get better results. Not that he was bad, it's just that we shot the shit a lot while I was working out, and I didn't really focus like I can by myself. It's 40 degrees and soaking wet out, and while I'm not really looking forward to going for a run in this weather, I always love it once I'm out there. Tonight I think I will only do 3 miles, tomorrow I'll jump it up to 5. I had been up to doing 7-9 miles pretty regularly, but hurt my lower back late in the summer and have been taking it easy. I feel fine now, and knowing me I'm going to try and push it; maybe I'll do 6.

Anyway, I am always curious for any advice people have about running, exercise or sports nutrition, so if you got any ideas let me know. I have been reading Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook, which is a great intro into some in depth nutrition information, but I'm always interested in what works for other people.

I will work for myself

I have this idea that I don't want to work for other people anymore for two reasons: 1) I hate it 2) I don't need to. I also have decided that I want attain athlete level conditioning. For the past year I have been going to the gym fairly regularly, as well as taken up running. I love the idea of going into business for myself as a personal trainer, and merging working for myself and being physically fit.

I have been seeing a trainer for a year, and in that time there are things that I have learned that if I were to be a trainer, I would do differently. I have a ton of ideas about how to make it a more valuable experience, and having had those thoughts, I realized there is no reason reason to not follow up on them, and start a whole new career, and direction to my life.

This is comes with a serious degree of cognitive dissonance, as a large part of me just wants to eat, smoke, drink, and hang around running my mouth all day, and mainly just sit on my ass. While I still enjoy these things, I didn't enjoy being 240 lbs. I also didn't enjoy having to work for other people, and all my bad habits diminish the level of focus you need to be able to manage working for yourself.

As Winter is beginning to set in, I have decided that there are some things I am going to be working towards in the future, and I want them to be well on there way by the time summer rolls around. In no real order: 1) Run a Marathon, 2) Become a Personal Trainer 3) Complete Triathlon.

The Marathon and Triathlon I want to train for because they involve focus, dedication and follow through, as well as great conditioning. All these things I feel also would add to my credibility as a trainer. The other reasons are more personal. I grew up as kid who had asthma, and parents who smoked. I then started smoking heavily as an adult, and while I have quit, in the process of quitting I put on a ton of weight. In training for these events, I will be erasing the years of smoking and the subsequent weight gain that came with it.

As far a training certification, it means better money and greater freedom. Once I am certified, I want to at least start working for a gym. Working at a gym as a trainer, you don't make as much money because the gym takes a cut of your fees, but it's good way to get clients, and get started in general. Once I have worked at a gym for a while, I want to start my own business.

There is a lot of hesitation in me to write this and make it public, because with me usually once an idea is let loose, it tends to dissipate. In the next 7 months leading up to the marathon, I am going to be writing something everyday here about where I am in my progress. I have never done anything like before, and I think writing about it will solidify the pursuit in my mind.