200 by January

It's been awhile!

2010-02-08T09:39:00.000-05:00

I know it's been awhile, but I need to get back to it! I've been working out off and on, and was even training to run the Army Ten Miler this past year. I was sidelined with a knee injury though, had to stop training and never got back into it. I am thinking of joining a gym with my family though. I really want to get back to a healthier lifestyle.

Pennsylvania Paintball

2007-07-02T14:25:00.001-04:00

Just got back from Pennsylvania last night. I was up there to play at a friend's paintball field in Frenchville. That is near Clearfield, PA. They just opened the field in May, and have done a nice job setting it up. If you are in central Pennsylvania look them up! The link is to the right. Also while I was there we went to Denny's Beer Barrel Pub. Denny's has the biggest burgers you've ever seen. Google them to see the site!

paintball!

2007-05-21T09:40:00.000-04:00

I just talked to a very good friend last night. He has opened a paintball field at his lodge in Pennsylvania. Check it out at the link on the right!

Parkour Anyone?

2007-05-11T06:45:00.000-04:00

I have recently discovered parkour. This looks like a great way to get in shape, or seriously hurt yourself if you're not careful! But in any case it looks like fun, and might just be the right motivation for me to lose weight. I would like to find some groups in Virginia that participate in this activity.

Back in the saddle!

2007-01-13T17:07:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a long long time since I posted here. Don't know if anyone is reading this blog anymore, but I am back! I am jogging a 10K in March, and hope to lose a few pounds along the way. I'll be going to spinning classes twice a week, and jogging 3 times a week. I am trying to eat better as well, but not tryin to turn my diet upside down just yet!

I didn't make my goal

2006-01-10T11:36:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is January and guess what? I'm not even close to my goal. As a matter of fact, I'm back up where I when I started. At least I didn't gain more than I started with. It seems that 250 lbs is a barrier that my body is unwilling to breech at this point (thank God!). Some co-workers of mine and have entered into a weight loss competition. The three of us are right around 250 lbs. We have rules and a contract even! Stay tuned for details and pics...

USS Wisconsin - Nauticus

2005-12-01T11:16:00.000-05:00

My folks have been in town for the last few weeks. We went to Nauticus and also the USS Wisconsin (right next door to one another). I took the third pic on the way home from work one day while driving my car. Later, Roger.

I been sick!

2005-11-15T16:53:00.000-05:00

I've been sick for the past 5 days or so. Please excuse the lack of posts. My parents are coming into town for a few weeks, but I hope to still have time to post a few pics. My dad has been in Mississippi for the last week or so helping with hurricane work. He will be hitching a ride to my house with a guy he has been working with. My mom will be flying in from Montana (where my folks live). They will be here for a few weeks, including turkey day. I will most likely be frying a turkey, so that should be fun! Take care, Roger.

New personal record

2005-11-03T08:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I lifted 120,870 lbs (equivalent to 40 VW beetles)! That is 33,000 lbs more than ever before. I am ranked number 7th overall in points for the facility and I am number 1 in my age group. I am happy with the progress I am making. Here are some pictures of a trip to a farm that Will and I took over the weekend.

Cholesterol - 152!

2005-11-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

I have been making lots of progress in my workouts. Today is the start of a new month. I plan on being the top ranked person this month for my age group in Fitlinxx points. I should also be the top ranked by the amount of weight lifted. I have been cutting back on weight somewhat with some of the exercises because I am losing form while going for higher weight. It's no use being the top ranked person in the gym if I wind up in the hospital because of an injury. I estimate that I will lift more than 500,000 pounds in November.

Today I had spinning class and it was harder than ever before. The instructor normally puts us into a really hard section and then allows a recovery period where our heart rate goes back down to 65% MHR (maximum heart rate). Today we had no recovery period. We maintained 75-85% MHR and I sweat like never before. They were doing cholesterol screening and I am at 152! I guess I am doing something right. Take care all.

I'm Still Here!

2005-10-24T08:49:00.000-04:00

Sorry it's been so long since I posted. I have been a busy boy at work, plus there have been some unexpected events in my personal life. I have been very diligent with going to the gym. I go every day. On Mon-Wed-Fi I use the Fitlinxx machines at the fitness center. Tues and Thurs I go to spinning class. I really enjoy the fact that the weight machines track your progress. That is a great motivator. I compete with myself to life more each workout, I comete with Rod, and I comete with everyone in the gym through the Fitlinxx rankings! I look forward to my workouts now. The spinning class is pretty cool too. I never thought I would enjoy using a stationary bike, but these classes are great! The first real weight training workout I did on Fitlinxx I lifted over 36,000 lbs. The next time I lifted 50,930, and last Friday I lifted over 56,000 lbs. I am curious to see what I lift today! Take care, Roger.

New Spinning Instructor

2005-10-18T13:47:00.000-04:00

Our regular spinning instructor (Jeanette) is on vacation or something this week. We had Big Ed today and he will be leading the class again on Thursday. He hammered us pretty good. I feel tired. Of course, I haven't been to a spinning class in a week, so I'm a bit out of it. I am really looking forawrd to tomorrow's weightlifting workout. I had a good one yesterday too. I am getting familiar with the Fitlinxx machines. It cool to see at the end of the workout how much combined weight you lifted. Yesterday I lifted 36,930 lbs with about 2.3 times around the circuit. Rod lifted over 70,000 lbs, but he did about 6 times around the circuit. It's funny, he said since he started lifting weights his running has gotten faster and his swimming has gotten slower. Strange huh?

Pics from Florida

2005-10-17T15:11:00.000-04:00

I took a bunch of pics when I was in Florida. I even got to the gym once when I was there. Sweet! The first one is of the kids in the pool at my brother-in-laws house. The boy on the left is my son. The two on the right are two of my brother-in-laws triplets.

This pic is part of my wife's family at Cocoa Beach.

This pic is a model of the Mariner Valley on Mars. To put it in perspective, that squiggle at the bottom is the Grand Canyon.

This pic (and the last one as well) was taken at Kennedy Space Center. It's a neat place. The Imax movie (Magnificient Desolation) was very good.

Going to Florida

2005-10-11T09:42:00.000-04:00

I will be going to Florida for a few days, so I might not post much for awhile. I just checked my Fitlinxx rankings. I haved moved up to 35th position overall, and 4th position in my age group.

Fitlinxx system

2005-10-07T14:46:00.000-04:00

Weight lifted: 24,000 + lbs

The gym on base has a weight lifting system called Fitlinxx. It is really cool. It tracks all the exercises you do, the weight you lifted, and ranks your progress against others at you facility, or across the country. My workout buddy Rod and I are trying to figure out how to advance in rank. For my age group I am at # 6 and # 39 overall this month. I told Rod that next month I was going to beat him. He is #12 overall. He does a lot of reps with a lighter weight. I am doing much heavier weight, but I am doing the exercises more slowly so I don't have time to get 4 sets done. As I get more fit and also accustomed to the machines I will rack up points a lot quicker. As I build muscle it should help me to burn fat and lose weight. Of course the best measure of success is looser fitting pants!

New routine!

2005-10-05T11:20:00.000-04:00

Weight: 247.5

My current weight would be depressing if not for the fact that I was at 250 a week ago! I think I have settled into a new routine with the gym and exercise classes available to me. Here is the schedule I plan to keep. Anything that is taken in a class format will have class next to it in parantheses. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Monday: Yoga 1 hr (class)
Tuesday: Spinning 45 min (class)
Wednesday: Treadmill 10-20 min, 30-40 Fitlinxx weightlifting machines
Thursday: Spinning 30 min, 15 min Pilates (class)
Friday: Treadmill 10-20 min, 30-40 Fitlinxx weightlifting machines

I will still walk occasionally too. It is very nice outside now. With the new facility I have acces to though, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it. Take care, Roger.

Workout Buddy!

2005-09-29T09:41:00.000-04:00

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. It's also been awhile since I've exercised! We just got a new guy at work. His name is Rod. He is a triathlete, and very into nutrition and exercise. Tuesday we went over to check out the gym on base and wow is it nice! I could pay for a memebership to a health club out in town and it might not be as nice as this place. Yesterday we did a short ride on the stationary bikes, and a lot of stretching. Rod does Yoga, so he incorporates that into the pre and post-workout stretching routines. This is good because I haven't ever done much stretching mainly because I didn't know how. Today we are going to a lunchtime class called cycle-lates. It is 30 minutes on the stationary bike and 10 minutes Pilates. On Tuesdays there is a spinning class. The spinning room has a large video screen with the trail you are riding on, and the instructor guides you and tells you what to do (increase resistance, stand up on the bike, etc). It looks like it will be a good workout. Here is a link to the gym website. Keep in mind that the pictures don't do the place justice. I will bring in my digital camera one day and snap some pics of it. Maybe the spinning instructor will let me get a pic before class. :)

http://www.monroemwr.com/fitness/fitness.htm

New Camera - Canon SD 200

2005-09-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

I got a new camera yesterday, actually used from a friend. It was a good deal though because it had only been used to take 80 pictures, plus it had an upgraded memory card. I took some pics of Will last night. Here they are.

Last day at this job!

2005-09-13T09:36:00.000-04:00

Well, today is my last day at this job. Tomorrow I go to work at Fort Monroe. I may not be able to post a blog entry tomorrow because I will be checking in to work, getting my network account etc. I did walk yesterday though. Will and I walked around the neighborhood. I was thinking that I have been getting more activity than I have been posting here on the blog. The other day we rode over to park on our bikes, and we go for walks at night with Will. I guess I think of it less as execise than when I walk in the mornings for an hour. It all counts though! Later, Roger.

got snacks?

2005-09-08T09:36:00.000-04:00

Miles walked: 2.2

I only walked 2.2 miles today, but it's better than nothing. I feel like I was getting out of the habit, and that is something I don't want to do. Aimee got a bunch of snacks at the store last night, so I should have walked 10 miles! :)

Got to get moving again!

2005-09-07T16:08:00.000-04:00

Weight: 244

I haven't walked in the longest time it seems. I need to get back on the wagon. I'll never get an iPod at this rate! :)

Short walk

2005-09-01T13:35:00.000-04:00

Miles walked: 2.2

I just went for a short walk today because I have been slack for the last 5 days or so. I am thinking that when I start my new job I can walk at work (I will need to leave earlier to get there on time because of traffic). Here is an ariel pic of Fort Monroe. I think there is a levee along the shoreline so it would be a nice, picturesque walk.

New job!

2005-08-31T09:29:00.000-04:00

Weight: 243.5

Sorry it's been so long since I posted. I haven't walked since last Friday (Aug 26, that's probably why I'm up 2 lbs). I was sick on Monday, and yesterday I had a job interview. I got the job by the way. I will be working at Fort Monroe. I know that the base is closing but the group I will be working with won't be leaving it's current location til 2011. Then it will move up the road to Fort Eustis. I got a really nice raise, and it sounds like a great opportunity as well.

Run Forrest Run!

2005-08-26T09:31:00.000-04:00

Miles walked: 3.6

This morning I jogged twice during my walk. Both times it was for about a quarter mile. The first time my knees felt a little rickety, but the second time I felt like I could really fly. It was cool. I realized that all the walking has strengthened my legs and given me endurance that I didn't know I had. I should sign up for a 5k run soon. Anyone want to join me?

I went the same distance today as I went before I went to Indianapolis. I thought it was 4 miles, but it seems that it is actually more like 3.6 or 3.7. I measured the distance in my pickup initially. The stock tires on most pickups are undersize, which racks up miles faster on the odometer (hmmm...wonder why they do that?).
We're sorry, you're warranty is expired.
When I marked the mileage in the car, it measured more accurately.

Thanks to everyone!

2005-08-25T09:31:00.000-04:00

Miles walked: 3.4

I would like to thank everyone that reads this blog and sends me email. It is very encouraging and seems to come at just the right time. Because of all of you I am motivated to get up early and go walking. Keep up the good work!