t3h lurv W00ki33!

The Iron

2011-02-10T20:14:00.001-06:00

As many of you know, if I could be built like anyone, it would be Rollins. Today a friend at work sent me a link to an article Mr. Rollins wrote about working out. Anywho, if you're not familiar with Rollins, he is an amazingly intelligent and well spoken person. Go check out his article at: http://www.oldtimestrongman.com/henryrollins_iron.html Hopefully you will be as inspired as I was.

Bout to go spend some time with The Iron, got a new playlist ready to go:

Have a good night, and don't forget, it gets easier!

Quick pic update

2011-02-10T13:46:00.002-06:00

297 to 192.

New Goal!

2011-02-09T09:40:00.001-06:00

First off, I went with a few friends to a spin class earlier this week....
WOW! That literally kicked my ass. I pushed myself harder than I ever have and felt pretty good afterward. (minus the butt cheek pain) Anywho, the day before, I used a Body Fat Analyzer. It apparently has an accuracy of +/- .02%. I measured in at 17.3% body fat. This falls in the upper end of the Fitness range.

With tooth brush jiggling at an all time low, it's time to add some goals to the list. Since I started my quest last February, I haven't been real concerned with much more than getting under 200. I've now managed to stay under 200 since 12/11/2010. It's time to throw some weights into the mix. I am pleased with how I look right now. However, I wouldn't mind seeing a little more muscle. So....new goal to the list is drop about 13 more lbs of fat, but gain 13 more lbs of muscle. I want to maintain the low 190s but with 10% body fat. Right now I pretty much stay right around 192. I like that size but I figure if I trade the 13 lbs of fat for muscle I will not only feel better but I think it will help eradicate the rest of my goals. So for right now here's the current goal list:

Lose 10% body fat but maintain weight. (Rollins Shorts!!!)
Stop jiggling completely when brushing teeth.
100 non-stop pushups.
Run a 5k without walking <---getting closer on this one! Being sick for 2 months slowed me down a bit, but rebuilding!
Look like this dude:

Anywho, this post isn't so much a motivating post like my normal ones but a way to keep myself in check and track my progress. Everyone that's on the fitness wagon, keep it up! It gets easier.

Think Positive

2011-02-05T18:37:00.000-06:00

Read this in a magazine had to share it:

"The unconscious mind has a hard time understanding negation. When people say they don't want to be fat, it doesn't always register deep down inside. You'll be more productive if you say, I want to be 9% body fat by April 2011. That's positive and specific."

I really liked this. I think that being positive and setting goals is important for getting results and keeping motivated. Anywho, set a goal for yourself, or multiple goals. Keep track of your progress and always stay positive! Not only does it give you something to look forward to, but the feeling of accomplishment is great when you get there. Just always remember it gets easier!

To be specific....

2011-01-25T18:19:00.002-06:00

Sometimes you have to reach a point in life before you make an honest decision to make a change. New Year's day comes and you make your resolution. You do it because it's the new year and that's the time to start over, to make that change that you've been putting off all year.
For the first couple weeks at the gym you see tons of new faces hitting the treadmills or roaming aimlessly around the weight machines. As time goes by, the gym gets a little less crowded each day and many of those newcomers to the gym, park, or weight watchers class just disappear.

Resolutions were made to be broken. It's too easy to just go back to the way we were on December 31st. Whether it's the lack of time, support, or motivation, falling back into the fast food, couch potato, dvr ridden lifestyle is just too easy. For most people I know, it has taken a far greater catalyst than an expiring calendar to make the decision to truly change the way you live.

I have a very close friend who has reached that point. An event in their life has motivated them to make a change. They asked me recently to give them any advice I could to help them on their journey. I've told most people that portion control and fitness is how I've lost my weight. Today I sent my friend a lengthy message letting them know pretty much exactly how I did it. I've decided to post it on my blog so that anyone else trying to make a change in their life might see a tip or two that helps them on their way.

Just so you know, I'm not an expert. I'm not trained or certified to instruct anyone on how to lose weight. This may not work for you (especially if you're a woman). This is just how I did it. It's been 11 months and I've lost 107 lbs. I don't take supplements, and I forget to take my vitamins half the time. I hope this helps:

Hey man,

I honestly feel like I could get you 20-25 lbs in 28 days. Especially at your starting weight...if you just eat the way I did starting out and don't even worry too much about the physical activity side of it, you'd see 15 lbs in a month. If you did slim in 6 phase 1, two times a week for that month you'd probably see 25-30.

The first 65-75 pounds will fly off. The trick is to make it 3 months. If you can make it 3 months without abandoning the change in diet it honestly becomes habit after that. It's just how you eat occasionally. It's ok to indulge once in awhile.

Get a scale.

Get a food scale.

Each day try to stay around 1200-1500 calories a day.

Try to stay under 20 grams of fat a day

No carbonated drinks

Tea, Coffee or Water. (The 0 calorie pink lemonades is ok but too much sodium will make you retain water and make ya swell up)

Try not to snack in between meals. If you do fresh fruit or raw veggies

Condiments: Mustards, hot sauces, BBQ sauce, fat free ranch/mayonnaise

Starting out Measure and Weigh everything. As time passes you'll be able to eyeball most stuff but weighing your food at the start is crucial because if you're eating 2000 calories of healthy food...you're still eating 2000 calories.

Using raw veggies as extra filler makes it alot easier to handle the hunger side of things. You can have monsterous amounts of lettuce, celery, cucumber, onion etc...and it won't affect your daily caloric intake.

Some of the low fat stuff tastes shitty at first but as time goes by you get used to it and when you go back and taste say regular mayonnaise or a regular soda they will seem too sweet

As a dude your testosterone will do alot of the work for you coming out of the gate. When you hit plateaus where the weight isn't dropping over a few days, spend a couple days working out. It will kick the system back into burning mode and you'll see the number start dropping again.

Try not to eat past 7pm. I don't really have a good health reason for this one outside of the fact that most of my food decisions past 7pm are bad ones. Get the hunger pangs after 7 have a big glass of water or tea and go to bed. Sleep time is burn time!

I rarely drink alcohol. If I do it's usually vodka and a diet soda. Save the beer for days ya wanna indulge.

Once you decide you wanna workout. Pace yourself, do what you can take breaks when you need em. Don't push yourself too much or you'll just burnout. Working 50% of a phase 1 workout is gonna provide you results. If you overdo it your just gonna either injure yourself or burn yourself out where you don't wanna do it anymore.

I weigh myself daily, once in the morning post-piss and once in the evening before bed. I find I weigh the most at night and the least in the morning. Some people don't like to see or micromanage the numbers like that, but for me even seeing a 2-3 pound change over the course of a week lets me know whether I need to buckle down or if it's ok to ease up.

Anywho, I'm sure supplements help, I personally take a multi and the fish oil and that's if i remember to. I don't think they're a miracle drug and I think if the results were that spectacular more people would know about them.

I've lost 107 lbs in the last 11 months through watching what I eat and working out a little. You need a support system and you need to track your results. Take an underwear picture front and side. Take another every 20 lbs you lose. If you're truly motivated to lose, I know you can do it.

Later this evening I'll send you some of the things I eat. I know figuring out what you can and cannot eat or should not eat can be a pain in the ass and if you get burnt out on what you're eating it's easy to stop. Anywho I'll send food stuff later. I hope this helps I know you can do it.

I know it's a poorly written message but it's the most specific I've ever been about how I've lost my weight. I post a blog later about the specific foods. But for now, I hope this helps. For all my friends and family that are trying to lose some weight and get healthy: I'm so proud of all of you, stick to it, it gets easier!

JD

The Funeral Drive

2011-01-17T09:17:00.000-06:00

My old band has a show on the horizon, like our facebook page and keep an eye out!

2010.

2011-01-01T13:56:00.001-06:00

2010, looking back on the previous year...I have to say....I've had worse. I've seen a lot of people posting on facebook about how they can't wait until 2010 is over, that it was such a horrible year and they just want it to be over. Hate to break it to ya, but numbers on a calendar aren't gonna change anything. Be negative, get negative. Last year was a wild ride, I come out of it with a grin on my face, wiping a little dust off my shoulders. I resolve to be happy and enjoy life. 2011....let's do this!

Fuck Yeah!

2010-12-11T08:04:00.000-06:00

Last February, I weighed 297 pounds. I made a choice to change that. I now weigh 198. I feel better than I have in a very long time. I've lost 99 pounds in 10 months. 2010 has been quite a roller coaster of a year, but sticking to my guns and meeting my weight loss goal 21 days early sure feels pretty fucking nice! To anyone who has ever offered a word of encouragement, thank you! It's time to assess and figure out what the new goals are. I still want to run a 5k, and I'm getting closer to the 100 push-ups in 1 hour project. I jiggle much less when I brush my teeth but still have a ways to go before I meet that goal. Remember it get's easier! 198 FUCK YEAH!!!

I get mad at myself when I see this picture!

262 pounds. I wish I had a pic like this from when I weighed 297.

When I weighed 297, I was wearing size 42 pants...and they were getting tight! Still about 210 in this pic.

First pics under 200 since the year 2000!!

I feel like a douchebag taking pics like this but fuck it, 198 bitches!

Miles! 3 of them!

2010-11-10T19:29:00.000-06:00

So no real post in awhile. So here goes:

So close to my goal. Down to 207. I have officially lost 90 pounds. Just ran 3 miles for the first time. I say ran, was more of a run/jog/walk/slug. Did it in 39:09. Not great....but I did it! 7 pounds to go with about a month and a half and 2 major food holidays in the way. Let's do this! Once again, it gets easier. Everything gets easier.

JD

Respect

2010-11-02T16:40:00.002-05:00

Life

2010-11-02T05:02:00.002-05:00

"To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did" When God takes something from your grasp. He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.”

My aunt sent this little email forward to me this morning. If she only knew how much I needed to read this.

Success!

2010-10-18T17:24:00.000-05:00

Eight months ago I decided to make a change. At the time I weighed 297 lbs. I decided that by January 1st 2010 I wanted to weigh 220. Today October 18, 2010, I have reached that goal! I have raised the bar for myself and am now aiming for 200 by new years day. If I make it cool, if I don't no biggie. I feel better than I have in a long time and with the support and motivation from my beautiful wife I know that I will get there in time. Thanks to everyone who has offered kind words or supportive comments while I've been on this journey. If I can offer anything in return it is this: Be persistent, pace yourself, but push yourself. Just like Debbie Seibers says on the slim in 6 program: It gets easier! Along with numbers I've decided to add a few more fitness goals to my list:

1. Run 3 miles without walking.
2. Climb the Dihedral at the Narrows in the Wichita Wildlife Refuge.
3. Brush teeth without jiggling.
4. 100 push ups without stopping.
5. Get under 200 lbs.

Bring it on!

The Pull Up...

2010-10-01T14:01:00.000-05:00

When I was a teenager I always had some kind of a summer job. When I was 13 I shoveled sawdust at my Papa's cabinet shop for 5 bucks an hour. I framed house's with my best friend's dad for a few summers, and worked with my step dad doing an assortment of carpentry work.

When I was 15 or 16 me and Big Jim (my step dad) were doing a job installing Spanish roof tiles. He had hired me and another kid named Todd to work with him that day. During our lunch break, Todd jumped up to one of the roof beams and started doing pull ups. Big Jim asked,"How many can you do?"
I told him I honestly had no idea I never really tried. I grabbed a beam and commenced to strain, grunt, and do everything I could to eek out a pull up....to no avail. I was still in an awkward stage in life where puberty had brought me everything but muscle. Jim laughed and said,"You work with me all summer and I guarantee you'll be able to do a pull ups."

We worked on tons of different jobs that summer. We built a greenhouse for an elderly lady in Ft Worth. We re-roofed some houses. Did some concrete work here, a little brick work there. It was all hard...but it still paid that sweet, sweet five bucks an hour. Anyways, Jim was right towards the end of the summer after digging holes and swinging hammers all day long, I found myself finally able to do a pull up.....hell not just A pull up, but LOTS of pull ups. I thought I was a stud.

Then life commenced and I moved away from home, became responsible for how I ate and how active I was...and as most of you know...I got a little hefty. Now that I have been working on changing all that I have wanted one thing back....my ability to do pull ups. Stacy got me one of those "hang from the doorway" pull up bars for my birthday in July. I was ecstatic, I sat on the floor like a little kid with a new toy putting it together, excited to assess my abilities since I had lost some weight. (By July I had already lost about 65 pounds.)

Remember when we had to do the different fitness tasks in PE when we were kids? Remember the kids that just hung from the pull up bar when the coach lifted them up to it? Well that was me. 29 years old hanging from a bar in the hallway, with no chance of lifting myself even an inch off the ground. I assure you I wasn't pleased with this outcome.

It's been just over 2 months since my pull up defeat. I've had to tackle this two different ways...

Step 1: Lose more weight so you don't have to pull up as much.

Step 2: Time to start adding a little more weight training to the workout regimen.

Right now I don't have weights or a gym membership so I've been doing different dumbbell workouts with Stacy's 2- 4lb dumbbells. I just hold them both in one hand and do as many reps as I can. Curling or Shoulder Pressing 8 pounds can make for a long set. I've also started doing more push ups and as you may remember from a previous post, running. I need to buy some heavier dumbbells and I also want to get a bench.

Anyways, yesterday after work, Stacy and I were weighing ourselves like we do....all the time...and the scale came up with my lowest weight to date......223!!!! As I stood there staring at the scale I thought to myself,"You can lift 223." Sure enough I was able to eek out a pull up! I had to grunt a little and my face may have gotten a little red...but I got my chin above that bar! I haven't done a pull up in 10 years. Many of my friends got a text that said,"223, and a pull up!!!"

1 down! Tonight we go for 2! It may have taken 2 months to get to 1....but I still got there!

Remember! It get's easier! Next stop a hundred pushups!

http://hundredpushups.com/index.html

Getting closer!

2010-09-22T18:47:00.001-05:00

This afternoon I stepped on the scale and saw 225! It's been about 10 years since I've had my weight this low! In February, when I first decided to do something about my weight I originally set a goal of 220 by the new year. I'm 5 pounds from my original goal and it's not even October! A few weeks ago I decided to lower the goal to 199 by January 1, 2011. The last time I was under 200, I was a senior in high school. Right now I have mainly been losing weight through cardio and diet....mainly diet.

Once I hit my goal of 199, I'm going to start incorporating more weight training. Honestly anywhere between 195-210 I will be happy. I'm still not a hardcore fitness freaks. I still have weeks where I just don't workout, and weekends where I eat whatever I want. For me keeping an eye on the scale lets me know when it's time to start putting more effort into my exercises, or to go easy on the weekend meals.

I've said this to many of my friends...I wanna be built like Rollins.....do I have the dedication and motivation to do it? Probably not....but if I get to my goal and find the motivation to push to that size...god help you all...because the shirts comin' off and I'm buying me some of those little cotton shorts he wears on stage.

Until next time remember....it gets easier, I promise!

JD

Bored on a Sunday

2010-09-19T13:46:00.000-05:00

So Stacy was at work and me and the boy had cabin fever. I finished all the laundry, cleaned the kitchen, made beds. Being out of stuff to do I was beginning to go insane with boredom. Tuggah was watching backyardigans and they started talking about snocones...it inspired me. There is a snocone stand about a mile from our house. Let the adventure begin!

First destination: The pedestrian overpass!

Made it to the overpass!

Payoff!

He decided he wanted a sundae instead of a snocone...But then we had to go back.

About half way home he was gettin worn out.

We ended up takin a break at the track in the shade.

No longer bored just sweaty!

Running...

2010-09-19T11:37:00.001-05:00

I hate running. When someone would say, "I don't like running unless someone is chasing me." I would always think to myself, "I don't even wanna run even if someone is chasing me. I'll take my chances once they get to me." That's how much I hate running.

I saw that movie zombieland a few months back and the first rule of surviving zombieland was.....you guessed it! CARDIO:

Right now if Hell were to become full and the dead began to walk the earth....I would be fucked. I may be 70 pounds lighter than I was a year ago but I still don't like running.And like the fat guy above I give the zombie's about 3/8's of a mile before they get to munch on my sweaty, out of breath tail.

In preparation for the zombie apocalypse, I have decided, like it or not to start running. I have a track in my front yard. Seriously, I look outside and our town's peewee field is across the street. We have lived here for almost 3 years and I have maybe stepped on the track 6 times. I wonder how many times the lardass in the pic above had stepped on that football field he was running across before the ZA? (zombie apocalypse)

This past week I began zombie training. I ran 3 days, today will be my 4th for the week. My calves hurt, my thighs hurt, and for some strange reason I fart uncontrollably for about 30 minutes after each run. But survival demands more!

Day 1: I took my 5 year-old to the track with me. We walk/ran for about 3/4 a mile before his little legs couldn't handle anymore. I took him back home, then came back out and finished an additional 1 1/4 mile for a total of 2 miles that day. I also had taken my iphone with me but ran into an issue. First I had no headphones with me so when we ran it created a bit of a doppler effect. 2nd I had no workout specific playlist so it was hit n miss on whether the songs were good for working out.

Day 2: Was sore from the previous days run but still headed to the track...I think we taste the same to the zombies regardless of how sore our muscles are. This day I went to the track before I had to pick my son up from school. I purchased a set of headphones to cure the whole doppler effect issue and hit the ground running. I managed to run about a lap and a half before I needed to slow down and walk. I only managed a mile before I had to pick up the kiddo from school. I still hadn't fixed the play list either so Taylor Swift and Rihanna kept sneaking into my Pantera and Iron Maiden. Still 1 more mile down for a total of 3 for the week. Not bad.

Day 3: Got home, entertained my little boy while Stacy worked out, then strapped on the sleeveless shirt and iphone and headed out. I made a playlist with the following songs:

This was by far the best day on the track. The playlist made a HUGE difference! I started in lane 1 and moved over a lane for each lap. Completed 2 miles ran about 75% of it! It still took a good 30 minutes to do which isn't phenomenal. But at least I can say that I hate running a little less. I'm still hoping it's the slow zombie's and not the fast one when the ZA occurs. But I'm not gonna rest on my laurels. This is no longer just about fitness and feeling good...and not jiggling when I brush my teeth. This is now survival training.

The more I run, the less it hurts. The more I run, the farther I go each time. Let the undead bastards come. Training begins now.

By the way if ZA does occur before I get any better at running and you see this guy:

I didn't make it. Take me out of my lifeless misery.

Until next time, remember: It gets easier.

Hunting season is around the corner....

2010-09-17T09:49:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I went with my Father-in-law to fill his deer feeders in preparation for the coming season. It's been probably 13 years since I've gone hunting. I think I'm going to change that this year. I really enjoyed helping him set up the feeders and walking the woods and learning about some of his favorite places to hunt. I guess it's time for me to finally go out and get my first deer. Bambi Beware!

BioSchock Infinite

2010-09-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

This game is totally blowing my mind! I can't wait until it comes out. The art coming out for this game is just beautiful. I love the whole early 1900s steam era propaganda posters coming out. Check out this post from www.joystiq.com: http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/bioshock-infinite-propaganda-implores-your-patriotism/

Gamer ADD or Just Bored?!?

2010-09-16T09:13:00.002-05:00

Quakecon 2010 with Adam Sessler from G4!

Hello, my name is Jerry. I'm a gamer. Between work, family, and working out, my gaming time is not what it used to be. There was a time when I would get off work on Friday and play Everquest for 90% of the weekend, only stopping for food, restroom, and power naps.

My how things have changed over the years. The post work gaming marathons have been replaced with working out, spending time with my wife and son, and maybe playing something for an hour or 2 before bedtime. However recently I've run into an issue. On my "video game" night, once I get home, have family time, eat dinner, and get my son in bed, I find myself staring at a shelf full of games with no idea which one to play.

I've got at least 15 games that I've played less than an hour of each that I still need to beat. I didn't get an xbox 360 until last January so alot of the games many of you played and beat years ago, I've just begun to play. Right now I have 3 games that I want to complete:

Red Dead Redemption (I'm close, 98%)
Gears of War (I'm maybe 2 hours in)
Orange Box (Portal Defeated, about 50% done with Half-life 2)

Anyways, last night was gonna be a game night. I got off work, went with my son to get Haircuts, did some yard work, ate dinner, got the kiddo in the tub, got the kiddo in bed, then found myself once again staring at the video game shelf. Stood there for about 5 minutes trying to make a decision then resigned to my recliner and put on the ranger game.

I surfed the net for awhile while watching the ranger game but still just sat there absolutely bored out of my mind. I opened up steam thinking maybe a pc game will do the trick. I recently purchased Company of Heroes for like 5 bucks a couple months ago but haven't really played it that much. So I decided to give it a go. I'm not a huge real time strategy fan but with this one being based on WWII it held my interest. I still only played for maybe 30 minutes then turned it off.

I can't figure out if I am just bored with gaming in general or if I have contracted some kind of gamer ADD that is keeping me from focusing on one game. Anyways, I don't have a point with this post. I'm just venting my frustration. I don't like being bored. Tonight is Soprano's night! We'll see how bored I get on Friday.

Ok here we go...

2010-09-16T08:02:00.004-05:00

Jumping on the bandwagon here. A couple months ago my wife created a blog called http://ieatcarbs.blogspot.com/ . She has inspired me to do the same. Please bare with me as I am not nearly as eloquent or well spoken as she is. It took a good 4 months after my wife started working out and eating right for me to reach a point where I felt like I had to do something.

Last February, I decided to have a small get together for the winter Olympics curling finals. I went to the store and bought an endless amount of queso, chips, twizzlers, beer, and various other "party foods" The sheer amount of food I consumed throughout that day was amazing. I know for a fact that I single handedly consumed 1lb of twizzlers. Anyways, when I woke up the next morning I felt absolutely horrible. As I went to take a shower, I decided to step on the scale. 297. I was 3 pounds shy of weighing 300. I was disgusted. I hadn't realized that I had put on so much weight over the years.

This picture was taken last November.

I called Stacy that morning (she was in Chicago at the time visiting friends) and told her that I wanted to lose weight and that when she got home we needed to go shopping (for healthy food). Stacy had been doing Slim in 6 and eating a low fat diet since October. She had already lost 25 or 30 pounds by then. I decided I was going to go the weight watchers route because of I didn't want to work out and I have issues with portion control. (see pic above) Over the first couple of months I dropped about 20 pounds very quickly just from watching what I was sticking in my food hole.

Then I hit a plateau.

I went about 3 weeks hovering around 275. I knew what the solution was but I just didn't want to do it....Exercise. UGH! I am not, nor have I ever been anything close to an athlete. I'm a geeky gamer person who would much rather veg out in a recliner than go outside and soak in some vitamin D. I finally gave in and tried out the Slim in 6 workout that my wife had been using. It wasn't that bad. I'm lying the first few times was that bad. 20 minutes of low impact aerobics for a sedentary person at 275 lbs was like torture. At least the lady on the DVD wasn't hard too on the eyes. But something awesome started happening. The numbers on the scale started going down again.

Around 262 pounds I started doing the before/after pics. I really wish I would have done one at 297 but I just didn't think about it at that time.

262...Dead sexy I know!

If you just threw up on your keyboard, I'm not buying you a new one. Anyways, it is now September. Yesterday I hit 227. Since February I've lost 70 lbs. I feel great:

I know it's not a huge difference, but at least there's a difference!

Right now I have 2 goals:

1. Hit 200 by January 1, 2011.

2. Don't jiggle when you brush your teeth.

Anyways, that's where I'm at right now. If your looking to be inspired here's what I've got:

When you wake up in the morning and you feel like you've reached that point where you really want to do something about your weight and health. Act on it. At first it's gonna suck. You're gonna think that you're gonna starve to death and it's not gonna work. You'll be sore. Plain worn out! Stick to it! Persevere! It get's easier!