1/19

I was biting one of my finger nails last night and instead of spitting it out, I guess I forgot about it and it got lodged in my throat. I'm still battling with it today with trying to regurgitate it, or wash it down, so much so that I couldn't even do my cardio today. It was just bugging me to no end, and hopefully when I go to the movies tonight I can wash it down with some coke and popcorn or something. The mouthwash in the mean time seems to be making me forget about it, at the very least.

I was also planning on fasting today (not eating the entire day) just to prove my dicipline. But yeah, that's on hiatus until this is gone from my throat. I'll update you later.

01/17 - 01/18

Well, yesterday (17th) I did another hour of DDR cardio, and began messing around with my pull-up bar that goes between the door frame. Nothing serious, but I expect to go into full machine mode starting Monday of next week. 2009 will be the year. IT WILL BE. In more than one aspect, but of course the health and fitness being the top of my goals. I also like to buy video games, that means a job needs to be in the NEAR NEAR future. So expect me to go mad looking for one once the winter gets the hell out of here.

Today, it's my birthday. I'm going to have to avoid sinning today, in many respects. Can I do it? Of course. Will I, that's another story. I have to stick to my scheudle, cardio every day. NO DAYS OFF. Not even on my birthday. No cake, I had warned my mother to not get a cake because I wouldn't eat it. Hopefully she listens and just gives me money. I need that MF'in Street Fighter IV + Arcade Stick! But yeah, hopefully doing another hour of cardio, if things change I'll update this later. Peace.

Back Again! 01/12 - 01/16

So after the long winter hiatus of me doing practically nothing, I've returned to get into shape -- again. I put on about 15 lbs. due to me indulging in pretty much everything and not exercising at all. But I don't want to be a bearer of all bad news.

I realized it was too cold for me to do anything outside, the last memory I have of exercising was running a mile in the frigid weather and almost feeling like my lungs were going to collapse. So Monday (01/12) I did an hour of cardio via DDR. I also quit drinking soda again and cut back on my eating habits. Monday was a huge day. I repeated the same hour of cardio all the way through today (Thursday, 01/15) despite me breaking down just a second ago to go blow this five spot on some Taco Bell, complete with a Baja Blast. I guess I figure I can eat out weekly or so and not really worry about it. I'm not going to get a water at Taco Bell, that just doesn't make sense. But yeah, other than that -- NO POP. BAD MIKE.

If I'm up for it, next week I might begin bodyweight training again, so I can feel even better about myself. That's about it for now, I'm ghost.

Week 6-1

Guess who's back?! Yeah, I've been neglecting you workout regime. I'm sorry. But no longer. Took over a month off and I don't want to fall back into a hole, so I'm back on the plan.

So for this new "week," which starts on Monday this time around by the way -- I have some modest goals. I planned to go to bed early and wake up early morning to run, but I just got so pumped, I couldn't go to sleep. I did some simple parkour stuff, cat walk, simple vaults over my hand railing, and jumped up onto my kitchen counter a few times.

12:40 am
Before I knew it, I was running. I ran over a mile! I've done it before, but not all at once! The last time I ran a mile I was eight years old, so this is quite the accomplishment. It took me over nine minutes, but who cares? I ran up to Nine mile, walked half way back and then ran the other half, so almost a mile and a half I guess. MAN I feel great.

I'm sweating. I guess I'm just going off the cuff from now on. No silly schedule, 100% spontaneous. Just cardio every day, and body-weight training a few times a week.

1:00 pm
So after waking up and eating some breakfast, I decided that running for 10-12 minutes isn't sufficient cardio for the day, and that I still need to do an hour of continuous aerobic activity. So I ride my bike to that sweet spot on 11 Mile Road & Dequindre, which takes precisely half an hour each way, making it an hours worth of trip. I ride my bike up the crosswalk there and back, just to get some elevated power-pedaling action.

2:15 pm
After walking off to cool down, I slam a glass of water and prepare for physical training. I shoot for 100 push-ups, and 200 crunches. That's exactly what I accomplish. Sets were 50-40-10 (push-ups), and 200 (crunches). Fix me a well deserved protein shake, and I'm completely done for the day. I'm so crazy I'm actually thinking about running another mile before I sleep, around the same time as last night/morning. We'll see what transpires.

Mike out.

Stats
185 lbs.
28.4 BMI
34.35% Body Fat

Week 5-7

What the fuck? Weird shit has been happening. I didn't work out this entire week, the whole damn week! I ate whatever I wanted, drank beer, soda, partied, hung out with my friends. The whole week. Somehow, I lose 5 pounds in 6 days, doing absolutely nothing productive. From 194 to 189. I'm totally confused. This is exciting in some ways, but I really have to get back exercising.

Rode my bike for an hour today.

Walked DRAHNER ROAD! THE WHOLE THING. Woot.

Diet:
Water
Vitamin

Week 5-2

Man, I've been pretty bad. I haven't worked out in three days, and I haven't been watching my eating too much. On top of that, I should have been doing intervals today, but I woke up so late and felt like a zombie.

I will do intervals tomorrow I suppose, but today I rode my bike for 50 minutes. I will also do DDR for an hour, later on today. Despite me not doing much the last three days, I lost 1 pound. So I guess progress is made regardless. Alright. Peace out blog, hopefully tomorrow will be a more eventful day.

Diet:
Water
Vitamin

Rebuild 4-7

Man, I messed up. Didn't do anything yesterday, interval wise or anything. Was hanging out with friends. Then today as well, I haven't done anything either. So I guess these are like two days off before the new week. If I go to bed at a decent time tonight I will do intervals or maybe run a mile tomorrow, to start off the new week. Gotta make up for my weakness.

Rebuild 4-5

Yeah, so I didn't wake up until almost 8:30 today. I felt like a zombie. So by that time it was already pretty hot outside, so I said forget that mile run. Don't think I'll do it tomorrow, as that's intervals tomorrow, but maybe Saturday, or possibly Sunday. First day of the new work month! Woo. But yeah.

Applied a fair amount of sunscreen and let that settle in, then I rode my bike for about 50 minutes. It definitley felt like over an hour, at least based on the distance I went, and it being an hour the last time I went down that way. I even took some detours through uncharted Hazel Park territory, but still. 50 Minutes. Bah.

Did over an hour of DDR. Burnt 521 calories, YEAH. Going to Gameworks today with some friends, going to be boring. But whatever, social interaction is all the rage these days.

So overall it was a cinch, and I discovered some trasure! THIS IS THE WAY!

Diet:
Water
Vitamin

Rebuild 4-4

So after hitting the snooze button on my alarm for almost an hour, I decided I should finally get up and knock out these intervals. It was 6:30 am, I'm slowly inching myself closer to the "normal morning," which I find kind of cool in a way. I guess I'm not so worried about people watching me spratically run down the street anymore. Whatevs.

So I did one more two minute run than last time, which was pretty cool. I sort of ignore the pain about half way through the process, then it's just killing time listening to the podcast, while I watch the stop watch casually. It still gets my heart-rate up, I guess I just get into the zone. I realize that I'm traversing two miles by doing these intervals, which is pretty sweet. In the near future, I may trying running from 8 to 9 Mile Road in one run. I haven't ran a solid mile since fourth grade or something, which took about 8 minutes back in the day. I may try that tomorrow, I'm feeling that I can do it. I know I can. So Friday I'll up the 2 minute runs from eight to ten, and then next week I'll start at 7 again, but this time - THREE minute runs. I know, intense.

Did some DDR today as well, for an hour or so of cardio. Burnt about 500 calories, so says the workout mode. Pretty cool, I can see the DDR becoming an every day thing, maybe replacing the bike on some days (like today). That's all for now. Peace!

Diet:
Water
Vitamin
Bowl of Cereal
PB&J Sandwich
Milk
Some Baked Beans
Cheez-Its
V8 Fusion

Rebuild 4-3

Rode bike for an hour today. DDR for two hours. Word.

Diet:
Yoplait Yogurt - 100 calories
Bowl of Cereal w/ fat free milk - 190 calories
2 servings: Cheez-its - 600 calories
PB&J w/ whole wheat - 350 calories
8 oz. fat free milk - 90 calories
Water - 0 calories
22 oz. Arizona Green Tea - 210 calories
8 oz. V8 Fusion - 120 calories
Vitamin
Total - 1660 calories

Rebuild 4-2

Pretty intense, although cut short due to rain.

Intervals today, Looked overcast so I brought my hoodie along with me, and I used the stopwatch feature on my iPod, for the first time in history. I ran around the block but then proceeded on further, and hit 9 Mile Road, before turning back. When I hit my sixth run it started to rain, by the time I got back home, I was soaked.

Run 1: 2:02 Rest 1: 1:00
Run 2: 2:00 Rest 2: 1:01
Run 3: 2:00 Rest 3: 1:00
Run 4: 2:01 Rest 4: 1:00
Run 5: 2:00 Rest 5: 1:00
Run 6: 2:00 Rest 6: 1:00
Run 7: 2:00 Walk: 10:00
Total Time: 30:04

Went shopping for food shortly after, picked up a nifty pair of shorts while out. Picked up DDR as well, Did an hour worth of cardio on that. That's about it. Later.

Diet:
Bowl of Cereal
PB&J
Milk
V8 Fusion
Beef Stew
Cheez-its
Water
Vitamin

Rebuild 4-1

So my tower of endless determination and positivity could have quite possibly toppled over today. Rick spent the night and all that, and I weigh myself in the morning, only to realize that I still weigh 195 lbs. I know weight isn't necessarily an accurate representation of how much fat I'm burning -- as I'm more than likely gaining muscle every day -- but it's still a bit depressing. I'm just going to keep pushing on however, as best I can. PUSH IT TO THE MAX, like Brucie.

So I woke up at 6:30 this morning, and didn't feel like going out and exercising, to spare my friend from confusion, as he would undoubtedly wake up and wonder where I had gone to. BUT, that doesn't mean I neglected my training for today. NO WAY, never again will I skip a day of cardio - I know the consequences.

Around 11:30 Rick had left for his Mother's baby shower, and that meant that it was on. I geared up and hopped on that bike, and I rode like the wind. Took about 80-85 minutes this time, not necessarily taking my time but just going with the flow, pushing myself a fair bit along the way. Rode to a couple familiar places, picked up a green tea on the way back, from 7 Eleven (since I don't believe in paying $1.25 for a bottle of water). It was definitely an invigorating experience, riding at high noon. It was a bit hot, but not unbearably so, and the combination of the summer breeze and the rays of the sun, was definitely refreshing. I might opt to do cardio around this time more often, on the non-interval days.

So I got home and then just felt like riding my bike some more, so I rode up to my Grandma's, and basically just chatted it up with her for a while, and she gave me some money, which was very nice of her. I said I'd cut the grass for her if she ever needed it, etc. So then I ride to 7 Eleven again and get a Gatorade, and I'm on my way back home. Overall, a great day for cardio. That bank card should get here soon enough, and I should be able to purchase DDR, for even more cardio throughout the day. I know it seems ridiculous but I really want to shed off the pounds, pounds of fat anyway. A little muscle is obviously welcome. So I imagine I'm going to be bumping up cardio to two hours in one day, once I get that in the hizzy. Hour on bike/interval, hour on the ddr. Pumped.

I'm definitely watching the portions that I eat from now on, no two sandwiches at a time, only one. Things like that. I know I'm strong enough to do this, and the fact that not really anyone believes me really just drives me to prove them wrong. It might take more than six months, I might be talking about this come next June, but I'm getting genetically superior, whether you like it or not world.

P.S. This will be the last week where I blog about my experience every day. I will instead be referring to an Excel sheet for the specifics. I will still post every week and recap my experiences, and my progress. I know not really anyone reads this, but I need online documentation to further drive myself. Think of how pumped I'll be when I'm reading this a year from now - like, yeah past mike, GO FOR IT. Since I'm paranoid about my weight I won't be doing any bodyweight training today. I know I'm lame. It'll give my arms time to rest anyway. Talk to you G's tomorrow!

Diet for Today
----------------
Big Breakfest (Eggs, Hashbrown, Bacon)
Footlong Sub
Green Tea
Gatorade
Water
Vitamin

Feel Good 3-7

Last day of the week. YEAH. One more week to make it a month of work. I'm pumped.

So I rode the bike for 60 minutes today, Rode up to Target on 11 Mile & Dequindre and then turned back. Was good, listened to the Giant Bombcast Metal Gear Spoiler Edition while riding.

Washing clothes, and probably hanging out today. That's it! Rest of the day is a easy day. Talk to you NEXT WEEK.

Diet for Today
---------------
3x PB&J
Cookie
Some Soup
Water
Vitamin

Feel Good 3-6

Approaching the end of the week, today is Friday so I did my tri-weekly intervals as planned. 2 minutes of run, 1.5 minutes of walk. Did that five times, then on the sixth run I made it 2.5 minutes, by that time I was pretty much back up my driveway.

So that took a good 21 minutes or so, the rest of the hour I rounded out with the bike. I rode in a wide circle around the city, not necessarily hitting any destinations, but just turning around to reverse the circle at 20 minutes. So that took up the rest of the 40 minutes, and was pretty lax, since I was pretty winded after the intervals.

After that, I fed the cats and all that good stuff, then started on my push-ups. It was considerably harder today, but I managed to hit 130 today. I pushed myself as hard as I could to hit the first set of 70, then followed up with 35. Then I did 25 elevated push-ups, and that completed my upper workout. I then did approximately 601 crunches, in 300-301 fashion. I opted to skip out of legwork today, since I had done that running, my legs were super tired. But I feel like I did my job, and that's what matters. I'm pretty exhausted, and will ONLY be doing cardio tomorrow, nothing else. In fact, I think I'm going to take a nap for 3 hours or so. Then I'll probably hang out with some peeps. Later!

Diet for Today
----------------
Protein Shake
PB&J
Cheeseburger
DQ Blizzard
Water
Vitamin

Feel Good 3-5

So I opted to sleep in until 6 this morning, so I could get a decent 8 hours or so. Didn't do all that much today, just rode the bike up to the park, and rode around on the bike paths there, then I rode up to 7 eleven. Only did about 45 minutes today, just wasn't feeling it like most days. It'll be nice when I pick up that DDR, so I can do cardio on top of cardio.

So I did just upper body today, did 125 push-ups. 70-30-25, the last 25 being elevated. Pretty cool that I keep pushing my max set by 10. I wonder if I can hit 80 tomorrow? Who knows, I counted to 25, started counting to 25 again, then counted to 10 twice. That's how I paced it, just in case I wanted to stop at 50 or 60. In a couple weeks I can guarantee that I'll be able to do 100 consecutive push-ups. It's a bold claim I know, but I'll show you.

So after about three weeks of training, "Ninja Warrior" training, as Joe calls it, I feel like I'm comfortable enough to realize what I can and cannot do. I'm going to be sticking to a scheudle starting next week, which includes Cardio x7 (times a week), Intervals x3, upper body x5-6. core x4, and lower body x3. I'll divulge the specifics when the time comes. By the start of next month that would be a milestone, and I'll probably chart my eating as well. Nothing too ridiculous, just counting how many calories I consume, along with protein and carbs, in a day - along with how many I (theoretically) burn, to maintain about 30% below maitenence consumption. Cool stuff, it's fun to geek out on something like this, keeps me driven.

If I continue to lose about 2-3 lbs. a week or about 10 lbs. a month, it seems ridiculous, but I would be down to about 160 in a little more than 3 months from this very day. That's inspirational, if anything. Although I'm sure I'll hit a weight loss stand-still. I have to be putting on muscle at the same time. But as long as there are visible results, I'm fine with trading fat for muscle.

I get excessively tired right around this time every day. It's probably because I don't do much else besides the exercising within a day. Sure Joe came over yesterday and prevented me from going to sleep, but who's going to save me now? I may have to just go on a long walk or something, do something outside. If that DDR was here I could just be jamming out on that all day, unlocking songs, and burning calories without even noticing. I'm pumped, that's the last piece of the cardio puzzle. I'm done jabbering, until tomorrow, good blog.

Diet for Today
---------------
PB&J x2
Milk
Vitamin Water
Water
Vitamin

Feel Good 3-4

Alright! So I took a day off from the intervals, as I got my new stuff the other day.

I rode my bike for about an hour, my NEW bike...and it rides pretty darn good. A fair bit lighter than my old mongoose, despite having pegs on it (which I could do without, it's not like I use them). Rode in some random direction and ended up hitting 11 Mile anyways, then went past Mound Road and somehow ended up on Sherwood. Didn't know what direction I was traveling in, but luckily I eventually hit 9 Mile, I could have been going the wrong way, for how much I knew about my current location. It was definitley refreshing to ride the bike, took me a couple minutes to get back in the swing of things though, it was harder initially than I remember. Tomorrow I might use my in-line skates, or if I do interval training before, I'll just ride the bike again afterwards.

So I opened up a checking account the other day, when I went to cash this check. I had to put a minimum of $50 in the account, so that's exactly what I did. I can't purchase DDR at the moment because of this, because I don't get the checking card for 7-10 days in the mail. Once I get that, I'll combine the $50 in my wallet with whatever else I need from the account, to buy it. Might buy a used older version, like the first Supernova, and buy the pad seperately. Just need something with the workout mode. That'll be a totally new spin on cardio, I'm personally excited. My ex has both the DDR pads and the game in Texas, and the funny thing is, I DOUBT she even plays it. Man, makes me mad. That's a wasted investment. I probably shouldn't have left her half of my damn games, because the only game she cares about is World of Warcraft.

But yeah, after the cardio, I did the exercising. 120 pushups for today, 60-40-20 fashion. I broke 50 in one set! YEAH. The last 20 were elevated pushups, which felt pretty good. Crunches I did 300-200. That was pretty intense as well. Then I did week 1 of Air Alert III, the leg training program. I'm spent. Thinking about doing upper body stuff every day, just the pushups at least...I seem to be getting noticably stronger.

That's about all for now, hopefully I won't take a huge nap today, but we'll see how things go. Off to take a shower. Later.

Diet for Today
---------------
Muscle Milk
Powerade
x2 PB&J
Chicken Sandwich
Cookie
Milk
Cheezits
Burrito
Water
Vitamin

Feel Good 3-3

So I woke up about 5:30 this morning, and got ready to go run a bit. I did more interval training, this time increasing the running to 2 minutes, while keeping the rests at 1 1/2 minutes. Did four of those, then did one run for 3 minute, and walked back to my house. I've been running just around my block, but I've been thinking about running in one direction, and then just walking my way back. This would burn more time, if I spent 30 minutes interval training, going north, it would probably take me 45 to walk back. This would make it like a full cardio workout, plus interval training. I'm thinking...

I will continue to up the ante with each day I interval train, be it increasing reps, extending running time, or shortening resting time. When I run in one direction, I may not look at time at all, and instead run for as LONG as I can, and then rest for 2 or 3 minutes, then continue to do that until I'm completely burnt out.

Whereever I decide to go with this, it's irrelevant at the moment. I have to cash this check I got today, and go to the Dick's Sporting Goods and pick up some in-line skates, and probably a bike. I've been looking at this sweet mongoose on their website for about $130, and these K2 skates for $80 or so.

Did 70 pushups today, 50 were elevated. I would thrust away as hard as possible, so my hands would leave the surface, then land back down. Elevated pushups are a different kind of burn, not as hard to begin with, but I couldn't see myself doing 100 of them. The joints in my legs are pretty sore, I'm not used to the impact running brings me. That's all for all. Out.

Diet for Today
---------------
Footlong Sub (Subway)
Water
Vitamin Water
Orange Drink
Vitamin

Feel Good 3-2

Well, today I almost did nothing. I felt really bad too, but I was still tired and wanted to sleep more. So I end up waking up at 6:30 or something, and I say what the hell Mike, get out there and do something. So I did interval training like I was supposed to, and I did it for the same lengths that I had last week. 1.5-1.5 x4, 2-1 x1. I'll gradually push it up to another two sets or maybe change it to 2 minutes of running, by the end of the week. I'm really just trying to hold out until I get that government check so I can go by some rollerblades and other stuff, so I can do something BESIDES interval training. I know it can't be bad to do it every day, but it's FAIRLY exhausting, and I'd like to take days off from it and do something more casual. But yeah, felt real good, despite doing it in a bit more sun than usual.

Did 100 pushups, this time in 40-30-20-10 fashion. I could have probably done 50 pushups in one go, which is pretty sweet to me, I'm definitley progressing. I then did 200 crunches, in 100-100 fashion. I didn't feel like overdoing it in that respect, but yeah. Feels good man, real good.

Still haven't eaten anything, besides that vitamin, I don't have any milk to mix the protein drink, and I'm sure it's going to taste like ass if I use water - so I might hold out for a couple days on that. I'm glad I decided to push through and not be a chump today, after those two days of rest, it was definitley hard to get back in the mix. But here I am, another day feeling good. I'm out.

Diet for Today
---------------
x2 PB&J
Cheez-its
Yakisoba
Vitamin Water
Water
Vitamin

Feel Good 3-1

195 lbs.

So Rick spent the night once again today, so I won't be doing anything excercise wise, other than hours of walking like yesterday probably. For sure I'll start back up tomorrow though, with intervals and some bodyweight training.

Despite that being a slack week, I still lost three pounds. I find that exceptionally dope (excuse my ghetto) and I account it to those three days of interval training. I've found that I can still live a little and eat some foods that I like, a couple times a week, as long as I do it in moderation.

When I get my check from the government, I'm going to pick up some rollerblades for sure, even more important since I don't have a bike. DDR also, for those indoor aerobic-like activities on days like today. Where I didn't get up before the heat. It's just good to mix it up. I'll ask Rick about the bike again, since I do need one still...if not I may have to pony up some more money from somewhere and buy another one. Rick is currently sleeping on the floor in my room (as usual), and it's almost 1 pm. I don't want to get back into this habit, so I'll probably make sure he goes home today. Maybe I can physically take him home and pick up the bike, I'm not sure. I was sweating, that's why I woke up. Hate sweating when you're sleeping, so uncomfortable.

Probably wash some clothes today, watch what I eat and all. and begin SUPER interval training starting Monday, and going as long as I can baby. More than three days a week probably, since I have no other cardio means at the moment. Wish I had a tredmill, or a stationary bike. Oh well.

That's a pretty hearty update if I do say so myself, I'll let you know a little of what I ate later today. Peace out, keep the faith.

Diet for Today
---------------
Honey Bun
Candy Bar
Gatorade
Water
Vitamin

Killer Combo 2-7

So I didn't do anything at all this day, since Rick came over and all. Hadn't had social interaction for two weeks, so I didn't mind the company.

Ate a little generously today as well, two hamburgers at a graduation party, french toast sticks at burger king, and consumed a fair amount of alcohol at a house party. But it's good to take a day or two off once in a while. I suppose when Rick leaves I'll continue training, but I'll only be doing the intervals because I don't have a bike...talk to you soon.