crying at the gym!

It has been a great few days! The world did not end and I have continued to make progress with my life changing decision to get in to Shape, and I don't mean round I am already there!
I have been on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. I was A bit disappointed with my efforts on Wednesday I got up at 4:50 to headed  to the gym and I did make it there but I was not prepared at all. I could not find my Water bottle (thanks to the Kids). I thought no big deal They have water there, and they did But there were no cups. I hit the treadmill wondering if this was a good idea Because of the pain in my Left knee. I had planed on getting on the elliptical because of this, but I decided to put the Mill at a 1% incline and have at it. I only made it just over a half mile And quit! I did not have any water my knee was hurting and so I went to the Chest press pumped out 20 reps and decided I was running late so I left to get ready for work. As I got back home I had Plenty of time to relax before I had to leave for work. I took thursday off to rest my knee, or maybe to sleep in the decision was a bit blurry. Then came Friday I got up at ten to five and headed out. I felt okay and My mind was beating me up over this was all worth it, "it is just so hard" I was thinking to my self. Well I got there water in hand and stretched for a bit and Got on the machine That makes me feel like a hamster in a wheel. I set the incline at 1% and walked at 3.5 for 2 minutes and then speed it up to 5.2 I was jogging and before I knew it I looked down and I had been running for over 3 minutes with out slowing down. I resized that it was getting easier and I felt FREE! I did slow down to a walk at just before 5 minutes. To make it to the point I went in total right at 1 1/2 miles with more running than I have done in 10 years. I was excited and felt good the rest of the day. I was going to work out again on Saturday but my knees and Legs were hurting walking up and down our stairs, so I took the day off. That bring us to today. I went to the gym and after stretching, or at least trying to (my legs are so tight and I could not even get into the proper form to stretch my hamstrings) I got on the "mill" and starting by walking then My Phone some how came out of its case and hit the conveyor being slung off the back like a dude in one of those youtube videos. as I stopped the "Mill" to retrieve my Phone (oh yes this was the second time this week this has happened) I just knew it would be broken. To my surprise HTC makes a very durable device! I was at minute 2 I started ti machine back up set the incline and started to run. I was at 5.3 and doing great I made it 5 minutes with out slowing down and felt as is I could make a chance in my Life! This was the second day I was running and did not think I was gonna Die. My knees were hurting at first but i pushed through it. I was trying to lengthen my stride in a effort to stretch out my legs to make my knees feel better, In all said I had a great day on the "mill". After the run I hit the leg press, assisted Pull up's, and bench press.
I was still trying to figure out how I was gonna get my darn Knees to stop hurting and stretch out my legs.
So I stood on a bench with my toes on the bench and my heels off the edge, I felt this was helping but It just did not do the trick. I looked down to my left and saw this White solid foam object it was about 6-8 inches round and about 18 inches long. I remembered that A trainer once told me that You could put it under my leg while laying on my side and holding my upper body up with my arms, then she said to use my arms and walk myself forward until my leg rolled up the foam until it hurt, then hold and move on the the next spot. I thought "humm I think she told me this was like a deep tissue massage and would relieve the tightness in my knee and loosen my legs" So I tried It Right leg first. As I moved forward the cylinder of pain as I know call it hit a spot and it was hurting but as I held it until it felt better I moved on down to the next spot each one more painful than the last. I got about 3 inches above my knee I hit a spot that wrenched so much pain I held it and then I felt this Large knot in my mussel role off and as it did I had one of the most excruciating pains I have ever felt go through my body. I screamed out in pain and tears formed in my eyes! I looked up and the only two people in the gym were looking as I with tears running down my face I told them it was okay. But as I got done my right leg and knee was feeling much better. So I went to the left leg Mind you this knee and leg have ben bothering me worse than the right, As I started The pain was so intense I was sweeting worse than when I was running. Though I did not make it all the way down my leg, I do fell better and am going to work on my left leg each day in this way. I know it will be hard to get it stretched out, but once I do I will be doing much better at running as well. I hope you all find the story of a Fat man Crying at the Gym entertaining.

Until Next time I will be "running for a change"

Greg.

Trying to make a Change

Well this is my very first Blog Post ever! I have decided to create this Blog to track my journey to better health.
18 years ago I was a Fit young man joining the Air Force at 162 Lbs I was playing Soccer and could run 10 miles a day. while in the service I started eating more than I was burning and put on about 18lbs over the next four years. I took jobs that did not require much physical activity at all and the end result was a slow weight gain to all time high of 273lbs. I had tried to diet and exercise in the past to no avail. As I have gotten older and in worse shape I have come to the conclusion that I HAVE to get the weight OFF! I want to play with my kids and
enjoy life. So thus the Journey Begins! I started out buy joining a Gym in late march and only went one time. Along came April and I made it to the Gym a whopping 2 times! I was on track. I have finely buckled down and in the last two weeks I have been 4 times and tried to run outside on the running/walking path outside of our home. I have been able to bring my time for one mile from just under 16 mis to my most resent outdoor run/walk to a 13:30 pace. Not to bad for a fat man but I have along way to go. I want to run in a 5k this year but I cannot even make 1 mile with out walking. I know I have some good people around me cheering me on and others keeping me accountable (from a distance). I hope you all enjoy my journey as much as I hope too.

 Until next time I will be, RUNNING FOR A CHANGE!