A Trip Around the Country

Here's the problem with CLE's (Continuing Legal Education Seminars) - they're serving us breakfast and lunch - and although I can control what exactly I eat, I can only eat what they put out.

So good news: I'm controlling my portions.

Bad news: they're portions of sausage, philly cheese steaks, and pastries.

So what we decided is two things:

1) I am going to do my Virtual 5k tomorrow morning (likely a bit more)

2) When I get home, we're adding an extra phase one week. And I'm not weighing in until Monday August 9. Giving myself a chance to undo whatever damage the food here is doing.

It's HARD eating on the road - as has been said.

But I'm doing my best. :)

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

A quick check in from Boston

Just wanted to let you all know I've landed safely here in Cambridge.

I went for a nice ten lap swim before bed tonight, and am planning on getting up early to check out the Charles River on a nice walk.

As for eating - I think the organic restaurant is going to be great - except that dinner was a catered affair. I did fine - but couldn't resist a small indulgence of strawberry shortcake. :) It was good, though.

Dinner was a nice bib lettuce salad, grilled veggies, grilled chicken, and steamed lobster. VERY nice.

Tomorrow things go to "more normal"-ish. Continental breakfast, lunch provided, and dinner at the restaurant.

What I'm going to do while I'm here is stick to good carbs, good fats - whole grains - watch my portions - and in the event that I hold onto a few pounds from here - Amber and I will revert to one more week of phase one when I go home.

Regardless - we WILL not fail - and I will not use being here as an excuse.

I can't wait to see you all in October!

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Boston and Illuminations

Greetings team!

Good news - I'm down another 3 pounds this week - for a grand total of 13 in my first 2 weeks on South Beach. Sadly - I knew it would slow - but I didn't want it to slow THAT much! Grrr.

Anyhow - this week presents some fun and some challenges.

Tomorrow I'm off to Boston for the remainder of the week! I'm going to a conference in Cambridge at Harvard Law. Yay - Boston in July - 240 degrees and 1000% humidity! But seriously - I'll have a great time! And I'll do everything I can to stick to phase 1 food - and since there's a nice organic restaurant in the hotel - I think I'll do just fine. :)

Now - let's talk October a moment.

Did you know that there's a Team Voice/Club 8/Bryan and Jonathan/AATM-ish meet on Friday night? Oh yes! We're doing an Illuminations DESSERT PARTY! And we want you ALL there. But here's the catch - it costs $28 a person. And we need you to commit by actually paying for your tickets! So - go to www.allaboutthemouse.com - there's a paypal button on the right hand side - enter your name and do your thing!

I want to see you ALL THERE. Which means I want to see you all paid and registered within the week! :)

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Hot Tubbing

I had to add this picture today - it's Elizabeth at Gymboree in the "baby hot tub".

How cute is it? Seriously. :)

As for where I am - did another nice loop today - 2.5 miles - the PAWS loop. Going to combine PAWS and Lake Serene over the weekend.

I'm a little off pace - around 17.5 minutes - but I'm dealing with hills - and just really getting back into the swing - as the training continues and the weight comes off - the pace will increase.

But hey - at least I DID it. Right?

Um....right? :)

Amanda - how about an 'atta boy for me? :)

Sgt. Brian? You out there? :)

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

An Update - be warned - Pooh is ahead.

Well I promised I'd be blogging daily until the W&D but have slacked a bit the last few days.

So let's get caught up.

1) The pictures in Monday's post were from the OLD ORIGINAL "Journey into Imagination".

2) Still doing well on South Beach with one exception....(more on this in a moment).

3) Yes, this is Pluto eating my breakfast.

4) I plan another 3m tomorrow and a 5m on Saturday.

So - what's the exception on South Beach? Cheese. Yeah - I love cheese. And I've eaten a lot of it. And it's okay on South Beach. Especially in Phase One, which I'm in until August 1.

However - cheese and high protein stuff - can....well....bind you.

So much so that I'm having stomach cramps, and am retaining....stuff. And have gained a half pound.

But no matter - I did some reading - and am cutting waaaay back on cheese intake - and trying to increase the amount of beans in the diet for me - and taking an...um...well...."softener" to try to help.

And hopefully it'll work and we'll get back to...well....regular?

*note to self - avoid the Pooh joke - you can do it - it's too obvious*

Anyhow - I'll see you all tomorrow after my 3miler. :)

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

One Little Spark

Check out who's down TEN POUNDS in his first week on South Beach?

And if you guessed me - you're RIGHT!

And on top of that, I woke up this morning and did the FULL Lake Serene Loop for 3 miles, in just about 48 minutes.

How awesome do I feel this morning already? :)

How great of a Monday are we gonna have?

How'd my teammates and buddies do this week? Huh?

TOP THAT for a Monday morning!

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Happy Anniversary

Today is July 17.

33 years ago today, my mother and father married.

Today is July 17.

Today I completed a project that I've been "working" on for 3 months.
Today is July 17.

Today I finished a 22 minute video of our trip to lay my father to rest in the Bahamas.

It has been a journey of mourning, remembering, laughter, sadness, and profound love.

Today I will give my mother an anniversary gift.

Today I will give her this tribute.

Today I will watch it with her, and cry with her.

Today I will miss my father dearly.

Today I will hold my daughter tight.

Today I will love my family.

Today I will love my team.

Today I want, more than anything, to see my father.

Today I cannot.

So today I will celebrate. Not that he's gone. But that he was here in the first place.

I miss you Dad.

MAIN STREET AWAITS.

How to Motivate me

Day four of South Beach - and feeling good. A little digestive discomfort - but on the whole - not too bad.

Amanda texted me to find out how she can help motivate me. She thinks I have it "all together" so far.

Far from it, buddy! :)

The food stuff is going well, so that's a plus, but I have to keep getting my butt outside and getting my feet on the pavement to get myself back in long-distance walking shape.

Keep reminding me why.

Keep encouraging me.

Keep believing.

Celebrate my successes!

And if all else fails - threaten me with Captain Hook (see above - LOL).

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

The Voice...alone...in WDW...in Tan and Green.

Yes my friends - last night's Team Voice Skype meet was a roaring success - at least it sounded like one when I got there two hours late. :)

Regardless - I'm loving the buddy system idea. And I'm proud to say that my buddy and I (Amanda - did you get some training done today?) adopted Sgt. Brian (Brian - did YOU get some training done today?).

Hence the title of today's post...

See...I'm the Voice...and Amanda is alone in WDW...and Brian....

Well you get it.

Speaking of training - I just got back from a nice walk. No wogging yet. As I ramp back up into racing shape, I'm battling a seriously sore left calf/shin area. But as I do more, it'll loosen and I'll be okay. But until then - mostly walking. My goal for this week is on the weekend (my long walk) I'll do Lake Serene - for 3.0 miles. That way I know I can do the Virtual 5k in two weeks (plus a few days).

I'm also REALLY looking forward to Monday - when I weigh in "officially" and see the progress I'm making. I'm choosing to RESET my Zero to THIS Monday's weigh in of 354 so I can accurately measure South Beach. And yes - I know 354 is a HUGE gain since last January 09. But we're already on the way down PAST where I was. Trust me. :) And just have faith.

Did you all go over to Justin's blog today and check out Scary Poppins?

I did - and I have to say - VERY funny.

So I posted some scary pics of my own today.

I don't know what's scarier - that I, a lifelong Mets fan, am wearing a Yankees outfit in EPCOT - or that it appears that Minnie is choking the life out of me. :)

Ah - either way...

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Quite the Character

Here's the problem. Sometimes you have great plans set, and things get in the way.

Now now now - don't get all excited.

Our first day of South Beach went QUITE well. With the notable exception of forcing myself to down some V8. Have you TASTED that stuff? It's like drinking COLD TOMATO SOUP. ICK.

Anyhow - what I mean is that there are times we will all be derailed. Sometimes a little. Like getting up to go for a morning walk and finding that your daughter is already awake at 5am and that your wife hasn't slept, and so you take your daughter for an hour so your wife can sleep and now you don't have time to walk before work.

Sometimes a lot...like oh...the last 3 weeks or so.

The trick, my friends, is to keep on keeping on.

If you miss a workout - that's fine - pick it up tomorrow.

If you mess up a day of eating - get back on track.

Just don't give up.

I'm not. Nor should you.

Remember the Team Voice 5pm PST/8pm EST Skype call tonight. I won't be there due to work commitments, but I expect a full report...and for someone to assign me a buddy! :)

And speaking of buddies...

Goofy we've seen...

But who else has a picture with Friar Tuck? :)

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Celebrate the Future

Okay folks - here it is - Day one of South Beach!

Amber and I did our weigh ins - and I'm truly upset to see that I'm UP 4 pounds from last week - granted - we had a heatwave here in Seattle, and found ourselves going out to dinner to find AC pretty much all last week. And since we knew we were starting South Beach today, we were....lax with our food.

It'll come off. But I still don't like it.

But then I remembered that I started this journey heavier than this. And still succeeded.

And I can and will succeed again.

And today is about FAMILY. Having SUPPORT. Both from within (Amber) your family and outside (Team Voice/Club 8ers) your family....think of us as a SECOND family.

How do you join? Great question! The answer is simple.

Just commit. Be healthy. Run. Comment. Talk. Make friends.

And remember that...

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Learning and Fun

I'm so happy so many of you are enjoying these pictures I was able to rescue. And I'm going to keep sharing them as long as I have more to share.

I had a great workout this morning with Bree - my last for awhile (she's going on maternity, and the budget isn't there) - so now I'm back on MFM training - Monday, Thursday, Saturday walk/jog - Tuesday, Friday cross train.

Also - as for South Beach - it's NOT the "No Carb Diet" (Atkins) - it's a much healthier approach if you ask me. And it's designed by a cardiologist - which is a plus. It does start with a VERY carb limited 2-3 week phase (we're doing 3 weeks) -and then you slowly add carbs back in, but sticking to low glycemic carbs - fruit - whole grains - etc. And it's a very healthy - whole foodsy kind of way to live.

Now - the pictures. I've been really missing Dad these last few days. I find myself caught off guard at times with sadness. But then I remember the fun we used to have. And how important it always was that no matter how much fun we had - we also learned as much as possible. See that kid up there gazing at the flags upstairs in the American Adventure? Yup. That's me.

See this guy strumming at the Hoop-Dee-Doo?

Yup - that's Dad.

So that's the balance we try to strike every day.

A little learning - and a lot of fun.

We can use that in our training and running too.

See you guys tomorrow!

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Chip off the old....

It's time for another trip back to the 80s...or so.

Yes, this is me, hugging the heck out of Dale - right near the Castle.

You see - one of the things I've always loved about Disney - and the parks especially - is the way you get totally sucked into the world you're in. That's actually Dale there - the really really really really real Dale. Look at the smile on me. The grin. I believe it - totally.

Still do.

Don't believe me?

Well then let's check in on January 2009 at the WDW Half Marathon weekend, where I dined with Chip and Dale at the Garden Grill...shall we?

Yup.

Same smile.

Same belief.

Same wonder and magic.

Now here's the kicker folks.

Use that belief. Use that wonder and magic. Translate it to your health and running goals.

Remember that WDW is a place where MAGIC REALLY HAPPENS. Where you can BELIEVE IN ANYTHING.

And before you know it - guess where you'll be?

Yup - you guessed right.

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Starting from Zero

Hello Team Voicers and Club 8ers!

So - today marks the beginning of a new chapter for us ALL. As you know, Rae and Jeff and Justin and I are trying to revitalize our base! As such, Justin has RE-DESIGNED the Club 8 logo (see the sidebar)! See the nice big ZERO in the middle?

That's because no matter what happened before today - we're all back at ZERO. And we have about 85 days until the Wine and Dine Half Marathon. Every week, I'll be reposting that graphic - and the number will change from 0 to -1 to -2 and so on - for each pound we lose.

We're all allowed a clean slate today. Because some of us (myself included) have been backpedaling, making excuses, and not prioritizing our exercise, diet and overall health.

Sadly, I'm starting at zero at 349. But I have a newfound energy and excitement!

PLUS - at home - Amber and I are starting the South Beach Diet (which she found and is excited about) on Monday - and after reading the book - I'm really excited about the results I can look forward to by combining that diet and the MFM (Marathoning for Mortals) training plan!

I'm also going to be posting DAILY from now until the race (yes - even when I'm in Boston at the end of July). And really trying to focus on positive things - and using the blog to do that.

So - without further ado. Remember those pictures I got?

Yup - they're scanned!!! (At least the good ones)

This picture - when I saw it - brought me to tears. It was a moment in time - a great moment of me and my dad, who always was willing to lift me up to sit on stuff (you'll see this is a theme in later pictures). Check out the socks on me! This was SO the early 80s.

But I digress. There's a whole slew of WDW pictures that I found. I've been a Disney nut as long as I can remember - and it's thanks to my mom and my dad - who always made sure I got to go amazing places and see amazing things. They always treated me like an equal in the family. Always.

I'll tell you something. I've really been missing my dad lately. A lot. And these pictures help make me feel connected to him. But they also make my heart ache. He's supposed to be here teaching me how to be a good dad.

And then I see the pictures...and realize - he taught me all along.

I am running in his honor.

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Celebrate....Independence!

Celebrating the 4th of July is distinctly patriotic.

And it is why, I, Sam, the American Eagle, am here today to wish you a happy, safe, and un-explosive 4th of July.

Wait....what?

Explosives are a part of it?

Well...be safe. And patriotic.

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Wow.

Last night's live show.

Wow.

I want to THANK you all for calling, e-mailing, commenting, and just basically being awesome.

I'm still plugging away to get ready for October - and can't wait to see you all there.

One note - if you missed the show - it WILL go on the iTunes feed as normal for you to download.

And also - we ARE DOING a Jonathan/Bryan/Team Voice/Club 8/MEI Illuminations Dessert Party on Friday October 1 - but space is LIMITED - you need to go to www.allaboutthemouse.com and register - cost is $28 per person! Do it NOW so we can reserve your spot!

I'll see you all there!

WINE AND DINE AWAITS!