Some Hard Developments

Well, my friends - I have good news and bad news.

Good news - I've been doing great on the workout front - following my schedule, working on my core, and really trying to push myself to longer and longer jogging segments.

Bad news - I've been to the doctor yesterday.

I am officially BACK on high blood pressure medication.

My doctor and I had a long talk about my training goals and my weight loss goals. She agrees that I'm on the right path - but wants to maintain healthy blood pressure until I can get the weight back off. She knows I've struggled and worked hard at this and wants to support me - and make sure my body is as healthy as possible.

She also suggested that if I'm not seeing the progress I want in the next several months - I might still want to consider using the surgical option as an additional tool to help make what I'm doing more successful.

I did NOT like that idea. Still don't. So I just work HARDER at it. Push harder. Further.

And accept where I am and get to where I wanna be.

I bring this to you - NOT so you can tell me that I've fallen backwards - I KNOW that part - but rather - so you can see where I am - and be inspired as to where I GO. And so you can be supportive.

Two suggestions have come from training buddies lately - and I'm going to use them both.

1) Stay away from the scale until my next doctor's appointment (2 weeks) - just focus on hard work - and let the scale do it's thing in the background.

2) Adjust my sign-off. See - I can make it to Main Street. I've never NOT done that. What I want is to FINISH strong.

So for today (and the foreseeable future):

EPCOT AWAITS!

A huge thanks to my teammates!

Well today started out GREAT - went outside for another workout - and felt GREAT!

As I don't have a LOT of time this morning (have a trial to get to) - I wanted to just say a public thanks to my good friends and teammates - Jeff, Justin, and Amanda - you guys ROCK! And you know why!

Thanks for being there. :)

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

358 - Is Summer Here?

We are supposed to have several days in a row of sunshine around these parts - which means only one thing - Seattle is getting a summer after all. :)

So I decided to do something this morning that I haven't done since January.

I laced up my shoes, and went OUTSIDE. I wanted to see exactly what I'm working with - especially carrying around a few extra pounds since last weigh-in.

And I feel like I got a good idea of what I need to stretch, what I need to improve, etc. I got a good baseline, and we only will improve from here in terms of training.

As for the blog - it looks a bit different, doesn't it?

Yeah - I'm abandoning the Grid motif. It just wasn't working for me. And Jeff left his vault - Justin had his car ride. Father's day was my "day of clarity." I'll detail it a bit - and might someday go into more details. But it was a rather intensely personal inner dialogue.

I realized that Walt was right. All my dreams CAN come true. IF I have the courage to pursue them. And what I haven't been doing is PURSUING them. I've been working on them - aiming for them - and walking towards them. And what's happened? I've yo-yo'd between progress and lack thereof. Does that make me a bad person? Nope. It makes me human. But I have to do better.

If I want to be healthy - to see my daughter's daughters - to live life to the fullest - to enjoy vacations and cruises and walks and runs and swimming and EVERYTHING life has to offer.

If I want to run (and yes, I SAID RUN) 4 races next year - I have GOT to get in a groove here. I have got to start walking the talk. Or running the talk, as it were.

And I know I can count on my teammates to support me and help me through rough patches, but MOST important - to celebrate my successes every day with me.

So with that - I'll sign off - head to work - and keep my attitude screwed on in the right direction.

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Happy Father's Day

This is a picture of me on the international gateway - with my dad.

Not a day goes by that I don't miss him and the joy he brought to my life.

The truth is that he was taken from us too soon. But that all of us who knew him are better for having him with us.

Today is Father's day - and today I am the one celebrated. By I will not forget my father in all of it. Cannot.

I want to wish all of you father's out there - a VERY happy father's day.

As for me - yes - I've struggled - and yes I'll continue to do so - but I have been spending a lot of time THINKING lately (like Justin in that long car ride) - and have made some pretty large headway in getting my mind right - so I can get my BODY right too.

I'll detail more in the days and weeks to come - but for now.

I just wanted to say Happy Father's Day. And to thank my dad for....everything.

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

Still Hanging in There

Don't worry - I didn't vanish - but we've had a very busy few weeks - including Elizabeth getting sick again - she's likely got another ear infection - and is on her way to the doctor right now.

I'll update more in the next few days, hopefully. :)

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

354.6 - A Small-ish Gain

Hey - okay - so I'm up a half pound. But having been sick a full week can play havoc on your system - especially when you can't exercise. So. Eh.

But this morning - I got back on the treadmill! And this week will be SUPER - I already know it!

We're getting there. Trust me - the mind is focusing - the body is coming into line - and all will be well in the world!

MAIN STREET AWAITS!

The Tomorrow Update

Sorry for the delay - been doing a lot of resting.

I was diagnosed with a viral inner ear infection - the sole symptom of which was:

You guessed it.

Hitchcock films.

No no no - Vertigo.

Yes. I've been spinning for days. But the spinning is dying down, and I think tomorrow might be a "normal" day for me. If it is - then I have clearance to hit the treadmill on Friday. And to drive again tomorrow.

Let me tell you though - Vertigo is NO fun.

MAIN STREET AWAITS!