Crash Bang Boom

I've had a crazy week - good and bad in many ways, but a week I would not like to relive. I'm always a bad news first kinda guy.
I was in a horrendous traffic accident. I'm obviously okay or I wouldn't be posting this, but my truck is toast and a few others. Driving down the highway approaching a stoplight which was green. A car darted across my path-STUPID!! I didn't even have time to hit my brakes-KABOOM!! My vehicle struck the mid-back of the car cutting it in two. There was a car merging onto the hwy that my forward momentum brought me into. After plowing through the second car and taking off the entire front end of it ,I came to rest on top of a guardrail after I took out the entire guardrail. The intial vehicle went into an uncontrollable spin taking out 2 other cars. 5 cars in all! It was one of the scariest moments in my life! Can you believe noone got hurt? A matter of inches is the difference between life and death. It was that close! God was watching out for all of us. I am thankful to be alive. I'm posting this a few days after the accident as my nerves are now calmed. I have played the scenario over at least 100 times in my head. You had to be there to see the carnage- it was devastating! The most important thing is that everyone is okay. If I get the opportunity, I will post a few picks (when I get em.) Also, very sore - but back to normal..
Running - Yesterday my soreness disappeared and I went out for my long run. It was unseasonably warm (50deg) and I was able to wear shorts and a long sleeve technical shirt during my run; nice change.. The run went great! I ran 10.02 miles in 1:42:55, a full 7 minutes faster than last weeks 10 miler. Last week I had to walk multiple times and stop to stretch my lower back and hamstrings. Yesterday went so much smoother. Only once for about 10 seconds did I have to stretch.
Weigh-IN/Eating - Of course we all know what yesterday was - The SUPERBOWL! Wasn't that a great game?! I wanted Arizona to win, but I knew that Steelers were a more rounded team. I wasn't dissapointed in the game one bit. I hosted a small get together party and served a ton of fattening, high calorie, unhealthy food . I quote my brother, "Dave I swear if you serve that fat-free, green, healthy crap, I'm not coming over." "Just because you are a health nut now, doesn't mean that we have to live it to!" ahahaha. After eating crap yesterday, I was a little weary about by weigh-in today. Then again, other than yesterday - I've have been watching everything that goes into my mouth.

My motivation is strong(feel the force young skywalker) and nothing is going to sway me right now(okay maybe some hot wings and a beer, but nothing else.) Just kidding - don't drink... but the wings , hmmmm? I lost another 2.5 lbs! - WOOT! WOOT!!
January Review - I managed 66 miles this month after the first week of only 9 miles - good recovery. 14lbs lost for the month.. I finely got consistent about strength training and haven't missed a workout yet. Lastly my food choices have gotten so much better. I'm eating a small countries worth of vegetables a day. Moderation and refocus on my goals is the key.
So bad, ends with good and it's ALLGOOD....

Fumagation

I'll start this post by woohooing for my weightloss this week. A cool 4.5 lbs for my weigh-in on Monday. After last weeks 1 lb lost and dissapointment, it was nice to see the bigger loss. Total loss so far is 11.5 lbs.
After watching "The Biggest Loser", It seems that the contestants weightloss flipped flopped from week to week. One bigger then one smaller. So this next week probably won't be as much as this week. Not concerned.. Keep on doing what I'm doing. Even as I sit here blogging, I don't have the normal "munchies craving" that I usually get. I 'm not sure if it is physiological or mental, but I guess a little of both at this point.
I forgot to mention that it was my oldest son's BD this past Sat. He turned 15, OMG I'm so freakin old! We had a party of (15) 14-16 yr old boys. I swear it smelled like a moldy gym locker at my house! Boys with teenager stink! And whatever happened to short hair? The theme this year was Xbox party. They had 5 Xbox's hooked up on 5 Tv's and sucking the internet bandwith from the city so they could all play online against each other. I'm guessing my electric bill will be outrages this month. After they left, I fumagated the entire basement. My son had a blast and he pocketed a cool 500 bucks in cash and gift cards. What!? $500! That's some serious "jack!" Times have changed haven't they? Dang, I'm so old!
One thing that I've noticed over the last few months with my lifestyle change is the abundance of energy that I've had. My 14 hour work days don't kill me like they use to and I find myself not liking sitting down. I used to watch lots of TV, while sitting in my recliner and my weekends were all about relaxing and taking it easy.

Don't get me wrong, I do take breaks and relax - just not as much. Over the past month I have found myself doing large home projects just to keep busy. A couple weeks ago, I laid hardwood through out my mother house and this week I gutted one of my bathrooms to start remodeling. What's up with that?
Who knows, next week I may just chisel up the driveway and repave it. LOL! I must say, it feels good!
Easy 5K yesterday and an upperbody workout. Tomorrow(oops today-time has flown...) is a 4-6 miles with intervals/speed - maybe tempo- who knows?

Weaning or Weinie either one

As of last week, I've had to wean myself from my addiction of blogging once again. Much the same as Joy, even though I don't get hounded as much as her. LOL! Not much going on this time a year that I can't jot down in a few lines. I'm still active visiting sites though - can't get away from that addiction quite yet.
I feel like I'm in a "healthy eating zone" right now, which is a great thing to be in. Going back to the beginning of the year, my rededication to eating healthy is going well. I've picked up the good habits that helped me shed my intial weight and am moving in the right direction. It's a complete mental thing for me. When I'm locked in, I can turn any "bad" food down. When I'm not, anything can sway me. Just have to remember that this is a lifestyle change and not another failed diet to be. I am a big eater without a doubt, so for me its about substituting foods to get filled up. For example: Oatmeal for breakfast w/ banana -very filling..; Subway chicken breast or Veggie Sub; Lrg eggwhite omelet w/ tons of veggies. Again it's all about choices...

I only lost 1 lb last week, but it was a loss and I ate good. I weigh in tomorrow and I'm crossing my fingers that I will lose again. It's weird how weight fluctuates. First week I lost 6 lbs and didn't exercise all that much. Last week I ran 20 miles and lost 1 lb. With food staying constant, I probably should have lost a bit more. Damn water weight! I see how you gals get frustrated by that "mean monthy bloat monster." haha Sry , but that was funny...

On a running note: I ran my first 10 miler of the year today and hope the first of many. I'm not going to lie by saying the last 2 miles was easy because they weren't. In fact, it felt like I was running in slow motion for the final 2, but long and slow right? Since I don't have a ton of free time lately, I have been working on the quality of my runs.

In addition to running this year, twice weekly I've been consistent at upperbody strength training and core workouts. I'm sticking with the high reps, low weight strength training approach. If I can't lift a weight in 15 reps then it's too much weight for me. If time allows, I'll kick in a third day a week.. Then again I'll kick in another day running, then again I'll start swimming, then again I'll add biking to the mix, then again I'll..........

Hope your Monday kicks off a good start to your week.

Peace. ;)

Need a shot

Haven't been able to post in a while. This time of the year is "sick time" and requires many long hours, so the first thing that goes is the blogomatic. Hope everyone is doing well and if I get the chance I will try to visit others. Time,time,time..If only there was more of it.. :)

Speaking of sicknessess or at least prevention. Have you got your flushot for the year? It's that time! If you have never had the flu before, I pray you never see it, Nasty bugger! Wash those hands too - #1 prevention.

I finally got a day off and decided to rest. I did manage to find time for a run though - 5 miles in 48:45 ( 9:45 pace.) The temperatures are definitely cooler which is very nice for running, but cool + wind = suckola! haha. It's gonna take all my will to get me out the door this cooler season. I mentioned in a earlier post than I am running a 15K Sat. Nov 22nd. I'm not going to get much chance to log miles before the race, so I decided to just run at a leisurely pace instead of race it. I think it'll be more fun that way, but we'll see.

Thanks for all the well-wishers out there. Stomach is back to normal. Yes, I tend to push myself way too hard - stubborness , but then again I am a man and stubborness goes with the territory.. (I see all you gals shaking your head up and down. ) :)

Have a great week everyone!!

Alright Alright

Did I tell you how great you guys are? I've just adopted you into my family. You just make a girl wanna cry.. ;)
Too bad you' all didn't live closer or I would buy you a big juicy T-bone steak with a big baked potato filled with butter, sour cream, bacon bits and.... errrrr ' a light, healthy salad with a touch of light raspberry vinegarette. LOL!
You've given me some great ideas on how to conquer this! The last 2 days I have journaled my food, and planned my meals for the week. I even read the damn labels on the side of the boxes. Are you happy? haha Holy crap, Can a man eat any more celery?
Legs are still a little sore from my big run Saturday. Ran an easy 4.5 mile "recovery run" yesterday. Achilles felt tired and a mysterious shin pain popped up.. Oh no, I hope not the dreaded shin-splints! Took today off to be on the safe side.
Torrow I am heading to the big city to do some Christmas shopping. Can you believe it is only 9 weeks away?? Maybe some shopping will help get me out of the "I just lost my entire 401K retirement" funk I have been in. If you only knew.. haha
Thanks again, You are the best!
Signed Dave aka. 'He-Who-Runs-With-Elks' LOL, Cyndi!

Just 1 more cookie

Tomorrow starts with my new diet. I have already conquered the lifestyle change, but a decrease in my calorie intake starts tomorrow. Im looking for a 1-2 lb. per week loss. Starting @ a 500-700 calories a day drop from norm. I haven't officially weighed in yet, but I'm guessing I'm @ 252-255 lbs. (At least I hope.) It's been nearly 6 months since I have actively tried to lose "more" weight; Even though there has been a 30lb weight loss due to my activity(primarily running.) in that time.
Is anyone else afraid to weigh themselves for fear of what it is going to read? I've been exercising, but the scale still has power over me. That " fat" person still looks back at me in the mirror. That's a whole topic within itself.....
Goals:
First is to break 250 - intially done a few months back. Probably weigh more than that now?
2nd: 245
3rd - 230 something ( now that would be nice!)
4th -229.999 lbs ( just to say that I'm in the 220's) LOL !
These are short term goals. How long? Until Christmas or later if I can stick with it.
Maybe I can find something online to help keep me sticking with it?