4XLT

Today’s Weigh-In: 306.4 pounds
Next Goal: 295 pounds
Days to Go: 20
Pounds to Go: 11.4

As I mentioned yesterday, I was planning on going to the gym last night for some cardio. However, I was running on fumes by the end of the day and wanted to wait until this morning (payday) to gas up. So, last night, I went out for a mile run/jog on the sidewalk.

It’s the first time in three to four years I’ve done so, as all my cardio since I’ve started working to lose weight and change my life has been at the gym on the machines. And let me tell you: it was brutal!

I had to stop to walk about 50-100 yards twice just because my lungs felt like they were on fire. My legs were doing fine, and awesomely enough, my shins don’t hurt. Everything was going good up until I took a spill on the concrete. I’m not scratched up bad – really it’s just my ego that’s bruised. And it was pretty funny, really – the fall was one of those sloooow moootiooon falls where you seem to have plenty of time to recognize, “Hey, I’m gonna fall.. oops, now I’m falling.. still falling.. aaaaand there’s the concrete.” My left hip (that took most of the fall) was pretty sore this morning, but I’m not sure if it’s because of the tumble or run itself.

All in all, I’m pretty stoked that I went out to run, even though I didn’t like it much. I just can’t get into running or cardio of any sort, but it’s so necessary to all this work. Tonight, I’m going back to the gym for weight training – the first time in over a month. The last time I consistently went with a regular plan and tracked my results was in 2008.

I had great results back then, but I’m a bit nervous to see how much strength I’ve lost. Oh well – got to (re)start somewhere, right?

How I’m Losing Weight

On a pretty regular basis someone will ask me how I’ve lost 130 pounds. I’ve been able to solidly identify five distinct arenas that I’ve had to focus on to be successful: 1) inner resolve (the most important by far), 2) smart nutrition, 3) worthwhile cardio, 4) weight training, and 5) blogging & community support.

I’ve taken an email I wrote in response to someone and added a new permanent page to 4xlt called “How I’m Losing Weight” that goes into detail about those five areas. At the moment, it’s a pretty rough read as the email was more of a shoot-from-the-hip affair, but in time, I plan to edit the page and add more links to helpful resources.

But if you’re staring down the monster of weight loss, whether that’s two pounds, twenty pounds, or two hundred pounds like me, then this page should help get you started.