The Road to Ultra

From the inspiration of other members on our forums, I've decided to commit to a 12-week challenge. This isn't a competition with a big prize purse, but there are plenty of rewards involved. Looking back at the inconsistencies of the past 2 years here I kept pushing back to find the last time I really committed and experienced success, and found it's always been when pushing and challenging with specific goals.

So, I created those goals and shared them on the forums but would like to repost them here:

I'll be honest. I'm not where I want to be or where I should be. I could say, "Cobbler with the broken shoes" all I want but the bottom line is there is nothing between me and being where I should be other than just doing it. I haven't made The Decision and it's shown in my lack of consistency. My goal isn't to reach a ripped and shredded 178 ... it's to hit a well rounded 200. That's just 20 pounds from where I'm at now, but for the past two years my "comfort" weight has been 210. So it means unwinding an extra 10 I put on when I stopped training and suddenly stopped running distances for a short period of time, and then dialing back my "set point" 10 more pounds to get to the shape I feel I'll be the healthiest and most fit.

Anyway, I've committed to my challenge but I'd like to share it with anyone who is interested in moving forward with us.

All I ask from anyone else joining us the next 84 days is to pick a consistent schedule to log your progress and define what "success" means. That's it.

I just had a physical from traditional (medical) as well as non-traditional (chiropractic) sources and both passed with flying colors, indicating that I'm probably the healthiest I've ever been. So what is my motivation for shedding the pounds?

First, it is what they represent - a lack of self discipline. No one is perfect and I'd love to blame a slow metabolism or make other excuses for gaining a little more than I'm comfortable with, but the fact is, it's all in the mind. And it's time to regain focus.

Also, it is what I receive. We all receive pleasure from various things. Sometimes its the wrong things - that bowl of ice cream or sitting on our duff when we should be exercising - but other times it can be for the right things. I remember a time not long ago when I received pleasure and satisfaction at the control I had over food. When someone would bring in donuts, while everyone else caved in and dove into the box, I'd smile and pass it up. It's not that I gave them up - it's just that I chose the time and place. And it felt good.

In the stress and demands of building a new business I've traded some of that control and its time to get it back.

Besides, I feel that this journal will be valuable for others who are struggling with success as well. The most common excuse I hear for not making a change is lack of time. I technically work three jobs (the software company, Lose Fat, Not Faith, and editing videos/serving as webmaster for Lizzie Marie) ... I'm a father and a husband. That leaves little time but with that time, I commit to training. It is my hope that in this journal, when I will most likely be faced with "crunch time" and late nights, last minute flights across the country for sales meetings or customer implementations, vacation and more, I can demonstrate that achieving your goals is possible in conjunction with those activities, not in spite of them.

So, here is my starting commitment ... I'll start a new journal on Monday for this.

TOP REASONS

1. I want to continue to set an example for healthy living. As an ambassador of health, it is important that I continue to walk the walk and not just talk the talk
2. I know I have given up control ... while I have taken some back (for example, kicking my coffee addiction, I've become "that guy" who grabs the donut because its there and makes little excuses. It's time to take the control back.
3. My blog is not called "The Road to Just Good Enough" ... it's "The Road to Ultra" and to run an ultramarathon I will need to shed weight or I make it multiple times more difficult for me

TOP GOALS

1. Reach 200 pounds
2. Regain that satisfaction and positive feeling I get when I'm in control, not the food
3. Improve my health and gain energy to take on all of the responsibilities in my life

So ... this is where it begins. I draw a line in the sand. I spend tomorrow getting ready to get to ready to ... well, no, I've already committed. Tomorrow is not a food fest or gorge fest and "then" I start a "diet." Diets don't work, if you haven't caught the gist of my philosophy. Tomorrow isn't getting ready for a diet, it's spending time in prayer and meditation to step back into who I really am and to reset my focus and live the way I deserve to live, in power instead of in a state of reaction.

So .. there you have it! Game on!

Warmly,