Back to the Grind!

Dear Family,
  School is starting next month, which, for means ROTC and health guidelines and stuff.  So, starting tomorrow I'll be hitting the gym up again.  I'm not sure what each of your own health goals are for the summer or year, but, if you keep puttin' it off, it will always be that...not reachable.  Unfortunately, I am reaping the rewards of that by not keeping in shape throughout the summer so now I have to go back to insane-o working out for the next month or so.
  So...I figure by posting that I am going to go all crazy again, I may as well let you know what the heck I'm doing....
Monday: 6:30 am. - Chest/Triceps ( low weight, high reps - typically about 4-5 sets)
                             - Ab/Push up Circuit ( Medicine Ball Circles (6 lb. ball) 10 circles clockwise, than reverse
                                                                15 Sit ups with ball on chest, 15 fireman drill (sit up position but
                                                                have upper body at 45 degree angle) 1 rep is touch to the left than
                                                                the right, than 15 push ups.  Rest about 20 seconds, repeat 4 times
                              - Run 20-25 minutes at slow pace

Tuesday: 6:30 am. - Bicep/Back/Forearms
                             - Bodyweight Core Workout/Push up Circuit ( 15 Flutter Kicks (4 Count Exercise),
                                                                                                     10 Jack Knives (Sit up position, than while balancing on your bum, stretch your legs out and lay your upper body down, than return to starting position = 1 rep, 20 Sec. Plank, 15 push ups.
                             - Run 20 - 25 min.

Wednesday: 6:30 am. - Shoulders/Legs/Abs
                                  - Ab/Push up Circuit ( Medicine Ball Circles (6 lb. ball) 10 circles clockwise, than reverse

                                                                15 Sit ups with ball on chest, 15 fireman drill (sit up position but 

                                                                have upper body at 45 degree angle) 1 rep is touch to the left than

                                                                the right, than 15 push ups.  Rest about 20 seconds, repeat 4 times

                                  - Run 20-25 min. where last 10 are faster

This will be repeated Thu, Fri, and Sat....So Thu will be the same as Monday and so on.  Also, to accelerate everything, each night this week I will be swimming for about an hour.

Wish me luck my dear family.  I love you all!

To Grandma

Susan I noticed when we showed up at your house on Sunday :) that you had a list of healthy dinners I am assuming that you were going to make for the week. I was wondering if you could post this every Sunday?? I know thats asking a ton but I think it would help us all eat healthier. Just an idea even if you wanted to post 1 or 2 recipes on here for the week I know I would love that and I am guessing the rest of the family would too. Just an idea. No stress :)

Tuesdays with Nate: Goals (again).

Hey everyone,

So, here it goes. I'm going to post my goals for the next about two months so that hopefully I'll be forced to stick to them. First, I am wearing my suit from my wedding to Stacey and Joe's wedding and right now it's kinda tight, more like really tight. So, my goal is to lose two pounds a week until the wedding, that's about 18 pounds! Second, I keep trying to decide if I want to do a residency after school and I'm just not certain but I have decided I want to be well prepared just in case. So, I'm trying to get A's in all of my classes this quarter! I realize this is going to be difficult but I think it's worthwhile and if I reach both of my goals I think I will be pretty happy with myself. With that said, I'm going to go study (I'm not going to work out because it's Sunday and I'm a good Mormon!).

Love,
Nate

Updates

So, for those of you who haven't heard. I unfortunately didn't get a slot for field training this summer. It is rather crappy to say the least. After talking it over with Jentry, I am going to compete for a slot next year. If I get the slot, I will have to add another year to school, so, I've started looking at masters programs on campus to feel things out. I will probably shoot for an MBA. Now, because of this, I have a summer full of possibilities.
1. Nate, I still want to do a 100 mile bike ride with you, I just don't think it will be the MS 150. This upcoming Monday I'm going to start training for that.
2. I've discovered I actually rather enjoy running. Weird, I know. I use to absolutely detest running. Anyway, I am going to start training to do a 5k and a Half Marathon. The 3.1 miles of the 5k will be easy...13.1 will be rough, but it will be awesome.
3. I also am going to start training for triathlons. Which means I'm going to be swimming more. There are several triathlons in August and September and I want to do one for fun, see how it goes, and see if it is something I can compete in.
At any rate, my plan is to post my weekly schedule for workouts and what will be done each day. If any one wants to train to do a 5k with me later this summer, that would be tight. All of this will also push me towards my weight goal of 195 and not being content with where I am because I don't want to get back to where I was. I was happy with myself, but not as able. Now, I'm still happy with myself but much much more able to do things I want to do and things I never thought I would do. I love you all and just thought I would put something up to update.

The Long Awaited Before/After

My before picture isn't that great...than again, I had no idea that I would do what I did. Needless to say, I'm pretty amazed to look at where I was about this same time last year and to see where I am now. My goal is to get to about 195 or so before I head to field training this summer and decrease overall body fat percentage. These goals are short/long term. Anyway, I love yall and thanks for the support in helping me get to where I am now and where I will yet be.

Tuesdays with Nate: Stay away from the Phoenix Speedway!

Hey guys,

I guess this has turned more into an ongoing apology for not blogging than an actual weekly column. I want to say it will change, but don't get your hopes up. Anyway, I went on a bike ride today. I have not been able to get out much with school. And, it gets dark here pretty early so by the time I get home from school and get changed and ready to go, I usually have about 30 minutes to ride, which is quite a bit less than what I'd like. But today I got out.

I wanted to head out of town and go northwest and make a loop back to our house. I was venturing into some unknown territory, which wasn't terrible until I turned onto 203rd Dr! I was cruising along minding my own business when I saw a dog come running from behind a house. I wasn't startled because I had noticed the house had a chain link fence around it; then I noticed the gate was wide open! My heart rate immediately jumped about 40 beats and I stood up and started sprinting. I'm pretty sure I heard a Sonic Boom (just like in Street Fighter) as he came flying out of that gate and started chasing me. I could hear his grunting/panting coming from behind me. I turned my head to look, still sprinting, and this dog was within a foot of me! I clicked down a gear and started pedaling harder and harder, I could taste that little bit of blood you get when you breath really hard. Which made sense since my heart would have to go through my throat on it's way to my head where I could now feel it thumping so hard it was pressing against the sides of my helmet. After pedaling so hard I was certain I would puke, I coasted down the road a little ways, tyring to calm down and next thing I know, the road stopped or turned into a dirt road rather. So, I stopped, turned around and the dog was waiting for me in the middle of the street (cue intimidating music). Fortunately, there was another road a little before the four-legged demon.

I started down this new road, heart still racing, but at least it had moved back to my chest now. As I passed the first house, I noticed two more dogs, my hypervigilence kicked into gear! Where's the gate? I saw it. It was closed! I felt so relieved, then I looked back at the dogs and noticed something running from out of the bushes! My heart went back to thumping in my head immediately! I let out a little scream and got ready to sprint again, then I noticed it was an 8 month old puppy. Irregardless, he was fired up and he was coming after me. I pedaled a little harder and got rid of that guy pretty quickly. Well, as I tried to find my way through WhiteTrashTown, AZ, I got chased by 4 or 5 more dogs (things started getting hazy there at the end, I think I actually got chased by cat too, by this point everything freaked me out, even the cat, I'm pretty sure it was a cat...). It was until I was riding home that I discovered the reason for my plight, I was right next to the Phoenix Speedway. Of course, I was going to be surrounded by people who had trucks that cost 4 times more than their motor home, had at least two motorcycles per person in their house, and have killer, blood-thirsty pets!

Needless to say, this seriously cramped my style for the rest of my bike ride. I decided to return the way I came and instead of going all the way home, I had Julie pick me up in Sun City Grand, a 55 and over community. Most of the motorized vehicles I saw were tricked out golf carts and any K-9 I saw was most often a poodle. I had never been so happy to see so many old people!

Moral of the story: Stay away from the Phoenix Speedway!

Love,
Nate

The Coolness of my DSi...and WALKING!!!

Kay people, we STILL need to figure out the walking to Zion thing. How are we coming on getting pedometers?

I recently bought a Nintendo DS game online called Personal Trainer:Walking. It came with two pedometers. I carry one in my pocket, and the other is on Oscar's collar! yep, it tracks his steps! Anyway, it's cool because I put the data into my DS and I can track my steps over time. It doesn't measure distance (lame) but I can figure that out if I can remember to calculate my average stride. Anyway, it's awesome! I just wanted to share! Make exercise fun! Maybe Mom and Dad should get this game. Sweet!