I started a 100-day Workout Challenge last year and this is a record of my experience. I’ll post five days at a time Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until I am through it, then I will update where I am now and will start posting real-time weekly journals thereafter.
100 Day Workout Challenge: Day 1. T.S. Elliott wrote, “this is how the world ends not with a bang, but with a whimper.” The challenge begins the same. You’d think I’d be thrilled with the endless possibilities that could arise from successfully completing this challenge… I am not. I am just very afraid. I weighed myself in order to get a starting weight for the challenge. I hadn’t weighed myself in several months, even when I went to the doctor I asked the nurse not to tell me what I weighed.The last time I was aware of my weight it was about 330 pounds. Well, today I looked at the number and was horrified. 345 pounds. this is the heaviest I have ever weighed to my knowledge. I kept my composure at the Y. But as I drove home, I cried. I am so very scared. Can I complete this challenge and even if I do will it make one bit of difference. I almost feel like I am too far gone. Maybe my body is so damaged I can no longer lose weight. My heart hurts, not physically but spiritually. I hope this is my bottom.
The Bible says that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Which is all I got right now. Faith and even that is minimal.I have NO assurance this will work. I know in the past I have kept a strict diet and exercise schedule only to GAIN weight. I am not convinced my body can even lose weight no matter what. In another post, when I have more time I will talk about the grave’s disease and the radiation I got for it. I am worried that this somehow ruined my ability to lose weight because since that day I have very slowly but steadily gained weight over 150 pounds since I got the treatment. I fear I really let my body down. Somehow if this is going to work, I have to befriend my body, Perhaps the problem is I am always feeling like I am fighting my body not working with it. I think Jane’s comment about learning to love my body is on point.
Just wanted to mention I did my laps at the pool. I am at 17 today. Adding 1 each day until I get to 25. Also, I am thinking of doing an offline personal journal as well as this one. I’ll keep updating here, but I figure everyone (if there ever is an everyone) will get tired of me saying: I’M HUNGRY!!! 50 times in a row. I want to keep my whining on this page to a minimum. Tomorrow I swim 18 laps, 1-mile walk and it’s arms day on the weights. I’m going to do this even if I may not lose a pound ( I would actually be able to reluctantly accept that as long as I don’t gain any more weight. ) If I am destined to be a Fatso I’m going to be the healthiest fatso ever.
100 Day Workout Challenge Day 2. Swam 17 laps. Hope to do mile walk tonight after work but there is a thunderstorm warning. May have to walk in the tunnel downstairs. Also, there’s been a few computer snafus here at work so I haven’t had much time or ability to post. Jane made me some salads for lunch and dinner that were quite filling. Very grateful.
Alright, Let’s talk about the 300-pound gorilla in the room. And I don’t mean me. Gastric By-pass, or Lap-Band. Have I considered it as an option short answer: Yes and No. Yes, I’ve considered it strongly but No my insurance company won’t touch it. They won’t even cover nutritional counseling. They hardly even want to pay for my Dr.’s visits.It’s pretty crappy (IMO) So I am going to have to do this the (very very) long and (very, very) hard way. Walked my mile last night down in the tunnels at work as it was raining, may have to do the same tonight. Did my laps at the pool today (19). Each day I am adding one to reach 25. Which I’ll hold, then may go to 30 we’ll see.
100 Day Workout Challenge Day 3. I guess the upside to me working 11 days in a row is that it forced me to make time for my workout. Tomorrow is Father’s Day so I wanted to have the day free to spend time with my Dad and to do something with Jane and Frank. I also want to go to Oasis Sunday morning so my schedule is pretty tight. In order to make time to swim, I need to be at the pool around 9am. This is going to be tough considering I don’t get home from work until around 1am. I am really going to need to muster some motivation. Perhaps I should just scream “345 pounds!” That would probably be all I need for motivation.
Did the mile walk down in the tunnels as it was raining very hard. I am still depressed about how hard it has become for me to walk and distance. As little as a couple years ago, it was no problem. Now my entire body hurts. But still, love the swimming I’m at 20 laps now. 21 tomorrow
100 Day workout challenge Day 4. This day was a real test for me. I didn’t have to work, but as it was father’s day had a pretty tight schedule. My original plan was to go to Y to swim then Oasis, then to Dad’s for father’s day then back around 3 or 4 to the house to spend some time with Jane and Frank. It all went awry pretty fast. I overslept so I missed Oasis, went to the Y but the pool was not only full but people were waiting for lanes. I went to Dad’s. They were doing a BBQ and I was so ravenous I ended up eating two hamburgers (less the bun) a brat, salad, chips and cake and ice cream for dessert. Easily over 2K calories. And I didn’t get a chance to workout beforehand. I went on a brief fast (20hrs to noon the next day)) and I did a 2mi walk with Jane so I get to count it. My ‘workout criteria’ is some physical activity that must be at least 30 minutes usually swimming, walk weights or combo. So yay me, I actually didn’t break the streak, also the next day (Monday) I was able to do my 21 laps in the pool.
100 Day workout challenge day 5 I’ve been looking at some dietary changes to accompany the workouts. I really suck at dieting not to mention almost universal abject failure at it. I wanted something that seemed reasonable and manageable. I may have found it, intermittent fasting. I usually have my first meal around noon. ( I like to swim on an empty stomach and usually do it in the morning first thing after I wake up) So I have a nice but not too exorbitant lunch. Still avoiding flour and sugar, with only occasional potatoes and carrots. Then I eat my last meal before 6pm. Then fast for 18hrs. It’s not too bad since you are asleep 8hrs of that. I’ve only done it a few days but want to try to incorporate this into the routine.
