3.24.2010

Beware the Ides of April...

Oh I know...
It's the Ides of March..
beware and all that...
But march has been good to me.
April has tax season.

So, Anywhoozle....
In April I am going to start my 'mini-boot camp'
As most of you know, and for those who don't and are about to...
I was, at one point, in the army.
In the 'army bootcamp'..
I lost about 18 lbs in 8 weeks...
Or, just a little more than two pounds a week.
Now,
I don't intend to re-create many of the unpleasantries I was forced into during Real Basic...
I will skip the morning scream fests by angry men in hats..
Skip grenade throwing, sand fleas and hours on the cement parking lot doing right face, left face and plant face in case you locked your knees.

In basic, I had a nickname...
Jackie O.
Why you might ask?
Well, I wasn't much for conformity....
So I 'snuck' in a tube of lip gloss.
For the life of them, they couldn't find it...
They searched me...searched my locker...
I told them it was 'chapstick'
which you were allowed to have.
So barring finding it, and becoming completely frustrated...
(By the way, I hid it in the heat duct which was inoperable.)
They took to calling me Jackie O'.
For Jackie Onassis.
I liked that.
It did make them 'notice' me, however...
So, I got some extra attention.
Well, besides that...they thought I needed to ditch some weight.
So I couldn't go into breakfast until I had done a pull up..
well, at first i couldn't do a pull up.
So by the time they relented, I had five minutes to get my food..sit down, inhale and depart.
I once cleared a plate of food in a minute and a half.
Luckily I have a 'strong' stomach.
I could down french toast, sausage, orange juice and yogurt and not chuck up any of it..
Some of my compatriots weren't so lucky.
One girl got so dehydrated from all the vomiting that she ended up in the infirmary for a few days.
Well, even with all the food inhaling...I was still dropping weight by the day.
I ran in the morning..hiked in the afternoon.
At the end I did a 22 mile ruck march.
Full pack.

So, In april I intend to 'up my workouts'.
Now before you freak and think I am going to 'overtrain'.
I promise you, I am not a glutton for punishment...and I am going to start slow.
So...
First week of April..
Six days of exercise.
S, Tue. and Th. 5.6 mile hikes
M. Wed. Fri. The gym elliptical.
Every day...30 minutes of toning.
On Saturday...my day of rest...it's off to do something fun (and active )with the kids.

Second week of April..
Same as the first..
Except I am going to take a walk on two of my elliptical days...
In the morning...one mile each time.

Third week of April...
Same as the first two...
But am taking a walk on all of my elliptical days.
1 mile.

Fourth week of April...
Same as first three...
But up my walk to two miles
That's right.
By the fourth week in April....
I will be
doing...
3 days of 5.6 mile hikes with upper body toning.
3 days of elliptical with lunges and lower body toning.
3 days of walks in the morning for two miles.
Saturdays..the park or bowling or roller skating...something fun.
Calories, except for the 1rst, the 10th, and the 24th
will be 1450 calories.
On the first...no calorie count.
the 10th and 24th, 1800 calories.
I will weigh in on April 1rst with my current weight and weight lost for March.
I will weigh in on May 1rst with my four week boot camp results.
We will see how this approach works...
I have been doing this now for about 10 and a half months.
I feel like this won't be 'too much'.
This, it has to be said...is being typed by a woman who is comfortably laying (lying) on her bed...typing a post..
Not actually cursing having to go to the gym after a tough day...
So we shall see.
lol.
Well guys,
Have a great night...
Only about one week left of 'easy'.
Hugs,
Chris
'

16 comments:

bbubblyb said...

Good luck with your boot camp wish you were my drill sargent lol you are doing great!!

outdoor.mom said...

WOW!! Preplanned Bootcamp sounds like a great idea :-) Maybe i should try something like that!! Since we've been done with perfect 10 i've been trying to decide what to do. Wow that army stuff was pretty intense!! When i was a kid i wanted to join the army, but that was short lived :-)

MargieAnne said...

Hi. Finally up to date with you. Wow! To know you have come so far in about 12 months does my heart good.

A few days ago you posted about it 'Never Being Too Late.'

I have not always been this fat, currently 229 lbs. When I married, a few days short of 47 years ago, I weighed about 60 kg, 130 lbs. I was quite shocked when I looked at the numbers because I wasn't skinny and had a fat self image.

About it being Never Too Late. I will be 71 this year. I have not given up the battle to be healthier, fitter and slimmer. It is my goal to get my wedding dress on once more.

There is a long story to tell. Some of it is in my Blog. Some may never be seen in public .... I don't know whether I can publish some things. Your story rang many bells for me. I have no idea why it is taking me so long to get all my **** together but I do know there are no prizes for quitting or using age as an excuse not to start or re-commit.

Strangely this seems to be the time I have real confidence that I will see the job completed through to learning to live permanently as a Lean person. Working on my eating, exercise and weight loss at my age means I feel better every day. In that sense it's not hard to see myself doing this for the rest of my life.

It's better to start now than never. It's better to make the tiniest change that you can live with forever than to do nothing. Age is never a valid excuse.

You can use my words to spur some of those doubting people on.

Julie, The Accidental Fat Chick said...

I love the idea of self-imposed boot camp! Once my Around the World Challenge is done at the gym, I am definitely going to come up with something that incorporates more outdoor activities - like hiking - for the summer. You will do great!

Foodie Girl said...

Wow! Very impressive! I can't wait to read about it. Hope you include pictures of your hike.

Tammy said...

My baby sister is headed to Army boot camp in June....I posted about it last night...I'm so stressed and worried for her....she has "issues" already....she's kinda' fragile-minded....i really hope she can stand being screamed at every day w/o crying and getting beat up by her compatriots. I'm already having nightmares about it and she hasn't even left yet. I know you're a praying person, so please pray for her. I already know she doesn't have your strength.

Seth said...

i like the plan. I like it when people push themselves more. It's funny that when you push yourself harder --- what was previously difficult is no longer as tough as you thought it was.

Robin said...

Jackie O ~ I like it. Stay tough. And don't forget your lipgloss on your hikes or while you're on the elliptical. It's not for anyone but you. I think it helps. And I think you do, too, or you wouldn't have done it. It's in the way you feel about yourself. Your attitude. So, put on your lipgloss and go for it. It sounds like an awesome plan.

Unknown said...

I have absolutely no doubt you will be very successful at this Chris. I look forward to sharing it with you!
If you can survive Army Bootcamp, nothing will stop you :)

F. McButter Pants said...

I don't know how you do it! You are doing so great and such a great attitude.

Here's to boot camp!

Sammie said...

That sounds like an awesome plan! After Army bootcamp, I'm sure you can do anything you set your mind to!

Anonymous said...

Jackie O. Nice way to stick up for the girl in you!

I'm curious...why the increase in calories on those other days? I'm having a helluva time losing on 1400/day with 3-4 miles fast walk and 40 min strength training every other day. Do you think it helps to mix it up, calorie wise? Thanks!

Kim said...

Wow, I can't even imagine at this point doing all of that. (sigh)It's definitely on the "to do" list as far as changing my thinking as I go along. You're awesome...can't wait to see how good you're gonna do. :)

Helen said...

I have no doubt whatsoever that you will kick this bootcamp's butt.

Anonymous said...

My, my, my. I think I started to hold my breath by the time I read week 3. Do keep us posted, and good luck! Deb

Anonymous said...

I will look forward to reading your boot camp updates!!!