Monday, January 30, 2006

2006 Race Schedule

2006 race schedue

2006 Triathlon Race Schedule (REVISED)

I am preparing for an eventful year in 2006. I have lofty goals and no fear!

Let’s have a recap and then I will list my schedule for the entire year.
I plan to be down to 300 LBS. by my first race in May.2006

I am to complete 1 International/Oly sized TriathlonBy 12/31/2006

I am to weigh 250 LBS.2007

I am to complete 1 Half IM12/31/2007

I am to weight in at 210 LBS.2008

I am to complete my first FULL IM (probably IMFL)

So that is the recap of the goals I had set for myself. In 2005 I raced in nine sprint triathlons and completed eight. Since the former post of my 2006 race schedule I have been motivated through peer pressure and kindness from the BRtri Club to complete a Half IM in 2006 so that I can complete my FULL IM in 2007 instead of 2008.
After much deliberation and prayer . . . I will race in a half Iron-man in 2006

I will race in IMFL in 2007

2006:

Feb. 1-5 Multisport.com training campSan Diego CA

Feb 11th Evangeline Oak Duathlon (my first Du)



April 2 T-Gator Series tri at Lake Charles LA

April 22 Louisiana Tri at New Roads Sprint


May 6 Crawfishman, Buch LA (Sprint)

May 21 Memphis in May Int/Oly Triathlon Memphis TN

June 10 Buster Britton Sprint Tri Pelam AL

June ? Yam City Sprint Triathlon Opelousas LA

July ? Disco Triathlon - Sprint Dallas TX

July ? Abitaman #3 - Sprint New Orleans LA

July 23 Tri-America Int/Oly Tri Louisville KY

Aug. 6 Rivercities Tri – Sprint Shreveport LA

Sept. 10 Cajun Man – Sprint tri Lafayette LA

Spet. 24 Disney World Int/Oly tri Orlando FL
Sept. 24 Meat Pie - Natchitouches (I am unable to do because of Walt Disney tri)

Oct. 1 Tri-Andy's Tri - Sprint Houston TX

Oct. 29 Ironstar HALF IRON MAN Conroe TX

I hope all of my friends and family in the Kentucky Ohio area can make plans to come down to Louisville for the race in July.

Notice I am doing 3, yes THREE International size triathlons in 2006!

THEN ENDING THE YEAR WITH A HALF IRON MAN IN TEXAS!!!

Thursday, January 26, 2006

I am doing it . . . Biggest Loser


I am doing it.







I am flying to Los Angles on February 10th to audition for the Biggest Loser cast 3.

I have been contemplating this action for about 3 months now. My wife brought the cast call to my attention then and suggested that I apply for the show. Since then it has been in the back of my mind. My friends that I have talked to about this endeavor have been very supportive. Many have also stated that I would be great on the show. Thank you for the kind words.

I am concerned about the time away from work and the potential exposure it might bring. I know my clients will support this opportunity and I also have faith in my partners to take good care of them for the time I will spend taping the show. I will also spend every off minute checking my clients’ accounts and making sure I am able to respond to any need my clients may have. I hope I am able to do myself, my family, and all of my mentors and friends justice on the show. I will hold myself to a high level of integrity and also provide support for my co-cast members.

I am doing this for knowledge as much as personal need. I do need to lose weight and as most of you know, I am working hard to lose my weight, however what really bothers me about y weight besides all of the psychological scars is that I can’t figure it out!

I haven’t been able to beat my fat.

There is not much in life that I have not been able to overcome. I have dealt with the hard roads in my life, as we all have, with a learning approach. Learn from my mistakes, learn from my wise decisions what to do the next time, but always learning, gaining knowledge.

I haven’t been able to gain the knowledge to beat my fat. I am praying that I am able to become a part of this show and learn. I want to gain the knowledge to beat the fat and give to others the new life choices I take from the Biggest Loser and pass them to anyone who will listen.

I don’t want a penny. My wife, Amanda and I were talking about this. I wasn’t aware that there was prize money for the show. However, we found out last night there is a $250,000 prize for the winner. If I were to get on the show and win, I will pay my staff/team a nice bonus for holding down the fort in my absence and with the rest I will contribute it to my Alma Matter Northern Kentucky University to promote the implementation of the Biggest Loser weight loss philosophy into the health center through education, books, and classes.

Call me stupid, I don’t care. I am not in it for money. I am in it to be able to love myself again. I am in it to be able to wear clothes not purchased at a store with the words “Big and Tall” in it. I am doing this to live long enough to see my children have children. I am doing this so I am around to take care of my clients for their lifetime. I am doing this to help me and in return help others. I am not doing this for money.

How many of you, if you had $250,000 to spare, would give that money to unlock the knowledge and your own potential to become healthy and slim? I know many people who if they had that kind of money would do it gladly, I am one of them.

I weigh in at 389lbs today. I am not happy with who I am and at times, I am down right disappointed and angry at what I am. I know many of us that battle with fat feel the same way. If I am selected and have the opportunity to unlock the knowledge . . . I will bring it back to you all.

Wish me luck and pray for me on Saturday, Feb. 11th when I go in front of the panel who will decide who is a part of the next cast of the Biggest Loser.

Below is the link to my last Biggest Loser post:
http://tri-ingfatman.blogspot.com/2005/12/biggest-loser_113355275434497629.html

I love you all.

Monday, January 09, 2006

Education . . . Who me!!!


I try and make my writings motivational, educational, and entertaining. I know that I fulfill the entertainment portion by simply telling the stories of my accomplishments or lack there of, in the sport of triathlon. I also hope that I am motivating by my examples of success and failure. I succeed at times and I fail as much but, I keep going. My only concern is the lack of education I provide in my writings. I don’t know anything!

Today I embarked on an excursion of nutritional learning.

I spent most of last Friday answering more than a hundred questions for a nutritionalist and today I spent another 30 minutes online doing the same. The questions, while at times obscure, were self revealing and confusing. I didn’t and still don’t understand what the thickness of my neck has to do with anything, but I m willing to work with it.

I hope that I am able to share with you the nutritional information I learn from Brandon, my nutritionalist. He is definitely on his game and has a wealth of information. Sitting with him today for about 45 minutes was mind blowing. He went over a preliminary list of foods I need to cut out immediately and once he receives my test results back he will then give me detailed plan of foods to have and avoid.

I was impressed and excited.

I am concerned however, with the training aspect of his directions for me. It seems I am putting my body at risk with the training I am doing while my body is nutritionally deficient. Therefore, Brandon wants me to focus on a regimented exercise program that consists of less impact and aerobic exercise, I think, I am all confused now, but my point is that what I am doing to prepare for my race season 2006, is hurting me more than helping me.

Brandon said that we could compromise and add in some of my running, biking, and swimming with the zone programs he has for me, but he informed me that continuing to follow the plan I have will result in just what is happening now. I am working hard, but going no where. I am building my endurance, but not losing weight or gaining much strength because my body has problems repairing itself.

Craziness huh?

I am going to log in to the blog the different test results and what it is I am supposed to eat and not eat. I will also log on how my body is reacting to that. I will post my weight and my food log on a weekly basis.

If this works for me I will be eternally grateful, if it doesn’t I will take it as a learning experience. I hope that is does work so that I can fulfill the educational portion of my blog by directing you to a local FITT Nutritionalist in your area.

Have a great day and train hard . . . and smart!

22 days until my Multisports training camp!!!!

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Turkey and Dressing and Pie! OH MY!!!!

There are times in life when I think we will ourselves to believe in our success and talk ourselves into believing we are doing well at a specific job, goal, relationship, or whatever. When in reality we are really screwing up!

Think about this for a second.

I want you to pick one instance in your life, something you really thought you had in the bag, so to speak. Maybe it was a certain test in college that you had convinced yourself that you had studied enough to ACE. Maybe it was a task you had been given to do at work that you just knew you had nailed it on the head. Possibly a relationship when you were younger that you felt you were doing everything right and this was the one!

Now the twist.

I want you to think of all of those instances and then remember the ones that caught you off guard. One that when the bell rang, or the time had come to put up or shut up, you sucked! You failed miserably, or your girlfriend broke up with you just as you were about to ask her to the prom.

It was mind blowing to you right? It was unexpected. You had studied hard, you drank your 2 liter of Mountain Dew and pulled an all-nighter but, you still did poorly on that test.

Or, you did the research; you put together the power-point presentation of the year with indisputable support, but your boss didn’t get it.

How does this happen? How can we feel so good about something that is going so wrong?

I went to Cincinnati Oh, for 3 weeks over the holidays. I made a commitment to train HARD. I dedicated myself to exercise. I focused on my weaknesses.

I packed my trainer and 4 spinervals DVDs. I bought a good pair of winter running shoes. Amanda gave me my Christmas present early, a Garmin, Forerunner 301. I was ready to go!!!!!!

I did, I worked my can off. I ran and biked more in 4 weeks than I did over half of the race season. I ran consecutive 4 and 6 miles, which I haven’t done since I was in the Army. I hit the trainer hard. I was doing two-a-days. I would ride the trainer in the morning and run in the afternoon.

There were days when it was snowing or icing with 10 degree weather and I was out there with purple knees and all, running.

I was feeling great! I was doing it!

I was the king of the triathlon training world!!!

I couldn’t wait to get back to Baton Rouge, head out to the River Road loop we ride here and burn it up!!! I have never run the lakes around the LSU campus here out of fear and self deprecation. But, not now baby! I was heading home to tackle those lakes and show off my new skillz!

Could 9 baby! PUMPED!!! Ready to Rock and Roll!!!! Don’t get in my way, cause you might get runt over!!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!

Then . . .

It was late. I had been driving all day from Cincinnati, Ohio. I had been in my Excursion for 11 hours. I was tired. The traffic was a little annoying, but not too bad. I was just focusing. I was thinking about riding with the bigboys around River Road and maybe even staying with them for 5 or 6 miles before they dropped me. I was dreaming big!!!

I arrived home in Baton Rouge sometime around 1:30 AM. Monday the 2nd.

Home . . .

I went to bed directly and slept like a log.

When I woke I had the urge to see how well I had done with my weight while I was in Cincinnati. I knew I must have done well, I had gone off my eating regiment, but with all of that working out and training, I was good as gold. It is hard to weigh yourself when you weigh more than 350 lbs. most every scale only weighs up to 280 lbs. and the doctors office scales only go to 350 lbs. I had to order one to weigh myself.

I mosey on over to “my room” that holds my bikes, and training gear as well as the scale. I was so confident, I didn’t even strip down as I normally do. Nope, not this guy! I left the short, T-shirt, Birkenstocks, and even glasses on.

When I left Baton Rouge in early December, I weighed in at 364 lbs. As many of you know, my highest weight was 411 lbs. and my weight when I began to train in May of 05 was 405 lbs.

As the digital screen on the scale flipped around I had a big smile on my face.

When it stopped . . . I didn’t.

385 lbs. 385 LBS. 385 POUNDS three hundred and eighty-five pounds.

What happened?
That is all I could muster up in my brain. What did I do?

I gained over 20 lbs.

I stood there, in shock, mouth open, and hand on my forehead for a second. Then I began to reflect.

Do this with me now.

Remember those individual instances I asked you to think about? Let’s think about them again.

Did we do the best we could in each of those instances? Did we study enough, or properly? Did we go in the correct direction with our business proposal? Were we really doing the right things in our relationship to keep it strong?

Answer?

In my case, no. I didn’t do it right. I know that and I think I knew it all along.

I stayed with a very good friend who drinks sodas. I drank sodas. It was the holidays and I love to cook. I cooked and I ate, much more than I should have. I went to football games and I drank my share and your share of beer.

While I was pushing it hard with my training and I did work hard, however I was destroying that hard work with my really bad nutrition. In my mind I was telling myself it was OK because I was working out so hard, but in reality I was not looking at the fact or I was conveniently avoiding the negative issues that were going on and only celebrating the positive. I think that is normal, but I think we must recognize it and handle it.

Did you find or do you find this happening to you?

Do you focus on the positive and discard or ignore the not so positive? Do you get really excited about your successes and avoid your crutches?

It is ok if you do. I just shared mine with you and I think I do this more than the average Dick or Jane. What I have learned after reflecting on this for the past 48 hours is that I need to recognize all of the influences and effects of my actions, good and bad. I need to focus as much, if not more on my negative functions as I do my positive ones.

In order for us to be successful with this life change for health we can’t forget the whole picture. While it is good to celebrate our success in certain areas, we must keep an eye on our downfalls as well.

The big picture.
I am proud of all of us. Skinny or fat, if you are working on yourself, you are a hero in my book.

Keep your head up and your body moving.

I have learned a lot in the past few days, I hope I can take that knowledge and cultivate it into success with my health.

Until next time,

Ciao!