my 8 week challenge

It’s hard to believe that it’s already Day 43 of 8 weeks (or 56 days).  That means I’m over 76% complete in my 8 week challenge. The other thing that’s hard to believe is that I haven’t posted anything since Day 29…and there’s no real excuse.

Let me tell you what I’ve been up to over the last two weeks. I have been working out on a new training plan that my personal trainer designed for me. Due to some restrictions within the facility I use, we’ve been unable to physically meet over the last few weeks. This really has made her more of a virtual personal trainer. We’ve chatted on Skype a few times and we’re in contact through email regularly. Honestly, it seems to be working.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve also been slacking off here and there – and not just on my blog entries. I’ve been playing street hockey at least once a week; I’ve been hitting the gym at least once a week as well, though often two to three times; the weather has sucked so I haven’t been biking with or without my Princess and her chariot. The list goes on from there about constant excuses as to why I haven’t been doing things. Then I noticed there’s two weeks left until vacation and realized I’m only cheating myself by not doing it.

I seem to have plateaued a bit in any weight loss effort. That’s cool as clothes are fitting that haven’t in years and I know that muscle weighs more than fat. Cutting back on the booze in my diet has also given me a huge advantage. Now if only I would actually start eating correctly, I’d shed even more weight.

There you have it. A quick two week update on what I was up to and a further commitment that I will be posting something daily again until vacation. It will no doubt be a challenge, but after all, this is an eight week challenge! Now what I want to know is why didn’t you publicly shame me when you had the opportunity?

Photo from Top 10 Sweat-Drenched Workouts — of which I haven’t tried any.

Yes it’s Day 29 and not even 7:00 in the morning yet and I’m already sitting down to write. I just grabbed my Starbucks coffee (so much for no caffeine in my diet) and am getting ready to work.

On my bike ride in I was inspired to write this post. That’s right, in the dark and pouring rain this morning I biked in to the office to ensure that I managed to keep up some level of activity. Yesterday I went for a very quick 2 mile run and managed to avoid any of the five hawks I saw. And yes, I saw them all at the same time in different areas of the route. I also managed not to get attacked.

So as I sit here, getting ready to work a sedentary job like many of you and I contemplate my workout this afternoon with my awesome personal trainer, I ask you: it’s 7 am and WTF have you done today to sweat?

You may have noticed today is Day 26 and there have been a few posts missing from the previous days. Let me explain.

First i must apilogize as I’m writing this post from 38,000 feet from the tin keyboard of my iPhone 3G. I’ll do my best to catch spelling mistakes but can’t ensure I’ll catch them all. Day 24 was Friday and that was street hockey day at the office. A quick game, with a win in a shoot out, then I was off to the airport to fly to Winnipeg to see some friends and family. I spent Friday night playing Rock Band and some other random game called “spinning dragons.”

This last game was quite physical as you pulled streamers out of their complete roll making huge circles. Think of swimming butterfly stroke while holding on to streamers and that should give you an idea. My shoulders ate still a little tight.

Saturday morning was an early start and a quick 7 miles around Winnipeg. I was impressed with myself as it really seems as though I haven’t run too much lately and this 7 felt great. After the beach in October my next challenge will be a marathon in under 4 hours. That will be scary to fit into an 8 week challenge.

Saturday morning I also poked up my brother from the Winnipeg airport and drove up to my parents cottage to really do some manual labour. It never made sense why they called it Labour Day weekend, but thi year it did.

Yesterday and today was spent getting physical and dirty doing numerous construction and renovation tasks around the cottage. In fact I was sweating so much that today I took my shirt off to work. It was largely only family around but it still felt great…not to mention the weather was awesome too.

And now I’m sitting on an aircraftr heading back home to what I’ve heard isn’t great weather. Tomorrow is all about family time and I’m looking forward to it, though I’m not sure what we’ll get up to. Any suggestions of great things to do in and around Calgary?

It’s Day 23 and about time I write again. Today it’s about taking the time, not finding the time.

You might think that what I’m talking about is kind of lame. Everyone is always trying to find time to schedule meetings, go for walks, do things together with friends and so on. Let’s be honest here for a moment. No matter where you are in the world there are only 24-hours in a day. That’s it, that’s all.

On average we’ll easily spend 8-10 hours of that day working. Either physically at work, or commuting to work. This doesn’t even consider the amount of time that someone thinks about work outside of work. Heck, I’m nowhere near work and I’m even talking about it right now! Now take 6 hours for sleep — yes I know the “experts” say 8 hours, but who really gets 8. That leaves you with 8 hours of your day for cooking, eating, shopping, exercising, socializing, TV watching, <insert action here>.

Eight hours isn’t really that much. Take half an hour for breakfast. Take another hour (at least) to cook dinner, eat it and clean up. Now you’re down to six. Don’t forget showering, laundry and relaxing before bed. You’ve got three left. Three hours left to do something out of twenty-four.

What are you gonna do?

Myself I managed to take 45 minutes today to go for a 31 minute run over lunch — about 3.6 miles. The rest I used to shower. I saw a chance to get in some physical activity, risk my life by an attack hawk (though not as bad as some) and clear my head. This ultimately made me more productive this afternoon.

After taking this all into consideration I’d have roughly two hours and fifteen minutes left to do something, anything. Tonight that included packing and making some other plans and ultimately writing this rant. The last few nights I’ve found the time to write, but I haven’t taken the time.

Taking the time is what matters most. Take five minutes to call a loved one. Take 10 to enjoy the sun (since the days are getting shorter up here). Take the time, don’t find it. Now tell me, what are YOU gonna do?