It's been a struggle!!

Over the last week I have definitely had some issues when it comes to my food.  Last Saturday we had a birthday party to go to and I dodged a bullet, but later that night I destroyed 6 pieces of pizza.  While I was so proud of myself for avoiding the cupcakes that really looked good, once I had my first piece of pizza there was no going back.  But instead of giving up, I got right back on it and got it done.

While I only lost 1.6 pounds, I did loose 5 inches and 2% body fat during the week and I am really starting to notice how I feel and how my clothes fit, and that is what's the most important.  While I would love to say I lost all the inches off my waist and belly, it was only 1, I lost a majority of it from my thighs.  But what's important is I am dropping weight, I am dropping inches and I am dropping body fat.

Another thing I am proud of is I did get my workouts in like I wanted to.  I ran 4 days, I lifted 3 days and I walked one night with the family.  I also made it another week without a soda.  When it comes to goals, it's the little ones that really count and that's what I'm getting.

As I have said before, follow me on Instagram, MyFitnessPal and of course check out the great products from Wilderness Athlete that are helping me get it done!!

Setting goals and avoiding temptations

When I started this, it was because of the class project but knowing me, I needed more of a reason to get it done and give it my all.  In looking at it I had to think, what are my goals?  I have set a lot of goals for myself since 2011, a majority of which I have reached and the rest I've come close to.  One of my first goals was to run a 5K, and I've lost count of how many I've done now.  I've gone on to set goals of running a sub 36 minute 5K and I'm currently at 38 minutes for a PR.  I've run a 10K, two half marathons and a marathon.  I've deadlifted 490lbs, I've squated 350lbs.......the only goal I've never set for myself is when it comes to my weight and this time around I need to set one and chase after it.

My plan is to follow the 28 Day Challenge for a total of 12 weeks and be brutally honest with what I take in the hope of  losing an average of 3 pounds per week.  Could I do more, sure, but trying to do more may hurt me in the long run.  When I started this last week I weighed in at 281 pounds, today, after one week I'm at 275 pounds.  There will be a lot of weeks I may only lose 1 or 2 pounds.  Thanksgiving will fall during this 12 weeks and there is no way I'm going to walk away from my wife's homemade turkey dinner and that's where the self control and avoiding temptations comes in.  I've already fought some pretty bad temptations and this is only week one.  I've also been brutally honest when it comes to my intake.......Saturday I went to the UNR football game and got to go the sponsors tailgate with all you could eat BBQ and all you could drink beer.  I did partake and I logged it all the best I could.  Sunday I did a little 5 mile run and had a donut after, which was tracked as well.  So I can see where I failed.  Those are going to be special occasions and won't be a weekly thing, they will be rewards and they will not be in response to stress.

Yesterday I had one of the most stressful days I've had in along time and I was able to fight my cravings.  Yesterday my son had his 3 month post cancer treatment scans and the hospital has the best breakfast burritos ever and I wanted one.  I was also craving a soda.  After his scans, he wanted McDonalds for lunch and how can you tell a kid fighting cancer who hasn't eaten in 16 hours no?  But I didn't do it, I didn't give in to my temptations!!  I wanted it but I didn't give in because stress eating is a killer........stress is a killer when it comes to losing weight and that's where I have always failed and that's where I'm not going to fail this time.

As always, you can follow my food and exercise on My Fitness Pal and photos on Instagram.

A new beginning!

It's amazing what cancer will do to a family.  For those that don't know me, on April 13th 2015 my now 4-year-old son was diagnosed with high risk stage IV neuroblastoma and we had a very long roller coaster ride.  Through my entire life I have struggled with my weight and this really hit my weight, and fitness hard.

A little background......in 2011 I had some medical issues, spent some time in the hospital and realized how out of shape I was.  As an avid hunter and a relatively new father I decided I needed to do something and found a little workout program for hunters called Train To Hunt and a little supplement company for hunters called Wilderness Athlete.  With these I made some changes and got in shape, not good shape, but definitely made some improvements.  It could have been better, but due to some lifelong medical issues and my love of food I only got so far.  Even though I made some great strides, my son being diagnosed with cancer, hospital food, long road trips back and forth for treatment and not exercising regularly took away all the progress I made previously.  While I was still in better shape than I was in 2011, I was nowhere near where I was in January 2015

Fast forward to September 2016 and me, trying to finish up my degree, get an assignment for a class that entails me abstaining from something for 10 weeks and the light bulb goes off.........let's get my fat butt into real shape, and a shape that doesn't include round!!  As soon as I heard of the project I decided I would cut out all soda from my diet then I decided to cut out all junk food as well.  Part of this project includes daily journals as to how I feel, did I relapse and why or why didn't I relapse, and that's where this all comes in.  While I will be journaling for my class daily as to how I feel and what I'm going through mentally, on here I will be talking about those things, plus I will be sharing with all of you what my goals are and what I am doing to attain those goals.  Also, with the help of My Fitness Pal, I will be sharing my food intake and my workouts to show what I'm doing and who this all is effecting me mentally and physically.

My goal for all of you is to show that no matter how much you have going on in your life, you can do this, do it right and reach your goals.  As far as my personal goals right now......I want to feel better, I want my clothes to fit better and I want to improve my body composition.

Over the next 12 weeks I will be using nutrition products from Wilderness Athlete, part of their 28 Day Challenge, plus some healthy snacks and a sensible dinner as far as my intake.  I also plan to run 3 to 4 days a week plus include either a Train To Hunt Workout or a workout at my CrossFit Gym, Black Iron Gym, 3 to 4 days a week for 6 to 8 workouts a week.  During the next 12 weeks you can follow my intake and workouts at NVBrushhunter on MyFitnessPal and I will also post photos on my Instagram, Crossfit_Hunter, as I go through this journey.

Thanks for following and let's get this going!!