My ride was thought provoking.

Yesterday was kind of a major accomplishment for me.  That morning, I had decided that I am going to ride the Wiouwash Trail in Oshkosh.  I didn't plan on riding all the way to Hortonville, but that is what I ended up doing.  I then turned around and rode back home.  It was a great accomplishment for me because I hadn't rode that long in probably 25 years!  I think I've done one trip longer, and that was all the way across the city of San Diego with my mom and sisters.  Since then, my furthest ride has been 25 miles, and that was on a stationary bike.  This trip was 44 miles long, when all was said and done.  http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/55310740
I had a lot of time to think  yesterday while riding that trial, by myself.  I thought about playing football, and what I still needed to work on before the season started.  I thought about my career, and how I've really put my "job" on the back seat while I train for the upcoming season.  Not saying I neglect my duties, not at all, but I do not put in the study time that I have put in, in the past.  I normally would go home, and study on a subject, until I had it down.  Now my extra time is spent working with the boys, lifting weights, riding bikes, or studying my play book.  I am not apologetic for it, because I truly believe this is what I have to do in order to be successful.  If I am not successful this season, then it is a waste of my time, the teams time, and my family's time, as I have mentioned in previous posts.
I also had time to think about my family.  I thought about my mom (Rose), and how we used to always go on bike rides all around San Diego, because she didn't drive, and outside of public transportation, it was our only means of transportation.  I thought about my sisters, and how I regret not seeing them more, and spending more time with them..  I thought about my brother Josh, and how I wish he could play football with me before my window closes for this type of competition.  I think it would be something we could both share with our sons, to show them it is never too late to pursue something you love to do.  I thought about my brother Sean, and how I wish I could convince him to get off his ass and face the world.  I also thought about all my nieces and nephews, and how I need to be a better Uncle to all of them.  My mom (Kathy), and how she always made living at home tolerable, and protecting us from...............
I thought about my dad, and how I wish he could see how much I have really accomplished in my life.  As much as I outwardly deny that I care one way or another, what he thinks about me, deep down, we all want to make our parents proud, no matter how things all went growing up.
I thought about all the friends that have come and gone out of my life since the beginning, and how I wonder what each and every one of them are doing.
I thought about my girlfriend, Kathy, and how supportive she has been of everything I want to do, and work for.  I thought about our future together, and what that is actually going to be.  I thought about the boys, Brandon and Jake, and how they really view me.  Maybe i'm just another one of their mother's boyfriends.  I really hope they think more of me than that, but honestly, I don't really know how they feel about me.  I try hard to set an example, and to work hard, and to give them all the things they need to be successful.  I knew growing up, that I wanted for so many things, but I know for a fact that these boys want for nothing.  That's the way I want it to be, and I just hope that the message is getting across to them.
Finally, I thought about my son, Liam.  I thought about how I am going to help him become the man I never was. I thought about how I want to instill in him, hard work, and the success that goes along with it.  I wished he was riding there with me, and how we could just sit and chat about so many things.  I don't want him to ever doubt how much I love him, and I want him to realize how much he has changed my life. I am not the same person I was 4 years ago.  My priorities have completely changed, and I know that my actions do not only effect me anymore.  I feel that if I do not work hard to succeed, I cannot ask anyone else to do it either.  So, I will lead by example.

Quote

"Only those who attempt the absurd...will achieve the impossible." - M.C. Escher

Monthly progress report

I have decided to keep monthly progress photos, so here is my latest photo.  From the photo, there isn't much change, but I have dropped about 7 pounds, about 1% body fat, and added strength.  So things are moving in the right direction.

10/3/2011

2/23/2012

3/28/2012

My Progress

After a discussion with my girlfriend (Kathy) this morning, about how I felt about not making the gains I had hoped for over last 5 months, and her telling me that she really notices the difference in me . I had remembered that I had taken pictures when I started, just for my own reference. I decided to take a picture this morning, and compare the 2.  I will say that I am nowhere near where I want to be, but I have to admit, even to myself, that I have made some progress.   Here is what that progress looked like.  Again, I know that I have a long way to go, but I think that the hard work, countless hours at the gym, and support of so many friends, and all my family.  I have started to get somewhere.  Once again, this is only the beginning.  We will do this again in a couple months and see where we are at.  I am learning new things about my body every single day, and I believe every little bit helps.

10/3/2011

02/23/2012

Driven.....

Driven, when I first thought about that word, it seemed obvious to me, as to what it meant.  As I progress through my current journey, the word continues to somewhat evolve. I honestly never considered myself a drive n person.  I always reserved that word for people who I perceived as successful, and built, and wealthy.  I figured i'd always be on the outside looking in, and that I'd never the "drive" that the successful people do.  Then I sat back, and I looked at what I have accomplished since October of 2011, the month that I decided that I was going to do whatever it took to not just "play" semi-pro football, but do everything I possibly could to train so I could be a stand out player.
I am trying to be the overly humble person that is almost annoyingly modest about their accomplishments.  Granted, I haven't cured cancer, and I haven't helped the homeless, but at the same time I haven't sat on my ass hoping things would happen for me.  The workouts, supplements, and skills training all add up to a sense of accomplishment.  I have really done something in the last 5 months, but at the same time, I have just begun.  Which leads me to my next point.  One thing I've found demoralizing, yet inspiring at the same time is the fact that you are never done.  Meaning, sometimes you think, hey if I get to 200lbs, i'll be done, or if I get down to 5% body fat i'll be done, or maybe, if I catch every pass thrown to me, I'll be done.  The truth of the matter is, you are never done.  The harder I work, and the more goals I meet, the more I find new things to accomplish.  I find more things I can be better at. You close one door behind you, and turn around, and there are 50 more doors in front of you.  I am not complaining though, I actually find it motivating.  What would this all be worth if it was easy?  Everyone would be a professional athlete if you didn't have to work hard at it.  I've really started down a life long path of health and wellness.  What I have gained in these 5 months are a new foundation to my life.  I am in great shape, and I am eating better than I ever have.  I am also very realistic.  I know that this is just the beginning, and I am not looking for an end.  I'll just keep setting milestones, and I'll just keep moving forward, and getting better.  Hopefully one day I can use what I have learned to inspire someone else to take a similar journey, and help them through it.  That is all yet to be determined.  I really wouldn't trade this for anything, I am honestly excited about the future, and where I am going.

Quote

"It's never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot

Diet, Training, and progress

Lots has happened in the last couple of weeks.  I have started tracking my diet with MyFitnessPal on my IPhone. My calories have been very strict, and I have not gone over my allotted calories for that particular day.  I try and keep my fat very low, and my protein at about 1gm per pound of body weight, and my carbs around 40% of my diet. So far, so good.  The only discouraging part of the whole thing is, my body fat hasn't dropped at all in the past 2 weeks.  I'm not sure what to make of that, but i'll continue to monitor it, and see where it goes.

As for my training, I am still training regularly, but the times are sporadic, and therefore a little chaotic for my liking.  I'm still getting all my workouts in for the week, but it is just all over the board.  My gains have leveled off, and that wasn't unexpected.  I will say that I am consistently sore though, and that worries me a little bit.  I do not want to believe that I am over training, but I do have to make sure that I am closely monitoring it.  I do not want my workouts to be counter productive.

My supplement intake has been very consistent.  Protein Shake with creatine, first thing in the morning, along with my Armor-V vitamin.  I then eat an orange, and have a cup of coffee.  10 am a bowl of Oatmeal, and then lunch time, I have usually have a good carb, protein, and some fruit.  Again, I feel my diet is pretty good, not great, but a heck of a lot better than it was.

As for football, there are a lot of things I need to work harder on.  I really need more receiving practice.  I let too many balls bounce off my hands in warm-ups last night, and my confidence was a little shaken, which mentally is not acceptable.  So, more work, and more concentration.

My goals are becoming more and more clear.  I need to increase my speed, strength, endurance, and weight, and reduce my body fat. Once I see those things happening, I'll worry more about numbers, and actual milestones.

Quote

" Giving up is for those who never intended to be great, but only posed so that we could admire what they would never become."
George Stoichev