MEN Only -- A.I.M Challenge: Labor Day Challenge OPEN

This is a Motivation/Challenge designed for Men.  This is a continuation of the April Fool's Challenge and the July 4th Challenge for men started by pinksalmon.

Pick your personal goal: Weight Loss, Increased Fitness, or Fat Burn.  Post it and commit to it.  This forum is here to challenge you to meet your goal.  The Purpose of the AIM Challenge is to provide:

1.  Accountability:  Weekly check in to update your progress.  Weigh in each Wednesday Morning. 
2.  Information:  We will share our experiences, what is working to get into shape, nutritional suggestions, fitness advice, and best practices for results.
3.  Motivation:  Encouragement to make and continue life changes that lead to burning fat, increased fitness, and overall health.

Challenges follow a quarterly time frame and are open to any men willing to commit.  Do you want it?  We are getting it DONE!

AFC Result:  277.5 lbs and 971,250 calories burned off
J4C Result:  172.6 lbs and 604,100 calories burned off
2008 combined total: 450.1 lbs and 1,575,350 calories burned off

Check out our previous challenges here:
http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/post/716 05.html

Want your current BMR?  check out Phord's BMR page 

Check out our results:  AIM Challenge Results

abner: you are an inspiration to us all - love your motto. It goes well with my SeaBee motto, "Can Do, Have Done/the difficult we'll finish tomorrow the impossible takes a little bit longer!". And we actually did back in a day when I was young and stupid!

Start: 169 (7/10)
Current: 168.6 (7/16)
Labor Day Goal: 165
Longer Term Goal: 150-155 - HS, Military, Marriage until 1979!
Fitness Goal: run 5K by 26 Oct 2008 (my 62nd birthday) w/o exceeding hr limit set by cardiologist.

I wogged 3.2 mi yesterday with alternating brisk walk/jogging intervals. Found that I could jog about 40 seconds b4 hr hit the cardiologists limit. On an exertion scale it didn't feel anaerobic, but I'm still going to stay below it until I get clearance based on another stress test. I'm fairly sure I can exceed 137 as my current max, but that's the last measured and verified value we have to go with. Especially since they do an cardiac echo before and after achieving the max hr.

abner is right - this is the challenge of our lives. A challenge to make lifestyle changes that will save our lives! As abner says "Never surrender. Never quit. Not going to fail"

Hey bobev, I wasn't aware of your medical history--definitely follow your doctor's orders. Just stick with the walking. You'll be surprised by how much benefit you'll get from it.

Abner, I'd be thrilled if I had all of the challenge you did and saw a weight gain of only a few pounds. You're still 60 pounds lighter than where you started.

Congrats on running the Peachtree Road Race, scottpatton. I'd love to run that race at some point.

I think that given the variety of fitness goals, one way of putting them on an equal playing field is to track workout times (in minutes or hours). Everyone can submit how long they plan to work out during the week, and then we keep track of how each of performs in relation to the goal. To keep things more challenging and competitive among us, instead of tracking progress simply in terms of total amount of time (volume), we can also keep track of workout time as a percentage of your weekly goal.   

BTW, wiliwigi, if you would like some assistance with tracking or compiling anything during this challenge, let me know--there's no need for you to do this by yourself.

Meanwhile, I'm weighing in a little more than I'd like (170.6 as of this morning), but I'll take it (do I have a choice). Training continues to go well. My legs are a little tight, but it's to be expected after not taking a day off since July 7th and putting in 98.3 miles since my last rest day. Maybe I could use some time with "The Stick." (http://www.thestick.com)

Thanks guys, 

Together we are a chain getting longer and stronger. 

Got to work late today. I'm going to have to give my weight info in the evenings I hope this does not muck anything up. Once I'm out the door I have no access to a computer.

Left work early, got sick as a dog. "how does a sick dog really feel?'.

I will be seeing my doctor in a few hours, I need to get back into the iron. Iron I know as if I'm some kinda of bodybuilder.

"Can Do, Have Done/the difficult we'll finish tomorrow the impossible takes a little bit longer!". good one bobev. Whats SeaBee? I think I have an idea but won't make a fool of my self. trust me thats easy for me to do.

Original Post by scottpatton:

The fun news is that in just 10 pounds, I will just be fat, not overweight! In recent news... I ran the Peachtree Road Race. Didn't break the hour I wanted to, but I finished. Hard effort!

Hey, me too!  1:10, time group 9.  First time I've ever run that far.  It was great.

CC Start: 230-ish

CW: 175.5

GW: 165?

 

I can't check-in nearly as often as I used to. Heck, I haven't even opened email in a week!  I've been way swamped at work as my team which was supposed to go from 2 people up to 4+ instead went down to 1.5.  And I'm the 1.5!

But I do love a challenge.  And now I've got "Embedded Linux Kernel Developer" to add to my resume.  :-)

Hey: What's AIM stand for?

Phil

 

AIM -- Accountability, Information, and Motivation. WW details each point in the opening post.

Greetings, all. Missed the check in last week due to illness. Feeling much better now.

 

This week: 172

Two weeks ago: 171

 

Too many hamburgers and hotdogs over the 4th of July weekend, I guess. I'm back on the wagon now for the next challenge, though. Looking forward to 165 pounds by Labor Day.

Okay, we are on our way.  198 for me this morning.

phord: Thanks for checking in.  I understand about about losing the whole department.  Congrats on the additional cert.  Check in when you can.

abner: it is good to hear from you.  This is a journey we are on.  You have the right attitude, control what you can.  SeeBee, Navy Construction Battalion, Think John Wayne on a bulldozer in a war zone.  You fit the profile my friend

bobev: From your post it sounds like your heart attack was fairly recent.  I am more impressed by you all the time.  I like your idea about minutes and calories.

I will update tomorrow.

ww

Hey everybody. I'd like to jump in here if I could. I would like to lose at least 10 to 15 more pounds by labor day. I've lost 30 since March but I have been stuck for a couple of weeks now. I can't seem to break the plateau. I started out losing weight with a challenge so maybe another one will kick my ass back into gear.

SW: 308

CW:278

bubbaluffaguss - welcome aboard! The more the merrier!

abner - wiliwigi got it right, the official name us US Navy Mobile Construction Battalions, or NMCB, abbreviated CB, or SeaBee! We still love to watch the movie, John Wayne and the fighting SeaBees. BTW - I was with NMCB-9 when in Oct 1965 we became the 1st battalion to see combat as a battalion since WW-II. That surprised me since I knew SeaBees had been deployed with the Marines in Korea, but apparently not in Battalion strength. They go wherever the Marines go, and places they don't!

wiliwigi - My heart attack happened March 15th and was a blessing. It started in the ER with me all hooked up and ready to go! I had no symptoms, or I should say misleading symptoms of blockages building up. My journal documents the journey thru 3 trips to the ER, a stent, two angioplasty's and an endoscopy before they realized that I had esophagus, reflux AND heart problems! My long term exercise routine helped prevent significant heart damage and I was able to pass a stress test on April 2nd, 2 1/2 weeks after the heart attack. My family history should have had me on a more rigorous diet  and drug regimen to achieve even lower LDL & Triglycerides than normal folks.

scottpatton, phord - I'm trying to move back to the Atlanta area from Fort Worth. If I get there we might be able to have a CC team in a future Peach Tree. I'm sure my son, a marathoner, will run it and I have friends who do - who I used to think were nuts! Boy how we change! I'd also like to convince my grandson to run one with me - once I get there. It took me ~50 minutes to wog (walk/jog) a 5k route I mapped out in my neighborhood. I have a way to go but will get there!

The results are posted for those who have checked in.  I will keep an eye out for others and update as needed.

bubbaluffagus: You are in!  15 lbs. in 7 weeks is a worthy challenge.  I used to think that was nearly impossible until I met mortalmonkey.  Great job on your effort to date.  What has been working for you?  Do you have any other fitness goals?

scottpatton: I went back and read about your run.  Who convinced you to get off your bike and start pounding pavement?  Great job on the finish. 

bobev: Thanks for sharing your story.  It was the concern that I was headed in that direction that caused me to make changes in life.  You are making an amazing recovery!

 

WW,

I have a 5 mile scheduled this Sunday 7/20.  Never ran this distance race so good news .. guaranteed PR!  Shooting between 41 - 43 minutes.

I have been way down on miles due to sore knee and then just getting lazy.  Seems like only a few days of "rest" lets you slip pretty quick.  Had a few good work outs the last few days and it will only have been 3 weeks since last 10K so hoping the fresh legs will out weigh the lack of miles/training the last few weeks??

After that I need to ramp up milage again without aggrevating knee as have 10 Mile race scheduled August 17th (Goal 1:30:00).  I wanted to get intermeadiate distance between a 10K and 1st 1/2 Marathon, although a bit close (21 Days) to my scheduled 1/2 Marathon Septemper 7th (Goal: 2:00:00). (So that will be my end of LDC)

Shooting for possible Marathon November 2nd based on outcome of 1/2 Marathon.  With only 7 weeks between if 1/2 marathon 9/7 is not relatively successful then may switch to a 2nd Half Marathon and set the Marathon Goal for next Spring.  Want to stretch the goal but no sense setting off with likely failure ( I know they say just finish and who cares if you walk, but if I have to walk the last few miles and/or signifigant distance, then will not be satisfied).  If not realistic to hit 4:00:00 - 4:30:00 range then will probably wait till next year??

 

 

 

I just kind of fell into losing the weight. I live in Las Vegas and they have this thing called Corporate Challenge. It's a company vs. company competition with different events and they give out medals for the top 3 teams in each event like the Olympics. It goes for about 3 months. This year they had a "Biggest Winner" weight loss competition. Each team had 5 people and the team with the biggest percentage of weight loss won the event. I thought..."meh, I can do that". I officially lost 31 pounds in 3 months by their scales so I figure 15 pounds in 7 weeks is doable.

As far as what has been working for me? Counting calories and exercising. I just need to get back in the right mindset. Once the Corporate Challenge was over I decided to take a break. I stopped religiously counting the calories and just started "ballparking it". I cut down on my workouts because I was getting burned out. I didn't gain any back but I did stop losing. I just needed a little motivation to get back on the horse. This is it.

Fitness goals? Well, I just started the Couch to 5K program. When I say just started I mean today was day 2 of week 1 for me so I won't be finished with it by the time that this challenge is over but I should be well on my way.

Original Post by phord:

Hey, me too!  1:10, time group 9.  First time I've ever run that far.  It was great.

Phord,

I was right in front of you... 1:12 - group 8.  Quite an experience.  I last ran in March... so what a culture shock!

This weekend I will probalby take on some NC mountains on a bicycle... good times.

Scott

Original Post by wiliwigi:

scottpatton: I went back and read about your run.  Who convinced you to get off your bike and start pounding pavement?  Great job on the finish. 

I'm in this for fitness and to do stuff... that was stuff.

I still averaged 18+ miles a day in June (565 miles).  July average is about 21-22 miles a day average (not riding every day.... )

Good stuff.

Scott

rk1: Have fun with your 5 miler or 8K -- I am way impressed with your 8 min mile pace.  I seem to be locked in at about the 11:30 pace.  As they say "it is what it is" I find that I am the last of the male runners to finish and among the middle of the female runners -- I am finally ahead of the walkers on the race course  -- My race right now is against the distance, my goal is to finish and finish well. 

It looks like your 10 mile race is at the right point training in advance of your half mary.  You should be well set to recover and have the endurance built for the race. 

Go for it with the marathon!  Don't worry about the time, go for the finish.  You are right on schedule with your training.  I have committed to a full marathon on Nov. 9th.  I know that I will be nowhere close to a 4 or 4.5 hr finish, but I believe I can finish.

ww

Scottp: Have a great time in the mountains (he said with envy in his heart)  There is no better place to be in the middle of the summer in my opinion.  Here's to doin the stuff.

 

bubbaluffaguss: Running in the desert, now that is hard-core stuff.  The C25K program is great for building endurance.  Take it easy as you are starting.  You may feel like you can do more than the program calls for, but if you have not been in the habit of running it will take a while for your body to adapt.  My first attempt at running ended in about two weeks with a runners knee injury that took almost two months to heal.  It has taken me all year to build up to a 15 mile per week endurance.  Believe me you really are accomplishing something with those 20 and 30 min walk/run sessions. 

All: What is your goal for the weekend?  Do you have a plan for eating within your calorie budget?

My primary fitness goal is a 6.5 mi run tomorrow morning.  As for eating, with vacation over, I am focusing on eating clean.  Low sodium, no restaurants, and pleanty of fresh produce.

Like bubbaluffaguss I am trying the C2K program, but I have to modify it drastically and go slow. I'll be wogging again Sunday and hope to get beyond a 40 second jog before having to stop due to hitting hr limit. Cardiologist doesn't want me to exceed the mid 120's. My anaerobic range starts about 122 or so and I was hitting it in about 35-40 seconds this past Tues. I wound up walking with a neighbor who has arrhythmia and can't jog, so I was polite and walked, so I don't know if that helped endurance or not.

rk1 - have you tried taking two naproxen sodium when your knee is sore? I had an orthopedic surgeon suggest that after I re-injured my knee about 2 years ago. I also wear an elastic brace when working out. I'll look up the brand when I get home and post it. oh its a Futura (sp?) elastic band, no metal, and with an opening for the knee. I've found it's elasticity lasts longer than others.

My Plan for the weekend:

Fitness goal is to wog 3+ mi on Sunday morning. Sat, will be Wii Fit and body weight stuff at the house. Will be on my feet most of the morning running services and doing a teaching/sermon because our leader is on vacation. I hope my back and knee hold up.

As to eating, well Fri nights are generally tough. We go to a friends for dinner and I generally have more wine, guacamole, and chips than I should. We have a luncheon after services Sat and there's lots of good stuff. So my goal is to still maintain a calorie deficit for Fri & Sat and have a good deficit on Sun. Its kind of a weekly zig/zag ain't it! I am sodium limited and its tough to estimate how much is in the food folks have made and its one thing that's difficult to ask someone. So its likely that I exceed my 1500 mg/day target.

ww I like the idea of weekend goals. Helps keep the motivation for fitness and diet going strong.