solidthomas.com

Fletch Fit: What do I want to do?
Well, I’ve lost about 70# and I would like to drop about 25 more. In addition to that I want to be strong (muscular).

I've come a looooong way!

In order to do this and to maintain it, there are three things I need:
1. A good workout regimen (Got it)
2. A good, maintainable nutrition plan (Need it)
3. A much better sleep schedule (REALLY need it)

I strongly believe that fixing my sleep schedule is the most important of the three, because it will affect my entire life and not just my physical well-being. Once I have that under control, I believe I’ll have the energy I need in order to learn how & what to cook to solve my nutrition issues. As far as the workout goes, I’ve got more muscle than I’ve ever had, I’m more flexible than I’ve ever been, I’m faster than ever. If not for a little extra weight, I’m in the best shape of my life.

In the end, if I can get these three parts of my life in line, I believe it will provide the self-image that I need in order to be a more confident person. Confidence, as many of you know, is one of the key personality attributes to being successful in most areas of life!

So. What could possibly stop me from doing this? Well, right now it’s kind of a catch-22. I don’t sleep enough because I can’t get everything I want to do, done, in the time I am currently awake. I don’t get everything done because I just don’t have the energy like I should. I don’t have that energy because I don’t sleep enough. Bah! It also makes it harder for me to think critically & solve problems at work, and since that’s basically my job (software developer) it leaves me feeling inadequate.

So, in a nutshell, what could stop me is laziness and/or lack of willpower.

Here are some of the things I want to be able to do soon and for many years to come:
1. Play Ice Hockey (Got a lead and plan to be on a team within a few weeks, actually)
2. Run a 5k under 21 minutes (fastest @race is 23:33, but fastest on practice courses is about 21:30. Need to reconcile and gain a little more speed!)
3. Bench press 300lbs. My current max is about 285! My normal lift is about 225.
4. LOOK good. This is not about how others think I look, but rather how I perceive myself. Technically I am about 7 lbs from being “obese”, however people tend to balk at me when I tell them that. I’m 6’8″ tall and according to weight guidelines I should be between 187 and 227 lbs… I’m ~265 and I think a reasonable goal for me is ~240.
5. Be Flexible. About a year ago was the first time that I can remember my entire life when I was able to bend down and touch my toes. I was pretty thin in HS and College but never had the flexibility to do this simple task. Now that I’ve accomplished this, I plan to be able to do it for the remainder of my life.

Guys & Gals, you really can do anything if you put your mind to it. The trick is commitment, and that’s what we’re all here for — to help keep each other committed to our own goals. I’m looking forward to building new relationships with the rest of you. You can come watch a hockey game sometime 🙂