Short Term Goals

There are many occasions in the year that requires us to stop and ponder, make lists of goals as we go along, altering them, and finally, review and update. For some strange reason, today just felt right for such a time. I am less than 6 weeks away from turning 28. Whilst I am quite comfortably set on my progress, I have yet to achieve my targets set for my physique (which is 87 kgs and marathon ready-fit).

With less than 6 weeks to work with, I have set up these few goals to achieve as a birthday present to myself:

1. Get down to 95 kgs.

2. Start (or restart) swimming - twice a week. This will be the main cardio workout I will start with until I get down to 95 kgs (Then I'll jog again! Yippie!!!).

3. Fit into this pair of pants I bought ages ago (I think I've only managed to fit into it on 2 different occasions, once in 2004, and once in 2008). Even though it says size 36, and I CAN fit into other size 36's, this one just doesn't fit right! So this is one of my targets for this month.

Notice the brand? That shows how old this pair of pants are right?

So what's at the end of the other side after I've achieved these goals? Parading in those size 36 U2 pants is one but I won't make it public of course. I'm rewarding myself with a brand new 32G iPad (co-sponsored by my lovely girlfriend too! Thanks babe!), and I will enroll myself in the 2010 Penang Bridge Half Marathon! That gives me about 3 months to prepare for the gruesome 21 km hohoho...

How exciting! 2010 is going to be a good year!

Double Digits

Today is the first time, that I officially weigh in double digits in almost 2 years. The journey has been filled with ups and downs, and at some times, doubts that I will lose weight again. It was all thanks to my beautiful girlfriend and her constant encouragement that got me through those times, it was always her praises and notices on my progress that kept me going week after week. Sometimes when we are accountable to another person, it gives us more motivation to keep going.

Now that I've reached one of my goals for the year, I will need to sit down and make up a few more. One of them is to start my training for a marathon as soon as I hit 95 kgs. I think I would only be able to run a half marathon by November and a full one mid of next year (if all goes well with no injuries). Then, I will be able to cross of the list of goals, one by one!

To be honest, I have never encountered a simpler way to lose weight than this! I do not need to count calories, weigh my food, limit my portions or whatsoever. I just keep drinking the shakes, eat whatever I like for one meal a day. To me, this is freedom. It also keeps my sanity in check, because I love food, as you can tell from my blog!

Realizations...

“The Past Does Not Equal The Future” – Anthony Robbins

I used to bask in the glory of completing a 24km track under 2-1/2 hours. Until today...

It finally dawned to me that the total weight I would have to lose is almost a quarter of my current. However, losing weight is not my main priority, fitness is. The first half marathon I completed was under 2 1/2 hours. The second took me more than 3. This was a slippery slope. I needed to get fit for the sake of my health. FFS I used to just put on my jogging shoes after work, go out and jog for 90 minutes! Non-stop! What happened between then and now? Geez...

As of today, all my previous fitness accomplishments are wiped, and I shall start with a clean slate.

Running Goals Checklist:

1. Run a 5K. (DONE 19/10/10)

2. Run a 10K. (DONE 19/11/10)

3. Run a half marathon. (DONE 21/11/10)

4. Run a marathon.

5. Run a 10 minute mile.

6. Run 5K under 30 minutes.

7. Run 10K under 60 minutes.

8. Run a half marathon under 150 minutes.

9. Run a marathon under 270 minutes.

10. Stay alive after all that...

...IT IS TIME TO GET TO WORK...