Marshall Ramsey

Goal Weight: 195 lbs.

Today’s Weight: 207 lbs.

After a surprise pardon from exile, I did eight stations, including some intense core work.  I did fine — My push-ups and sit-ups this week paid off. We also ran on the treadmill, did suicides (anyone who has played sports knows about suicides), did lunges, step-ups and worked in the weight room.  We also did 100-yard sprints on the track and did what was called an “Indian run” (we ran as a line around the track with the last person sprinting to the front over and over.) At one point on the treadmill, my heart rate was over 200 bpm.  That’s pretty high for an old fart like me.

I got a great workout. And my soaked shirt proved it.

The end of the program is near. So I have to decide what’s next. Do I join a gym again? I intend to keep running and will start training for the next half-marathon I can find.  The last day is March 30 and I don’t get weighed by Patrick House until April 28.  (That’s when I have to weigh 195 lbs.)  I’ll get there before then and intend to get below my goal weight.  I’m not tackling linebackers anymore.  I don’t need to weigh over 200 anymore.  If I weighed 175, I wouldn’t cry.

Since Halloween 2010, I have gone from running a marathon to being obese to now being back in very good shape.  I couldn’t have done it without my wife’s insistence and support. Without the challenge from Patrick. And without Paul LaCoste allowing me to join his group and then pushing me harder than I thought I could be pushed.  I’ve come a long way — and have a long way to go.  I faced a challenge — and rose to it. That gives me confidence I’ve lost over the past year.  Now I know I can do whatever I put my mind to.

Goal Weight: 195 lbs

Today’s Weight: 209 lbs.

I ran 4.53 miles this morning in 47.53 minutes. It was an easy run and I burned 791 calories.  Because it was warm and humid, I worked up a good sweat. This is the fourth day in a row I’ve run over four miles.  And since I’m in exile, I’ve added pushups and sit-ups to my routine at home.

I’ve been taking ice baths (woo wee) to help my legs deal with the build up of lactic acid.  They have worked well.  I’ve also been eating light — the last two nights I’ve had fresh spinach and grilled-chicken salads for dinner and frozen dinners for lunch.  I’ve had fresh pears as a snack and a Clif Bar right before I go on the air for added energy.  For breakfast, I’ve had oatmeal with a scoop of Soy protein powder on it. I’ve only had unsweetened tea and water to drink.

But since I have the morning off this week, I did something I’ve needed to do for weeks — I took a 2 1/2-hour nap.  The dog didn’t mind and I figured it needed one. I’m groggy right now but know it was a very wise investment of my time.  My to-do list is long and calling, but can wait.  Rest is a key component to fitness I’ve been ignoring for a while.

So now it is time to get moving. I have work to do.

Goal Weight: 195 lbs.

Current Weight: 207 lbs.  (I weighed 248 lbs. at the doctor’s office in December. That means I’ve lost close to 1/6th of my bodyweight.).

P.S. I’m back in exile. Did I gorge on food? No. Did I cheat my diet? No. Did I slack off on my workouts? No. Did I gain one pound? Yes.  It’s a good lesson in life — one that I have learned recently in my career: You do everything right and bust your butt and things still go the other way.  Do you complain about it? No. Do you quit? No.  Do you work extra hard toward your goal ? Yes.  This week, I will run laps on the track, breathe bus exhaust and pray I don’t have problems with my IT band and hamstrings (my legs still are shot). And I’ll rejoin my group next week.

Goal Weight: 195 lbs.

Current Weight: 208 lbs.

Yup. 208 lbs. My goal is in sight.  My legs are still shot and I’m having trouble with tight hamstrings, but I’m stretching, icing and putting heat on them.  I’ll plow past this.  This morning, I rode the spin bike 10 minutes, stretched and then ran 4.14 miles. Slowly. Painfully. But I did it.  I then soaked in an ice bath and got ready.  Since I’m on furlough from the paper, I only am working 35 hours this week (instead of 65). So I’m going to use the week to plan and get a few things put in place.

As I said today on Twitter —  Monday’s Prayer: Allow me to use Spring as a reminder that not all change is bad.

Like the trees around me, change is happening. It’s time for me to make the best of it.

UPDATE: Ran 4.25 miles with my oldest son on the Natchez Trace trail.  My lungs and heart were fine — my hamstrings are tight and started causing issues with my IT Band. Don’t know WHY my hamstrings won’t loosen up but I can say this: My legs are messed up.

Goal Weight: 195 lbs

Today’s weight: 213 lbs.

My legs are still shot, but a little better.  I didn’t run yesterday. Or bike. Or any other kind of exercise. But I did stretch.  And I pulled out the big guns: Heat rub and an ice bath.

Sitting in a tub full of cold water and ice was, well, exhilarating.   But it made my legs feel good enough that I could sleep.

I’m going to try to go for a long, slow run today.  I’ll let you know how that goes.