The Great DadPulse Weight Loss Challenge

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Recently I have come to the realization that I am getting chubby. The physique that I once took pride in has gone downhill in this past year. I figure now is the time to do something about it.

For those that know me know that I used to pride myself on waking up at the crack of dawn to fit in an intense workout to start my day. My day was not complete without my workout. If I didn’t exercise first thing in the morning I knew my day was going to be a rough one. It was my way of taking control and setting the pace for the day to come.

I have been struggling with my fitness for about a year now. It has been disheartening to say the least. The saddest part is that it has been all self-induced. Sure, we all get busy with life. We can point fingers at any one thing or another and blame it on this or that. The fact of the matter is we all make choices in life. We set the priorities for ourselves. No matter how noble we think those priorities may be, it still makes no difference in the matter. You are still letting yourself go and not making yourself a top priority.

So, here is the big plan (and feel free to hop on board):

Eat better. Simple enough, right?

I plan to watch my caloric intake religiously utilizing the MyFitnessPal app via the iPhone and iPad. I used to use this app so much that it drove people crazy as I searched through their extensive database of food to track my meal. You can track your food intake and cardio with this app. It is full of charts and graphs as you try to reach your daily goals. The barcode scanner is a nifty feature for tracking packaged foods. Oh, and this powerful app is absolutely free!

I will integrate more fresh vegetables into the diet. Vegetables will be the main part of the dish. I will treat meat as a side dish. Red meat will be limited to once a week. Snacks will consist of fruits and other healthier options. I will become more carb conscious, focusing on consuming the “right” carbs.

Exercise regularly. Easier said than done.

My plan is to hop on board the 90 day fitness DVD craze. I tried P90X before and nearly died. My program of choice this go around is the new TapouT XT. This program is a mixed martial arts inspired workout. It features lots of body weight exercises, fitness band work and days dedicated to yoga and plyometrics.

It won’t stop there for me. I plan on getting in a run or a bike ride whenever I can. I was never one who liked running, but I gave it a shot last year and actually started to enjoy it. I always wanted to get into cycling and I figure now is as good a time as any to start. I just purchased a used bike tonight from Play It Again Sports. I will get the bike tuned up and serviced this weekend.

All of this will be tracked using the Nike+ FuelBand… whenever Nike decides to finally process my order. Side note: Whenever I do get the FuelBand, I will have a review up here on the site. I usually track runs using the MapMyRUN+ app.

In conclusion…

This whole thing is about giving myself a jumpstart on life again. I recognize that it is an ambitious plan, but it is a necessary plan. I do not have goals of 5Ks, 10Ks, marathons or triathlons. I don’t even have a goal weight in mind. My goal is simply to feel good, look good and be healthy. Simple enough, eh?

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