Need More Planning

Things have been going relatively well the last two days. I had been doing well with the Zone until tonight. We had a breakdown (already) and went out to eat. I attribute this one to poor planning. I knew this would happen. I just didn't think it would be this soon. We will try to pick it back up in the morning hopefully, but it is a weekend and that is where we are most vulnerable.
I haven't started working out yet. We planned on going to a gym so I could find a bike, but that fell through. I suppose it is just as well because the diet has been a major adjustment.
For Christmas I got the kids (see picture if you think that is true) Guitar Hero World Tour. It has been a hoot with the adults and will be part of a future party I am sure.

Starting Over

I took my first step yesterday to begin again reaching my weight loss and fitness goals. I started the Zone Diet. As I write this I have finished 2 full days (which is a record). Mary and I tried it once before, but we didn't make it past the first day. Also as I write this I am smelling pizza that my workplace provided for a safety reward. I can tell you that I have a long road ahead.

Yesterday I suffered. Anytime I cut out caffeine and sugary carbs (two things I have had quite frequently in the last month and a half) I get severe headaches. I get a hangover just like any other drug. Usually it is a good enough reason to avoid those two things, but once I start I feel cravings ALL THE TIME. I think I am over that now so we will see how the Zone really works. I have read that the first few days are a cleansing so I hope I am good now.

This time around I am going full into Crossfit. Since I can't do Crossfit yet I am going to work on diet first. That way I don't get too much too soon. Like I said before Mary and I have tried this before, but not whole heartily. This time we have bought in and will see how it works. It definitely takes a lot more planning and work so I expect to see better results. I am also curious to see how it will work with Crossfit. I am one of those types that reserves judgement until I have tried. That is what I am doing now.

This picture is one of my recent favorites. These are the Gill men. Pictured with me are my brothers (Rob and John) my son (Matthew) and my nephew (Jack). These are all the men in the Gill clan. (I know what you are thinking and yes there is a problem with glare;)

Patience

I hope to get more time for updates now that the holidays are over. I went to the doctor on Thursday for my post surgery update. I was looking forward to it because I was hoping for good news and am ready to get back to work and working out. She cleared me for work, but with restrictions. I am not to lift over 15 pounds, not to bend or stoop. As far as exercise, she continued, I can ride a bike but nothing aerobic. I asked her what that means and she said absolutely no jogging, running or weight lifting. I asked about the rower (cause I knew Ricky and Joe were planning on starting there) and after some thought she said no. It might tweak my back.

Here comes the decision that eats me alive. I know I desperately need to get back to Crossfit. I have started to back track. I have gained some weight back and I feel like crap. I obviously don't have the self discipline without someone either pushing me or watching me. I feel great and believe the doctor has a little CYA. I also know that there is the potential to make things worse. I know that I want to push myself. I was just getting to the place where I was feeling good about what I was doing.

It is a total emotion vs logic struggle, but this time I will go with logic. I want to see how far I can push myself, but I don't want to keep struggling to recover from back trouble. I will wait and will do it right. I will start with basics and get good fundamentals. This will be excruciating since there are so many amazing athletes at CFO but I will bide my time and do it right. I see the doctor on Feb 20th and hope that I will get a full release. In the meantime I will bite my tongue and see what happens.

FYI the video is of me bungee jumping at the state fair way back in '94. I only look a little younger ;) I apologize for the sound, but it is an old tape. I would love to do it again someday, but it will take a little patience.