Current updates...

Here's a few updates for the blog. Current weight about 289 as of early March of 2017. about 6 pounds higher than my lightest.

Where have I been?: I've been posting things on facebook and it's been my nose to the grindstone working out the Fools Fitness way, my own system that isn't about fads, quick fixes, or gimmicks...

Hopefully more to come in a bit. I want to put up a journal design to share that may help people.

My current focus is learning to meal prep and also to use a food scale.

...At Fools Fitness we are always willing to weigh in on the subject of being generally awesome. - General Chaos.

10 Fit Tips for Fools Fitness Friday

As I learn to be a little more fit and healthy I'm learning things that help me along. This isn't a gimmick of me trying to sell you garbage for 19.99 plus shipping and handling. These are things I bumped into that seem to help me and I share them freely. So hear are a 10 FREE tips I bumped into along the way. Please share yours.

1) SET A GOAL! Be it a goal of so many steps, a 5K, or a Tough Mudder... a goal gives you something to work toward. It makes you less likely to skip a workout and less inclined to eat whatever moves you at a moments whim. Set a destination or wonder aimlessly.

2) WORKOUT FRIENDS! People I workout with keep me encouraged. They make it more fun. They push me to do a little more. They also keep me more accountable. If I skip a workout I have someone (or a group of people!) asking me "where were you when there was boot-camp?" or "I thought I'd see you at the gym?" They will also give you the look when you reach for a donut at the office and be ready to slap it out of your hand.

3) EATING CHEAP AND CLEAN! a couple of bucks will buy you healthy cooked real food and more salad than at the supermarket at guess where? Likely the hospital. I can get 3 poached eggs on an english muffin with even a bit of salsa and hot sause for two bucks, a big cup of healthy made soup for a buck and a half, or go crazy at their salad bar for four bucks a pound. You don't need prepackaged meals or superpowders to eat well cheap. I'm not against Whey in a nice smoothie with a banana, some almond milk, and peanut butter (I call them my Elvis Shakes) but there are major cost differences in powders and 3-4 bucks can get you a decent amount of real food.

4) TUNES! For me doing time on the cardio machines at the gym I find having my own mix of songs I get into way better than trusting in the gyms overhead speakers. Plus you cut out a lot of the random noise. I THINK THE TRICK IS THIS: You need a boom boom boom beat that might work out to 140 beats a minute in your songs that helps carry you and pick up the pace. Country music and easy listening is out if you want to sweat. But the key is in finding what drives you. It might sound cheesy but I usually start a cardio session with the Rocky music "Eye of the Tiger". You may not be of the intensity to handle dubstep but you can look around and find something that suits you. Some of these songs that have this intensity beat have some very poor language... so be *warned* but here's a few ideas "whip it", "YMCA", "Stroke" "Hands in the Air" "Whitestrips" "Shout out to all my lost boys"... Also Rob Baily and Hustle Standard have a great hard beat but again if language is an issue steer clear, seriously.

5) CARRY A SNACK! If your on the go and get hungry, or plans for lunch get changed how easy is it to swing by the convience store or fast food place for some tasty junk? A careful search of my things will turn up a Belvita, granola bar, and even some protein powder? If your starving hungry it's so easy to give in to simple junk... I have better options at hand easier than hunting down a bag of chips!

6) JOURNAL NOTEBOOK: Try writing down EVERYTHING you eat when you grab it in a book for a day or two. You may be surprised at some things. Also if your not tracking your numbers those numbers can change with your memory. Moreover, suddenly you notice if your journaling that you missed workouts for the last 4 days.

LITTLE TRICKS: Here are some minor tricks I use for workouts.

7) if you use workout gloves Velcro the straps of each to the other when you put them away so you don't end up with a one glove thing doing a Micheal Jackson.

8) Use a climbing lanyard clip on your gym bag. it's easy to clip a locked padlock on to and the bigger loop hangs in the locker easier.

9) ALWAYS HAVE A PACKED GYM BAG! No excuses for I forgot my gear. It's in my car.

10) YOUR TIP? You can call it a scam that I said ten tips and posted 9 but it's my way to encourage you to share a tip you have in becoming more healthy. Please don't post just a buy this sale garbage and your secret formula to 6 second abs as your tip... this is about truth no gimmicks or get rich scams trying to fleece the people trying to make healthy changes.

OK HERES TIP 10 Just so you don't feel cheated here... RESEARCH!!! I don't tend to share loads of links because I don't really endorse anything other than faith in God... but a few links to get you started (Actual results may vary... consult a doctor, ask your momma, don't run with scissors... coffee can be hot) http://www.acefitness.org/health/resources.aspx http://www.choosemyplate.gov/printable-materials http://darebee.com/

At Remember at Foolsfitness We Drink Six Packs trying to get Six pacs- Alan AKA General Chaos.

NEXT ADVENTURE MONSTER MUD RUN!!!

WHATS NEXT? MONSTER MUD RUN!!! You may have heard of it called by Tough Mudder or Spartan Race but the concept is basically an army boot camp course crawling through mud and over logs climbing cargo nets on walls...

10 P.M. last night I didn't drive through a snow storm to join a gym. Make no mistake this was an invasion and I came to dominate and be a conqueror. The cage door has been opened. Those cardio machines and those weights will learn I am Alpha. The aerobic burn will melt this garbage stuck inside my body and my power will double. Come this Monster mud run, Spartan race, tough mudder thing... it will know who I am, I will be it's nightmare. **COME WITH ME**, Let us Howl at the moon together, Run with me chasing a dream of being alive. What are you waiting for !? TRAINING CONTINUES: Monster Mud Run Loon Mountain July 9th... the clock is ticking.

Well? Shut off your computer and get going here!

And remember at Fools Fitness things get messy!- Alan

Foolsfitness Wins GOLD MEDAL!

I actually have a GOLD MEDAL!!! Gosh, these past few months have been such a whirlwind. Since my last post I'm down another 11 pounds! the other day I saw 333 (Sept 20, 2015) over these last few months I've seen up and down but I'm about 3 or 4 pounds off the lowest weight I've seen in a very long time.

So, after mocking the folks doing the extreme workouts I decided ironically to join a bootcamp workout in the local park with people I work with. I'm proud to say at first I couldn't plank (it's like holding a push up at the top) but now I can do a slow mountian climb and punch from a plank... as well as do a little air born stuff like a few jumping jacks. Then I thought, "what are we all training for? What's the goal here?" and someone mentioned a thing called a color run we could do, it's a 5k where they toss colored powder at you as you run and by the time you end you are just covered in all sorts of colors.... I still can't understand running but I do understand fun. When I found out they had a night one where there were neon glow sticks, black lights, my new goal was chosen!

Our group that started out as people from my work, ended up being called the MOBstars, because most of us work in a place called the Medical Office Building (hense MOB) and we gathered a few of the peoples kids to join and even the pastors wife from my church... ending up with 10 in the group.

I trained hard for this... I'm pretty sure I haven't ran in anything. To some of you 5K is just a workout but for a 300 pound plus guy out of shape it wasn't something I took lightly. Hey at my weight I don't really do anything lightly. I chug on a flight of stairs.

So bootcamp workouts at the park sometimes twice a week, swimming at tthe gym, a bit of slow bicycling, even some time walking and windsprinting the track at the park... That night I had no idea how to prepare. I ate two nutty bars and had a 32 ounce diet mountian dew a bit before the run. I stood with my group and waited near the start line as they were sending off waves of a couple hundred people at a time.

A wild thing happened I started bouncing from foot to foot and kept saying Lets go! I gotta run! I can only say I trained hard for this and God filled me with spirit. As I started I actually started passing people! Before the half way point I looked back to my running partner and said, "I'm going"... by the half way point I couldn't see where my group was behind me!

I kept pushing in sprints and slowing to gather steam in a fast walk to go back to a jog. Just before the three quarter mark I somehow passed a personal trainer from my work! I remember looking at her and saying "I'm ahead of you?!" at which she smiled broadly and cheered "Go Alan!" AT one point I flew by a guy and his girl and he looked to her and shook his head saying,"We should have trained harder for this." Maybe he's right because Foolsfitness a 330 something pound guy just blew by you!

What a feeling at the end where the people were giving out gold medals. Sure, everyone got one but I got the joy of waiting for 5 and 10 minutes to roll by as my crew caught back up to me! I'm not saying this just to brag... some had little ones to deal with. But I am sharing this for someone out there that might be out there that is struggling. If I can, maybe ... I can't promise but just maybe you can to! I trained until I bled and trusted God for any more strength I needed. Now a gold medal is hung next to my bookcase.

And remember at Foolsfitness it's all about going for the gold... and the snacks. - Alan of Foolsfitness

Diets are Rotten at the Core.

Yesterday a huge old tree next to the library split into two. Looking at the old tree it had a bunch of green leaves and looked pretty good but as you can see looking inside and appearance of health and actual health were two far different things.

When I'm trying to pay a bit more attention to what I am eating I've noticed how a lot of the foods in the store are just like that tree. Companies want to sell you their food and are quick to throw around labels like healthy, lite, and all natural. A bag of popcorn I got the other day was using the words heavenly and lite on the front but when I looked at the fat calories next to the total calories over 40 percent of the calories were from fat. I laughed when I also saw a bag of pork rinds that seemed to be proudly labeled no carbs like pork rinds are a new health food!? Dirt might be gluten free and have no msg but I hope that doesnt become the next rage. Can you imagine someone touting the amzing qualities of dirt and the eating dirt diet?

This is the season where you can't avoid ads for getting your very own beach body in 21 days or is it in 17 days? Actually you can seem to top that with even some book on 4 hour fitness!

People want that quick fix and or the easy fix. I'm guessing if you starve yourself and/or workout like a maniac you WILL likely drop weight, maybe even a lot in a short burst. Is it water weight? What if your burning muscle too? Are you risking injury and sickness? What happens when you go "OFF" the diet? In all the claims for the new fix have you noticed how hard it is to find real numbers of people who lost a lot of weight and a year or two later are still at that lower weight? Is it really going to stay off? I have seen people who have even gone to the point of those stomach procedures and after dropping a lot of weight start putting it back on again. Is that number on the scale your only judge? What happens after your 21 day fix or 17 days or 90 days? Is it really fixed at all?

I do not want to live the rest of my life never eating a cracker again or forced to live on like two crackers a day. Its just not reasonable to do that or be expected to participate in the superhero workout twice a day 7 days a week climbing molten lava flows for 45 minute sessions. Like the tree an apperance of health and actual health I think are in reality two different things.

I like it when I see my scale go down, but I like it when my clothes fit better, and I like it when I'm riding my bicycle and I decide to go up a gear to go faster. Common sense isn't fast or flashy and it's not about selling you stuff you don't need and in the end wastes your time or even hurts you.

Since about march 1st I'm down around 22 pounds. No flash here or no biggest loser numbers. Moreover, No magic gismos, no pills, no surgery, no super foods. If you want the quick and easy good luck to you but in the end my large (but shrinking) gut says in the end it will waste your time in the end or even might hurt you.

What is the Foolsfitness way? slowly carving the new path of trying to eat a little better and getting a bit of moving activity in. Feel free to send me 19.95 plus shipping for that if it makes you feel better.

The Core of Foolsfitness I hope is not like that tree. - Alan

The UN Gym X2

Doesn't it seem odd people drive in their cars to the gym to walk on a treadmill? Did I miss why people would rather be on a stationary bike going nowhere than riding on a real bicycle enjoying the scenery and fresh air? Is it important to seek the controlled conditions of a stair machine over actual... um... stairs?

So I decided today I would go to the gym and scan my card and walk out... Notice I said walk out not Workout here. The anti-workout Foolsfitness rebel that I am laughed as I did it and I encourage you to do it too. Go to the gym and then leave. I am not anti-gym. I love the pool and all the equiptment and classess have their place especially in bad weather but consider this: How many people on a stair machine, treadmill, or staionary bike at the 20 minute mark (or what ever mark they set at the end) decide maybe they will go on a little further? I'm thinking rather few.

Now on to my Un Gym. I actually rode my bicycle across town to the gym, scanned that card, then walked out to ride my bicycle home. Somewhere in there I decided to explore a street by the river to enjoy the scenery, diverted to the coffee shop (relax! Just ice coffee black with a single sugar and no cream) and even decided after I got home I would go out again for a second ride... this time a beer was involved but after all the day I think it was fair.

The only thing I can say against the day was after the second ride I couldn't take my own stench and had to hit my shower. I'm wondering in the end if I would have had a day at the gym that matched my un gym times two. You too can own an Un Gym X2 for no easy payments (how easy is that!) Have you looked around your house? There could be sidewalks near you that work almost just like a treadmill WOW!

At Foolsfitness we endorse the UNgymX2 not workout program!- Alan

17Lbs down Weigh In, Fitness Fail, N Boot Camp

New month new weight! Last month down another 7 pounds so in the last two months total 17 pounds down and now down to 344, about the weight at the start of the blog six years ago. These last few days for what ever reason (stress maybe?) I've been just wanting to eat everything I see. I've had some sucess at restraint but have slipped with two trips to the chinese food buffet, a couple pints of ice cream, and an extra what ever that gets too close to my mouth. That number should have been 20 pounds down but it's going in the right direction.

The fitness fail... my body apparently is about 41 percent fat! At the gym I felt a bit like I was abducted by aliens when a trainer had me lay on a table and he connected some wires to the back of my hand and foot then ran some electric resistance meter on me to get the numbers. The good news is somehow I have over 200lbs of lean body mass. He thinks I can maintain my body at around 2800 calories a day... meaning I can (and usually do apparently eat ALOT) eat like 2800 calories and not gain or loose weight in a day. I think they called it a BMR (Bacon, Mac, and Relax?)

A group of people from work have decided to get together at lunch time once a week and do a boot camp style aerobic workout at the local park. Well, being Foolsfitness has it's perks and I got an invite to join the fun! I can say I kept moving for the most part. Maybe in a couple of years I will show them some one arm push ups but now I just tried to keep the Darth Vader weezing down enough so the people next to me could hear most of what the instructor was saying. I may have passed out at one point and I still can't really feel my limbs. But in the end remember that this isn't a competition for me. The goal is just to move and enjoy doing it.

At Foolsfitness we are rebels, we do bootcamp in sneakers!- Alan

The Plan! World Domination! WAIT!

Honorable jedi master says, "Start at the beginning" What is a reasonable goal if you are in fact a person who weighs 350 lbs and consider making it up the stairs to your home a workout?! Maybe start with just move a little more (or at all?) or/and choose a beer maybe not two?

"I love it when a plan comes together!" Hannibal Smith from the A-team would say on one of my favorite shows as a kid when the group of guys would take on the latest trouble of the week in the mist of what seemed like chaos insued the plan would fall into place with ole George Peppard smiling and lighting up a victory cigar.

If there is no goal, no plan, it's hard to get results... even more how do you judge results? BUT WHAT IS A REASONABLE GOAL?! Have you ever looked at a diet/ weight loss/ fitness section of a bookstore or a library?! Or perhaps worse if you can't sleep you have found one of the hundred infomercials late at night that promises you will loose weight quick and easy and just see how perfect your life can be for a few easy payments!!! I can't help but wonder if the way you will loose weight fast is emptying your pockets.

Moreover if your seriously overweight and/or have health issues/ or have no serious level of any current fitness starting to jump around in some p-nuts insane hard core pump you up extreme nitro disco dancing workout blue rays seems at minimum totally unrealistic if not outright dangerous as you either injure yourself trying something your body just cant do or just flat out have a heart attack. I wonder if they just add those warnings of consult a doctor before starting an exercise program as a serious concern or just to make sure their own trim tails are covered from all the poor people not dropping pounds but just dropping.

If you do try to go the information route how soon will it be before your lost among: if eggs are good or bad for you? Your going to need some major file cabinet to keep track of No msg, no Gluten, No this and high that... isn't this super berry the magic fix? wait wasn't high fiber the answer... sodium is of the devil right? No carbs, high protein eat like a caveman.

Then I start getting into the gym again after a very long time away. I've never considered myself an athlete even way back in my college days but I'm looking at all the new crazes that will "fix" everything since I've been away. Now there is combat fitness where you play with truck tires, kettlebells, and some kind of jungle gym rope thing hanging from the ceiling at the gym. You can get lost there almost as quick! Apparently there is also some magical window someplace that if you go and eat right after a workout where unicorns bless you with abs and...

So where does Foolsfitness stand on the issue? Consult my warnings in the top of the blog! I guess beyond some type of medical consultation which I do agree with I'm working out some more details.

*I don't believe in fads be them the latest craze in some super food or diet or gizmo.

*I don't want to "workout" I want to have fun. I'm not a gerbil on a wheel, I swim because I like to swim and bicycle OUTSIDE not in, because I enjoy looking around rolling down a hill and zooming around corners. Maybe the p-jump up workouts are fun for some people, good for them. Maybe someday I will play combat with the truck tire... it might be fun? later when I don't think about the complexity of getting up two flights of stairs.

*I am believing in NOT getting lost and overwhelmed in disinformation and general information overload. Thus the goal is just trying to be more mindful of eating and a bit more focused on doing a bit of movement. At some point perhaps I would/will freak out at the salt shaker next to me... But I can honestly say I am moving more than say two months ago, and am eating less junk and less volume generally that a few months ago too. No super rocket science. Old school common sense... trying to learn it I am.

At foolsfitness talk backwards we do- Alan

Fast and Furious 7 DOUBLE ISSUE!

Foolsfitness Fast and Furious 7 Special Edition MEGA DOUBLE POST!!! PIZZA, BICYCLING, AND MORE! Lets start with Pizza. No, really! Then we will get to the bicycle. Friends and I got together and played some Dungeons and Dragons (Yes I am a nerd in real life too!) and a fine patron decided to support the game by offering a 23 dollar Pizza budget for a little party!!! I'm not sure if I believe in trigger foods but I am ready to say easily that Pizza (notice the cap on P) is one of my favorites, perhaps only topped by Chinese Food buffets and Shepards Pie. So "how does a sane person eat pizza?" I asked myself. I tried to eat a reasonable breakfast and lunch and plan the Pizza as dinner. Moreover keep myself to three slices over the night at the game. I am trying to come up with a reasonable food plan in general.

Above was breakfast. I found out the local hospital make three egg omletes to order for 3 bucks!!! You are looking at a super veggie omlete with swiss and spinach even topped off with salsa and tobasco! Gosh, what would you say that things calories work out to?

SO the FOOLSFITNESS CURRENT FOOD PLAN: Right now I'm playing with meals at 8am noon four and eight at night... as the world sets the plan off often a rule that any meal can go an hour in either direction... If I really feel "hungry" to look at V-8 like a free food and also have a halo or two if I feel starving...and lastly limit beer to one. Also to attempt to do something active physically each day unless I'm super sore. Of course "the plan" doesn't always get followed. Trying to keep me in line is like trying to herd cats. Last night for example "a meal" which started out as a good idea... well, I got three BIG links of chinese sausage at the market. I figured I might as well cook them all and somehow managed to mindlessly munch away... Then I thought.... If I did the math right about 1450 calories and near 2/3 were fat... um- right. Runs with scissors?-CHECK! It's a work in progress. Next food goal is watching the quanity?!

It's been spring here the last few days and the local Bicycle shop repaired my trusty boba Fett... My Raleigh Venture 7 speed. So over the last few days I've been on the bicycle three times. Short rides until I build up my legs again. Look at the zoom in of the seat below. I bought this bicycle new years ago. I know I have ridden it over 2,000 miles and that my friends is a trophy!!!

On to the next goal... I'm going to attempt to ride the bicycle to the movies to see Furious 7. I think it's a fairly large goal, I've ridden there in the past but it is a town away and I haven't built up my riding legs yet from winter off

And remember the only thing Fast and Furious that is done at Foolsfitness is eating at the Chinese Food Buffet!- Alan

Dog Paddling

Trying to get back to the gym...

Over the last week got like 3 or 4 swims in at the gym. Then I got sick and ended up at home for three days trying to shake a cold and ate way too much. Hey, It's a work in progress. I've got ARNOLDS WEIGHT... just the opposite fat to muscle ratio. I did plug away with a VERY short swim this morning but had to get to work... even typing this on a lunch break... it's about commitment. Hopefully getting back to the pool tonight after work to finish what I started. Keep up the fight my friends.

And don't forget that running our mouth is an aerobic workout at Foolsfitness!- Alan

April 1st Foolsfitness Returns!

It's the six year anniversary of Foolsfitness! Thats right six years ago on April 1st Foolsfitness came into being!

So most of last night my heart raced thinking about jumping on the scale at the hospital. This morning I find my self asking "Do these socks feel heavy" and trying to decide if I should avoid using roll on deoderant... after all that adds at least maybe 1/4 of a ounce right?

THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY NUMBERS: a solid 10 pound drop last month and a good 32 pounds dropped in the last year. 352 pounds this morning. a mere 7 pounds up from my starting weight six years ago. In this six year journey I've gone as high as 393 and as low as 283! It's not all good but it's not all bad either. I am sitting at the hospital cafe, after digital weigh in with my glass of water with lemon slices and scrambled eggs with ham and cheese from their cafe. I may have mentioned at one point my worst meal was cheese curls oreo cookies and a beer!

I've been quietly working on things behind the scenes this year to drop about 30 lbs. But now Foolsfitness refocuses. I bought a bright pink tiny laptop (hopefully for blogging at least once a week) and just rejoined the gym yesterday for a "trial" 2 weeks. My poor boba bicycle got hit by a car when it was locked on a telephone pole last year. I've yet to either fix or replace it... but a step at a time. Actually later today a swim at a time as I'm going to the gym. (words I have not said in a while!) Be well my friends, as time goes on I will try to check in on you now that I have a computer again! But I only get net on the go not at home sadly, so the current goal is at least a blog a week to try to maintain accountability focus and all that.

Don't forget at Foolsfitness we will mug that Easter Bunny for that basket full of chocolate eggs!- Alan

Getting back to purpose with a new spark

It's been a long time. I have wondered in the deserts... I mean desserts, gaining a whole lot of weight. Yet exploration is good, along with foolsfitness approved meals like a beer, some cheese curls, and oreo cookies for dinner.

So I needed a spark. I needed a fire under my more pronounced bottom area and needed to get back to living life with purpose again. Thus my new zippo. The Rocket girl, along with being a rather strong freudian symbol, is a visual cue to rocketing to greatness. Foolsfitness has sparked the flint, lit the flame to the fire... to something more (or maybe, just maybe, a little less?)

So fluffy words aside here it is folks. currently 384 down from 390 two weeks back but up what is that like 50 pounds up from the start of foolfitness so long ago and about a hundred up from the lowest in the blog!!! Ouch. yeah...

But dont count foolfitness out just yet. I got a zippo.

and remember at foolfitness we are all about the adventure. We ain't done, see that phenoix rising from the ashes...guess who?

They Killed Granny + Picture Touring Paloosa

The bike shop killed my granny! With less than 1000 miles on my Raleigh Venture I messed up the back wheel, 6 spokes broke and a bad brake cable to boot. In fairness you’ve got to figure I weigh like twice an average weight person and add in doctor’s notes and medical records being a bike messenger in my mail pouch means that bike likely say somewhere around 350+ pounds. Moreover, my riding is lots of stress on a wheel, from accelerating, braking, and weaving. I wouldn’t say I pummel the bike, but it has seen a bit of “air” occasionally jumping a curb in an emergency as well as a bit of gravel trail riding. Still, I think I’m a bit disappointed with the quality of the stock rims.
A picture of my mighty bicycle in front of some mighty impressive artwork that some very skilled artist did on a wall in Portsmouth NH. I wish I could say it was my art but it's not. It's very Rockwell isn't it? Nice work!

Back to the death of my granny… the bike shop was originally going to replace the spokes but it looked like they needed to remove outside spokes to get to inside ones… in short heavy labor. So they bike shop guy finds a used wheel that he swapped in to save me a bit of cash. They set back was the wheel has a gear set that has a much higher ratio “granny gear” (the lowest gear I use a fair amount of the time to pedal fast but easy to make it up steep hills.) the new gear ratio “feels” like 1st is now 2nd or maybe even 2.5? Going downhill or flats I can really boogie though! So all that celebrating on those hard hills… well, it’s like the hills just got a bit steeper! I tried my hardest hill I made before and could still do it with a light load but I was puffing like a cog steam engine climbing Mount Washington!!!

I went to the Fair and saw a smash up derby!!!
The wild thing is they stopped the derby when the car had got hit so hard it flipped on it's side. a bunch of guys pushed it back over and it started back up and continued!!!
At the end of summer I’ve tried to get in a bit of activity and local travel. Wow time flies since I posted (sorry about that!) but I’ve got to Portsmouth (The seacoast of New Hampshire) and to Hopkinton State fair and saw my first live demolition derby. Got to love watching people senselessly pummeling automobiles into each other over and over until they won’t move! What’s not cool about that? Of course I ate too much… but holding at about 306ish right now. Along this journey I like to drop more weight but I’m glad to say I’m more fit and doing more activities. The other pictures are from the seacoast in Portsmouth.

A image from Portsmouth waterfront... an area that's neat.


At Foolsfitness we encourage people to wreck their cars, (just not by running into us)!- Alan

Kick the Ball Charlie Brown!

One of the hills going out of town has mocked my bicycle riding skills forever. It’s reasonably steep but fairly long as well. I always run out of steam about half way up the hill. Yet like Charlie Brown wanting to kick that football, futile attempt after futile attempt each time I get another pedal stroke higher up the hill before giving out.

Yesterday was different. I decided to ride up the hill to the top to rent a dvd movie and as always tried to find the balance between getting enough run on the hill, yet not exhausting myself. Three quarters up the hill I had to stop pedaling but in a few gasps of air I still had a bit of momentum… a bit shocked I figured why stop there and put my head down as my heart was threatening to pound out of my chest I pushed on. ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! I was really too tired to celebrate at the finish.

When I made it back home I needed a nap! (And a major shower!) Forgive the "recycled" art I did from one of my other postings but I'm really still tired a day later. I seriously red lined.

Gee, I only have like two more hills in the whole town that I can’t make it up! Those however I don’t think many people can. But you never know. Keep trying to kick the football Charlie Brown, someday it might just work!

At Foolsfitness We officially race bicycles… to the corner store for sodas and candy bars!- Alan

Stalemate?

I finally saw a number on the scale this morning that wasn’t between 297-300… the unofficial 294.5 beats that wall I’ve been hitting for the last few weeks. I also for the first time in a while can say yesterday I ate reasonably balanced and in somewhat sane amounts.

Last week’s planned trip to race had a bit of a twist. I got misinformation and the flat oval I had been training for and ready to ride on was NOT the course. They had a race they refer to as the “frontier” which takes the bicycles all over up and down hills and corners everywhere. I’ve made progress here but getting my mass up a hill is still a challenge, never mind trying it at any reasonable speed! But I came to ride and I figured I would give it a go.

I got in about three laps and decided to not officially run the race. There was one point that whips down a hill into a 90 degree switchback left and immediately uphill. I’m white knuckled hauling downhill to start and then throw in the sharp curve and need to switch gears for a climb… insane! It was a very creative course but best left to more serious bicycle racing professionals than my current skill set! I retired the bike and waited until the end of the race and went back out on the course to use up the last slivers of sunlight. The course is such a maze that on my own I took a wrong turn someplace and ended up a bit lost. All in all about 7 miles, which doesn’t seem like a lot but they were rather very intense miles. At points of climbs I was seriously doing my Darth Vader imitation.

The flat oval course is today. Alas as much as I really want to go and do what I planned I think it may not happen as coming up with travel costs and track fees for two times in two weeks rather pushes my budget uncomfortably. I feel a bit defeated, but I wouldn’t have imagined even thinking of trying the “frontier” this time last year. Maybe it will be a goal for next year but I doubt I will try to run it but I have to admit that the course was somewhat terrifying with watching out for other cyclists too. Even watching I saw some very close calls with guys who run it seriously, a near crash and multiple missed shifts and pedal slip offs.

At Foolsfitness we are not sure if we are winning or losing, We are not even sure which side we are playing on!- Alan

Off to the Races! Again!

Last year I had a goal of “showing up” at the New Hampshire Cycling Club oval race at New Hampshire International Speedway Nascar Track to ride. I had a goal to just try to ride a few miles… I think in the end I had ridden almost 12 miles. I remember at the end I thought I was going to collapse and pass out. I was proud I peddled my little sears and roebuck 10 speed so far though. I was so determined to ride last year I borrowed a friends jeep when my car broke down to get to the track.

What a difference a year makes. Last night one of my “training rides” came in just under 14 miles. This time last year I think I was about 8 or 9 pounds lighter, but my fitness level has jumped by a huge margin. This year the “goal” is to actually finish the distance or at least ride 18-20 miles. Next year maybe, just maybe it will be able to keep up with the other riders! Last year I actually won my racing Class, however there is the slight detail of being the only rider actually in “D” class (For the beginners, “A” being serious athletes, “B” being just a bit slower than them) I always joke that “D” class indicates a speed of “D” for dead… how fast dead people can go?

So what’s with the picture you ask? It’s a gift from a friend. It’s an old Peugeot Corbier road bike. This friend knew I was looking for something a bit higher quality than my current road bike I nicknamed “Frankenstein” because it’s built from four parts bikes. This new (well old) French bike is lighter and we will test it by fire at the race track to see how we work as a team!!! I just got it this morning! The friend got it off a Church Auction for $25. It's bigger than my car!!!

Tune in soon for the next post the race results. Well, “race” is a strong word… for the ride results as all the others pass me twice on each lap!

At Fools fitness we just want to know one thing, “Are You Going to Eat That?” - Alan

I'm Hungry!

1 caboose, two cabice? Ca-boos-see'? How about a whole lot of em?!

I wish I could say I have eating right down pat as it’s still elusive. (As Rettakat mentioned if I had that I’d have this weight thing whooped in short order!) My bicycle riding miles have just gone through the roof lately… Nearing 200 miles just this month alone. A ride with a bicycling partner on Tuesday for 19 miles plus my daily miles bumped it to over 30. We ended the ride in the dark with our little blinky lights and headlights on. If you look close I’ve got a new (rather old) teardrop light on the bike I traded for. It’s heavy but it looks just so darn cool! I’m thinking to convert it to LED lights to extend the battery life.

Today I’m riding my racer 10 speed “Frankenstein” for a bit, but it’s too hot to really rack up any serious miles. I chose it this morning just because I’m not wanting to carry the heavy Boba bike up and down the stairs. I unofficially weighed at about 296.5 today this morning mostly keeping an eye out for water drops trying to stay the same weight drinking water. The bank thermometer only said 89 but I’m dripping with sweat.

A rail trail caboose yard in Tilton, NH is one picture and the other is the bridge that spans the river between Franklin and West Franklin NH. I did this ride last week but took the bus again because now I explored I wanted to ride the trail both ways and go a little further out. The ride between Northfield and Franklin is a great one; my only wish was it was longer!

I found another rail trail that went from 140 to the edge of Tilton Main street but be fore warned that if you try it on bicycle that there are *many* areas washed out by draining water, I had to creep along through it and in one spot I didn’t dare drop the tire off the edge through a pot hole but inched over walking it.

You might want to pass on congrats to Lisa at http://inweighovermyhead.blogspot.com/ if I read it right she just past the 100 pounds off mark! WOW!

My current numbers are around 45 off since the start (actually lost the same weight twice now! It’s sort of 80 pounds off?) and roughly 16 pounds up from lowest in blog. I wonder if this picture has anything to do with it… that bike in front of the Chinese food place looks awful familiar?! (Hey, at least I rode there?)
At fools fitness we are always tempted to put on a baseball card in the spokes of our bicycles to get the little clicky sound! - Alan

Am I Reading Your Blog?

We are in this together! Please share a note about your weight or fitness blog in the comment section of this post. We are in this war on fat to fitness together! I’d hate to thinkI was missing checking out your blog. Now the disclaimer if we need one… Foolsfitness doesn’t “endorse” any products (I don’t do any magic diets or super suppliments) nor will I offically endorse blogs per say I don’t think but I do want to share in reading your trials, ideas, adventures, and journey into better fitness and a healthy weight ... I draw a lot of inspiration from you, as well as encouragement and ideas from your comments! So share a link to your weight/ health… even Art blogs! ( But please *don’t* put up links to porn thanks.)



So the current adventures have me off with the Granite State Wheelmen for a ride a couple of days ago for 23 miles with them. After I casually did another 4 to cool down and stretch. (that tank picture was taken along the ride)The day after I tried doing a rail trail in Derry NH I had done last year.


If you’ve followed my blog somehwere last year I think I posted a picture of this little tunnel from the other side. I always think of a hobbit hole. The pond area was also taken along that ride.
Things I learned on a group ride. I need to bring extra-extra water! I’m thinking having a gallon jug in the car might not even be over kill. Of course over these couple of days I did see temps at 95 degrees at 4pm too (OUCH!) My first ride with the GSW was good. I even held my own with the “Turtle group” (Slowest group), didn’t come in last, and even helped someone fix a double derailed chain.

Right now I’m unoffically hovering about 4 lbs up from last weigh in… I’ve been extremely active but not watching what I eat at all. I’m attempting to get back on track with that. In the last 7 days I think I went over 80 miles total. Of course for “real” bicycle riders that could be a day but I think it’s a pretty big accomplishment. I’m also slowly repairing and upgrading my 12 speed frienze whioch now is a ten speed because the used rear hub was 5 cogs and not six. I’m nicknaming the blue bike “frankenstein” as it’s got three other bikes parts on it now. I bought a new tire but am trying to build up the courage to take the other one off.

Don’t forget to leave a comment and mention your blog, leave a link (I think they let you?) if I find it goes to spam I’ll try to restore it. Maybe this post can be an unoffical link hub? Again please no links to something you wouldn’t want your mother to be seeing!

Foolsfitness… the emerging cyclomaniac!? - Alan

Fools Fitness Adventurer Extraordinaire

As promised the picture with the tiger written about in last posts, but now on to the next adventure! Firstly, some neat number’s lately. Last official weigh in 298. Last weeks bicycle riding over 60 miles with the biggest single total over a day ride (lots of stops and breaks though) over 31 miles! My weight still fluctuates in such a large range so I think I can really only say that I am flirting with the 290’s. I actually got stopped on the street today by someone who said, ”I’ve been meaning to tell you that you have dropped a lot of weight and are looking good.” As odd as it sounds sometimes those compliments make me a bit nervous. I’m not totally sure why.

(in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s this area was known for being a mill town area getting it’s power to the mills by waterwheels… this I think was what was left of a paper mill that burned down long ago) I love old places and things. Maybe thats why I love old bicycles? It's like I can almost hear whispers of the past.

This is not just about a number on a scale though. It’s about gaining the ability to be able to do new things… and sometimes the courage to do them. I found a local bus that you can take a bicycle on and rode it as far away from my home as I could. Then I took about riding through three towns for an 11 mile or so ride, popping into a couple of flea markets, a library, and then to the main event of the trip… a river bike/pedestrian trail that was an old railroad bed. I didn’t factor one thing though… I was traveling upstream!!! Most of the hills were very mellow but for future reference if you’re following a river downstream might be a bit easier! But if you’re anything like me with dealing with weight you might chuckle as it’s symbolic as it’s an upstream battle getting more fit and healthy. I didn’t ride completely back home on my own peddle power, the last few miles I got a lift back into my town as there is a patch of road that is very busy, narrow, twisty, and has zero shoulders on the side of the road. I’m not sure if I will ever try that stretch, if I did I’m thinking there is small a chance I would end up a hood ornament for a tractor trailer.

If you are out there and are just starting out or on your way in this journey of weight loss and getting fit I hope I can encourage you with this. I have a long long way to go. But in a couple of years even with the ups and downs I’ve gone from barely being able to ride a bicycle for 3 miles to over 30 miles in a day, and over 40 lbs (actually twice). My only special superpower I’ve found so far is the ability to strike fear in the owners of Chinese Food Buffet restarants… If I can do this, just maybe you can too!!! Do it safe and all (have a doctor check you out) but don’t miss out!!! Life isn’t in the fridge. Life is out there, go and see.


(This is not part of the miles you count when you take your bike out for a ride!)

Foolsfitness will sign off for a bit and see what next adventure awaits!- Alan

I Joined the Circus!

I couldn’t resist a photo of my race bike with the side show booth. You got to admit a 300 pound guy on a road bicycle might just be a bit of an oddity?!

My trip to the circus included me being daring enough to get my photo taken with a real live tiger… Hopefully I can post a copy of it soon (I need to figure out a way to scan it). That tiger and I looked into each other’s eyes, and I was pretty excited, I mean how often to you get to stand next to a tiger less than a foot away?! It was odd. I thought about fear and how it holds us back from so much… sometimes it can protect us, but it also needs to be managed like a adviser, taking it’s suggestions and considering the options.

It was odd in the end that the fear was overcome with excitement, at least for me with the tiger. It’s almost like after we had locked eyes he looked away deciding something. I’d like to think that I had established alpha male or he understood I was no longer a slave to fear but becoming a wild eyed predator of life too! Of course in reality it was likely just bored by all the people for so long over the night and just wanted a cat nap!

As I mentioned to briefly in last post I actually sat in one of those plastic one piece lawn chairs. At the circus you could “upgrade” your ticket for $2 and get ring side. I sat in the bleachers for a long while and saw an empty chair right in the front row… just under the 300 pound mark I decided on courage instead of fear. During the show I was concerned as it wasn’t feeling totally rock stable but it held with no crack or bang or anything.

It was a sweet success to sit in the plastic chair, face a tiger, and just smile and say “no thanks” as vender after vender guy walked by trying to convince me of the need for popcorn, cotton candy, or peanuts.

I think tonight with be an “official” weigh… not sure, I’m thinking over the last couple of weeks I’ve gained and lost again… I predict somewhere around the last weigh number.

At Foolsfitness the circus is always in town!- Alan