December update

I would suppose it is high time for me to update my own blog.  Recently a couple guys and I decided to put together a baseball blog.  Seems fitting.  That is about all I watch from April to September so I might as well do something mildly stimulating to my mind and vocabulary by writing about it.


So at last I blogged I was about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime in Utah.  After looking over the BOSS (Boulder Outdoor Survival School) information for about 3 years I had the chance to take the plunge and do it.  It was a week long from a Sunday to a Saturday morning but it felt like about 387 straight days.  To say that it was a difficult physical and metal undertaking is like saying that WWII was a bit of a skirmish.  Despite getting physically in solid shape for a good six weeks prior I was quickly filleted of my belief that I was ready.  


I won't divulge details so that those that might read this and are thinking of taking the challenge miss out on the "surprises".  Let me list out some of the experiences:  got dehydrated, vomited, stung by wasps, stung by fire ants, lost 9 lbs in 6 days, hiked 80 miles, hiked/walked 31 miles in one day and in the dark, hiked regularly in the dark, slept on the ground, slept on the ground with no blanket, drank water that looked like Pig Pen took a bath in it, drank more water with tadpoles and mosquito larva in it, made fire, got rained on, dodged a flash flood in a canyon, made GORP (Good Ole Raisins & Peanuts) a meal, went 44 hours without food, slogged through rivers, climbed at death defying heights, and finally used duct tape as blister first aid.


Yeah it was hard.  And not really fun.  But it was good.  The people were good, the scenery was amazing, and the skills I learned were awesome.  But mostly I can say I did it.  

12 days till the BOSS Course

On January 3rd 2011 here are the numbers:


Gravity - 181.0 lbs
Lard Count (body fat) - 21.4%
Orbit (size around midsection) - 39 inches
Left Gun (bicep) - 13.25
Right Gun (bowling side) - 13.5
Left Root (thigh) - 22.5
Right Root - 22.375

My goals to be achieved by June 1 are thus:
8% Lard Count or less
Bench Press 200lbs
Run 5k in under 27 minutes
Consume my body weight in beans


Tonight after the turbo charged fitness routine for the past three weeks we sit here:


Gravity - 172.4 lbs
Lard Count (body fat) - ?
Orbit (size around midsection) - 37 inches
Left Gun (bicep) - 13.5
Right Gun (bowling side) - 14.5
Left Root (thigh) - 21.5
Right Root - 22.0


I have no idea where I am for body fat.  The scale I have says I range from 18-21% and there is just no way that is accurate.  You can't add an inch to your bicep, drop and inch from each thigh, and 2 inches from the waist and stay at 21% body-fat.  My best guess is that I am in the 16-17% range.  


So less than two weeks now till my survival course.  The rest of this week I really need to step it up.  I need to hit the weights twice, run two 5k, and do the 9 mile walk again.  That all needs to be done by Saturday.  

Who's the BOSS

I crank out a blog every 4 months without fail!  Oh wait.  It was 5 this time.  


So last I wrote about my insane fitness goals.  This endeavor was more or less a slower process than planned.  The strength has come along nicely.  The goal of bench pressing 200 lbs is within sight as I am working out 3 sets of 10 with 145lbs.  All other areas of strength training are going well with modest 20-25% gains.


The fat lost really was just static from Feb-July.  Poor diet, a trip to New Orleans, and really no particular need to step it up lead to just a status quo for the overall fat/cardio.  And of course with training and 137 degree weather it really did not sound appealing to get out and bust my hump.  


Then I got an email.  It was from the Boulder Outdoor Survival School.  I had been eyeing their courses for about 4 years now.  Lots of hiking, teaching you survival skills in a minimalist environment, and all in the beautiful Utah mountains.  Really all that has held me back is the price tag and the time frame.  Amazingly both of those fell into place when I got an email offering a 20% discount on the Aug 27-Sep 3rd Course.  Perfect.  One week after opening, and finishing over Labor Day weekend.  The 20% knocked enough off the course to buy the plane ticket and hotel for two nights in Provo.  


So with this plan now in place I REALLY needed to get in shape.  Part of the survival school is existing on 1500 calories and hiking 15-30 miles per day.  I had been planning to get in better cardio shape for the Warrior Dash in late September, but this was a full month earlier.


Now in the past two weeks I have not had a thing to drink (alcohol), not eaten over 2000 calories any day, and have averaged 15 miles run/walking, and two trips to lift per week.  Last night I walked 9 miles in 3 1/2 hours.  This puts me light years ahead of the Warrior Dash training.  A little later on, I'll have an additional post with body dimensions, but I can tell you that the belt has been my best friend when dressing the past week.