Archive for June 29, 2009

100 Push ups

June 29, 2009

In my last post I wrote about starting the 100 push ups program, which I did today. I also started the Tim Ferris’ ‘lose 20 lbs of fat in 30 days diet’ yesterday.

I expected the diet to be challenging as it is a different way of thinking and eating limited number of foods. It is not about variety, it is about eating the same foods everyday to lose fat. No feel good stuff here. I knew if I wasn’t serious about it, I am not going to succeed. My wife, who started the program with me is already complaining, but that is her habit. I know she will stick with it.

What surprised me was the push up program. When I did my initial test, I did 20 pushups. As I read the program, I thought it would be easy and a piece of cake, as it is designed to build your strength gradually. I should have known better than to let the simplicity fool me. But needless to say, I completed the day one without breaking down. I know I will be better prepared mentally on Wed.

I also managed to increase my daily walks to a full hour and a distance of 3.6 miles. This week my focus is to increase the distance to 4.0 miles while keeping the time within an hour.

I learned something new today. I Just took it easy during my walk today instead of trying to stretch myself and was amazed to find ut that I finished the walk in less time than when I walk briskly. I was still sweating by the end of the walk but I was not panting as much. I was really surprised by the fact that it didn’t take me any longer to walk the same distance when I walk at a leisurely pace instead of brisk pace. I’ll see how I do tomorrow morning.

Until then… Stay safe and keep dreaming big, take initiative and get going.

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When the student is ready…

June 26, 2009

… the teacher shows up.

I have been walking religiously everyday in order to increase my stamina. This morning I walked over 3.5 miles in just under an hour. That is  amazing progress over the last three weeks. I intend to reach 4.0 miles in one hour by the end of this week.

While building stamina is important for my goal of climbing Mt Everest, it is also important that I lose body fat and increase muscle mass, and I was aware of the fact that focusing on stamina alone wasn’t going to cut it. I am going to have to find a way to cut fat and build muscles, but I was at peace knowing that if I kept on working on what’s at hand, the solutions to other matters will present themselves in due time.

I must be ready, because today I found two separate blogs addressing the two issues, namely losing fat and increasing muscle mass, particularly strengthening the upper body.

The first one was a blog entry more than two years old. :-) Somehow I stumbled upon a piece Tim Ferris had done back in 2007 before the release of his now famous book The 4-hour Work Week entitled “How to Lose 20 lbs. of Fat in 30 Days… Without Doing Any Exercise”. I was amazed at the simplicity of the method. I was more amazed by the fact that the post has received 2114 comments so far.

The second was a website called One Hundred Push Ups. It’s a six week incremental upper body build up program where you get to the point where you are able to a hundred push ups per day three times a week. I looked over the program, and did the initial test. I was able to do 20 push ups. I continually surprise myself with what I am able to accomplish given the fact that I haven’t exercised in ages.

I am starting the Tim Ferris diet Sunday morning and the push up program on Monday. I will keep you all posted on how I am doing at least weekly.

Oh, BTW, I weighed in at 185 pounds this morning, so I am looking forward to being at 165 or less this time next month.

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Power of Focus

June 21, 2009

When I decided to change the focus of this blog, I got distracted. I lost focus of my goals and dreams. Suddenly, the blog became the focus, rather than the purpose behind the blog. I struggled to post, because I didn’t know what to post.

Then I got an email from my mentor Croz, and one line in that email made me realize that yes I had lost the focus and that is why I struggling. After letting the matter resolve itself, I have decided to stay focused on the original purpose of th blog which is to chronicle my journey to the fulfillment of my Big dream of climbing Mt Everest on my 75th birthday.

As soon as I made that decision, I also noticed that the spring in my walking program had gone out, but now I am back on track with that as well.

Is there something that you are trying to accomplish but keep losing the focus? Share with us your struggles in the comments. On the other hand, if you’re one of those who are totally focused, tell us how you do it. We can all learn from each other.

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Building Stamina

June 13, 2009

Wow! I feel great!

I just came back from my daily walk, and wow, what a great feeling. When I started working towards getting in shape three weeks ago, I couldn’t walk more than 15 min and I covered barely over half a mile. I knew I needed to do better, much better.

The next day, I did the same, but the third day I was able to walk for 20 min and about three quarter of mile.

I knew from the beginning, that I will have to build my stamina and strength if I was to succeed in fulfilling my dream of reaching the top of Mt Everest. I decided to focus on stamina first, and slowly build some strength training into the program.

Today, three weeks later, I just came back from my walk having completed 2.75 miles in 40 minutes. It’s a far cry from where I want to go, but I am choosing to focus on the accomplishment thus far and use that as a motivating force to keep me going.

So what have I accomplished in the last three weeks? Well, I more than quadrupled the distance walked, but more importantly, I almost trippled the amount of time I am able to walk now, and I am getting some real arobic results from it.

My goal for next week is to get to 45 minutes and 3 miles. I know I can do it. It really is a great feeling to make progress, one step at time, literally. :-)

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Getting to Everest – One Step at a Time

June 11, 2009
June 2 2009 at my daughter's graduation

June 2 2009 at my daughter's graduation

Yes, that’s me. Fat, overweight, and out of shape. And yes, I want to climb Mount Everest on my 75th Birthday to become the oldest person to have done it. As of this writing the record is held by Katsusuke Yanagisawa of Japan, who was 71 years old when he reached the summit in May 2007 according to BBC news. When I set my goal back in 2003, the oldest person to have done it was 64.

Last month, I revisited my goal, and blogged about it in one of my other blogs.

Now, I realize that I am no where near being in shape to do it today, and I am only 55; but I also realize that if I don’t get started now, I will not be in shape to do it when the time arrives in 20 years from now. So, I ‘ve set about a plan to make the first run in five years, and then every five years or so to keep me in shape and keep the goal alive and myself motivated.

I am setting up this blog to chronicle my journey to the top of the world. I hope you’ll come along with me virtually, if not physically.

Do you have, or have you ever had a BIG Dream? Did you fulfill it? If so, how did you do it? If not, what are you doing now to make it happen? Share it in the comments and let’s help each other fulfill our Big Dream.

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Posted in Journey | 4 Comments »