I had the pleasure of running a 5k in that ran along the streets of Hollywood, CA. Well, down Hollywood Boulevard and back at least.

The inaugural Hollywood Half Marathon and 5k/10k took place this Saturday and despite its problems (as I will detail later), it was a great time. How often is it that you can run down Hollywood Boulevard with thousands of others and not be a part of a mob of angry citizens up in arms about [insert source of frustration here]?

But as I said, there were some issues that were outlined by some runners later, including:

Parking: Not an issue for me because I rode the MTA trains to the venue and to Universal City Hilton to pick up my bib and timing chip on Friday. Once there, though, I witnessed what other participants would later complain about: traffic going in and coming out of the hotel was disastrous. Not only that, even if you took the train to the hotel, you had to walk up a massive hill to get there. And I heard that finding a spot was next to impossible and leaving the hotel as well as the event itself was almost impossible. Again, I thank [insert appropriate deity here] for the MTA.

Cups: Again, this was an issue that I hadn’t dealt with personally but read about on Hollywood Half’s Facebook page. Apparently there was a serious lack of cups along the half marathon route which did not sit well with many. Being I ran the 5k, I didn’t have the need to hydrate as often as the half-marathoners so I didn’t even notice the problem. Water was handed out at the end of the run as were bagels and bananas.

No Electrolytes: Lack of what your body needs during a long run was also a strike against the organizers of the event. Again, not an issue for the 5k runners. In fact many of them reported no complaints about the event.

All in all, I did have a great time and even set a new personal record for a 5k:

Is it the best? Of course not, but it’s my best and that’s all that matters to the guy who used to be 300 pounds. For comparison, here’s what I logged on Fitness Tracker.

Honestly, the way I finished, I’m considering a 10k later this year.

Like all inaugural events, it was a learning experience for the organizers to improve upon for next year’s event which I am already looking forward to.

And by then, who knows? I might be running in the half marathon.

For more pictures from the event, click here.

I know, I know. It’s been at least a few months since my last. Sorry about that. But at least this time I’ve got a little more to write about and despite the post’s title, you’ll see that things are for the better.

As I mentioned in this post, I have been working out – some can debate this – with the original Xbox 360 game Your Shape: Fitness Evolved. Keep in mind this is the first version and not the 2012 version.

At any rate, I’ve been using it at least 3 times a week when I’m not running at night, something I’ve started to do once again in preparation for the 5ks I have coming up. And while I thought that the Xbox workouts weren’t doing much good other than getting my heart rate going, today I noticed something that made me change my mind.

I got home from work and changed into a shirt that, as you will soon see, I’ve had for a few years. But when I put it on this time I had noticed something different.

Here’s how I looked in 2008 at 205 lbs. with said shirt:

And here I am today at 213 lbs. with the same shirt:

For a better view, here’s a side-by-side comparison.

As you can tell (at least by the somewhat bulging pecs), there’s a lot more definition in my chest and that I’ve grown a goatee since the first photo was taken. That or I just shrunk my shirt. No, seriously, I do notice a difference sans shirt.

My arms and legs are also a bit thinner but more muscular which I attribute to the running and cycling and as far as the upper body goes, I’ve been following the programs on Your Shape: Fitness Evolved. In particular, I’ve been sticking to the cardio kickboxing and the Sleeve-Busting Arms Workout programs but I also downloaded the Gunnar Peterson G Fit workout last night and…yeah, it was pretty intense. It’s the reason I’m writing and not working out tonight.

To sort of speed up the process, I substituted the recommended 5 lb. weights with 10 lb. dumbbells which seems to be doing the trick.

So overall, things look a bit more refined even if I have crept up to size 38 pants. Just remember: I started at size 48 and got as low as 36. But I’m just glad to see that the most noticeable weight gain has been mostly muscle and very little fat.

That’s all I got for now. Until next time…

This was taken before the run and will post a few more taken with an actual camera (not phone) later.

Summary: finished in about 42:00 or so but I’ll post my official time when I get home. Right now I’m relaxing with the family at Wild Rivers where we had to run through a wading pool of sorts.

Had a great time and looking forward to doing it again!

UPDATE 8/28/11: Alright, since I’ve got some time to do it, here are some highlights/memorable events from the run.

The day started at 5am since I had planned on leaving by 6am to get there in plenty of time for the start at 8am. Irvine isn’t exactly a long drive but when you go to events like this, you just never know what the traffic will be like so it’s always best to plan for any unexpected delays.

We did get there in plenty of time so we checked out the few exhibitor booths that were there. I tried a sample of a drink called Body Armour and it wasn’t too bad so I need to look for that the next time I’m shopping. We sat around for about 30 minutes before I had to get in line according to my anticipated finishing time, do some pre-race stretching, listen to some of the rules, etc.

This is a shot of the field from where I was standing, in the “29:00 – ???” group:

After the National Anthem and a prayer (more people seemed attentive to the former than the latter), the horn sounded and we were off. We trudged along through the parking lot of Wild Rivers and out onto the sidewalk the made a u-turn, where the first water station was. It was poorly manned and most of us had to wait for our water to be poured which is not good.

Despite that, I have to admit that I felt pretty good as I started on my way and at about the first mile, I was in my zone as I usually am. The run came back into the parking lot and started to wind through Wild Rivers itself for the first of two laps. During the second lap, we had to run/walk/wade through this (photo was taken after the run):

This was a most welcomed break from the rest of the course which at times was rather narrow and definitely blocked with walkers and people with strollers, who should have been kept at the rear of the field. Not only that, the wait to get into this Lazy River was just ridiculous as some people removed their shoes before entering.

Up until this point, according to my Endomondo app, I was averaging 11:30 per mile but my lap time for the last mile dropped dramatically as I “ran” through the river: 16:40. If not for that, I could have finished in about 34 minutes or so but considering the wait time and the conditions (but especially the wait time), this was not unexpected.

I crossed the finish line at 42:29 with an average pace of 13:14 according to my chip results. And in case you’re wondering what 5k looks like, here’s the course as recorded by Endomondo:

That seems like a good distance but once you’re up and running, it’s really not. Here’s the portion of the course known as the Lazy River, as noted by the dark blue line:

And although I didn’t finish anywhere near the Top 3 in my age group, that didn’t stop me from pretending I did:

So despite the event’s flaws, I had a good time participating as well as hanging out at Wild Rivers afterward. Next event: the Long Beach Marathon Bike Tour on October 9, 2011. I started my preparation by buying new tires today so I’m ready for that one.

Oh, and those Asics running shoes I’m wearing? I bought them at Savers a few months back for a mere $3.50. They were practically new and half price on the day we were shopping, so that saved me some money for sure

By the way, part of the run is a challenge to “Beat the Cow” or someone running in a cow costume since the Chick-Fil-A is a huge sponsor. And if you do beat the cow, you get a free meal.

Did I beat the cow?

No, I didn’t. I got beat by a dude in a cow costume. But at least I wasn’t a sore loser about it:

I told the bovine I was disappointed for not beating them but there’s no shame in that. The cow consoled me with a friendly pat on the back. We’re cool.

I’m done for the night. My legs are starting to feel the effects of the run and I need to relax!

Finisher's Medal

Note: This was posted on my personal blog the day I completed the event. Read on to find out more and let this be an inspiration to you if you’ve been putting off events like this. You can do it–no excuses!

Also, I will be running (or walking, depending on how I feel) in my first 5k on Sunday!

Done and done! 1:48 finish time or so. Fantastic day for a ride

UPDATE: As if you couldn’t already tell, today was the Long Beach Marathon Bike Tour. The picture you see to the left is a self-portrait I managed to take with my phone since I didn’t bring a camera with me. I did think about it for a bit but realized that once I was off and running, carrying one more thing around (along with my phone) wouldn’t have been the wisest thing to do and that there wouldn’t be too much else to take pictures of. I was right.

It was an early day, too. I woke up at 3 am so that I wouldn’t have to fight the parking situation in downtown Long Beach which, marathon aside, is pretty bad to begin with. I left about 3:45, parked around 4:15 after a stop at Carl’s Jr. for some French Toast Sticks, and then stretched and roamed down to the event.

Then I had to wait until 6 am for the start but oh, what a start it was.

I was near the front of the group and right at 6 am (after the usual introduction of local dignitaries and Grand Marshals), we were off and running. If you’re interested, here’s a map of the course so you can see how crazy it was.

It was a drizzly, dark morning here in Long Beach but the course was absolutely magnificent: riding along the beach and hearing the waves crash while taking in the smell of the ocean, riding through neighborhoods and having residents cheer us on, being in the middle of streets I only normally see while behind the wheel. Just a great time all around.

I managed to finish the tour–it was anything but a race–at a time of 1:45 or so. And while I was feeling pretty good most of the ride, right at about 17 miles (and uphill, I might add) I really started to feel it but it was at times like that when I looked at my handlebars and saw Anthony’s stickers:

"Go Dad!" and "I hope you win!"

I also felt as if the spirit of Dad was with me the whole ride. Just before we started the race, I closed my eyes and sort of channeled him and let him know that he’d be proud of me for doing this. I also threw a kiss upward to the sky, then kissed Anthony’s “Go Dad!” sticker and we were off.

Me and My Ride

I think it helped. Not long into the race, there were countless cyclists with flats, dropping water bottles or other items, breaking chains, etc. Whether this is the norm is beyond me since this was my first race but I know that I wasn’t afflicted with any of those things and kept on going. It was almost as if he was riding with me and making sure everything went right.

I then walked around the booths for a little bit and realizing there was nothing but overpriced food, I decided to head out and get a meal cheaper elsewhere. That was, unless, King Taco would have been there because then it would have so been on!

So yeah, it was a great day all around and the Trek 7100 held up brilliantly. I’m now tired and need some sleep badly. I held on as long as I could but man, I’m feeling it now.

And yes, I’m looking forward to doing it all again next year

The Unofficial Results!

Click to enlarge

<< BTW, this is NOT the best picture of me. My face looks…well, deformed or something.

This is a goodbye of sorts.

As you may well know, I started 200by40.com with the intent of tracking my weight loss progress as I tried to reach my goal of weighing 200 lbs. by my 40^th birthday.

Today is February 14^th, which is also happens to be my 40^th birthday and, as you may also know, I reached my goal of 200 lbs. on September 27, 2008—way ahead of schedule.

I have decided that, while I have derived great pleasure in blogging about everything having to do with [my] weight loss, it’s time to put things into perspective and temporarily walk away from the blog.

While this may not be the final post here, it may well be the last one for a long time as I will now concentrate on training for the Disneyland 5k—my first one ever—taking place this September. In between now and then I will do a few 5k walks and, should I have a camera with me, I will post pictures of the events. And don’t worry—all posts will remain intact as will the domain, meaning anything you may have bookmarked will still be in the same place.

Once again, I would like to thank everyone who left comments, e-mailed me, or simply came by to visit (except for you spammers who try and get past Askimet’s death grip–you’re fools for trying!). I do find it a bit humbling and amazing that a normal guy like me would inspire many, many people to get motivated into losing weight. What started out as a simple goal turned out to be something life changing to those who recognized that it’s entirely possible to lose weight if they put their minds to it.

Before I sign off here, I would like to wish all of you good luck with your weight loss program. Regular visitors know that it wasn’t uncommon for me to say things like “You can do it!” or “Never give up!” in my posts. What many don’t realize is that those weren’t just words; I meant them from the bottom of my heart. If I can do this, I have no doubt that anybody can.

Why? Unlike those trying to push diet pills, I’ve been there. I can relate to and understand the struggles of weight loss and being overweight. I know what it’s like to wear size 48 pants, run out of breath when playing with my son, have clothes get smaller and smaller, be ridiculed about my size, be stared at when going to fast food joints, barely fit into the seats on the train, look in the mirror and not like what I see, be intimidated when entering a gym.

But I chose to change all that. I challenged myself to get busy and change my lifestyle and here it is, my 40^th birthday and I weigh 197 lbs. I went from a sloth to someone who is going to run in a 5k. Think you can’t lose weight? I beg to differ. (By the way, at today’s weight I have finally reached the golden 100 lbs. lost level.)

While I could go on forever, I want to share with everybody some things I learned about weight loss since starting this blog. In no particular order, here is that list.

• It’s not easy to lose weight, but it is possible.
• Effective weight loss takes time.
• Diets don’t work, only a change in lifestyle does.
• Keeping it off is just as hard as losing it.
• Reward yourself when you have reached milestones or personal goals.
• Don’t let anything or anybody stop you.
• You control the food, it does not control you.
• Eat less, move more.
• Know your BMR and understand how it works.
• Take pictures of your progress. You won’t regret it.
• Nobody is going to lose the weight for you.
• Don’t be lazy. Stay as busy as possible.
• Everything in moderation, especially treats and sweets.
• You will have “those days”, so don’t let them get you down.
• Regret nothing and make no excuses. If you fall off the horse, brush yourself off and get back on it.
• Stay focused and never lose sight of your goal.
• Find your motivation: a weight goal, your family, etc.
• Don’t resort to pills, diet drinks or other so-called weight loss products, gastic bands or other forms of surgery for weight loss. This is your time to shine, and you can do it because you’re better than all those things.
• Think of everyday tasks (laundry, yard work, etc.) as ways of burning calories, not chores.
• Educate yourself on [proper] nutrition and know what you are putting into your body, your temple. It’s the only one you’ll ever have.
• Don’t push yourself. Know when your body has had enough and needs to rest.
• There are no shortcuts to losing weight—it’s all or nothing, so find that “on” switch and never look back.
• Resist temptation, and finally…
• NEVER GIVE UP

I really mean the last one. Not once during my entire program did I ever stop and tell myself, “You can’t do this.” It was at those times when I got mad and worked even harder. Not once did I doubt myself–I simply refused to give up, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. (In fact, I may consider having the phrase tattooed on my arm somewhere as a reminder of what it took to get where I am today.)

And remember that before starting any weight loss plan, please consult your physician. It only makes sense.

By the way, I found the hamburger I will be eating on my birthday as I promised myself I would. It will not be from the place previously mentioned but instead I will go to Carl’s Jr. for a new item called The Big Carl and oh, it’s a beauty. I almost started drooling when I saw it the other day (when I ordered my usual Charbroiled BBQ Chicken sandwich, by the way–360 calories, 4.5g fat, 4g fiber).

Having practically abstained from eating hamburgers for almost 3 years, I’m not concerend with calories, fat, or anything else I usually take into consideration when eating. I think you’d agree that after losing 100 lbs. the right way, with no pills, no surgeries, no excuses and no regrets, it will be something I truly deserve.

At the top of this post you will find a picture of me, finally posing in my size 48 Fat Guy Pants. Guys and gals, I used to fit in those–seriously. I only kept them as a reminder of where I was and where I am now. I will never fit into them again!

Goodnight, and thanks for everything. Stay focused and never give up–NEVER.

Your friend,
Dave

Oh, and “(weightlossstory485939@gmail.com)” from “(weightlossstory485939@gmail.com)’s Weight Loss Story”? Please stop trying to spam my blog. Your site is a fake, losing that much weight is unhealthy, and you’re just an annoyance now. You’ve been blacklisted and all of your comments will be filtered as spam, and I don’t advertise any “weight loss” products such as yours here. So post real before and after pictures of youself, allow comments on your “blog” and then we’ll talk.

I also moderate all comments so please quit wasting your time. Thank you.

Click to enlarge--if you dare!

A recent trip to Disneyland’s “Innoventions” attraction really woke me up to the magnitude of exactly how much weight I really lost.

While the first part of the attraction is more or less a commercial for a homebuilding company and what they are capable of creating for the consumer, there was much more going on inside the former home of “America Sings.” And take note that the image on the left may not be for the squeamish, but it’ll make you think!

What you see there is not some kind of insulating material for your home, but I guess it may qualify as personal insulation.

Those small to large blobs are actually a representation of what 5, 10, 15 and 20 lbs. of fat looks like. While it may be hard to gauge the size of the things since there really isn’t anything to compare them to, I think the image alone speaks volumes. Let’s just say that the size of the 20 lb. blob on the bottom boggled my mind the rest of the day.

I know it’s rare for me to leave an image full-size on the blog, but I think this one truly deserves to be. And just to put things in perspective, guys, I lost nearly 5 of the blobs on the bottom. So the next time you feel like stuffing your face with fatty foods, I dare you NOT to remember this image. I know I’ll remember it for a long time!

Ah, onto my progress. I’m still hovering between 199.5 and 202 lbs. I think this is more than enough wiggle room as I refuse to let myself go higher than 205 lbs. That’s just not happening. After the holidays, naturally I will concentrate my efforts on getting to 190 lbs. or so but for now, resting in the evening instead is doing me good I hope you all are sticking to your programs as well!

Oh, and I cleaned out some more of my clothes from the closet ranging from size 40 to 48 in pants, and XXL and XL dress shirts. It worked out well since Ann hit Old Navy the other day and found some polo shirts (for work) in my new size at the amazingly low price of 99 cents each! Pants were a bit more costly at a price of $7 each; shorts were $2. In total, she spent about $25 for a bunch of new clothes for me.

So while I’m glad to have more room in there for clothes I truly need, I think a garage sale is now in order for the ones I don’t!

Some curious Web surfer searched for “big john’s beans and fixin’s” and came across ye olde blog. And I cripes, have to admit I’m quite embarrassed.

Check out this image from June 2005 (and ignore my old URL):

BLAAAARRGH! I ATE THE PROM!!

Ahem. I’m pleased to say that’s nowhere near I am today as is evident by this photo, even though it was taken about 5 lbs. ago:

My sincerest apologies to those who may have found the first image offensive. Meh, I’m sure the second one is too, so I’m sorry for that one as well.

And I promise an updated progress photo is coming soon. In fact, I’ll even hold up a pair of my Fat Guy Pants for comparison purposes!

(Note: I just checked my previous entry. I really need to stop saying that and just make with the picture already, huh?)

This entry is a SimulPost and can also be seen at HolographicMeatloaf

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Looks good, but I think at times that I either need to replace the batteries in the Wiimote or Balance Board.

As you can see, one day I was below the “Obese” line and the next day I jumped well above it. My diet was steady and I did no extra eating on those days. In fact, I was about as good as ever on those days.

Yet the numbers dipped and then went up. Go figure.

I am now at 214.3 lbs and feeling great. We’re headed to the L.A. Zoo today so there’s a lot of walking ahead of us. Exercise!

See you later

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And if you’re on Weight Watchers, it just gets better! Allow me to shine some light on a few of my favorite Trader Joe’s items.

Tuna Lunch with Mediterranean Vinaigrette

The title pretty much sums it up. This concoction is not only tempting in its taste, but take a look at the nutritional information:

• 260 calories, 10g fat, 6g fiber = 5 Points

One box 7.5 oz. equals one serving and with everything that’s inside, this tuna lunch should be enough to fill you up. In fact, it’s not uncommon for Ann and myself to split one box and make sandwiches for each of us.

If I do have one complaint, it’s the amount of olives included in the mix. I have never liked olives and do anything I can to avoid them. In this case, I pick them all out and enjoy what’s left: tuna, garbanzo beans, green beans, sun-dried tomatoes, zesty lemon juice, etc. It truly is tasty.

I usually only buy one of these per visit because they need to be consumed promptly to retain freshness, and it’s a rare occasion when I want to have tuna (of any kind) two days in a row.

Organic Lentil Soup

What? Have I lost my mind? Absolutely not. I gave this one a shot and not only liked it, I now end up buying several of them to take to work when I don’t know what to eat for lunch. Quick and easy.

The numbers:

Each 15 oz. can is about two servings, the total per can is:

• 260 calories, 3g fat, 16g fiber = 2 Points

Ahem. Two measly Points, people. And it’s good! Sure, I know there are some soups out there that tout zero Points but I know what I like, and this is definitely it. Trust me, 15 oz. of this stuff is definitely a good way to fill up at any meal and not feel cheated in the flavor department. I usually alternate between this stuff and the Minestrone varieties (which I brought to work today).

So if you have a Trader Joe’s in your area, stop by and give these a shot. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed

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Again, it’s lookin’ pretty tasty from my standpoint. And the fact that includes a packet of Grey Poupon automatically gives it an extra boost. I dig Grey Poupon (in conservative amounts, that is) and you can guess by its name, it also includes a slice of Swiss cheese. Mmmm. So far, so good.

Let’s take a look at the back (click to enlarge):

The tale of the Weight Watchers tape is as follows:

• 320 calories, 11g fat, 8g fiber = 6 Weight Watchers Points

About my only gripe, if such a thing will matter in the world of off-the-shelf meals, is the same as usual: the high sodium content, which in this case is 950mg (or 40% RDA). Again, it’s for freshness and there’s not a lot you can do to avoid it.

Assembly of the sandwich is nothing unlike the Turkey Santa Fe: split the bread open, plop down the meat, dijon and cheese, place back into little tray and nuke for :45 seconds. (I learned from the first one that :30 seconds is not enough to make it very warm. Your microwave mileage may vary.)

Once warmed, however, it all came together to form a tasty l lunchtime meal that I truly enjoyed. Despite the Grey Poupon which can be overpowering even in small amounts, nothing was lost this time. The ample supply of sliced ham was delicious and the Swiss cheese and dijon mustard were the perfect complements. As with the Turkey Santa Fe, the bread was definitely wheaty yet tasty, and I noticed that after eating these sandwiches, my appetite was curbed for the remainder of the day. That’s a huge plus.

Would I recommend: If given the choice between this sandwich and the Turkey Santa Fe, I’d reach for this one without hestiation. The Ham & Swiss did not disappoint in the flavor category and held up nicely until dinner, so it’s got more than a few things going for it.

All in all I’d have to say this one is worth it. Thumbs up!

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