The John P Health Challenge 2010 started out with high expectations and lots of energy, but ended very differently for me.
I took John P’s guidelines (The Rules) and made them my own. I changed my eating habits and created an exercise plan. I set a goal of losing 2 pounds per week knowing full well it was only a “best case” scenario. I tracked my food and water intake as well as my exercise output and that really helped my objectivity.
The Setbacks
Father Daughter Dance
For the most part I did well with only two blips along the way. The first was a five-day trip where I gave away my daughter in “the wedding.” During that time I did “okay” with my eating habits, missed a lot of exercise, and failed ruthlessly with alcohol consumption.
However, I considered this a once-in-a-lifetime event and over the course of the next two weeks was able to get caught up to my exercise plan. And while I didn’t gain any weight that week, I certainly didn’t lose any.
The second problem started on Feb 18 while spending a week working in Canada. I picked up a nasty cough that I think was the result of a head cold or sinus problem. I do know that walking outside in 5 degree weather didn’t help things out any. To make a long story short, I didn’t start getting better until Feb 25.
In the middle of all that I caught a 24-hour bug from my grand-daughter that featured diarrhea and throwing-up. 
Needless to say, no exercising was done during the last 10 days. However, since I wasn’t eating very much, I did lose some extra weight. 
As a side note: I am now pretty good with a Neti Pot. Thanks Mom.
My Success
In spite of my setbacks I’ve managed to lose 11 pounds and hit 75% of my exercising goals in the last 8 weeks.
- 9,600 core exercises
- 2,400 push ups
- 19 hours of cardio
- 20 hours of walking
- 20 sets of light weights
The Future
I plan to regain my strength, continue making healthy choices about food intake, and catch up to my exercise plan in this next month. There is more weight to lose this year and I want to start running again.
I probably shouldn’t put this in print, but my age is approaching the double nickel (Nov 2011) and I plan on running my fourth marathon after that particular milestone occurs so I can take advantage of a lower qualification time for the Boston Marathon, which is another story entirely.
My Summary
I enjoyed the John P Health Challenge and have incorporated it into my lifestyle. And even though I was knocked down by sickness in the end and didn’t reach my entire set of goals for weight loss and exercising, I did make some good progress along the way.
Related posts:
- Health Challenge 2010
- 44 Days of Health Challenge 2010
- Halfway Point of Health Challenge 2010
- 14 Days of Health Challenge 2010
- Lose It! App Review
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Congrats! Sounds like you kept up with positive health-related behaviors.
On another note, at some point I do want to know what “core exercises” are you doing.