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Introduction Text I'm a 62 year old divorced male, and became an empty nester when my daughter moved out in March 2011. I've done some things with fitness over the past few years, but my start with SparkPeople in July 2011 marks my first serious attempt to quantify what I eat in detail. The act of recording affects my food choices, and that is a Good Thing. September 1, 2016: Today is my first full day of retirement. I'm adjusting to having running define the schedule instead of fitting running into the schedule. I gained about 3 pounds in my last two months working; 2 of them need to come back off. I'm not terribly worried about that, as the conditions that put those pounds on aren't going to recur. April 21, 2016: Three days ago I crossed the finish line on Boyleston Street. I am now definitely a marathon runner, having run two of them; and I am now a two-time Boston qualifier. December 28, 2015: Started my Boston training program yesterday with 6 easy miles. First speed work is tomorrow. I return to 5 day work weeks on January 4. I expect to be very time crunched from January through April. August 14, 2015: Just noticed I haven't updated this list lately. Got pushed into my first full marathon at Buffalo on Memorial Day weekend. Qualified for Boston by a wide margin. I won't be able to run a fall marathon to see if I learned the correct lessons from Buffalo because none of them fit into the schedule around the half marathons I've committed to. But the next big focus after I finish the Four Seasons Challenge will be Boston 2016. February 11, 2015: 2015 is the year of the half marathons for me. Signed up for the Four Seasons Challenge, a series of 4 halfs, and later added a fifth half, the Good Life Halfsy, on November 1. Now I just need to stay healthy. October 18, 2014: Ran the Rochester Half, had to back off the last 4 miles for the foot. Was able to run the Finish Strong 15K as a race today. I'm back! September 20, 2014: Sat out more than two months with a stress fracture that canceled plans to run the Rochester Marathon. Recovered well enough that I can run the half tomorrow, though I won't be running for speed. I've signed up for a 15K in October and a 10K on Thanksgiving Day. I expect to be able to run those as races. April 30, 2014: I completed my first half marathon on April 27, and recovery has gone well. I'm now pointing at running the Rochester Marathon in September. November 29, 2013: The mid-October 5K and Thanksgiving 10K were successful and a lot of fun. I ran new PRs for 5K and 10K in those races. I think I'm back to running regularly now. September 17, 2013: Today the PT told me to work up to 5 minute running intervals, and that the next step from the 2 minutes I'd been at should be 3 minutes. A 5K in mid-October is looking possible, and a 10K on Thanksgiving Day is looking likely. July 6, 2013: A couple weeks ago I injured the other foot. Now I'm in physical therapy, trying to get back the ability to run and learn what to do to avoid foot issues in the future. Meanwhile, it's bike rides when the weather permits until the feet are good enough to support brisk walking again. May 1, 2013: The foot injury is still, ever so slowly, getting better. I've recently been through a secondary leg injury, running a 5K on April 28 because the leg wouldn't let me run a half marathon. Current focus is on getting the leg and foot healthy enough for regular running. November 23, 2012: Mostly ran a 10K yesterday. I think I can beat this foot injury. Added another set of point in time pictures today. There's little change from the last set, but what change there is looks good. July 31, 2012: Added another set of point in time pictures. It's good to see that my body is maintaining shape, even while I'm waiting to be able to run again. July 3, 2012: The foot injury is back. No running, and limited walking. At least it's warm now; I can ride a bike without bothering the foot. Struggling with motivation for the fitness side, doing OK on the eating side. April 29, 2012: After a long recovery from a foot injury, backed off from the HM and ran the associated 5K. There could be a half in my future, but no definite dates at this point. December 21, 2011: Got medical clearance to train for a half marathon and/or marathon. Signed up for the Flower City Challenge HM on April 29, 2012. November 24, 2011: Ran my first competitive 10K. I'm hooked. October 15, 2011: Came to the end of the 5K Your Way running program. I will no longer be running for a prescribed time interval; now I will run for a distance that looks like it will fit in the time that I have. October 7, 2011: This morning I weighed in a pound below my initial goal weight. Now I begin the process of figuring out what the real goal ought to be. I'm less concerned with celebrating taking 22 pounds off in 12 and a half weeks, than with figuring out how maintenance works.

I reached my initial goal weight in October 2011, then took off another 10 pounds learning how to not lose weight. The weight went down very slowly for four more months, before smoothing into a true sideways trend. The long term goal is simply to maintain my weight and fitness level. That will turn into a weight loss or weight gain goal if the weight goes uncomfortably far in one direction or the other.

Record everything I eat. Use the SP nutrition tracker as a budget for calories, carbs, fat, and protein. Choose a calorie range 350 calories wide. Set macronutrient ranges carbs 45-65% of calories; fat 20-35% of calories; protein 18-35% of calories, subject to minimum 120 grams. Make adjustments if my weight seems to be moving too much in either direction. Get some exercise, every day. It turns out I love running; but get some sort of exercise every day even when injuries prevent regular runs.

From Nebraska, living in Rochester, NY.

"Discipline is remembering what you want." - David Campbell "You can't out-train a crappy diet." - weight lifting adage

Add a Link - Kevin "Discipline is remembering what you want. " - David Campbell Max Lifetime Weight, 221 SP Start Weight, 196.6 Initial SP Goal, 175 Current Goal on Ticker, 163
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