Starting point: I tipped the scale at 210 prior to starting SparkPeople during the fall of 2010. This put me at a BMI of 27.7 (only 2.3 points from obese). Size 38 shorts were getting snug and I'd actually bought my first size 40 pair of shorts (which were loose, but not so loose that I couldn't wear them). I knew that if I didn't do something, the problem would only get worse, and that eventually led me to here. I am a computer programmer and was pretty much spending my entire workday on my butt in front of my computer monitors and then going home and spending the entire night on my butt in front of the TV. It doesn't take a genius to see that was not a recipe for good health. Around the time I joined SparkPeople, I started walking around the block. Then I started adding distance to my walks and before long, was regularly walking 3 miles . I'd occasionally listen to music on my phone while walking and one evening, a particularly inspiring song came on and I started running. I didn't have any of the knee pain I'd experienced before when I ran, so I decided to try getting into running in a smart way, so I did the C25k (Couch to 5k) program. I also started doing some drop in fitness classes at our local community center (focused mostly on kettlebells and bodyweight exercises). At one of the new drop classes (TRX) I attended, our instructor was introduced as a serious triathlete. The instructor mentioned that the community center would be hosting a "Try a Tri" indoor triathlon event. I thought it would be fun, so I asked the instructor what I should do to prepare. Following her advice, I joined the Masters swim team January of 2011. And although I could barely swim a 25 yard lap when I started, I set my sights to do the Try a Tri. I had a ton of fun with the indoor tri, so decided to become serious about being a triathlete. Since then, I've done 5 sprint triathlons (the longest swim being a full 1Km openwater). I've also increased my running distance, and by the end of 2011, I will have done 4 half-marathons. In 2012, I plan on doing a half-ironman as well as my first full marathon.

Weight Loss Goals I've hit my major weight loss goals and am down to a decent weight for me. Now I am now more interested in body fat reduction and improving my athleticism than weight loss. Fitness Goals: 100 pushups 10 pullups clock in two months of 900 fitness minutes by Apr, 19, 2011 Lifestyle goals: Eat home cooked meals at least 5 days a week for a month Event Goals: In 2012 I will: run my first full marathon do my first half-ironman triathlon swim the 2.5k (1½ mile) "Big Shoulders" open-water swim race In 2013, I will: do my first full-ironman triathlon

Last year (during my weight loss), I tracked my food very closely. I've now gotten to a point where I have a good idea of healthy portion sizes and am now only doing occasional food tracking. I'm still attending several group exercise classes through the local community center/gym including: * Down to the Core (strength training of core through isometrics) * TRX training Both focus on strength conditioning while maintaining high level of cardio activity. I am approaching my one year anniversary with my local Masters swim team. I generally practice for an 1.5 hrs 3 days a week. I also do group (and solo) runs prepping me for the half marathon I plan on doing in early May.



I am captain for the Cisco Systems' employee/contractor SparkTeam. I'm pretty excited that our little team (of fewer than 30 people) is able to routinely place in the top 5 of the Fortune 100 leaderboards for both Fitness Minutes as well as SparkPoints (http://bit.ly/fortune100-leaderboard)

Add a Link If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. -- Henry Ford "Often our pain becomes our passion" -- unknown
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