Transplanting to New Ponds

When I was in my other town, I got comfortable at my local gym after a while.  I knew that when I went in there was not going to be many people there, and I would probably be one of the youngest people there.  When you live in a small town and belong to a gym that wants Everybody to come there, you will see every-body.  Except younger people, because they still like to go to the bigger gyms in the next town where there are more options for exercise.  I thrived there though.  I knew I could go in and use the same machines over and over and vary the exercises I did on them by just a little to keep the workout interesting.

I started my membership at my new gym today.  I knew the gym was much bigger, as I had done quite a bit of research on Youtube and Google.  The membership fees were about the same, so I wasn't worried about the cost and this gym came with a few more benefits, so I was even eager to go.  I knew things were going to be different when I walked on the weightlifting floor and one of the first people to greet me looked like this:

There was a guy right in the middle of the floor doing arm curls, and making the Angry John Mccain face (AJMF).  He was really into it and I'm sure that he wasn't aware that he was making the AJMF, and I know that he didn't have any idea how much he caught me off guard.  The other part I had trouble with was realizing that other than the guy working the desk, I was one of the oldest people there.  I'm only 25.

Needless to say, I left and went upstairs to walk on the treadmill for a while.  The treadmills were nice, the ellipticals were set up differently and didn't feel as natural to walk on as my old gym's ellipticals.  The bikes were about the same, but they have a stair climber at my new gym!

I finally walked back downstairs and tried out the weightlifting floor again.  AJMF guy was there, but this time he was on a cable-cross system and was looking away from me.  I started off by trying out some bench presses.  It was the first time I had tried bench presses without a Smith Machine or any other kind of machine.  It really was different to use free weights to lift with and I really enjoyed it.  I used stabilizer muscles that I didn't even know existed, but I had to trade off by using less weight.  Most of the rest of my routine was the same, but just on different brands of machines.  

The thing I look forward to at this gym the most is the classes they offer and the new machines and free weights they offer.  They have a class on Monday evenings that is similar to Crossfit, and I can't wait to join it.  

I'll be sure to update you on how I'm doing at the new gym and if I have any more encounters with AJMF guys.

Back from the Great Beyond

I have finally returned from my vacation.  Madix and I decided to take a trip to Hilton Head, SC with some great friends.  We had a wonderful time and Madix really enjoyed his first time at the beach and seeing the ocean.  

While I was there, I have to admit that I didn't eat a very healthy diet.  In fact, the only thing that I did eat that was close to healthy was some delicious grouper with steamed green beans.  Other than that, my diet consisted of mostly junk food, hot dogs, and hamburgers.  I also didn't take any of my vitamins or drink any protein shakes.

Another confession?  Other than all the walking to and from and at the beach, I didn't get any exercise.  Granted, there was a lot of walking, so I definitely got in my 3-5 hours of low level cardio, but nothing else.  

Am I happy about the results?  No.  Am I surprised?  No.  Would I have changed a thing?  Probably not.  Relaxation and fun were the key elements for this trip.

For the future, I'm going to start returning to the gym and working out on a regular basis, but it's going to take a couple of weeks to get myself back on track.  I'm moving to a different town in Kentucky and I'll be keeping myself busy when I'm not working on my health with finding a new employer, finding a new gym, and getting myself back into school.  I'm going to start working on becoming an RN (Registered Nurse) which will help me with my medical knowledge in relation to my health.  

I expect great things from myself for the future, and I don't plan on letting myself down.  It may be a little while before I post an update picture of myself or start posting my weekly stats again.  Just bare with me while I go through these changes and I promise that I will have the blog and my health back up to where we last left off.

I want to leave by saying that I love you guys and all of the support that you've given me through this most difficult time in my life as well and Madix's.  I don't know how I could have made it through these past few weeks without the love and support of all of my friends and family.

-Andy

Do It For The Ones You Love

Amber Allen Fields

October 11th, 1984 - June 25th, 2011

On Saturday, the 25th of June, my world was turned upside down destroyed from the inside out.  I lost the most wonderful person in the world; my wife.  She was killed in a car wreck while traveling home from work. I, myself, was getting ready for work at home with my son, Madix.  For us, it was a normal day of playing together, having a good time, and waiting for Mommy to come home.

Except Mommy didn't come home this time.

Now, my three year-old only has me left.  He'll be turning four this month, and his mommy isn't going to be there to see it and celebrate it with him.  He's certainly not going to have an easy life because of it.  I am only thankful that he is too young to truly understand what a difficult hand that has been dealt to him this early in his life.

It is things like this that make us think really hard about what we're doing with ourselves.  My son has been left with an overweight father who is at risk for too many medical emergencies including hyperglycemia (blood sugar too high), hypoglycemia (blood sugar too low), myocardial infarction (heart attack, along with many other heart risks), cerebrovascular attack (stroke), hypoxia (short of air), and so on and so forth.  

Is that the way I want my son to see me?  Is that the way I want him to know that I lived?  If I die, who will take care of him after me?  Who will take him for his first day of school?  Who will watch him play his first sport?  Who will teach him how to drive?  Who will talk to him about girls?  Who will help him get ready for his prom or watch him graduate?  Who will watch as he gets married?

His options have been cut in half by something that nobody had any control over.  Is it fair to him for me to live like this now?

I, most certainly, do not think it is.  And that is why I have to work harder than ever.  I have to be the best that I can be at all times, and teach my son to be that way as well.  

And I hope that this message serves as a wake-up call for all of you.  I pray that none of you will ever have to go through what my family has in the past few days, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't live like it couldn't.  Don't give God -or fate- a chance to take you for some reason that you could have prevented.  Get yourself healthy, and keep yourself that way.  I beg that of you.

As for me and mine now, we have things to do.  We're going to get out of the world for a few days and try to relax a little.  When I get back, I'll update you more on what we're doing, how we're doing, and what our plans are.  In the meantime, take care of yourselves.  Do it for the ones you love, because tomorrow might not be the same.