Welcome to the new year – I trust you all have figured out your plan going into 2009. Generally we take stock of the previous year and try to do more of what worked last year and less of what flopped. On that vein I am going to explore what worked and what did not as it related to my fitness goals in 2008.
Before I examine my previous goals and dissect the results, I would like to simply state I am going to eat more rabbit food and work out more, than focus on a restrictive diet! Why? Generally if I get a hankering for more food – snacking on the carrots or broccoli will not put on weight (but your wife may make you sleep on the couch for destroying the ozone layer). 
Eat like the bunnies do!
Last year I tried to focus more on diet and faithfully exercised as part of keeping up with my diet goals. I got burned out on running around the acre backyard at the old house and lost focus. After I stopped exercising as much; I thought – why keep dieting as much too? Then the stress of moving started my comfort eating right into the holidays.
Well I was getting plenty of protein and carbs but in the latter part of the year my metabolism slowed down (a 51 year guy has to exercise to keep the body burning fuel efficiently). The slower metabolism allowed my body to start packing on the pounds again as my normal food of fare was hamburgers, chips, cookies and holiday leftovers (I had three refrigerators going over the holidays).
Last year I also had to experiment with different exercises and found that at my age (51) and weight (240) jogging every night was not an option without knee injuries. I had bought a cheap mountain bike and discovered how much I liked riding again but it broke in three weeks. I replaced it with a good Schwinn mountain bike that should last awhile.
So this year I am not going to focus on diet but rather start eating three to four helpings of fruit and vegetables a day and do some varied strength and aerobic exercises at least five days a week. I will also attempt to no over-eat (but that is not my focus).
Here is what I expect the results to be:
- More vitamins (from good food sources)
- Less calories (I can only eat so much a day with the fruit and veggies)
- A faster metabolism (more varied exercises will kick start my gas mileage)
- Weight loss (without trying as this is not my goal but a nice side-benefit)!
In the old days I used to say hold the rabbit food and eyed the rabbit! Now I am going to give the rabbit a run for his money! When I was training for full contact karate in the 80′s, my trainer used to tell me that middle-weights (what I used to be) did not have to ever diet. The workouts alone (3 – 4 hours a day, 5 days a week) allowed a fighter to maintain weight! Well I want some of the love back… I am going to actually get in to a new shape (other than round)!
Anyway – I’ll report back from time to time on my results but as diet and weight loss are not my main goal this year – I won’t be posting my wieght monthly. I’ll give myself some time to transform and put rabbit food and exercise first this year.
Happy New Year!
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