A little closer to home maybe too close

I am a huge fan of the TV show "The Biggest Looser". Each week I sit and watch the struggles of people loosing weight and making life changes. It shows them struggle with working out, changing diets and learning about the new life they are trying to create. The contestants talk about their motivation for life change (started by weight loss) and most of the answers center around family. I want to be around longer, or to see a wedding, or the grandchildren grow up. I want to spend more time with my kids and have the energy to play with them. I want to be a better spouse and so on and so on. It is very interesting to hear them talk about where they came from and what decisions they made that caused them to enter the ever growing club of obesity.

This last week I was asked by Slim4Life to be a part of a photo and video shoot for their upcoming marketing season. Each year they ask some of the clients that made their weight loss goals to be a part of the year's ad campaign. Two years ago I was asked and was happy to participate- I even made it into some of the commercials that aired on TV. My before and after picture was also put up in each center with a testimonial. They decided to add to the campaign this year those that have kept the weight off for a longer period of time and that is why I was asked. On April 26, 2006 I joined Slim4Life at 232 lbs. By July I was down to 181 and hit my goal that I made in April. Today I weigh 170lbs and have kept the weight off for over 2 years, and did so by learning about food and exercise and making a huge life change. I am not sure if anything will happen or maybe you will see me on TV again this fall and winter. I really am not so concerned about that. I really appreciated the help I got and will be a huge advocate for them as long as Slim4Life continues to help people change their life.

The biggest looser only scratches the surface on the downside of eating wrong, not exercising and taking care of one's body for life. The obesity rate continues to climb in America and so does the troubles that follow in its wake. The problems that I hear and see have been a warning to me but until this week never really hit home. On Monday of this week my Dad had his first heart attack and then went straight into a Triple Bypass Surgery to help him survive. He did well and seems to be on the road to recovery - a very long, hard road. It has been made mention that he will need to make some pretty big life changes so that he will be able to have a good chance to stick around a little longer. I hope for the best for him and feel that I can help best by being some type of example. I have made many changes and continue to try to make many more. I would like to be as healthy as I possibly can. I want the energy to play with my kids and not just watch. I want to see them grow old and do so not from the Lazy-z-boy recliner holding some type of processed food. I want to live and enjoy life and I now realize that it takes a constant effort. I want to be the winner of my battles and hope that I can get everyone possible to join in.

I still go to Slim4life because they hold me accountable to my weight. I train and exercise with Practical Coaching because they keep me fit. Anne helps me continue to learn about eating healthy and practices what she preaches. She supports me taking the time away from family to stay fit. This year we are trying to involve the kids more in my workouts. Yes we have started to make the changes that were necessary for my survival. I love my Dad and will hope and pray for the best for him - he has a lot of life yet to live and I am certain that he can do it if he wants.

I will not win the Title of "The Biggest Looser" but I have gained a new life and will fight every day to keep it. I love my family and hope that I can continue to live this life and stay away from the challenges that are associated with living overweight.

Tyler

PS...

This is a photo provided by Slim4Life and shot for the 2009 ad campaign.

Love the before and After

Thanks Dayln

Season of LSD will be a challenge for me

This off season I will be doing a lot of Long Slow Distance work so that I can get a better base built for next year season. After meeting with Steve and getting the goals for next year set up we spent a fair amount of time talking about how to make me a better endurance athlete. He believes in the LSD approach and talked about having that be a big part of the next 4 months for me. Saturday I had my first chance to give this approach a try. John M said he had a similar workout and would run with me. We decided to run Waterton canyon to the Colorado trail and then run that for a few miles. I wore a Garmin and set an alarm to go off when I exceeded 150bpm. We took off very easy and hearing the beeping would tell us that I needed to slow down. John HR was about 20 beats below mine but was still in the range of what he needed to be doing as well.

I feel that I need to let you know some other facts about my running so you will know why I am so happy. First, I have only run beyond 14 mile 4 times in my life. I ended up having problems last time I put distance on and ended getting hurt. Second I am not one that is able to run slow, I have always trained at a pretty high HR so to keep it 20-35 beats below what I normally train at will be a huge challenge. Last I really never run past 2 hours at a time, long runs are also new.

John was very patient with me and spent the whole time talking so that I could work on keeping my HR down. It was a challenge because in my HR range was a pace of about 12 minute miles. After Slowing down and even walking a good portion of the Colorado trail we made it to the 8 mile mark. I felt really good and my body was not hurting at all. We turned around and started our way back down. I ended up having to slow down to 13min miles then 14min miles and even mixed in a few mile of walk then run, walk then run. John stayed with me the whole time and even seemed like he enjoyed the slow run. The final stats came in at 3:27 in time. 16 miles in distance and a average pace if 13+. My average HR for the run was 146 (perfect) it will be a great challenge to do this all season.

As I am writing this my legs feel good, I have had a few hours think about what this LSD will be able to do for me and my training and I am very excited. I think in the long run it will pay off big and I am willing to give it a try.

Tell next time, happy training and if you see a very slow guy on the trail stop and say hi to me I will be the one trying to keep the HR alarm from beeping.

I love you Anne,

T

Pictures from San Francisco

Here is the plane shot at the start of the trip. We took up a whole row except for one poor business guy that had to sit next to us. We had a great plane ride and the kids had fun looking out the windows and playing with the toys that Anne packed for them. Josh was surprised and given a Gameboy for the trip which he really liked.
When we went for our epic day of bike riding we stopped on the Golden Gate Bridge in the middle and took this shot. The day was very sunny as was the whole trip. We had 2 mountain bikes, one Burley, for food and gear and 2 kids and we also had a "ride along" attached to the other bike so the boys could switch and ride with us. What a great day.

This is Josh and Mom leading the ride near the park. Josh was just telling us how fun he was having on the "ride along". Looks like we will be getting one at home for the extended rides as a family.

Here is Jackson's and Josh sitting at pier 39 looking at Alcatraz in the background. I hope to return some day for that race.

Everyone needs a pier shot, here is ours. As is said in the original post I loved this trip and really look forward to having more of them in the future. I really love my family and liked this time with them.

check out the video

Check out the Age Group Nationals Video clip to see Jenna on her bike, Beth in T2 (no voice so you can be happy Beth) and Julie with the vocals at the end. Glad to see PC getting some visibility.
http://www.endurancefilms.com/TheCompany/OurSponsors/NAGCHIGHLIGHT.aspx

T

Finding myself in San Francisco

January 1997 Anne and I went to San Francisco for our honeymoon. I returned again just last week and was found. I have been feeling a bit off center the last few weeks. I had surgery and stopped training, started weight loss and had a really hard few weeks at work. 6am came on Wednesday and I turned my phone off and went on a family vacation that I did not plan or put together (the first in a very long while). Traveling with 5 (3 of which are under 8) makes for some patient people, good planning and some smiles. The trip was really fun and rather then giving a huge trip report I will say this; Batteries are full, kids are great and I love my wife more then I ever have before. The 3 best parts of this trip for me were:
1. 20 miles on a bike with a burley and 2 kids and gear going over the Golden Gate bridge, and really seeing some of the best parts of San Fran.
2. Kids running down the streets, falling, getting up and running again. Not a lot of flat ground where we stayed.
3. Falling in love with my family all over again, and again and again.
4. Doing thing the Anne and Tyler way and loving it!!!!!

Anne is staying a few extra days to hang with family while I get back to work. The kids and Anne ended up getting sick but I have to say I love that place and look forward to having a reason to go back again.

Love you Anne,
Thanks for planning such a great trip.

T