Aaannnd, we’re off! Um, soon!

Posted Sep 28, 2006 by jriley

Updated Sep 29, 2006 at 08:11 AM

Hi there, reader. I’m John Hartnett, and this is my first posting for the new Weight Loss Challenge. I hope to let you in on my adventures (more like misadventures, probably) in getting fitter and less heavy.

The Challenge begins on October 1, and so, on that day, I’ll weigh in using my trusty Taylor Body Fat Analyzer and Scale model 5571. I will also record various other measurements then, because I’ve chosen to use resistance training to try to rev up my metabolism, in addition to changing my food intake for the better, and expanding my cardio efforts.

I am 53, married to Jennifer, and have a daughter, Amanda, and a son, Devin. Amanda and her husband Paul has presented us with two spectacular grandchildren, Matthew, 4, and Deanna, 2. I mention my family because they’ll likely be showing up in these postings every so often. I work for Humana.

Right now; my primary exercise is a form of extreme bicycling. That is to say, I commute on my bicycle, in Tampa. (I told you it was extreme.)

Currently, I bike about 45 minutes a day, on average 3 – 5 days a week, commuting to and from Humana’s call center at Netpark (the old Eastlake Square Mall at 56th St and E. Hillsborough) about 3.5 miles from my home.

Now, if you have ever, ever, been on any Tampa road, street, thoroughfare, or cow path, you know that, even wrapped in an automotive suit of armor, you’re taking your life in your hands. Now picture yourself on two wheels, pedaling madly, with a vaguely head-shaped Styrofoam picnic cooler bobbling on your noggin as your only protection.

Yeah, that’s exactly what my family says.

I love bicycling though, automotive assassins aside. How else does one get excellent cardio while also exercising one’s vocabulary responding to mobile critics of my ancestry? And yes, I do take care to obey the law, which means that I do have the right to use the left turn lane, so stop cussing me out, Bubba.

It is also, for me, a great tonic for my osteoarthritis of the knees; the left is the bad guy, the right knee is weak, and gets talked into joining left knee in wild inflammation binges. It helps a lot to bike.

This weekend, I’m going out and buying a weight bench and dumbbell set. (I’m getting back into some resistance training to get “back” into some sort of shape.)  I may also upgrade my bicycle, but we’ll see how exhausted my credit card is before I commit to that.

That’s it for now, folks. We’d love to have you drop by again. Feel free to make any comments you may care to make.

Take care.