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Hello to all. I hope that everyones well. I feel great! How nice to awake while it was still dark on Saturday knowing that in just an hour or so,my fellow losers and I would be together once again putting it all out there in the name of exercise. I must say that I was hoping for minimal uphill running as the bells still toll from the stairway from hades race. Much to my delight there was only a very few hills.
I really wanted to test myself this time and see how all the treadmilling and biking have paid off. I’m here to tell you that it has. I started the race pretty strong and jogged as long as I could. When I got tired, I power walked. Some hotshots were galloping by me like they were on fire, but I thought to myself that this is NOT chariots of fire! I’m gonna do my thing. Marty and Jon were suportive as ever as they passed me. You guys are the best! As I finished the first lap, The thought of doing it again was painful, but determination once again kicked in. I really wanted to beat my time from gaspirilla. Patty Kim and Nancy and our photo guy were inspiring me to keep going. 28 minutes in, I wanted to do better on the second lap around. Jog, walk, Jog, walk, a little water, a little encouragement to Danny(you go boy) next thing you know I can see the finish line. I crossed it at 48 minutes. 10 minutes better than the other 5k! Praise God!
It’s a very exiting time in my life now with so many changes happening. Not only with this challenge but spiritually as well as God continues to…

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So here we are...halfway through the challenge. It’s going well, I must admit. This time last year, I was in Hartford, watching the Lady Bulls put up a valiant effort in a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to USC. There was no talk of the possibility of running a 5K. No word of losing weight. All I was worried about was “what excuse can get me out of Tuesday’s class?”.

This year, times have changed. The women’s team was demoted to the WNIT (The justification of which is currently still under review), and tomorrow, instead of wondering how to escape the responsibility of being a student, I am preparing for my second 5K in two months. I can’t wait. Even if it takes me two hours to finish the race, just finishing it will make me feel that I have accomplished something. And that is the point behind trying to lose weight...being able to continue accomplishing as much as possible. It’s working so far. The interview went very well, and I am proud to say I will have the privelege of working with freshmen students again next year.

To close, I would like to congratulate all of my fellow (weight)-losers. You guys rock! I will see you all tomorrow

-Dan

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First of all to the ladies. You folks are just losing it and in a great way. All of our little discoveries add up to so much. By the way Brenda now that it is easy to get your keys let me know if you find mine ( Male key loss disorder). Marty and the senator, boy I am so proud to be on your team. OK so I am holding up the rear as far as weight loss, you guys are magnificent. God knows how you are doing it and he really does, though you are the ones making it happen. As for myself the food choices have been odd but I am so happy with keeping up my exercise regime when times get rough. I capped my couple weeks of hard training with the Zephrhills sprint tri. 300 yard pool swim,11 mile bike ride and a 3.1 mile run. It was so splendid I was talking to the master all through the event explaining how awesome it was and enjoying a beautiful Sunday morning. This whole gig we are doing is inspiring as are all the stories I read of people who have lost weight and continue to keep it off. Thanks to all of you.

Peace JC

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Boom cha- boom boom cha- boom boom. (Repeat this over and over in your mind as you read this blog please.)
Ive been walking miles and miles, on tread-mills at life-styles. This diet thing is going great, Fattening foots I overrate. Those days are gone I must confess, My pants are fitting like a dress. My wife re-cog-nises this new guy, shes looking at me with that look in her eye! I’m dancing around playing air guitar, cause 20 pounds i’ve lost so far! So Im happy to give this short report, and am blessed by all your love and support. So thats bout it for this short story, God above gets all the glory. Its falling off by leaps and bounds, cant wait till I reach 40 pounds!
I know I wont be awarded any pulitzer prize for poetry. Hmmmmm… What rhymes with poetry?
God bless you all....Marty G.
P.S. GET MOVING!!! 

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So, I am 3 hours away from the beginning of Spring Break (For me, anyways), and last night was a weigh-in.

In the strangest feeling of deja vu in a while, the scale again read a loss of 3.8 pounds. This makes 18 pounds overall, which is really exciting. I saw Marty yesterday, and he is looking really great, people! I’m very proud of the team so far, and as we reach the near-halfway point of this challenge, I believe that we are doing a great job. Here’s to another great week everybody! I will update more in-depth later in the week.

-D.S.

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If any of the participants from last weeks stair climb happened to see a pair of knees on the way up or down, could you please forward them to me pronto? This has been a week of misery! I havent been able to work out properly because of ongoing stiffness from all those silly stairs. Walking has been hard, biking has been harder and everything just flat out hurts......PHOOEY! It’s all good though as I have been able to focus strictly on diet.
Gallons of water have been my saving grace, lots of protein, light carbs and omega 3-6-9 for the ol’ ticker. I guess overall internally I feel pretty good. My pants are starting to grow and I’m down 1x on my shirt size. Praise God!
I’ll take the rest of the weekend off from any heavy exercise to rest my body, but come monday...It’s on till the break of dawn baby! Woe be on to the treadmill or bike that will have to face the likes of a man on a mission! I can’t afford to stop at 17 lbs. I’ll need at least another 30-35 before this challenge is over and with the help of the good Lord above...It will happen. Until then another icepack, another Motrin and some more water please!
God bless and keep you...Marty G.
P.S. Get Moving! 

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So, the USF Election results are up..... For the College of Education Senate Race, read ‘em and weep:

Education (7):
1. Fifer, Mark - 93
2. Glaser, Loren - 88
3. Briette, Djenane - 68
4. Shelnutt, Daniel - 100
5. Cordero, Gloryvee - 68

Even if it was a seat by default (more seats than people).... To win an election is an awesome feeling!!

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So, first off, let me sincerely congratulate my brothers from the men’s team for a heck of a job last Saturday kicking the Bank of America Building’s tail, step by step (literaly). Me, I was kicking tail in slacks and my lucky shirt, as Saturday was coincidentally the same day that I had an interview for a job I hope to obtain next year, which will hopefully be my job until my final internship and eventual graduation in Fall of 2008. I am one of the few people that honestly very rarely gets nervous for an interview. One of the very (and I mean veeery) few things that are good about being overweight is that you have to rely on personality to obtain friends and positive relationships moreso than “normal-sized” people. Me personally, I say lose the weight, keep the personality

Aaaand speaking of weight, I am happy to say that after a somewhat questionable week, I am 3.8 pounds down this week!! I was really happy, almost ecstatic. More than double last week’s total. Since January, that makes more than 30 pounds overall, and for the sake of the challenge, the 15-pound mark is upon us. Things are going well indeed. The goal for this week: Run one circle around USF’s campus, an estimated 2+ miles, give or take half a mile.

I will close by quoting Homer Simpson: “Default: the two sweetest words in the English Language”. The justification behind the quote is that as of 8:01 P.M. Wednesday, barring a total collapse of USF’s democracy, and hostile takeover by anarchists, I will be named a Senator-Elect representing the College of Education on the USF Student Governent Senate. How do I know, you ask? 5 people running for 7 seats

Mr. Simpson, you, once again, have proven something true. Default really is the two sweetest words in the english language

Until we meet again,
Dan

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This becomes better all the time. 42 stories up. I must admit I was unsure of exactly how much fun this would be. But after seeing Marty and Marty charge - well, maybe not charge up the stairs - but DO IT, the Bank of America Plaza Stair Climb turned great.

If I could do as well with my food intake as I do with exercise, I would be sailing, but that is the challenge in the challenge for me. I have certainly become more conscious of what I eat, though that does not always translate into better choices. But IT WILL. I look at it this way: I did an event without falling down, so I’m headed in the right direction.

Peace
JC

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It is a beautiful sunday and I bask in the glow of the day the Lord has made. How wondrous it is to know that with Him ALL things are possible. I have aches and pains unimagineable today but I love it. Please endulge me while I testify.

Saturday morning I arose knowing full well that I was facing a very difficult challenge. I prepared myself as best I could by having some carbs and high test coffee. As I drove south on I-275 I saw way in the distance A very small Bank of America building. I said to myself “It doesn’t look that big” but I also felt like that building was looking at me.  As I got closer in downtown, I said yes...Its very big and tall but I will not be defeated by any giant. The song"live like you were dying” came on the radio and I began to think about my dad and how he taught me to never back away from any bully and to stand my ground always. There was my motivation for getting to the top. Not only to face this 500 foot tall bully that was looking at me saying that I couldn’t beat him, but once at the top I’d be that much closer to God and my father.

Jon, mere words cant express how thankful I am for your compassion. You are my brother man.

Long story short, the ascencion began. 1 story, no prob. 2 and 3 no prob. 4th big prob. This giant punched me square in the gut. I knew that the rest of way would be very difficult but I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Slowly but surely with rest stops every 3 storys I made it to the 14th floor. 1/3 of the way there, exausted, heart well above target rate but I gotta keep truckin’. I took a short break but carried on. 

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Gasparilla 5k....check, Working out with Corey..aka Sargent musclehead....check, Treadmilling like a man on a mission(42 flights of stairs)...check.
Soreness in legs...check,shoulders...check,hair...thin.. but check.
I thought all this exercice was supposed to make me feel good! I haven’t been this sore since Mcdonalds quit serving shamrock shakes! Oh well… all for the common good I guess. This week has been a little discouraging since I weighed myself on monday and realized that I did not lose a single ounce. It’s all good though, I’m still following plan and exercising even more. I’m determined to make it to the top of the bank of tampa via steps on saturday.
It’s all about what I like to call micro-goals. Two more minutes on the bike, One less bite of food here, one more rep there. When it’s all said and done, it will accumulate to meeting one very large goal. The one that has evaded me for so many years. The one that I hope you the reader has given another chance. Whether it be weight loss, quitting smoking or whatever it is, there is no obstacle to big, no mountain too great, and no sea to deep that You and God can’t defeat. GET MOVING!!!!
I pray that you find motivation to face your fears and beat them.  Matt 9:28-29.  Read it!  Blessings to you all...In Christ.....Marty G. 

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So I decided to take a hiatus on using other people’s words to start this entry.

Since I had last updated, I had decided to do something I never would have dreamed of doing, never mind thought about doing… I participated in a 5K.
5,000 Kilometers.
3.1 miles.
15,840 feet.

Of all the terms I associated with the run prior to the actual day, “fun” and “worthwhile” were certainly not in the mix. No, “Crazy” and “Horrible” and “Disaster” dominated the thought processes. I arrived at downtown Tampa at 7:30 in the morning, after de-icing my car for the one time a year I actually have to do that in Florida, and make my way over to the Convention Center. At 9, I was registered, and ready. IPod battery full, cell phone off, valuables checked at the runner check-baggage place. I was ready.

The race itself was awesome. A hint of advice: Do not underestimate Marty. He was able to run when I was still gasping for air. He stayed with me throughout the course, and was awesome, keeping spirits high throughout the race. I also had the pleasure of meeting “Bucified”, a very energetic Buccaneers fan who also ran the race. After the race, I went home, thinking my time was at an hour and two minutes, two minutes over my goal. I failed to realize that I did not start at 0:01, like the clock did. My final start-to-finish time: 58:52. I did it. Beat my own goal. Thanks to Marty (Both of them, my teammate and the head of this challenge), and Bucified, and to everybody cheering us on…

Sadly, I will not be participating in the stair climb this weekend, as I have an interview with a job that I hope to obtain next Fall. Best of luck to my teammatess, and have a great couple of days, everyone!

-Dan

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I’m Down 13 pounds...Praise God....Marty G.
P.S. GET MOVING!

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Watch Video Of Our Gasparilla 5K Experience

Groan! Moan! Ouch! Ooph! These among others were some of the phrases coming out of my mouth today. I haven’t run since I think 1998. Exept to the dinner table! What was I thinking? Well here we are at the starting gate for the Gasparilla 5k. I had it in my mind that It would be a nice leisurely walk along bayshore with my i-pod blaring with Dan at my side. Well the race starts and much to my chagrin Dan is running and making me keep up with him.Others are wizzing by like lazer beams with sneakers on. At this point I’m beginning to wonder what the heck I’ve gotten myself into! When all of a sudden this cute little older couple walk by me saying c’mon, you can do it! Something very strange happened after that...A feeling I had’nt felt in a long time. Determination, a little burst of energy and It was on! I was jogging! It hurt like nobodys business at first but then it felt good! My West Tampa trash talk reared it’s ugly head as I passed some of those laser beams saying things like, I was where you were once, keep trying, you’ll be here soon! etc.etc
Well the race finishes and Dan(the man), Bucified Bert and myself crossed the finish line tied for 12,000th place. I think I won by a nose personally.
So today is Sunday and we had a beautiful service that started with a baptism at Anclote Park. Lots of visitors and Lots of soreness in my legs. As A deacon,it was my duty to seat people today. It seemed as though the church isle was 10 times longer than usual though. Our ministry sits on a platform

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If anybody knows how to please let me know before the next gasparilla run. As my partners Dan and Marty are cruising through our 5k I decided it was a
good idea to run forward while looking backwards this equals falling down. Though not seriously hurt, I learned a good lesson Don’t Do That Again!
My food intake has been sort of iffy, curious to see what the scales bring Monday. It seems when I lose a little weight I tend to loosen the belt loops for more
food. Today at church was a great talk on commitment to yourself, how fitting. The stair climb is coming up and I am not ready for that at all . With that in
mind I plan to try to climb a few stories during the week. To be honest I would just as soon read some stories instead. Thanks to my friend Tracy in Reno
who has warned me to stay away from my dogs food if I get to too hungry. She’s so wise. Thanks to Marty, Dan and Kim for a great gasparilla run.

Peace
JC

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