Reading

Just finished "The Real Insider's Guide to Military Basic Training" that I got from the library. Interesting stuff.

Weight is going down but slow. I'll get little spurts here and there even though I don't change anything.

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Progress

Still making progress. Have also accepted the fact that my body will not do the same that it would 5 years ago.

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Jeans

Just put on a size smaller jeans and they fit.

Down 6 pounds since Monday
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Blackhawk

Sprints

I was supposed to be doing 5 sets of 1/4 miles sprints yesterday.  I only did 3, which was better than zero.  The hardest thing I have dealing with is building up my running endurance.  It will get better.

Running

So, I have a boot camp guide. It has a great running program in it that will get you to the 2 mile speed you need to pass the physical tests.

It combines long running and sets of 1/4 sprints. I did my 1 mile assesment this morning. How this works is I first run a mile. I take that time (11:16) and then I divide that by 4 and then multiply by .80. When I do that I get 2:25. This is my 1/4 mile goal. On sprint days, I do 5 sets of 1/4 mile sprints where I beat that goal. If I don't beat the goal I repeat until I have 5 completed sets where I beat the goal.

Tomorrow will be my first sprint day.

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Gym

We did some different upper body workouts this morning. Really feeling it tonight.

Had our guys group over tonight. Talked about "worship" and why we worship. We are not worthy.

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Missing blogs

I just realized I have missed posting some blogs. I will get back on track. I am still working out lots though. Gym at 4:00am tomorrow.

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BasketballX

Good upper body workout this morning.  Took my muscles to failure several times.  Then Larry Boatright and I shot some hoops.  Actually there was a lot of airballs.  We both got a basket standing at the 3 point free throw line backwards.  Sweet.  Larry got a "Good Shot" from a guy on the upper deck track.

Workout

Only got in my early morning workout today. The scale was kind to me this morning...let's see what happens tomorrow.
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Self-Sacrifice

I showed the video below (The Price of Peace) to Emily the other day.  I asked her about it after and she didn't really have much to say other than "I liked it". That night, she brought me this letter she wrote.  I have retyped it verbatim.

A Self Sacrifice For A Daddy's Girl

    The self sacrifice for a daddy's girl is when your Dad decides to be in the National Guard.  You go through tough times.  Such as my life.  In the morning my dad wakes me up and we go downstairs and watch WGN News with Robin Bomgarden, Larry Patash, Valerie Warner, Pat Palitano, Dean Richards and Paul Konrad.  After that I have some cereal and get dressed.  Then I get my coat on, make sure I have everything I need to turn in for school, and since he got laid off, he is always there in the morning, he can drive me to school.....until he leaves for boot camp.  But first he needs to go to MEPS before he can go to boot camp because sgt Wright said daddy need to at least be 240 pounds and he was about 264 pounds.  So he needs to lose at least 20 pounds but I think he could lose 40 pounds.  :0)  Well I know he could do it but my mom is the one  who said she would support him by losing weight with him and have healthy food as he was,, but she had oreos and told me not to tell him.  So, my brothers don't even seem to be sad about it like they don't give a crap.  But the thing is I will be sad about it and write him letters and will cry every single night.

    Concluding, what I have talked about is what the sacrifice is, my morning and my family.  I hope you enjoyed my story.

---Emily Hoogeveen

Gym

Did all cardio today....treadmill (speed intervals), bike, this thing that just uses your arms and shooting hoops. I discovered that shooting hoops by myself is quite a workout.

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The Price of Peace

The Price of Peace" was written by Alyssa Gaddis (age 12) and Hart Steen. This video was created by the National Guard's Strength Maintenance Support Center near Nashville, Tennessee and filmed in October, 2008. "The video was Directed by Joel Evans, who works with the National Guard in Tennessee. Alyssa Gaddis and her sister Cassy Gaddis (age 16) beautifully honor National Guard Soldiers and their military families who know "The Price of Peace." The song was funded by State Farm Insurance. Thank you to CW5 Jim Gaddis and Mrs. Annette Gaddis and to the girls for this Tribute to Soldiers and Tribute to all our Troops! Deployment Ceremony and Welcome Home.

Progress

It does not look like I am going to be making my target date of Feb 12.  That is ok.  I have been making progress just not as fast as I wanted.

Tomorrow I start my strict eating plan.

Workout

Upper body....abs are killing me. Also shot some hoops with Larry Boatright. Neither of us are very good.
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Gym

Went to the gym again at night. This time later so not too bad.

Did upper body and hills on the treadmill.

8 degrees outside. Long walk from and to the car.

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Workout

Did not go to the gym until the evening....big mistake....tons of people. I did find that watching Biggest Loser while working out, rather then eating nachos is more enjoyable.

Today was all cardio so I did speed intervals on the treadmill for an hour.

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