I've been missing.

Life is great right now. Lots of change. Good Change.  Got off track for a while, eating, over sleeping, eating and not running, biking, or anything. Had a wake up call...I was fat. AGAIN!  It's not easy, why do we have to be human and gain weight for good food and no work. Well we do. Now got to get back on it. Have been riding at least 100 mile per week the last three weeks with my buddy Juan. Going to different destinations every time. Got to keep this up and see how far I can go this time. Why do I go off track.... why......WHY.  Well don't look back and move forward and do something about it.  GAME ON.

Long Nights.

There are some nights when I just look at the computer and think....wow have I really been here for 5 hrs!!!  These past few months since my last blog have been fun and hectic at the same time. Our Mid Valley Events organization is doing great, countless hours have been spent going out shooting pictures, making posters, creating motivational pics for our Facebook account and just dealing with getting everything set up for our next event.  So much work but it's all worth it when people come up to me and say that our work has made a difference in their lives.  Just the other day at one of the 5K's that I was shooting a lady came up to me and said that her and her son have been motivated by me. They call me by my name... its funny I think cause people know me by name now....She said that a few months ago she couldn't run a mile. Now she was just finishing up a 5K in record time, thanks to all the support from her friends and the post we do.  Feels good to actually make a difference no matter how small or big it is. That is my main point in doing what I have been doing. Sometimes I feel like it can be too much but then when I miss a day or two, I get people that send a message that they are waiting for the next one, that they need that little motivation to get their day started. :)

Create it.  That has been our mentality for the past year.  We can make things happen. I predict a great future. What are we gonna do to get to that future. Dedicate as much time as we can to make sure the future will be as planned.  Nothing ever gets done siting around. One must take that first step and be the innovator. There will be people that will try to hold you back but you know in your heart that you must do everything you can to reach your goal. OUR NEXT EVENT IS HOG DASH.... all I got to say is that it is gonna be one to remember.  That will be a day that we can say we made a difference.

Austin Marathon...

The road to the marathon led me here. February 19, 2012... The Livestrong Austin Marathon.

I don't like to run...

Funny how times change. From the guy that would dread the lap after practice in middle school football. I hated every moment of it. The feeling. The shortness of breath. The heart pumping through your throat. I remember the highlight of my running career. It was at our 3rd grade track and field day. Everyone had to participate, and being the chubby kid I was they decided to put me in the 50 yard dash. The shortest possible race they have. I ended up 4th place. Crossing that line I felt that I had left those other 5 chubby kids in the dust, I was accomplished. That was the end off my elite running career.

As time passed I began to hate it more and more. Always being the slowest. The last one to come in after practice. I was tough on the field but my short little stride was not built for speed. I think that is the psychological reason for always putting it aside.

The road to the marathon is not and easy one.

You know you are training for a marathon when you run your shoes to the ground. I have NEVER ran shoes out. Well these are first pair of real running shoes I have ever purchased and I don't feel bad for them running out so quick. I know they did their job. Yesterday I ran the furthest I have ever done. I did 20 miles. Yes 20..... I ran for around 4 hours straight at a good pace. That's a long time. But I knew that it had to be done. I have got three weeks till the Austin marathon. I know I will be ready. To make sure of it I just have to keep doing what I am doing. Run, diet and run some more.

It's 2012, so now what?...

I have said it again and again...It's not the actual goal you set, it is all that you do to get there... The getting there is what has made my ride worthwile.  You can set all your goals but if you do not like what you are doing you are bound to fail.  Today I posted a picture of myself on our facebook account for Mid Valley Events.  I mashed up two pictures, one was from November of 09 when my brother and I had gone to the beach to eat at our favorite fish place, Dirty Al's and the other was a picture from this past November when I did a 5K in Donna.  Two years... yes TWO years and what have I done to myself...I have lost more than 120 pounds....I have completely gotten rid of my diabetes....I never get backaches....My blood pressure is normal....I have so much energy that I'm never sleepy....  I have made a better life... Worth every minute...

So now what?  This is a new year but my goal is still the same.  I want to bring as many people with me on my journey.  I don't know if that sounds bad in any way but it feels good to get people motivated and inspired to get out there every morning and do something about it...Is that wrong?  What was all that time wasted seeing TV and eating for... That was not fun....THIS is fun! 

Why don't people take that leap?....

Well being at that point you learn a lot about yourself... Why did it take me so long?... Looking back at that picture, I don't remember myself looking in the mirror and seeing anything bad. Your mind plays tricks on you making you satisfied with who you are...and I was...  That is what led me to get that way...and the habit of eating good and well not caring or knowing....  When I finaly realized that I had a problem it was too late. It was once I started getting sick, my sugar was out of wack and I would not be able to walk for a couple of days because of severe back problems.  My brother always said that I needed to lose the weight at that point.  What does he know, he is just a doctor right?... I had a fear of getting worse..a fear of being hurt....a fear of not being able to go to all the places I once was able to....

"When you have conquered fear, the only thing that is left is living"- wise hawaiian we met on a trip

I got over that fear and said that I had to change. Anyone can do it. Honestly as cheesy as it sounds, there is no secret diet, there is no magic pill... Just eat better and do more.  And the doing more is what was scaring me at that weight. Slowly, as I have written in the past, I chose different venues of getting my workout in as the weight came off... Results build motivation and then the snowball grows.

And so now that leads to today.  I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday. What do I got to say... Well I am at a good point, my best friends and I started Mid Valley Events, I am doing what I came to love and hopefully I am helping people get motivated to actually fulfill their new years resolutions. Yes there is lots of work that we put into doing our events, we spend countless hours working and planning.  It's all good... We have tons of work to do these couple of months.  I will continue working out, I will finish my FIRST marathon and I know that people will see what I do.  Just heard my cousin from Houston signed up for the Austin Half Marathon in Feb...he used to be 280lbs....I'm doing something right!

 My goals are set, it's what I do to get to them that will define me.

New Goals...

If you have read my blog from the beginning, I have always said to set a goal for yourself..... then figure out how you are gonna get to that goal.  The getting there is what defines you.  Here is a new goal.... You will also remember me saying that I HATED RUNNING!!!! well I still do, but for some reason I feel like challenging myself to go out there and run a half marathon.  I will do it. I believe anyone can run a half marathon if they run/walk it but I want to do it non stop and in a respectable time.  And so the training begins....  I'm starting from nothing. No running legs, No sense of running in a straight line, hunch backed, dragging feet, horrible posture....  I got to work on all these things but I will get there. I've set a goal and now the work has to start.  In San Antonio no November 13, 2011 I will be passing by that finish line knowing that I am great....  Now let me go buy some shoes lol....

Near hard crash...

Still training for our time trial, today we were practicing our team rotations in the group of three. Going around 26mph I notice a red Jetta take the red light. I scream loud and start to slam the breaks. Billy's wheel rams my back rim and he loses control and flips over as he is trying to stop behind me. The Jetta came within feet of ramming us.  Never before have we ever been so close to getting hit.  It pretty much scared the crap out of us.  My rear derailler hanger broke.  Billy was luck that he just came out with a small cut on one finger and that is all... Considering the fall, it seems like it should have been worse....

Now we just have to count our blessings.

You have to thank God everyday for the gifts he gives you.

Our Fitness Bootcamp...

It has been so long since I last blogged, sorry about that.  It is not that I have stopped my ride, it has just gotten better. Sergio, Cindy and I have been working hard on getting people on the right track.  It has been a lot of work and planning but it is a great success thus far.  We would have been happy with 20 members....We have been blessed with nearly 60!!! It's amazing that something small can turn out this big.  Everyone has loved it this far. We offer great workouts throughout the week and on Friday we do an Obstacle Course/Fun Competition Day.  We have already had one person lose more than 20 lbs!!!  

 We are really getting great numbers and the results will speak for themselves at the end of the month when we do the second weigh in.  As for the bike riding, I still keep up with the training.. We are actually training hard right now to do the Texas State Time Trial event in about 6 weeks.  We wanna break the hour.....that is gonna hurt, we would have to average 24 mph for one whole hour.... IT WILL BE DONE!!!  Till next time, got to get on my bike...

Hello there! I'm on a bike...

I was going through my old computer checking out some old pictures seeing how much I have changed... Ever since I got my iphone or any picture phone we have pretty much kept a log of what we do everyday. I go back two years and this is what it was about.  THAT GUY WAS HAPPY! Look at him! That Double Double from In N Out 

        

Pour on the cheeeeese, Double the meat!  Make it three of them!!!! lol

One for later on that night! Ehhh why not on the way to the hotel...

I was in the car audio business and we would go on trips to different expos where they would exibit the latest and greatest in our industry. I would love these vacations, we would get out of the valley and check out awesome cars, go to Vegas, meet celebrities, eat, gamble, and eat some more! Fun times.

We would spend a couple of days out there "studying" the different techniques on how to install things.

After all that we would come back to reality and work hard at the shop.  Every day. 

 Looking back, that was my life. Day in and day out it was about my business. We worked hard every single day.  For 8 years I had my store, it brought many great times, and some scary but all in all it was a good part of my life. It was never about me. It was all about getting things done and pleasing the customers.

Right now I'm on a bike.  Even though it is a huge difference from then and now, I am happy where I am at.  That was a great part of my life, but it only gets better.

It's always good to look back...

When I feel like I'm going off course a bit on my diet, it is always good to look back and see how far I have come. I am such a happier guy now. I got so much more energy. It just gets better everyday. I can not say that it has been easy but it has been worth the ride. The early mornings, The hours put in....

All those times I rode on my own.....worth it...

Those long solo 13 mile rides on the hybrid.....worth it...

The times I was left stranded because I did not know to to change a tube....worth it...

Making others ride with me and forcing them to love it....worth it...

Riding long hours just to do your first 40 miles with your buddy...

Achieving goals....

Lots of riding...

Inspiring others...

Awesome friends....

IS IT WORTH IT?

Seeing changes...

I want to lose weight! I want to look better! I want to feel good! 

 Those are all things many people say around these times, but how many people actually do something about it. In actuality, most of the times these words get said but never mean anything. But why? Well there are many reasons why, time being the main one. Why time? Because losing weight and keeping it off takes time. It takes exercise. Eating right is just a small part of it, we have to get sweaty. We have to burn a lot more calories than we take in. To lose one pound you have to have a 3500 calorie deficit. No way around it. The best way to have less calories without starving yourself is to burn them off. There are many ways to burn the calories but I chose cycling for physical reasons. I could not run or do any impact exercise because my back was shot. On the bright side, cycling is one of the best forms of exercise to destroy the calories.

I love and want to inspire people to change their lives. I've gotten my dad to lose 25 lbs just by not taking him with me to eat anymore. It was my fault others around me were heavy. I ate so they ate. Funny how that is but it is true. Another person I have been pushing is my brother. Every time I see him I ask for an update if he is eating well or going out to the gym. Those little questions might not seem like much but it puts it in their head that they need to keep doing it, a little reminder goes a long way. I always make sure to tell them they look better, fitter, or just plain tell them they are gaining weight. Honesty pushes you too.

Then we have Adrian. He is doing so well. Last year he joined me on my journey to lose weight only to stop and rebound like most people. All that work done only to give it all up because you want to be lazy. He had the time back then. He was still in college. No job. It was just him and his love of sleep and food. YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. Now a year later he is picking it up again. But this time it's different. This time I can see that he really wants it. He set his mind to get it done. He is in the same mode I was in when I started. He is doing great. Now with less time because he is a teacher and has to make the effort to be at work on time, he is waking up extra early to get his miles in on time. He then goes to work and after work he does it again, whether it be cycling or going to the gym and spin. That effort is paying off. He has dropped 16 lbs in the past three weeks which is pretty awesome. He is also becoming a better cyclist. Today we did a pretty fast ride averaging 19.6 mph and was with us the whole way. A couple of weeks ago he would have given up within a couple miles. He has not missed a ride since he started. EFFORT PAYS OFF. I always ask him what food he has eaten. Now he counts all calories, a must! Some people say you can eat whatever you want as long as you exercise. True... If you want to maintain your weight. COUNT CALORIES.

Surround yourself with people that have similar goals and you will make things happen. Have a good time while doing it too and your life will be so much better, happier and fulfilling.  We back each other up. When one is slacking the other picks you up. Keeps you always on the go. Great people.

I'm still on my journey. 

My ride. 

I got my goals set. 

I hope that many people join me. 

It's a great experience. 

Staying on track 

Train hard but rest...

Isn't that counterproductive? You have to train hard to get faster. Train more. Ride lots.



Recently I have not been getting a good amount of sleep and I'm starting to feel like it will eventually catch up to me. I have been developing a habit of trying to use as many hours of my day to do things. I'm up at 430 am to go and ride. During the day I go out to run errands and deal with managing our business doing those little things that add up and take time. At night I spend it relaxing and on the computer and time just flies, by the time I know it it is past midnight. I force myself to sleep. So those three and a half to four hours of sleep are wearing me down. Today we did some real hard intervals in which we had to maintain a steady heart-rate for 15 minutes. Pushing hard against the hard wind did not help either. While Sergio was in zone 4.3 I was up in zone 5! On tuesday when we did similar intervals it was the opposite. I was in zone 4.5 while Sergio was dying. Tuesday I was rested because Monday was my rest day.  While I might want to make every excuse in the book to make myself believe that its not me it is the environment, the wind, the pebbles on the road that are causing me to work harder, my un-aero shape, the fact that Sergio is a midget and had a aerodynamic drag coefficient greater than a Ferrari, that damn smell coming from Sergio every time the gets off his seat.  Those are all excuses I'm NOT going to make. You can not make excuses, you have to figure out what is happening and correct them.


So here I am at Starbucks again. This is my spot to relax and think about what I'm gonna do during the day. It's sort of like stress relief. I'll take it as my spot to recover. I have come a long way by changing the habits I have developed over the years. The reason I was the way I was was because I did not think. I did not realize what I was doing. I ate just to eat and did nothing about it, It was just the way of life. Well while getting a couple more hours of sleep is not as drastic as changing 115 pounds, I have to do it because if I want to continue progressing I need to train hard but also rest the way I need to rest. Minor things that you don't think affect you do in the long run. It took me a lot of years to gain the weight, now I got to catch things early before it messes me up later.



Here is Sergio still asleep, the best company you can have after a ride, stays quiet and leaves me alone! lol  But that is cool, he works hard, trains hard and knows how to listen to his body.  Exhibiting it here at Starbucks snoring for the past 45 minutes. 

So do as Serge does; sleep lots, but not like Billy who sleeps to much. Must keep a good balance to get better.

Ride Lots...

Trying to stay focused. 

Need to keep eating well. 

Riding lots. 

I will get there.

Before the sun comes up...

What motivates you? What does it take to get you to get up and bust your butt before everyone else? What does it take to keep you doing it over and over?


Why?


If you can answer these questions then you are like me. Only the ones that get up everyday and experience the cool air while swallowing up miles of pavement in complete darkeness can answer this. Make the effort and goals will be achieved. Time does not stop, every new day is a new beginning. A chance to better yourself. So if you want to get better you have to have it within you to face the new day and make the best of it. SO WAKE UP!