Sunday, November 27, 2011

Play Time Is Over!

December 14, 2010, I lost 130 lbs. I went from weighing 435 lbs. down to 305 lbs. This was attributed to eating healthy and working out five to six days a week for an entire year. My diet stayed pretty much the same in the beginning of 2011. My workouts started to become four to five days a week. I would fluctuate up and down the same five to ten pounds. As the year went on I started skipping workouts. It was down to three to four days, then two to three, then once a week until finally not at all. My diet was changing as well. I was falling into old habits. I was making more and more stops at fast food restaurants. There were times I just didn't feel like cooking and I wasn't in the mood for a Subway sandwich. I cannot recall the last time I worked out. The last form of "exercise" I did was a couple of weeks ago when me and the guys played football for our "Turkey Bowl." The good news was that I was still in decent shape and was able to last the entire game.

But now play time is over. I am back around 325 lbs. This is the heaviest I have been in quite some time. I have packed back on 20 lbs. and I am noticing it big time. My jeans are fitting TOO snug. I don't feel as comfortable and I used to in my work slacks. I am stretching out my t-shirts before I put them on so they won't feel too tight. It's all these little things that are reminding me of what life was like two years ago. This is part of the reason why I started working out. This is what I need to remind myself WHY I need to start working out again.

Last year I told myself that I was going to take a year off of working out regularly and just try and maintain. I was able to do that for most of the year. My workouts were now every so often with the same diet. I would only workout when I needed to and lose a few pounds here and there. I was going to start up again December 14, 2011.

For me December 14 is NOW! Starting tomorrow I resume my workouts. I ended up getting rid of my elliptical machine. I hated to see it go. I no longer have that ability to get a serious sweat-drenching workout here at the house. That being said, I need to realize that I will not be able to drop the big numbers like I did in the beginning of last year. I need to reinforce in my way of thinking that slow and steady will win the race.

My first challenge for this go-around is the same as last time: to lose 30 lbs. in two months. I will resume my daily workouts. I will start monitoring my caloric intake. I will have to get back into that frame of mind of what needs to be done.

I have been longing for those sweat-drenching cardio workouts. I will be looking into some of the fitness centers here in town. A new one just opened up not too long ago called Planet Fitness. It's only $10 a month and open 24 hours most of the week. Plus, it's not that far from work so I'm already familiar with the drive to and from.

Since I am getting back into working out I will be posting here more often with pics and progress reports.

Here we go!!


Sunday, January 23, 2011

A Happy Medium

After two weeks and I'm no closer to my goal than I was at day 1. My focus has shifted and I'm not concentrating on weight loss and working out as much as I used to, as much as I want to. During week 1 I worked out maybe three days. Week 2, only one day. I'm having to modify my workouts and find that happy medium between working out and working on my animation.

So here's my NEW plan. As much as I like the P90X workouts, I don't feel I have the time for an hour plus workout. I will be switching back to The Biggest Loser DVDs. The longest workout is about 25 minutes. After a quick cool down and a shower, I'm good to go for the rest of the day. If I can get back into my original routine that I started over a year ago, I feel that will help my chances of losing weight and reaching my goal.

I'm also looking forward to getting my elliptical back in working order. My tax refund is on its way and I think I can now afford to get it fixed. I found the part in the manual and a phone number to call. We'll see what happens. I would love that get that working again. I really enjoyed running on that thing. Plus, I can now buy new running shoes and fix up my bike.

But this is just half of the story....

Monday, January 10, 2011

Let me try this one more time...

Now that the submission time for the apprenticeship at Reel FX has passed and I submitted what I needed to submit, I can once again focus on working out. I'm still going to work on my animation, but now I don't have a screaming deadline hanging over me. So now it's time to get back to the first new challenge of 2011: 30 lbs. in 8 weeks.

I think I'm going to try and mix it up a bit. I know the P90X system is a guaranteed success, but some of those routines are too intense for me right now. So here's my plan for the next eight weeks:

Week 1
Day 1: P90X - Plyometrics
Day 2: P90X - Chest & Back + Ab Ripper
Day 3: The Biggest Loser - Cardio Max Weight Loss
Day 4: P90X - Shoulders & Arms + Ab Ripper
Day 5: P90X - Plyometrics

Week 2
Day 1: The Biggest Loser - Cardio Max Weight Loss
Day 2: P90X - Shoulders & Arms + Ab Ripper
Day 3: P90X - Plyometrics
Day 4: P90X - Chest & Back + Ab Ripper
Day 5: The Biggest Loser - Cardio Max Weight Loss

Then repeat for the next six weeks.

I know it's not the P90X strict routine, but switching it up like this has worked for me in the past. Plus, I feel intensifying the cardio really helps me shed these pounds. The really tough part of this challenge is going to be my food consumption. I need to start counting every single calories. No more empty calories like Red Bulls or Kool Aid drinks. I may have some every so often but not on a daily basis. I have been eating out more often simply because I've been so busy working in the studio that I haven't had time to cook or clean. Once I was done with my reel and resume, I finally was able to clean around the house. And believe me it needed it.

I know where my focus is. I know what needs to be done. I'm learning more and more every day. This applies to my animation and my weight loss. I have been reading computer magazine with several tutorials on animation. TONS of valuable information! As for the weight loss, I'm looking into new and healthier recipes. I'm watching The Biggest Loser for inspiration and motivation. I'm on the right path. So to accomplish all this I  may have to avoid a lot of social gatherings. I'm not saying I'm a social butterfly that goes out all the time, but I can't let them get in the way when I have to concentrate on what I need to do in order to live a healthier and more productive life. I need to make a change. I want to be happy.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

This is what I've been up to lately...

I have not been working out this past week as I had planned. I have been very busy working on my demo reel for the new year. I just finished it up and it is complete....for now. Wish me luck as this year I intend to focus on my animation as intensely as I did my weight loss. I would like to update my reel with a new scene at least every two months. I have a couple of scenes on the back burners right now that I look forward to finishing up.


My Demo Reel January 2011 from Rene Barrera on Vimeo.

Demo Reel January 2011
Rene Barrera
Character Animator
Bishop, Brussels and Pawn rig provided by Animation Mentor.com
Young Man, fishing pole and set provided by Killer Jellybean Productions

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Resolutions for 2011

A new year is upon us. Time to reflect on what last year brought us and what is in store for the future.

I must say, I am quite surprised with what I have accomplished over this past year. I have lost over 100 lbs. in one year. I dropped my pants size from a 54" waist to 46" waist. I dropped an "X" from my shirt size. I now feel comfortable in most 2XL shirts. I no longer have to buy my wardrobe from one particular specialty clothing store. Now I can shop just about anywhere. And the biggest surprise to me is that I STILL want to workout and exercise. I have taken a break in order to get a few other things in order right now, but I still can't wait until I can start exercising again. I love the feeling of accomplishment afterwards plus the soreness that lingers for a few days. It may sound weird, but later on in the day I feel I breathe better. It's hard to describe that feeling, that feeling of "being healthy." I still have a ways before I reach my ultimate goal, but I feel healthier than ever before. That is a good feeling I have not felt in a long time.

So what's in store for 2011?

1) I'm starting off the same way I started last year, with a simple challenge. I want to lose 30 lbs. in two months. This one is going to be a bit more of a challenge. I don't have that much more to lose as compared to a year ago. If I lose 30 lbs. I will be more than half-way to my ultimate goal. But this is a challenge I will not take lightly. I know how to do it. I know what needs to be done. Once again, the main part of this challenge will not be the exercise but the food intake. I need to do some serious calorie counting and managing if I am going to lose anything.

2) I want to take my workouts outside. I have been doing my workouts either in my living room or in my garage. Now I want to take it to the open road. I want to fix up my bike, buy a new pair of running shoes and get moving. I've done some research into a few areas I can cover. I mapped out a 5-mile trek around my neighborhood. I mapped out a marathon distance trek along Ocean Dr. I also did some research on-line on various running websites. A few friends on Facebook have tried Couch to 5k program. This gives you a regular routine that will have you running a 5k (about 3 miles) in about two months. I also looked into races available in the area through Runner's World magazine. There are not that many here in town, but there are several here throughout the state of Texas.

3) The motto of the P90X program is not "I can't" but "I currently struggle with." For me, I currently struggle with doing chin ups. That is one thing I have NEVER been able to do. EVER! I want to change that. I currently struggle with doing regular push-ups. I can do about 12 - 15, but then I have to switch to the modified version and drop to my knees. I want to change that. I currently struggle with sit ups. I cannot complete the entire Ab Ripper X workout. I do as much as I can and modify when needed. I want to change that.

4) Getting back to the food and calorie intake, I need to take in healthier choices and cut out as much of the bad stuff as possible. This is the time when every calorie counts. I don't drink a lot of water when I'm at home. I usually drink Kool-Aid or Crystal Light Lemonade. It's not much but each 8 oz. serving is 5 calories. But I don't drink just one cup, I drink it all. One container makes a total of 48 servings. That's 240 calories of nothing. Like I said, I know it's not much but every calorie counts. That's not the only thing. I'm not huge on fruits and vegetables. My fruit intake is limited to apples and bananas. My vegetable intake is practically zero. Sometimes I'll have corn, carrots or green beans with my meal. But that's usually when I go out. I don't prepare many vegetables at home. It may be easier nor the healthiest choice, but I have looked into frozen packages of vegetables from the store. I have some baby broccoli for my chicken alfredo meals, cans of unsalted corn, lettuce and pickles for burgers and sandwiches, but that's it. That is the extent of my vegetable intake. That needs to change and on a more regular basis.

5) I now feel my big goal is finally within my reach: to weigh 250 lbs. This is the big one. This is the goal I have been working for all this time. I would like to reach this goal in six months in time for my birthday, but if I  have to reach it by the end of the year, so be it. But I WILL reach my goal this year.

So that's what I have in front of me for the new year. I do have more goals but that is for another blog.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Thank you, 2010!! It's been an amazing year!! Looking forward to what 2011 has to offer!!