Then & Now

Me around 235 lbs in May 2008 / Me around 200 lbs in Oct 2011 

I've been thinking for sometime that it would be good to post a before and an after photo. The hard part is that I don't think I'm done so it's hard to do it now. But I have had several requests from friends and family asking me about what has worked for me to make the changes that I have. I posted it on Facebook and have been pretty surprised at the number of comments and likes that I have received. So I thought I'd combine the photo and what I've learned that has worked for me. Keep in mind that I am no expert and what works for me might not work for you. I've really just taken ideas from lots of sources.

Do What You Can Keep Doing / Don't Overdo it / Don't Punish Yourself
When I started out it was important for me to do things that I could keep doing. It's important to have some successes. If the first thing you experience in trying to make changes is failure, chances are that you will give up before you really even get started. So set smaller goals like drink more water, skip the french fries, or taking the stairs. Give yourself some specific goals and for a specific time frame. I would often set goals for a month. People would ask, "Well why not longer?" I don't think I ever answered it this way but really I think I wanted to do something that I knew I could do. Maybe if I thought that I was going to continue for a year, the ideas might be a little overwhelming. This way I was allowed to have successes.

Measure Your Progress
Initially I was tracking my calories. I had no idea how many calories I was eating and I had no idea as to how many calories I should be eating. I had heard of a great free iPhone application called Lose It! I downloaded it. It allowed me to enter some basic information about myself, set a goal weight, and then set how fast I wanted to lose weight. I didn't get all crazy. I told it initially that I wanted to get down to 210 lbs. I was 225 when I started and around 230-235 at my peak. I told the application that I wanted to loose 2 pounds per week. It then told me how many calories I should be eating to achieve this goal. Tracking all this helped me gain better perspective on what I should be eating.

This same application allowed me to track my exercise. I used it but I liked actually writing on a calendar in my bedroom. That way it was easy for me to see how regularly I was getting my trips to the gym in. And later when I started running I started keeping a spreadsheet with each of my runs listed. I would track the distance and the time. This allowed me to see progress and nothing is more rewarding than that.

Make Exercise a Priority
I really had to change the way I had been thinking about exercise. I mean I've had a gym membership for decades now and I would even use it. It wasn't until I started using Foursquare (another iPhone application) and I would see some of my friends checking into the gym early in the morning or multiple times a day that I realized that I wasn't really going to the gym that much. I decided to make sure that I was getting to the gym often. I didn't have a hard number of times a week but it averaged around four. But the more I've gone the more I want to go. I find myself trying to figure out when I can fit in the next run, etc... And now its not uncommon for me to go spin at lunch and then hit the gym in the evening for some weights or racquetball.

Challenge Yourself
In order to keep going its important to have successes and have new achievements. Whether it's trying to run a faster mile, lift more weights, or swim more laps, each new success will help you continue to motivate you to do better. Sometimes it's finding a new sport. More recently I picked up spinning a lot and revisited lifting weights rather than just focusing on running. It's nice to prove to yourself that you can do things that you thought were not possible. When I started running was really worried. I felt totally inadequate. I had never been a runner. I didn't want to look stupid on the treadmill at the gym. After watching The Biggest Loser and seeing their contestants run I realized that I really have no excuses. So I sucked it up and now I'm a "runner."

Develop an Identity
I think it's important to start to develop an identity that goes along with your new goals. Anytime I go to the gym I check in on Facebook. When I run outside I post it to Facebook. When I run a relay I post that information. As a result, my friends all know that I am a runner. Sure in my mind might not ever think I'm a "runner" because I might not run as fast or far as I would like but the reality is that I do run often so I'm trying to own that. Regardless, my friends and family all identify me as a runner now.

Make Public Commitments
I have used Facebook and blog for a place were I could make public commitments. I knew that if I started no longer checking in on Facebook to the gym that I knew people would start to ask or at least think to themselves that it seems like I'm slacking off. I wouldn't want that. Also it's great to sign up for races because it commits you to following through. I'm pretty sure had I not signed up for races so early that it would have been really easy to stop running altogether.

Make It Fun
Exercise shouldn't be a chore. Even though I struggle every time I run and feel like I can barely make it through my spin class, I have come to find it fun. I look forward to it. How does this happen? With spinning you can find fun instructors, the music makes it fun, and bringing new or old friends is always a good time. With running it's been fun to run with friends but when on my own listening to music and exploring a new path always makes it more enjoyable. While on vacation in Florida this summer one of my favorite experiences was getting up fairly early and going for a run around the lake and through Downtown Disney before the stores opened.

Learn to be Comfortable Where You Are Now
I had a lot of anxiety about running on the treadmill in the gym. I didn't want to look stupid. In all honesty I doubt anyone was even noticing me anyway. Just get on and do what you can do and take pride in the fact that you're doing something. I also had a lot of anxiety surrounding locker rooms and water activities where I would have to take my shirt off. I avoided them at all costs. As a result I missed out on a lot of things. For too long I had focused on only the guys at the gym that are super buff and that only made me feel fatter and less okay. The reality is that there are all shapes and sizes that go to the gym. There are even more shapes and sizes that don't. The point is that there is nothing wrong with you and going to the gym is a good thing. I found once I was able to be nicer to myself about my body then it was easier to lose weight.

In closing, I certainly am no expert on these things. I just wanted to share some of what I think has made a difference for me. Also I have not "made it." I still have lots of work to do but I realize that its a process and its going to be a part of my life for a long time and I'm okay with that. :)

Drama-Free January

Over the last month or so it fills like my life has been filled with so much drama. In all honesty a large portion has been my own doing. I'm not proud of it. I do and say things too easily and later live to regret. It causes pain for me and those that I care about.

Yesterday I got caught up in my drama. Fortunately I have a great friend who is patient with me and willing to be authentic and call me out when I need it. I've apologized for being part drama before but have somehow continued in similar behaviors. This time I wanted things to be different (not that I didn't before.) I have realized that much of this drama is within my control and even when it is not within my control I still have the ability to choose how I react to it. I want to be more mindful of what I say and do and the effects that if has on others and even on myself. So I publicly declared on Facebook that the rest of January would be a drama-free zone for me. I have found that publicly committing to something is one of the best ways to keep me on track for accomplishing my goals. Interestingly enough my status update on Facebook got lots of comments and "likes." I guess everyone has drama and would like less of it. After having made this decision I feel lighter. I don't think it's going to be easy. I have too many negative thinking patterns or negative behaviors that are second nature.

It's been interesting today so far. I went to lunch with a good friend and immediately I realized that I was going to have to keep myself in check. It was a bit of struggle to stay out of areas where there was potential drama causing topics.

Here's to the remaining four weeks of January! And for those of you who think I should set out to be drama-free for longer, Baby Steps!

Rosca de Reyes / Wise Men Day

Last Friday was my first Rosca de Reyes celebration. My friend, Mishael, has hosted these parties since I first met him but this is the first year I have actually attended.

Rosca de Reyes is a holdiay celebrated in Mexico also known as Wise Men Day. There is a large "oval" pastry. Within the pastry are hidden plastic babies. It represents Mary and Joseph hiding the baby Jesus from Herod. During the celebration, each person cuts a piece of the pastry in an effort to find the baby Jesus. This represents the wise men finding the baby Jesus. As part of the tradition those who get a baby Jesus are blessed and also they have to throw another party in which they make/provide tamales. I did not get a baby Jesus but my friend Mischael did. So I'm looking forward to going back and eating tamales!

We also sang karaoke. The Latinos were gracious enough to let the Gringos pick a few songs too. It was a fun evening. Thanks Mish!

???, Brian, Ty, Bryant, Ryan, & Mish

Mission Accomplished: 400 Miles

Sometime before I ran the Ragnar Relay in Las Vegas, I had realized how many miles I had logged so far for running in 2011. I thought to myself I can totally make 400 miles this year. No sweat. Well, actually there would be lots of sweat. It's the only way I get any miles in. But the point was that 400 miles would totally be doable and easily doable. The problem: after running Ragnar I subconsciously or many consciously decided to take a little break from my running schedule. That led to me running a total of three times in November! That would be about a third of what I had been regularly running in the months prior to Ragnar. So when the Santa Run came around I rededicated myself to reaching my goal of 400 miles. It was still really doable. I set out a schedule running right up to the last week of 2011. Well today, December 31st, I thought I could go spinning this morning (I hate to miss Rona's class) and then I could go back to the gym later to get my 5K in which would barely put me past the 400 mile mark. Sure I procrastinated much of the day by doing other activities and even a little lounging around the house. I got over to the University Gold's Gym at 4:20pm and panicked when I realized that they had already closed for the day! I mean who closes at 4 or sooner just because it's New Year's Eve?! That's crazy! I had some false hopes that maybe the 800 North location would somehow be open but of course they were not. I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to run outside in 40 degree weather with the sun starting to set. I had talked about this goal so much on Facebook and to my friends that there was no freaking way that I was going to just forget it. I rushed home, changed into much warmer running clothes, and got off and running. It really wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. And my time was better than I thought considering how the Santa Run went for me. You can check it out by clicking right here.

So now I just need to know what I'm going to publicly commit myself to because I know how well it works for me.

Brooke & Zane

Brooke & Zane - December 28, 2011

My sweet niece, Brooke, got married yesterday to a super nice guy, Zane. I wasn't sure Brooke would find someone that deserved her. But Zane seems to be just that guy. He's been right at home with our family right from the very beginning. One of the things I love about Zane: he's a hugger. In case you didn't know it, I'm a hugger. It might have taken me a long time to get to be a hugger but I am. I love that Zane doesn't hold back. He initiates hugs often. Brooke is a hugger too! It's just one of the many things I love about her.

Over 100 Facebook Fans

Borup Photography has reached over 100 Facebook fans! Last November I decided to try promoting my business a bit through Facebook so I created a page. Through out the year I have added photo albums as I've had new photo shoots. Now I regularly get inquiries for my services from people that I do not know. Oh the power of social media.

Provo Santa Run 2011

Last year I began running and ran my first 5K ever the day after Thanksgiving (Santa Run 2010). I thought it would especially be fun to run it again this year to see my progress. Of course since I ran the Las Vegas Ragnar I haven't been very good about getting my running in. In fact I had only run 4 times since Ragnar which was over a month before. Sad! I was trying to reach a goal of running 400 miles this year and if I keep up my current pace I will not make it. I have another 27 miles to get in. That is at least 9 more times running.

On the bright side, I have at least doubled the number of times I spin each week. I have started back up playing racquetball. And I have begun to do some regular weight lifting, hitting upper body at least 3 times a week for a few weeks now. (I just don't want you thinking that I'm completely slacking off because I am not!)

Anyway I did get a better time in 2011 than I did in 2010 but only by about 30 seconds. My time was 30:16 minutes. I was really hoping and planning on on something more like 28 minutes. And even though my time this year was better, I placed lower in my age group, 5th place instead of 3rd. I placed 74th this year in all the men out of 155 -- solid middle of the pack. Here's the results from this and last year:

2011 Results - Men  -- 2010 Results - Men

Thanks to Chris for taking photos for us!

Kyle, Me, Ty, Erik, & Bryant

Me

Kyle & Me