Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Day 10: Trailer Video

Here is the video that my brother has developed for me.
Let me know what you think



Dan Carrol's Wedding Weight-Loss Count Down - TRAILER from Ideas In Motion on Vimeo.

Day 9: I did it!

Well I think I tackled my first big hurdle. Working out in the morning. There was frost on the ground and a chill in the air, but I managed to run some trails, up and down hills and hammer out a some push-ups on the freezing cold ground until I was dizzy. This may not seem like a major accomplishment, but I consider this a big step. One of many that will be needed to make my 70 pounds weight loss goal. All I have to do is keep this going and I think I can make it. I know I can. I honestly can say that I feel 100 times better throughout the day and I am much more effective at my job. My goal for this week is to maintain this course and continue to take it one step at a time.


Before I go to sleep tonight I am going to spend some time visualizing what I plan to accomplish. I think that if you can see it in your mind and believe that it can happen then success will manifest itself.

What ever it is in your life that you would like to change, try to imagine as if it has already happened. Don't just think it, know it, and keep pushing until it's real.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Day 8: Early to Bed, Early to Rise

I swear, one of the most difficult things that I have to overcome is waking up early and working out. I could go to bed with my workout gear on, including my shoes, and I will still keep hitting the snooze button until it's time to go to work. So I am going to try hitting the sack early. Makes sense to me ...we'll see how it goes. If that doesn't work I'm going to have to explore a new approach. But I have faith in myself that, routine, early morning workouts will become a habit.

You may notice that I am making two posts today. Well actually the Day 7 post was just late. It was about 1:30 am when I walked in the door. Just incase anyone is keeping track.

My HIIT run routine consists of a 5 minute warm up, then run at a rapid pace (80% of my perceived max) for 60 seconds, jog for 2 minutes to allow my heart rate to decrease, and then repeat 5 times followed by a 5 minute cool down.

As my performance and fitness improves I will up the difficulty. But this is plenty at the moment.

See you tomorrow ...bright and early.

Day 7: Film Day

As I venture towards my weight loss goal, my brother will be filming me along the way. Today I had to, repeatedly run up and down hills and on muddy trails in the freezing cold as he tried to capture a few moments of what I am doing to lose this weight.

HIIT is like Buckley's Cough Syrup. It's aweful and it works. I find interval training to be about 90% mental and 10% physical and your results really depend on how hard you are willing to push yourself. If I don't feel a little dizzy after a workout then I don't feel like I worked hard enough.

Don't be afraid to push yourself. Get a coach if it helps. I have a camera following me around. So I can run, but I can't hide.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Day 6: Crap, I'm late!

No, no, not that kind of late. I'm late for my post! Only by 4 minutes though. Tonight was my work Christmas party. I was lukewarm about going in the first place, but I decided to have a good time.


This morning I woke up to hit the road and do some running ...then I realized it was -3 degrees and I wimped out. Ok, so that's not very inspiring and I'm not happy about not following through. But I intended to take the weekend off to give my body a rest, so instead I'll just rip it up tomorrow.


It's been a tough week. 10 to 14 hours work days, an interview with a national news television station and I had a childhood friend of mine pass away at 29 year old from a heart attack. That's scary lemme tell you. He was in good shape. With my lifestyle I should have need dead years ago ...but I'm still here. Rest time is over. Double punishment this weekend. My goal ...just to follow through.

R.I.P. Perry Ryerson ...you will be missed

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Day 5: In The Spotlight

Today had to be one of the strangest days I've ever had. I was interviewed by CBC National News for a weight loss program that I ran at work ...2 years ago. I was embarrassed to admit that I had gain everything back and, worse, they filmed me on the scale weighing in at 273lbs. I know I had mentioned on Day 0 that I was 270lbs, but this was a different scale and I was fully clothed. All excuses aside, it was a major disappointment. But at the same time I feel more inspired now than ever.

I can honestly say I'm starting to feel better. I know it will take a while for my shirts to fit better and so that I won't have to suck in to button my jeans, but I feel stronger. My energy today was much higher. I attribute that to eating totally clean throughout the day ...until dinner at 9pm tonight. OK OK, I indulged a little. Curry penne, a glass of red wine and a pint of beer. I admit it ...I caved a little. I can't beat myself up about it ...or maybe I can. Tomorrow is going to be pure punishment. My interval training this morning was done on the stairs. Let me tell you, a stepper in the gym is no match for the real thing. I climbed 500 stairs today and I felt like I was going to collapse. I did 250 steps at a medium pace, followed by a 60 rest, then I tackled the final 250 that almost killed me. Tomorrow I am going to do the stairs twice. 1000 steps! ...better get some rest. Wish me luck.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Day 4: Dealing With Energy Vampires!

In the past this was about the time I would hit the proverbial wall. Proper nutrition is essential at times like these and it doesn't hurt to have a few tricks up your sleeve when it comes to dealing with cravings. My first trick is to drink a large glass of water as fast as I can. I must be tricking the receptors in my stomach because that’s usually enough to distract me from whatever it is that I'm craving at the time. The other trick that works for me is to brush my teeth. I love chocolate ...a lot. But crest flavored chocolate just doesn't do it for me and I'll always pass.

I'm going to step things up tomorrow with H.I.I.T (High Intensity Interval Training). If ou're not familiar with HIIT, it essentially means exercising at a high intensity for a short period, followed by a rest period ..then repeat. I'll share the details of what I am going to do tomorrow. I feel ready for HIIT. My muscles are starting to feel less sore after my workouts so I think that’s a sign that I'm starting to adapt. 

I just finished my workout and it's 11:30pm. Another 14 hour work day that didn't leave me with much time to work out ...but I did it.

My eyes are heavy ...I'm low on energy ...but I've made myself accountable by posting and taking another picture.

"gonna stand my ground, and I won’t back down" - Tom Petty

Day 3: Late Night Stroll On A Treadmill

By day I am a mild mannered realtor for Sutton Group Innovative Realty, but by night I am a Rehabilitation Therapist for the Neurobehavioural Reintegration Unit at the Hamilton General Hospital. Needless to say, I'm busy. All day and all night. Juggling 2 jobs, while maintaining a healthy relationship with my fiance and trying to lose 70 pounds for my wedding in just less than 11 months just leaves one question ...what do I do with all my free time? Since I don't have any free time the answer is simple - nothing!  

Since my schedule is so crazy I have to do my best to plan and, more importantly, find time to actually workout. Tonight that time was 10:30pm. I am going to try my best to get these workouts in during the am, but let me tell you, I have a hell of a time dragging myself out of bed in the morning.

Tomorrow I hit the weights again. Back, biceps and abs, oh my!


Time to pose for the camera. 
See you tomorrow

Monday, November 22, 2010

Day 2: That's Gonna Hurt In The Morning

Ok, so I did alright with planning my meals last evening, but I totally forgot to plan my workout. I realized this as I pulled into the parking lot at my gym just a couple of hours ago. It's an uncomfortable feeling when you have all these amazingly fit people around you, with veins the size of my fingers, and I'm standing there staring at a dumbell and feeling like a dumbass. I have to be really careful these days when I work on my upper body. Years of playing hockey and high school football have wreaked havoc on my shoulders and if I don't watch it they will dislocate on me and then I'm screwed. I have an appointment this Friday with a surgeon to go under the knife for my right shoulder ...again. The actualy surgery isn't this Friday, just an appointment to make another appointment.


So what did I do at the gym? Chest, triceps, shoulders (very carefully) and abs ...well, stomach. I'm about 5 or 6 months away from being able to call them abs. My goal for tonight, which was set as I approached the weight room, was to do as many reps, of a comfortable weight, as I could with 30 to 60 seconds between sets. I may not be able to lift very much at this point, but I figure that if I can just keep my heart rate up high then I'll be doing ok.


Lesson for the day: create a plan of action for the gym and document my succes. I will try to create a genaric journal sheet and post it if your interested.


Back at it tomorrow ...I just hope I can move in the morning  :s

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Day 1: WATER, WATER, WATER ...

School friends of mine would respond that by screaming "LOO, LOO, LOO". That was one of our chears when I attended the Univeristy of Waterloo ...cheesy, but fun after a few pints at The Bommer.


Ok, seriously though. Today I step up my H2O intake ...like 4 letres. It's amazing. I consumed 4 letres of water and I swear I pissed out 10. But, none-the-less, this is one major step towards accomplishing my goal of being 200 lbs of twisted steel and sex appeal.


So why 4 letres of water? Well I am told that I should be consuming about a litre and a half a day, PLUS, and extra letre for every 20lbs I am overweight. So if I'm 70lbs overweight then that means I should be consuming 5 letres a day! ...thats INSANE! So I deceded to draw the line at 4. I can't afford to spend any more time in the "LOO".


Now it's time to strip down to my underthingys and get ready for my close up. Time to take my daily picture then make my lunch for tomorrow. That's another thing that will be tough to get used too. Preparation ...I'll let you know how it goes. I also plan to climb 500 stairs that run up the side of the Hamilton escarpment and, if I have enough energy, do a little weight training at the gym.


Day 1 is now in the books and I have started down a long path.
See you tomorrow.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Day 0: The Truth Hurts

Let me start off by telling you what this blog is all about.
The purpose of this blog is to document my weight loss journey as I count down the days to my wedding on October 15, 2011.  I will be making myself accountable with daily written entries, pictures, and video to ensure that I follow through. Everyday I will be documenting my workouts, meal plans, my thoughts and feelings as I count down the days to my wedding. My goal ...to be the man she always dreamed of marrying.


So who the heck am I?
My name is Dan Carrol. I recently turned 29 years old, I'm 6'2" and about 270lbs ...ouch!


My Goal: To weigh 200lbs for my wedding and have 9% body fat or less


Those number may seem arbitrary at the moment, and they are, but I need to start somewhere. During my first week I plan to meet with experts in health and fitness to attain my goal and help start me off in the right direction.


The second objective of this blog is to inspire others to do the same. I have learned in the past that to be successful you have to make yourself accountable. Whether it be by using a coach, trainer, family member, or blogging it for the world to see. I believe success helps breed success and I hope my success will inspire people to communicate with me and I will be happy to give back.


This is going to be an ongoing process, not an exact science. But I will have people that are going to help me along the way. My brother, Jeff Carrol, is going to capture the experience on video and document my journey for all to see. With his ability to film and edit we strive to create an experience that is inspirational and exciting to watch.


Tonight I take my BEFORE picture. I feel the need to post a disclaimer here ...this picture ain't gonna be pretty. And it kills me that I am going to post these pictures, but this is what I need to do to light a fire under my ass to get moving and keep moving until I succeed.


328 days ...that's almost 47 weeks that I will commit to accomplishing my goal and it will be broken up into 4, 12 week, phases ...except for the last phase which will be about 11 weeks.


So there you have it.
Wish me luck ...now lets get started.