An Inspiring Story: Dan aka Cubicle Dad!

When you think about determination, inspiration, and perseverance what comes to your mind?

I have had the pleasure to be tweeting with and talking to Dan lately and his story just blows me away. He has lost over 100 pounds just like I did, hard old fashioned WORK. I was honored to share his story here on my blog for you today. Please take a minute to read all about his amazing journey!!!

Over the last year and a half, I've undergone some major changes. On October 14, 2009 I decided I wanted to run the Chicago Marathon. I sent an email that day that changed my life. By the end of the day I had a coach (Jen Harrison), mentor (Dave Wallach), a sponsor and a charity picked out. I had to sell my wife on the idea of running as she was in her second year of pursuing her Doctorate of Pharmacy. You can imagine how well the conversation went. In time Pam came around, and as of today, combined, we've lost a total of 187lbs!

The big catch with all of this? I weighed in at about 330lbs and couldn't run more than 5 minutes at a time.

Yeah, that's me in August 2009 at the Viamedia Chicago golf outing...

I was determined to make a change and I did. Sure I had tried to diet before, but I wasn't ready to change. Something was different this time. I had my doubters but they only fueled my desire to succeed. Part to prove them wrong and part to prove myself wrong...that I was worth this making this change and could do it.

By race day, I had lost 110lbs! I was a new person.

I ran for the American Heart Association, in honor of my daughter, K and my dad. My daughter was born with a heart defect, and had heart surgery when she was 2 days old...you can read her story here! My dad had a heart attack 11 years ago and triple bypass surgery...since then he's worked hard to live a healthy life. I raised over $6,000 with the help of some very generous people. I finished the marathon in 6:11:04...it was the hardest thing I've ever done, and at the same time, in some ways, the most memorable. I was humbled when I was chosen to be included in the advertising campaign for the marathon...we saw banners of me around the city, and I was on the side of a building!

I remember calling my dad when my image went on the building. I told him I definitely couldn't turn back now. What a way to remember your first marathon though...it was an experience I'll never forget!

Me and my mentor, Dave right after finishing the Chicago Marathon!

Along the way I heard from friends, family, coworkers...even complete strangers who were inspired by my story and decided to get healthy or to take up running. It seemed anytime I had a down moment, I would hear from someone who was moved by my story. It was very motivating and I felt I needed to see the journey through, for them as well as me...I didn't want to let those who believed in me down.

My favorite moment was finding my family after the race. This picture represents the whole year and a big part of why I knew I had to make a change.

My second favorite post marathon moment was running a 5K with my wife, her first, back in November.

This year I was asked to be the chairman of the running team for the AHA. I was honored and accepted the challenge. We have set some lofty goals...to raise over $200,000 and have 150 runners. Both doable, but they'll take some work. I love running for this team. We run with heart for many reasons, but we run together.
My goals this year...
To lose 40 lbs more
To lose 6 more inches from my waist line
And to run the Chicago Marathon again in under 5 hours

I'm excited about this year and looking forward to the challenge!





Thank you Dan for sharing your story with us!

My Birthday Run

My own personal little holiday :) That is what birthdays are. Growing up there was 1 person who made sure I always felt special on my birthday. She would host parties at her house, bake her amazing home made strawberry shortcake (because it was MY favorite) complete with home made whipped cream. She never ever let it go by without making it extra special.

She spoiled me rotten, and she made no excuses about it or tried to hide it haha. Thinking about it now I realize she really just loved me always no matter what. She was forever telling me how beautiful I was and how special I was. She loved me unconditionally with her big heart. I cannot ever forget the confidence she tried to instill in me.

The first thing I did on my birthday yesterday was head out at 5:30 am for a morning run. I intended to do about 5 miles before the heat and humidity set in for the day. Amazing, how on my birthday all I wanted was to go run. I set out into the misty morning and of course Train's 'When I Look to the Sky' starts off my running mix this morning. The words just made me think of Grandma in all her glory. I started thinking about all my past birthdays and all the wonderful things she instilled within me. I started tearing up thinking about her looking down on me from Heaven and watching me run. I wish in my heart of hearts she could see the woman I have become today, I know she would be beaming with pride.

There is nothing that can replace a Mother's love and her touch. I let myself cry for a minute missing her this morning and knowing yes the day would be good with my own daughter and her father but not the same without her. And then I was smiling, because I knew all of the things she taught me I will teach my own daughter. Running brings out my emotions every time. I love how a run can clear my head and make me ready for anything.

I managed 5.75 miles in 50 minutes in my neighborhood morning run. It was awesome. I came home and the rest of the day could go on!

I got ready to head out:

I opened my present first. I was shocked and delighted to see a Pandora bag!!! This gift means a lot to me, it means so much more than many people will understand. T got me this charm:

Its a bee!!! He says he got the bee because of my journey and my blog the fit bee. :)

We dropped Peanut off at school and headed out the mall and for lunch. I spent some time shopping for new jeans but did not find anything I liked. Gap is having a mega summer sale and everything is 40% off!! I got a new pair of work pants so that was good. It was raining and I was having a bad hair day so I got this hat on clearance for $2 hehe

Lunch was at C Bar. It is owned by Legal Seafood and it was amazing!!!!!! They have a great gluten free menu and I even got a gluten free dinner roll! Not many restaurants have those :) I got cajun grilled scallops and steamed broccoli. It was cooked perfectly. They even had a chocolate mousse for a gluten free dessert choice. I could not say no to that! It was divine :)

We picked peanut up and just hung out at home. She made me an awesome card at school and it was so cute to hear her shouting I made it I made it. My the time flies I cannot believe she will be 2 in 2 months! It was nice to spend time with my lil family and just enjoy the day!!!

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes and support on my post yesterday!

Happy Birthday To Me

I thought I would celebrate my birthday today and share some of my past pictures with all of you. I was searching last night for baby pictures and then found more and more in my 20s. I guess I will have to get my dad to give me some of my baby pictures! But I have enough to share:

Here is baby Colleen :)

My grandfather and I. I am guessing I am 8ish? not too sure..

See I was not always fat LOL I was a pretty skinny kid, once I hit 14 I started packing on the pounds slowly....

Junior Prom Spring 2000

Senior year of high school with my little sister. June 2001

That was in the bahamas we went on a cruise before I started college in fall 2001.

Me on my 21st birthday

I really felt beautiful on this day... Now looking at this picture I ask myself how? why? This was me going to a wedding August 2007

I did not want to share these 2 pictures.... This is me at my highest weight of my life. It was when my uncle died in Virginia, it was 6 months after my grandmother passed away. It was the darkest days of my life.
This was January 2008.

2 weeks before my daughter was born in July 2009. I also did not want to post but it is a chapter in my life.

Me in the pool with my daughter Summer 2010. I cannot believe this was me last year!

One year ago today here are me and my baby at the beach. It was 4 months into my journey I was down 37 pounds so far. I remember how confident I was already to actually be going to the beach and able to spend time with my daughter.

And here I am today!!!

This was Sunday at Father's day brunch. What a difference a year and 70 more pounds lost makes!!

I feel so alive for the first time in such a long time, I am so grateful to be me!! I am so grateful that as I turn 28 today I have so much to live for. I have accomplished so much and I am blessed to be healthy, happy, and determined to live this way for the rest of my birthdays :)

A Day In My Life

Alli posted the topic for our blogging challenge this week and I love the idea!!!
Describe a typical day in the life of YOU.

Thank you Alli for including me in your wonderful group of inspiring people!!!

So how do I spend a typical day?

Well my day begins at 445 am usually. Sometimes 430, sometimes 5 hehe all depends on if I hit snooze or not! Then I workout. My workouts may include a run, a group class at the YMCA, or cross training at the gym.

Next is coffee and breakfast time! I have a hot cup of coffee every morning with some Bob's Red Mill 8 grain gf hot cereal with unsweetened almond milk and frozen fruit. This is my most favorite part of the morning, coffee and food lol. It makes the workout all worth it!!

Then I hop in the shower and throw my food in my lunch bag! Then I head to work! I am a store manager for a retail drug store so I usually have to be at work by 8am. It is hard in the morning usually I'm eating on the way to work, I have a 30 mile commute one way!

After work I head to pick my daughter up from her day care. This is my favorite moment of the day.

We get home usually around 6pm. Long day already! If the weather is nice we will head out in her "buggy". She loves to be out in her jogging stroller!

After that we head into the house and I start making dinner. I love to grill again weather permitting!! This is the crazy time of the day, making dinner, feeding peanut, and packing the lunches for tomorrow. Yes I pack 3 lunches every night one for each of us. By packing a lunch ahead of time I am always prepared to stay on track the next day.

By the time I have dinner it is usually 7-730! Then it is play time with peanut, we wrestle, dance in the living room, and read books.

By 9PM peanut is going to bed and I come online to talk to everyone!! This is my twitter, blogging, and homework time. I am currently taking classes at Northeastern University for health science!

Bed time is usually around 11-1130pm! I know, I need to sleep more but there is so much I have to get done and so little time ;) If I am lucky I can get to bed by 1030!

The next day, I wake up and do it all over again!

How do you spend a typical day in your life? Do you let yourself get busy and make excuses?

Week 1 Marathon Training

This was my first week back to running since my half marathon on May 29th. I gave the knee a solid 2 weeks of much needed rest. It is the first official week of my training for my first official MARATHON :) (yes I am excited)

Monday morning I jumped out of bed with anticipation of lacing up my running shoes and getting back out on that pavement. I never imagined I would miss running! My body missed it too as we know. It was nice and cool out at 5:30 am and I ran my 3.2 miles in 28 minutes.

Tuesday was a longer run outside at 5:30, I ended up doing 5.2 miles in 45 minutes. It felt like a good swift pace and my legs still felt fresh after.

Wednesday I hit the gym for cross training. I did 6.1 miles on the elliptical in 42 minutes and then I headed over to the weight room. I was having an emotional week in my personal life so I really let out some anger with the weights. I am using 20 pound hand weights now and a 12 pound medicine ball. Lunges, squats, biceps, triceps, shoulders. Then I hit the floor for several push up variations, side plank work I got about 100 push ups done! Then I took the medicine ball and did Russian twists and more crunches.

Thursday was a 5:30 am 5k with some speed work so I completed it in 24 minutes. When I came home form work Thursday night the weather was so beautiful I took peanut in her jogger for a 30 minute jog. We ended up doing about 2.5 miles in 30 minutes.

Friday was a 3 mile run in 30 minutes.

Saturday was cross training at the gym again. I did 4.2 miles on the elliptical in 32 minutes. I used the interval training method and kept my heart rate up in zones 2 and 3. I like using the music as a guide like they do in spin class and that works well for me. Then I did some core work similar to the one on Wednesday for 25 minutes.

Sunday was my first official long run! I headed to DW Park with Garblah my coworker who started running with me about 5 months ago. He does not get out to run as much as I do and his pace is about 2 minutes slower than mine, this works perfect for me. My Galloway training book reccomends to do your long runs 2 minutes slower than your race pace. I need someone like Garblah to keep me from pushing myself too fast. We met at 5AM! I wanted to be done early and celebrate Father's Day with my family and it all worked out well.

The hills at DW Park are kind of tough. It is a 6K course around a pond and it is very scenic. I like doing this run but I know it is not one I can do all the time. But when my training calls for hills I love it!


I promised to video the runs, it is kind of hilarious embarrassing actually watching it back, I admit I was hesitant to share with you. I look awful!!! But a promise is a promise so I will post it them to you tube each week and you can get a sneak peak on Sundays when I upload them to my channel. If not you can wait till I post the links in my Monday recap of last week's training.
Here it is...

And the final thing that makes me happy to be done with week 1? The calories burned!!! After looking at my Polar HRM I know I will be at life time goal weight in no time ;)

How was everyone else's training this past week?