A personal training & food journal. Read about our weight loss progress at Train With Ron in Chicago, our nutritional habits and the life changes we're making to get in shape and stay healthy!
October 7th
Friends, family and some of our beloved pets made it out to Soldier Field last Saturday for a great challenge and for a great cause. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Fittingly, of course, I got sick. No worries, just a cold so DayQuil to the rescue and just pound through it. Dan and I rode our bikes over to the hill because it’s just been so beautiful lately we want to enjoy every second. That got our legs warmed up.
After a few stretches and a warm up lead by Matt, we got started running the hill. Some walked, some ran, some were looking to break the record and some were just having fun. I kept a steady pace for about 50 minutes and got 42 hills in. I have nothing to compare it to since last year I didn’t participate, so I was proud of my little number.
I enjoy these events because you get to see so many people from the gym that maybe you wouldn’t meet otherwise and unless you are completely into the challenge you get to chat a bit with your fellow TWRer. Maybe commiserate over a workout 
Not to mention your are helping to make the world a better place by giving your time and money for a great cause. Good for the body and soul.
Unfortunately Dan and I didn’t go to the after party so that I wouldn’t get everyone else sick, but it was a really great morning hanging with the TWR team. Looking forward to the next one!
September 16th
From the 2010 3rd Annual TWR Soldier Field Charity Hill Run
Each year Train With Ron organizes a charity event at Soldier Field and we run the hill to benefit an organization. Last year we ran for the The Anti-Cruelty Society who since 1899, has been committed to caring for animals and the community. A very fitting charity indeed because the one thing I know about Chicago is that there are a lot of dog lovers here. Our trainers Ron, DB and Matt are all dog owners, as are we. We actually adopted our dog Brady from The Anti-Cruelty Society almost 4 years ago and she is a wonderful dog! The best!
This year all proceeds and pledges from the hill run will be donated to The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Paying tribute to and supporting those who have sacrificed for our nation.
I’m very excited to be able to participate fully this year since last year I couldn’t. Dan did very well in 2010, running 63 hills in 60 minutes. That’s a good goal to shoot for and we’ll see what happens on October 1st. As you can see from last year’s picture, the weather was beautiful. The view is also fantastic since it’s at Soldier Field stadium near the lake. You really can’t ask for much more, being surrounded by the awesome people from Train with Ron, working hard for a charity to support our nations heros, on what hopefully will be a clear day with sunshine.
I encourage you to join us at this even because one, you’ll be contributing to a great organization and secondly because you’ll meet lots of people from Train with Ron and find out what a welcoming, encouraging, motivating and down to earth group of guys and gals they are. You can find out more about this event here or just post in the comments if you have any questions. You can contact Ron as well. Even if you would just like to donate towards Dan and my performance, let us know. It’s a $30 donation or you can donate per hill run ($.50/hill etc….).
Stay tuned, pictures and updates will be coming from the hill in October!
July 14th
New bike for the summer, have been riding about 20 miles on weekends to mix things up.
I remember a few years ago watching Jenny McCarthy on a news show or something talking about her recent weight loss after giving birth. She said it took her a year to lose 85lbs and she was being defensive about it from the start, as if that was too long to lose that weight. This to me (210lbs at the time) meant that if I can’t lose at least that amount of weight in a year I am a failure. Did I even start to exercise after that motivating morning? No, I didn’t. It wasn’t motivating or realistic and quite honestly it was depressing. When I was 210lbs, depression could be just a couple of words away at any given time. It didn’t take much for self doubt to set it.
Preparing to, and going through weight loss can do a number on your way of thinking. Just take into account your own struggles and habits with food and exercise and it can be daunting. Mix in external stimulants and influences and it’s enough to send you into a negative state of mind which ultimately may convince you to give up. Fighting through that and convincing your mind and body to endure the necessary and be positive while you’re doing it will get you smiling on the other side of your journey. (more…)
June 11thWhen I hear someone say that eating healthy or organic is just a trend, it saddens me. But when I find out that companies use these terms falsely, albeit legally, to capitalize on said ‘trend’ without providing the expected benefit, well, that angers me. Healthy, good food should not be a referred to as a trend it’s something we should all demand from the places we purchase our food and aim to make it the standard. The only way we can do that is to educate ourselves on the food label terms and to ask questions.
Daley Plaza Farmer's Market in Chicago
Over the last few years I have been paying extra attention to where the food I buy comes from. The surprising fact was that this would be something I’d have watch out for. It would also be something that came at a lot higher cost. Cost in both money and in time. Things labeled organic tend to have a higher price tag. Add to that the time it takes to educate yourself on the foods you buy and you’ll most likely change your shopping list and where you shop. All of these things add up and it can be quite discouraging for some if not impossible for others. It is well worth it, in my opinion, for your health amongst many other reasons, like moral and environmental. (more…)
June 7thThe DJ Contest at TWR kicked off last week and there has been a lot of creativity flowing through the gym. Everyone competing handed in their 30minute mix and the CDs get played head to head each hour during our workouts. At the end of the hour, we vote and the loser is eliminated. No second chance, no recount … just cold elimination. Brrrr ~
The TWR DJ Contest Wall Bracket
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