One friend suggested I set smaller, more frequent rewards in order to keep myself motivated. So what better way to set your goals than to model it after the most famous bike competition of all. ('Blubbier' is French for blubber [my translation anyway])
So how do we do it.
A. Stages will consist of one month with an average weight loss goal of six lbs lost per month. Weigh-ins will occur every Sunday morning.
B. Training will be based on the The Seven Week Success Plan as outlined in chapter 7 of the Lance Armstrong Performance Program. There are three training levels; beginner, intermediate, and advanced. They include a fitness test to determine what level you should begin. We will assume I am a beginner. It also suggest a week of recovery rides in between each level. That makes for twenty three weeks of training. Almost six months, I am sure I need at least that.
C. Diet will not be any one particular program like South Beach, Atkins or Weight Watchers. Rather, a close scrutiny of caloric intake vs caloric burn.
All this info will be logged to an Excel spreadsheet.
REWARDS: the fun part!
July, Stage One: REWARD: Viewpoint Flashpoint High Intensity Taillight. not a great reward but again, at the suggestion of a friend that felt everyone should have more visibility from the rear. It has a strobe option and that also increases visibility.
AUGUST, Stage Two: REWARD: Performance Clear Rain Jacket. Again, not really special but you have to start out small. A nice addition to my rear pockets and the vinyl can serve as a warmer on cool days as much as rain protection. I don not intend to get caught in the rain very often.
SEPTEMBER, Stage Three: REWARD: Cat Eye Astrale 8 Clycocomputer w/Cadence. Due to a bit of stupidity of my own, I lost use of my old Cat Eye and purchased an inferior substitute. I won't bad mouth the replacement but NEVER buy E3 Cycling products. Enough said.
OCTOBER, Stage Four: REWARD: Cliff Bars. The longer rides will come and I like their all natural (maybe even organic) approach Cliff provides. Four 12 packs salted away in the freezer will offer a nice snack on the longer rides.
NOVEMBER, Stage 5: REWARD: PowerBar Gels, Two 24 packs. I have already become addicted to these things on rides of very hot days or rides over 1.5 hours. (sidebar - never buy their powerbars, who knows what those things are made of.) I see the Gels as concentrated Gatorade. May be wrong, may be right.
DECEMBER, Stage 6: REWARD: Limar 908 Road Helmet. Now we're talking ego here. I have a yellow jersey or two and need a helmet to match! Actually this goes back to Stage one. Yellow is one of the highest visibility colors you can wear. (Ever wonder why all those state DOT vehicles are painted yellow? If you can remember when they were a very dull brown, then you're as old as I am!
JANUARY '09!, Stage 7: REWARD: The first of the double rewards, should be pedaling along nicely now. How about a pair of Louis Garneau Air Gel Carbon Gloves and a pair of Louis Garneau Rex Gel Glove? I am still trying to solve the mystery of numbness in my right writs and hand when I ride. I would understand the left because it is pretty static but the right is constantly involved in changing gears and an occasionally breaking action.
FEBRUARY, Stage 8: REWARD: Peal Izumi PRO Slipstream/Chipoltle Argyle SS Jersey, Black. Now TEAM Garmin Chipolte, they look good both aesthetically and competitively. May as well look good too!
MARCH, Stage 9: REWARD: See stage 8, only difference, this one will be white. I should have dumped somewhere in the range of 50 lbs!
APRIL, Stage 10: REWARD: Spin Doctor Pro G3 Work Stand. I don't intend to become a major league bike mechanic but what little bit I have tried to do already; install three different computers, wheel work. It does make it easier having your work and hand and eye level!
MAY, Stage 11: REWARD: Canondale LTB Bib Short. I should be looking FINE by now. hahaha! and with that white jersey 'won' back in stage 9, I need white shorts to match! With their black accents, they will look good with the black jersey as well!
JUNE, Stage 12: REWARD: Giant OCR 1! A fine bike and don't I deserve one? If I follow my plan, I will lose 60 - 80 lbs! Stay tuned!
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