Shawn Stutz

4/26/09:  219 lbs. (and holding)

Looking forward a good workout tomorrow.  I just need to “stay on target!” Anyone recognize the movie quote!?

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4/25/09:  219 lbs. (still)

Worked out hard yesterday… 1 spin class and a 30-mile ride.  Unfortunately the dinner I ate was just as competitive.  So, needless to say, the meal didn’t aid the weight loss moment though.

Portion control is the rule today… lol!

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CLICK THE PICTURE – I DARE YOU!

4/24/09:  219 lbs. (officially)

Well, this week has been productive thus far… four pounds.  My goal for week 1 (which is somewhat the easy result week) was 5 pounds.  I am well on my way to doing that by Monday for sure.

Reasons to Lose & Ride

The LiveStrong Challenge is one based out of the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s goal to raise global awareness about the fight against cancer.  In addition to awareness, every cycling event raises millions of dollars for much needed cancer research.

If you’re like me you may remember hearing about cancer as a kid.  You may remember one or two diagnosed with it.  And you might even remember one who died of advance stages of the illness.  But nowadays, it seems to be everywhere.  Everyone seems to get it; healthy or not.  If it’s not diet related, then it’s n the blood.  If it’s not in the blood, then it’s skin, breast, or colon.  It may be my greater awareness (due to the hospital prayer list I see every week as a pastor), but cancer seems to be more rampant than ever before.

Just last year, there were approximately 1.4 million new cases of cancer.  And for those who lost their battle with cancer, the 2008 death toll was over half million.  Those numbers are staggering!

So many people I know have been affected by cancer as of late.  Friends Kevin and Jason are both battling through colon cancer.  A friends grandfather just went to be with the Lord because of cancer.  And Scott & Kim Estes are about to lose a grandfather to stomach cancer

So I’m training hard to ride in the upcoming LiveStrong Challenge Event in San Jose, CA.  All the while, I’m raising money for cancer research.  I would love your help!  You can pledge by the mile (100 miles) or a one-time gift either here or through my facebook page (scroll down… on left).  HELP ME shatter my fundraising goal! Just $5 can help out a lot!

The date of the ride is July 12, and I’m sure it’ll be hot and muggy!  … so dropping about 20+ pounds for that event should be a benefit!  Besides, the more I guard my health, the longer time I have to make invests for the kingdom while still here.  Seems to be benefits all around.

219 lbs. towards a 200 lb. goal is small next to research dollars and a real-life battle with cancer.  I have a deep appreciation for those in the trenches today!

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4/23/09:  220 lbs. (minus about 2 smidgen… not quite a legitimate 219.  Maybe I need a digital scale!)

More ‘reasons’ tomorrow as to the “why” of this mission.

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4/22/09:  220 (and a smidgen) lbs.

The weight is coming off quick, but I guess that makes sense since I usually roll between 218 and 220.  I figure the 218, 215, and 210 landmarks are going to be tougher.

The workouts have been going well.  I went to spin on Monday (1 hour), and rode 20 miles yesterday (just over an hour).  Today, I have what they call, “tired muscles.” So my workout will probably consist of taking an Aleve, pedaling to work, and trying not to polute anything on Earth Day (seriously… do you think the earth really cares that we celebrate it?).

It’s actually interesting the parallel between physical discipline and spiritual discipline.  Somehow taming the flesh from food trains you to tame your mind from sin as well.  Makes sense since Paul so often talks about the battle between the soul/Spirit and our flesh!

“Journey On…”

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I’m pretty big into cycling.  And unfortunately, I’m pretty big for a cyclist.  Levi Leipheimer is about 140 pounds and the great Lance Armstrong is about 170.  I, on the other hand, weigh in (today) at a whopping 223.  That’s like 1/3 a Levi that I carry around on my bike.  Yikes!

This past weekend I completed a 102 Mile Century in 5 hours and 45 minutes.  This a record for me (30 minutes faster than my last century and 45 faster than my first).  It was relatively flat, but still tiring.  My fourth century, in July, will be the toughest yet.  And so comes the real heart of this post.

I need to lose weight!  For the last few years of my life I have battled the bulge between 210-230.  And (medically speaking) I should be somewhere between 200-205.  So that equates to needing to lose 20 lbs.  Twenty pounds is a lot! Think about it like this:

• A heavy bowling ball is 4 pounds shy of 20.
• 2 1/2 gallons of milk weigh 20 lbs.
• Three newborn children could weigh 22 pounds.
• Twenty Burger King Whoppers weigh 20 pounds.
• My bike weighs just a bit less than 20 lbs!

That’s insane!  No matter how you look at it.  I’m either dragging 2 1/2 gallons of milk, my bike, or 3 newborns up a hill every time I ride (and no, I don’t drag any kids for real).  The long and the short of it is this… by May 28th, my 33rd birthday (the year of our Lord), I want to have lost 20 lbs.

And so, in the spirit of the ‘fat cyclist’ website that inspired this post and personal challenge, I, Shawn Stutz, do so solemnly swear to:

• Eat right (and not everything that’s left!)
• Exercise vigorously
• Drink no cola
• Eat Chocolate on Tuesdays (and Food Church Fridays) only
• and POST my weight everyday until the 20 lbs. have melted away!

But, I’ll need your help America! (and by America I mean the the small fraction of people who either read this to be nice or those who found this site looking for the average weight of 3 newborns)!

So today, is Day 1: 223 lbs.

On a journey now…

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