I Have the Power!!! The 'Potamus Power!!!

Unfocused. Uninspired. Ignored. Neglected. Devoid of content.

This blog has existed for several years but has been largely taking up space on the Internet for the past several months. There has been no direction for it; therefore, there has been no content in it. In 2014 that is going to change. Welcome to the (finally!) renamed blog: Potamus Power!

Our focus for the New Year? Health & fitness … ‘potamus-style.

For the next year this blog will be featuring opinions, advice, helpful tips, encouragement and investigative information regarding our (and more explicitly, my) level of health & fitness. Every two weeks I will post an article on any number of fitness topics – from reviews of fitness equipment and apps, exercise routines to try, information regarding nutrition, links to other inspirational folks on the web and any number of other topics. On top of that, I will encourage you to participate in the discussion and create an environment (we’ll call it “The ‘Potamus Pod”) where we all can reap the benefits. Finally, each of these entries will finish with my stats and progress … ‘cause dudes like numbers!

In addition to these regular posts, I will also occasionally post recipe ideas, custom workout routines, inspirational stories and thoughts and soon … video blog entries as well!

So, who am I to be giving advice regarding physical fitness? That’s the beauty of Potamus Power – I’m really no different than you. I’m not a celebrity fitness instructor, I don’t have a degree in nutrition or personal training, I’m not on the cover of any men’s fitness magazines and I don’t have an endorsement deal with any particular gym, sportswear company or my own line of shoes. I’m just a dude … a regular guy who is undertaking a new(ish) journey with you.

This coming March I will hit my forty-fourth birthday. I’m a little over-weight (more on that below), I have bad knees and even worse shoulders, I have a family and a job and responsibilities and all those things that we use as excuses to not pursue our health more vigorously. I love all that easy, greasy and processed food that the normal American is addicted too. Like most of you, I was active and even an athlete when I was younger … then life hit and hit hard. In other words, I’m coming from a place that is probably not too different from where you find yourself today.

I spent most of 2012 putting some effort into a regular exercise regimen. But like many of us, I was more indifferent to it than I was willing to admit. It was more something to make me feel better about myself rather than to really make me feel better. In 2013 I began to research and experiment with a number of facets of my health. I used myself as a guinea pig to explore what works, what doesn’t and what is realistic when it comes to exercise, diet and (most importantly) direction and focus. In 2014, I plan on putting all of that information to good (and hard) use to achieve a number of goals.

Those goals can also be found below.

There are a number of them and they are there, in writing, for all to behold. Why write out my goals? So that I can see them, be reminded of them and adhere to them … each and every day. I encourage you to set goals for yourself as well … and share them with us.

So here are my 2014 goals:

Using Hamwi formula, a simple formula commonly used by many clinicians, my ideal body weight is between 156-173lbs … I haven’t been that light since high school (maybe even before), and even though I always find these numbers to be slightly absurd, I am using it as a base for the targets that follow. Also note: throughout the year I will be setting new goals / targets to be reached, but for right now, here they are:

1) Weight: 174 lbs
2) Waist Measurement: 32”
3) Run four (4) 5K races, posting a better time with each subsequent race.
4) Be able to perform a straight leg forward bend and not only touch my toes, but touch my knee with my nose.

So join The ‘Potamus Pod now by following this blog. I encourage you to comment and respond as you stumble across each new entry. Share words of encouragement and information with the rest of the community. Let’s get better, stronger and healthier in 2014 with a hefty dose of POTAMUS POWER!

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December 31 2013
KING RICH
Weight:  194.8 lbs
BMI:  28.2
Body Fat:  26.7%

*  How accurate are these numbers?  Huh ... I don't really know.  But I am using the Weight Watchers by Conair Scales Glass Body Analysis Scale Model WW52 to measure my stats.  I am less concerned with the accuracy of the numbers themselves and more concerned with the change I hope to see in the future.  For consistency's sake, these stats will always come from the same source and appear with my bi-weekly posts.