I went through with the most recent workout pledge on Friday night.
Due to recent media attention this was the biggest workout pledge by far. I was forced to stay on both the treadmill and elliptical for 93 minutes (plus two for cool down) — putting me in the gym for 3 hours and 10 minutes Friday night.
This was the first workout pledge I tweeted while I worked out. It was a new experience, a positive experience I’d do again; the support I received kept me going for the last hour when my legs started failing.
A few Twitter followers that provided support Friday night:
30Days2ANewLife
JackedDragon
JeffSarris
lsuaimzgurl
willwalters
theantijared
emilytate512
Recap of Friday night’s workouts
I started out on the treadmill machine a little after 7 PM Friday. I maintained a speed varying from 3.4 (when I took pictures) to 4.0. Incline levels varied as well, ranging from 1.1 to 5.1. It was a brisk walk with some hills thrown in.
The 95 minutes on the treadmill were easy compared to the 95 that were soon to follow on the elliptical. While I was on the treadmill daydreaming, fighting boredom, I realized I needed to make a bigger workout playlist for pledges. Other than realizing I need to bring a book for “next time” and needing to urinate for the last 30 minutes, I had a smooth workout.
I burned nearly 1,000 calories and walked over 5.5 miles in 95 minutes on the treadmill. Other than stiffness in the legs, I finished the workout unscathed.
It wasn’t until I stopped stretching and went to the rest room did the scary reality sink in: I’m about to start the hard part. I had only done 95 minutes on the elliptical before once (when I did 99), but that wasn’t following 95 minutes on the treadmill. I was sore, tired, and wanted to go home.
The only place I was going, though, was on the elliptical.
I started my workout on the elliptical machine after a short break used to go to the restroom and fill up my water bottle. After typing in level 20 (out of 20) into the machine it turned on and I immediately knew I was in trouble. I got onto twitter for some support and found Lethal Weapon 2 on television (the one with Joe Pesci), settling in for a long, painful workout.
Looking back, I have no idea how I managed to keep going.
Around the halfway mark on the elliptical, about two and a half hours after my current cardio session started, my legs began to buckle. I had to lean against the machine’s console so I wouldn’t fall down. This was the moment I wanted most to quit and say “no thanks” to the remaining 45 minutes, but I didn’t.
I got back on twitter and looked for support — I found it and kept going.
With about 20 minutes left my water ran out and my cell phone battery was dying, which meaned no more twitter updates. I turned off the music application on my phone (G1) to conserve the battery and simply ignored my water problem — I wasn’t about to quit now. Luckily, the battery in my phone lasted long enough to snap a final picture and I was able to wipe the machine down, stretch, guzzle down 20 ounces of water, and walk out of the gym alive.
It was easy to fall asleep once I got home. My legs were sore and stiff, but I could walk. I was a little sore Saturday and only did some light cleaning, but hit the gym Sunday hard and did 30 minutes on both the treadmill and elliptical.
I’ll be back at the gym tonight fully charged.
Hopefully, in a couple of days, I’ll be reminded why I do these workout pledges and why I felt the need to workout for 190 minutes Friday night.
I want the 230s.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
AMAZING! I couldnt do half that.
Tyler, Nice job man. You showed some serious commitment to power through that workout. In the dictionary under “Man up” should be your picture.
Keep up the journey!
That is so awesome. Congratulations!
If you’re an iTunes user, they sell hour-long workout mixes. I have a few and like to use them every now and then to mix it up when I’m bored with my songs.
I dunno, Tyler, I have nothing but admiration for your stamina–you’re hard core– but I’m worried it’s not that great for your body. It’s also a lot of time on a Friday night. Sounds like a do-it-once-to-prove-you-can kind of thing to me. Best of luck at your weigh in.
Don’t worry, it’s a one time deal.
Awesome & congrats! I had a buddy who checked out your website for the first time and was really impressed by your workout pledge. I say keep it up. Do it as often as you can.
Think about this, if you run a marathon (26.2 miles at 9 minutes a mile), it will take you just under 4 hours. You’re just an hour away. :)
When you get the urge to pee while exercising, I’ve always heard that sweating will alleviate the need. It’s worked for me in the past.
Tyler, it was a pleasure to support you in action as well as tweets. I invited my (thin) friend to join me and she was dying after 20 minutes. She kept coming back to me and couldn’t believe that I was “still going”. I told her my pledge to you to do half. She thought I was crazy, then said, “he must be hot.” we women. Lol she was impressed.
Looking forward to more mutual workouts!
I am so impressed! When I was in high school, I was 160 lbs and about 5ft 2in. This was overweight. I started playing DDR and watching what I ate. By my Junior year of High school, I was 110! I’ve kept it off for the most part. I am at 120 now, but still active.
I know how tough it is (not as tough as you) but keep up the amazing work! You encourage me to get more active, like I was in high school!
hey T. Wow. Great job. So what kind of media attention did you get, and why is this the first I’ve heard of it after the conversations we’ve had about this very subject? hmmmm???
Consumerist and a few big medical thinktanks in DC sent out a publication about me.
I am so impressed! Just think of what the scale is going to say this week!! And the extra bonus of working yourself so hard…you were probably too tired to do anything except sleep. :D
Keep it up Tyler. You are an unstoppable force.
That is so great that you did that! You seem to have come a long way and it’s so inspiring to those who are on the same journey as you! I just saw the 240’s on the scale this morning…the numbers make me want to work out even harder today!
Wow. Congratulations. This will definitely help to keep me motivated this week! Thank you!
A “one time deal?” I don’t buy that for a minute, lol. I wonder what the Guinness record is for continuous gym cardio? Maybe someone will look it up. Maybe you’ll break it. Have a great week, man! Looking forward to Wednesday’s weigh-in.
Okay, I might do it a few more times. It just won’t be a weekly workout.
AWESOME!!! Great job Tyler! Keep it up!
You are an inspiration to everyone.
Holy cow! You are a legend! Well done!
Hi, I jsut found your site and OMG!!!!! Wow, I am impressed with your dedication to working out – great workout – whatever will be next?!?
Thanks Sarah – your blog rocks!
You should be at 230 in no time, good job. I’m sorry i wasn’t near the internet to show some support at the time.
Sure, I go away for the weekend and look what you did! You are Superman Tyler :) Rock on!
WoW!! hour and a half on cardio gear, you are a crazy person!!
Do you do any wieights or resistance training or are you just focusing on fat loss and cardio?
Great workout — really great workout!
Insanity! Awesome though. Do that enough and maybe a marathon will seem like nothing.
Hey Tyler,
As much as I enjoy your blog and your progress, there’s no need to overdo it and possibly harm yourself. A man in our area is in a coma after a treadmill/sauna combo, trying to lose 12 lbs in one week.
http://tiny.cc/kVkOS
Be safe and healthy!
HI tyler,
Wow! What amazing motivation you have! That’s awesome! Keep up the good work, and tell me what were your results after the vigorous 1 week of cardio/sauna regimen? Keep up the good work and don’t let any thing stop you.
Hi…….looking for some inspiration and I found it through you. I lost 70 pounds in the past five years after hitting 280……….I didn’t even know I’d gotten to that point. Doing great….for the past year I have been doing elliptical training. It slimmed me down, but that’s it. Cranked up the puppy a month ago more than doubling my calorie burn and it has gotten easy way quick on the highest resistance. The trick is to work your way up over about a 15 minute period, your body adjusts quickly. I drink a cup of strong coffee before hand and BELIEVE me it helps immensely. I gotta do it.