Tomorrow's agenda.
Since I'm up so late, I won't be getting up early.
0900 - Wake up
1030 - First IST!
1200 - First P90X session :)
Can't wait to not be a fatbody anymore. No, I'm not being down on myself. "Fatbody" is a Marine Corps term for anyone that's overweight.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Excited!
Just talked to Staff Sergeant Spalding, the Marine Corps recruiter in McMinnville. He said there's absolutely nothing holding me back from enlisting, after he took down all of my information. The only setbacks are my ankle will take a little bit of time to get a waiver, but it's doable. As well as my weight is still a little high. However, we're having a meeting on Monday about starting a PT routine for me and I'll be going running with the rest of the poolees (A poolee is someone that's already sworn in to the Armed Forces and is waiting to leave for boot camp/basic training. Also known as the DEP, or Delayed Entry Program.) at the recruiting station. I'm a little nervous to be running with these guys that are obviously fit and ready to become Marines, so tomorrow I'm going to do my first IST (Initial Strength Test). The normal IST would involve a flexed-arm hang, but I don't have a pull up bar to do it on. So I'll be doing a 1 mile run, which will need to be under 10 minutes and 30 seconds, as well as a minimum of 35 sit ups in 2 minutes. I think I've got the sit ups down, but the run will be a challenge. We'll see how tomorrow goes. I'm praying for strength and confidence, I really don't want to make a douche out of myself in front of all the poolees. They may not be Marines, but they're further in the game than I am. Wish me luck.
-Soon to be Poolee A. Jarrah?
-Soon to be Poolee A. Jarrah?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Today = No motivation. Oh well.
Today, I have had zero motivation. I woke up tired and sluggish, didn't want to get up. Didn't matter. I made myself go for another 25 minute run like yesterday, didn't stop at all. That might not be that big of a deal to those who are in shape, but when you're me? That's a personal best. I've never ran that long without stopping a single time in my life (other than yesterday). The entire time, I wanted to stop. Not going to lie. I was not in the mood to be working out at all. My legs are tired and sore from yesterday, again, didn't matter. I'm starting to learn a great deal about my limits. I was positive I would not finish the run. I surprised myself. It wasn't a sudden burst of energy or desire, it was just not taking "no" for an answer. That was the lesson I learned today. I'm not going to all of the sudden get a desire or urge to do the work. It's a matter of how much self-discipline I have to do what needs to be done. I'm actually feeling better too, now that I think about it.
Couple other cool things about my jog before I go, I didn't wear my ankle brace today or yesterday and have had zero pain. As well as, the other day I mentioned my chest has been having pain when I run. Today it took a lot longer before the tightness came, and it was hardly anything today. Must mean my endurance is building up? Hope so! Now I'm off to clean the kitchen for Mom before she gets off work.
I'll probably do a video next time, maybe show some more before and after pictures and whatnot. Later guys.
-A. Jarrah
Couple other cool things about my jog before I go, I didn't wear my ankle brace today or yesterday and have had zero pain. As well as, the other day I mentioned my chest has been having pain when I run. Today it took a lot longer before the tightness came, and it was hardly anything today. Must mean my endurance is building up? Hope so! Now I'm off to clean the kitchen for Mom before she gets off work.
I'll probably do a video next time, maybe show some more before and after pictures and whatnot. Later guys.
-A. Jarrah
Monday, January 24, 2011
Got obstacles?
What's holding me back from enlistment?
Not a lot. First and foremost, my weight. The Marine Corps doesn't take just anyone, so I've still got a little bit more weight to lose now. Second, I need to make sure I get the waiver for my ankle (For whoever doesn't know, I have a big plate and 13 screws in my leg). There shouldn't be any problems with that though, it's doing great. My orthopedist even made all of my reports really good because he knew I'm trying to enlist. Other than that, the only nagging issue I'm having is the tightness in my chest when I run. I'm going to assume it's just because I haven't run in months, and it's wintertime. It only lasts for maybe 5-10 minutes, so I'm trying to just ignore it.
By the way, my URL is "soontobe0151", that means the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) that I'm enlisting in will be 0151, which is an Administrative Clerk. This isn't for sure though, I'm not positive just yet if that's what I want to do. Part of me would still like to be a Military Police Officer (5811). Just thought I'd explain that to anyone who might be confused.
For now, I'm trying to refrain from the whole "when I'm in boot camp" talk, because I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket and assume that I'm going to pass all the physical testing at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). Who knows what could come up between now and then, I had no idea something like breaking my ankle was going to happen the morning it did.
Oh, and one more cool thing. I scored a 69 on my ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery aka the long annoying test you have to pass.) which is pretty good. You can get up to a 99, but 50 and higher isn't bad at all. That pretty much just means I'm not dumb, and I've got a good selection of jobs to choose from.
I'm trying to think of anything else that my family might wonder...I guess a couple might be "will you get deployed" and "how far from home will you be". I could absolutely get deployed, and chances are with the given state of our country right now, I will. There's no telling though. I'm going to be enlisting in the Reserves for now though, so I'll still be in Oregon. I won't be living in some far away state on base. I'll be able to live at home and do my deal as a civilian except for drill weekends, unless/until I get deployed. What else...for training, I'll be gone for 13 weeks, then home for 10 days. I'd love for everyone to write me letters. After that I'll go to MCT (Marine Combat Training), and then go to MOS school, which will be the Admin course in North Carolina, or MP (Military Police) school in Missouri. (Again this is assuming that all goes according to plan. We won't know anything set in stone until I go to MEPS and do all of my initial processing.)
Not a lot. First and foremost, my weight. The Marine Corps doesn't take just anyone, so I've still got a little bit more weight to lose now. Second, I need to make sure I get the waiver for my ankle (For whoever doesn't know, I have a big plate and 13 screws in my leg). There shouldn't be any problems with that though, it's doing great. My orthopedist even made all of my reports really good because he knew I'm trying to enlist. Other than that, the only nagging issue I'm having is the tightness in my chest when I run. I'm going to assume it's just because I haven't run in months, and it's wintertime. It only lasts for maybe 5-10 minutes, so I'm trying to just ignore it.
By the way, my URL is "soontobe0151", that means the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) that I'm enlisting in will be 0151, which is an Administrative Clerk. This isn't for sure though, I'm not positive just yet if that's what I want to do. Part of me would still like to be a Military Police Officer (5811). Just thought I'd explain that to anyone who might be confused.
For now, I'm trying to refrain from the whole "when I'm in boot camp" talk, because I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket and assume that I'm going to pass all the physical testing at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). Who knows what could come up between now and then, I had no idea something like breaking my ankle was going to happen the morning it did.
Oh, and one more cool thing. I scored a 69 on my ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery aka the long annoying test you have to pass.) which is pretty good. You can get up to a 99, but 50 and higher isn't bad at all. That pretty much just means I'm not dumb, and I've got a good selection of jobs to choose from.
I'm trying to think of anything else that my family might wonder...I guess a couple might be "will you get deployed" and "how far from home will you be". I could absolutely get deployed, and chances are with the given state of our country right now, I will. There's no telling though. I'm going to be enlisting in the Reserves for now though, so I'll still be in Oregon. I won't be living in some far away state on base. I'll be able to live at home and do my deal as a civilian except for drill weekends, unless/until I get deployed. What else...for training, I'll be gone for 13 weeks, then home for 10 days. I'd love for everyone to write me letters. After that I'll go to MCT (Marine Combat Training), and then go to MOS school, which will be the Admin course in North Carolina, or MP (Military Police) school in Missouri. (Again this is assuming that all goes according to plan. We won't know anything set in stone until I go to MEPS and do all of my initial processing.)
What is this for?
Basically, I don't want to keep updating my Facebook status with everything I'm doing in terms of enlisting. So whoever actually cares to know, can just come here. I don't know who's going to bother reading this, but I figure it'll be nice to look back on later on.
I'm incredibly close to being able to enlist. The Marine Corps has a little higher standard when it comes to height and weight for enlisting, compared to the Army (which was my other choice). I decided there's no point in settling for less than what I want, when this is my life. I can make it happen.
I started in October weighing 226 lbs, and I'm 5'3". Ridiculous right? Well currently I'm at 181, which is pretty awesome. Still overweight, but I feel a lot better. My running is a lot better too! Anyways, I've lost 45 lbs so far, and I still have a little further to go. I'm pretty excited. I've had a lot of fears when it comes to enlisting. Being away from my mom, being in a new place, not knowing if I could make it, not wanting to be deployed. Then it occurred to me, what's the point of living if I'm going to be too afraid to do what I want with my life? That'd just be stupid. I've acted like a five year old a lot lately when it comes to the future, when it comes to my fears and not doing anything. It all made me come to a very simple conclusion.
Time to grow up.
Can't live forever.
Signing off,
A. Jarrah
I'm incredibly close to being able to enlist. The Marine Corps has a little higher standard when it comes to height and weight for enlisting, compared to the Army (which was my other choice). I decided there's no point in settling for less than what I want, when this is my life. I can make it happen.
I started in October weighing 226 lbs, and I'm 5'3". Ridiculous right? Well currently I'm at 181, which is pretty awesome. Still overweight, but I feel a lot better. My running is a lot better too! Anyways, I've lost 45 lbs so far, and I still have a little further to go. I'm pretty excited. I've had a lot of fears when it comes to enlisting. Being away from my mom, being in a new place, not knowing if I could make it, not wanting to be deployed. Then it occurred to me, what's the point of living if I'm going to be too afraid to do what I want with my life? That'd just be stupid. I've acted like a five year old a lot lately when it comes to the future, when it comes to my fears and not doing anything. It all made me come to a very simple conclusion.
Time to grow up.
Can't live forever.
Signing off,
A. Jarrah
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