Despite today being the first day of the semester, I was able to get out of work about 15 minutes early, beat the student rush to the gym, and snag an elliptical machine for a solid 30 minute work out.

On my screen: Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. I felt compelled to watch it for some reason; it might have had something to do with Playing For Keeps' big day.

After dinner, Luke and I went for a walk around the neighborhood (well, I walked, he road his Big Wheel). Not a hard work out by any means, but exercise all the same.

I'm doing the bachelor dad thing while Sue's away at a PowWow this weekend, so I figured it'd be a good thing if we started off our day with some exercise. I packed some zucchini bread and milk for the kids, loaded up the wagon our baseball mitts and Lucas, then walked to the Cosmic Cup for morning coffee while Jordan road her bike. Coffee in hand, we walked back home, deposited the bike in the side alley, then walked down to Nevin Park for breakfast under the trees.

After that the kids and I ran around on the playground equipment and swung on the swings, taking occasional breaks to play catch. All in all, a good start to the day, the only downside to which was the whining from Jordan about how tired she was on the walk back home.

It wasn't a hard work out, as things go, but it got my heart pumping climbing the hill back from the park, and tired out the kids so I think we can declare mission was accomplished.

I spent 30 minutes on the elliptical machine, watching Ghostbusters.

With the pool closed today, I went to the gym instead and worked out on the elliptical machine for 30 minutes. In my ears: Gut Check Cast #15. On my screen: Ghostbusters.

After about almost four weeks of consistent (ok, more consistent) exercise, I've reached 208 lbs., down 6 lbs. from my starting weight of 214. It's nice to see progress, and I'm hoping to do as well in the next four weeks.

That said ... it's going to be tough. The start of the semester is two weeks away, which means things are about to get crazy around the college day job. Meanwhile, they've closed the college pool for maintenance, which means I need to fit in my exercise after work, something that I've found all too easy to skip.

Still, I know it's coming, and I'm emboldened by my progress, so I'm going to do my best to keep up the regime. With any luck, I'll be below 200 by mid-September.

I tried to go to the gym today, but alas, all of the college's buildings are closed for power maintenance. Instead, I ran home got the dog and the toddler, and went out for a walk ... which turned into a rather brisk walk when the thunder started.

In my ears: Order 66 Podcast, Episode 27 - The Pinnacle of Success

No formal exercise today, but I did spend the afternoon at a pool party with the extended family, and managed to swim a couple of laps while playing with Jordan and Luke.

I didn't get any formal exercise in today, but I did spend seven hours walking, running and swimming around Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom with my daughter Jordan. The consensus on Twitter seems to be that spending a day running around an amusement park with a five year old counts as exercise, so I'm claiming it for OOF.

The most exercise-intensive ride was probably the wave pool, which we went in not once, but twice. Jordan had a blast with it, and it's a great reminder that even a small amount of fast moving water can knock you on your butt in now time.

I was sorely tempted to blow off going to the pool today, but I don't have time to go to the gym after work, and I'm hoping to keep the weight loss thing going, so I pressed on.
Thirty minutes at the pool, swimming laps.

In my ears: Lots of water. iPods don't do well in pools.

This week’s weigh-in was 211 lbs., down two pounds from last week, three pounds since I started this two weeks ago. Three pounds in two weeks isn’t bad, but I also realize that this is the beginning, and it’s always easier to lose a few pounds at the start (or at least, it is for me).

Still, progress is progress. I was able to exercise four out of seven days. I was hoping to get some exercise over the weekend, but I was on full-time dad duty with Sue away at a jewelry workshop. I also cut back severely on Mountain Dew last week, except for a binge on Game Day (which is to be expected, but I’m going to try and limit myself to two cans next time around).