Have I mentioned lately how much I hate the pool?

I HATE THE POOL!

I would almost rather drown than swim.

But I need to somehow rehabilitate my foot this month, so I'm back to pool bootcamp workouts and lap swimming.

Pool bootcamp? Yes, you heard that right. Swimming with medicine balls, endless haul outs, treading water and all kinds of creative dunking.

I hate them all.

Especially because swimming, specifically swimming with fins (which we do a lot of) gives me terrible cramps in my calves and feet -- which is what I'm supposed to be curing.

I'm giving it a month. Substituting spinning and swimming for running. Trying not to go nuts.

@Daddy Clay

Totally understand about the mindset against lap swimming. I swam competitively in high school and despised the repetition. Also hated putting out all that effort and never getting anywhere.

It's the same reason I refuse to use elipticals, treadmills etc. All that effort and I'm still standing in the same place as when I started. Mind-numbing for me.

On the flip side, while I don't share you passion for running, if we looked at a lake and said, "Hey it's a mile to the other side, wanna see if we can swim it?" I'd be in the water before you finished suggesting it.

I will also add this. You're pursuit of optimal fitness has really lead you to quite the diverse combination of programs. Pool Bootcamp, awesome. I've heard of bootcamps that incorporated swimming, but not ones that were pool exclusive. Your dedication continues to be an inspiration.

Hit 195 lbs even this morning. That's 45 lbs in 8 weeks. I feel like I've found the fountain of youth. The "Protocol" has been fairly easy for me to stick to, and i'm really surpised at how much I like vegetables now.

My mountain bike buddies are beginning to "curse ze Protocol" as they are having a difficult time keeping up with me on mountainous single track.

I haven't been this light since the turn of the century.

Not sure why it would be unhealthy to lose 4-5 lbs a week, resulting in a current weight of 195 instead of 1-2 lbs a week where i'd still be 230 or so and not so motivated, and would still feel like I was going to have a heart attack every time I try to climb the mountain on the bike, and it's not like I'm using Crystal Meth as a means of weight loss.

I have moved my belt buckle 6 notches since starting this protocol.

Been holding steady at 185 for a couple weeks. That's 55 lbs.

My mountain bike friends have tried to bribe my wife to get me back on the bacon burger and fries routine because they can't keep up anymore.

Life is good.

That's an awesome accomplishment, T-Low. Congratulations. For me it's not about body weight (220lb) anymore. It's about what I can accomplish in the gym. All of the lifts I track continue to climb, so I'm pretty pleased. Wishing you continued good health.

Had a great experience this week running with my kids. My daughter has been going for short runs around our vacation home since we got here. I went out with her yesterday -- so sweet.

My oldest blew us all away by announcing he was going to try out for the Cross Country team in the fall. We went for a run on the beach this morning -- the kid is fast. We were running intervals -- 200m sprints. He left me effortlessly in the dust (though he could only finish 4 sandy intervals while the old man polished off 8).

They watch. Setting an example is meaningful. I see it in the behavior of my kids.

What a great experience with your kids! Very cool.

It's so true about them watching and absorbing. In our house, it's the kids' willingness to try any sport that I love.

Their mother does karate, which the 8yo takes part in. I do CrossFit where you could be doing any combination of gymnastics, lifting and general calisthenics and they absorb all of it.

In our house, it's translated into a desire in both kids to experiment with a youth gymnastics program this fall.

I honestly don't care what sport(s)/activities they pick. What ever fulfills them and sparks their passion is fine by me as long as they stay in motion.

Thanks for the props Kp.

I do miss being able to push the heavier weights around without tearing something. Getting old...

DaddyC, i'm beginning to hate the pool too. We did the extended family at the vacation home thing last week. I rode JetSkis in a Small Craft Advisory; rode dirt bikes on high mountain single track that was predominently a 14" wide shelf trail with steep dropoffs. I kayaked Class IV white water . I rode a mountain loop on my road bicycle most mornings.

But the only time i got hurt was at the community pool when a kid I didn't even know jumped off the pool deck and landed on my arm while i was swimming under water. Slight hyper extension and twist at the elbow. Thought my riding was over, but one day sitting around the vacation house with the entire family was all the rehab it seemed to need, and I was back out riding with my brother in law.

Hope everybody is doing well and sticking to it during the hot summer months.

I'm back from the cool Cape to the Texas heat and trying to adjust. I'm happy that I returned from my long vacation without ballooning up too much -- just added a pound or two. Better than previous years. Sticking to a program when traveling or on vacation is always tough.

I'm on week 7 of a 15 week marathon prep, so almost halfway there. Not sure when I'll get my 15 miler in this weekend because of my daughter's soccer tourney, but I'll sneak it in somewhere.

Dropped my son off at his first Cross Country pre-season practice this morning, then went for a run myself nearby -- it was fun to compare notes when we are done. I think he'll be back for another practice. One day at a time. *fingers crossed*

Stay cool, everybody.

DC's update inspired me to drop by and give a brief update on my status. I weighed in at 169.8 this morning! The last time I weighed in below 170 was on 09/25/08. About 20 lbs to go.

Daddy Clay -- hope your son enjoys the Cross Country and the marathon training continues to progress. I continue to marvel at your dedication. I won't even entertain the thought of a run beyond 5 miles.

Nik -- Congratulations, man!Feels great when those middle digit change doesn't it? Good for you.

My workouts have been going fine. The big news in our house is that my wife is looking to venture into the world of CrossFit with me. Sort of. I bought her a Living Social coupon to the gym where I work out and she's about to give it a shot.

Could be interesting. The truth is at this stage, we'd almost never get to exercise together. By default one of us has to be with our kids (too young to leave unaccompanied) while the other is out at the gym.

I'm legitimately excited for her though to see what she thinks of it.