Happy New Year - Only One Resolution

First, I want to extend a heartfelt happy new year to all of you.  I have read many posts and talked to friends all who are detailing their resolutions for the year to come.  I've never been a resolution kind of guy.  It certainly isn't that I haven't had things to improve upon every year.  Perhaps I just didn't want to let myself down if I didn't achieve my goals.

Bottom line...resolutions are just fine.  I really respect everyone who has taken honest stock of their lives and have put out in front what they really want to accomplish.  Bravo!

In some ways due to some philosophies I've been reading and taking to heart, I'm trying to be "in the present".  As such, there may not be goals for me to shoot for, but just things to focus on any given day.  Second, I still focus on one of the Four Agreements I've tried to make to myself (see review blog) and that is to do my best every day.  It doesn't mean I'll be perfect, just that I need to know in my heart that I truly tried to do my best...to be my best.  There will be days that my best really will be just surviving.  There will be days that my best will be triumphant.  There may even be days where disaster has struck, but my best will be how I emerge from it.

So...whether it is my continued journey to fitness, my continued journey to mental health, or my overall journey to personal peace, my resolution is simply to keep doing my best...

No matter what, I know that I'd keep getting better and better.

Peace...G-d Bless...Happy New Year

My Happy Thoughts...or a rambling moron...you make the call

I want to thank MrsFatass (Mommy2Joe) for the honor of being one of her tagees for a recent blog thread asking you to detail the 10 things that make you happy.  Her blog is Did I just eat that Out Loud?.  First, she is adorable!  Second, she had a great guest post for Jack Sh*t, Getting Fit.

I've been wanting to try a video blog and probably shouldn't have tried it for this particular request, but what the heck.  I hope it won't be my last attempt...seems like fun.  Besides, I'm a handsome hunk as it were.

Without further ado, my blog...




Per her request, I'm linking to the following ten blogs that I follow to get their perspective on the things that make them happy.  I look forward to the postings!

Skinny Me...Coming Soon!
Lose 20 Pounds In 10 Weeks
Lindsay: Under Construction
Jewlia Goulia
The Amazing Shrinking Girl
I don't want to die of a heart attack when I'm 25
Fat to Fit Mommy
Exquisite Christine
Actual Scale
Michelle's Healthy Life Journal

Don't Think of It as Work...

Can you imagine actually enjoying eating healthy?  Can you imagine looking forward to hitting the gym?  Can you imagine being gleeful at a sweat-soaked shirt?

I know that I can't...or at least until recently couldn't.

When I was at my most unhealthy, I also was at my most stressful periods with my job.  The time, effort, and commitment I had to show to my job far exceeded anything that I could show or give to myself.  My health was sacrificed at the alter of work.  Pretty sick, huh?

And all my desires to get healthy were sabotaged by the excuse that I couldn't put the effort into it.  It would be too much work...I couldn't fit in my job and getting healthy at the same time.

Before I go too much further, let me first admit that I'm still not a full convert.  Choosing to eat healthy is still a conscious and active decision.  It isn't natural to me.  Choosing to get to the gym when the warm couch and the glow of the TV and internet are still attractive still takes a bit of effort.  Thankfully, when I started my new program mid November, I was already turning away from work.  I was getting home at a decent hour.  I wasn't working all evening.  I was giving myself time to "work" my program.  Especially since I've been off work since December 20th, I've had even more time to not only work at my program, but even further my journey to enjoying my new lifestyle.

I'm hopeful that I'll be that full convert.  I'm hopeful that my body will become my temple and I will refuse to defile it again.  I'm hopeful that I'll long for the opportunities to break a sweat before I break the seal on a bag of potato chips.

Right now, it is still the honeymoon period....I'm still losing weight...I'm getting results that are meaningful and reinforcing to me.  I have had reasonably good control over my environment and have been able to set myself up for success.  While there were aspects of the holidays that were challenging, I don't think I've really been tested.  I haven't had to go out of town for business or for a remote vacation.  I haven't (thank goodness) had any of the illnesses that have been going around to land me in bed.

For now, though, this is my job...this is my work...to get better...to get healthy.  The good news is that I'm enjoying my new job...perhaps there will be a day in the not-to-distant future where it will be pure pleasure...wouldn't that be something?

Take That Holidays!!!

I stuck to my guns through Thanksgiving and into Christmas and I don't intend to falter for New Years.  Yes, I've probably been more manic about calorie control to the exclusion of my typical indulgences.  Did I weigh the food I had on my plate at Christmas?  Yes... Did I skip the pies and have 1 oz of hummus and 1 oz of pita chips instead?  Yes.  Have I worked out nearly every day throughout the holidays?  Yes.

Can I keep this up once I have reached my goals???  That is the 64 Gazillion Dollar question that has yet to be answered.

I know that I'm not mentally solid.  I know that my self-destructive behavior is similar to that of other addicts.  I know that I can't fall off the wagon without it rolling over me.

My weigh in this morning showed a loss of 4.4 pounds this past week.

I'm down to 211.6 since my program started 11/17/2009.  This is a total weight loss of 24.6 pounds and I've reached the initial challenge of 10% body weight lost.

I do wonder if I could have done as well without the Bodybugg...Perhaps just wrapping a string around my finger would have been enough to remember what I'm doing and to keep me on check.  Who knows...who cares as long as it is working.

Per my prior post...be your own fitness rebel...do nearly whatever it takes to keep it working for you.

Gym-Porn Stars?

Ok...I'm going to go out on a limb to make a point.

Before I make my point, I will make a disclaimer that will likely be disbelieved, but what the heck.  First, I am an atypical male when it comes to pornography.  Yes...I have seen a pornographic video.  Yes... I have watched Cinemax late at night.  However, NO, I have seen much less porn than the sociological studies indicate for the typical male.

Now...on to my hopefully creative point.

At our gym, all the cardio equipment faces the weight area.  And while I'm proud of my hour I spend on the Elliptical or the hour I spend on the recumbent bicycle (or in the case of 12/28, I spent an hour on each), I get to witness some almost unbelievable feats being performed in the weight area.

When I was a kid, I couldn't do a single pull-up...actually I doubt I could do a single pull-up tomorrow at gun point.  Yet, when I watch some of these hard-bodies, they perform pull-ups with ease.  Hell, I wish I took video of the guy that had is legs held in front of him while he pulled himself up.  (it looked like the letter L doing pull-ups)  This, to me, seemed as amazing as the porn stars who have unbelievable physical characteristics and stamina...(ah the analogy is coming together).  And while there are some that contend that the videos take liberties with editing for performance, I don't know if they can do much for the physical immenseness, but I digress.

What is my blabbering really coming to?

When I've viewed porn (it was an accident I swear...I was just curious...oh well...whatever), I've come up feeling...well...inadequate.  And while the performance is either enhanced or far from typical, it still leaves me a bit discouraged.  Granted, porn is certainly idealized.

Now...when I view the fit and the fabulous at the gym, I still manage to feel a bit discouraged.  I naturally assume that these folks have been fit and athletic all their lives...that they are keeping fit for their daily job as superheros or Olympians....I just can't seem to accept that these folks are not only just average healthy and physically fit, but may even have been as unhealthy as I am at some point in their lives.

Of course, bloggers like The Anti-Jared show me that you can not only start from a very unhealthy state, but you can reach very impressive levels of physical fitness.  Secondly, those that are at the gym can't fake their demonstrated feats of strength with camera tricks and editing so it is real and can be repeated.

In short, I have to start to accept that getting to an impressive level of physical fitness is not only possible, it is inevitable for myself as well.

So...here is to being a future gym-porn star!

Quinoa...A Pantry Essential!?!

I'm the last person to make a declaration of what is essential for someone to get and stay healthy and I don't intend to start now. I guess that is why I left my title somewhat of a question; after all, it'll be your decision to make.

The item I'd like to raise to your awareness for your consideration is a grain called Quinoa. Not only is it pretty tasty and versatile, you'll have another "Q" Scrabble word to play if you keep it in the forefront of your mind.

If you are trying to eat a balanced diet, one of those balancing acts is getting all the essential proteins.  Sometimes you can't do it just by eating some at one meal and some at the next.  The best way is usually to get them from a single source at the time you are eating.  Rice has some proteins and beans as the rest.  That is why dishes made with both rice and beans are more beneficial to you than if they are served independently and at different meals.  The combination of Rice and Beans together makes up a "complete protein".

Quinoa is already a complete protein and therefore delivers all of the healthful aspects in one package.

If you follow the link to www.quinoa.net, you'll find in their nutrition section a very interesting comparison of Quinoa to other grains.  It is far higher in protein than the others and is less in carbs.  The fat is a bit higher and the fiber is among the highest per serving.

For Christmas dinner, fearing that I'd have nothing to eat accept the typical sides served up with ham, I made myself my own Quinoa based side dish.  The recipe follows this post.

I haven't had Quinoa for quite some time...it has been a forgotten grain among the refined starches of my unhealthier past months/years.  It is back in the pantry again and I hope to include it as a staple side in the future.

Enjoy!


The recipe for Southwestern Quinoa is as follows:

2 cups water
1 tsp chicken base (you could also just use 2 cups of chicken stock to start out with)
1 cup Quinoa
1 1/2 cups green peas (corn or any other veg can be substituted)
1 15oz can of black beans (not necessary for the complete protein, but good additional fiber)
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp chili flake or hot sauce to taste

Prepare Quinoa per package directions.  In my case, it was to bring 2 cups of water to a boil and add 1 cup of Quinoa, bring back to boil and simmer until water is absorbed.

Just prior to all the water being absorbed, e.g. about 10-12 minutes, add peas, can of rinsed/drained black beans and seasonings.

Serves 6 (in my case it weighed out to about 163 gram servings).

I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel...

Pee-wee: There's a lotta things about me you don't know anything about, Dottie. Things you wouldn't understand. Things you couldn't understand. Things you shouldn't understand.
Dottie: I don't understand.
Pee-wee: You don't wanna get mixed up with a guy like me. I'm a loner, Dottie. A rebel. So long, Dott.


Tough to forget such memorable lines from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure.  Of course, while I'm not a fan of much of Paul Reubens' work, especially his solo act at the pornography theater, I do like Pee Wee's character in the movie.


With perhaps one exception when he was trying to impress some kids with his bike riding skills, Pee Wee was a true independent who placed little concern with how others viewed him.  He was certainly unique and sticks to his convictions on every interaction in the movie.


Not only does he spurn the early advances of the very attractive Dottie because of his sole focus on his bike (Dottie was played by Elizabeth Daily also of an extremely hot teen in an early Nicolas Cage movie, Valley Girl), but he also tells the biker gang to be quiet so that he could hear his pay phone conversation.  No matter what the risk or repercussion, Pee Wee was always his own person.


Gee Kyle...where the hell you going with this?


Fair question...I've been very introspective lately and realize how much I value the opinions and validation of other people.  While I've always been pretty successful in my career, I still tend to seek the positive opinion of others and need reasonably regular reinforcements to keep me readily and happily engaged.  When I am engaged, I'm unstoppable.


I guess that is why I'm usually so great and losing the weight, but not so good at keeping it off.  Not only do I tend to see results reasonably quickly, I also see progress consistently.  As long as that is going on, I tend to get the recognition I suppose I crave and rely on.  Therefore when it comes to losing the weight, I'm nearly unstoppable.


However, that clearly hasn't worked out for me.  Because, not only have I been thwarted from reaching my goal weights in prior attempts, I have also regained the weight once I've gotten there.  While I can't say that there has been only one single root cause I can predict that this has usually come from two sources.  Something significantly negative has occurred which stalled the positive reinforcements during the weight loss, or I simply ran out of positive reinforcements once I was already "healthy".


Certainly, it should have been sufficient to prop myself up.  Continue to be proud of my own accomplishments and even continue to improve myself for my own sake, my own pride.


But, of course, this is why getting healthy and staying healthy is so hugely dependent on mental health.  Also an important component to why we let ourselves get unhealthy in the first place.


Anyway, I hope to emulate Pee Wee in his independent ways.  He is a loner...he knows what he likes...he knows the kind of person he wants to be...he doesn't get that validation from anyone.  He is a loner...a rebel.


I, too, want to be a loner...my own rebel.  While there are others that will benefit from my health and I will certainly enjoy sharing my life with my wife with better health, I need to get there on my own, stay there on my own, and achieve newer and better health goals on my own.


I can't see it working any other way...



On a side note, we need to be our own rebel when it comes to our fitness methods.  You ask 5 people, you'll get 7 opinions on the dos and do nots of losing weight and getting fit.  Most all of it is great advice especially when it is trying to make sure we get fit in a healthful way.  However, it may not necessarily work for each and every one of us.  Sometimes we need to be a rebel; do things that aren't mainstream to get the job done.  What is lifestyle to one person is diet to another.  We all want to see us succeed and therefore will throw our .02 cents in and should continue to do so.  We; however, as individuals in our efforts to lose weight need to stick to our convictions and our methods if we feel they are sound and healthful as long as they are working for us.  Be your own fitness rebel.

Living For the Present...

Today, I'm offering up a follow-up passage to the prior blog entry about pain and a new perspective.  In this case, it is a question about that pain that might have occurred in the past, or anything really that might have shaped us into what we are today.  It is also a question of what might happen to us in the future and it is really relevant what tomorrow might bring.

Why such a heavy topic the day after Christmas and as we march into the New Year?  Well, it is a very emotional time for most of us.  It brings us together with our family, our friends.  It really puts our lives on display and showcases the lives of others.  It forces us to continually evaluate ourselves not only as we recount our far and recent pasts, but what we are trying to achieve.  It forces us to look at the lives of others and what they have accomplished.  Perhaps there are others who are struggling as bad or worse with their lives, but it does seem that those that we perceive have life by the tail, are the ones we focus on more.  These are the ones, by our own perception of their success, manage to further dampen our own resolve.  Yes, if you are the kind of positive and enlightened person, you can see their other successes as a beacon of hope, as an inspiration to constantly improve.  For some of us, though, it can bring regrets that we have not reached our goals.  And it is that focus on the future that brings us to the following passage that comes from the book  Total Freedom, by J. Krishnamurti.

Then you begin to ask, what is the end, the purpose of living?  This is what most people ask; this is what is in the minds of most people here.  Why are we living?  What is the end?  What is the goal?  What is the purpose?  You are concerned with the purpose, with the end, rather than with living in the present; whereas a man who fulfills never inquires into the end because fulfillment itself is sufficient.  But as you do not know hot to fulfill, how to live completely, richly, sufficiently, you begin to inquire into the purpose, the goal, the end, because you think you can then meet life, knowing the end, you hope to use experience as a means towards that end; hence, life becomes a medium, a measure, a value to come to that attainment.

I, personally, have always been obsessed about my future self.  While it should always be easy to answer the stupid interview question "Where do you see yourself in five years?", I have a more difficult time doing that.  Not because I don't think about these things a lot, but I don't think of them in the right way.

I don't believe that we aren't to have goals, dreams, etc.  I think those are essential.  I just think that we have to look deeper towards our quest and make sure they  are a guidepost to follow rather than an obsession.  After all, once we reach our goals, to what degree our we different?  If I reach my goal weight, will I have discovered my purpose in life?  Will I even discover my purpose and meaning in becoming more fit?  Not necessarily since I've been "successful" at losing weight many times only to gain it back.

While this passage doesn't speak directly to our pasts, I believe it still does by discussing our fulfillment by living in the present.  Our past has contributed to us, it is impossible to deny it.  We can try and forget it or shove it into the subconscious, but it will always be there.  To the degree; however, we can leave it in the past, tip our hat to it, give it a nod, etc., but still be very present with ourselves, perhaps the past pains need not be so influential.

Of that whole passage, let me repeat the core message: a man who fulfills never inquires into the end because fulfillment itself is sufficient.

I'm going to take heart to this passage and do better to live in the present.  Take each day as a day to be the best person that I can be despite what the future hold and to solidify that being the best person I can be is my purpose in life.  From that, I believe I can be fulfilled on a daily basis.  From that, I believe that I can easily reach my lifestyle goals of being fit, of being a good person, of being at peace.

Putting Pain in Perspective...

First, I don't read as much as I'd like to.  I'm much more distracted by television and internet than I should be when I have some free time.  Also, when I'm at the gym, I'm usually on the elliptical or the treadmill and find reading to be somewhat inconvenient.  Today, I was on a recumbent stationary bike for a change of pace and I was able to get some reading in.

I have been trying to read a philosophy book, Total Freedom, by J. Krishnamurti .  I do say "trying", since not only do I not read very much (except online), this is some pretty heady stuff to get through.  This one isn't a quick read and like any philosophy experience, you really do need to take some time to absorb as much as you can.

This book is actually a collection of various writings, speeches, etc. and therefore can be read a piece at a time.  It isn't some instruction text on getting all spiritually and metaphysically aligned per se.  I guess you take from it what you want to or can it.

Regardless, I wanted to share a segment and provide my own amateur philosopher interpretation on it.

"There cannot be awareness, that alertness of mind and emotion, so long as mind is still caught up in both pain and pleasure.  That is, when an experience gives you pain and at the same time pleasure, you do nothing about it.  You act only when the pain is greater than the pleasure, but if the pleasure is greater, you do nothing about it, because there is no acute conflict.  It is only when pain overbalances pleasure, is more accute than pleasure, that you demand an action.

Most people wait for the increase of  of pain before they act, and during this waiting period they want to know how to be aware.  No one can tell them.  They are waiting for the increase in pain before they act; that is, they wait for pain through its compulsion to force them to act, and in that compulsion there is no intelligence.  Therefore when a mind is caught up in this stagnation, in this lack of tenseness, there will naturally be more pain, more conflict."

Of course, salespeople are specifically trained to quickly seek out individuals "pain points" so they can focus on these to get the consumer to purchase their product or service.  If the individual isn't "in pain", they don't necessarily see a need to make any kind of change.

Perhaps there are those of us who are at complete peace in that we neither see a specific reason to change not do we keep our antennas tuned for the pain in our lives in order to seek out greater levels of pleasure and contentment.  Perhaps there are some that are naturally able to act day in and day out purely based on pleasures they experience and pleasures they seek.

This is not me.  For years, I've been trying to get to a more positive existence.  A level of peace where my mind is not seeking out pain; not focused on pain.

• Why do we wait so long to decide to get healthy?  
• Does it take hitting rock bottom emotionally, physically, mentally, etc. before we seek out the pleasures of health?  
• Why are we naturally tuned to seeking out this pain?  
• Do we get more comfortable with feeling pain than we do with feeling health?  
• Is this why it seems much more difficult to hold on to our healthy victories after such a long battle to lose the weight?

Of course, it takes much more effort and discipline to keep improving oneself beyond reading a meaningful passage in a book.  It may take my lifetime before I find myself acting towards pleasure instead of acting because of pain.  It may take my lifetime to act out of joy and passion instead of fear.  While it won't take my lifetime to reach a level of health, it may take all the strength I can muster to keep it there.

I do have another passage just waiting to be blogged about.  It is actually from a different speech of his, but dovetails nicely.

For the holidays and beyond, let's all do our best to put our minds towards the pleasures we want and act towards those pleasures instead of the pains we have.  This could include the way we want to eat, the relationships we want to have with our families, the relationship we want to have with g-d.

G-d bless and merry Christmas!

Panera Bread Company - Their newer nutrition tool can help...

For those that are unfamiliar with Panera, it actually started out here in St. Louis as the St. Louis Bread Company.  It has since gone national, though the local ones are still the same old St. Louis Bread Companies, or "The Breadco" to the locals.

It is a great place for soups, sandwhiches, salads, and of course their fresh and naturally baked breads, pastries, cookies, and other delectable stuff.

And while all their stuff is natural and homemade, perse, it doesn't mean that it is low calorie in all cases.  While you'd expect that from the baked goods, you'd hope a simple smoked turkey sandwhich without mayo on whole grain bread would be a safer haven for the calorie conscious.  Beware, that even without cheese and no mayo, it still weighs in at 470 calories.  Not horrible, of course, but you shouldn't take for granted any food choices at a restaurant just because it seems like the ingredients that make up the meal are innocent.

In the old days, ,you could only get nutrition info by asking for a 3 ring binder from the manager that was usually way out of date.  As Panera went national, they were also pretty wise regarding the public and nutrition so they at least added a .pdf file of their menu that I've used for the few items that I do enjoy there.

It has been awhile since I ventured to Panera's website, but now there is a very cool (like JimmyJohns) nutrition tool that let's you really customize exactly what you are to get the full nutrition counts.  It is at www.paneranutrition.com.  This is truly awesome as it really then lets you plan ahead.  If you are a Bodybugg person like myself or use any of the other caloric burn/intake devices, e.g. GoWearFit, then this is a great resource.

As usual, there are times when a well meaning salad is no better than eating the Big Mac calorically even though it may rule nutritionally.

Seek out and patronize the places, though, that make it so much easier for us to be healthy.

Where it all went wrong...

For me, I can truly pinpoint the turning point in my life when food became my drug.  I think everyone can actually do this, figure out where it all went wrong.  I know that there are some that were genetically born to their disposition, but I still hold that is a smaller percentage than we'd like to believe.  Perhaps there are some turning points so early in our lives, that we truly don't remember them.  Who knows...I'm not a psychologist.

Anyway, I was a thin and active child.  I was also a pretty picky eater as well.  I know that I was a clean plate kid from my parent's urgings, but I was also out and moving all the damn time.

We moved from Kansas City, MO to Omaha, NE when I was 3-4 years old.  We moved in the fall/winter, I believe, and as far as my young mind can remember, we were introduced to some neighbors nearly as soon as our car hit the driveway of our new house.

That is when I met my first, best, and really ONLY best friend I've ever had.  Pat.  He had an older brother and a younger sister.  He had a next door neighbor, Bernie.  We did everything together...we played football, baseball, ran up and down playing tag.  We ran with our kites...we learned to ride bicycles together.  Heck, I took the training wheels off his bike and he road.  An hour later, we took the wheels off my bike and I road.  No parents necessary!

Anyway, there wasn't a reasonably good weather day that we weren't out and active...then came the day in 5th grade when Pat moved away.  I actually knew he was going to move away, but my mind never really registered the event as reality.  I remember this very strange feeling at school when he waved goodbye to me in the hallway for the last time and I responded "great...I'll see you tomorrow."  I guess I didn't bring myself to terms with it then.  It still didn't register that he as gone.

Even though I had the other neighbor kids around, my level of activity plunged.  I was depressed and didn't even know what depression was.  I don't remember when I started eating worse and worse, but it couldn't have been too longer afterwards.

Instead of running for hours and hours and eating a few bites of dinner so I could go out and play till dark, I just stayed inside and watched TV.  I could cook for myself and my after school snacks started getting more and more ridiculous.  An entire box of rice-a-roni?  An entire frozen pizza?  An entire box of Mac and Cheese?  Two or more microwaved hot dogs?  Nothing was out of reach; my mom kept the cupboards stocked with kid-friendly foods.   I was a latch-key kid and while there was no parent around to stop me, I don't think that they would have.  We all have our enablers.

I don't know why I let my best friends departure leave such an impression on me.  I know that I'm bad at making attachments to new people.  I don't really have any good friends anymore...I'm a horrible "networker".  Perhaps I won't let myself get too close to anyone if they'll just leave someday.  Who knows...doesn't really matter anymore.

I just know that there was a day in my life where it all went wrong.  Where I substituted the joys of childhood with the medicating comfort of food.  When I stopped caring about my health and welfare.

I also don't necessarily know the correct answer, except to recognize it for what it is and try and acknowledge it for those times when I turn to food for the answer and disregard my health and longevity as something incredibly personal and precious.

It hurts...it hurts to write this...it hurts to remember...it hurts to reconcile the time and life lost and the remainder of my life I'm trying to rescue and regain.

We all have this journey to take, though.  We all have the hurt to recognize and work through...lets hope that we can do it...do it together...and do it in a healthy way.

I know the problem, allergies!

I think I've finally figured out my issue.  I'm allergic to unhealthy food.  Sure enough, whenever I eat unhealthy food, I gain weight.  Imagine that... In addition to my exercise allergy which causes profuse sweating, I'm completely allergic to a healthy lifestyle.

It is all making sense to me now.  I'm actually also allergic to Walnuts and Brazil nuts.  When I found out about it, I wasn't terribly upset about it.  I never liked Brazil nuts in the first place, and not all that fond of walnuts.  However, I was very fond of the kinds of baked goods walnuts usually is made with, e.g. carrot cake, banana nut bread, etc.

What is interesting to me, is how easy it was to turn away those high fat, unhealthy foods just because I was allergic to them.  I allowed the allergy to control my will.  I gave my power over to the allergy.  Friggin' hell, I'd eat the whole carrot cake, but nope...can't...I'm allergic.

Excuse me, but how pathetic is that?  Wouldn't it be easier to just be allergic to all unhealthy foods?  You'd never have to take control, you could just use the power of allergy to make all the right choices for you.  Wouldn't it be easier to be allergic to television and sitting on the couch?  Yep...allergies can really make things happen especially if you want to be healthy.

Again, while allergies are a great motivator to avoid the given allergen, wouldn't it be much much better to be in control over the allergen in the first place?  It should be a choice to avoid the bad things in life, not just because of an adverse reaction if I don't.

I gave away my power...I gave it to the condition I have.

I do have the power though...I can say no to unealthy foods because of what they represent and it is my decision to do so, not because I'm allergic to them.  I can say no to the television and hit the gym because of what it can do for me to be more healthy.  I don't need other drivers or excuses that I abdicate power and control to.  This is me...I can do this...I am doing this.

Effing hell...I'm the king!  Be a ruler of your domain too...

Selfish, Self Centered, and Self Absorbed

I'm no wizard in the english language.  Sure, I was born in the USA, educated here and got decent grades.  As I age, though, I seem to understand less and less about the nuances of our language.

I have always found the following words Selfish, Self Centered, and Self Absorbed to typically be negative pejoratives to describe people who think of nothing but themselves with the only possible antonym to be Selfless.

I'm here today to take a stand and at least select one of these three to be something that is both positive and necessary.  Let's exclude the obvious one, Self-Absorbed.  This is what I truly think of as the negative description of someone who is so into themselves that they have no care or thought for anyone but themselves.  I think I'll leave that alone and apply that negative label when appropriate.

Then you have Selfish...this too has always been commonly oriented around a negative description of someone.  I guess the "ish" suffix perhaps means that the individual isn't ALWAYS absorbed in themselves, but at times can be truly self absorbed and therefore at times only Self-ish.  I'll also leave that as a slightly less and perhaps only temporal description of someone.

What I'd like to rescue from the lexicon of negative personality traits is Self Centered-ness.  Yes, it is used to typical describe the individual who is so vain that the world revolves around them.  All must cater to their needs and bend to their wills.  But,dang!, does every word or phrase to describe "Self" have to be so damned negative?  I don't think so.  When it comes to losing weight, quitting smoking, or hell even cleaning up the house, you gotta center things around yourself.  Bottom line...you can't commit to any self-improvement project without being centered on yourself.  It has to be primarily about you or you can't both complete it and maintain it.

Certainly there are other drivers and incentives, i.e. spouses, children, doctors, etc., but we all know that we can continue to defeat and destroy ourselves despite all the outside motivations and forces.  Ultimately, it has to come down to you and I as individuals absolutely and totally committed to our own objectives.

If others in our lives are on-board with our efforts, then it can be an easier experience.  All can enjoy getting exercise, eating better foods, sharing the joys of looking better and feeling better.  However, when you end up alone in your efforts if not out and out swimming against the tide, then not only do you need to go beyond being self-centered, but perhaps down right selfish or even self absorbed.  You have to cook for yourself and leave the family to their own devices.  You have to hit the gym or the pound the pavement when you can and the spouse can take care of the rest.

So please...get okay with being self-centered...and even be gracefully selfish at times...and damnit...if it takes being disgustingly self-absorbed to get'er done...than that is okay too.

After all...despite the others around us, it is our body, our life, and ultimately our responsibility.

Bob's Red Mill - Apple, Cinnamon, & Grains Cereal

I'm a big fan of Bob's Red Mill organic products and have enjoyed many.  My wife and I were looking for some different hot cereals specifically seeking steel cut oats.  However, most of the steel cut oats are not "instant" and I'm not usually interested in the 20 minute cooking times.  Besides, I usually have to over-doctor them anyway to make them as palatable for me.

We saw Bob's Apple, Cinnamon, & Grains Cereal at the mega-market today and decided to give it a shot.  Like any hot cereal, I think that consistency is the most important followed by the out of the bag taste.  In a way, I'm glad that this is not a sweetened cereal since it gives me the option to sweeten it as I'd like.

In general, I think its a good cereal option.  It has a finer ground of the various grains included than the steel cut oats so the texture is finer, but still hearty.  By default, it is not a "sweet" cereal.  I added some brown sugar to mine, but the beauty is you could add raisins, crazins, honey, apples, etc..

The serving size indicates 1/4 cup dry @ 110 calories.  Per my usual, I scoffed and assumed that I'd need 2 servings to be satisfied...ummm...believe what they say.  It cooks up to be a lot of cereal.  Pictured, is half of the batch of cereal.  So, I'd suggest having the normal serving size and augment with other calories for breakfast variety.  No need to go it alone with one bowl of this stuff.

Bottom line, I do recommend it.  It is a lot of great whole grains, a decent amount of fiber per serving (as far as hot cereal goes) and is pretty good right out of the bag without two many taste-boosts.

Enjoy!

You Can't Take Away My Freedom!!! (Only I Can)

What motivates me?  What do I feel that I haven't had in many many years?

Nope, it isn't Mel Gibson (not by a long shot), but it is.....Freedom!!!.

• Freedom to wear what I want to wear
• Freedom to perform any physical activity I choose
• Freedom from leers, looks of disappointment, looks of disgust, or the tut-tuts that come from the fit and beautiful
• Freedom to push myself away from the table
• Freedom to eat at a buffet restaurant without trying to make the owner regret letting me in
• Freedom from the fear that each next chest pain is the big one!
• Freedom from medication or the threats of medication
• Freedom from guilt

I'm sure the we all could make a much longer collective list.

We know how trapped we feel by our poor health and fitness level.  We know what we can't do; and dream of what we wish we could do if we were just in better shape.  We live in fear of the doctor's office.  We live in fear of the swimming pool.  We live in fear of the beach without wearing a t-shirt.  We live in fear of injury or heart attack.  We live in fear of embarrassment.  We live in fear of exercise.  We live in fear of food.

And while each of us may not feel the same fears or the same degree of fear, we likely all see the same loss of our freedoms.

And that is why, for me, it is key to not only achieve health and fitness, but to maintain it and hopefully even reach levels admirable to others.

I want more than to feel good about myself, I want my freedom.

A Runner in the Making???

Its taking a while and I'm not getting very consistent opportunities, but I had some good performance on the treadmill at the gym tonight.

I think the last time I tried was on Wednesday and I only got a 7 minutes before I felt some warning pains and that was 2 minutes walking, 3 minutes jogging (at 5.5mph) and 2 minutes of walking.

Tonight I was able to do the full 15 minute cycle with 3 five minute cycles of 2 minutes walking and 3 minutes jogging.  Yes...each 3 minutes felt like the longest 3 minutes of my life, but at least I gutted it out.

I gotta keep working on it, though.  I really want that to be part of my lifestyle since it is so portable and easy to just go and do.

Getting better and better!!!

Pre-Vacation Cleaning Inspiration...

(no...this is neither my home nor office, but a picture related to hoarding found somewhere on the interwebbie)

Here I am at the office, just prior to starting my vacation until next year.  The office is pretty much dead here today anyway so I decided to do some cleaning up.  I dusted my desk.  I went through a pile of papers and filed what I needed and recycled the rest.  I went through my backpack (that holds my laptop and stuff) and lightened that load quite a bit.  I even made my whiteboard white again.

It reminded me of the other mental contributors to weight loss challenges and inspired me to do some quick research.

What didst I google?  The relationship between Clutter and Weight Loss.

Right off the bat, there was this article discussing the relationship.  Of course, they've been saying for quite some time that there is a relationship between stress and weight loss challenges.  Additionaly, they've been saying for quite some time that there is a relationship between "clutter" and its various forms and stress.

It don't take no rokit sinetist to add 2 + 2 together and come up with 4.

Other various links to review...
http://weight-loss-motivators.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_clutter_hinders_weight_loss
http://www.spaceclearing.com/html/clutter-clearing-blogmenu-73/505-clutter-clearing-and-weight-loss

Anyway, if you are getting down right frustrated with a sole focus on exercise and eating right, perhaps another healthy distraction is to de-clutter some other aspect of your life.

Don't wait for spring...pick a very specific area of cluttered annoyance, e.g. your car, your wallet, your purse, your desk, your bathroom, etc. and get it clean...you might find yourself even more inspired to get on that treadmill and drop that holiday cookie.

I think so, anyway.

The Holiday's Challenge!

Today is my last official workday of the year.  I have decided to take vacation until I return to work on January 4th.

In reality, it isn't a ton of time off, but actually not a bad rest either.

I hope to catch up on the household chores as well as do a fat-blast as well.

I don't think I'm going to set a goal per se, but challenge myself to take full advantage of the kind of time available that I don't normally get during my hard work weeks.

I hope for some good long hikes, weather permitting, and I hope for some good long sessions at the gym.  Heck, I might even start adding in some weight training as well.

What I hope to avoid is the siren song of the cushy couch.  I'm actually not worried about holiday eating; I managed to eat some lean brisket and salad last night at my mom's Chanuka party, a.k.a. her tribute to the miracle of  oil.  And one brownie among the sea of desserts.  Yes...yes...have a Latke (fried potato pancake, which I didn't actually have), but to have Fried Chicken as well as Donuts?  What,  no fried vegetables?Damnnnn.

I still have my in-laws Christmas to survive culinarily and caloricly, but I'll get through that too.

Anyway...cheers to y'all!

Let me tell you why I suck as a salesman!

Ok...this post has nothing to do with being a salesman (or salseperson for the PC folks out there).  This is just one of the memorable moments from the movie Tommy Boy where little Tommy Calahan (played masterfully by Chris Farley) breaks into a confession to a potential customer after failing to make a sale during a pitch.

While Tommy is generally a mess in his own affairs, he has one of the truest hearts which enabled him to launch into his soliloquy about his sales skills and consequently get better and better at becoming a salesperson.

What is this really about?  It is primarily about being honest with yourself.  It is also about being honest with others and keeping to The Four Agreements I discussed earlier.  Results or not, Tommy both says exactly what he means and is always trying to do his best.  I guess you could also say that he isn't influenced by the opinions of others, though he does get riled periodically.

What am I setting the stage for?  Let me tell you why I suck as a risk taker...Let me tell you why I suck at getting fit, etc... (I'm not being self-deprecating or loathing...I just love the honesty that Tommy Boy brings to the table).

Now...time to bring it back closer to me... I have a sever fear of failure.  I've had it all my life.  It has added a great deal of stress to my life and all the pressure is coming from within; though others have always encouraged and painted a very lofty picture of success which has added to the pressures.

What am I really talking about?  Here are some examples...

I'm very successful at what I do and have made both a healthy income as well as saved a lot of money.  However, once I'd made and saved the money, I'm unwilling to risk it because not only because I'm not confident that I won't be able to replace it, I'm unwilling to risk a failure in the process.  Not that I'm a penny pincher by any stretch; believe me I spend money, it is that I won't take any true gambles to open a business or head out on my own.  I probably could have stuck to many prior business ideas, inventions, or even riskier stock investments, and been even wealthier.  Many of those that society sees as successful have risked it all including going broke several times before they achieved their present levels of success.  I don't have that will in me.

Now, let's talk about weight loss and fitness.

I'm over educated and under practiced in the art of losing weight and getting fit.  I can espouse on many health related topics.  I'm a great cook and can also espouse on healthy cooking and eating.  I am absolutely horrible in converting knowledge into conviction at times.  Yes, I can follow all the steps...Yes, I can even successfully lose weight.

Where do I have concerns?

First...I am manic about the process.  I have to do it to the extreme, e.g. caloric burn and intake tracking.  I'll avoid certain restaurants to both avoid temptation as well as make the calorie counting easier.  I'll avoid social engagements where I have less control over the food options.  I probably allow my life to be much more affected than required to still be successful, but with each pound lost, I am unwilling to do anything to RISK having it come back and FAIL at my efforts.  No...this is not a healthy mental attitude...Yes...this is something I need to keep getting better and better at.

This mania translates mostly to how I eat.  I track exactly what I eat throughout the day.  I do eat as normally as possible.  I don't just munch on a bag of carrots or something.  I do eat real food with reasonable portions.  It just turns out that I keep undereating by the end of the day.  The BodyBugg has a recommended target for me, but I still eat about 600-700 calories below that target and sometimes (though I try not to let this happen) eat below the absolute 1200 calorie minimum.  I'm unwilling to have a splurge dinner just to offset the calories.  I'm nervous to add calories to breakfast and lunch in case I run out of calories for dinner and blow my daily caloric deficit.  I feel that I MUST achieve that deficit daily even though it is still appropriate to see the deficit match up over several days.  I feel that I MUST continue to lose weight and can't see rationale in "slowing down".  I don't want to FAIL under any circumstances.  Again...this is not healthy, but something I'm being honest about and need to get better at.

The potential physiological impact is a slower metabolism and ironically ultimately starting to FAIL to lose weight and actually start losing muscle which is totally counterproductive.

I WISH I were more manic about the exercise part, but it is much easier for me to control the food intake than it is to increase my exercise.

For now, though, I'm doing OK...just not IDEAL for losing weight....I'm totally confident that I will reach my goal weight and do so in a truly healthy way.  I will be fit, not just thin.

I also recognize that my methods to lose the weight are not really consistent with a change in a full-out change in lifestyle, though I believe it is easier to convert to a maintenance mode if I were losing weight through pills, surgery, etc.  I just know that my current extremes will have to be tempered at some point.  I just want to get there and then deal with the adjustments later.

I am totally terrified, though, of maintaining and continually improving on my level of fitness.  I've been "thin" before...I've lost from 288 to 193 before, but let it cycle its way back up to 236+.

This is a cycle that needs to be broken...and I will figure out a way to "get my mind right"...(Cool Hand Luke fans out there???)

Well...this is one of my therapy blogs that I write for myself; however, if it rings for you too and provides some comfort in some way...all the better.

The Four Agreements - Life Made Simple

While I can't claim to be an active practioner of all the written word contained with this philosophical book, The Four Agreements, written by Don Miguel Ruiz, explains a philosophy based on an ancient Toltec teachings from Mexico.

This book was suggested by a therapist during an especially difficult period in my life and provided great comfort and inspiration as well as a straightforward path to a more peaceful and simpler life.  The basis for the book is that our lives are mostly developed by the "agreements" that others have made beyond our control.  When we are born, we are named, we are educated, we are taught right from wrong, our personalities are influenced including our fears and anxieties.  These agreements come from parents, teachers, television, etc.  What we've become wasn't necessarily what we want to be.  We can choose to remake ourselves by making all new agreements.  The four agreements are as follows:

Be impeccable with your word

Speak with integrity.  Say only what you mean.  Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others.  Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don't take anything personally

Nothing others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a project of their own reality, their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

Don't make assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want.  Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama.

Always do your best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick.  Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret.

For me, the last agreement, Always Do Your Best, is the most key agreement.  It accepts our faults, but still demands that our hearts are always trying to do our best.  Our best may not be as good as someone else's best, but that is irrelevant.  You just need to know that you have done your best.

This is a pretty quick read, but deserves some concentration time.  You won't agree with all the sentiments because sometimes they simply go against what we are all used to.

However, an honest reflection on the points bring some very true and honest insights into how we, individually, not only can get better and better, but can be at peace with ourselves.

Month 1 Down, Including 17.4lbs!

Yes...I'm a guy....
yes...we lose weight more quickly...
yes...that sucks...
no...i'm sure my body will be adjusting and the weight will come off more slowly....
yes...I've lost this same 17.4 pounds about 10 different times now.

Anyway...I'm down a total of 17.4 pounds as of this morning with 3lbs coming off this past week.

I'm lazy this morning, so won't put up the Bodybugg screenshots, but while I'm doing great on my progress I know that I'm still undereating and that could start to have a negative metabolic impact.  I'm thinking of a future bog that I'll call Fear of Food (I hate to think of it as an eating disorder, but you can judge for yourself when/if I make that posting).

For now, though, I'll celebrate...for now, I'll continue to recognize what is going great and keep doing it and recognize what I need to do better.

After all, it is a matter of getting better and better all the time...isn't it?

You can't live it, if you aren't doing it!

Ok, maybe not something that'll end up on a poster anytime too soon.  I left this in response to another great blog/blogger I follow.

I've always hated hanging out in social situations when the only thing I can contribute is what I had watched on TV, in a movie, etc.   While others can chat endlessly about that mountain the climbed, the 5k they ran in, etc., I may only talk about the documentary I watched on Everest or on running the Boston Marathon.

Thankfully, I can talk about hikes that I take, bike rides, etc.  I've started to get off the couch and get fit again.

As my blog title indicates, I'm Getting Better and Better...all the time.  While some vicarious watching can be inspirational, just make sure that it does inspire action and not just a story about what you see; make sure it is an account of what you've done.

Health and Denny's? Do they belong in the same sentence?

I found myself in the not to enviable position this past weekend of having to go to a Denny's for breakfast.  In my past life of caloric dreams, Moons over My Hammy was my favority sandwhich.  I can't even remember the calorie count, but I think eating that would leave you with enough calories left to have a bite of an apple.

Anyway, to my pleasant surprise, Denny's has added some healthy food options for their build your own Grand Slam breakfast...I didn't have that by the way.

They offer substitutions for Chicken Sausage, Turkey Bacon, Egg Whites, and Hearty Wheat Pancakes at no additional price.  They also had 3 "premium" selection for a (I forget, but I think it was 50 cents upcharge) that include yogurt, granola, or a fresh fruit cup.

Of course, I still ended up with a plain bagel with cream cheese.  I already had a banana at home before we left.

Even though I still get frustrated when restaurants charge you premiums for healthy choices, I think Denny's has extended the olive branch to those of us trying to get healthy in offering a decent variety of breakfast alternatives among their normal artery clogging and waist widening menu.

Its been ages since I've been to the Denny's last and this may be OLD news to many of you, but a recent discovery for me.

Best wishes and better choices to all!

Sauces versus Seasoning

I am finding, in the daily struggle to eat the best calories possible, that it is much easier to keep things simple.  While not every sauce is meant to be fattening, I find that food that is more simply prepared and that stand out by its seasoning doesn't need sauces.

And while sauces can make food more interesting sometimes, I struggle to find those that aren't adding too much to the dish.

I have used a simple gravy mix that is prepared with water to make some dishes more interesting and doesn't have all the added fat and calories of others.

I love Indian food, but have stuck to the simpler grilled items like tandoori chicken, chicken tikka (not the masala), etc.  There are ways to enjoy the food you love without having all the extra sauces as long as they are richly flavored in their own right.

Anyway...just a thought for you out there to seek out the seasonings and save the calories for something else.

Borderline on Pants Sizes...arrrggggh

I guess it's one of these good news, bad news types of things.  I have two sets of Dockers, sizes 38 and 40.  When I had lost down to 193, I was in my size 38's and almost ready for the 36's, but I gained back to my size 40s, aka the "Safety Pants".


At this moment, the 40's are getting awfully saggy and difficult to keep up; however, I still can't fit into some of the 38's either...so I'm in transition.


This time; however, once I get comfortably into those 38's, the "Safety Pants" are going to the textile recyclers.


I hope another 2-weeks and/or 5 pounds might do it.

Week 3 - Still going strong...3.4lbs for total of 14.4lbs

3.4lbs this week for a 3 week total of 14.4lbs....Do you hear me complaining?  Hell no!


While I only record my weight on a weekly basis, I still weigh myself daily despite the advice to the contrary.


I had some major fluctuations during the week, but the calories in/calories out principle still held out.  I know that I'm ahead of what my goals were and I expect my progress to level out some, the results are still pretty accurate.

For the last week, it indicates that I should have had an average caloric intake of 1700 calories based on the amount of weight lost whereas my food log averaged 1331.

If, however, we look at my results over the last 3 weeks, there is actually little discrepancy between the food log and burn rate based on measurement changes.  Food log of 1524 versus 1656 gives 132 calories difference.  That really is a pretty small number when you consider both the variables in accurately recording food intake as well as your body's own physiology.

Then again, it's data like this that makes the Bodybugg so appealing.  It continues to demonstrate and enforce the simple principles of calories in/calories out.  It gives you the knowledge of what you need to adjust, e.g. less intake, more output, etc.

For me, I'm glad I'm still keeping a caloric intake above 1200 calories on a daily basis, 1331 average the past week, 1524 average from program start.  Even though my burn is on average 300 calories below where target, my intake is about 600 calories below target which helps to explain the greater than target weight loss.

See...it all does make sense!

My Review...SportyPal

If you've been following my blogs, you'll know that I'm a user of the Bodybugg device to assist in attaining my fitness goals.  I have also begun using my Wii Fit Plus.  As you can then guess, I'm gadget oriented.

I was intruiged by a device a friend of ours in CA was using to track his runs. It is made by Nike and it is a little sensor that goes into a pocket within your shoes and can then be uploaded to your computer to track distance, speeds, etc.  There is a Nike website where you can participate with others who are logging their runs, races, etc.

In the process of researching the Nike device...I always research gadgets of interest, I came across a free piece of software that could be used with my HTC Fuze (Windows Mobile 6.5) GPS enabled cell phone.  It is called SportyPal and is available for download at www.sportypal.com.

Even though this is a relatively new software tool (v1.1.1), I'm really impressed with it especially for something I didn't have to buy!

Not only is it pretty cool looking on the phone, it works pretty well too.  While it really doesn't care what "moving" activity you are involved in, there are currently only four workout types, e.g. Running, Walking, Cycling, and Rollerblading.

I believe the only reason to have the type of workout is SportyPal's attempt to record a caloric burn.  This isn't really very useful since Hiking isn't the same as Running or Walking, but still a good movement oriented activity.  Anyway, for a movement oriented workout, you get the following kinds of information, e.g. Time Elapsed, Distance, Average Speed, and Calories Burned.  What is REALLY awesome though, since it works with the GPS on your phone, is that it actually will map your route too.

SportyPal plots your route using Google Maps so you also (especially when using your account at www.sportypal.com) can view the map in various modes, e.g. terrain, satellite, etc.

Once your workout is complete, you upload it to the website.  You can choose to do this later in case you don't have signal at the time.

As you can see, the website keeps track of all your various workouts.  The developers are clearly European as everything seems to be in metric. There are links to covert your screen display to imperial, but sometimes I forget.  Anyway, you can do more analysis of your route in the Google Map, including looking at the changes in elevation/altitude along your route.  This is VERY awesome.

Lastly, from the Community link, you can actually see where the last 500 workouts were around the world.

Probably the biggest concern is security.  You'd want to be careful about how much personal information you share on the workout.  The most cynical, though careful, of us would say that it is theortically possible to become a victim/target.  For example, if you post a series of workouts all showing the same relative time, place, route, etc. and lets also say you post that you are a clearly attractive woman.  This could be a recipe for trouble.  That being said, you can also set your workout's level of visibility so that it isn't available to EVERYONE....bottom line...use your judgement as with any social networking oriented site.

The only other consideration I can offer is your phone's battery life.  If you are running, cycling, etc. chances are you are going to do this in a metropolitan area (where you'll have constant signal) and it won't be for hours at a time.  However, when hiking in the boonies and for hours at a time, your battery life becomes a real factor.  You need to know how to best manage your power settings and turn off everything that doesn't rely on the GPS to operate.

While I'd probably enjoy a true handheld GPS as opposed to continually risking my expensive phone to the elements, I feel that for the first few times of using this, I feel that I have delayed an fairly pricey investment in a new GPS and have leveraged an already expensive phone that typically goes with me wherever I go anyway.

The SportyPal software is available for a wide variety of platforms including the iPhone.  I have no doubt that there are other similar applications out there.  Honestly, I didn't look that closely.  Let me know, though, how many other of those are both FREE and work on Windows Mobile.

If you have a GPS enabled phone and if you are interested in yet another way of looking at your motion oriented workouts, give SportyPal a look.

Well...that is all I have to say about that!

Running is more practical, but Hiking is more fun

Just came back from hiking at Washington State Park near De Soto, MO.  It was my first time hiking there and while fall hiking represents its own challenges, I probably won't visit that park again any time too soon.  The trail markings were practically non-existent.  Couple that with all the leaf litter, and our original hopeful 10 mile hike got reduced to 3.83 miles.

Oh well...anyway to the point of my title.  As a Bodybugg user, I track my caloric burn.  I have racked up some big numbers while hiking.  According to some websites, running (assuming like a 8mph pace or better) actually reports a bigger bang for the buck, I think I have a long way to go to get to that level.

However, hiking can take you to some very scenic and enjoyable spots.  Introduce you back to nature and depending on the time of year, that can be a great thing.  Certainly dealing with ticks and mosquitos can turn anyone into a treadmill junkie, but they are a small nuisance in comparison to the sights and peace you can achieve in the outdoors.

Anyway, perhaps the next best thing will be to actually become a Trail Runner, but since I am always close to twisting ankles when just hiking, I'm not sure I'll be able to run a trail safely.

Never say never...

Is Running in My Future???

I really would like to be able to jog/run at some point.  It seems like such a great pursuit.  It is so portable and requires so little to get started.  While you could probably blow the bank on all sorts of gear, it also seems relatively inexpensive to get involved.

I bought some decent shoes from a running store to make sure I was getting off on the right foot...yes pun intended.

I took the advice of the experts and have tried various times to start off slow.  They suggested run/walk for no more than 15 minutes for the first 4-6 weeks.  It seems like no matter what I do, my shins/calves start to burn so quickly, I can't really do much in the way of jogging.

I certainly hope that over time, if I can do this consistently, that I might be a runner some day.  I hope that I'm not physiologically opposed to being successful.

After all, the Biggest Loser contestants ran a friggin' marathon after 6 months of their intensive training.   Should I be able to run more than 5 minutes at a time??? Damn!

Oh well...like everything, it is a journey.

Is History Doomed to Repeat Itself?

As I've commented on several other blogs, this isn't my first rodeo regarding attempts to get fit.  It almost sounds ridiculous to tout the benefits of utilizing the Bodybugg when I'm on the 3rd cycle of utilizing it to get fit and likely the 100th cycle in my lifetime.


Despite the evidence to the contrary of the 1000's of books, tens of thousands of websites, 100's of workout videos, etc., losing weight is very straightforward, in fact it is particularly easy.  I know, I said it...easy.  

You eat less and exercise more.  

Yes, all those books and websites will tell you all the physiological drivers behind why that simple statement makes sense, but I'll save the trouble of trying to find a publisher for my sentence.


I'm not into self-help books, so that is why I've started blogging.  Anyway, the challenge isn't losing the weight, after all I've done it many times before, it is overcoming the pattern of failing to maintain it.


What is it exactly about the human mind, that should have a very clear understanding of the time, effort, and perceived sacrifices that go into losing all the weight in the first place, then allow itself to gain it back (some, all or even more)?  Why, then, does it either enter an active self-destruct mode or worse yet allow for complacency to the point of neglecting one's health?


Doesn't the mind remember the joys of fitting into new clothes?  Doesn't the mind remember the compliments from friends, families, coworkers?  Doesn't the mind remember your own pride in your appearance; your ear to ear grin when you completed a difficult physical feat with ease?


What is it that allows you to completely celebrate and embrace the benefits of achieving greater health only to see it return to the couch?


These are the questions that really need answering.  This is where the 1000's of books need to focus.  Yes, I'm sure that 999 of them would talk about self-esteem.  If you don't have it, then go get it.  I've heard it from books and I've heard it from therapists as if there is some self-esteem store out there where you can just get it off the shelf.


Exactly what is the key to getting that anyway?  I am very successful in my career.  I have a beautiful wonderful wife.  I have family that loves me.  Exactly why would I have a self esteem issue?


Anyway, enough about my musings...suffice to say, it isn't losing the weight and increasing my level of fitness I find especially challenging, it is maintaining it.  

This is truly my mission; finding a way to keep fit while I'm trying to get fit.

The War on Fat Continues - Disgusting

While I'm personally trying to lose weight and get more fit, it is for choices of my own to arrive at and to succeed at.


While I do happen to hate the thought that healthcare costs are high in general and it could be, as reported, to a large part based on the health issues of obseity, I'm not a fan of the breadth that organizations may go or be allowed to go to control our weight.


I'm starting to think that smokers will likely end up with more rights and freedoms than someone who doesn't fit into the desired BMI boxes.  I wonder if the university in this article requires you to take a smoking cessation class if you are a smoker prior to graduating too.


See this absolutely shocking story on CNN.COM's website.

BMI (Body Mass Index) - Valid, Conspiracy, or Laziness?

I've long complained about the seemingly recent trend for insurance companies and health professionals to continually utilize and emphasize the importance of an individual's BMI or Body Mass Index.


My complaint comes from the overly simplistic model that it utilizes since it only factors, gender, height, and weight into its determination of Obesity.  How can an athlete and I have the same BMI when I know for a fact that my 29% body fat represents a much different picture of health determination than the BMI number itself?


As most people do, I googled "origin of BMI" and discovered a wonderful article that explains the history and limitations of the BMI.


I found out some amazing things....that the BMI is not some new-fangled method for assessing health, it comes from the 1800's.

Why are we subjecting individual's to a standard that was developed on knowledge that is 200 years old?

And, it confirms that the BMI has many limitations and really should be combined with many other factors to develop a truly accurate picture of health.


So...it brings the following questions to mind?


Is the BMI even valid for use?  Again, we've learned so much more in the last 200 years regarding our bodies and the projected determination of health issues.  Why is BMI still even regarded as relevant, if not a sole determinant of eligibility or premium group by insurance companies?


Is the BMI a consipracy?  Hmm...tough to prove, but I imagine that you snare a much greater percentage of the population in categories or overweight and obese than are really approprate for assessing risk for insurance purposes.  Did the insurance companies lobby for the BMI because it helps to keep premiums higher for a larger percentage of the population?  Does it give them an opportunity to exclude individuals from coverage?


Are Insurance Companies Lazy?  Also a fair question...I'm not familiar enough with insurance law to assess what standards are optional and mandatory for insurance companies to set.  Do some use BMI and others not?  Is BMI the only required standard and it is optional to get body fat percentage or other health determinants?  Could we have better and lower cost insurance if Insurance companies were not allowed to simply be lazy about assessing our true health risk?


I don't know the answer to these complicated questions, and it is a nitty-gritty detail that our current political engine hasn't mentioned to my knowledge.


High calorie food for thought...at least you won't gain weight from digesting it.