Day 315-319: Here Is March

Good Morning Folks, Welcome to March!

Thank You to those of you whom have sent me emails or Twitter DM's the past day or so inquiring about my absence. I am alive and staying healthy; all is well. Over the past couple of weeks my morning schedule has become increasingly compressed and the bit of time I usually write up a post & hit the blogs has been narrowing. It bothers me more that I have not been able to get to your blogs more so than I've not had time to write a post.

So I will need to get more creative with wringing out some blogging time it seems. That in itself may be my main goal for March. Yes, it is March. Spring is oh-so near, or so says the calendar. Hopefully the weather will equal the calendar's expectations. I am hungry to get out there for some outdoor cardio. Last December I was toughing out the frigid temps for some outdoor cardio and I was rewarded by catching a cold twice. So since then I have limited my cardio to the elliptical.

March, what do I have planned for March...

• A weigh-in, been about a month since I did that, thinking next week I'll give the scale a visit.
• I'll be attending the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show this coming weekend. That'll pose some dietary challenge which I will handle just fine. As well I'll be golfing a couple of rounds for exercise.
• My son has advanced to state regionals in Wrestling, not something we expected. I will miss regionals as they are this weekend but fingers crossed he advances on to the state finals the following weekend in Champaign; or are they in Springfield? We'll figure that out when he advances.
• I am going back to the plastic surgeon to get more of my face sliced off. Recall my recent brush with melanoma, I have another spot on my forehead I've been advised to kick to the curb as a precaution so kick it I shall. Damn!, I just this minute remembered last September I was told to park the weight lifting for a week or two while the incision healed; $#&T!!!!!.
• Spring Break is the last week of March, I'll take a day or two off that week for yet to be determined fun.

So what do you have planned for March?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 174 - Goal Bashers, Sad

And the riddle picture is; well you see it there... Weider adjustable dumbbells. I love them. Hmmm, do they make adjustable barbells?

Great guesses as always, but nobody got this one. Springs or a fork were by far the popular guesses. The 'Galvanized French Fries' was the most unique guess, thanks for the chuckle Liz. Our closest was guess was the 'weight machine at the gym' by Julie. Well done Julie, If I gave out prizes for this I'd be at your door with your prize this morning. Our second closest, I'm thinking the 'chromed out pickup truck' by Manda. Ok while that wasn't that close, I just like it. Hmm, a truck that is all chrome, sounds like heaven; who wants a ride?

In yesterday's post I spoke with pride of my latest PR. What I am more stoked about is that I am jogging more & more with my cardio. Curious just how much of the loop I jogged I had to find out.

The map below shows the path around the lake. Thanks to Google Earth I was able to highlight the patches which I jogged. Add'em up and I jogged .86 miles or 38% of the 2.25 mile loop. More than I figured I had before figuring it out; sweet! Look out 40%+, I'm coming to get'ya.

As I said in previous posts increasing my jogging as a percentage of my cardio is my current personal challenge. Whether at Lake Andrea, around my neighborhood, or yours. Upping the jogging is my goal of choice to keep my mission progressing.

Speaking of goals, do you set goals?

Do you feel comfortable doing so & sharing that you do?

Put me down for a 'yes' for both.

Recently I had an exchange where I was challenged that goal setting accomplishes nothing. My reply to the immediate challenge was actually to agree. Setting goals by itself accomplishes zip; it is your actions to reach them that gets that credit. My opinion, differ away if you desire to.

Certainly the act of setting the goal deserves credit too. For many setting the goal is the second action we take towards what it is we desire. The first action is commonly accepting the realization that something needs to change, needs a goal.

Debating a differing opinion is one thing. Arguing for the sake of whizzing in my general direction is quite another. That is precisely what this character was up to. Our chat went on to see me share example after example of my own experience where I chose to acknowledge an opportunity, set a goal, plan actions, do them, adjust as needed, and kick the sweat out of opportunity until I can call it accomplished. If I may be so bold, I was on a roll.

But no, nothing I said was going to convince this champion of condescension that anything I, or anyone, ever accomplished was due to setting a goal. According to this deacon of disdain all we need is just do what comes naturally pre-programmed and for some of us that means accepting less than pleasant results. Oh for the sake of… ugh.

For our reading sake here let me make a long discussion short, I took pity on this sultan of scorn and found excuse to exit the heavy air around us. Likely this admiral antagonist took my exit as capitulation to his point. Hardly.

My take away, in general goal-bashers do not challenge the concept because of you, me, us; those who set goals. Rather, they do so because of themselves. Likely there is an unhappiness about them they have not been able to shed, and have accepted it as fate. Sad, is my take away.

But, wait there's more… (tribute to Billy Mays; moment of silence)…

I shall not end this post, or any, on a downer of a note. Nope, not going to do it, No way!

I took something else away from that debate. JOY…
Joy in knowing that I set goals...
Joy in knowing that I am happy...
Joy in knowing I kick @$$...

To all of you, have a joyous day!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 136 - Tagged I Am

Excellent day yesterday at the eating and at the exercise. Balance, portion and yum all accounted for well. The dumbbell routine thrashed my upper body quite well as did the push ups. Sit ups too, it was just over a week ago I re-discovered my ability to even do sit ups once again. Now five sets of them are part of my exercise routine. So good day yesterday on the getting healthy front. How about you, was yesterday a good health day for you?

Before I forget, the answer to yesterday's picture riddle; a Strawberry Smoothie!

Jo was the first to guess a smoothie, Lori followed her up with the exact flavor of strawberry. I was afraid that was going to be too easy yet when guesses like cheese, meats, tile and a baseball bat started rolling in I backed off of that fear. And LEGS, a bunch of guesses it was a leg, this I didn't expect and got a great chuckle from, fun! Ok, whose ready for a smoothie?

Let's keep the fun a rollin here; Rapunzel has tagged me which requires me to answer 8 questions about myself then make up 8 new questions to tag 8 of you with! Without further delay here are the 8 she gave to me...

1. What is the biggest change you've made that's helped you succeed in your weight loss efforts?
A: On my blog I have listed 8 changes which I have committed myself to, it is hard to say which is the biggest impacting change. If pressed to choose one, #4 Reward Myself For Success. For me I've come to embrace that being healthy has to be fun, you have to enjoy it if you expect to be healthy for a life time. Rewarding myself when I attain goals I've set, now that is FUN!

2. What's your toughest temptation?
A: BACON!!! I love it, I would wrap myself in it if I didn't think I'd be tossed in a straight-jacket. I still enjoy bacon, but a slice or two a week is all. Not 1/2 pound in a single sitting.

3. What program are you following? (WW, South Beach, etc)
A: None. Eating healthy & exercising, it is just that simple. I do try and keep bad carbs in check, but it would be wrong to say I am on a low carb diet. I've come to learn when you have a food addiction living healthy in spite of it is all about being mentally strong. The program, or non-program, you choose is irrelevant until you have set your mind straight that you are going to get healthy. Not just try & do it, nope, that you ARE going to DO IT. Once your mind is set, then figure how how you want to do it and it will happen.

4. Who has been your biggest fan and supporter?
A: My wife. She knows how important this is to me, to us. Even though she knows that my getting healthy means I will be around allot longer, she still wants me to do it :-)

5. Any naysayers who've attempted to sabotage your efforts?
A: Not really. I read that some bloggers get emails from other bloggers criticizing them for this or that. I have had none of that. I may be my biggest naysayer. Even though I am more confident & positive than I ever have been about being healthy, I still have a daily episode where I tempt myself to have just one trip through the drive thru or order the 20 ounce rib eye just this once. While one of anything may really be ok, luckily I have not listened to the argument because I fear one will turn to two, then three, and then I may as well forget it. Me, only I can sabotage this mission.

6. Do you have a favorite "legal" food that helps keep you on track?
A: Fruit. I have never eaten so much fruit. Fruit has replaced most of my snacks. And I believe you have to have between meal snacks; at least I do. So apples now replace potato chips. Peaches replace candy bars. Grapes & Cherries replace donuts & fritters (OMG I miss fritters). You get the picture - eat your fruit people!

7. How do you see your life changing once you reach goal?
A: See my bucket list on my blog under the page titled: "MYSELF". I will actually be able to do all of that. ALL of it. At 320 pounds (where I started this mission) it was a pipe-dream list. When I get to 199 or below it will be a list of stuff that will be done; whether that stuff wants me doing it or not - I am doing it!

8. What's your dream outfit once you get to goal? You know we all have one! :)
A: Come on Rapunzel, you can't gather this on your own, you have to ask? The swim suit worn in the movie Borat of course! Seriously, I have never ever ever, no way have I ever, never have I felt comfortable in a suit. My hope is that by being fit, I can get a new tailored suit and feel good in it. Not that I'd wear it often, but when I need to, knowing I can feel good in it would be oh so nice.

Ok, here are the 8 Bloggers I would like to TAG next...

1. Dee
2. toosexy4thisfat
3. Blue
4. Keelie
5. River
6. Kyle
7. Michael
8. Luke

Here are your 8 questions, enjoy & be sure to tag other...

1. You can have one super power, what would it be?
2. Which do you see as more important, diet or exercise?
3. If we're forced to become vegetarians by law could you do so or would you frequent the black market for meat?
4. Do you consider the word 'Obese' to be a proper word to define those extremely over-weight, or do you consider it to be improper if not a hateful word?
5. Do you believe that Elvis died on August 16, 1977 or was his death a conspiracy cover up?
6. How much water do you drink a day and do you agree that water intake of 8 glasses a day or more is critical to a healthy body?
7. Aliens have invaded earth and landed a mile from your house, do you run for the hills, do you grab a weapon & charge, or do you try and communicate with them?
8. Is your current approach to getting healthy an approach you consider to be fun and can you do it for the rest of your life? 

Have Fun!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 68 - Acronym Love

So today I'd like to talk up some of our favorite acronyms we use here in blog land.

First up is NSV (Non-Scale Victory)
<--- I have my NSV's recorded on the left-hand panel of my blog.

Recall last week I actually jogged for the first time in eons. It was just once around my block, not a step more. Being able to jog for the first time in years, NSV to me.

In my closet I have half a dozen or so shirts that I haven't been able to fit into for a long time. Some of them I've never fit in since I received them but kept just in case some say I could. Last Friday I was able to fit into one of my work shirts which I haven't been able to put on and feel comfortable both standing & sitting in for three or more years. Fitting comfortably into my blue & white checkered shirt for the first time in years, NSV to me.

Next is PR (Personal Record)
I have my PR's recorded here; MY NUMBERS

Last night my work out was a walk around the 2.25 Mile loop at Lake Andrea. It had been over a month since I visited this lake in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Last time my son & I walked around it we did so in 44 minutes even. Last night we did so in 40:11 minutes; Oh Yeah! ^---You see the timer of my iPod Nano in the picture above, sorry it is so fuzzy even for a cell phone pic. I think we can break 40 minutes in future efforts but to do much better than that we'll likely need to start jogging certain lengths of it. Last night it was in the mid-80's and humid so I was wiped out when we were done. Perhaps that in part was motivation to hump that loop so hard, the sooner we got done the sooner we could get back to the air conditioning of my vehicle.

The jog around the block I added to my PR list too. I fully intend to do it again and destroy that time. As well eventually add a second block, a third, a ...

Do NSV's and PR's motivate you?

NSV's motivate me more so than PR's. NSV's are akin to a kid's joy when they open up that Christmas gift and it was just what they asked Santa for. Or akin to that girl saying yes to a date after weeks of putting off asking because you she thought was way out of your league (or guy in your case perhaps).

PR's are motivating too and I know folks have differing views on them. I'd like to think I'd being doing just as well as I feel I am even if I didn't log PR's. For me they provide a challenge, a purpose to dig a little deeper, reach a little further while in the throws of exercise.

Acronym's, love'em or not, they are apart of my mission.

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 6 - Oh Yeah!

Did well on yesterday's challenge to get through the evening without falling prey to temptation. We didn't go for that bag-o-salad once the running around was done but sensibility prevailed and over-indulgence was not allowed in the house. As I awoke and reflected on that I got a surge of "Oh Yeah!" that has my day off to a good start. Hope you too awoke to an "Oh Yeah!"

It is Friday, what to do today? Work of course, sitting at my desk now getting my days post up in effort to help set the tone for a good day of health behavior. Perhaps I need to temper myself with a bit of caution as I only had a can of tomato juice (I love tomato juice) for breakfast. Probably not sufficient fuel to start the day but I'm feeling OK at the moment and should continue to do so as long as I don't allow myself to make up for it when time comes for a mid-morning snack.

Otherwise for today gotta do the work thing and then this afternoon or evening when I get home how about I stare down that elliptical in the bedroom and actually win the stare down this day? OK, should I follow through on that goal for today it me very well feel like it bested me by the time I get off of it, but even so I will still have won; right? Get in some exercise - that’s the goal for this day!

Oh Yeah!

Responsibility 199... Gotta Do It!!