Day 173 - Riddle This Monster

Hello blogger loving - heatlhy craving - exercise wanting - happy folk. Does that sound like you? Sounds to me like a fine way to looked upon as.

Picture riddle for Thursday this week. There you see it. Looks shiny, looks symmetrical. Doesn't look like a liquid or a squid. What is it?

Wednesday was a great day on the exercise front. My son & I made a visit to Lake Andrea to chip away at my personal challenge there. Continuing to work to get around that lake's 2.25 mile loop faster and faster by mixing in more jogging with the walking. Last week we improved our time by 1:51 minutes doing just that.

This week we got after with even more intensity and achieved a monster PR shaving a monster 2:11 to finish in 30:55 minutes. Monster I'm telling you! Um, yeah, I was stunned when I looked at my watch (if you can't see it trust me it says 30:55)...

Cashed out, that was me afterwards. No time to catch my breath however, I had to take care of a little business before breathing, hydrating, celebrating. That done, I wanted to capture an Oh Yeah shot but my 'gasping for air' face over-rode my 'happy and prideful' face. So this is my Oh Yeah shot (why do us bloggers like to take pics in bathrooms? I cropped out as much of the porcelain furniture I could)...

Finally hydrating... my son tried to get a better Oh Yeah shot of me in a more celebratory moment. However this is not much better as I was too thirsty to pose and he was too impatient to wait...

After the exercise we went off to grab a meal & play before going to his high school for a presentation on college prep. Andrew was paying more attention to the baseball game on TV than his game controller where I was focused on the video poker battle between us...

But he didn't need to may much attention to the poker as he was wiping the floor with me as I kept getting hand after hand like this...

Finally, some food...

Have a MONSTER Day!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 172 - Experience This Jack

As a kid I didn't receive allot of nutritional guidance. Sure I received some but I didn't shape any life long beliefs or habits. Scratch that, I developed a belief in butter cookies & a habit for eating them a package at a time.

As a teenager, well; let's keep those years out of this.

As a young adult I was the benefactor of a youthful engine and an active lifestyle. Even though I ate horrifically I was fit. For much of my 20's the fat cells awaiting their debut lay dormant.

When I got married (1st time), took a corporate desk flying job, hit my 30's, and gave up my active pursuits for the couch & increased time with my face glued to electronic screens (curse you AOL!); when I chose those changes I traded my health & sex drive for obesity & drive thru. Those fat cells erupted around my belly, under my chin, and filled those chick repellents called moobs.

Why, why did I become obese? Simple. I didn't know what I needed to know when young. I blame nobody but myself; the lessons of healthier ways were all around me. If only I had chose to realized them.

Now in my mid-40's I am wiser thanks to time and it's gift of hind-sight. Upon realization we have experience, or dare I say wisdom, mid-lifer's like me tear this gift open like toddlers on Christmas morning. And we should, for inside is the means to forge healthy lives.

So what wisdom do I have? Well Jack asked me to share just that recently & I obliged. My thoughts on "What I wish I knew at 25 that I know now" and the thoughts of a handful of other 'experienced' soles can be read HERE.

Enjoy those pearls Jack so graciously threaded for us. If by chance you haven't already done so there, let me ask you your thoughts here; What do YOU wish YOU knew at 25 that YOU know now?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 171 - Fueled Up Simple

Let's give Tuesday a little love shall we.

Do you consider this to be the second or the third day of the week?

On Monday my eating was good and I did get in some cardio. While waiting for my sons soccer game to start I switched into my walking shoes and did three laps around the high school campus. Three laps in 45-50 minutes covering 3 miles.

Today I offer a simple picture of the simple foods I bring to work each day. Today it is a plum (huge one at that), a gala apple and a banana. Also my daily can of V8 and a bottle of water which I'll refill 2-4 times on any given day.

Simpler foods provide us with better fuel; is that a true statement? Oh I am sure there are some great articles out there that debate this into oblivion. Honestly I am not certain, but, if forced to pick true or false; my gut would have me say true.

As a hobby of sorts I love to get busy in the kitchen. Actually calling it a hobby is incorrect, instead it comes from a desire to eat food that tastes good. I didn't get to be obese eating food that tastes like the rubber end of a plunger.

Many of you know my joy for cooking from my occasional spread of photos of my work on the grill, the smoker or the stove. And believe me, I share only a small smattering of this pleasure here on the blog.

Whether I'm working on a meal that is an all day affair or a quick grab and go, I do try and keep the recipe as simple as can be and the ingredients even simpler. That paella recipe on the 'stove' link is about as complex as I like to take it. Oh I am not daunted by the complex, hardly. Rather my years have brought me to believe that food tastes better when approached & prepared simply. As well my recent mission to get healthy has me believing that the simpler the food itself, the better it is for you.

Agree, disagree? Huh, you want me to pass the Cheetos, now cut it out!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 170 - Loose, Bang, Beef

Seems like it was Monday just seven short days ago. Monday it is, so lets see what I can bring to the blog today. How about some pictures to start the week off nice and easy...

The first one is there on the left is from Saturday. I decided to try on a few shirts I've had set aside in hopes of being able to fit in them someday. When I bought this it was skin tight. And I dislike tight fitting clothes. It was very pleasing that it is no longer tight and now is quite loose around the gut. This shirt will go in my drawer of shirts exercise use, the weather is getting colder I need some long sleeve gear. Can't use being cold as an excuse to not get out there and get the miles in.

>
Here are the boys Saturday evening getting there rifles zeroed in for deer hunting season which starts next week.
Top left is Andrew with his Savage .30-30.
Top right is Andrew in a pic looking down the 'tube' they shoot into. Can you see the paper target at the end of the tube 25 yards away? Yep, 25 yards, that short range is what we use to zero the scopes. If your tight on target at 25 yards then you will be at 300 yards.
Bottom left is Ryan and bottom right Cameron. Both have their own Savage 7mm which were their 8th grade graduation gifts. This was the first time Cameron's was fired and wow was it way off the mark out of the box.

>
On Sunday I smoked my first Beef Brisket. Many of you know I love BBQ and getting meat busy on my grill or smoker. For whatever reason I had yet to put a brisket on the smoker. On the left is a raw 4 lb. brisket waiting for some love. On the right a happier brisket after getting some lovin with a light oil massage and a big fat kiss of sweet-mesquite.

At 7:35 a.m. the brisket went on the smoker (left) and at 2:15 p.m. it was ready to come off and rest for a bit (right). Is that not a sexy piece of meat or what?

Rested and ready to serve it is time to carve and get to eating (left). My plate gets two thin slices for our late-lunch time feast (right). I got a good smoke ring on this brisket and it was quite good. Truth be told, it enjoyed its time in the smoker about 30-45 minutes too many. I would've preferred it a bit more medium rare. Live and learn.

Hope all of you had a good weekend.

Healthy eating and some exercise amongst all the fun.

Enjoy the week.

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 169 - 48% Progress

How was your Saturday? Are you ready for Sunday?? I know I am, lets get on with it!

I am off to a good start on the October Go The Distance Challenge (for you tweeters hash tag #OctGTD); I've out in miles both yesterday and today.


It is weigh in day but before chatting up myself lets chat up others with a couple of shout outs...


I came to know Kelly this week via her post here. Actually I came to know her via Jack Sh*t's reply to her calling him out on his post here. Kelly is running a local 5K on Sunday, November 14, 2010 to benefit and raise awareness for prostate cancer. Her Dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer back in May, so this is will be a very personal race for her. On that day I will get in 5k myself some how, some way, some where. Walk, jog, both; whatever under my own power. If you decide to join us please let Kelly know via her blog or twitter.


Aliana is on the cusp of OneDerland. She can't get any closer. Next week, she should be there. Follow along as she cracks that oh-so cool milestone.

Ok, weigh in details. Excellent week overall. So I hit the scale this a.m. hoping for not only my desired 1.5 pound weekly drop but2-3x that. Drum roll in your head if it helps, here it is...

Kicked to the curb are 48% of the pounds I need to kick.

Kicked all total is 58.5 pounds over twenty-four weeks; 2.5 of them this past week.

Today I weighed in at 261.5 pounds.

All together now - Oh Yeah...

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 168 - October Challenge: OCTGTD

To date I have not joined any challenges because, well, because it has been challenge enough to do just what I am doing. But yesterday I joined one simply because it fell in line with what I am hoping to improve upon this month as it is. It is the October: Going the Distance Challenge being sponsored by Fat Girl vs. World.


Even if you are not interested in the challenge itself check out her post and blog if not familiar with her; not likely as she is quite popular not to mention cool. As for myself,  as I replied to her after submitting myself for the challenge I am just progressing from walking to a combo of walking & jogging so that is how I will be meeting the challenge. Just 25 miles, which I bet I complete easily to be honest. My inner side-challenge to seriously attack this will be to see at least half of that be jogging vs. walking. So there you go, challenge on!


Busy weekend planned here. Soccer games for two of the boys. Getting the hunting gear ready and zeroing in the rifles at the range with all of the boys. Daughter will be off doing home coming stuff so we wont see much of her. And between all of that the usual errands, exercise and healthy eating.

What about you?

Plans for the weekend?

Taking it easy?

Both?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 167 - Fun, Need More

Our picture riddle yesterday was fun for some good guesses. The most popular guess was the tassel rope/cord on a on a graduation cap. And that certainly was close, but not quite right. My fave guess was it being "polypropolene rope to keep my black silk shorts up during runs", thanks Ann :-)

Becky over at First Steps did get it right with her guess of "the gold honor cord I got to wear around my neck at graduation". The difference being that this was the honor cord I wore when I graduated, finally, in 2007. Thanks to all for playing and congrats Becky on nailing the answer. Good times.

The picture there is me on that day. It is actually a photo of a photo, our scanner died; hence the cruddy quality. Look at the face! Easily I am 310 if not much closer to 320 in that photo. Cheeks, chin, even my ears are fat! Not sure what exercise to do to slim the ear lobes. And the gown, it was huge. They had three sizes if I recall; Small, Large & Tent. So glad I have left the tent sizes and a chin or two in my wake recently.

Thursday was fun for me in many ways...

• Blogging, fun; so many of you posting up good news I can't get enough. I need more time to comment and draw even more inspiration from you. Oh, read a good one today here at The Right Fit.
• Twitter, fun; some of you connected up with me after yesterdays post and we got busy chattin up being healthy and goofing off a bit too. I had to let it be know to FatGirlvsWorld that the Giants will fall to the Bears Sunday night. She'll get over it.
• Work, fun; yes it was fun too. Someone tried to ruin my day with a project delay & I disarmed them with humor and understanding. Once the chip was off his shoulder we got the schedule re-set in a way that satisfied all.
• Eating, fun; I kicked butt keeping temptation at bay and chomping down on good quality choices. Well, um, maybe I did have a few too many beans in my salad.
• Exercise, fun; knocked that ball so far out of the park that it filed a flight plan with Captain Kirk. Or do you prefer Captain Picard? Sit ups, Push ups and walking. Then round two was a one mile walk/jog combo for time, the first time I timed such a combo; 15:14 minutes. So we'll use that as a benchmark to improve on going forward. This and Lake Andrea will be my personal challenges for the near future same as Stanton Hill was over the summer. Thanks Jody for giving me the inspiration to have such a personal challenge to keep exercise fresh, fun and meaningful.
• Family, fun; my wife is gorgeous, sexy and I can't keep my eyes off of her when she gets home. My daughter was accepted to her first choice of colleges and raked in a good size scholarship to boot. So now I wont have to sell as much plasma as I feared. My boys, well they didn't get in trouble yesterday so a thumbs up to them too.

October is here, I am having fun, and I want more!

What do you want more of?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!