Archive for the ‘RANDOM STUFF’ Category

Addictions

Monday, August 18th, 2008

I’ve had a few….

Quit Smoking December 2006 after having smoked for 27 years from the age of 13 to 40.

Quit watching TV June 2007.  As a side note, apart from the obvious couch potatoeness of it I found the biggest benefit of not watching tv was huge self control!  Control your environment by removing all temptation.  When trying to eat healthy watching tv is not helpful.  Food commercials every few minutes.  In fact some say just seeing, smelling or thinking of food can cause a response in the body.  It certainly, in the past, started me craving the crap.  So yah, I found not watching tv to be just as important to my success as not having crap food in the house.

Quit eating crap processed fake food (carb addiction) on daily basis July 2007.  Started eating real whole food, lean protein, vegetables and fruit, 4 to 5 times per day.

Quit sitting on my ass (stillness addiction) pretty much non stop August 2007.  Started walking and resitance training.

I have 2 last addictions to conquer which I have been trying to do since the beginning of the year.  They are connected and have been an issue for as long as I can remember…… sugar and caffeine!  In the beginning it was Coke.  Then around 20 I started drinking coffee with sugar.  I have had one or the other or both every day, all day long for more almost 3 decades!  This is the last monkey on my back and I’m determined to get it off!  For the last week I’ve been drinking one (large 16oz) black coffee in the morning and one with cream and sugar in the evening.  This week it will be one black in the morning and that’s it for the day.  Green tea after that.  Yes there is caffeine in that but it is a tiny little fraction of the amound in drip coffee.  I’m not saying that I will never ingest caffeine again.  I just want to break the sugar/caffeine habit.  Quit drinking sugar and greatly reduce caffeine.  I will add an update to the post next week.  Feel free to pray for me, send me strength, or say some affirmations for me.  I can use the help!  Please and thank you.  : )

I’m giving this all my attention which is why I have not provided a weight and measurements update.  Will do it next weekend (1 week late).

Update:  September 17, 2008

FINALLY!!!!!!  Sept. 1st was day one of not drinking my usual coffee with cream and sugar.  For the first couple of weeks I drank 1 cup of black coffee in the morning to prevent caffeine withdrawal hell.  Can’t believe I finally did it.   Yay!

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Saturday, August 2nd, 2008

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Happy Anniversary! and Goals

Saturday, July 26th, 2008

It was one year ago today that I started my body recomposition.  In that year:

65 lbs have been lost

14″ lost from chest

15″ lost from waist

10″ lost from hips

Much muscle gained!

This is now the best part.  The muscles are there, and still growing, and with every lb lost I get to see more and more of them.  It’s like slowly unwrapping a gift.  Who knew it could be so much fun!

I think, though I won’t know ’til I get closer, I still have another 20 to 30 lbs of fat to lose.  Being more “mature” (I’ll be 42 in 2 months) my face will get pretty gaunt if I get too thin.  Plus I’d still like to gain more muscle.  Not bodybuilder big, more gymnast or power lifter sized.  I am interested in both power lifting and olympic lifting and am currently learning about both.  I scored the book:

The Weightlifting Encyclopedia

A Guide To World Class Performance

by Arthur Dreshsler

for all of $1 at a used book sale.

Thinking I might like to compete in power lifting.  Sadly there are no registered clubs or gyms in my area.  I’d have to find a private coach.

My goal a month ago was to lose the 20 or 30 lbs by my birthday and reach a double body weight deadlift.  You are not supposed to “chase two rabbits at once”.  i.e. weight loss and strength gains.  But I figure what the hell, can’t hurt to try.  Worst it’s gonna do is leave me frustrated.  I’m new to lifting so it is actually possible for me to do both.  Not easy but possible.

Ciao for now!

Bits and Pieces (mid June update on “stuff”)

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

Just a few little notes:

Started following Joel Marion’s Cheat to Lose Diet 2 weeks ago. I had been stuck at 153lbs for 2 months. Then started to gain a few pounds. VERY happy to say that in the first week I lost those few pounds AND BROKE my plateau weight! Yes, several pounds of that was recently gained water weight from eating more carbs than I used to. But there is not doubt I lost fat as I ended up at 151 and like I said I had been stuck at 153 for 2 months. Hopefully I will have continued success!

I added my new 1RM maximum for bench press to the June 1RM post I had put up at the beginning of the month. Even though bench press has not been part of my training to date the weight did go up from 85 lbs to 115 lbs.

I am THRILLED that summer is finally here! I get the “winter blues” and the longer days of summer make such a difference. Where I live (Pacific Northwest) is often wet and cloudy : ( I appreciate the rain and it is what makes it such a green place to live but the gray and dark gets to be too much.

One last thing…. I compiled a list of links to everything I could find related to the book The New Rules of Lifting for Women. It can be found and explored at the official forum for the book which is hosted by JP Fitness. Here is a direct link to the post.

I’ve Got Calluses!

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Maybe it’s a little weird but I’m pretty happy and a little proud to have the 4 calluses I just noticed on my hands, 2 on each palm. It’s just one more thing to show for my efforts in the gym over the last month. LOL I may grow to hate them. I could wear gloves but I’d rather not. I’ll just take care not to let them get to the point of splitting and bleeding. Seems like common sense to me but just for the sake of sharing there is a tutorial on callus care including pictures over at one of my favourite websites, www.beastskills.com