What’s your biggest remaining challenge?
Interesting article — you can have your DNA tested to find out what sport is the best fit for you.
Why not just do what’s fun?
Though I have to admit, I’m very curious now. If I had a spare $300 or so, I’d do it just to see what they said!
Ironman triathlons: In my DNA? | Julie’s Health Club – Where alternative and mainstream health meet
Mon, January 5 2009 » Useful tools » Add Comment
So there I was, at the jewelery counter this morning, wanting to get a new battery for my heart rate monitor. (On topic, barely.)
However, there was a problem.
The sales clerk told me she couldn’t open my watch to put the battery because I might sue the company if she ruins it.
OK, other places have the same policy. I told her to give me the screwdriver and I would do it.
She told me she couldn’t do that because I might hurt myself and sue the company.
We both stared at the watch for a minute.
Silence.
I don’t know what she was thinking (probably “please don’t freak out and yell at me”).
I was wondering by what miracle I was going to replace the battery. She couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it. (And I couldn’t just take the battery and go home because I had to open it to see what kind I needed, first.)
Finally, I said, well, if I buy a screwdriver here, can I open it? Is it OK if I stab myself with my own screwdriver, not yours?
Relieved, she said yes.
Problem solved. (Note: I didn’t injure myself, you’ll be glad to know.)
Sigh.
After that, I came home and took the kids to one of the Rails to Trails projects and we went for a nice long bike ride (them) and run (me). They are really getting stronger and better with their bikes. We had a lot of fun.
I have to say, after all that, the heart rate monitor was kind of annoying.
Sun, January 4 2009 » Everything else » 5 Comments
Well, I’m down another two pounds. Little appetite plus a little running seems to have done the trick this week. To be honest, at the start of the week, I was worried I’d have another gain on my little yo-yo thing I’ve been doing the past few weeks. But now, my motivation is renewed.
Weight loss so far:
I’m excited about having lost 30 pounds since starting this blog. Next, I want to be able to report that I broke the 50 pound mark from my highest weight.
Angie’s starting another Biggest Loser Blog Edition very very soon, so be sure to check out her blog!
Sat, January 3 2009 » Progress » 4 Comments
Great little podcast (transcript) from Scientific American about a book I mentioned briefly a few weeks ago: Predictably Irrational.
Basic premise: “If people think up front that something might be distasteful, Ariely argues, the odds are high that they’ll experience it negatively, no matter how intrinsically good it is.”
I know this has been so true for me about weight loss, diet, and exercise in the past. I think the greatest change I’ve made this year was to expect good things and give myself an attitude adjustment around my negative expectations. No more “I can’t”, “I always fail at”, etc.
I expect 2009 to be exciting, productive, relevant. I’m focusing on what matters. 2009 is going to be another great year.
What are your expectations for 2009?
Fri, January 2 2009 » Strategy » 1 Comment
So glad you’re back, Mark!
Great post on what to not do… and, in turn, do… in 2009. Check it out!
Thu, January 1 2009 » Everything else » Add Comment
Happy New Year!
I’m not a big resolution person — I make goals through the year and adjust them as needed. But this time of year begs a little retrospective and introspection.
Here are some things I’m thinking about for the year:
Thu, January 1 2009 » Everything else, Strategy » Add Comment
Looking back, I certainly learned a bunch about what works and what doesn’t with regard to my getting fit.
In no particular order…
Works: Outrageous distance-based goal with deadline (Lazy Man’s Triathlon, first 5K race, first 5K continuous run, marathon, open water swim, triathlon… what else to come?)
Doesn’t work: Exercising for X minutes Y days a week. Yawn. Zzzzzzzzzz…….. Good for about 3 days.
Works: Focusing on adding healthy stuff (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, water, etc.)
Doesn’t work: Focusing on eliminating “bad” stuff (hello, deprivation and resentment and future binge).
Works: Exercise. I’ve noticed the tag cloud shows the exercise and weight loss tags growing larger proportionally. I just naturally eat healthier and less when I exercise doing something I enjoy.
Doesn’t work: Diet without exercise. I obsess. I fail.
Works: Non-scale victories. (Resting heart rate down to the 50s from the 70s, swimming a mile at a time, etc.)
Doesn’t work: The number on the scale as a sole measure of success (and worth).
Works: No excuses. Momentum.
Doesn’t work: Excuses. Inertia.
Works: Finding non-food ways to relief stress and nurture myself.
Doesn’t work: Controlling my moods, etc., with food. Acting like I am too tough to need nurturing.
Works: Simple automated visual diary to track food and exercise. Visual representation of goals. (And plan B of jotting notes in planner when I can’t do visual version.)
Doesn’t work: Complicated or inconvenient tracking systems, lack of awareness, not seeing where I am or where I want to go.
Works: Simple intuitive eating. Moderation. Periodic indulgence. Overall whole/”real” food approach.
Doesn’t work: Rigid rules. Extremes. Good food. Bad food. All carbs. No carbs.
Works: Being flexible. Having a plan B. And a plan C. (See no excuses.) Keeping on keepin’ on. Simplicity.
Doesn’t work: Being perfect. And failing. And making resolutions. And starting “fresh” on a magic date or day of week. Over and over.
Works: Humor. Perspective. Will [whatever is stressing me out] really matter in 5 years?
Doesn’t work: Being too serious. Obsessing.
Works: Sleep. I think. I don’t get enough of it. This is still a theory, but my doctor told me again at my annual physical that it was more important than exercise. Must sleep.
Doesn’t work: Too much caffeine. Too much stress. Too little rest.
Works: A bit of structure to start the weekend. A few doable concrete items on a checklist to get things going.
Doesn’t work: Going from full speed to complete stop on weekend with no plan, no direction, no structure.
Works: Paying attention to physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Doesn’t work: Getting those needs out of balance or not addressing them at all.
Works: Reading or watching motivational stuff daily — fitblogs (see blogroll), books (right now on ultramarathon runners), videos (recent Ironman Hawaii telecast).
Doesn’t work: Not cultivating, nurturing, guarding, and otherwise maintaining my motivation. Every day.
Works: Getting support. Talking to my husband. Listening to my husband. (Did you catch that, honey? ) Sharing my experiences, good and bad, with friends who share the interest in getting fit. Blogging. Supporting and getting support from other bloggers.
Doesn’t work: Doing it all on my own. Or trying to explain it to people who don’t understand this particular struggle.
Check in tomorrow, New Year’s Day 2009, for my goals for the year…
Wed, December 31 2008 » Motivation, Persistence, Progress, Strategy, Stress eating, Support, Useful tools » 4 Comments
One Beverly Hills, Calif. doc claimed that he powered his Ford SUV and his girlfriend’s Lincoln Navigator using fat that he liposuctioned from patients.
(He now is in South America, where he fled to avoid prosecution for a number of other charges, including letting his unlicensed girlfriend perform liposuction. Yikes!)
I think one of the most disturbing things about the article is the segue into using animal fat for fuel and how that’s just dandy. It’s bad enough we are seeing an increase in food prices due to corn being raised for biofuel, not food — but raising animals for fuel? Yikes. I think I’ll walk/bike today instead of drive…
Tue, December 30 2008 » Everything else » Add Comment
I’m so glad I joined the Biggest Loser Blog Edition this fall — I almost didn’t do it at all because I was afraid of getting too obsessed focused on the number on the scale. I had a few moments where I did, but overall, I actually got over the scale to a great degree for the first time in my life.
First, congratulations to Michelle, our winner! In 14 weeks, she lost an amazing 28.4 pounds — 10.46% of her body weight! Wow!
Second, thanks to Angie, who was the brain and brawn behind the challenge! She encouraged, prodded, and kicked ass when necessary. She dished out compassion and tough love and absolute belief that we could do it and that really made a difference — thanks!
How’d I do? I lost the second most amount of pounds (21.7), third most by percentage of body weight (7.2%). Not too shabby!
Angie’s starting another Biggest Loser Blog Edition challenge for January, so be sure to sign up — I’m sure the next post or so on her blog will have the details!
Tue, December 30 2008 » Progress » 3 Comments
Good news: You don’t have to be emaciated to be happy
Bad news: Majority of women still unhappy with their bodies
Interesting study. “Girls [women! --ed.] who wear the dress size rated their general happiness higher than any other with a quarter saying they were extremely happy. More than 43 per cent of size 14 women also said they were as happy as they could be with their career, while almost a third say they couldn’t be more content with their love life.”
Read more here: Why women with Size 14 figures are happiest with life
Most of the fattie comments on Fark.com, where I originally found the story, ticked me off, of course. Grr.
I don’t know what size I’ll end up — we’ll see. But I’m not going to let it determine my happiness. I’m happy and grateful today and I expect to be when I’m fitter, too.
Mon, December 29 2008 » Self image » Add Comment
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