I skipped the gym this morning because I really need to spend time today putting things in order. Skipping the gym is the only “rest” that I’ll receive today. I don’t mind skipping today because my body is sore from yesterday’s workout and I need to fix my workout routine because I keep forgetting to certain exercises on their prescribed days.
Today’s Personal Project
Really get my shit together again. At the moment if feels as if I am trying to keep one thousand plates spinning while blindfolded.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Hold on to a chair or table, lower yourself into a frog-like squat, and repeat four times.
Making like a frog is great for flexibility! Squatting stretches your calf muscles, hamstrings, and groin muscles. It can help to strengthen your thigh muscles, and the open-hip position of the stretch may also relieve knee pressure. If you do this stretch without a chair or table, it will also boost your balance, as the position calls on you to stay low to the ground but maintain a straight back.
Actually this would be a really good thing to add to my gym routine as I am still trying to rectify the damage caused by the bicycle accident.
Fun Night Hanging Out With ITP-Reader Betsy
Slowly but surely ITP-Reader Betsy and I are making our way through “Top Chef: Seattle.” Last night we did something we’ve never done before — watch episodes without drinking alcohol. *gasp!* I have to admit that my doctor’s mere mention of potential liver problems has caused me to second-guess nearly every beer or glass of wine I’ve consumed since and I’ve cut back my intake drastically.
I fought traffic back at the hood stopping at Whole Foods (WHAT?!?!) at the corner of Briarcliff/LaVista to pick up some snacks and soda. While there I also picked up a couple of boxes of (organic) soups and some beet/yam chips that I plan to make today’s lunch.
Betsy was nice enough to prepare dinner, a fantastic chili, into which I put some of those beet/yam chips and then topped with cheese. It was quite delicious.
Betsy and I have now made it through the “Restaurant Wars” episode. I know, we’re behind, but we’ll make it to the end eventually.
It’s A Fucking “Diet,” People
Recently a few people I know have changed their eating habits, some for a short period of time, and some drastically. When I’ve asked them how their diet is going I’ve received the curt reply “It’s not a diet.”
Actually, it is, at least according to Merriam Webster:
di·et noun \ˈdī-ət\
Definition of DIET
1
a : food and drink regularly provided or consumed
b : habitual nourishment
c : the kind and amount of food prescribed for a person or animal for a special reason
d : a regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one’s weight
A diet, in my terms, is nothing more than the food and drink you put into your body. Whether you are eating one, or one thousand pounds of wheatgrass a day, your diet consists of wheatgrass.
ITP Flickr Pic
Just to hammer my point home I might just give you a steady diet of Chinese New Year photos this week.
I’m such a pain in the ass, it’s no wonder why I don’t get laid.
New Kicks Are On The Way
Remember last year when I purchased my first pair of Brooks Ghost 5s? Geez, they are $110 on Brooks’ site, so Zappos is not saving me a dime — except for shipping and sales tax (which I report on my income taxes like a Good Citizen ;))
This time I’ll be getting the third color option Brooks offers. My only complaint about these sneakers is that the soles seem to be a bit soft and appear to wear out quicker than I’d like them to. I mean, for $110 a pop I expect some durability. It’s not like the Brooks factory works are making a million dollars a year or anything..
How Much Does A Donut Cost These Days?
Yesterday I told someone “I’ll bet you dollar to donut” and realized that thanks to inflation that bet might work out better for me these days. Does a donut, probably not a Krispy Kreme cost more than $1 today?
I May Be On The Westside Tonight
I have a ticket for tonight’s Old 97’s show at Terminal West. However, I am still well-behind the eight ball with my time-dependent tasks so I might have to sacrifice and not go.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fair but overwhelmed
Current Music – listening to a KEXP music podcast
Website Of The Day – Admit it, you know that you’d love to own a gong. I know that I would, especially if I lived in an apartment/condo. I just might have to order one from Gongs Unlimited.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – checking again soon?
Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~2.5 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 4
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 12
Carnivorous Meals – 16
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
February Goals
– lose five pounds
– walk/run no fewer that 100 miles
– read at least one book
– dissolve Sharpened Stone, LLC
– take at least one box of things to Goodwill
– post at least ten photos in the blog
– drink a lot less alcohol
2013 Goals: Measurable
– Get my weight down to 190 pounds so that I can wear a 36″ waist pants comfortably
– Completely read ten books, audio books permissible
– Dissolve Sharpened Stone
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Completely run at least one 10k
– Fix all (or at least most) of the things which are wrong with the ITP Estate
2013 Goals: Unmeasurable
– Simplify, simplify, simplify
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
– Eat smaller portions
– Start, and continue, to make my own bread using my bread machine as well as using the technique outlined in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
– Read and discard magazines during the month in which they arrive (even digitally)
– Take two real vacations, perhaps one abroad
– Take a more proactive approach to meeting women (read “stop being such a pussy”)
Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2013
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
I’m in desperate need of new (road) running shoes. I’m down to just 2 pair and I really don’t like one of them. I’ve always been a fan of Brooks but recently I’ve noticed they are not allowing retailer to use any special discounts on them. Very strange…maybe it’s time for a change.
As you posted there are several deffinitions of diet. I think many of us automatically think of C or D or use diet as a verb.
So it looks like the Granny that was busted for selling weed lives on the street behind me…awesome, another bump for the ‘hood.
During my last round of blood work both my liver and kidney functions were abnormal (15 years of heavy’ish drinking didn’t calm me down either). Thankfully, it was sorted out and everything was back to normal for the retest. What’s your next step?
My next step is to curb my drinking (note: not eliminate) and retest in the future. I’ve had no history of problems, this was my first warning. I also plan to use this as an oppurtunity to consume fewer calories and get back to my “fighting” weight.
I’ll play through these three pairs of Brooks and look around again the next time I need to buy running shoes.
Our neighborhoods continue to get great publicity, don’t they? Hey, at least she was caught selling in Buckhead. 😉
I’m in need of shoes and may stop by Phidipides before tomorrow nights run.
Our current diet is attempting to be gluten free, and hope that it helps with Debbies headaches (besides me!!!).
Barb, better get outside while the sun is shining to take a picture of the new car as it won’t be shining for long!!
-FP
Is the sun out? I’m stuck at my desk – just taking 2.5 days off is HELL to come back to.
Yes- I’ll take a picture today.
It is a Subaru Crosstrek – in a dark red color. All the promo pictures are of the orange color – not a bad color, but not a color I’d want for 10 years.
If any of you want a Subaru – especially this Crosstrek – it is worth it to join IMBA & use their discount VIP program. You have to be a member for 6 months, but at 2% below invoice (on a car they aren’t really discounting) made it a nice easy deal.
Florida was awesome – beautiful weather – went to a couple beach bars to hear some live music, you can tell they cater to an older crowd, lots of fun oldies rock & roll was heard. HATED to come back to this rainy weather.
Well, the sun was out…
Look forward to seeing the new ride in person one day Barb.
just posted a picture of the new car on FB – Paulie- just so you don’t feel left out – I sent you an email with the pic.
Most times when I feed the dogs I whack the bottom of Farley’s metal dish (which is almost as big as a gong) and say “Ancient Chinese Secret.” I think it’s from a 70s era laundry detergent commercial. The dogs seem to enjoy the ritual… at least the food part. 😉
If your liver values are off, be sure to watch your use of pain relievers as well. Tylenol especially can do a number on your liver. Also I get my bloodwork done at least quarterly, fun, and there can be variations from one test to the next for whatever reason. I don’t get excited about anything unless it’s off for two tests in a row.
For the record, I hate this weather. It’s already sprinkling again here and all the animals are stir crazy and I have my cranky pants on.
and Debbie- the gluten free thing is interesting – one of my friends (Becky) was told to do it by her doctor trying to figure out “what” was wrong – she said it is making her feel better. You can still have rice, and potatoes, just no pasta for your starch. (I haven’t tried any of the gluten free pastas, that just seems wrong). Its the no bread thing that would kill me, I do love me some bread & butter with dinner.
It is amazing the things that have gluten in them, so if you are going to do it, you have to pay attention. I try to cook foods my guests can eat if they come over, so I had to learn what Becky can now eat. Like – no cream of mushroom can be used in whatever dish. Becky gave me all the cream of mushroom she had at her house. Shredded cheese has gluten to coat it so it doesn’t stick together – so you have to shred your own cheese. Etc/
Jerry yells “time to eat, puppy feet” it sends the dogs into a frenzy. Then again taking the top off the Benadryl (she thinks it is food) is enough to get Nibbles excited.
Barb, the car looks pretty cool, I like the rims, very different.
Maybe I should take some time off this afternoon and run to Big Peach? Sure would beat working….
Thanks for the photo Barb. Very nice.
I’m not getting drastic over one reading. However, given that I want to lose some weight one “easy” way is to reduce the number of beers and wines I consume. Hell, it’ll even have the added benefit of saving me some money!
I don’t take much in the way of pain relievers, an occasional dosage of Advil is about it (on the pain reliving side).
And you are correct, “Ancient Chinese secret” is from an old laundry detergent commercial.
Hey anything that motivates us to do things that are healthier is a good thing!
I’ve had a month-long headache and have been hitting the Excedrin Migraine pretty hard, my doctor prescribed some vitamins. Oy. So I guess it’s up to me to figure out what works, gluten-free (ish) seems to be helping – dammit. I have a pasta and bread addiction, so it isn’t particularly easy.
Love the new car! What did they say as far a mpg? One of the these days I’m going to need something does better (a lot better) than the Tundra on fuel.
The car looks great! Nice color, too.
Technically, Calgon is a water softener (but was/is used in the laundry).
When I went to the doctor for my skin problem she suggested keeping a journal of what I ate and when I got the hives (in your case the headaches). She also suggested (but I didn’t do it) to remove the most common culprits from my diet, then add them back one at a time to see if there was a trigger. For headaches it seems that cheese, MSG, artificial sweeteners, red wine and caffeine are biggies.
MPG is mid to upper 20s city, mid 30s hwy – I think. I don’t pay attention.