10×10 in 2010

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Hurried, and somewhat late post.  This week was tough – lots of opportunities to fall off the fitness wagon, but I did pretty well.  Evening engagements are the hardest, but bearable.  Sharing the project with people has helped a lot – people are aware that the project is under way, and have been tremendously understanding when tasty food is passed up.

This week also marked the first attempt at a run.  It was a run-walk-run for just over a mile, and although it was rocky (the mineral, not the movie), it got done.

Progress this week was: 2 pounds, right on target.  And I fought for every ounce.  After doing some reading, I think I’m going to try balancing out my protein intake to keep the metabolism a bit higher.  The results should be visible at the end of the week, right?

A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life and having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.
– Thomas Carlyle

Observations on the Week

• Sunday may be “free eating” day, but it’s not a lot of fun working to overcome the extra pounds from a day of binge eating.  It’s like filling in the hole after it’s dug, just to dig it out again – makes no sense. Read the rest of this entry »

Climb! (photo courtesy of Flickr)

After a dismal week of progress (no pounds lost), I got to thinking about motivation.  Clearly it’s possible to lose weight, to alter one’s lifestyle, and to move toward a better life. Why is it that we fail and fall in our journeys?

A spiritual answer might be the concept of concupiscence – that we humans “walk with a limp” as a result of original sin (Adam & Eve).  I’ll set that answer aside for now, as it requires more intellectual horsepower than I can muster at 4am.

I think the truth might be closer to “lack of vision”.  Starting a new project is exciting! Visually it’s like setting out on a journey.  At first, the road is clear and wide, there are lots of excited people happy to see you on your journey, and you can ride that natural excitement out of town and onto the plains.

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Image Courtesy of Flickr

It’s been a rocky week.  Several very long days and a series of evening commitments conspired to pull me this way and that.  There were two key things that stalled progress this week:

1. Exercise.  Although I did the exercises every day, at 5 (now 6) weeks into the project, the body is starting to crave a bit more challenge.  I’m not looking for a marathon here, but it seems that stepping up the level of effort will help.
2. Diet.  Eat healthy, then add:
   • A Bavarian Inn Chicken Dinner, with all the trimmings.  Tasty, but probably enough in that one meal to undo several days worth of effort. (3 chicken breasts, scoop of potatoes, scoop of stuffing, bowl of peas (likely dripping in butter, I’m blocking it out at the moment).
   • A generous slice of chocolate layer cake for Bob’s birthday.  Not overly large, but containing enough sugar to manufacture a quart of vodka, I suspect.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – this isn’t rocket science.  This week was rocky, next week will be better.

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Today marks the 10% mark for the project – from a duration perspective, it’s 10% of the way done. At 23 of 100 pounds lost, though, I’m 23% of the way to completion. So, I’m ahead of schedule!