10×10 in 2010

Archive for the ‘General Ramblings’ Category

It is a new week. Doing some reading and working on the Applefest website. Thinking a lot about free will and choices. That ties into the whole challenge around exercise and diet.  What helps (or hinders) in our efforts to improve? Why is it that fitness seems so much easier for some than others?
That is the topic of my current read, a book about our darker sides. The title is, “Why Good People Do Bad Things – Understanding Our Darker Selves”, by Dr. James Hollis. The book is centered around the concept of “The Shadow”; it is dense reading but very interesting.

The last month or so (ok, 6 weeks for those of you counting) have been an exercise in frustration.  It’s frustrating because, well, I haven’t been able to exercise.  Ok, that’s not entirely true, but I did throw out my back and it’s been sore for a long time.  To add to that, I’ve GAINED five pounds in the last two weeks.  This…is not a good thing.

So this morning marks the start of my “Week About Revitalizing”, or WAR.  I’m starting this WAR against being obese, and about getting back on track even when life hands you a few lemons.  This week’s daily calorie limit is 1,00 calories per day (Yes, that’s low, but it’s a good way to remind the body what work it’s supposed to be about once in a while.  For the ascetics in the crowd, this week might be considered a FAST.)

To spare the tender lower back, this morning’s workout was a lumbar-supported crunch, dumbbell flyes, and dumbbell bench press.  It went pretty well, and oddly enough the back felt better afterward.  Anyone know a good reference for reading about how to manage lower back pain through exercise?

Current Stats

• Original Weight: 328 lbs.
• Current Weight: 285 lbs.
• Total Weight Lost: 43 lbs.

My New Running Shoe

Last weekend, in preparation for the running project, the family went on a trip to buy a pair of running shoes for yours truly.  Since we were already at a sporting goods store it seemed like a good idea to save some time and buy the shoes there. Wrong answer.  While the shoes weren’t “bad”, they didn’t fit quite right, and I’ve since learned that if running shoes don’t fit well at the store, they never will.

Fast forward to yesterday, when we took a jaunt up to Bauman’s Running and Walking Shop in Grand Blanc, Michigan.  It’s about 20 minutes away, so not too far, and it also happens to be where Heather bought her shoes roughly six months ago.
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I’m looking at you, Stadler & Waldorf. Been thinking about what you said about exercise being boring. I can’t argue about that – some days it’s a slog to get up and exercise (today’s one of them for me). BUT.

There’s just no way to compare it to everyfreakingthingelse that’s gotten an uplift from all this. Clothes fitting better, walking without knee (or back) pain, wife is glad I have a neck again (and more energy), kids are really happy to have a dad who plays with them.

Looking forward to a future where I get to LIVE LIFE, and not watch it on T.V. (or Hulu, or YouTube) – hell, that’s the best of all. I really want to hike the Grand Canyon. And soon, I’ll be healthy enough.

So get your bad muppet self out there, man. It’s worth it.

-G

Today I went for a one-mile run with my wife. Now, to be fair (to her) she’s been running for over 5 months and has turned into an honest-to-goodness true-blue runner.  I, on the other hand, haven’t been a runner since about 1992.  And oh yeah, I weigh about 100 pounds more than then, too.

In any case, I struggled along like a manatee on life support. She power-walked next to me.  They may take my man-card at the next guy-meeting.

She told me she’s proud of me for getting out there.  If she weren’t so serious, I’d suspect patronization.

Next week, maybe I can get her to break into something approaching a jog.