The Start of a New Year!

Jan 2012

Here we are and it's Jan 6 2012! Wow, 2011 sure went by fast.  The new year is starting off right for me.  Even though I put on 8 lbs over the Christmas holidays, I managed to loose the last of it today and I'm now back down to 210 again.  :o)  On the down side, I didn't hit my goal of 200 by the end of 2011 and didn't quite make my revised goal of getting to 205. :o(

Still I have lots of positives still to draw from my progress so far.  I have lost 40 lbs since June which is a great accomplishment in itself.  I can also take consolation in the fact that I haven't given up yet.  I'm still motivated to hit my goal weight of 185.  Just the fact that I have been able to drop all the holiday weight I put on is very encouraging to me.  Normally I loose on average 2-3 lbs a week, but in just 6 days I dropped 8lbs.  This tells me that it was mostly water weight that I had put on, but still... I'm pleased it's gone.

Some days it can be easy to feel like you've been set back when you don't loose any weight.  Or worse, there are days when the scale tells you that you've put on more weight despite your best efforts to loose it.  So sometimes it is a constant struggle to stay motivated.  But it goes both ways too, and I have days where I feel ecstatic that I've dropped a pound or two unexpectedly.

It's on those days I really have to enjoy the moment and remember the feeling of what it's like to move towards my goal.  I have to breathe in the success and imprint it on my psyche.  I must push myself to want that feeling more often so that I can stay motivated to keep on track.  So I look in the mirror, and instead of looking at the work I still have to do, I see the progress I've made.  I notice the small details of what improvement looks like.  Oh sure I notice the pants feeling looser and the belt moving up a notch, but I also look for other visual clues too.  I notice more definition in my abs, or my arms or my shoulders.  I even notice the features of my face standing out more too.  My cheekbones are gradually becoming more defined and my face is starting to look thinner.  I even can see my adams apple sticking out more too.  My neck is more slender and doesn't look as thick as it once did.  These small things are what drives me to keep going.


Yes it might seem vain to look at yourself in the mirror and study these details but it isn't done for self admiration, but more so for the pride in coming so far and knowing that I don't have much further to go.  I also have noticed the physical fitness levels have been getting better too.  I can go longer on the elliptical trainer and at a much higher resistance without increasing my heart rate.  I'm still hitting between 150-160 bpm, which is still below my max of 170 bpm.  I can curl more weight and I can do more pull ups.  I have also noticed that I can take the stairs near the c-train station without loosing my breath as quickly or for as long.  My legs are stronger and my recovery rates are improving too.  These are all great benefits that I'm enjoying along my journey!

A good quality Elliptical Trainer

Now that I'm really starting to notice the physical fitness improvements, I'm really looking forward to doing more activity.  I keep bugging a friend of mine to go snowshoeing with me and sadly I've been watching the winter disappear without getting out to the mountains.  So it looks like I will have to reach out to other people and groups if I want to enjoy this activity.  I think I might have to call up the Calgary outdoor club and get myself on the invite list to one of their next outings.  I'm not totally discouraged though, I have faith that my friend will eventually go out to the mountains with me a couple of times this year.  I'm sure as he gets more focused on his own weight loss goals, then things like snowshoeing will allow him to achieve them faster too.


Yet snowshoeing isn't the only other winter activity I hope to tap into.  Back in December I signed up for swimming lessons with another friend of mine.  He too has wanted to take lessons for a while.  I know what you're thinking... you're 40+ and you don't know how to swim?  Yes... it's true.  It's on my bucket list of things to do and I'm finally getting around to doing it.  So for the next 10 weeks I'll be swimming on Monday nights at the Y.  I'm really looking forward to being more comfortable in the water and if I happen to loose another 1/2 pound a week while doing it, then all the better! :o)

A chin up bar for my door frame

You know the best part of my weight loss journey so far?  It's that I haven't spent any money on a gym membership.  Nope.  I don't have to get up early, drive to a gym, spend an hour there, shower, drive back and then go to work.  I don't have to fight for time on equipment or worry about whether the person before me wiped down the piece I'm about to use or even feel guilty about not going on any particular day and loose the benefit of the money I'd be paying for the membership.  Nope.  None of that. :o)  I put in 20 mins on my elliptical trainer, and another 20 mins into using my weights for a grand total of 40 mins every morning before going to work.  I know hey?  When I did have a gym membership, I was spending easily an hour and half to two hours of my day working out and making the trek back and forth from the gym.  I'd have to say I'm getting the results I'm looking for without that extra hassle.

To be honest, most weeks I only work out 4 days a week.  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with Wednesday off in the middle.  I deliberately make sure I don't work out on the weekends other than the activities I happen to partake in.  I do this so I don't feel guilty about missing a workout.  If I go away for the weekend and can't do any exercise, then my routine is not impacted at all.  If I decide to sleep in, or stay over at the girlfriends place (I'm thinking future state here....) and I don't do a workout on Saturday or Sunday, then I'm still good.  I do my workouts during the week and before work in the morning.  I find that if I get up early enough (which means going to bed earlier, sadly...) and do my workout before going to work, then the rest of the day is mine to do with as I please.  I don't have to suffer through a long work day and still have to worry about fitting in a workout once I get home.  My evenings become flexible this way.  If the boys decide they want to go out after work to shoot some pool, watch the game or go to a movie, then I'm in and doing it guilt free too.  I still have to get up early but at least I will have already done my workout for the day! :o)

$100 worth of weights

The home made Kettle Bell

You can set yourself up the same way at home if you like.  Of course, you can workout at anytime you like for as long or as frequently as you like too.  It's not as hard to get going as you think it is.  I actually spent quite a bit of money on my elliptical trainer, but you can pick them up on kijiji for about $150 bucks.  I also didn't spend more than $100 dollars on my weights which includes a home made kettle bell, and two dumbbells.  I can swap the weight out on any of these pieces. Once upon I time I had picked up a "Pro Stretcher" for my calves for about $20 bucks and I also bought a chin up bar for my door frame (not sure how much that was).  If you get the chin up bar, make sure to reinforce the door frame you plan to use.  I had to tack in a bunch of extra finishing nails on the one I have to keep the trim from coming off.

In reality, all you really need to start with is the kettle bell.  It works out your legs, back, arms and shoulders.  If you do the Russian Kettle Bell Swing properly, you will also feel your abdominal's tighten up too.  I use the elliptical trainer as a way to get in some low impact cardio, but you could run if you like being outside or do stairs in your own home.  The Russian swing will also get your heart rate up in a hurry too and will give you a great cardio workout in addition to building and strengthening your muscles.  

I complemented the kettle bell with two dumbbells.  This allows me to focus more on my arms, shoulders and triceps.  I do push ups for my chest and I use the pull up bar to add some definition to my back.  Voila - that's it!  Oh and the calf stretcher can be replaced by doing stretches up against a wall somewhere.  I bought it because of the terrible shin splints I get, and the calf stretcher does a great job of loosening up the lower part of my legs.

A "Pro Stretch" calf muscle stretcher

It's such a simple setup but it has been working well for me. As I add more muscle, I will be able to loose the weight a little bit easier.  I'm not looking to bulk up and become the Hulk so really all I'm looking for is a little more definition in my physique.  With my heart condition I really don't want to replace fat with a bunch of muscle anyway.  My heart would have to work just as hard to pump blood through added muscle as it would through blubbery fat.  Some muscle is good for me, but not too much.  So with that goal in mind, my "home gym" does exactly what I need it to do.

If it works for me, it might work for you too!

2011 Is Almost in the Books

Dec 2011 at league Pool Night

Another year has come and gone... well almost gone.  With only a couple of weeks left in the year this will probably be my last post till 2012.

On Friday I make the trip north to visit my mom for the holidays.  Only this time I don't have to drive all the way to Fort McMurray.  What a blessing that is! Most of my Christmas holidays have been spent in the great white north and though I do have some great memories from those times, I'm not sad that I no longer get to spend time up there.  The trip to St Albert will be a much nicer drive if  for no other reason than the fact that it will only take me 3 1/2 hours instead of 8!

It will be a much quieter Christmas too.  My sister and her husband bought a house in October and have now moved into it.  So it seems we will be enjoying turkey at their place this year!  I will be staying with my mom at her house though, since my sister is expecting company in the form of her in-laws for the holidays. What should make things interesting though, is that I will be travelling with my cats this time!

In all the time I have owned my cats (going on 6 years now), I have never taken them farther than the vet's office.  In fact they have only been to the vet twice and both of those visits were in the last 2 weeks. *cringe* I'm not sure how they will handle the drive up the highway for three and a half hours in the truck with me while I sing along with the Christmas Carols.  I'm a little worried about taking them to my moms house for other reasons too actually.

It seems that in the last month, one or both of my cats has decided to start spraying on my carpets and on my stuff around my house.  I had them checked out for crystals and other issues but they seem to be relatively free of medical problems (actually Crush needs a tooth pulled to the tune of 1400 bucks! ouch!).  So it appears that it might be a behavioral problem. I'm trying to see if using an open litter box makes a difference. The theory goes that the closed litter box traps extensive dust in them when they "scratch" and aggravates their sinus'. As a result they may be peeing elsewhere to demonstrate their displeasure.  They may also be pissed at me for a number of changes that have occurred in the last month or so as well.

They no longer get to sleep in my room at night, and since I can't trust they won't pee in there during the day, they're not allowed in there period.  I also put in a new pool table downstairs which is where their food used to be (now upstairs by the water dish).  There was lots of stuff for them to play and hide in before, and now it's pretty empty except for the table itself - which they're not allowed on (for obvious reasons).  I also haven't been home as much since I've started increasing my activity so they may not be getting the loving they need either.  It seemed like I was out of town every second weekend during the summer and fall so that might have affected the amount of "me time" they get too.  *sigh*

Well, if they come with me to St Albert for a week, they'll get all the loving they can handle.  My mom really enjoys their company and if she has enough lint rollers handy she will give them plenty of nurturing.  Not to mention my sister.  She too loves how friendly my cats are and will scoop them up for some lovin' too.

Luckily Crush and/or Tang have not been spraying in the last few days so hopefully the behavior has come to an end. If that's the case, they should enjoy the trip to St. Albert next week in spite of the long car ride.

On a side note, I hit another milestone today in my weight loss objective.  I tipped the scales at 210 lbs!  Yup I'm down over 40 lbs now with only 25 to go before I hit my "hold" weight.  Another 10 lbs and I'll be below 200 which I haven't seen in about 10 years! wow.  I really hope I can be good over the next couple of weeks and sit somewhere around 205-207 by the 31st of December.  *fingers crossed*.

On that note, I'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! 

The Dating Game - Part 52a

I'm not sure how many times I'm going to play the dating game.  Each time I "tag in" I think it will be my last.  *fingers crossed*.  I keep hoping that I will find love ever lasting and just be able to enjoy life without the sadness of not having anyone to enjoy it with.  So each time I hold my breath, screw up my confidence and jump in with both feet, hoping that someone will find me interesting/attractive/funny/exciting enough to want to date me.  

That doesn't sound particularly confident does it?  I suppose in a way it isn't.  I mean *I* know that I'm a catch. I have lots of great qualities to offer beyond physical attraction.  I'm pretty sure any girl would be lucky to have me.  I guess I just have never been "that guy" which all the girls are drawn to.  Perhaps it's better this way though.  At least when someone finally decides that they want to try dating me, they've pretty much got it figured out and know that I'm worth it - at least beyond the physical sense I suppose.  

After my last relationship I did a lot of soul searching and tried to figure out what it was that I really wanted from a relationship, and whether or not someone else out there wants the same thing.  I've also changed my views on Long Term Relationships (LTR's for short) and what they mean to me as well.  

I've come to the conclusion that most people get together for some sort of short term need.  Whether that is sex, a combined income, similar travel desires, or even just someone to go dancing with.  When people decide that they want an LTR, there is usually some subconscious thing that the other person provides for them that makes them feel "fulfilled".  

Sometimes a girl is looking for a father figure, or the boy needs a "mother' to take care of him, or one of the two is an introvert and needs and extrovert to bring them out of their shell.  Once these subconscious needs are fulfilled, then the need for the relationship goes away.  Maybe the boy has turned into an extrovert as well and no longer needs another extrovert to help him get there.  Now he needs an introvert in his life instead.  Whatever the reason, 2 people will suddenly find themselves incompatible because they have "grown" as people. Sometimes relationships end well when both people realize that they have grown in different directions, can acknowledge that and comfortably move on.  However when one person outgrows the other, it usually ends badly.  One has grown, while the other has not.  

Why am I telling you all this?  Well, because understanding this has helped me to see that my idea of a Long Term Relationship needs to change.  I no longer look at a relationship as something that will last forever after. It is rare to see two people that continually grow but not outgrow each other.  I hope that I find a relationship with someone where we end up in a lifelong journey together and continually find new reasons for loving the other person. 

Maybe I'm a little jaded though.  I'm not sure that my next relationship will be my last.  I hope it is, but if it isn't I recognize why it will likely end sooner than one of us desires.  You'd think that would keep me from wanting to dip my toe in the dating pool.  I guess I still desire the companionship that comes from having someone close to you.  So even knowing that it won't be a "forever" thing, I still want to enjoy what I can from my next relationship.  Growing and learning about myself is still a good thing. :o)  

I guess that just leaves me with a decision about how to get there.  I've had some great experiences with online dating, so why mess with a good thing?  I'll probably try a new service like Plenty of Fish or Match.com.  I've tried some other dating sites before, but I think it's time for a change.  That just leaves me with the task of coming up with a good description, some great photos and some confidence in myself!  

Lets do this thing!