Still 185

It has been a while since I have taken the time to write anything, its not that I have not cared, but I have just been busy. Things are good though. I still can visualize my 185 self, with arms a shoulders like Vin Diesel and a chest like my fellow Austin-ite Mathew McConaughey...

I found a new work out to try, and there is a story behind it.
I come from a family where food is important, and was not thin nor very active, I was actually diagnosed with asthma when I was very young. As a child, every time I walked into my grandmothers house she tried to feed me cookies, donuts, salami sandwiches the works. I spend much of my younger life with her and my grandfather. When I was about 13 we moved further away from them and my contact was more limited. I also discovered sports. I played soccer, football, basketball, wrestled and also ran track. I was not particularly good at wrestling, I was OK at basketball and football, but I was pretty good at running. I tried a few things including shot put and discus, and the 100 meter, that was all a kid with asthma could do, right?

Move a head a year and its 8th grade, new school, new friends, good times. Football and basketball were fun, and track was better. We did not have cable, video games or any money to do anything. And my mom was working part time going to school full time and being single. So If i wanted to get somewhere I had to walk or run. I even would walk home after football practice. I think it was two or three miles, and no it was not up hill both ways and it did not snow. I started thinning down. (Besides all the activity, we ate rice and frozen veggies or popcorn for dinner, I did have free school lunch though.)

When track season came around they had me try the 400 meter as it turned out that was my race. In that district the track team was divided by a combination of age weight height size etc... needless to say I was on the A - Team. Which work well for me. I was up against a much higher level of competition which made me work harder.

Recently I found workouts for track folks to train for the 400. I think I am going to give them a try. In my mind it worked once...

Survived the ATL

So I would have to say that in my large experience there is really only one step down in humiliation from being asked to buy two tickets (not that that has ever happened): asking for a belt extender. This is the first time that has happened. In all honesty that was the smallest, in terms of space, of an airplane I have ever been on. I know that I have been bigger than I am now and still fit.

I had sort of a Stewart Smally breakdown, first I thought about complaining to the fight attendant that there was no way a 185 lbs man needed a belt extender, then I thought I should eat a burger, then I went through my affirmations, and gosh darn it people really do like me.

I then decided to crank up the nano to some DropKick Murphy's, which we all know that Boston - Irish - folk - punk can only elevate your mood, and it was good. Right until the short a-hole in front of me deiced to lay all the way back. Of course its never the big folks who lay down, its the shorties that don't get it. While I am on the subject and you are one of those folks who thinks its OK to lay all they way back; when you are putting your seat back and it stops cause you are crushing the guys (gal's) legs behind you, don't lean back harder the seat will not go any further back and it really makes big guys listing to punk music more angry, and want to sneeze in your hair, ensuring gum comes with it! Oh and while I am on the subject don't keep pressing back on the seat through the ride it doesn't help either.

So after having my leg pinned between the seat in front of me and the wall of the plane, nearly avoiding deep vein thrombosis and being arrested for assault, I decided I earned the cheese burger and it was good.

I am still driving to 185...

Quick note on the book

Just to dispel any controversy or fear and untruth; the book The Secret" is not the end all be all. I am not even sure it is for every one. It is just something that I have found that has made an impact on my thinking and they way I opperate. I am not replacing any of my beliefs, I am just using these things to enhance what I know.

The book is a little too new age and cheesy as a whole for my liking. That being said, the underlying message is great and I believe its baised on universal truths. That if you are positive good things will happen (even if good things don't happen your attitude will be such that you can find the positive.) and you will have the things you want. It may be that eventually you will have the things you want. All you have to do is ask, be sure that you will get them and they will be yours.

This also works the other way. Think about riding a bike or driving a car. If you concentrate on n0t crashing what happens more often than not? If you think bad things are going to happen they are.

I have been taught that if I really want something all I need to do is ask. I may not get it right away but if include this want in everything I do, prayers, meditation, daydreaming it will come. Perhaps it is better said, a way will be provided for it to be mine.

Drive to 185

I am doing pretty good, I need to focus a little better. But I feel good. I want this to work, the hardest part is realizing this is a journey, not a race. I know its going to take some time, but I will get there. But with the time it takes, sometimes its hard stay focused. Good thing I am already my ideal 185!

I need to start writing down my activity and food intake daily, again. It will help me to be accountable to something, even if it is the Internet.

Drinking tons of water has been great. I also have been adding fish, albeit fish tacos. YUM! I prefer grilled fish to fried any day. There is the is place called Wahoo's here and they have about 170 calories per taco and they are yummy. Nothin finer than a chunk of white grilled fish, wrapped in a corn (its all about the corn) tortilla with some shredded cabbage, fresh lime juice and some lite spicy sauce...

A new challenge is coming my way I will be in Atlanta next week. Travel will be interesting. But I will be great.

I still appreciate all the support and thoughts. Thank you all.

Just Another Day

This daily thing is tough. As you can see I have not been so good at it. But I have been working hard thinking hard and livin lite...

I am reading this book called "The Secret". Its one of those life changing books. The premise is that the secret is the law of attraction. If you really want to be something or you want some thing, visualize that its yours, and it will be, or rather there will be a way that is provided. Its quite powerful if you think about it. I don't expect everyone to understand at first, but I do and that's what matters most.

So how does this relate to my size? Here is how, there is no dieting, my mindset is that I am my ideal weight and I can eat anything I want. But here is how it works. I am my ideal weight, so what do I eat? Healthy good stuff that makes Me feel good. I also exercise, cause that's what thin folks do, and I am thin, my ideal weight. Before I stated that it was 220, well that has been bothering me ever since I wrote it. There has been a number that I cant let go of, so it must be my true ideal weight. Oh by the way its 185. Isn't that great!

I have also made some common sense adjustments. Like drinking 40 oz of water before I have a soda. Then before I can have another, I need to drink 40 oz more. So what this has done is I really don't want more than one soda, if I want one at all, after drinking all that water. I guess its "40 oz to freedom" to quote Sublime.

The other thing is that I have been adding in activity. Again thats what thin folk do. So far this has been great. I have been eating smaller portions, the only setback has been the cookies at work. Even they are not a big deal.

Its Friday

and I haven't written in a while, its been a busy few days with company and birthdays and stuff. Needless to say its not an excuse for not keeping up with my goal.
It has been the usual stuff in the eating dept. mostly fatty and sugary foods. Here is what I have learned so far through this little experiment.

1. Food does not taste as good as I think it does, if you think about how good it tastes then try it, its usually not as good as you remember it being. Think about it for a while and let me know what you think.
2. The first bite is as good as the last, meaning that food does not taste better with more bites. Smaller portions are just as good.
3. If I think about the stuff I can't have or shouldn't have its overwhelming, and I crave it. If I don't think about it, I don't want it.
4. There are more foods that I can have than I can't that taste better and give me more bang for my buck.
5. Positive thoughts and attitude are key.

Here is the plan:

1. Average 1500 calories a day, some days I will eat 1200 and some I will eat 1800 but it will balance out.
2. I am going to do something active at least 6 days a week.
3. As a family we are going to change our thoughts around holidays, instead of what are we going to eat, it will be what are we going to do?
4. I am going to continue to write down what I have eaten and add my exercise in.
5. Positive thoughts will prevail my mind, body and spirit. (I am reading "The Secret" I highly recommend it.)

I will also be modifying this as time goes on. Thank you again for all your support.

I still have not decided what to do about pictures. IF I put current photos up, they will remind me of what I am not what I will be. So your input is appreciated.