I totally got my weeks mixed up. Here’s a quick snapshot of my “progress” on the Slow Carb diet. Unfortunately, the results are not nearly as impressive as I’d hoped. In fact, given the numbers, there’s really no progress to speak of! My upper body definitely feels tighter, so that’s good, but I was hoping to see my body fat % and BMI drop at least a little by now. Adding the kettlebell swing every other day (I’m up to 40 reps now, after starting at 20) is also causing some development. I’ll have to sit down with a tape and measure myself again to see if there’s any noticeable changes there. If, after a couple more weeks of slow carbing and kettlebelling, I don’t see a change, I will probably move on to something else.
Slow Carb Diet – Week 3. Backsliding.
Today, my vital statistics (weight, fat % and BMI) are awfully darn close to where they were after the first few days of the diet. Not a very heartening way to wind up an overall lousy-to-mediocre week. I suspect that a few stumbles along the way are contributing to this.
- I drank bubble apple cider last Wednesday night. It was a special occasion and it didn’t even occur to me that I was doing wrong ’til after the first glass was gone.
- I’ve been drinking coffee with half and half. As of today, I’m limiting myself to two tablespoons of cream for an entire day’s supply of coffee, regardless of how many cups that may be.
- I’ve caught myself snacking a few times. This means I’m not eating enough at my regular meals.
I’ve also started working out with a kettlebell three times a week. It will be interesting to see how this affects progress along the way.
Looking Back at Binge Day (Or, "I ate WHAT?")
Here’s what I ate today:
Continue reading “Looking Back at Binge Day (Or, "I ate WHAT?")”
Slow Carb Diet – Week Two
Yesterday I weighed in at 169.6#. My body fat percentage and BMI continue to drop slightly, but are still not greatly changed. Continue reading “Slow Carb Diet – Week Two”
Slow-Carb Diet, Week Two^H^H^HOne
Stepping off the plane from Brazil last week, I weighed in at 176# (79.8kg) and a few centos. I dropped most of those pounds within a few days, bolstering my theory that it was water weight. I’ve been sticking to the slow-carb diet since then, and am now down to 169.8# (77kg) as of this morning. Continue reading “Slow-Carb Diet, Week Two^H^H^HOne”
I'm Back In the Land of Snow, With a New Diet!
Winding up ten weeks in Brazil, I returned home two days ago to a load of snow, and a few revelations. Continue reading “I'm Back In the Land of Snow, With a New Diet!”
More Biking in Chapada dos Guimar?es – Mato Grosso
Here are some highlights of the last two weekends’ mountain biking adventures in Brazil.
Brazil: Biking in the Chapada
Yesterday I observed (the start and finish of) a mountain bike race in Chapada dos Guimar?es. I only observed the race, as I did not have any of my own equipment, but my friend allowed me to borrow his wife’s bike.
Despite the fact that it has a 15″ frame (I normally ride a 19″ or 21″), a hard tail (I usually ride full suspension), an itty-bitty front shock (compared to the things that could well service a motorcycle on mine, rather slick road tires (as opposed to mine, which very well could be mounted on something branded “John Deere”), no clip-in pedals or toe clips (actually a good thing, given I only had sandals), V-brakes (no disc), and the ground clearance of a Basset Hound (compared my my Splinter, which can straddle a Volkswagen) , I rode the trail from the finish line back to the start with many of the competitors. Continue reading “Brazil: Biking in the Chapada”
Capoeira in Cuiaba
Brazil – Cuiaba, Days 1-3
I said goodbye to my hosts in Florianopolis on Monday morning and I caught my flight, with connection, to Cuiab?. While in the airport, I observed people drinking beer at 9:30 (but with time zone changes, I’m?sure it was at least 5:30 where they came from). I managed to check my bag, get on the plane, and catch my connecting flight without any English. Even though there wasn’t a lot of talking required, I’m still proud of that.
I arrived and was greeted at the airport by Regina, Daniel and Alberto, who have maintained the Brazilian hospitality I’m still getting to know. Everyone seemed very excited to see me, like I was a long-lost relative. The language barrier is a little more present now than it was in Florian?polis, but still not a problem. Roberto speaks barely any English, and yet, after spending hours together, we still manage to get the important points across.
Drivers and motorcyclists here in the Cuiab??region are… brave. I’ll have to get some video, as I don’t think my words can do justice to the kind of performance I witness every time I buckle up and say a prayer.
On our first day, we went directly to my hosts’ weekend house in the country. The road there passes through several miles of national forest and preserves. The region is very dry and in a giant crater, making it very hot. On the way, we stopped by Port?o do Inferno (“Hell’s Gate”) – a very inviting place! Apparently the mountain biking in the area is very good. I hope to find out myself this coming weekend.
On Tuesday night, my hosts took me to visit a capoeira class. They asked the teacher if I could observe or participate, and he invited me to join them. The class was a great workout, and a lot of fun. I’ll be going back again tonight, despite the fact that all kinds of different muscle groups are really stiff two days later.