Yeah, I’m back on the hundred pushups challenge, again. I’m also doing the two hundred squats challenge on alternating days! I’m in the middle of week 4 (since I was easily able to bang out 50 squats on the first week) of each.
Now, to make it through three Thanksgiving dinners (ah, the joys of large family and being popular) without totally mucking up my progress on making physical self-improvements. I briefly was back up as high as 174# a week ago, but I’m dropping back into my comfort zone below 170#. With an “ideal weight” for a man my height and age ranging anywhere from 125-169#, depending on who you ask and what method you use, I’m toward the high end, but I am adding some muscle mass and I feel great, have lots of energy, and am told I look great, so, I’m cool here.
What a Month!
I think I’ve had my busiest October ever. Here’s a quick summary:
- Fall gasshukku with Hiroshi Ikeda shihan at Shobu Aikido of Boston.
- Mountain biking with my new (to me) Sinister Splinter (affectionately referred to as “the Tractor”).
- Work work work work work! Audits and migrations and troubleshooting, oh my!
- Reading: The Road
by Cormac McCarthy and Nmap Network Scanning: The Official Nmap Project Guide to Network Discovery and Security Scanning
by Gordon “Fyodor” Lyon
I plan on elaborating on all of these points.
Eventually.
Perhaps.
Sinister Retrograde Chain Suck
I’ve been trying to decide on my next mountain bike. I really like my old Tomac Six Shooter – a versatile, light, nimble all-mountain bike. However, for some of the trails I tackle, something a little heavier-duty is called for. Continue reading “Sinister Retrograde Chain Suck”
Book Review: The Power of Full Enagement
I recently finished reading The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. As the subtitle indicates, “Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal.” Continue reading “Book Review: The Power of Full Enagement”
McConnell Taping
This weekend, after starting a new round of physical therapy for my knee, I experimented with McConnell Taping to see if it could keep my patella in place. I’d tried something like this before, and was pretty skeptical.
To my surprise, the technique not only moved my kneecap into a more proper location, the tape actually held through hours of hot, sweaty aikido practice, including kneeling and suwariwaza techniques. I definitely will be using this technique in the future.
One Hundred Push Ups, Week 3, Day 3 (Column 3)
Whew! I did it! Week three is DONE.
Now for another exhaustion test and the dreaded week 4, which always kicked my butt the last time(s) around.
Don't Throw That Old Coffee Away, Freeze It and Make Coffee Cubes!
Do you like iced coffee? I do. And one thing I hate is watery coffee. Here’s a great way around that. Have some extra coffee left over in the pot after you’ve had your morning fix? Don’t toss it – freeze it! Just pour it into your ice cube tray and you get coffee ice cubes! They keep more of that great coffee flavor in your iced coffee. Enjoy!
One Hundred Push Ups, Redux
After completely falling off the push ups wagon, last week, for no apparent reason, I decided to do an exhaustion test and see where I was at. I managed to bang out 50 push ups! Recall when I started last time, I only was able to manage 50.
So I resumed/restarted at Week 3, column 3, day 1, on Saturday, and continued on with day 2 today. So far, so good, and boy do my shoulders ache.
Medifast II: The Sequel
Last night I pitched the Medifast diet to my parents. They both seemed receptive. Before he can start, my father needs to review the plan with his physician (from whom we’re awaiting a call back), but my mom has already ordered her first month of food. So now I get to be the diet coach. This should be fun.
Calorie Counting (or, "I Lied")
Last week I decided not to count calories anymore, and to just track my weight unless I felt the need to “diet” again.
That resolution lasted about 6 hours. I decided after 4 straight days of weighing in at 170#, enough was enough, and I needed to be more careful again, so I never stopped tracking my caloric intake. The result is, four days later, I was back down to 166.9# this morning. Still not exactly where I want to be, but back in my “comfort zone.”
I’ll stop counting again next week.
Maybe.