Category Archives: Kerfluffle
It’s That Time of Year Again….
It’s National Novel Writing Month, and I will be hip-deep in the endeavour to write 50,000 in the next 30 29 days. I’ll post excerpts here as I go, as well as on my Facebook page. I wish everyone else doing it this year the best of luck, and let’s go win this thing!
Five Things for a Weird Tuesday, Oct 26th
I haven’t done a “5 Things” post in a while (small bits of stuff that don’t warrant a full blog post, but allow me to write something), but since I’ve been sporadic and feeling guilty about it, I decided to do one today.
1. A very strange day. Out of the blue, I got a Facebook message from an aunt on my father’s side. I don’t recall ever speaking to her or meeting her, although it’s possible I did when I was very very young. When my Dad died when I was 7, we pretty much lost all contact with his side of the family (and the majority of my mother’s side as well, long story). One of his brothers, Phil, kept in occasional touch, mostly because he was executor of my grandparent’s estate, and when they died I received a small sum of money, along with all his other grandchildren. In the space of a few hours, my aunt and I exchanged a few emails. She’s a hospice nurse with lots of children and grandchildren. It was nice to finally “meet” my father’s sister.
Alton Brown, My Spiritual Father
Before Lady Aravan and I decided to get healthy, I was an Alton Brown fan. For a long time, though, I wasn’t. I didn’t get his show at all. I was used to recipe-style cooking shows like the Rachel Ray show (more on her later) or travelogue-style shows like No Reservations. Good Eats was very different, with its long explanations and quirky humor. Finally, though, the show clicked for me and I started to get it. Alton doesn’t try to teach you a recipe (which would feed you for a meal), but rather he tries to teach you how to cook (which will feed you for a lifetime). Some friends bought me the first Good Eats compendium, and that took it all even further. Read the rest of this entry
“So, Are You Going To Stop Dieting, Now?”
I hit my goal weight this weekend – actually, I dropped three pounds below it. I’m now 172, a weight I haven’t been in probably 14 years. My pants are 32s and loose, and I might be able to get back into 30s, which I haven’t been able to do since I got married. I’m stronger, healthier, and fitter than I have ever been in my entire life. I feel great. Now, I’m being asked a seemingly innocuous pair of questions fairly often: What Now, and When Do You Get Off Your Diet? Read the rest of this entry
Current Events
Since it’s been a little while since I’ve done a blog, I figured I’d go ahead and fill you in on the EXCITING and TUMULTUOUS EVENTS (or lack thereof) that have taken place.
Football: The Redskins won yet another ridiculously close game. Out of 5 games, 4 of them have come down to the final play. Only when they got hammered by the Rams, who lost 44-6 or something this week to the previously 0-4 Lions, was the outcome of the game not in doubt on the final snap. Heart attack central, this team. But since they are 3-1 in those nail-biters, I’ll take it for now. Read the rest of this entry
Embracing the Dark Side
Pushing your body through a difficult exercise session is as much mental as it is physical. When your head isn’t in the game, it’s hard to get the extra edge necessary to give the effort that ends up making the most difference. When your body is tired and ready to give up, the only chance you have to eke out more work is if your mind can rally those fatigued muscles and sore joints into giving it absolutely everything they have, which is where many trainers will tell you that real body change happens. A lot of the time, positive energy can push you through the wall: thinking of all the work you’ve already done, how many calories you’ve already burned, the jeans you want to fit into, the outfit you want to wear for The Big Party. You can encourage yourself through positive thinking, and can even help a flagging partner through it, telling yourself and them that “You can do it!” or “You got this!” Positive energy is great and awesome.
But sometimes, it isn’t enough. Read the rest of this entry
Day 3
Whenever I start working out after any time off, whether it’s a week or 5 years, the third day of the program is the one I dread most. It’s the worst day, hands down.
Day 1 is rough. Part of you wants to do it, part of you wants it to start tomorrow, which is why Day 1 can sometimes take weeks or years to actually end. Ahh, you seductive minx, Tomorrow, how you promise everything will be much better then, how easy it’ll all be. Once you get past that, though, it generally isn’t too bad. Sure, you might struggle through the workout, things that you did so easily before might leave you panting and grunting, but when it’s over, it’s over. You feel good. Read the rest of this entry
The New Cover is Almost Here!
Here we go. It looks awesome, in my opinion, and I am psyched to get it submitted and reprinted. Woo hoo!
Sweeeeet.
Ramping It Up
I’ve been working hard the last few weeks, especially in the cardio department, and the work has been paying off. I’m leaner, I’m fitter, I am probably definitely in the best shape of my life. I reached my weight goal, I reached my 100 push-up goal, and I am currently between “goals” for the most part beyond working hard and getting better. One thing that had stagnated during this time, though, has been my strength regimen.
Muscle Memory is an Amazing Thing
This morning, I was given a strong lesson on the effects of muscle memory. Oh, sure, it’s one I’ve gotten a billion times over the course of my life, but today’s instruction was particularly protracted and painful. I should know better, and I understand the concept: the more you do a particular action, the more your body gets used to that particular action, and adapts itself to it, making it easier. It’s the premise that golfers use to perfect their swings and choose those ridiculously stupid outfits, and how athletes of every stripe perfect the movements they need to excel, from hurdles to throwing a ball. Muscle memory is great, usually. Read the rest of this entry
Winter in Derenemyn 