Day Two Begins....

I woke this morning..... and spent some time just resting in bed. Not really thinking about anything and yet, thinking about the remainder of the week...... mentally preparing.

Today, I am off to teach water fitness, home for about an hour or so, and then, off to soccer practice and deep water run..... I trust that I will swim between my two water fitness classes and run this evening after soccer.

My drama as it always is..... EATING. Being prepared. I have learned it is not enough to put the clementine in the bag; I need to peel it before I put it in the bag.... or shockingly, I will go find the 'faster' choice. Lazy? I don't know.... I just need to ensure I am prepared. period. It's that simple.

This morning started with water-- a half liter..... Water first thing in the morning shouldn't be cold... I drink it at room temperature... the body isn't ready for cold liquids, and drinking too much too quickly can cause feelings of upset.

And then pineapple. I love it. Pineapple is a great recovery food. It has an enzyme that reduces swelling (as well as many other wonderful nutrients, and it is fruit... natures cleaner), and the body can heal and recover when swelling is reduced.

Later, I will probably have yogurt.... and I trust a spinach salad.

The scale brought me down another .2# (again, this is to keep me honest).... so, 64 to go.

Looking forward to the adventures that today will bring and tomorrow's rest.

Day One Complete.

And I am home before 10pm. Shocking!

Mid-morning. I had another clementine and a yogurt. I also had a scoop of protein powder mixed in apple sauce. I ran 3 miles, with 7 x hill sprints.

Lunch time. I ate a bowl of steamed brussel sprouts.

Soccer practice.

Dinner. I had a bowl of broccoli and some elbows.

I feel tired from the day. And I feel good.

I drank close to 4 Liters of water.

On another note: I saw a book-- called the Game On! diet.... It looked like 'sound eating'... but creates some competition for exercise and motivation-- like you are competing with your friends. I liked the idea of the support-- I am not sure about the competition-- some may take it too far... and forget we all lose weight differently. That may cause frustration, as opposed to motivation. But if you were using the competition to push each other to stay focused and exercise regularly, it could be a very good thing.

How was your day??

Day One of Sixty commences....

This is the beginning of the last sixty days!!

(I actually think this is day 43; so I would say close enough).

This mornings weigh in is down .8#. My objective for getting on the scale daily is to keep me honest. Nothing more.

And I drank .5 liters of water, ate two clementines and am currently enjoying a cup of coffee.

I take my supplements at night, because I enjoy coffee-- the coffee causes the body to flush and doesn't give the body time to absorb the supplements.

Fruit: it is what's for breakfast.

I am a modern day Spartan, a warrior.... the Spartans of old, lived on live foods throughout the day and cooked foods at night. Live foods means raw foods... and so fruit it is.

If we also look at the animal kingdom, the animal that is most closely similar to us in digestion are chimps. Despite our conceptions, chimps are not vegetarians... but they sustain livelihood off live food-- what they can forage.

Fruit has gotten a bad rap recently. Many fitness professionals would like to say fruit will make you fat. REALLY? I often ask, when I am told this.... what then do you recommend?? And I hear all kinds of processed food recommendations. Again, really??

I don't understand why one would recommend processed food over a natural food.

The truth: fruit can provide nutrients and energy (calories) for the activities of the day. Fruit is designed to promote digestion and clean the intestines (remember what your grandmother said about prunes? citrus works just as well). And some fruit, like pineapple reduce swelling.

I am not the person who wakes and is hungry immediately. I woke this am and did some work on the deck, drank my water and ate my clementines. I am certain the two clementines will not sustain me through the entire morning; so I am bringing more with me.

Well, off to teach water fitness. This is the first morning back after the storm.

Immediate Changes....

Principles I am adopting to continue in the next 60 days.... (and moving forward).

---- 'A simple lifestyle built on the basics'

-- seeking to make changes based on the basics.

the basics copy the lifestyle of the ancient warriors -- the spartans.

I am becoming a modern Spartan (or a modern warrior)

The modern Spartan has real health and is an Athlete.

A great quote: 'Our greatest fear should be not that our lives will someday come to an end, but Rather that they may never begin.'

The Fundamental Principles I am adopting:

No1: Take what works for me and reject what doesn't.

No2: 80% of conventional wisdom is wrong.

No3: Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity.

And a great concept from Michael Pollan:

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

And so.... my journey resumes.

Goal weight loss: (to return to my true racing weight) 65#.

Here we go.....

***A note: the 65# is greater than my original 40# goal. i didn't gain 25#. i am basically back at my starting point, for many reasons. the 65# was actually the original goal, but my intent was to lose 40 and see where i was from there.****

The hurricane has passed....

Irene has departed. She left a lot of damage in her wake.....

But the hurricane within -- the battle between myself still rages on.

Ever feel like the world is against you-- and so my journey is....

I felt like today...... everyone said to me, that I cannot. I cannot do this or that, and my body and the scale.... let's just say I am not happy.

So, I am regrouping.....40 days into this, and the same struggles are clearly present.

(Yes, I do realize that this is a journey of more than 100 days... but why do I weigh almost as much as I did when the journey began).

Perhaps, this is my reality check. Perhaps, I need to not only regroup but change my focus.

I feel fat-- and I do look it too. I am tired of wearing big clothes to hide in. I am tired of being able to pinch more than an inch.

So.... I am going to make myself more accountable, to you....

The next couple of weeks the blog is going to change, to create that accountability and I trust it will be for the better-- for me: to do what I say I am doing, and you: for motivation.

Best.

Hurricane Irene....

I am feeling some serious cabin fever.

I have been cooped up all day-- did manage a calisthenic workout--- some pushups, up-up/down-downs, one-legged squats, med ball sit-ups, wood chops, and lunges-- one needs to be creative when forced to stay inside.

Currently, I am without power. When power was lost this time (has been flickering on and off all day-- goes out for a minute or two), the back-up batteries in the clock-radios stopped working. Would love to know why this time? And not all the other times throughout the day. As you know, I don't have any other radio (except for my car), so I am pretty clueless as to what is really happening out there....

Besides, it is windy. And there is a big branch down that is stuck in the tree. The branch has been secured as best as it can be, until it is safe to take it down completely.

Without power, I have no coffee.... and pretty much no food. (It's in the fridge).

I am tired of reading. I am tired of sitting. I would love to do something besides be in this apartment--- funny how that happens, when you have to stay in, you want out!!!!

I was told that the storm surge should be here in several hours....

That will prove to be a different adventure.

Leo is sleeping in a chair. And well, I am surviving.

I trust you are safe too.

The bestest compliment....

I have been feeling stuck.... the scale loves and hates me.... 2# down-- 2# back up... back and forth, and nothing is happening. And I have been trying to figure out what to change, where to change it and what to do..... and two things happened.

First, in my class Wednesday, Kelly (who I haven't seen in a couple weeks) returned. She was like WOW!! You look great.... It is amazing how great you look. You have lost a lot of weight. Thank you for inspiring... You are serious about this.

And second, the scale gave it up this morning.... I was down 2 (from my down 2 position). Woo-hoo!!!!

I feel like I am making some progress and headway.... keeping in mind this is a journey, not a destination.... and I am making progress every day.

So, keep your chin up and stay focused on the goal.