Lessons Learned

Friday is my busiest day - which isn't saying much. My business is ramping up, but it's still pretty slow. It's been a very long ramp. Anyway, on Fridays I deliver my paper. I also felt inspired, I wanted to get some new places to distribute my paper. I aimed at three.

The day started well. I had some bananas in soy milk. I also made a concoction I'm kinda proud of - I found a coffee product that is surprisingly good. I've adopted the Pacific Northwest as my home, so I don't have/haven't found the Coffee Snob Gene. I'm more of a tea guy, if anything. I like the smell and taste of coffee, but not in large amounts. Bitter, over roasted coffee turns me right off. People say "French Roast" and I start looking for water, tea, coke - anything. Anyway, I found this Nescafe Suave stuff in the store. The label is in Spanish with English subtitles - how American! It's just instant coffee, but it's not as bitter. A big mug about half full of water in the nuker for three minutes, two spoons of this stuff, six packets of Splenda and fill the rest of the cup with Vanilla soy milk and you have a coffee drink I can get behind! It has a very nice caramel finish. Smells just incredible. It even looks pretty in the cup! It'll probably take me a year to get through the container, but not bad to stay on my diet and fill my odd, here and there coffee yearning. Certainly cheaper than a $5 (or more!) Soy Latte at some coffee place!

So, I had my bananas in milk and my cheapo latte, jumped in the shower and hit the road. I delivered here and there and then pulled into my first target: the Lakepointe Bar & Grill. It's a pub in Kenmore - that just recently started serving lunch - excellent. I walked in, walked up to the bar and caught the attention of the man behind the bar.

Barkeep: Can I help you?
Me: Yes, I'd like to distribute my newspaper here.
BK: Okay.
Me: Have you heard of the Coffee News®?
BK: Yup.
Me: (FIRST TIME this has happened! Everyone says "No") R-really? Can I put the stand up over there?
BK: Sure.
Me: Thanks!

I was so excited I totally forgot to ask the nice man's name. It was literally that easy. In December I was either being told the decision maker wasn't around and I could never get the decision maker or I was given the third degree - now people just don't mind. Sure, put it up right over there.

The next two new places were about as easy. Sure-right-over-there-thanks. Great. I got all three places I aimed to get and I ended the day with a grand total of 25 distribution points. Nice. The biz is doing well. It doesn't feel like I'm selling an empty bag anymore. Makes me happy.

As I got out at Pasion Tequila, the last restaurant I've added to my empire, I had that fuzzy & fragile feeling I get when my blood sugar is too low. Usually, I have some time when I get this feeling. I was nearly done, so I wasn't worried. I placed my new stand, got in the car and started driving. The fuzziness got worse - fast. Hmm … there was a Safeway up the street, I decided to stop in and get a snack, some Slimfast bars or something. I parked and walked in, the fuzziness getting worse. I decided on a small OJ, I hunted the store until I found some South Beach bars and I grabbed a large container of raisins. By the time I got in line, I could barely see straight. The lady at the counter was asking me questions and I was trying to talk and be polite and eventually I told her my blood sugar was crashing. She handed me the OJ and asked if I needed her to call anyone. She was nice, but I waived her off, telling her I was gonna go outside and eat the bars. I drunkenly walked to the car, drinking my OJ. I polished off two bars and the OJ and probably a cup of raisins. That wasn't fun!

So, lesson learned. The remainder of the bars are in the car and there they will stay. If I had gotten that fuzzy while driving, I'm not sure what would have happened. The next time I get that fuzzy feeling, I'm not going to wait - I'm going to eat something. That was scary and I don't want it to happen again. My Fridays are getting longer as I add more locations and it's a lot of activity; drive, get out of the car, walk, walk back, get back in the car, drive, wait in traffic, repeat 25 times. My goal is to have 50 distribution points, so this isn't going to get easier. This is the first week I've done this while dieting. I'm usually slurping on a full sugar soda after having a pile of fast-food. I'm going to start bringing a few snacks with me. I may even make it a Friday ritual to eat lunch at one of the restaurants I deliver my paper to - can't hurt, right? Just a salad or something, but some food none the less! Speaking of food, dinner is pictured there on the left - chicken breast stir-fried in olive oil with mushrooms and broccoli. (It needed ginger and soy - on my shopping list) That was a big bowl of food. I couldn't finish it. Snack for tomorrow!

All in all, a good day - even with a big bump in the middle. Now, if I can just make some sales ….

Getting Good at Starting Over

The title is a Foo Fighters lyric. I heard it tonight and it sounded about right for my life.

So, I moved out of the house I had moved into. I decided to do this a few months ago. When I told my housemate, she decided to sell the house. Luckily, I found a decent apartment and I'm living by myself again. Just moved Saturday, still lots of unpacking to do. This place is huge - a real value for the money. I don't know what to do with all the room.

I found out the reason I'm getting it at such a good price; the previous resident committed suicide. The building was built in 1964. Jay, the dead guy, moved in in '64. He kept all his leases, they found them when they cleaned the place out - he paid $68 a month for his first lease. He was a heavy smoker and had pets. One of the neighbors tells me the walls in here were just coated with nicotine, the floor was covered in hair. One of the people that cleaned the apartment said the place had only been painted a few times in those years. The neighbor tells me that Jay lit up a charcoal grill in the apartment and asphyxiated himself. They cleaned the place thoroughly, painted, installed new countertops, put in new carpet and new appliances. But, I can still smell cigarette smoke. I'm burning some incense to help. I'm the second tenant in a 45 year old apartment!

My business is starting to take off. I made my first sale a week or so ago and I have some good leads for a few other sales. If I can make three to six sales a month, I'm golden. At that level I'll never get rich but I'll pay the rent. I think I can grow this into something big.

That brings us to the reason for this blog: my diet. I dropped it in mid-January and didn't look back. I had a handful of excuses, don't I always? But, I knew once I moved out I'd make an effort to get back on and go back to the gym. So, here we are, Day Two. So far, blah-blah-blah.

I told a friend yesterday that if I can keep my business going and stay on my diet, in five years I'll be the man I want to be. My! How my dreams have shrank. At nearly 40 my idea of a good life is being a 200 pound mediocre salesman. But, yeah, that doesn't sound too bad right now.

I'm still playing the Lotto.

Weighed in yesterday. There are worse weights than 476, but I'd rather be the 419 I got to last summer. Now that I'm looking at the old ticker data, a year ago today I weighed 453, which would be better than where I am. But, it could be worse, about two years ago I weighed 495. If I'm starting over, I guess I'd rather be at 476 than 495.

I've spent so much money since I've moved into the place. I had an empty fridge and cupboards. I didn't even own salt & pepper. But, now that there is food in the house, I won't be eating every meal at a fast food place like I've done since January. That'll save some money. I can easily spend $10 on breakfast at a drive thru. I think all told today my food totaled less than $10, and I'm stuffed to the gills. Dinner is pictured there on the right. I'm back to my petite sirloins - that's one stir-fried with onion and mushrooms. It came out very tender! The side dish is steamed broccoli and I'm even using Smart Balance instead of butter - and not much of that! The steak was about $3, the broc was maybe a buck and that was the big meal of the day. I used to eat with chop sticks because I fumbled with them and I ate slower. That trick doesn't work anymore - I'm getting too good with the sticks!

I'll get back to the gym soon. I've been busy unpacking. I think by this weekend this place will feel like home and I'll give the gym a shot next week. All these months of paying for something I'm not using feels very stupid. Worse, I set a reminder that beeps my phone everyday to go to the gym - I have found a way to beat myself up automatically. At least that's what it feels like. Soon I'll be able to hear that beep and feel a sense of accomplishment instead of cold self loathing.

Yup, this is the beginning of the diet - I'm low powered and depressed. It will pass. Just want to stay on the diet this time for longer than 90 days!

Weekend Issues

Why is it I can be pretty good during the week but lose all control on the weekends?

So, this past week was an example of what not to do. Trips to restaurants involving large steaks. Large amounts of pizza. All kinds of bad deals.

If I'm out here talking about it, it means I haven't given up. I'm going to double my efforts.

That's it? Try again.

Only three pounds this week. For the average dieter with 20 pounds to lose, that's a lot in one week. I'm not average.

I had some portion control successes and food choice failures. Tuesday is a good example. I went out to eat with a friend. We intended to go someplace where healthy choices were possible. That proved impractical, so we decided for another healthy option. Three closed restaurants later we decided to eat what came to hand. A Fish & Chips place was across the street from the last closed restaurant we visited. I ordered Chicken & Fries. They gave me an extra chicken finger - I guess the guy thought he'd be nice to the fat guy - awww! However, when I sat down to eat, I don't think I ate half of what was there. I fill up pretty fast these days. So, had I been eating a salad, it would have been better, but even eating chicken and fries I didn't do too bad.

Friday night I went out with a friend and I did the right thing. She ate a calzone and a beer - I had a salad and water. She worried about eating the calzone in front of me, but I was satisfied with the salad. I need more nights like that and less days like yesterday ...

I hung out with friends and watched the Seahawks get the crap kicked out of them. I made the choice for a quick meal just to put something in the tank on my way over - an Ultimate Breakfast sandwich at Jack in the Box. You'll notice, even though it was a sandwich from a fast food place, it was only once sandwich, no fried potato things or soda. I drank water I brought with me. I should have grabbed a bar instead of the sandwich. I know better.

Anyway, once there, I made decent if not perfect choices. I had some of the veggies, some sliced meat, a little cheese … a few crackers and about six chips. It's football - chips are mandatory! After the crushing defeat, I decided to them help myself to a large slice of the cheesecake that had been paraded in front of me. About an hour later, I found the croissant sandwich left overs and a Thomas Kemper Creme Orange soda. While eating the sandwiches, my belly hit full and reminded me I was on the wrong side of the line.

Bad habits are hard to kill - that should be the title of this blog. At least I lost a few pounds this week. I'll be better this coming week and I will get back to the gym if it kills me. Better number next week!

Low Power

Fourteen pounds in one week. These big numbers always freak me out a bit, but whenever I bring it up to my doctor, she smiles and nods and tells me that's the way it should be. Between being VERY overweight and the Januvia, these numbers happen.

The first week of getting back on the wagon is always tough. I only got to the gym once. Quite a few times I felt like I just couldn't wake up and get going. Low calories, low carbs and no caffeine … it's no wonder, but it's amazing when you are going through it.

On Friday I had a bit of a gout flare up - my big toes and feet were hurting. However, the meds calmed it back down. I was impressed. I don't mind a little flare here and there, walking is the important thing.

I'm looking forward to this progress continuing. The fridge is full of good foods. I want to get to the gym more often this week. 399 here I come!

Here we go again ...

New year, thus, I'm getting back on my diet.

I'm sure no one is shocked. I'm appalled about that number up there; 476 - I can't believe I'm back up that high again. I'm discouraged that I have to get back on the diet. I just can't find a way to stay on a damn plan, develop a routine and get the weight off.

But, having said that, I realize I need to give myself a break. It's hard. My body is fighting against me. It's very easy to get fat, the other direction is damn hard.

Further, I am indeed getting back on the diet. I could have just said whatever and moved on, heading for an early grave, but I'm giving it yet another shot.

Today went pretty well. I had a Slim Fast bar for breakfast, got on the treadmill at the gym for a half hour, had a salad for lunch. Dinner was another salad with some baked chicken. Lots of water all day. I'm now snacking on a couple of apples. It's a small start, but it's something to build on.

I must admit, I'm ready for bed. With the almost no carbs, the walking, the lack of any caffeine and crappy sleep last night, I'm about to hit the sack.

I got to the store tonight for some good food items. I plan to hit the gym again tomorrow. I think I can get some place.

The Secret Gym

I'm currently living in Kenmore, WA. It's a nice little area. However, the whole of King and surrounding counties suffer from a common American ailment: urban sprawl. You need a car to get around because everything is spread far and thin, be prepared for traffic. If you don't own a car, be prepared to spend most of your life on buses.

I'm close to two Bally's gyms. "Close" in a galactic sense. One is in Bellevue, which at 2 AM is a 20 minute drive, the rest of the day it's 45 minutes to an hour. One is in Lynnwood, about 15 minutes away off peak, about 25 minutes away in heavy traffic. Lynnwood is the better choice, no? Not according to Bally's website. Bally's told me there was no swimming pool, and when I first started looking for a gym, I wanted a pool. So, I struggled with the traffic to Bellevue.

About two weeks ago, I decided to go to Lynnwood because I wanted to see the place and I was planning to just do just cardio and lifting. The gym is hidden behind a couple of older strip malls in an area that is best described as ... distressed. The burned out apartment building across the street sets the tone. However, when I arrived I found a welcome treat - a HUGE parking lot with few cars. Nice!

The gym itself is less polished than Bellevue. For those of you that don't know, Bellevue is a kinda ritzy suburb of Seattle. It sits between Seattle and Redmond, home of Microsoft. There is some money floating around there, so, the gym had better be nice. The Lynnwood location was apparently not burdened by this fact. The place could use some cosmetic work, but it was serviceable. The staff were friendly, if not not model quality as they were in Bellevue. The machines were older but well maintained. Over all, the place felt lived in and less scary.

And, there were some hidden surprises. One of my complaints about Bally's is the lockers. I'm sure the pressboard things looked good in the early 90s when they were installed, but the years of being in close proximity to all that moisture and years of abuse have made them less "lockers" and more "things you can close and hope no one can just pull open if they want your stuff." Lynnwood has old, blue, metal lockers. Sure, there is some rust and damage, but it's way better than melting pressboard.

As I looked around the locker room my first time, I saw a sign that said "Anyone entering the pool must take a shower first." Why would they have that sign? The web site said they didn't have a pool. I walked through the door to discover not just a pool, but a pool that appeared as large if not larger than the one in Bellevue - and nearly empty. The hot tub didn't have a timer on the Jacuzzi feature, it just runs and runs and it's about twice the size of Bellevue's and, it too, was nearly empty. Nice!

Now, granted, there aren't as many hot chicks at this place as there are in Bellevue, the video screens are smaller and not flat and in general the whole place is less posh, but for getting my workout on - it's doing the trick. I went Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. I plan to go today. I'm proud of myself.

I'm trying to do about a half hour or more on the treadmill, then lift a bunch of heavy things. Sometimes, when I have time, I treat myself to a soak in the hot tub. You're noticing a lack of the word "pool" in that sentence, aren't you? Yeah, all the concern about pools and I am barely using them. That may change. The treadmill is fine, but I have days, like yesterday, where I am walking fine and then something starts to hurt, so I stop. The treadmill is going to do damage. The pool isn't deep enough for me to do any walking with resistance, but I could swim as cardio. I have other cardio options as well. Lynnwood has this device called a Windjammer (see picture) - it simulates the action of cranking sails on a racing sailboat. In other words, it uses the arms to do cardio. I'm up to seven minutes with no resistance, and, yeah, I can feel it. Eventually I'll add resistance, maybe after I hit 10 minutes. I'm going to get guns yet!

Speaking of which, I am so enjoying my weight training. I never liked it before, I mean, it was okay, but for whatever reason I'm really liking it now. Maybe I'm just doing it right or something. I don't have much structure, I just go from machine to machine, device to device. I'm getting a lot of variety and that feels good. I try to add a new machine every time. I'm trying to add more reps. Mostly, I try to not interfere with what others are doing. I've moved away from the free weights to the machines, same work out and you don't get stepped on by the roid-heads. I'm working mostly on my pecs, bi-cepts and back - I want some visible results so I'm going for the big three. I'm sure the other muscles are getting some work along the way.

If I could only get more structure to my diet. I feel like I'm wrestling a bear. I think I'm doing okay, but it feels odd. I'm intaking more carbs than when I normally diet, but less than when I am off my diet. I'm eating out a lot, but I'm making good choices. The scale says I'm down, but only a bit, and that's the scale at home, the scale at the gym adds ten pounds, I don't know what to believe. I think I'm just going to attempt to keep up going to the gym, try to keep making good food choices and ride the bear until it throws me off. This is all new territory for me and I need to get used to it before I try to saddle it with a routine.

My mantras are "Slow, Steady, Repeat." and "Less Flab, More Fab!" - we'll see if they work.