Down with a sickness

So I finally caught the cold that has been flying around lately.  I am trying to prepare for the 3 days of crap, and will be stocking up on some OJ to get me through the weekend.  Needless to say, I did not make it to the gym for a weigh in, and although I have managed to avoid red meat and pork still, I did have some pound cake and fruit with whipped cream for dinner.  Yes dinner.  Deal with it.

I have found a couple very interesting things in the last couple days however, on being this article on Lifehacker about finding your creative "sweet spot."  It has a couple quips about studies done showing that if you are sleepy, drunk and just got done exercising it is the best time for creativity.  Well, not all at the same time, but apparently when you are in those states of mind you thoughts wander more and you are better at problem solving.  So for you creative folks out there, do not pick up that coffee to open up that mind, but a beer instead.

I also stumbled upon this video of slow motion free runners.  Free running is a combination of multiple things, but the main components are gymnastics and well, running.  It is a really awesome sport that is more about expression and freedom than anything else.  If you have a little bit of time, let these fellas inspire you.

Tomorrow is Friday, and surely I should be excited, but knowing I will have this cold through the weekend is not really what I had in mind.  I am looking forward to next week however, because I have my follow-up MRI and finally will get some kind of plan of action for my knee.  Whatever the weather is like for you this weekend, enjoy yourselves.

I'm just sayin...

Valentines day, and the Office

It took me a while to post this week, I know. I have been busy/lazy and need to get back on the
motivation train.

Last weeks challenge went pretty well, had one extended nap on Friday, but it was needed. Being up
until 2 the night before working at 7, and then planning on going out that night, I needed some extra
shut eye. On a really good note, I found a Chipotle that is less than 90 miles away.

Last night was also Valentines day.  I know a lot of people think it is over monetized, and it is really a halmark holiday, but you have to make it about yourself and your love for another person.  Even if you do not have another person at the time, still make it about yourself, and do not get all moopy on us, we have all been alone on Valentines day, it is one stinking day a year.  I cooked for my significant other, I love cooking, she loves eating what I cook, works out pretty well.  First was lobster, cheese risotto made from scratch, and steamed broccoli tossed in olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice and some red pepper flakes.  Desert was a sparkling Moscato, and pound cake topped in a raspberry and blackberry compote made with a little sugar and pear soda, with whipped cream and chocolate chips.

The challenge for this week is to stretch. More specifically get out of my chair every hour at work and get my blood flowing a little bit, and stretch. Many of us with desk jobs and aging bodies start to notice how we feel stiffer, and more creaky by the day. Being hunched over the keyboard for 8 hours a day is one of the main culprits. Getting up every hour and moving your body and stretching, especially the hamstrings and hips, helps keep the body from ceasing up and causing a lot of the common body issues, especially back issues. Even if you only have time for a few jumping jacks or pushups and getting a good hamstring stretch in, it is better than nothing and just sitting in that chair indefinitely.

Also I am on track with my no red meat or pork monthly challenge, and maybe I will weigh myself tomorrow and see if it has helped. Who knows, maybe it did me some good.

I’m just sayin…

Oh no, Paleo

So today went pretty well.  Attended an awards banquet to open the morning, and had to restrain myself from the bacon and sausage that was available.  It was tough, but I got through it.  Had an apple, walnuts, eggs and potatoes for breakfast, a sweet potato for lunch, and then chicken, asparagus sauteed with onions and cantaloupe for dinner. I also had a V8 while playing halo, instead of my customary beer.  I did slip up on accident once today, I had a coffee after coming home and without thinking used milk as a creamer.  Plus I do not think eggs count and super strict paleo, but close enough right?

On a side note, I have had a few friends swimmin' in the blues lately.  For this reason or that but it happens to all of us.  It even happens to me, strange huh, lately it has been my knee(yes give me the proverbial arrow to the knee joke) getting me down because I cannot participate in any sports, and as marginal as I am at most of them, it is one of my passions.  Sometimes you have to do something about it.  Try something new, watch a movie you love, listen to music, or apparently eat.  I found this list today of some foods that supposedly improve your mood, which sounds like a good cover to eat some dark chocolate:)  The article is here if you want to see the whole list.

I did get some Rocksmith in today, trying to continue this long process of maybe learning a little bit of guitar.  It is videos like the one posted below that make me excited and jealous of the talent of some people.  You should watch some of their other videos as well if you like classical music with a twist, played by very talented people. Tomorrow is Friday thankfully, so lets finish up this week on a high note.


I'm just sayin...

No grain Wednesday, and Music

Had a pretty good day, especially from a trying to eat healthy standpoint.  I managed to go all day and not eat any grains, which is probably a first, like ever.  I started with 3 eggs, string cheese and coffee for breakfast.  Another very large BBQ'd chicken breast for lunch, a V8 as a snack when I got home with another string cheese.  For dinner it was sesame seed crusted ahi tuna, with sauteed bananas and walnuts and a mixed green salad with raspberry balsamic vinaigrette mushrooms carrots shallots and feta cheese.  As a small desert about a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips, and a beer.  So overall a good day, especially somehow not having any starchy carbs.

Motivation is also something that is hard to maintain, no matter what you are challenging yourself with.  One thing that I know keeps my energy up and allows me to focus better is music.  I try to always have some on, although at work that is difficult to because of internet restrictions and questionable cell phone reception.  I made a playlist on Youtube today that is a bunch of songs that either remind me of friends, or just times earlier in my life. It is not a complete list, but it was a good start from what I could think of today.  If you are interested here is the playlist.

Tomorrow I am going to try and make it a Paleo Pthursday.  Ya corny, but whatever.  Paleo is a diet popularized by crossfit aficionados that focuses on foods that were available to paleolithic man.  Nuts, fruit, meat, veggies, and that is about it.  No grain, no dairy a hunter gatherer type diet if you will.  I Have the book and have tried recipes out of it before, but I find it hard to change completely over to it, so for now, I will try one day a week.  Here is a link to the paleo diet website for more information on that.

Tomorrow should be another busy day, and hopefully I can keep up with the goals and plans I am putting forth.  Have a good night.

I'm just sayin...

Another month, another challenge

I have not been great at keeping up. Oh well.  Now that we have that over with lets get to the last week.

I did a pretty good job with the Rocksmith.  The biggest thing I learned?  Guitar is really hard to play.  That coming from someone who has basically no musical experience, and whose left hand dexterity only really applies to a controller and aswd.  The hardest thing was moving around to the different chords.  I will continue to play because it was fun, and I would still like to know how to play something someday.

The January challenge was to finish the book I was working on.  I finished a day or two early, because it got to a point where the action would just not stop until the book was over.  I plan on continuing to read books because I really do enjoy it, although it is probably one of the easiest thing to make excuses for.

For the month of February it is a pretty big challenge for myself, only eat birds or fish.  No beef, no pork, on chicken, turkey and seafood.  I am a big meat person, and my second biggest food crux is burgers, first is mac and cheese. I am going to have to try making some new dishes to not get bored of chicken which is something I always struggle with.  Just telling myself it is better for me is not enough, it has to still taste good and be moist.  the reason for this challenge is mainly because I know I need to lose some weight, and especially with possibly an upcoming knee surgery, being lighter than I am right now will help with the recovery process after whatever the next treatment is for my knee.

The challenge for this week is no naps after work.  Sounds funny, but that is really it.  I have not had a lot of energy lately especially because I cannot be as active as I would like(see previous knee injury comment.)  I come home, make excuses to do nothing and go take a 20 minute nap, that turns into an hour or more.  I should not be wasting time like that, and really need to do more with that time.  Also I would like to incorporate the rest of my challenges and continue to not drink soda, do more hobby stuff, finish a model this week, not go out to eat, and make it to the gym to do what I can a couple more times this week.  It is a lot rolled into one, but it is time to put some of this leg work into practice.

The last thing that I am going to do this week is do a food log, which should help me stay more active with updates.  Today I had a bagel, two pieces of string cheese, a piece of pepper jack, and apple, a turkey and cheese sandwich, a V8, some sunflower seeds, a whole grain cracker, a blow pop, a beer, and a chicken breast.  That should be most of it, and it is around 1900 calories for the day, which is probably about right for now.

For tonight, that is enough, and I am gonna head to bed.  Some sort of update is forthcoming tomorrow.

School done, and a party with Kanye West

It was a long week but I made it through pretty much unscathed.  I did not break my no TV challenge until dinner Sunday night, and although I did not get to watch the show I wanted to, I still had class work to finish.  I feel good getting everything done and sticking to the challenge set for myself for the week.  School was a little trying at the end getting everything done, but I am going to start up again in March.

This week I have some time to decompress a little and finish the monthly challenge of finishing the book I started a couple weeks ago.  I have a plan for February's challenge, but that will be a surprise reserved for Wednesday.

The challenge for this week is to play Rocksmith for 30 minutes or more everyday this week.  I have always wanted to learn how to play guitar.  I do not expect to become a rockstar or anything, but maybe someday I will be able to play a few of my favorite songs.  My roommate has an electric guitar so I am only in the cost of the game if I really decide it is not for me.  The 30 minutes is because in what I have done already with the game my hands and forearms get tired pretty quick, but I am going to do it.

Lastly I will leave you with a video that somewhat represents what happened this past Friday at a friends house.  Take it as you will, and stay tuned for a surprise on Wednesday.

NO TV! Plus a day of mourning

So last week went pretty well as far as the challenge goes.  I kept my eating out to a minimum, although I was not perfect, and did a pretty good job overall going to the gym and eating better.  That is the important thing about the challenged in my perspective.  It is not about being perfect, it is about doing things that you either never really set the time aside to do, or try and make a change to your lifestyle that will help you learn a skill, increase your health, or just find something that will make you happy.

Like I said, I am not perfect, and I all but imploded Sunday night.  I had some friends over to watch the NFC championship game.  Instead of cooking for an army like I have done in the past, we just went the lazy route and ordered pizza.  It was all when and good, and then it happened.  One guy prevented the 49ers going to the Super Bowl on two REALLY dumb mistakes.  I would have been happier if the other team just outperformed us, or made a big play at the right time, but that was not the case.  Two fumbled punt returns to give the other team almost guaranteed makes on field goals that gave them the win.  In response, I mourned on Monday.  My diet consisted of pizza for breakfast, burgers and regular soda for lunch, and Kraft deluxe mac and cheese for dinner.  I got it out of my system though and am heading back on track.

This weeks challenge is no TV.  That means no channel surfing for an hour a day and coming out with nothing.  Just sitting in front of the TV and watching whatever on really does not help anything.  The reward is going to be the 2 hour finale of Celebrity cook-off on food network.  I am not going to restrict myself from video games however because the large majority of my video game playing is social, I do not really play unless I am playing with friends, and there are few other minor things holding me from finishing up a couple other hobby projects.  This will allow me to finish my book sooner, the monthly challenge for January, and move on the next book that I have had for ages and have meant to read.  Hopefully this will also let me get everything done for my last week of the school session and make my steps towards making this challenge thing have its own site.  If you have good name ideas throw them at me.

Other than that, pretty standard week, work, home, school, eat, sleep, repeat.

I'm just sayin...