Day 17

Slowed down quite a bit this week, it's been so hot outside. Not been walking, just continuing the never ending war with Dr. Pepper.

My son keeps pushing for us to walk and we will. Start. Soon.

I promise.

Day 13

Well here we are, essentially two weeks later since the 'change'.

Last week was a long, very busy time in high temps. We thrived in it, cold well water made all the difference! I probably drank as much as a liter/hour during the worst temperatures.

We hiked, walked and played our hearts out at camp. Not many complaints from the boys, but several of them did skip a meal once or twice... picky eaters don't eat at camp. But boys will be boys.

My shins are absolutely destroyed from the hiking and very high levels of activity, they haven't hurt like this since Basic Training in 1990. Trying to keep enough ibuprofen and potassium in me to relieve the issue because I am NOT slowing down. Saturday was probably a 7 on the pain scale, today is more like a 4.. any given day my shoulders are a 6, so this is manageable.

My son knows we're going to kick up the activity level, he was pleased and asks now 'When are we going to do MORE?' :)

Onward, baby steps.

I weighed immediately after coming home from camp, didn't lose a single pound- but I did drink gallons of water and it's easy to tell I am walking around with 'kool-aid belly".  I should have measured around, because I did lose some of the rotund and puffiness of drinking pop all the time.

Gonna keep going, there's lots of life to live!

Day 6- "rest"

Diet was great today, veggies and less junk food.

Today was going to be a rest day because of Boy Scout camp, but we ended up cleaning out the gutters on two houses, up and down the ladder. Carry the ladder. Move the ladder. I am pooped. Shoulders have a good burn going on, it was a good workout compared to my usual 'old' lifestyle.

I'm posting this a day late, as we are preparing to leave for camp in a couple of hours. I won't be posting until Friday night and it might be a long recap of the week's events, or that information may be held over until later.

Thanks to anyone out there actually reading this and supporting me. I truly appreciate the positive vibes and can feel them pushing me onward.

Day 5

Did alright on the menu side, still need to incorporate more veggies... WIP. (Work In Progress)

Didn't really workout today but did 'play' in the neighbor's garage and attic, helping him move around some junk, just cleaning up the workspace.Leaving Monday for a week at our local Boy Scout Camp, so I'm taking today and tomorrow off from any real working out. I'm still feeling really good about making better choices.

Day 4- Physical

Ate about the same, less junk, more water. Trying to keep this pattern of movement and better choices.

Had my 'BSA Physical' today,

•  confirmed my weight. 260 pounds. Not a pleasant number. While still enlisted I weighed 158 and was being taped to check if my BMI was within Army limits. Obviously I've gained a bit since 1993...

• My blood pressure was alright, nothing to brag about, but not bad for a guy that is 100 or more pounds over suggested 'healthy' weight.  144/78. Losing weight will just bring that number even more within good limits. 

• Rest pulse rate was average for my age, so the ticker is still solid.

 The Nurse Practitioner suggested a mild workout to begin with and not to expect immediate results. We talked about beverage choices that could replace my soda pop addiction, I'm going to try Mio drops in water and see how that works for me.

While shopping for our Camp Arrowhead supplies, I found the Mio and was surprised at the huge selection of flavors, decided up Orange Mango.

Didn't exercise or walk any special today, we were shopping for several hours, so that more than made up for my little evening  jaunt.

I'm feeling really good about this journey, the NP was very understanding about my weight and soda issues, but she wasn't forgiving. I've got to save myself from myself and this is going to be a daily fight. The goals I outlined on June 8  (JUST DO IT) must drive me forward because there are plenty more tomorrows that need to be shared with my family. :)

Day 3

Another 30 minute walk completed, probably going to up the time/distance tomorrow.

Diet- ate less today than my 'usual', no junk food, no snacks, more veggies.

Off to bed and tomorrow is another day!

Day 2

Well, it wasn't a great day, but I did get my 30minutes of walking in.

It was a Cub Scout's birthday party, so pizza buffet was enjoyed, but not to excess.

Moving on to day 3.

Day 1

Walked for 30 minutes, that's 30 more minutes than I've been doing the past year of so..

Should have had a salad with dinner, but didn't. Cut back on my intake of soda and junk snacking, need to get some healthier snack options, maybe I'll get to the store tomorrow.

Not a bad day, it was much cooler than the past week, so the walk was quite easy. Maybe I'll try to jog bit tomorrow, we'll see how the knees hold up on concrete/black top.

Just Do It

•  Does motivation matter?  

• Does it matter why we do the things we do, or endure the things we endure?

•  Would you change your ways for someone else, something else, or to go somewhere else?

The answer most would provide is 'Yes, motivation matters and yes, I would change my ways to improve my situation.' I've proclaimed this at least a dozen times during the past couple of decades and nearly every time, I've  failed to follow up. Well, it's time to do it again- but this one has to be for good and for LIFE. 


Time to wear off this round-belly disease that I've allowed myself to perpetuate. If for nothing else, let it be for my own personal health.


Weight wasn't an issue for me until after I turned 18, prior to that I was always biking or active in some form of continuous outdoor activity. It's time to return to my roots and break the newer roots that are holding me steadfast. 


In the big scheme of things, you really have control over so little that occurs, one thing you DO have control over is your waistline. The time to muster all my drive and courage is now and I plan to use this site as my personal record of movement and success.


I will record my workouts and diet here, both successes and failures. I WILL DO IT DAILY. 

Later this week I will be getting my Boy Scout physical and the dirty details will be posted here, as a reminder, for me and the world to know. 

Among the many things that I'd like to accomplish with this new beginning

1. better physical health- I'd like to enjoy another 50 or more years
2. improve my prospects for work- who wants to hire a fatty? 
3. improve my relationship with my kids- they want a dad that can run and play and go on bike rides
4. return to the shape I was in when my wife met me- she deserves a husband who is fit and fab
5.  there are some bucket list items that require me to be in better physical shape
6. my future in the BSA will be negatively affected if I don't change
7. God gave me life- I should respect his temple and keep it clean
8. many other things that I will address at the appropriate time

My background story is common; family history of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure... you name it. There's just a wealth of reasons that drive me to improve my own physical condition. 


 So, what it comes down to is please check up on me and let me know if you're quietly cheering me on from the sidelines... I will not be posting about this on facebook or talking about it anywhere other than this blog. I pray my readers will urge me forward and be there to celebrate the changes we see along the way.

I'll spare you the before pictures, at least until we have something better to brag about, trust me right now is nothing to brag about.

Today begins a new me. 

 

Liberty or death is more than a tshirt slogan, much more.

"Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his Ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General, Cornwallis, had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots."

 

It's your basic cut n paste going around the interwebz, 'what happened to those who risked their lives, fortunes and personal honor to form our nation?'

 

That makes me wonder what would you, or I, be willing to risk to restore the Republic? No shits, no giggles- WHAT WOULD YOU PUT ON THE LINE? That is a really huge question if you have a family, career or business that requires support, protection and love.  

 

Could you hide away your family, constantly moving, in order to attain liberty for the masses?  Could you stand to see your children driven from their home, your spouse imprisoned, your very livelihood burnt to the ground? Could you step to the gallows or firing squad without whimpering like a lost dog? Could you stand to lose your children in armed conflict for such a grand word as 'liberty'?

 

These are questions that we really need to be asking ourselves, as our nation spirals down the drain and into the sewer of despotism.  I'd like to think my kin would be unscathed from my personal choices and actions, but we know full well that is NOT a reality when you're standing against tyrants. 

If the steps are taken, there will be NO turning back. There won't be anywhere to return, we aren't even allowed to leave the country without a government issued passport. Passport in hand, you can still be stopped at the borders if you appear on a secret 'list'. Be assured there are many secret lists, each part of the pig has its own list of enemies.  DHS, NSA, IRS, FBI, TSA and more illegal alphabet groups are just waiting for the right people to appear at the right place for detainment. 

Remember a phrase termed 'rule of law'? It means we can expect government to react in a certain way to certain situations, because of our laws. The problem is our government no longer concerns itself with our laws, or worse yet, exempts itself from those very laws that were meant to maintain order and justice. We truly are living without rule of law.

 

 

Happy Independence Day to you all, especially those who won't fight or stand up for what is right, you deserve freedom even if you won't fight for it with your own hands.  

 

 

There is only black and white.

 

 A little reminder to self- either people are in or out, there just is not time in our lives for people who do not commit.

 

Revelation 3:15-16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Say what you will about religion and politics, but there just isn't room in my life for people who are pole sitters, wind checkers, wishy-washy, or just plain uncommitted. Perhaps this comes back to the unrealistic expectations I place upon others-  'be 100% committed or 100% uninterested and stay out of my way.' 

This is an issue that has vexed me for most of my life, I could never figure out why some kids would play for hours and others would drift away to something else. Similar events happened in my school years, either the topic amazed and consumed me or it was the most boring subject ever. Now, in my adult years, things are still moving along at a similar pace- there are things that raise my spirits high and fill my heart and mind with excitement, then there are things in which I just do not involve myself. 

Are you hot, cold or lukewarm? 

 My suggestion- Do the things that keep you hot and full of life. Ignore those things that bring you down to lukewarm and the things that make you cold, face those with a smile.