Postcard from the Pukatorium

Don't know what went wrong, possibly a trip to the International Terminal at SFO, but Saturday night turned into the night of the living dead. Projectile vomiting, explosive...well you get the gist. Not good. No bike ride on Sunday, no food, couldn't even keep ice chips down. A four point fever and a day in bed. Monday was a little better. Ice stayed down, I added Gatorade to the mix and by evening ate a Quesedilla. Tuesday got me back to the gym sweating like a pig, but I think I needed it. Sure can't even consider wine right now. I'm taking this week off from weights because it's the end of a four week cycle and I've done two in a row with no break, so here's a self imposed break. Here's today's stats.

This seems high

Weight 208
Fat 36.7
BMI 35.5

Keeping the noggin screwed on straight

Not easy after eight weeks of unemployment. I got canned the week after I returned from my vacation to Denver to the Doberman Pinscher Nationals. My dog partied like a rock star. Here he is after doing a Pete Townsend to the hotel room.



We drove to Denver via the northern route, through Reno, Elko, SLC, Wyoming and then dropping down into Denver on the 25. Let me say this about Northern Utah. You only need to see the salt flats once in your life unless you're Chuck Yeager. Denver really is a pretty city. I loved the downtown area. We were stuck out at the Denver International Airport's Holiday Inn. Not my idea of a vacation destination but God bless them for having 300 Doberman Pinschers, God bless them for dealing with their ass clown owners and God bless'm for having us. My birthday occurred while I was in Denver and I wanted to go out for my birthday. Being the vinophile that I am, I went to Wine Spectator and did a restaurant search and came up with Restaurant Kevin Taylor. They had an Award of Excellence for their wine list so what they hell right? We arrive there to find a menu of Bison, Vennison and Duck. I said to the guy "Hey y'all! do you have anything on the menu that didn't come in on the back of a Chevy?" He didn't think I was funny and we ate at Ruth's Chris.

On the way home we took the southern route. Southern Utah is a marked improvement on Northern Utah. It's actually gorgeous. We only drove through Vegas, although if you saw this picture of Beauregard you'd think he partied at The Palm with Hef's gals.



Then I got home and lost my job. So I'm working on opening a wine bar if my house ever closes. I'm very concerned about it. Hopefully this following week will be the week that my life gets moving again. I have a Tarot reading today, that's how concerned I am, I've never had one before, it should be interesting.

Weight 210
Fat 36.1
BMI 35.8

In my defense, I went to the Santa Cruz Mountains on a wine tasting adventure yesterday. David Bruce, excellent. Testarossa, good but over priced, a screaming Chardonnay. Byington, great place, Lewis ROCKS! Excellent wine, very well priced. Anyway all day no food, I ended up at In and Out last night at 9pm trying to get something to go home on. I am planning on buckling down next week. I wrote myself an unemployment schedule to help keep my head screwed on correctly.

About my 3rd grade summer vacation

OK, I've been out of work for seven weeks now. At some point I will start to worry about this stuff. Right now, I'm Alfred E Neuman...what me worry? The good news is I have plenty of time to work out like a big dog. My pecs are getting even bigger. My super powers which had left me for a while, particularly in Chicago, have returned. There is no stress in my life. I feel decompressed. Beauregard is reaping the rewards of having me around all of the time. We have become inseparable. Now I have to work more on the eating. I'm a classic stress eater, and I also eat when bored. Your head does funny things to you when you're unemployed. Keeping it screwed on straight is my life's work right now.

Constant Motion

I've been getting the house ready to go onto the market. Unfortunately, it's been very hard on my body. Very hard. I've had to move a bunch of stuff into the garage by myself and my body is very sore and I'm exhausted. I hired a painter to help finish off. I'm just tired. I've been eating relatively correctly.

Weight 206
Fat 35.9
BMI 35.2

I haven't cycled since July 14 and this is getting a little old. I'm a little bloated from that and I think this might be the week. Oh my, getting old sucks.

Big Dog Style

6/18/06

Weight 211
Fat 35.5
BMI 35.9
Bust 43
Waist 40
Butt 47

9/10/06
Weight 206
Fat 35.7
BMI 35.4
Waist 40
Bust 43
Waist 39 1/2
Butt 45

Less waist, less ass. That's what I'm talking about. If I could only get my body to settle down. No cycle since 7/14/06. The water retention is making me nutty. At it again starting...NOW.

Fresh from the Witness Protection Program

yeah, I know I went missing. Life happens. I'm getting the homestead ready to sell and I've been biking like a mofo. And work's been crazy so the blog has been on sabbatical. I switched to Dr. Squat's weighlifting plan. I was a little bored with the one I was using. I've been doing more core work. My elbow has gone south on me which has adversely affected my golf game. I've been taking lessons, but I can barely swing the club. But I've been consist ant. I have 13 days left on the last challenge. My shoulders are pimped. Legs too. We'll see the results on the 10th.

Breakfast
Shredded Wheat, Soy milk, low fat cheddar stick, banana
Midday snack
1/2 turkey sandwich
Lunch
Turkey sloppy joe on 1/2 whole wheat bun
Snack
Apple and String cheese
Dinner
Chicken breast
baked potato
Caesar salad
Dessert
Ricotta and strawberries with sliced almonds

Today is the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. A year ago I got a message from my friend down there that her father had passed and they were going to Biloxi on Tuesday to bury him. I don't know when they buried the old guy. Thank God he missed Katrina. Bless you Miss H, I think of you often. Next month will be the one year anniversary of my trip to the region. Nothing has happened to rebuild the town. Our government should be embarrassed by the way they treat our people.

Alert the militia, there's been a sighting

Lots of news, some good, some not so good. I'm not sure where we left off, gentle readers. Had my dear old Dad broken his hip? Was I driving to Fairfield every day of my life to the tune of $3.35 a gallon? That was exhausting. Then there was the ill fated trip to Chicago. Yes, I bombed out for the first time in probably three years. The third time in my life. OTOH they had the rules so FUBAR that I really didn't completely bomb out, but I should have been so I stripped down and sat in the audience only to have my name called for the Dead. Are you kidding me. Oh well, it is what it is. The good news: The Chop House. Creme brulee that's off the hook. Morton's of Chicago, in Chicago, yeah, it don't get much better than that. The Mag Mile is in fact Magnificent. I'm back to the gym with a different workout. Dr. Squats. It's been 112+ for four days running. I'm melting. I took the big man in the pool yesterday. It was 114 out and I was afraid his core temp was going to sneak up on him. At first it thought it was a suck ass idea, then he warmed up to it. He put his feet on the bottom of the pool and his front paws on the floaty thing. It was very cute. Weigh in 203 in Chicago. 206 this morning.

My life so far...

3/27/06
Start:
Weight 209
Fat 35.1
BMW 35.6
Bust 43
Waist 40
Butt 47

6/18/06
Finish:
Weight 211
Fat 35.5
BMI 35.9
Bust 43
Waist 40
Butt 47

Unbelievable. I worked harder, probably had a little bit of wandering on the food, but I'm not mad at myself like last time. I've increased my bench press easily by 10 pounds. I've started cycling and running. I have a swim suit and may swim today. I'm doing a better job of living my life, so I'm actually ok with the results. I did some math and I need to weight 161-165. My knees are killing me, but it's not stopping me. That weekend up at Mrs. H's house did me good. I'm glad I got my head on straight then.

Last Monday, the 12th, my Dad fell and broke his hip. His feet froze on him, which is a biproduct of the Parkinson's. My Mother called me around 9pm on Monday, but didn't seem to want me to go up there. She futzed around and waiting to call friggin' Kaiser because she didn't want to go to emergency. The emergency room at North Bay is full of homeless people. Mom, then stop voting Republican. There were no homeless people before Reagan. And Hillary was so very wrong to want to fix the health care system in this country. Stop voting Republican. So finally 8:30 the next morning she gets ahold of Kaiser and imagine that! Call 911 and have a bus bring him to Kaiser. They operated on him around 5:30 that evening. He was stupid on the morphine until Friday morning. I thought he was getting better, but Mother can't handle him, she's fragile herself, so we wanted him moved to a rehab on Sat. I saw him Sat. afternoon and he was confused as hell. I saw him yesterday and he was just as confused. I don't have a great feeling about this but I don't know what else to do. Time will tell.

Stuff that gets my shorts in a twist

The Dixie Chicks

They are musicians. Artists. They can say what they want. Corporate America cannot blackball them. Natalie did it again, and God bless her.

Bon mots and cheap shots

That was my favorite Herb Caan column title. And that's today's theme. Things that make me happy this week, the California Primary.

Dear Jackie,
You will not go to the Capital on Breed Specific Legislation, not on my watch. Thanks for playing our game, now hit the bricks.


Me and my new bike went for a ride today, it was 28 miles with my friend Javier. He told me on the way back that the route (minus the coffee and donuts) was the old test route that the US Olympic Team used to use back in the 70's. Starting in Orinda, to Pinole, to Martinez back to Orinda. We started at 7:15, road 14 miles and stopped for donuts and coffee (today is my free day) and road back. I hit my 10 and my 11 and 12 and I hit the wall and bonked and everything else...but I finished. Some gals went by me at one point and said something that inferred familiarity with the route and I gasped, "it's my first time!".
They were at the end hootin' and hollerin' for me. That felt great.

Dear Right Wing Ass Wipes,
The Dixie Chicks are back and they're Not Ready the Make Nice and neither am I.

And at the gym this week, 200X2X6. Yeah, I'm a bad ass.

And a word from my pussyboy Doberman. Please make the wind stop, I'm afraid of it.

And about an epic free day:
EAS Myoplex bar
Maple bar and coffee
Pay Day
Hamburger on sourdough
Large slice of key lime pie
1 pound NY
Potato with everyfreakingthing
Caesar Salad
More Key Lime Pie

This weeks food:
WW English muffin 1/2
Turkey bacon
Lite Cheddar

1/2 ham sandwich w/lean ham
12 baby carrots

turkey sloppy joes on 1/2 ww hamburger bun

either apple and string cheese or protein enriched pudding

lemon pepper chicken
baked potato
salad

ricotta and strawberries or protein enriched pudding

MIA

Yes, I have been missing, but I have been working out, diligently. I have another meet coming up in July and I'm working very hard towards that. For the most part my eating has been pretty good. This week was:

Oatmeal with cottage cheese

1/2 WW english muffin, slice of lean ham, slice of lowfat cheddar

WW sourdough little roll with tri tip and salsa

apple and string cheese

Swordfish, ww couscous and salad

ricotta and strawberries.

yesterday, not so much. I'm remodeling one of our offices and the stress was off the hook yesterday. I shut down our biggest branch at 3pm and had every thing moved out on the balcony. At the same time a KD'ed all the existing cubes and had new workstations brought up and stored on the balcony. Finish time? 7:06, yeah I rock. Today the carpet goes in, tomorrow they build out the cubes, Monday the furniture goes back in and we're ready to run on Tuesday morning.

I've been running again. Hanging out with Mrs. H got that going. I got my new shoes two days ago and can't wait to take them out. I've been biking too. New shoes, new cleats and I can get out of the clips now without falling down. It's a great day to be me.

About Scooby...

Yesterday morning I took Beauregard for his morning walk. We went out a different way and I was planning on jogging home. As I turned to corner back into my neighborhood I saw something wierd, that I still can't identify in my head and heard I dog yelping and then saw him running in circles in the center of the street until he collapsed. Because I had Beau, I hung back while he was yelping and running. When he collapsed we ran, sprinted as much as I can sprint to get to him. He was down. He was a brindle pit bull with beautiful blue eyes. I knew he was in trouble, so I told him to hang tight, I'd be back. There were some landscapers hanging around and I told them to call the police. I'm sure they were illegal. They didn't. Jackasses. You can't live here if you have this little compassion for a poor animal dying right in front of you. I ran home got my truck and came back to take him to the vet, but he was dead. I had to fight with some idiot Mexican to get him to help me get him into the truck.
Will you help me?
No.
No? Are you freaking nuts? Do you want to leave this poor animal in the middle of the street?
No.
Then help me.
No.
Habla Inglis?
No.
Pero Muerto.
Si.
Then I motioned that I wanted him to help me put the dog in the back of my truck, and he did. Gracias. Dumbass.

Scooby, I'm sorry, I tried. Rest in peace buddy.

MY BIKE

Now, I haven't had a bike since my Schwinn Varsity I had when I was a kid. It was orange and to be honest with you, I can't remember what ever happened to it. I might have sold it. Anyway, after Dr. Anderson admonished me about my knees, I quit running and tried to lose some weight so she'd do a buff and shine on my knees. Well, I needed to replace the running so I bought a bike. That would be easier on my knees, right? Not if you fall off of the damned thing. So I got my clip stuck on Thursday and down I went, hard. Yeah, I hit my knee and my elbow. Then today, I'm smarter, I've been practicing getting my foot out of the damned things, so down I go on the right side. Beauregard is licking my wounds, he says that helps, but I just keep thinking that he licks himself too and how could that help? Beau?

...brings May flowers

The rain appears to be gone, and the flowers are definitely here. My roses are gorgeous. I hacked down the weeds in the front the day before yesterday, the Peace rose is En Fuego, the red rose is gorgeous, the natives are stealing them, which really pisses me off. The JFK by the pool is spectacular. All of the pool roses look great. I cleaned the pool decks yesterday and have been working on the pool to get it up and running for the summer. Yesterday I rode my new bike, LOVE IT. Jumped some rope and jogged a bit with Beau. I need to lift today, and will momentarily, after the little man gets his walk. It's amazing what a little good weather will do for me. I've been eating properly, making sales calls, doing what I need to do.

Weight 209
Fat 36.1
BMI 35.6

I think the fat measurement is off, but i'm not sure why.

This week's offerings

Oatmeal with cottage cheese
Apple and String cheese
Bean tostada
Turkey on WW sourdough
Salmon, brown rice and asparagus
Ricotta and blueberries

Getting grounded

What a weekend. Later today I will write a note to the lovely Mrs. H, thanking her for reminding me of who I really am. Mrs. H is amazing. She is beautiful, but not in a classic way. Her beauty comes from within her in an amazing way, and she is a woman of divine class. Her relationship with Mr. H is something to behold and I learn every time I'm around her. Her love for her son is so sacred it's impossible to describe. She is a triathlete. She has accomplished what I wish I had accomplished, but my body has crapped out on me. She impresses me, she's got it right. We went to her beach house for a long weekend. We drank like fish, acted stupid, professed plans for World Domination and shopped. Yesterday morning, I watched her come out in her running clothes and strap on her running shoes. I doubt she knows it, but I cried watching her leave. I yearn to run, but my body won't allow it. I want to strap it on again, and run the reservoir with my dog. On the way home we talked about things that I hadn't spoke of in at least 20 years. It made my chest hurt, yet, I remembered who I was. For that Mrs. H, I will be forever indebted and in your honor, I will work to never forget again.

The healing process

OK the Cartoon Toe is healing. The Dog is almost completely healed. Hopefully that's the end of the crap. A Boxer came up to my house tonight. He had a collar and was really sweet. I called the number but no answer. I figured he lived locally so I hooked him up and started walking towards where he came from. Then my cell rang and it was his Dad. Yeah, I got your dog and I'm walking up Toyon, where are you? I live on Toyon, so I kept going and out comes Rasta Boy. I love freaks like him, but it must be a trip for them. I'm at least as old as their Mothers, but I'm just a headbanger.

Here's your dog dude, he's a cool dog.

Yeah, thanks, I gotta fix this fence.

Yeah, you do, he don't know to stay out of the street. I just hope someone would do the same for me if my guy got out, have a good one.

I'm off to Mendocino for the weekend. The Blonde called and was ticked that there were Reindeer Games and she wasn't invited. Like your family would let you play with the likes of us? We have:

2002 Rombauer Reserve Zin
2003 Rombauer Zin
Rombauer Zin Port
2003 Keenan Zin
2003 Unti Zin
La Storia Cuvee 32
2000 Freemark Abbey Bosche Cab
1999 Freemark Abbey Sycamore Cab
1998 Clo du Val Vineyard George III Cab

The ladies like their red wine. This should get ugly quick. Those are some fine vintages though. Lots of stuff way in the 90's.

Cartoon toe

Every now and again, I get a cartoon toe. This is where an ingrown toenail gets so far out of control that it resembles something from a Ren and Stimpy episode. Appropriate cartoon music should accompany the cartoon toe. I had this one cut out yesterday. It's always like the lion that has the thorn pulled from it's paw. As much as it hurts, you love your Podiatrist.

Can you dig it?

They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother
SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
I'm talkin' 'bout Shaft.
THEN WE CAN DIG IT!

Oh yeah, who's a bad mother? That would be me. APA meet yesterday in Sacramento. I opened with 195 since I'd been doing that for reps in the gym. Not a problem. Then comes the second lift. I'd done 205 in the gym a couple of times too. Punched that up no problem. I'd never ever done 210 in my life. So I put down 210 for my third lift and punched that up too. I missed my fourth lift at 215 but it was a good day all in all.

As if this were news...

Newt Gingrich is afraid that the GOP is going to have a rough go of it in November. Ya think? Let's see, what could it be?

Iraq?
Inflation?
The Economy?
$3 per gallon?
FEMA?
$400 heating bills?
Tom DeLay?
Valerie Plame?
Scooter Libby?
Babs $30k "donation" to Katrina victims earmarked to purchase her idiot son's software?
The Bushes?
Kevlar vests that can't find their way to Iraq?
Crappy international policy?
Sweetheart deals for Halliburton?
Soldiers making $30k while contractors make $300k for doing the same freaking job?
Uh, the 16 words that had nothing to do with fact? hint =State of the Union address WMD's
Church becoming State?

What's the difference between the Christian Right and the Muslim Fundamentalists? Uh, nothing.

Here we are..

I've got a meet next Saturday. Tomorrow will be my last weightlifting session before the meet. Then all cardio and possibly some yoga up until meet day. I'm certain I can press 205, maybe more. This is going to be good.

Here's this week's offering:

Oatmeal with cottage cheese

Ricotta and berries with almonds

Dirty rice (turkey, chicken andouille sausage, brown rice and a ton of spices)
Salad
OR Chicken Caesar.

Apple and String cheese

Ahi, couscous and salad
OR Grilled chicken, brown rice and salad

Chocolate mousse w/protein powder

The woman paid Beauregard's emergency bill. Unfortunately, Diablo View nickels and dimes you to death. I do like Dr. Schroeder though. The last guy gave him Rimadayl, which you should never prescribe for a Doberman. Never sulfur drugs actually. His tubes are out, but I'm fighting to keep his back drained. His stitches come out on Wednesday. And now a wine review, which I don't believe I did yet.

Collaboration Pinot Noir. MMMMmmm good. This is brought to us by the same guys that brought us Seven Peaks a few years ago. Michael got me cases of that stuff at $4 per bottle because they were bankrupt. At $16.99 Andronico style for this bad boy, they're going to go bankrupt again. This is a very good Pinot. A pretty wine is what Fifi would call this one.

Cranky Doberman

I got the big boy a Bite Not collar. It's a plastic turtleneck that keeps them from going after stitches. He's doing a little better with it, but he is just straight up depressed. He stands in the living room and bitches at me, he couldn't sleep last night, and neither could I. Oy.

Note to women who wear perfume, cologne, too much scent in the gym...Don't.

Weight 208
Fat 35.2
BMI 35.4

At the end of the week...

I had an epic free day yesterday. There was a bit of un-needed stress last week. A neighbor's housekeeper left their front door open while taking out the trash. The pit bull came running out of the house and attacked my Doberman. The owner pulled up just as it was happening, jumped out of the car and pulled her dog off of Beau. $829 later, Beau is home, resting, but pretty damn cranky about this change. OK the satellite dish sucks and the t-shirt tied in a knot is kind of faggoty. He's hoping that he doesn't have to wear Daisy Dukes too.




Free Day

Waffles and blueberry syrup
Buckhorn's Chipolte tri tip sandwich with fries and a Dr. Pepper
Key lime bar from Andronicos
Chocolate Bar from TJ's
Rum raisin ice cream
NY steak
Baked potato with butter
Salad
A lovely Pinot by Collaboration, the folks that brought me Seven Peaks...
A lemon bar

Today
Weight 211
Fat 35.3
BMI 35.9

This weeks menu
1. Oatmeal with cottage cheese
2, apple/banana and string cheese
3. dirty rice with chicken sausage and ground turkey or a tortilla with l/f cheese and black beans and salsa
4. 1/2 london broil sandwich
5. fish, pasta and salad
6. ricotta cheese and fruit

Settling in to another BFL Challenge

Actually the real challenge these days is dealing with an 80 pound Doberman who doesn't understand that when it's raining out the back door, it is also raining out the front door and walks are cancelled. It's been raining since I returned from Rancho Mirage on Sunday. SINCE. I drove into the rain and it just hasn't stopped. I'm not getting a break at all. I can't even hit golf balls, there's no break. The pool is near going over, moss is growing all over outside and I live in sunny California dammit. I really need spring to get here. Beau and me have had it.

Weight 206
Fat 35.3
BMW 35.1

Loading up the animals two by two...

My God I'm sick of the rain. I just got back from Palm Springs and the LPGA. Karrie Webb won in sudden death, but I had already left to drive home. I drove into more rain. It has rained ever since I got home last night. My weight is up a little, but not bad considering what the week involved. DW insists on going out every night. He thinks his meds are giving him a belly. It's his lifestyle. The best meal out was at Ormi & Boni in La Quinta. Unfortunately, Ormi and Boni are getting a divorce and the restaurant is being sold. Too bad. I had Pork prime rib with grilled pears and pineapples. Yum. A mushroom salad, which was grilled mushrooms and pancetta on a hearts of romaine salad and a lovely cheesecake dessert. Ormi is obviously brilliant. Off to the gym for now.

Meet Alyx

I don't know what that acronym stands for, but it's a fiendish device that lives at the Blood Bank.

I give blood, it's one of the things I do. Yesterday they talked me into trying Alyx, which is a machine that spins your blood, removes the red cells and gives it back to you with some added saline. It took about two hours and kicked my ass, but I did it. I'm O- so I'm the universal donor and they really need what I got, so I give as much as I can. The lady who hoodwinked me into the procedure was a gal named Terry. She used to work at Vacaville Prison, so she told me, and now was at the blood bank. When I asked how long the procedure took because my dog was in the truck, she asked what kind of dog. A Doberman. She had lost her Doberman two years ago to leukemia and was still broke up over her. I get that. I brought Beauregard down after for some meet and great. The lady just glowed. I gave her the web address of Dog Works and suggested she contact them about fostering to help her get over the pain.

The good news is before I went to the Ministry of Disinformation (the parental unit) I did go to the gym and had a spectacular work out. I benched 205 unassisted. Yeah, I'm a bad ass.

Weight 206
Fat 35.2
BMI 35.1
Resting pulse 64
BP 100/74

Today, I'm off to Palm Springs for the Nabisco Championship. Fore!

It's like teaching a pig to sing,

it takes a lot of time and pisses off the pig.

Yet, eventually I may learn. First, it's time to discuss the weekend's exploits. I was a "breath", yes a breath away from getting hauled in on Sunday. When exactly will I learn to stop speeding? This guy would have never even given me the time of day, but nooo, I got to speed. I know better. Hell, it was moving violation #48. Tom Cruise had me out of the car because "he smelled wine in the car". Oh, that's Harry, he's drunk that's why I'm driving. It sounded good, but didn't stop him from making me put my toes and ankles touching, hands at your side, follow the pen with your eyes. I did it, successfully, which I think pissed him off, but he had to let me go.

Weight 210
Fat 35.7
BMI 35.8

Today, I did 1 HIIT on the stair master, then another HIIT on the EFX machine. Then I had breakfast, took the BMW to the shop, did some work around the house and went BACK to the gym and did a spin class. Then I drilled out the grout in the bathroom that needed replacing, smogged the Truck, picked up the BMW and dumped $70 at Home Depot. Now, it's only 8:15 and I can barely hold my eyes open and I still have ricotta and blueberries to go.

Breakfast
WW Tortilla
L/f cheese
pinto beans

Snack
Apple
String cheese

Lunch
sirloin burger on ww sourdough

snack
ww sourdough and a piece of string cheese

dinner
8 shrimp, marinated in orange juice and tequila
brown rice
salad

dessert
ricotta
blueberries

JACKASS

My dog wants to know why my ass is so big.
Here's a depiction of what happens when you fall short of your goals. Yeah, these look just like the beginning shots, maybe a bit more muscle.

Weight 209
Fat 35.1
BMW 35.6
Bust 43
Waist 40
Butt 47

OK, go to your room and think about what you've done

OK, I have spent some time thinking about what I did for the last 84 days.

I need to be better when I have company. I can eat BFL, and for that matter so can they. I know how to cook it so no one notices and that's what I need to do. I need to be more careful on weekends. That's when things tend to get sideways. Yesterday for instance, Jake's Etouffe AND crab cake appetizer for dinner. No wonder my stomach is bothering me. That's way too rich for my blood. I should have held with the Etouffe, or even better had the grilled swordfish and no appetizer. I would feel better and there would be less damage. For the most part I don't pig out on free days, but free days bleed into free weekends and that is where the problem lies. I did lose inches and that's a good thing. I did get much stronger. I'm doing 195 for 5 sets of two. That is straight-up impressive. I am adversely affected by bad weather and we've had 4 days this month that haven't rained and it's the 26th of March fergodsakes. I have begun walking Beau twice a day. That's a good thing. I have started sneaking in spin classes. Also a good thing. My portions are pretty good for the most part. I need for switch to non-fat latte's with equal except for my free day. I will post a start point tomorrow. I'm taking today off too and starting on a Monday like I should. We're going wine tasting today. Nothing good can come of that.

The end

Not such great results. I deserve what I got though.

Weight 207
Fat 35.9
BMI 35.3
Bust 43
Waist 40
Butt 47

Starting numbers
Starting weight 209.
Starting Fat 36.2%.
Starting BMR 35.6
Bust 47
Waist 43
Butt 48

Strange progress. I need to be better in my eating and better at getting to the gym earlier. I have been workng harder, I think I need to kick it up even another notch.

OTOH four inches off my chest and three off my waist. Shut the hell up! I'm happy.

Getting there

OK last Tuesday, I had a bone crushing headache in the morning. I missed the gym, but then, I didn't. I left work for lunch and decided to go to a Spin class. I sweat like a pig, the headache left me, and all is good. Then I hit the gym pretty hard yesterday, had a visit at Fitwell, (I'm still sore from Dr. Covey's adventures) and am starting to feel almost normal again. This getting old stuff sucks. If men had to deal with what we deal with, there would be mandatory PTO's for three days a month so you could get your head straight. Today I did a great cardio session. I've been pretty good on my eating too. OK, since the great S'More adventure, I've been good. Tonight, blackened sirloin, brown rice, Caesar salad.

My brain is bleeding...

OMG I have the headache of all time this morning. Four cups of coffee, four tylenol this morning. Four Advil last night. No gym this morning. I'm going at lunch. I have an event for work tonight so that justifies a lunch soiree to the gym. I miss working out midday anyway. Got a little off track last night, which may be the cause of the headache. It was 46 degrees at 5pm yesterday so I built a fire. Well, if you're going to build a fire you gotta make S'Mores...right? I think the sugar did me in even though I went to dog school two hours after the fact, I drank a ton of water, my brain is in pain this morning. It's funny how I get a worse hangover from S'Mores than I do from wine. Weird.

stop, rewind, play

It was a really great weekend. I got to play golf, even though it was swamp golf. Loaded up on my BFL groceries. Made an excellent curried chicken and grape salad for the week. Pulled weeds, then gave up and moved to Round-up. Laid nekkid by the pool, certainly a favorite activity. One you will see no photo journalism of in this space. Watched Patton. Did you know Francis Ford Coppola was a writer on that? Me either. It's also pretty close to what actually happened. Sometimes I might be a Patton at work. OK, I don't slap the burned out EO's, jeez. Took the big boy to the reservior for a walk, gave him a bath. Cleaned out the BMW. Fussed with more weeds. Cooked my food for the week. Had an epic free day. A pint of Haagen Daz (light) a blackened sirloin a little loaf of sourdough. Truely epic. BUT TODAY:

1 egg 3 whites
WW cereal with n/f milk

1/2 lean ham sandwich
baby carrots

Chicken/grape almond salad

grapes and string cheese

BFL baked chicken parmesean
ww pasta
sauteed spinach

ff ricotta
strawberries.

And now for the sad part

weight 209
fat 35.6
bmi 35.6

I'm not going to be the biggest loser, eh?

Limp Wrist

OUCH! Medial collateral tendonitis in my wrist. I haven't lifted for a couple of days now. I've been doing cardio, but it's still not getting any better. Hurts like a mofo. I had ART done on it last Wednesday and it's been taped for two days. I've been taking Advil regularly and it's still pretty messed up. Golf tomorrow should be interesting....

What works, what's not so much

First the good news. I finished the four week cycle and added 10 pounds to the goal weight. I successfully pushed 205 in the gym the other day. That's a happy day. Actually the day I did 195 for reps was a pretty happy day too. My shoulder, elbow and wrist on the left side are giving me trouble. I made a pilgramage to Fitwell Chiropractic and Lisa worked on my arm. Some is better, some needs more work. My wrist is killing me. My very supportive network of friends have advised me that it's arthritis brought on by my advanced age. OK, they aren't so supportive. They probably aren't right either. It's probably a form of tendonitis. Anyway, I'll be back to Fitwell tomorrow and the following Wednesday in hopes of getting it fixed. Strangely, this is the good news. The bad news, I just can't behave with my eating. I start out with the best of intentions and then silliness occurs. I think it has had more to do with the stress of my job then anything else. I no longer manage the band of miscreants that I'd been saddled with, so I think that will help dramatically. The Prima Donnas had one last salvo, and they think they got what they wanted. Now I call that branch Toyota. You asked for it, you got it!

OK, I'm not much of a loser

Weight 208
Fat 35.4
BMI 35.4

End of an era, ok a 4 week cycle...

I will do the last workout of my four week cycle in about 30 minutes. I made every single lifting workout on this cycle. I'm having some issues with my left arm going to sleep but I'm pretty sure that's the result of my HUGE pectoral muscles pressing against the nerve in my shoulder. I will start another cycle on Monday. There's a contest in Sacramento on April 22, another one in Chicago on July 17th, Aurora, CO on September 24 and then one in December and that'll be my year. I need to start up yoga again, possibly tomorrow or Sunday morning. I've been having a terrible time focusing on my eating. It's been sort of right, but not really. So I'm at:

Weight 207
Fat 35.0
BMI 35.3

And I'm tired. Work has been boring.

Gack.

The good news is I'm getting LOTS stronger. I did two reps at 195 this morning, no trouble at all. Two sets of 185 for three reps, no trouble at all. I haven't made any particular progress on my weight though. I've been getting into too much trouble and I've got to get my head focused. I'm bored at work and that's part of the problem. Must adjust head now.

Doing damage; the not good way

I'm definitely back on track. My eating has been pretty correct for the last couple of days. I fell into the food trough for the Superbowl, but I've gotten myself up and out and I'm good to go now. Unfortunately on Monday, I reinjured my left shoulder. I could feel something not good when I was lifting and I backed it off a bit. I iced it like a good dog, but that wasn't good enough. I woke up in the middle of the night and it felt like I'd been shot in the shoulder. The ache was like a broken bone. I took a bunch of Advil yesterday and it seems to be better today. It woke me up again but wasn't nearly as bad. I'm supposed to bench again today, and I will be very very diligent with my form. (say very like Elmer Fudd)

Breakfast
Whole Wheat english muffin
3 slices turkey ham
slice reduced fat cheddar

Snack
Myoplex Bar

Lunch
Yogurt
Slices of ham

Snack
Protein pudding

Dinner
Seared ahi
1/2 avocado
Salsa
WW Tortilla

Snack
Fat free ricotta
blueberries

Focus focus focus

Apparently it was absolutely necessary for Beauregard to alert me to the cat walking on the fence at 3:29am this morning. And again at 3:33am and again at 3:47am. So I'm up, the dishes are washed, the gym isn't open yet, it's 41 degrees, and I'm ready to go. That's a good thing. Much less coughing, I've been using an inhaler and it's helped. I spent last week getting used to being in the gym again and I should be good to go this morning. I forgot to buy lunch food for the week. I got breakfast, snacks and dinner covered. I have some Costco Sirloin burgers in the freezer so I think I'll have one of those today and think of something else for the rest of the week. One of the gals at work, we'll call The Raven Haired Beauty here for the sake of anonymity brought me some 40+ vitamins. Her fiance is a trainer and she used to work at a gym, so when I got sick she brought these in to me. I tried them out yesterday and they rock, so we'll see how it goes.

Waking up from my virus inspired hybernation

OK, I haven't lifted in a while, I'm still hacking and I'm pissed that I'm still hacking. My throat hurts, my lungs hurt and my back hurts. I just want it all to be over with. I just want to go home and to bed but I have a haircut tonight at Blow Salon I'll be home by 8pm though. I know I set this up so that I could go to yoga first, but I haven't been to yoga since January 7th. I've been ok with my eating, but not great. I'm moseying back towards on track right now. I will be en fuego by Monday. I think I need a steam bath right now, that sounds peachy.

Beyond facinating, I know.

Breakfast
Denver omelet

Midmeal #1
Apple and string cheese

Lunch
Chicken Burrito


Midmeal #2
Very berry ricotta with almonds


1/2 cup nonfat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
2 tbsp. sliced almonds

Dinner
Soft Fish Taco with Avocado Salsa

Dessert
Coconut Mousse

File this under STOOPID.

OK, I'm still sick. And I'm sick of being sick. And I want to go to the gym and I want to work out and I want to go on an adventure with my dog, and I'm still sick. And I'm sick of being sick. So, I compromise. I bundle up and go outside and prune my roses. Dr. Leda Horticulture would be proud. Then I got Stoopid. I decided that the tree next to the house needed trimming. Pacific Gas and Electric will undo the damage. Apparently, I have cut clean through both lines. I'm surprised that anything worked at all, but the nice man fixed everything and trimmed the tree back from the line too. Now it's naptime.

Beyond bored

I'm still sick. I was up half the night hacking. I'm not in Napa today and I'm kind of bummed about it. I asked a couple of lists I'm on for their opinion on Thursday, then my health circled the drain so badly yesterday that the answer was obvious. It's pouring outside and I've got three shirts on trying to stay warm. I'm going to stay in most of the day, putz around the house and hope to be better tomorrow. This is absolutely ridiculous being this sick. It's been five days with no let up! I'm making today a free day in hopes of returning to the gym tomorrow.

Weight 205
Fat 35.1
BMI 34.9

Documenting an epic free day

It was Saturday and I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I maintained my eating regiment even though I hadn't seen the gym since January 8th. Here's how it went. This is how you have a free day.

Breakfast:
French toast with honey creme syrup

Lunch
California Pizza kitchen small pizza

Snack
6 s'mores (it was cold and I had built a fire)

Dinner
Rib eye steak and baked potato

Dessert
5 more s'mores.

I used Lindt super fine milk chocolate for the s'mores, yeah that makes the difference.

Still sick

I have a cough and my throat remains on fire. I ran a four point temperature the night before last. Monday and Tuesday night I couldn't get warm, it was the fever. Yesterday the fever broke and I feel better, my joints don't hurt like they were, but I'm still afraid to go to the gym I've been eating clean and am reaping the rewards of my good behavior. I'm just not sure that I can safely lift on Saturday morning. I don't want to blow out my shoulder again and I don't believe it's that strong. We'll revisit this tomorrow. I don't feel bad, but I'm not well. If I feel strong enough I will still lift on Saturday, tomorrow will tell.

Weight 204
Fat 35.6
BMI 34.7

Sick...

Everyone around me is sick. I've been trying to wash my hands 30 times a day, keep from touching other peoples stuff and not shake hands. Not easy to do in my position. They finally got me yesterday. My throat progressed poorly all day and then caught fire. It's not as sore today but I'm hacking up amazing bloody gross, disgusting wads of Godknowswhat. I'm going to take it easy today and tomorrow in hopes of bouncing back quickly. I'm concerned about this meet on Saturday. I should have had my last workout this morning. Instead I laid low. I didn't work out yesterday because I spent the morning scouring the neighborhood for my things that were stolen from my truck in the 7th break-in since I've owned that thing. I'm going to alarm it, but since it's the 3rd in this house, not counting the guy they caught before he got in, I'm selling the house. Once I feel better, the work gets finished and the house goes on the market. My weight is down today so the first week of the challenge end results are:

Weight 206
Fat 35.00
BMI 35.1

Dreams and stuff that concerns me

There's a big bugaboo about a rescuer who put down a Doberman who became aggressive when he was put (in this case forced) into a crate. The rescuer felt the dog would bite. Interestingly enough, everyone who had handled that dog up to that point had not seen any aggression at all. Because if this crate aggression the dog was put down. Then I think about the boy. He raises a holy shit fit if I put him up in the truck by himself. It could easily be interpreted as aggression. He's never been in a crate, that I know of. If he ended up in rescue, he could be killed. Now, this would happen if we had a catastrophic event similar to NO and I wasn't home to protect him or we got separated somehow, but otherwise this couldn't possibly happen. This concerns me.

Dreams. I'm thinking of the old Grace Slick song right now. Two nights ago my Grandmother was in my dreams. Talking in her voice that I hadn't heard in years, telling me things that I can't remember. Except my Grandmother died in 1968 and hasn't been in any dreams of mine that I can remember. Strange, very strange. Last night Xica was in my dreams. She died March 24, 2005. I miss that dog every day of my life. We were together for 15 years. She was by my side the entire dream and we were running together like we used to. Maybe she just missed the runs, I know I do.

This week's food

Breakfast
Denver Omelet with toast *
1 slice low sodium whole wheat bread
Midmeal #1
Very berry ricotta with almonds
1/2 cup nonfat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
2 tbsp. sliced almonds
Lunch
Turkey Sloppy Joe *
Midmeal #2
1 medium apple
2 oz. string cheese
Dinner
Salmon, brown rice and spinach
Dessert
Chocolate/Coconut Mousse *

So far so good

Got up and got to yoga this morning. The instructor stopped me after class. She saw me walking in wearing my long sleeved thermal undershirt and thought "Jesus, she's going to pass out". Nope, after a moment of being sure that I remembered to put on a sports bra, I stripped it off. I was able to do the lying bow pose for the first time in probably six months today. I'm well pleased with myself. I've been pretty damned clean on my food and this morning:

Weight : 205
Fat 36.1
BMI 34.9

It's a sunny day today and I'm going to work in the yard with my devil boy. I had the BMW washed yesterday and it rained last night. Luckily it was all tucked away before anything untoward occurred. It may stay there until tomorrow when it's dry again.

Little Victories

What a day yesterday turned into. It started with a great workout, then spiralled out of control, but I remained a BFL rock through the storm. 7:15am my receptionist calls me bawling and sick with a migraine. She's afraid of calling in sick and getting RIF'd. Good concern, but she's my little gypsy and I'll keep her as long as possible. Well, we're running very lean so everyone had to pick it up a notch. I think for the most part they did. Then the marketing department was moving to an automated operater and I had to set that up, except we made a mistake and we had to do it twice. Then I had to move the Lafayette office and that was a nightmare. The landlady is a card carrying whack job. A batty old broad on a good day. She denied knowledge that we were moving threatened to sue my moving company repeatedly and generally added a ton of unneeded stress to the day. It didn't help that the boneheaded sales guy didn't follow through on anything. Can you move the copier? Yes. (you meant no) Bring 250 feet of masonite (oops we forgot) Fax your insurance over to the Bat Lady (didn't happen) Take it down the back stairs (say what?) Or the contractor...the cabinets need 30 inches of clearance (really? yeah really) At the end of the day I was beat and pissed off. One of my reps brought over a bottle of champagne to christen the new office and some beer and chips. I looked at all of it, realized I wasn't getting dinner last night and drove to my office and got a Myoplex. Good Dog. I am well pleased with myself today and I weighed in at 207 this morning which makes it worth it!

Long Slow Distance

I'm staying on track and this is a good thing. Yesterday's workout was epic. I got to the gym on time, I was focused, did it all, didn't cheat any out and was beat. Stayed on track with the food with an exception to a stop at Papillion in Lafayette. Even that wasn't bad, a Mexican Mocha, no whip and a ginger cookie. My weight is heading in the right direction. I got a jump rope the other day. I'm going to start using that in the morning. Maybe this morning. Variety is definitely the key to my success. Yesterday I put green peppers and mushrooms in my omelette. I also sauteed mushrooms in with the spinach. I should be dumping the retained fluid today so tomorrow should be a good day! Today's weight is 208, yesterday was 209 the day before 211 and we started at 209. My cycle is all but finished and I'm ready for a good month.

My back is a little tight from the deadlifting but the meet is 9 days away and I can't be fooling around right now. I took advantage of the rain and did some digging in the back yard after work yesterday. I got a 4 foot trench going for the loose brick patio. Tonight I will need to move a bouganvillea. Hopefully we'll get this office moved on time.

Off and running

Today was a rough start. I'm 47, I don't know if I've mentioned that or not. When you're 47 and female, sometimes your body screws with you. Like waiting and extra two weeks to cycle, then kicking your ass like there's no tomorrow. OK, yesterday I got my ass kicked, but I kept coming back. I woke up at 2:00am and couldn't go back to sleep until, you guessed it, 3:15am when I would have gotten up if I woke up then. Then I slept until 5:42. Yet, I got up, made my chicken salad for the week, went to the gym, did my cardio, like a fiend, did 100 crunches came home, made my lunch, now my breakfast is cooking and I will stay on point today. This is how you do it.

Decided to make it official

I'm entering the Challenge. I'll start "Officially" tomorrow. Company has gone home, that helps.

Starting weight 209.
Starting Fat 36.2%.
Starting BMR 35.6
Bust 47
Waist 43
Butt 48

Any questions about starting fat take a look below. OMG. OK so I have 133 pounds of muscle and bone. Not so sporty. I should weigh around 155. Got a long road in front of me. I will prevail. No more screwing around. I will bench 220 by the time I get to Chicago. I will have 35 pounds off by then. Nothing will stand in my way. None of the usual suspects will get me to buckle. At the end of the day I ended up a total of 3 pound up from the holidays. I can't complain about that. BFL has taught me some healthy habits. Not that I can't misbehave like the best of them, I can. I'm just finding that I do it a lot less often. Christmas wasn't as bad a NYE. New Year's Eve, eve took me to Ruth's Chris for Petite filets, creamed spinach and potatoes au gratin, NOLA style. Finish it off with their cheesecake. There's a bad idea, but good. That would have been fine, but the next day was NYE. Start off with lunch at Emporio Armani Cafe. Kobe beef on panini, mmmgood. Then that silly meal at Teatro Zinzanni...smoked salmon, celery root salad appetizer, carrot soup, wild greens with walnuts and blue cheese, lamb filets with root vegetables, chocolate silk cake. Start with Perrier Joilet, then Sonoma Culter, then Provence Cab, then champagne. Yeah, I felt like crap yesterday morning. Today, a lobster salad sandwich at the Yankee Pier in Santana Row with their lemon meringue pie for dessert. That's how you go out in style. I will be the biggest loser, but hell, I had company...


This week's food
Breakfast:
Denver Omelet and 1/2 ww english muffin

Snack
apple and string cheese

lunch
chicken/grape curried salad

snack
ricotta, berries and almonds

dinner
salmon
brown rice
spinach

dessert
protein chocolate mousse

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