Wonderboy - I'm so very, very sorry. :cry: Actually, you're in D.C.! You should've come to the Baltimore cheat! I'll try and remember to keep you up to date on any fun JSF-ish activities in the area.

My office works for a lot of the crunchy, tree-hugging, disneyfied environmental aspects of the federal government. It was originally a botique contractor that was consumed by a much larger company. It has still retained many of its Birkenstock-wearing sensibilities...at least until we move in with the rest of the Arlington contingent next month.

There are about twelve garbage cans in each kitchen/utility area. They're for trash, plastic, aluminum, other metal, paper, newspaper, plastic bags (different from plastic, apparently) and probably a few I'm forgetting. We're also issued "Diversity Calendars" every March (I know...I know...). They celebrate the melting pot that is America. June's theme is gay pride. The photo is of a bunch of guys in short shorts and socks up to their knees in a parade. The guy in the cube catty-cornered to me has a calendar whose June picture is him riding a horse. I think mine is less ghey. :rolleyes:

Sue hasn't called. I was jumping every time the phone rang and hitting the refresh on my email last night. I messaged her last on Sunday so it's her turn. I hate this. I'd seriously just rather not frickin' bother with relationships than to twist in the wind over them.

http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/kickrock.gif

I need friends. I mean, I've got tons of friends but I need ones to hang out with in real life. Not my college buddies who are scattered all over the globe or my friends who've gotten sucked into the vaccuum of marriage.

I'm going to look into running and biking clubs and will join one as soon as SGX is over. I need to meet real people and socialize and spend time away from in front of the computer screen again. Self reflection is rewarding and interesting but it's a recipe for intense depression if it's all you ever do.

Yup... Actually outside of DC, 'round Fairfax. I just graduated from college and moved back, and it was much easier to tell people there that I lived in DC than a suburb of Washington DC in Northern VA. So many people who've never been to the area assume Virginia is some Deliverence-esque region complete with missing teeth, banjo's a-twangin', and mullets galore. (Well, I have seen my fair share of mullets, but I digress.)

Yea, I saw the pics from the Baltimore cheat meal and it seemed like a lot of fun. I'd definitely love to participate in the next JSF-related event, so keep me updated!

I'm going to look into running and biking clubs and will join one as soon as SGX is over.

Wow. That is 2/3 of the way to something really interesting. Although you can do Duathlons with Philly!!!!


:tu::claphigh:

or my friends who've gotten sucked into the vaccuum of marriage.


There are a couple of pretty good jokes wrapped up in that quote somewhere ... :eek: :evil:

Wow. That is 2/3 of the way to something really interesting. Although you can do Duathlons with Philly!!!!


:tu::claphigh:

Although is he talking about biking as in roadbiking, or biking as in Harley Davidson??? :confused:

That would be pretty sweet a duathlon or triathlon that instead of riding your roadbike everyone rode their harley or crotch rocket!

Wonderboy - We're starting to get a good Northern VA contingent here. :nod:

Coachese - If the next gym I join has a pool I may consider adding the critical third element of triathalon training to my routine. It's just so antithetical to think about a casual triathalon. :confused:

LateStart - One-liners are not only welcome here, they're encouraged!

Ryan - Talking about bicycles, though it'd be good to get in with a group of motorcyclists, too.

Well the area is literally teeming with serious running clubs and bicycling clubs. The bike clubs interest me the most and look like the most fun. My friend Heidi races in one of the women's clubs in Baltimore and I've been to several of her races so I know what to expect. Unfortunately, I'm very well versed in just how fucking expensive that is. I don't know that I can reconcile getting into that while saving for a house. It'd be like wh0: One minute I'm kind of getting into the sport and attending my first organized ride, the next I'm dumping 5 g's on a custom fit Serrotta. :rolleyes:

Think I'll start with the running club. The only investment I'll need to make is a new pair of shoes.

Actually, I could go broke just joining these clubs. The memberships are cheap (around $15-20/year each) but there are so damn many clubs I could easily drop a couple hundred bucks. I need to pick one and try it out.

What I love most is that every one of these places seems to put emphasis on the social aspect as well as the physical. The events read like, "Sunday long run - 8 miles along the W&OD trail with Brunch at Whitlows on Wilson afterwards." Sweet! :tu:

If the next gym I join has a pool I may consider adding the critical third element of triathalon training to my routine. It's just so antithetical to think about a casual triathalon. :confused:

You're right. Once you 'finish' the next step is to 'race' someone.

...the next I'm dumping 5 g's on a custom fit Serrotta. :rolleyes:

:drool:

I need to pick one and try it out.

Best idea yet. See if you can go on a couple rides/runs as a potential member and see what the atmospehere is like without paying!

What I love most is that every one of these places seems to put emphasis on the social aspect as well as the physical. The events read like, "Sunday long run - 8 miles along the W&OD trail with Brunch at Whitlows on Wilson afterwards." Sweet! :tu:

I forget where it is (San Diego) -- but there is a running club called "The Drinkers with a Running Problem!" Brilliant!!!!

:tucool:

Coachese - There's a cycling group out of Alexandria called "RADPAN: Ride All Day, Party All Night" :lol:

My day has been totally f'ed up. I've had intense cravings for terrible foods (candy, mostly) and have been either ravenously hungry or overfull. I wolfed down my pre-workout applesauce and felt like I was gonna barf for the whole chest session. I feel fat and bloated...definetly a sign that I have to take progress pictures tomorrow. :rolleyes:

I'm going running tomorrow morning. Just feel like doing it. It's been too long. I really need a new pair of shoes though. My newest running shoes have at least 200 miles on them and are more than 3 years old. Why is it when I have something important to save for my cash seems to get sucked out of my pockets with black-hole intensity?

On the plus side, our new office is supposed to have an 1800 square foot gym. I haven't heard back on whether or not there's a squat rack/cage or olympic plates but if there are, I'd seriously consider dropping my external gym membership altogether. That'd be awesome!

Ashley just called and is very upset. I'm gonna go abduct her and take her somewhere where there's air conditioning.

On the plus side, our new office is supposed to have an 1800 square foot gym. I haven't heard back on whether or not there's a squat rack/cage or olympic plates but if there are, I'd seriously consider dropping my external gym membership altogether. That'd be awesome!


That's about all you need, especially if they have a good supply of DBs and a bench, too. Maybe pull up/dip equipment and cable setup.

That plus an exercise bike makes up my whole home gym, and I can do about everything I need.

Woke up next to Ashley this morning. Just ate a dozen donuts. Haven't done cardio. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck...

Woke up next to Ashley this morning. Just ate a dozen donuts. Haven't done cardio. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck...


Guilty pleasures eh? Dont worry man...drink lots of water and kill some extra cardio later today. Nothin more than a little dent in the plan...just do whatever it takes to not make it a huge dent in your day. Stay motivated!

Woke up next to Ashley this morning. Just ate a dozen donuts. Haven't done cardio. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck...

aalllll bbbyyyyy mmmmyyyyyseeeelllffff, don't want to be aaalllll bbbyyyy mmmyyyyssseeeelllllffff...

Woke up next to Ashley this morning. Just ate a dozen donuts. Haven't done cardio. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck...

And I thought the Fourth of July festivities weren't going to start until this weekend... oooh look... fireworks.... pretty...

Woke up next to Ashley this morning. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.....Haven't done cardio. .
A dozen donuts? That's just wrong.:nono: We always used to head out the Salisbury House for an early morning feast of ham and eggs after our late night cardio sessions.

A dozen donuts? That's just wrong.:nono: We always used to head out the Salisbury House for an early morning feast of ham and eggs after our late night cardio sessions.


Wait...M@, did you REALLY eat a DOZEN donuts? I thought that was an exageration of some sort. Is that true?

Wait... I think you people are missing the point.

I don't think M@'s supposed to be waking up next to Ashley. From what I've understood, this is like his best friend. There isn't supposed to be any "late night cardio" between those two. Unless I'm wrong in my interpretation of what he wrote and it was a platonic "you're-going-through-a-rough-patch-let's-snuggle-up-for-support" kind of sleepover.

This could seriously throw the earth off axis. Like an asteroid entering our orbit. (http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/2004XP14/html/2004XP14_planning.html)

Wait...M@, did you REALLY eat a DOZEN donuts? I thought that was an exageration of some sort. Is that true?

Nope -- the exaggeration was waking up next to a woman...


sorry

Unless I'm wrong in my interpretation of what he wrote and it was a platonic you're-going-through-a-rough-patch-let's-snuggle-up-for-support" kind of sleepover.


That's how I got here! :eek:

Just ate a dozen donuts.

That's a euphemism, isn't it? :evil:

Phil has it right, as usual. :nod:

I should definetly not be waking up next to Ashley and it was, indeed, platonic. Ash and I are good enough friends...yeah, gonna leave it at that nevermind.

The problem is that only one substance on earth can inspire me to such carelessness: Beer. I remember paying the tab at Champ's last night, then reaching over to shut the alarm off this morning and blearily realizing there was an Ashley in the way. :doh:

In retrospect, I'm not upset about anything that has transpired in the past twenty-four hours. Well...okay, one thing: I had three onion rings at the bar. Just typing that, I gagged a little.

I left out the "half" on the donut amount so, yeah, I didn't actually eat 12 Dunkin' Donuts...I ate 6...and a 24 oz. coffee with cream and sugar...and guava's mention of ham and eggs has me craving an IHOP breakfast sampler. :drool:

Working from home. The air conditioning guy will be here for an estimate in 40 minutes. After that I'm contemplating going out to get a haircut. Gonna shed this hangover and go running in the evening. The thought of missing cardio is unacceptable. Might as well take photos and measurements while I'm thinking about it.

Phil has it right, as usual. :nod:

I should definetly not be waking up next to Ashley and it was, indeed, platonic. Ash and I are good enough friends...yeah, gonna leave it at that nevermind.

Yah yah yah. Blah blah blah. Whatever. Let's get to the important stuff here...

I left out the "half" on the donut amount so, yeah, I didn't actually eat 12 Dunkin' Donuts...I ate 6

...What kind of donuts were they? Sprinkles? Glazed? Filled? Chocolate? Details, man. We need details! :drool:

Phil has it right, as usual. :nod:

I should definetly not be waking up next to Ashley and it was, indeed, platonic. Ash and I are good enough friends...yeah, gonna leave it at that nevermind.

Whew... there's one tragedy averted. Now if we all exhale real hard maybe we can blow the asteroid out of the way...

Sounds like an interesting day so far...

What kind of donuts were they? Sprinkles? Glazed? Filled? Chocolate? Details, man. We need details! :drool:

Please don't do it, M@! I'm not sure I can handle the details, there's a Dunkin Donuts directly across the street from my building ... mmmmm ..... donuts

pardon me! but that picture has been altered... does Mark know!


He does now! When I saw Philly's post, I was like "Damn, I did that. I am awesome." But then, I realized I was just trying to flex to make my arms look as big as M@'s.

BTW, I have finally read through M@'s entire journal today. I didn't get to see any other threads.

I wish I had ADD.

I have finally read through M@'s entire journal today. I didn't get to see any other threads.

I wish I had ADD.

This journal is now ranked #10 overall in this section in terms of views.

Of course, our favorite ADD poster child is probably clicking refresh every eight seconds to see if anyone has added a comment.

Of course, our favorite ADD poster child is probably clicking refresh every eight seconds to see if anyone has added a comment.

I don't even think wh0 reads my journal. :confused:

Ecrivain & bellezza - I'll spare you the details. I often get cravings triggered from things people post on this site.

Banditfist - You're a machine! I hope it was not a scarring experience.

I ran today. First time in a looooong time. The desire for speed has definetly been reawakened. I ran down to the Potomac Trail and followed that for a little bit before turning around at the 23:00 mark. The Washington Monument was looming the whole run and I briefly entertained the notion of running to it and back. When 20:00 hit and I still wasn't over the river I scrapped those plans. It'd be a nice goal to go there on a long run at some point.

My mile times have to be upwards of 11:00. :cry:

I was trying to keep my heartrate low but 153 was about as small as I could manage. I averaged 145 for the entire run by keeping the monitor running throughout my cooldown. I'm amazed at how fast I'll drop to sub-120 if I'm not running. If I'm slower than 153 I start jackhammering. Not good at all. Guess I'll have to risk muscular catabolism and keep the heartrate high.

Shoes actually felt pretty good too. May not need to replace them as soon as I thought.

Speaking of wh0, I'm watching season 1 of Curb Your Enthusiasm. The first episode was the only one I'd seen and I thought it was pretty lame. It's growing on me rapidly, though. I think I'm going to watch another episode here before hitting the rack.

Like grains of sand through the hourglass of time...

All this makes me realise just how damned boring my life is. :D

That is it. I'm gonna start tanning.

sfc - I still don't see how my life could be considered interesting. Just about every day could be summed up with, "Woke up. Worked out. Worried about shit. Going to go to sleep." At least that's how it feels. I keep thinking that if I had something interesting to do in my free time I probably wouldn't be reading/posting here. :blank:

That said, tanning's awesome. Highly recommend it. :D :tu:

My life is actually getting absurd. I'm watching Curb and thinking, "Everybody in that show is psychotic. It's such an exaggeration of real life." And then my roommates discover that the landlord came over and put a portable air-conditioner in my bedroom and that same awkward tension is there. :rolleyes:

I pulled the thing out and took it downstairs for them to use. I'm going to be on the road tonight anyway. My appointment for the 600-mile service on the bike is first thing tomorrow morning.

I still haven't made a hotel reservation but don't think that'll be much of an issue. Who in the hell goes to Harrisonburg, VA in June anyway? I should be able to find something cheap for one Thursday night. And thank goodness the weather seems to be cooperating. The idea of rolling down there in a monsoon was not appealing to me.

Still haven't heard from Sue. :(

I'm actually probably going to email her today. I'm interested enough to justify that. If I don't hear back or we don't set up a date then I guess I need to let it go. I don't know what to say to her. Guess I'll stew about it for a little bit longer and then send something I'll immediately regret. I think she's cute. She's already convinced me she's a fun and interesting person. I would very much like to meet her. I guess I should say stuff along those lines.

*sigh*

This thread is worthless without some pics of Ashley.

Hook a brother up!

I keep thinking that if I had something interesting to do in my free time I probably wouldn't be reading/posting here. :blank: *

Not true. If you weren't reading/posting here, you'd be going to support groups for diseases you don't have and ordering shit from Ikea. And we all know where THAT leads... but we can't talk about it.

Still haven't heard from Sue.

I'm actually probably going to email her today. I'm interested enough to justify that. If I don't hear back or we don't set up a date then I guess I need to let it go. I don't know what to say to her. Guess I'll stew about it for a little bit longer and then send something I'll immediately regret. I think she's cute. She's already convinced me she's a fun and interesting person. I would very much like to meet her. I guess I should say stuff along those lines. *sigh*

Cut and paste, my man... cut and paste.

If you weren't reading/posting here, you'd be going to support groups for diseases you don't have and ordering shit from Ikea. And we all know where THAT leads... but we can't talk about it.


Yep, he'd have some Meat Loaf-looking dude's manboobs in a death-grip before he knew what hit him! :lol:

Banditfist - No pics will be posted but I may bring her up to Baltimore with me at some point.

Philly and LateStart - I didn't create some loser alter-ego to make myself feel better!

Made it to Harrisonburg and back alive. Took six hours to get down, dodging storms. First storm came while I was still inside the Beltway and I rode it out in an old favorite bar. An absolutely stunning woman with sandy brown hair sat next to me at the bar, ordered a Corona, and started pounding it like someone dying of thirst. I struck up a conversation with her for about ten minutes and actually thought I was getting somewhere, then her date walked in and that was the end of that.

Saw the second storm about sixty miles out. The road kept veering straight into the belly of it, then curving south. My anxiety level kept rising and falling. When it became obvious I wasn't going to avoid it I got under the awning of a closed gas station and waited it out. A couple of good-ol-boys pulled up in a pickup and gave me a great shortcut tip that probably cut 30 minutes off my trip.

As soon as the storm passed and the roads got somewhat dry I saddled up again. By now it was dark and the road mist made visibility horrible. I discovered the storm had a 2nd arm that was still in the middle of my path and it hit with intensity as I was doing about 60 mph. I started getting pelted with pea-sized hail and managed to find a 7-11 to hide under as the lightning cranked up.

Waited out that barrage with the girls working the 7-11. They cheered every time the lightning knocked the power out and groaned every time it whined back to life. Probably hung out there for an hour while it cleared up. That was the end of fresh rain for the night.

Got back on Rte. 29 and wound out the throttle a bit to try and make up some time. My mind was elsewhere as I realized I was about 200 yards out from an intersection with a red light. There were seven or eight cars on the opposite side of the road but none coming in the cross-street, which is good because I locked up the brakes and didn't even slow down.

The back of the bike swung out left as I was about midway through the intersection, sideways, still probably doing about 60mph. I can still see the wide-eyed shock on the faces of the drivers opposite me. Felt the bike going down so I pushed hard left and gunned the throttle to kick the back end upright again. Don't know whether torque or traction brought me up but I got the thing righted and blew through the rest of the intersection and back on my merry way...with an elevated heartrate.

The last part of the trip took me straight west through the Blue Ridge and into the Shenandoah Valley. The twists and turns of the mountain road were incredible and I was outrunning my headlight on every curve. I chained up with a pair of cars who were making good time and used their lights to make out the rest of the road. Beyond that it was me, the stars, and the moon all the way into Harrisonburg.

My nutrition has been off the past four days and I wouldn't be surprised to find that I've gained some fat. Not the greatest way to end my time on SGX, but it's not over yet so we'll see what happens. I skipped leg day Thursday in favor of getting on the road earlier. I'm going to make it up today.

Sue and I have traded a few emails. The news is bad. She hasn't come out and said it but she's seeing someone else. She seems to be interested in keeping me around, probably in case it doesn't work out, but that's not worth making any further effort on my part.

Sorry about Sue, but man...the bit about the red light - that elevated MY heart rate.

Lucky man, M@, lucky man.

Silver - Lucky is right! As a rider I know you understand: It's amazing the kind of shit you can pull off on a bike when the alternative is wiping out. :lol:

honestly, I never came that close and if it had've been me, I probably would've gone down

I only had the bike for about 2 years and probably only put about 5000km on it, if that, probably more like 2000. My experience is limited. Someday I'll get another bike. Two actually. One cruiser and one...not so cruiser :)

Yeah I've wiped out (on a bicycle) and I've been hit by a car, but not at the same time ---- glad you dodged two bullets and made it out okay, M@ :lol:

Banditfist - No pics will be posted but I may bring her up to Baltimore with me at some point.

This may be undoubtedly be the biggest turn-out to a JSF meet-up :D I'll even go to venture out and say that many people are already saving the money for plane tickets and hotel rooms as we speak DC is only 6 hrs away from me... :confused:

Though I don't ride.. I've pulled out of some crazy shit in my car.. part of the reason why I'm scared of riding :) Glad there's no scratches yet :claplow:

I have a niece! Piper Maryann(e?) was born last night happy, healthy, and without benefit of any anaesthetic to her former olympic downhill skier mom. :D :D :D

While she's not technically my niece (2nd cousin), she's the daughter of the guy I consider a brother so that's close enough for me. They already asked if I want to be known as "Uncle Mattieo", "Uncle Matt", or "Uncle Matto".

I love the name "Piper". My cousin's a composer and adores our Scottish heritage so it's fitting that his daughter has a cool, musical first name. Maryann(e?) is tribute to both grandmothers.

That's gonna be one spoiled kid. It's the first new genetic addition to our family lineage...as far as surnames are concerned. I'm excited and very happy.

Naturegirl - Damn! I should probably post this in your journal but: You're one hella tough chick. :eek: :bow:

steeletkd - Just plan on hitting the February cheat in Orlando. I'm thinking I'll be there. Whomever I bring with me I'm sure all readers of my journal will be damn-near intimately familiar with (at least from my neurotic perspective) by the time we head down. :lol:

On a not-so-happy note: My roommate's dog, Max, is in the emergency room. He's got some serious issues that it doesn't look like he's going to pull out of. If the latest attempt to help him doesn't work, they're going to put him down.

I despise these two assholes. I wish nothing good upon them...but Max is a big, dumb, happy puppy and doesn't deserve such a brief life. He's only four! He's 165 lbs and stinky with bad hips and gooey eyes. He thinks you're the greatest thing on the face of the planet. He just wants to be petted and talked to and he's in heaven. You can see it! If you met this dog in heaven he'd act exactly like he acts now. That's why I love dogs so much.

So I'm being extra special nice to them while they go through this. I never wanna have to deal with losing Orion so I've got no problem accomodating Jon & Kelly in this time of anxiety and grief. Part of the dilemma means I won't be online as much since if they want to watch the big TV in the living room I can't be online (IT'S COM-FUCKING-CASTIC!) so if the updates aren't coming with regularity...that's the explanation.

Made up for Thursday's missed Leg Day today. Ran into Jen (across the street) on my way back into the house afterwards. She invited me to a birthday party for her dog (Fenway) on the 16th and basically gave me an open invitation to get laid any time between now and then.

...so I'm sitting here on a Saturday night on JSF.

I'm stupid or something. :(

Oh...I'm going to put my interim program together this weekend and start plotting out my return to running. I added shin-curls to leg day to help fight splints. With the calf development I've gone through I'm sure they'd be wicked if I started running hard.

That's the other thing: I can't run hard. My wind sucks and my speed's gone from Ferarri to Caterpillar. I'm starting from scratch, as though I've never run before in my life. If my ego can tolerate SGX squats, it can easily handle that. Besides, since when do I have to convince myself to take it easy?! :doh:

sorry to hear about the dog - shitty news

congrats on the niece, though!

I get suspicious if something bad is not befalling me at regular intervals :lol: But hey, way better to take your lumps in small doses, right?

Hope you have a good time with Jen :p
Do you know if those new polyurethanes are any good?

Congrats on the niece! :) Piper is a cute name. See that's the great thing about nieces and nephews---you get to hand them back at the end of the day.

A little late but: :)

http://www.80stees.com/images/products/Carpe_Donut-T-link.jpg

Silver - Thanks for the gratz and good news on Max: He's responding well to the steroid treatment! It may bankrupt Jon & Kelly but he's doing better and he's eating again. :D

Naturegirl - Jen remains unmolested. :nod: As for the polyurethanes -- I have no idea what you're talking about. :evil:

steeletkd - Classic!

Please forgive me as I actually put down some training info here. I'm working out my next program on scrap-paper and want to commit some of the stuff I like.

5K training begins next Tuesday, July 11th. It's still a day left on SGX but fuck it. I want to get this started and that's easiest for my schedule. The plan is to start at 6 miles per week beginning Tuesdays with easy runs and progressing onto speedwork and tempo runs on Thursdays. Saturdays will be my long run. I'll increment up to about 20 miles in the final week before the race in early October.

What is the race? I don't know. I haven't found one yet. There should be a 5K within an hours drive any weekend in Sep/Oct though so I'm sure I'll locate one. I may actually do the Police Pace again come to think of it.

Hmm...okay, Police Pace is mid-September. But here we go: Navy Federal 5K (http://active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1299046) in Vienna VA on Saturday, September 30th. Perfect. There. I'm registered. I fucking hate Active.com and all the sneaky little shit they try to slip in there. They need to die.

So here's the plan:

July 12 - 18 -- Week off of weight training.
July 11 -- Race training begins.
M,W,F - 8 weeks of Waterbury's Total Body Training (http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=508031&pageNo=0) followed by 4 weeks of The Waterbury Method (http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=534922).
T,Th,Sa - Race training.
M,W,F,Su - LISS Cardio 45:00 or more.


My first two week's plan for TBT is:
(c = compound lift | s = single-joint lift | A# = antagonist pairing)
--
Workout #1 3x5 - 60 seconds rest
- c1 Dips (a1)
- c2 Bent-Over Rows (a1)
- c3 Deadlifts [a2]
- c4 Hack Squats {a3}
- s1 Lateral DB Raises [a2]
- s2 DB Triceps Extensions {a3}

Workout #2 3x8 - 90 seconds rest
- c1 Pullups (a1)
- c2 Decline Dumbbell Bench Press (a1)
- c3 High-Bar Squats [a2]
- c4 Standing Barbell Military Press {a3}
- s1 Hamstring Curls [a2]
- s2 Triceps Pressdowns {a3}

Workout #3 - 2x15 - 120 seconds rest
- c1 Front Squats (a1)
- c2 Good Mornings [a2]
- c3 Flat Dumbbell Bench Press {a3}
- c4 Seated Dumbbell Military Press {a3}
- s1 Standing Calf Raise (a1)
- s2 Hammer Curls [a2]

I really want to do a total body program for twelve weeks and the Waterbury systems appeal to my desire for constant change and stimulation. I'm very excited to be doing pullups and dips and look forward to trying good mornings. Front squats look like they're gonna suck and I never liked hack squats so we'll see how those go.

The Waterbury programs aren't intended for someone who's cutting and doing all this cardio but it still looks like a good system for building all-around strength. What the hell, huh? Might as well give it a try.

Oh, I'm still figuring out nutrition. I want to go back to 40/40/20 and doing my lifts in the morning. I'll incorporate a PWO shake for sure. I'm thinking of something like the following sketch:

M-Th: 2200 cal - 40/40/20
F: 2200 cal - 40/40/20 + 400 cal carb load
Sa: Totally free, anything goes
Su: 3200 cal - 40/40/20 re-feed

Also, my 34"x34" 501 jeans aren't fitting me anymore! :eek:

They're not loose. They're actually very comfortable in the waist with maybe an inch, inch and a half of give...but the crotch and the thighs are almost bursting at the seams. :lol:

I wish I had measurements from the last time I was at this bodyfat level. I think I've definetly gotten bigger in the shoulders and quads than I was then. :nod:

Are you still planning on cutting for awhile with those cals? If you're running and doing TBT, you'll need more calories if your trying maintenance I'd bet, but everybody's different.

As to the workouts, I'm not sure what your "(a*)" or "{a*}" notes are, are they supposed to be pairings for your week 2? I've always done them as
A1, A2 (first pair)
B1, B2 (second pair)...etc, with the letter describing the pairing, the number being the order of the exercise. No big deal, just trying to make sure I'm on board.

With TBT, you'll learn your groove on what types of pairings work best for you and your goals. One way I liked to do stuff was in similar planes, so I'd do a pull ups and lat pulldowns with either dips or overhead presses of some sort. I'd do bench work with row variants (bent over, t-bar, seated cable, seated cable to the neck, etc). That's typical push pull I suppose.

The other thing I would watch out for after my weights started increasing above embarrassing levels would be doing DLs and Squats (most specifically back, due to the higher weights) in antagonistics. Instead of doing deads/back squats, I'd do deads/front squats or hacks, or back squats/RDLs, SLDLs, or GMs.

Later, I read where Chad posted this (http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=979551):

Exercises Pairings

With full-body training, it's more effective to pair lower body exercises with upper body exercises to help manage fatigue. I try to avoid pairing a neurally demanding lower body exercise with a high fatigue upper body exercise. For example, full squats could be paired with hammer curls, but not push presses. Deadlifts could be paired with skull crushers, not pull-ups. Effective exercise pairings distribute the fatigability of each exercise as much as possible.

Also, read this (http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=960811) article at least starting down at opposites attract and going through the 2 exercise pairing headings. TBT isn't high frequency enough to worry terribly about it, but I try to keep his exercise pairings discussion in that article in mind, including the chart of guesstimated impacts of various exercises. I think TBT doesn't really want you pairing your compounds with isos, but you can keep the impact in mind. (Random thought, you can do more than 4 compounds if you are feeling frisky. Chad doesn't say you HAVE to do 2 isos, in fact he makes fun of throwing them in a bit for people who want to curl). I did weeks of 5 or 6 compounds when I felt up to it and picked the right compounds).

Brad(Canada) reminded me of those points in somebody else's post here AFTER I went through multiple rounds of TBT, so not following those rules won't kill progress at all, and IME, you can increase capacity to do more than lots of people recommend you do over time. Heck, I was pairing deads and squats while taking chemo for God's sake. :D

I'm no more of an expert than you, so if you have questions, start a thread in the lifting forum and maybe chic or 1FastGTX or others can give you tips on pairings/selection. With the constant rotation of exercises in TBT, though, you can't screw up too much, because you'll just change next week.

I think you'll love it. I don't know enough about SGX lifting stuff to know where you're coming from, but I really enjoy total body stuff, and while I keep telling myself I'll eventually give splits a try, I like my full body workouts :)

Funny thing about the pants. I have not been able to fit into 501s since college. When I actually really started hitting legs, I quickly graduated to 560s. They are the only pants that my legs will fit into. I just recently found out that Levis has stopped making them. I have bought two pair off Ebay. Essentially, the 560s are relaxed fit with a tapered leg. The 569s are straight legs. I hate straight legs. I feel like I have on bell bottoms.

Hmm...okay, Police Pace is mid-September. But here we go: Navy Federal 5K (http://active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1299046) in Vienna VA on Saturday, September 30th.



Hey M@, have you thought about doing the Marine mud run (http://www.mudrun.com/info.html)? It's in Virginia which could be relatively close depending on where you live.

I really really want to do it, but the timing just won't work this year for me. I will do it at some point because it looks both grueling and super fun. :nod:

15 rep front squats? You're a brave soul. I would suggest you do these with hands crossed (http://www.workoutdelivery.com/images/thumb_exercise_equipment_section_sting_ray_mark_fr ont_squat1.jpg) instead of an olympic grip (http://www.crossfit.com/discus/messages/22/17964.jpg) to save your wrists.

I wear Levi's 514's. :(

15 rep front squats? You're a brave soul. I would suggest you do these with hands crossed (http://www.workoutdelivery.com/images/thumb_exercise_equipment_section_sting_ray_mark_fr ont_squat1.jpg) instead of an olympic grip (http://www.crossfit.com/discus/messages/22/17964.jpg) to save your wrists.


Front squats at high reps can definitely bring the wrist pain as you work up to them. I did them at high reps starting out with them, and after doing them for awhile, I'm finally comfortable at higher reps. Not great, but not in pain, either.

It would take a team of Oxford researchers working round the clock for months to come up with a word that adequately describes just how fucking stupid I am. :bang:

So I finished posting yesterday and switched the cable back over so my roommates could watch TV. I got restless and wanted to go somewhere with air conditioning but couldn't tolerate the coffee house so I went to Ireland's Four Courts, my favorite bar. I didn't know the bartender and the place was empty which was exactly what I was hoping for. I had some wings and a pint of Bass and wrote in my paper journal.

Then Cameron showed up for the evening shift.

Cameron is a buddy of mine and he loves it when I'm there and it's slow 'cause we bullshit about everything under the sun. So now I'm three pints down and should really get the hell out of there. Then we get hit with a microburst. The rain is literally coming down sideways and the tops of the tiny ornamental trees outside are touching the ground. There's no question of my riding in that so I settle in and have another pint.

Then I have a Laphroaig on the rocks.

Then I have a Bombay & Tonic

Then I start hitting on this 40 year old woman next to me who had the face of a Punch doll while Cameron cuts me off and starts putting pints of ice water in front of me.

I get on the bike, shitfaced, and go to the grocery store where I pick up the following:


A slice of double-chocolate cake
A slice of coconut cake
A family-size Hershey's chocolate bar
A family-sized pack of Junior Mints
A family-sized Heath bar
A pint of Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby ice cream
A pint of Ben & Jerry's Everything But The ice cream
A 20 oz bottle of Coke
2 bags of Brach's Maple Nut Goodies


Apparently I hung the grocery bag on the handlebars and rode home. Fortunately it appears that I only got through a bag and a half of the Maple Nut Goodies before passing out. Everything else is still untouched in the fridge. I woke up at 4am with the remnants of bag #2 in a tupperware container next to the bed.

On the plus side I had erotic dreams about two of the girls from my gym when I went back to sleep so things aren't all bad.

I'm back on the wagon. :rolleyes:

Andy - Sweeeet. I was hoping to get a critique/info from you on that. Appreciate the insight. :tu:

Bandit - My Diesels still fit perfectly and I've been told that Lucky jeans have a better cut in the thigh. I'm gonna have to check some different brands out.

Papi - I couldn't get the Mud Run link to resolve but was able to bring it up with just the domain http://www.mudrun.com/. That looks pretty awesome! :lol: Roanoke's about 240 miles away so it'd be a doable day trip but would run me about $120 in gas. :confused: I think I'll put it off 'til next year.

George - I didn't even think about the olympic grip for front squats. The only way I've seen them done is hands crossed. I figured that putting them in on the 15-rep day would give me the leeway to back off the weight...which I wanted to do anyway since I've never done them before.

Cardio this morning helped with the hangover but I've still got some getting-it-out-of-my-system to do. Karma's a bitch.

Oh, I started watching The Office (BBC). The (fourth?) episode with the corporate training session is one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen. When the boss lodges the complaint in the role-play and yells "There's been a rape up there!" I lost my shit. I'm laughing about it right now. I've been randomly bursting into laughter whenever I've thought about it. I laughed about it stepping onto the elliptical this morning and got some bizzare looks from the folks around me. So good. :lol:

but the crotch and the thighs are almost bursting at the seams

Hey, M@! Please post your crotch workout. You seem to be getting good results and I need to build up that area, myself. TIA.

:whistle:

It would take a team of Oxford researchers working round the clock for months to come up with a word that adequately describes just how fucking stupid I am. :bang:

<snip big long paragraphs about drinking and junk food and hitting on a Punch-faced older woman>

I'm back on the wagon. :rolleyes:


That ain't nothin'. Zoetastic ate a chip and two cheetos last week. :rolleyes:

Top of the page, biatch!

It happens. Except for the drinking riding(driving) part. Cut that shit out. Maybe I will challenge you to who can go the longest without binge drinking.

Hey, M@! Please post your crotch workout.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

:claplow: :bow:

Philly - Zoe's reckless but that's the way she lives her life. :nod:

BG - What is it with that? I have no use for a beer or a drink. It's gotta be a half-dozen, plus. Cameron said something to me about riding in my condition and I think my reply was, "Hey man, I'm on the bike! It's not like I'll kill anyone but myself?!" :doh:

So f'ing stupid. :(

So f'ing stupid. :(
My friend has two DUIs. He's either going to jail for a year or fleeing the state. He has to take a 12 dollar drug and alcohol test every morning for the next 2 years. (except when he'll be in jail.)
Food for thought, dogs.

M@, so what are you gonna do with the rest of the junk in your fridge? You either need to finish in one big binge (and pay the price in extra calories) or throw it away/give it away. If you leave it in there over the next week you will probably "eat some here and there" and as a result destroy your daily nutrition and absorb much more of the junk calories than you would if you ate it all at once or just simply threw it away.

Can you return food like that? Maybe thats an option too and then you will have an extra $10 to throw gas in the tank of your bike?

So what are you gonna do? Its decision time!

George - Yeah, it's seriously scary shit. DUI's in Northern VA are serious shit, too. Least I've ever heard anyone getting since I moved down here is three days and it's usually a week or two for the first offense. Even worse is the idea of hurting somebody. :o

Ryan - Going to a 4th of July barbeque tomorrow and will bring all that stuff with me. :nod: I don't know what it is but I've got this hangup about returning food. I can't bring myself to do it. If it's spoiled...well, food spoils. If it's unspoiled...well, what justification do I really have for returning it?

I don't know what it is but I've got this hangup about returning food. I can't bring myself to do it. If it's spoiled...well, food spoils. If it's unspoiled...well, what justification do I really have for returning it?

Quite simple. You bought the WRONG THINGS. I doubt you can return the cake, but I'd bet you can return the candy and ice cream. Tell them your wife sent you back because you bought the wrong kind of candy and ice cream and you know how pregnant women are and if you don't return it and get the right stuff you are going to be sleeping on the couch...

Then take your money and sneak out of the store via the fire exit.

Phil - I think the only thing that would make me more uncomfortable than taking food back would be lying to the sleestacks at the customer service counter about why I was doing it.

So I actually had a great back workout this evening. Who'd a thunk it? I'm normally much weaker a day after getting tanked.

I read all of George's journal in the VIP and it makes me wonder what the hell is up with my grip and my overall strength. The kid could probably toss me around like a rag doll and he'd definetly show me up in the weight room, bigtime. Bastard's still growing, too! :lol:

I did pull more than my bodyweight on Deads for the first time. I guess I'd done it once before but not for the set/rep scheme of my program so I'm not counting that. Of course, the reason I pulled more than my bodyweight is because my fat ass has lost over 30 lbs in the past six months. If this were January I'd still be trying to get over that mark.

My house is blazing hot and stuffy. I'm in shorts and am sweating. Big flying beetles are bumping into the screen on the window. There's another dead bat out back. Neighbors have gotten ahold of some bottle rockets and are having fun with 'em. My tan is fading and I'm panicking every time I notice a mole 'cause I'm paranoid about skin-cancer. Did I always have these moles? Fuck. I don't know.

Blabbity blabbity blah blah blah.

I bet deads will go up rapidly once you hit TBT and get to maintenance calories. Mine did.

Of course, I was recovering from a major ab surgery that probably had me starting at a lower number than I normally would have, so my gains may have been abnormal.

I'm still no pull monster, but I'm closing on 2x body weight soon.

You'll get there.

Tell them your wife sent you back because you bought the wrong kind of candy and ice cream ...
If my husband came home with anything called Chubby Hubby, I'd be sending him back to the store with it.

I thought I had crazy shopping binges, but they're nothing like yours. Yes, I do eat them little by little, and they don't seem to be doing me much harm. We went to a HERSHEY factory yesterday; I bought myself half a pound of miniature chocolate chips, 6 mini peppermint patties, and 12 Jolly Ranchers. I passed up the box of Pot of Gold Pecan Caramel Clusters, but I really wanted it.

Andy - Yeah, I'm really starting to get the idea regarding how hard it is to build muscle on a cut. I wish I could start TBT tomorrow. :lol:

Guava - Welcome back! Chubby Hubby is insanely good. Don't ever try it. :drool:

My dad played football at Penn and their preseason training took place in Hershey Pennsylvania. He would run two-a-days in late August heat while the factory cranked out chocolate bars. He said the equipment stank like sour sweat and chocolate and to this day he still can't stand the smell. In Vietnam he'd trade his chocolate ration for cartons of Kools or Lucky Strikes. :lol:

What is it with spiders by the way? They move in like they own the f'ing place and get all up in your living environment. Accidentally touch one without noticing and the little bastard'll bite you, like it thinks it's gonna take you out! I think they're very cool and appreciate the eating-other-bugs thing but if they're in my home, they're going to die.

I read all of George's journal in the VIP and it makes me wonder what the hell is up with my grip and my overall strength.
M@, a big part of it is that you've been at a caloric defecit for a long time. I cut for 8 weeks and my strength gains were at a crawl. It was no fun.
Also, I've been training with very low reps since I started in September. The thought of 5 rep deadlifts still makes me uneasy. Low reps also make my numbers sound a lot more impressive. :nod:

PS: Your arms are bigger than mine after your initial cut and I've had to gain 25 pounds to get to this point. Sic Vita.
PPS: According to Zoo Books and The Magic School Bus you are never more than 4 feet away from a spider. (I think that might just be outdoors though.)

Jeez, at the cheatmeal you had such good control. I should have bought you a couple shots. When you cheat, you know how to cheat!

I just recently switched over to low reps type workout. In a few minutes, I am headed to the gym. Deads are in the mix. I basically warm up with 4 sets moving up to 315. Today's workout will be at 405 8 sets, 3 reps. I normally have a one minute rest between sets. This is absolute killer. In all my time, I have never really trained in this way. I must say, I am sore as hell. But, that could just be to getting old.

Jeez, at the cheatmeal you had such good control. I should have bought you a couple shots. When you cheat, you know how to cheat!

I just recently switched over to low reps type workout. In a few minutes, I am headed to the gym. Deads are in the mix. I basically warm up with 4 sets moving up to 315. Today's workout will be at 405 8 sets, 3 reps. I normally have a one minute rest between sets. This is absolute killer. In all my time, I have never really trained in this way. I must say, I am sore as hell. But, that could just be to getting old.

Don't talk about getting old, youngster!

Actually, as I've trained through Waterbury's stuff, I'm amazed how I just don't get really sore anymore, even when switching training styles. I'll get some light soreness getting out of bed the morning following a workout sometimes, but when the blood gets flowing, I'm fine. Maybe some muscle fatigue, but none of this "can't walk the next day" type of soreness I used to get the first couple of months.

Of course, split workouts where you put more work into a given muscle in a workout session might change that for me if I went to that, I just don't know.

You know, besides looking better, this is a hell of a benefit. I used to get massive DOMs in my obliques and lower back when raking the hickory nuts out of my yard for instance, not to mention being out of breath if I worked at my normal pace (fast, which comes from my Dad always making physical work a competition!). Last year, that didn't even phase me. I used to also get quick shoulder fatigue anytime I did almost anything over head, like work on a light fixture, etc. Nice to have enough fitness to get through the everyday but out of the ordinary type tasks without feeling like an out of shape loser.

/ramble

George - Yeah, I guess what I mean is that I'm sick of being at a caloric deficit. I made a commitment to get to visible abs at rest, though, so I'll just suck up being a wimp for the time being. I will be almost halving my reps on TBT, though, so I'll get a boost from that for sure.

I believe the 4ft from a spider rule. They're all over the place. Unfortunately, I'm a big believer in promoting predatory exclusion. As far as I know, there are no black widows or fiddlebacks in my house so I want to keep the existing spiders around to maintain that state. Still...they need to keep hidden or I'm killing them. :(

Bandit - I'm not sure where that came from but yeah, when I get going there's really no stopping me. Frank the Tank! Frank the Tank!

Bandit & Andy - I loved the way I felt everyday when I was doing the SEAL Challenge training. The first couple weeks were the most intense soreness ever and then it just disappeared and was replaced by this iron-hard strength. It's always added appeal to the total-body programs and is a major factor in my wanting to try them. I'm glad to hear about your experiences yeilding those kind of results. :tu:

When you're riding a motorcycle at 55 mph wearing a t-shirt and jeans and you're sweating, you know it's gonna be a hot mother of a day. :(

We're supposed to get some serious thunderstorms this afternoon so that'll cool things off, with any luck. It also means I'm going to have to take the truck out to my buddy Scott's barbeque. That's actually a good thing. The idea of navigating the bike through Anacostia after 11pm isn't really appealing. There's gonna be a lot of drunks on the road and having a cage around me will make me feel a lot safer.

Slept like shit from the heat. I'm starting to get pissed off about this air conditioning situation. :mad:

I've really slacked off on my commitment to cutting this week. :( Last week's pictures made me really happy...and that fucked things up. I'm thrilled with the way I look and am fitting (more or less) in all my old clothes again so some section of my brain's saying "Screw the cut, go to maintainence now or start bulking!" I don't want to do that. As I mentioned above, I made a commitment. I need to get my head screwed back on and get disciplined again.

I slid off plan for almost a week too and am finally back on track. I felt like utter crap physically and it reminded me why I am not only changing my life for fat loss, but for health. I dont need that shit ruining my body. And just like you said, I made a commitment too and I've got a deadline. It's good to be back! :D

I might be in the same predicament as you however in your cutting efforts. And while I dont care a huge deal about losing size, I think my friends and family would needlessly freak if they knew I got below 90lbs. I suppose we'll have to play it by ear, but the possibility exists that some reassessment may be in order. What with the whole microwave thing and all :mad:

Nice to have enough fitness to get through the everyday but out of the ordinary type tasks without feeling like an out of shape loser

I've heard that referred to as "functional strength" and it is the main reason a 48-year old fat boy like me is on the fitness train. :tu:

That, and wanting to look good nekkid! :lol:

Naturegirl - Still righting the ship, sadly. I didn't feel compelled to tighten the reigns at the barbeque today. Lack of A/C is making me one cranky fuck. :rolleyes:

Drove to Scott's for the party and couldn't find the World Cup match in english on a single radio station. I listened to the spanish broadcast instead, which was actually kind of fun.

I think more when I'm driving instead of riding. I guess it's just 'cause I have to spend less time keeping myself alive. That's a good thing. Thought almost exclusively about Clare...and how she's fucking some other guy. Yeah. Anyway.

Got to the party and "Miss J" was there. "Miss J" is the slang we use for Jaqueline, possibly the most adorable child on the face of the planet. She was the flower girl for the weddings of every single married couple at the party. I have a crush on her inasmuch as I want a daughter like that. I want to teach her about life and to show her how to play fetch with a dog and yell at her about closing the screen door when she goes inside.

It was very good to see my friends. I am proud of myself for having spent the whole evening outside with everyone sucking down cigarettes and I remained steadfast. I didn't go nuts and stayed true to my nutrition program. I'd trade everything in a heartbeat for a wife and a family or at least some promise thereof.

Aw M@... sorry you're feeling so down man :( Hopefully this is just a funk you're going through. I go through them too...

Glad you had a good time at your friend's, even though it was kinda bittersweet.

Thanks sweetie. :) The funks are actually better in the long run. Complacency is the antithesis of working hard towards my goals. Misery is the motivator. :tu:

/for all I know my brain is doing this on purpose
//stupid fucking brain

Ah, the American Dream. It seems like you're a pretty good guy, M@. It'll happen :nod:

Try and stab it with a q-tip ;)
(Simpsons reference)

bellezza - Yeah, that was just some alcohol-fueled navel gazing. We now return you to your regularly-scheduled, egotistical, M@. :lol:

Naturegirl - Totally what I was going for. I also love "Listen brain, I know we don't like each other but help me out just this once and I can go back to killing you with beer." "It's a deal!" :lol:

I feel great today. I'm back on track and am excited about making this final week of SGX the best one of the dozen. Once again I have a burning desire to get shredded. I guess I just needed to blow off some steam. That makes sense. It happens.

I was thinking about cutting some slack next week in my "off-week" between weight programs but it appears I needed it early. Good. That's out of the way and now I'm looking forward to actually going forward with discipline and renewed commitment.

It was bizzare to walk through Whole Foods today and actually have my guts churn at the sight of the pastry area. I feel like I could go a month without carbs of any kind and be perfectly happy. I'm pretty sure that'd turn me homicidal, though.

The news on the A/C front is GREAT! We're supposed to have the system replaced tomorrow and I'll be working from home while they set that up. We're still having sporadic thunderstorms and they're doing an excellent job of keeping the temperature reasonable. I was able to sleep under the covers last night. Wasn't the best night's sleep, but better than I've had in a while.

Hoofa! :bb:

Man! Glad to hear the AC situation might finally be taken care of! It seems like that has been going on FOR-EV-ER!

Glad to see that I am not the only one going through the fitness cycle of falling off track and getting back on...I am not so lonely now! It seems like the early summer months have slightly de-railed alot of us here and there, but it is GREAT to see so many people picking themselves up, dusting themselves off and re-comitting to their goals!

Heres to us !:tucool: :claplow:

Nope, you're not alone at all! In fact, I was wondering about the number of people re-committing this morning. There seems to have been a mid-year hurdle for a lot of folks. Never having cut before, the first couple months were cool and interesting...but half a years worth of it is pretty taxing. I'm not surprised there's been some burnout.

Back to it, though. HUA! :tu:

Nope, you're not alone at all! In fact, I was wondering about the number of people re-committing this morning. There seems to have been a mid-year hurdle for a lot of folks. Never having cut before, the first couple months were cool and interesting...but half a years worth of it is pretty taxing. I'm not surprised there's been some burnout.

Back to it, though. HUA! :tu:

Hu-ah! (reminds me of the little caesar's commercial. "can I get a ho-ah?!")

I don't know what kind of carb level SGX has you on, but since I've been messing around with lower carbs lately (70 g non training days, 100 training, mostly either at breakfast or around workouts), I've not really had these carb cravings people talk about. Maybe I'm not going low enough to really get down to that psychosis.

It's kind of a pain to deal with when you're used to having WW bread, more fruit, etc, but I don't get these mad cravings. I think yesterday I had maybe 60 g carbs, and that was because I was walking through Wal-Mart and decided I'd try a grapefruit to see if I still hated them (1FastGTX posting about eating them got me wondering). For those of you playing the home game, I still do. Give me an orange anyday, but the bitterness of grapefruit just sucks.

This coming from somebody that probably had 100-150 grams carbs a day from fruit alone a couple of weeks ago, not to mention similar amounts from oatmeal, WW bread, whole grain tortillas, sweet potatoes, veggies, etc, plus probably 80 g PWO.

I do feel like for health reasons I want to eat more fruit...apples, berries, etc being important to me for the antioxidant effects considering my cancer history. I'll get back to them in a month or so I suspect. Just trying to see what I respond to.

Just wait a few months on buying a house/condo/townhouse:
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB115204791463597636-_dwtqavFBN5w_kTARC8T9SKB_Fs_20060711.html?mod=mktw

I think that the Wall Street Journal is a reputable publication and the interviewee is the most successful REIT investor on Wall Street.

Just wait a few months on buying a house/condo/townhouse:
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB115204791463597636-_dwtqavFBN5w_kTARC8T9SKB_Fs_20060711.html?mod=mktw

I think that the Wall Street Journal is a reputable publication and the interviewee is the most successful REIT investor on Wall Street.

I would agree if he was looking for an investment but he is looking for a house to live in.

Ryan - Heard, Understood, and Acknowledged. Used to work with a couple of Rangers and they ingrained that into my vocabulary, constantly chirping it back and forth like some sort of migratory birds.

Andy - I don't think carb restriction is good for my head. I know that the acclimation period usually causes a precipitous drop in mood but my experience has been worse. It's like forgetting to take my ADD meds and then having a very stressful, yet boring day. Incredibly frustrating because it's almost impossible to think.

Also, if I'm going to be doing more cardio and race-training, I'll definetly need the fuel. :nod:

Bandit & BG - I'm not going to be able to buy for at least four months anyway. We'll see what takes shape in that span of time. Thanks for the article. I'm seeing more and more stuff like that on a daily basis. The Post just had a front-page story on increased rents today.

Andy - I don't think carb restriction is good for my head. I know that the acclimation period usually causes a precipitous drop in mood but my experience has been worse. It's like forgetting to take my ADD meds and then having a very stressful, yet boring day. Incredibly frustrating because it's almost impossible to think.

Also, if I'm going to be doing more cardio and race-training, I'll definetly need the fuel. :nod:


Have you read the two roundtable articles posted in the last few days over at t-nation about low carb diet? Interesting reads. In the long run, I'm not thinking it's worth it for my goals, however, I'm testing in the short run to see how it affects me. I think I should learn as much as I can about how this works. A week an a half into a low/mod carb diet, I'm mentally OK. Not sure what would happen if I went sub 50 g, though. May try that at some point, just not now.

Different people handle things differently, though, so I can understand how it could make you go psycho. Not sure if that is physiological or physcological, or maybe both...

Yes it is tough as far as your body having to adapt and not rely on glucose, it's probably thinking "WTF is going on here!?" and some people never end up feeling good in deep ketosis. Even if they've been in it for months on end.

I myself experienced some nasty symptoms pretty bad for a couple weeks, but then all of a sudden BAM! Irrepressable energy, immense sense of happiness and feelings of wellbeing, insomia :lol: . It felt like I was manic and high at the same time :spaz: Also had no appetite whatsoever, cravings were almost non existant, and the Binge Demon that possessed me for close to 5 years was vanquished. Very very fascinating stuff. I can never imagine going back to eating all that bread, pasta, and sugar ever again. It makes me positively ill now.


Glad you are feelin' better M@ :tucool: Yes we definitely need to blow off some steam sometimes. It also makes the good times seem even more pleasurable. Kinda like how the cloudy days make you appreciate the sunny ones more. Well I do anyway! :lol:

the interviewee is the most successful REIT investor on Wall Street.

And Heebner really must like fencing since all the CGM fund commercials have foil fencing in them. Hey, at least it's not epeeists.

Also, if I'm going to be doing more cardio and race-training, I'll definetly need the fuel.

OK I'm not a big one for diet manipulation. But if I thought I was going to end up on restricted carbs for any reason, the first thing I would do is train the VO2max and lactate threshold up as high as I could stand.

The point of that is that burning fat for glucose gets a lot easier with your metabolism set up for that. It involves a whole bunch of adaptations which are common in endurance athletes. These adaptations are, as far as I can tell, not likely for most people who do body building workouts and do not beat their livers like a drum on a regular basis.

The training for raising VO2max and lactate threshold is a combination of hard as you can stand interval workouts, and some very long LISS work. The hard intervals increase your vascularization and get some heart hypertrophy. The very long LISS recruits mitochondria to your muscles. Both workouts should be long enough to exhaust glycogen to prompt your liver to store more and conver less sugar into fat.

The combination of increased vascularization and mitochondria in the muscles is useful because your muscles will work better while burning fat, and also, they will recover better from glycogen exhaustion. (If you think about it, these are two sides of the same coin). So even though I do the endurance stuff so that I recover really fast, I would expect it would also help me do better on a low carb diet.

I never did low carb diet, but the way endurance work is about surviving better on burning fat it should translate from the situation of having burned all your carbs to the situation of not having eaten enough carbs.

M@ - you're totally right about the binges lately. I've kept mine in relative check (some cookies/cakes/etc at family dinners) but I've seen a lot of them around the forum.

Good luck with the last week!

Ryan - Heard, Understood, and Acknowledged. Used to work with a couple of Rangers and they ingrained that into my vocabulary, constantly chirping it back and forth like some sort of migratory birds.

Thanks for setting me straight coach! ;) :lol:

Andy - Read those roundtables this evening. I'm surprised! There were a good mix of viewpoints presented and 99% less SURGE-pimping than I'm used to from a T-Nation nutrition article. :lol: From the comments it appears as though folks came away with the same overall impression that I did -- Whatever your viewpoint was on LCD/VLCKD before the article, you could find one of the panelists to reinforce it.

Naturegirl - I don't know that I've ever been in ketosis. :confused: SGX has far more to do with carb timing than carb restriction. Still, any restriction at all is a drastic change for me. I've heard so much about this abundant energy people get once they're acclimated that I'm very tempted to try a Very Low Carb/Ketogenic Diet but that physiological depression that's hit me for the past eleven weeks has been a total bitch. I haven't isolated it to the carbs 100% but it's my strongest suspicion.

Zen - Hard-as-you-can-stand interval training and long LISS sound like my upcoming cardio prescription. I'm going to need to rifle through some more of your old posts for training insight. I'm basically going back to stuff I was taught in high-school and that's probably not the most efficient thing anymore. :lol:

Silver - Thanks bud! There's gotta be a mid-year lull or some similar phenomena.

Ryan - Typical morning conversation between Boris and Dan, approx 40 y/o ex Army Rangers:

Boris: Mornin' Dan. Catch the game last night?
Dan: HUA. Went with my brother-in-law. Couldn't get out of the parking lot for an hour.
Boris: HUA. FedEx is about a bitch.
Dan: HUA!
Boris: HUA.

Went to bed early and woke up to a mother of a storm. I could hear the gutters overflowing in the back again and had to go shut the window in my office. Fortunately I've moved all the computer gear away from there and nothing got soaked.

Tried to get back to sleep but was too hungry and the rain was too loud...or something. I figured it was 4:00 am or so and thought of just sticking it out. Cursed audibly when I checked the clock and it said 1:12 am. I've had some oats and am feeling tired again so I should probably get back in the rack.

Measurements were not good today. I've put almost an inch back on my waist. I've no doubt the majority of it is water retention but some of it is fat.

The curious thing, however, is that I've got obscene DOMS in my shoulders and chest from the last two workouts and my quads seem larger. I haven't had DOMS like these in a long time. I honestly think that I've put on more muscle from the calorie boost than fat. I feel larger and stronger, if fatter.

Speaking of which, I'm gonna update FitDay before hitting the rack again. :sleep:

Naturegirl - I don't know that I've ever been in ketosis. :confused: SGX has far more to do with carb timing than carb restriction. Still, any restriction at all is a drastic change for me.

Zen - Hard-as-you-can-stand interval training and long LISS sound like my upcoming cardio prescription. I'm going to need to rifle through some more of your old posts for training insight. I'm basically going back to stuff I was taught in high-school and that's probably not the most efficient thing anymore. :lol:


It's a good prescription. And even better since SGX has carbs in it, so you can get into shape with carbs before you drop them down if that is what you are about. It's a lot easier to put in the HIIT on carbs than without them.

A really good resource for my training ideas are these:

http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/enduranc.htm

and from this one http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/articles/scni9a2.htm:

Racing cyclists usually possess high levels of aerobic endurance, since most road races last well over an hour. This means that if you are going to succeed in endurance cycling, you need a well developed oxygen transport system, which often gives rise to high VO2max values. Elite cyclists have been measured to be able to pick up, transport and utilise 7 litres of oxygen per minute. A high VO2max is not enough, however, to guarantee you success in cycling events. Due to their long duration, aerobic efficiency is also a vital requirement. As with marathon runners, you must be able to work at a high percentage of your VO2max without accumulating lactate. Once it does start to accumulate, indicating a greater contribution of anaerobic metabolism to the energy supply, you must reduce the workload in order to avoid premature fatigue.

The high levels of aerobic conditioning needed to give you this aerobic efficiency also hold another advantage, the ability to use a greater proportion of fat rather than carbohydrate for muscle fuel. Aerobic conditioning enhances the ability to use abundant fats while exercising, thus sparing your limited precious carbohydrate, stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen.

Nevertheless, the ability to use anaerobic metabolism is another training aspect that must not be neglected. If your opponent, or rival, puts in a burst of speed that you need to cover, you may well have to dig deep and rely on a greater contribution of anaerobic metabolism to the energy supply. This may also be the case if you encounter a tough hill. In other words, low intensity aerobic work alone is not enough if you want to succeed as a cyclist.

Sheer muscle strength is another essential requirement. Cycling, after all, is a power endurance activity, so if you have a high level of muscular strength, you will need to use a smaller percentage of your maximum strength to maintain the same workload.

So you can see that there is the need in that sort of training to develop the same thing you are looking for - I put that in italics.

And how do they propose you do it?

Throughout the year you should always train the whole spectrum of fitness; it is the proportions that change as the months go by. You need to perform long steady state rides at a low intensity to encourage and improve your ability to metabolise fats. These rides will last several hours. You will do more of them during the winter but they should be kept up throughout the year.

Threshold training will help to increase the speed at which the anaerobic threshold occurs, and should thus elevate your racing speed. These rides will typically last around 30 minutes, outside of warm up and warm down. High intensity training may well help to raise your VO2max and increase your ability to tolerate the acidic conditions that prevail in fast bursts or up a hill. You would normally perform these sessions in intervals e.g. 10 x 1 minute hard, split by a minute's recovery.

It's pretty easy to see long LISS and HIIT in that picture, and that you mix them together to get the aerobic condition that lets you take the punishment either of workout or diet.

At the end of the day, I don't do any program that I read just as I read it. I try and think about the idea they have, and what parts of the puzzle I've already worked on. Then it means trying to figure out how to use what they have in mind for myself.

I think the ultimate guys who understand strength endurance on the time scale that makes sense for me are the rowers. They are pretty analytical about their workouts - they've been working out to blood lactate levels for decades. Xeno Muller is probably the best known exponent of this sort of training.

http://www.gorow.com/

Zen - When it comes to cardio information, you never disappoint. Thanks for the links and the excerpts! I've only skimmed so far and will get into greater depth as the morning progresses.

re: your new avatar -- :lol:

Well binging has its benefits: I've put more muscle on this week than at any point in the past six months. I've grown and can see the difference in the mirror. The measurements bore out that theory as well, showing significant increases in chest, quads, arms, neck, and calfs with a reduction in the waist. Amazing.

It's not something I intend to get used to. In fact, I think if anything I'll be scaling back the attempts at hypertrophy for the rest of the summer and focusing primarily on cutting and cardiovascular improvement.

My landlord's downstairs in the living room watching Wallace & Grommit with her son. We're all waiting for the A/C guys to arrive. :rolleyes:

I feel good this morning. Better than I have in a couple of weeks. Dig it.

...Well binging has its benefits: I've put more muscle on this week than at any point in the past six months. I've grown and can see the difference in the mirror. The measurements bore out that theory as well, showing significant increases in chest, quads, arms, neck, and calfs with a reduction in the waist. Amazing.It's SGX working!

It's not something I intend to get used to. In fact, I think if anything I'll be scaling back the attempts at hypertrophy for the rest of the summer and focusing primarily on cutting and cardiovascular improvement.Something I never worried before is looking too skinny. Do you have this thought also? So, after this run on SGX, do you still plan on keep cutting? I'm not 100% sure what to do after I suck everything I can get out of SGX. Maintain? Cut on cardio? Bulk? I feel so comfortable with current eating habits and the amount of food I eat now...

Something I never worried before is looking too skinny. Do you have this thought also?

Ugh, no. I have a pretty bulky bone structure so when I get to very low BF% I look quite skeletal. I simply haven't ever put much muscle on my frame. I have been too skinny in the past. When I hit my growth spurt at puberty I went from being fat for the first time in my life, to being a 6'3" rail. I got cut from the football team for a year 'cause I was so thin.

At some point when I go back to my parent's house I'll see if I can dig up some of those pics. We went on a cruise the fat year and then had a family reunion in Florida two summers later. In one I'm this chubby kid and then the next I've got about 5% bodyfat, no muscle to speak of, and am looming over everyone else in my family. It's pretty gross. The Andre Agassi hairdo is worth it, though. :lol:

I've seen a sentiment regarding cutting nutrition in several places that goes like, "Why focus on building muscle when every signal you're sending to your body says to eliminate unnecessary tissue?"

I'm at a bodyfat % right now where I'm not worried about losing muscle. I don't have much muscle to lose and will take precautions to preserve what I've got, but attempting to build at this caloric level just isn't yeilding results that satisfy. My cardiovascular health is just left of pathetic according to my standards so I'm going to focus on improving that and getting rid of this last bit of fat.

In short, I plan to keep myself in a significant caloric deficit and run. The weight training I plan to do will be geared toward preserving muscle.

At the end of September I'll run a 5K. Between now and then I'll hit my target of having visible abs at rest and will start planning my first bulk.

Good plan, you're on fire!

As you quoted, there is a contradiction between cutting and gaining muscles. Eventually, even SGX has its limitation (that's why there is SUP2). But you seem to be on the right track.

Visible abs by end of September? You're the man! I need to set goals like you do; clear, objective and challenging. :tucool:

Last phone call to Sue:

Sue: So I'm not hearing from you much lately, what's going on?
M@: Is that an issue?
Sue: I'm just curious as to why you don't write or call much anymore.
M@: ...do you honestly want to know?
Sue: I wouldn't have asked if I didn't.
M@: You don't seem interested.
Sue: What? I'm talking to you now aren't I?
M@: True, but you don't initiate any contact. I just get the impression that you're apathetic to my attention.
Sue: Maybe if you tried harder I'd respond better?
M@: Eh, if you're not interested I've hardly got any motivation to give you my A-Game.
Sue: Your "A-Game"? I don't deserve your "A-Game"? :lol:
M@: Nope.
Sue: Holy shit. :blank: Don't you think it's just a little bit disrespectful to even say that to me?
M@: More disrespectful than keeping me on the side while you work on another relationship?
Sue: What?
M@: You are seeing someone else aren't you?
Sue: ...
M@: Yeah, thought as much.
Sue: Wait.
M@: Lose my number.

Sue: Wait.
M@: Lose my number.
Then I hung up and slowely walked out the door. Due to the faulty air conditioning the entire house exploded behind me, but in slow motion. I dropped the phone which also exploded and I rode my motorcycle into the sunset.
:madpimp:

Last phone call to Sue:

Assuming it went down like that, YOU DA MAN! So :cool:

man, so many games in the relationship world

fun times!

man, so many games in the relationship world

fun times!

Yeah dating was fun! I miss it. I always want what I shouldnt have.:bang:

Damn! Self respect - way to go...

Assuming it went down like that, YOU DA MAN! So :cool:

p.i.m.p.
h.a.n.d.

p.i.m.p.
h.a.n.d.

http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/5227/slap6xy.gif

George - As usual, your version is much better. :lol: blah blah blah fucking cockblocking fuckfaggotshit

bg - While I'm glad I kept my self-respect in this situation, I hardly feel cool because of it. Actually I feel like I'm a striped shirt and 40,000 follicles away from being Charlie freaking Brown. :blank:

Silver - It is fun sometimes. I promise I'll post those situations too. :nod: Wheneverthefuck they decide to get around to actually happening.

This actually took place on the 4th of July. I'd decided not to post about it but an entry in Matt's journal (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?p=342542#post342542)changed my mind.

Kilter - Oh yeah! Nothin' quite like curlin' up next to self-respect on a Saturday night. This is the same guy who got tanked and was hitting on a woman that looked like this (http://www.foolserrand.com/funneh/graphic/punch.jpg) on Sunday. :lol:

bg & coachese - CLASSIC! :lol: :lol: :lol: The barely supressable rage in Charlie Murphy's demeanor there is one of the greatest acting jobs this side of Citizen Kane. :lol: :lol: :lol:

The A/C guys have shut off the gas. I can't cook. Meal #3 was Pop Tarts. :rolleyes:

The A/C guys have shut off the gas. I can't cook. Meal #3 was Pop Tarts. :rolleyes:

Oh, so you're starting to bulk Dave Barr style?

http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle.do?article=06-063-diet

(ctr-F, type pop tart, hit enter)

:D

http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/5227/slap6xy.gif

unity!

Kilter - Oh yeah! Nothin' quite like curlin' up next to self-respect on a Saturday night. This is the same guy who got tanked and was hitting on a woman that looked like this (http://www.foolserrand.com/funneh/graphic/punch.jpg) on Sunday. :lol:
Hey, desperation followed by self-respect is OK. :confused:

I'd decided not to post about it but an entry in Matt's journal (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?p=342542#post342542)changed my mind.

That guy says a lot of stuff.

And your transcript with Sue was awesome. Well played. And if it came off half as smooth and natural over the phone (as I'm fairly confident that it did) as it did through text, she got shut down and shut down HARD, and will probably think again before playing someone again.

Awesome stuff.

- Matt.

Last phone call to Sue:

Sue: So I'm not hearing from you much lately, what's going on?
M@: Is that an issue?
Sue: I'm just curious as to why you don't write or call much anymore.
M@: ...do you honestly want to know?
Sue: I wouldn't have asked if I didn't.
M@: You don't seem interested.
Sue: What? I'm talking to you now aren't I?
M@: True, but you don't initiate any contact. I just get the impression that you're apathetic to my attention.
Sue: Maybe if you tried harder I'd respond better?
M@: Eh, if you're not interested I've hardly got any motivation to give you my A-Game.
Sue: Your "A-Game"? I don't deserve your "A-Game"? :lol:
M@: Nope.
Sue: Holy shit. :blank: Don't you think it's just a little bit disrespectful to even say that to me?
M@: More disrespectful than keeping me on the side while you work on another relationship?
Sue: What?
M@: You are seeing someone else aren't you?
Sue: ...
M@: Yeah, thought as much.
Sue: Wait.
M@: Lose my number.

As I said before... you are one dangerous dude to deal with....;)

As I said before... you are one dangerous dude to deal with....;)

But yet, he still didn't end up getting any play except maybe from the joker looking thing he posted earlier.

Who's the fool now?

:moon:

But yet, he still didn't end up getting any play except maybe from the joker looking thing he posted earlier.

Who's the fool now?

:moon:

The issue is not winning any specific battle... the question is: whose gonna win the war...:lol: My bet is with M@ though I'd be betting against my own gender....:lol:

probably a safe bet!

RIP Max | 06/2000 - 07/2006 | Good boy :cry:

http://www.foolserrand.com/funneh/graphic/max.jpg

Bad news - Just got off the phone with Jon. The doctors at the animal hospital said he'd stopped responding to the steroids and that any other testing they did would involve invasive surgery. The vet couldn't really give them a scenario where the surgery would uncover anything treatable. What a shitty decision to have to make.

Good news - We have A/C

Matt - The transcript is as word-perfect as I can remember with smilies added to convey inflection. I omitted the smalltalk preamble, the goodbyes (I didn't hang up on her), and the stalking around, cursing, and throwing shit afterwards. :rolleyes:

The issue is not winning any specific battle... the question is: whose gonna win the war... My bet is with M@ though I'd be betting against my own gender....

That is about the nicest, most encouraging thing anybody's said to me since I broke up with Clare. Thank you so much. :D I really do need to take the long view. Seven or eight years ago I probably would've been whining or pleading with Sue and totally scrapping my self respect. The end result would be me just as miserable as I am now, but also having taken a serious blow to the ego. Yay experience. :p

Silver - The joker looking thing wasn't even interested! She was kind of freaked out by me hitting on her, actually. :lol:

...holy f*ck?! How many goddamn boxes do I have to click to get an iTunes update to install? Isn't this product from the Fisher-Price company that gave us the one-button mouse?

Just wrapped up my final SGX leg day and want to crawl into bed without dinner or shower. Not having a "Leg Day" is another mark in favor of total body training. I love working my legs and feel that they're the #1 area of your body to train but having a specific "Day" to target them often wipes me out to the point where I lose focus. If I don't manage to get completely geared up mentally for Leg Day it becomes a serious chore.

The greatest part about getting A/C back is going to be a night without the windows open. I've been getting eaten alive. Last night was the worst. I have no less than fifteen itchy hives from my knees down from various little fuckwad bugs bitin' on me. They went into turbo mode when the sweat hit 'em today.

Philly mentioned that there's a Post 4th-of-July influx in the gym. I noticed a few new faces this morning but it was nothing compared to tonight in the weight room. The population has literally doubled. I'm so happy I'll be taking a week off come Wednesday.

Well done with Sue. You may have thrown a tantrum afterwards, but it's not nearly as bad as how hard she's kicking herself right now. It's almost guaranteed that your confidence in the situation made her want you sooo bad. Her loss. You'll find another one, girls like that are a dime a dozen. Hold out for one minus the b.s.

ps - sorry to hear about max :(

Yeah, sorry about the doggie man... I'm sure Ri will miss him too.

Sorry about Max. That decision sucks but it sounds like you made the right one.

Fucking apple. I updated my itunes software too. Then I had to update the ipod because the two releases were not compatibale. I had the two newest ones but they wouldnt work together. I had to roll my computer back by three days and reset the ipod to factory settings. I have some sort of stupid conflict I have to work out there. Hope you have better luck.

Oh my GOD did I sleep well! :spaz:

I didn't realize it until this morning but since the A/C's been out I've usually been waking up 10-12 times per night. It's just those touch-and-gos where you become conscious of your surroundings then go deeply asleep again but having a night without them has left me feeling like a new man! Aaahhhhh. :D

No wonder I've been oversleeping. Wasn't at all hard to get up with the alarm this morning.

I had a dream about an old girlfriend from High-School. We were roommates and were both in the same stages of our lives, wanting the same things. It hit me that we should get married and I told her as much. She looked at me like I was insane and flatly refused. The odd sensation was that I didn't feel bad about the refusal. I was actually really relieved.

There's a trainer at my gym with an incredible physique. If I thought any of the training at my gym was worth a damn I'd definetly pick him. He's also got a very handsome face. We've got this weird vibe I can't figure out 'cause we'll always make eye-contact, smile, greet each other, and then hurry to find something else to do/look at. I'm totally confused as to his sexual orientation and am sure he's just as messed up about mine. It's just one of those things I've accepted as awkward in my life.

As I was getting in the shower this morning I hung my towel on the hook outside my stall. My hand was still on it when the stall next door opened and this PT reached out, grabbed the towel, and wiped his face off on it. I couldn't really speak, just make a kind of surprised noise. He looked at me in shock and said, "This is my towel, isn't it?" I shook my head and pointed to his towel on the other side of the stall. I told him it was okay, that I was still dry and would get another one. He said, "No, no, no problem." and hooked the towel back next to my stall. I didn't really want the towel after he'd wiped his head off with it but couldn't stand the two of us standing there naked anymore so I got in my stall and closed the door.

It might be the gayest thing that's ever happened to me. :nod:

Oh my GOD did I sleep well! :spaz:

I didn't realize it until this morning but since the A/C's been out I've usually been waking up 10-12 times per night. It's just those touch-and-gos where you become conscious of your surroundings then go deeply asleep again but having a night without them has left me feeling like a new man! Aaahhhhh. :D

No wonder I've been oversleeping. Wasn't at all hard to get up with the alarm this morning.

I had a dream about an old girlfriend from High-School. We were roommates and were both in the same stages of our lives, wanting the same things. It hit me that we should get married and I told her as much. She looked at me like I was insane and flatly refused. The odd sensation was that I didn't feel bad about the refusal. I was actually really relieved.

There's a trainer at my gym with an incredible physique. If I thought any of the training at my gym was worth a damn I'd definetly pick him. He's also got a very handsome face. We've got this weird vibe I can't figure out 'cause we'll always make eye-contact, smile, greet each other, and then hurry to find something else to do/look at. I'm totally confused as to his sexual orientation and am sure he's just as messed up about mine. It's just one of those things I've accepted as awkward in my life.

As I was getting in the shower this morning I hung my towel on the hook outside my stall. My hand was still on it when the stall next door opened and this PT reached out, grabbed the towel, and wiped his face off on it. I couldn't really speak, just make a kind of surprised noise. He looked at me in shock and said, "This is my towel, isn't it?" I shook my head and pointed to his towel on the other side of the stall. I told him it was okay, that I was still dry and would get another one. He said, "No, no, no problem." and hooked the towel back next to my stall. I didn't really want the towel after he'd wiped his head off with it but couldn't stand the two of us standing there naked anymore so I got in my stall and closed the door.

It might be the gayest thing that's ever happened to me. :nod:

Glad you slept well! :tu:

Sorry about your experience in the shower...uh, sorry. :eek: :doh:

bellezza, philly, & bg - Thanks for the condolences. It was hard to hear Kelly crying in the basement last night. I can still get choked up when I think about having put down my childhood dog and it's not a decision I'd wish on anybody. If a pet dies, it's sad. If you have to decide that a pet dies, it's trauma. :( Ri's starting to realize that something is up, fortunately he deals well with grief and becomes intensely considerate of sad people. I just don't want him to slip into, "Can I have his stuff?" mode. :blank:

bellezza - Thanks for the props! Seriously, every girl who tells me that was the right thing to do makes me feel exponentially better. Guys bounce this shit back and forth between each other all the time but deep down we know we're clueless so it's hard to take true comfort from that encouragement. :nod:

Now all I have to do is figure out how to make that irresistable confidence happen before I've decided not to speak to a girl again. :lol:

bg - Hmm...didn't try to use the iPod and the new iTunes together. :confused: I don't auto-synch and use YAMiPod (http://www.yamipod.com/main/modules/home/) for my file manager.

Philly - Whatever. Now your server admin has a log of you GIS'ing "Hot Gay Personal Trainer". Between the two of us I think my situation is less incriminating. :D

Ryan - Thanks! And thanks for not posting pictures of guys in speedos in my journal! :tu:

bg - Hmm...didn't try to use the iPod and the new iTunes together. :confused: I don't auto-synch and use YAMiPod (http://www.yamipod.com/main/modules/home/) for my file manager.

Ok I hear people slam itunes all the time. i have no issue with it but maybe its because I dont realize what else is out there. Sell me on YAMiPod. What makes it so much better? I looked at the site but I didnt get a hard on over it.

Philly - Whatever. Now your server admin has a log of you GIS'ing "Hot Gay Personal Trainer". Between the two of us I think my situation is less incriminating. :D

Ryan - Thanks! And thanks for not posting pictures of guys in speedos in my journal! :tu:

pictures? what pictures? evidence removed... now off to crash the server here at work... nothing to see here, move along... :whistle:

Ryan - Thanks! And thanks for not posting pictures of guys in speedos in my journal! :tu:

No problem man!

Sorry also to hear about the dog, was it yours or your room-mates? Sorry I was not tracking too well as I reviewed the last page or so of your journal. Anyway, sorry to hear about that loss...I am sure it is difficult for all involved.

bg - I've got no beef with iTunes. I still use it for the store occasionally. The reason I use YAMiPod is so that I can copy my music from the 'Pod to the computer. I've got my songs backed up on three machines and used YAMiPod to do it. That's all.

philly - Server admins can usually be bribed with pizza and/or beer. :nod:

Ryan - Thanks for the condolences. Max was my roommate's dog.

Sorry about the dog... :(

My ex-husband was constantly accosted in the gym showers by gay men.... This was back in the 1980's in Houston which at the time had the 4th largest gay population in the US. And I think gay men were far more conscious of their physiques and worked out in gyms compared to straight men. Both my husband and I were viewed a little weird to be working out at the gym. I was motivated to do so by a gay male friend of mine who was sort of a body builder type and I dragged my husband along. The experiences so turned him off he stopped going (he was a runner so it was not like he was a couch potato slob.) I was one of 5 women members at the gym. Originally the women's floor was pretty large and expansive. But when the remodeled they squeezed us into this tiny corner. We were not allowed to go into the men's section. I was mostly using Nautilus type equipment. I eventually stopped going because the experience was too unwelcoming.

Sorry about the dog... :(

My ex-husband was constantly accosted in the gym showers by gay men.... This was back in the 1980's in Houston which at the time had the 4th largest gay population in the US. And I think gay men were far more conscious of their physiques and worked out in gyms compared to straight men. Both my husband and I were viewed a little weird to be working out at the gym. I was motivated to do so by a gay male friend of mine who was sort of a body builder type and I dragged my husband along. The experiences so turned him off he stopped going (he was a runner so it was not like he was a couch potato slob.) I was one of 5 women members at the gym. Originally the women's floor was pretty large and expansive. But when the remodeled they squeezed us into this tiny corner. We were not allowed to go into the men's section. I was mostly using Nautilus type equipment. I eventually stopped going because the experience was too unwelcoming.

That is hard to imagine! The whole segregated gym and the gym is only for gay men concept.

No posts since 8am PST :confused:

It's like there's sagebrush bouncing along the road...

:whistle: [enter mournful whistling soundtrack here]

Silver - Decided to be social instead of spending the night in front of my computer. It was a very good evening. I look forward to more like it. :nod:

sfc - Nice get! :lol:

I couldn't get my heartrate up for cardio this morning! After ten minutes at 18/20 resistance on the elliptical I was still only bumping around 132, though I was feelin' it in my shoulders, quads, and ass. Flicked it up to 20/20 and increased my cadence from 50 rpm to 64 rpm. Since I'd lagged at the start I didn't slow down or drop resistance when my heartrate hit 150. When it hit 155 I knocked the resistance back to 18/20. With 10 minutes to go I said fuckit and cranked it back up, spiking my heartrate at 168.

Though I only averaged 142 for the entire session, it was a great feeling to actually work at cardio again. LISS is very relaxing and I do enjoy it...but I honestly don't think it does a goddamn thing for me in the realm of fat loss. For fat loss purposes and my metabolism, LISS is a waste of time. I'm done with it. Back to higher-intensity stuff. LISS may be preserving muscle but it's preserving fat too. Time for some HISS.

Boy am I ever in a shitball of a mood. :mad:

Though I only averaged 142 for the entire session, it was a great feeling to actually work at cardio again. LISS is very relaxing and I do enjoy it...but I honestly don't think it does a goddamn thing for me in the realm of fat loss. For fat loss purposes and my metabolism, LISS is a waste of time. I'm done with it. Back to higher-intensity stuff. LISS may be preserving muscle but it's preserving fat too. Time for some HISS.



Oooooh, don't let SC see that! :nono:


Bad mood? SGX is almost over and you can go back to being your chipper old self. You DO have a "chipper old self", don't you? :confused:

Bad mood? SGX is almost over and you can go back to being your chipper old self. You DO have a "chipper old self", don't you? :confused:

I could've sworn it's out there somewhere. I keep thinking in this whole quest for self-improvement I'm gonna do something that'll uncover it. Maybe not. :(

Oooooh, don't let SC see that! :nono:


Bad mood? SGX is almost over and you can go back to being your chipper old self. You DO have a "chipper old self", don't you? :confused:

tut tut ...no Silver i dont believe he does

but one thing he does have .. is verbal diarrhea! god it's real tough to keep a track of these posts. anyways, i think you preempted the whole thing with Sue.. i dont think she s seeing anyone else (unless you already established that somewhere earlier)... she' s probably just trying to match wits with you, or keep you guessing

real sorry about the dog

I could've sworn it's out there somewhere. I keep thinking in this whole quest for self-improvement I'm gonna do something that'll uncover it. Maybe not. :(

I think we see it often enough that I'm pretty sure it exists.

COME BACK TO US, CHIPPER OLD M@! :lol: :rolleyes: :whistle:

tut tut ...no Silver i dont believe he does

Then you need to work on your attention-span. :nod:

Granted, it must be difficult living in PARADISE! I don't know what tropical setting lies behind you in your avatar but palm trees, cerulean ocean, and a Diesel t-shirt belies someone whose lifestyle accomodates blissful leisure. Take advantage and don't worry about whether or not I'm fulfilling my quota of mediocrity today. :tu:

but one thing he does have .. is verbal diarrhea!

A Google Image Search of "cerulean" brings up this as the sixth result:

http://www.foolserrand.com/funneh/graphic/infltaur.gif

i dont think she s seeing anyone else (unless you already established that somewhere earlier)...

Wasn't established earlier...as far as this journal is concerned. When we were in our initial frenzy of correspondence she mentioned that her brother was trying to hook her up with a friend of his. The day they were supposed to meet was the day her initiation of contact stopped. She'd been to see a play, a musical, and had gone on a cruise on the potomac in the times that I'd talked to her after that...not really solo adventures. I extrapolated, guessed, and was unfortunately right.

Thanks for the condolences re: Max. He was a good boy.

COME BACK TO US, CHIPPER OLD M@!

I'm here. It's going to be an interesting evening. :nod:

I'm here. It's going to be an interesting evening. :nod:

:lol: Can't wait! :tu:

The day they were supposed to meet was the day her initiation of contact stopped. She'd been to see a play, a musical, and had gone on a cruise on the potomac in the times that I'd talked to her after that...not really solo adventures. I extrapolated, guessed, and was unfortunately right.


sorry about that... bad assessment on my part! she was double playing you.. i say good riddance to bad rubbish ...

Take advantage and don't worry about whether or not I'm fulfilling my quota of mediocrity today. :tu:

are you discouraging me from following your journal :confused: ... cant help it, i'm fascinated by mediocrity ... i'm studying it!

Silver - I should have copied you on all my half-replies. Things that I cancelled before hitting submit. You would've enjoyed it.

Abigail - If you're fascinated by mediocrity you've come to the right place. :nod:

I went to a bar to watch the World Cup finals and the Boston/CWS game simultaneously. My bartender, Lindsey, was one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. I immediately wanted to ask her out and I should have. Instead I talked myself out of it, thinking that it'd be too awkward to be there for three hours after getting turned down right off the bat. Bad decision. The game ended and she disappeared. Out the door without an opportunity to get anything going.

It may work out okay. My best friend from Pittsburgh may be coming into town next weekend and there's another bartender at this place who fits his "ideal" perfectly. Maybe I'll get another chance at Lindsey then. Let's hope.

I woke up this morning and the last thing on earth I wanted to do was work out. I didn't want to skip my cardio session, but didn't want to do it, either. Wound up shutting off my alarm and sleeping in for two whole hours. When I woke up I was pumped and just wanted to run. Walked Orion and went to the gym.

Ran for 45:00 at a 10:48/Mile pace. The bad news is that that time is almost double what I used to be able to run a mile in. THe good news is that I could've kept the pace 'til they shut the freaking gym down.

There's the voice in my head saying, "You could shave 2:30 off of your mile-time TOMORROW!" That's the voice that yells at me to run past people and put the heels into anybody that thinks they're going to catch me from behind in a race. There's also a more experienced voice which says, "You could shave time, but forget about actually running in the race this fall. If you push too hard you'll injure yourself and will have to give it all up."

I don't know how I'm going to do it. This morning felt absolutely fantastic. I'm still running high off of the endorphins. More is better, right? Might as well push it 'til the ligaments tear off the bone, huh? :nod:

Yeah...I'm still figuring this out. :rolleyes:

Yeah...I'm still figuring this out. :rolleyes:
I get pumped up about a lot of different sports/physical activities. The main ones have been running, rock climbing and soccer. It always seems that whatever a particular repetitive injury a sport is known for, I develop it. It's like my mind/will is always way stronger than my body and I do too much too soon with everything.

Ran for 45:00 at a 10:48/Mile pace. The bad news is that that time is almost double what I used to be able to run a mile in. THe good news is that I could've kept the pace 'til they shut the freaking gym down.

There's the voice in my head saying, "You could shave 2:30 off of your mile-time TOMORROW!" That's the voice that yells at me to run past people and put the heels into anybody that thinks they're going to catch me from behind in a race. There's also a more experienced voice which says, "You could shave time, but forget about actually running in the race this fall. If you push too hard you'll injure yourself and will have to give it all up."

I don't know how I'm going to do it. This morning felt absolutely fantastic. I'm still running high off of the endorphins. More is better, right? Might as well push it 'til the ligaments tear off the bone, huh? :nod:

Yeah...I'm still figuring this out. :rolleyes:

How many days a week are you running? How many miles a week are you putting in?

I may not be the best to advise you, as I've never run an actual race, so this is just a suggestion to hopefully help give you more to think about while figuring it all out ...

Keep some of your runs at your current pace. Focus on your form. Your footstrike, your stride length, your posture (carriage), arm swing, and head position are all extremely important.

To improve your speed, you probably need to run faster at least sometimes. Cut your distance in half sometimes and increase your speed, or run the same amount with rest intervals breaking up the miles. Either way, you'll be training your body to run faster. Listen to your body! Use lower impact machines for cross training so you don't overtrain and can still improve cardio function.

There's also some bounding drills you can do that help with increasing speed and strength (yes, for endurance athletes too). Drills such as skipping, jumping, and "fire feet" (that's what we called them in vball, I'm not sure what they're really called, but it's where you stand with good posture, moving your feet as fast as you can while pumping your arms and staying in the same spot), anyway, they're all good for runners.

Hope I helped. Double check my input, though. I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself because of my lack of experience. Good luck!!

homer - I've never had a really serious injury from running but the only times I've ever really run I've been heavily supervised. I'm kind of doing this on my own and my inclination is to run all the time. :confused:

bellezza - This is the plan that I'm looking at right now:

Planning to run a 5K 12 weeks from now and put in a time under 25:00 (about 8:00/mile).

Progressing from 6 miles a week to 18 miles the week before the race.

Tuesdays - Training run starting at 10:48/mile pace (2 miles)

Thursdays - Speedwork (< 8:00/mile 800's/1600's) / Tempo run (9:00/mile) alternating weeks starting in week 3, first two weeks this is another training run.

Saturdays - Long run at Training Run pace.

After the first two weeks, plan to cut 00:12/mile off of starting paces every week.

I know that's a very good training plan and would probably enable me to hit my goal without injury. My issue is that I want to keep doing mid-to-high intensity cardio every day. Running just feels good (right now) and I kind of want to keep running on "off" days...but don't think I should do that much running. That'd be...like...22 miles in the first week alone. :eek:

That's just asking for trouble when you consider that I haven't done any real running in over two years.

My worst outside 5K was 26:58 and that was having never run a 5K before and smoking a pack a day. My best was 19:38 around the Naval Academy grounds. I've heard that a perfect score on the running portion of the Marine Physical Fitness Test is 18:00 for 3 miles. That would be a really cool goal to hit. I was trying to get it when training in Annapolis but came up almost a full minute short.

Maybe I could hit it with clean lungs! :D

Hrrrmmm.

Okay, I thought to myself last night, "Hey...you used to do HIIT on your off-training days to work on cardio without building up the mileage. Why not do that again?" "Genius!" I thought immediately thereafter. Got up this morning all pumped to do some pyramid HIIT on the treadmill.

The exercise went great, but now the outside of my left knee is very, very hot. That's a bad sign. It's an old snowboarding injury. I don't think I tweaked it and if I don't push too hard it'll settle down, but I can't be aggravating my joints like that and still expect to train.

The plan is that I'll do HIIT for aerobic conditioning on the days I'm not specifically training to run For the first couple of weeks I'll be doing some other form of exercise for than running. I'm thinking probably elliptical would be the best. I burn my quads too badly on the bike or the stairmaster when I try to nail those high heartrates.

The great thing about HIIT is getting in, getting a great workout in, having time to stretch, and still getting out of the gym fifteen to twenty minutes earlier than normal.

The bad thing is that even after the cool down, stretching, and shower I'm still sweating. :rolleyes: It's almost stopped now, so that's cool.

Got some more online dating contacts last night. I officially didn't accomplish a goddamn thing on my to-do list this weekend. I'm procrastinatey like that.

It's amazing how fast bad habits can creep back in. I stayed up too late last night just 'cause my mind was racing. Aimlessly surfed the 'net and watched the Astros/Cardinals game to its conclusion.

I posted in sfc's journal that when I was getting fat I'd convinced myself that the dryer was shrinking my jeans. I just realized this morning that I'd convinced myself the gym was getting bigger towels. :lol:

I used to barely be able to get one of the gym towels around my waist. Now I've got four inches of material or so to tuck in when I'm getting ready for the shower. That's pretty cool. The weight loss has made such a huge difference in my running. I'm really tempted to get a couple of 15 lb dumbbells and see if running a 5K feels like it did when I was 220.

Probably not the best idea for my knees. :p

M@ - here's a link which should give you a pretty good schedule for the 5K if you have twelve weeks to train.

http://www.halhigdon.com/5K%20Training/5-Kinter.htm

I'd say you are probably ready for the intermediate program which I linked... the beginner program is more for people with little to no running experience.

M@ - here's a link which should give you a pretty good schedule for the 5K if you have twelve weeks to train.

Thanks Phil! I figured you'd chime in on this topic. :D :tu:

The link looks very similar to the program I'm planning already, but with about 40% more mileage. Since it's an 8-week program I think I'll start off with the low-volume conditioning I've got planned and then switch over after 4 weeks if I feel it's safe. :nod:

I'm going to be proofreading my posts for positivity from now on. I think a great deal of my recent angst has been my outlook itself and in the interest of improving my mental health as well as my physical well-being I'm going to cheer the fuck up! :D

Life is very, very good. I want to make it better, but that's no reason to lose sight of how much things have improved so far. :tu:

I'm going to be proofreading my posts for positivity from now on. I think a great deal of my recent angst has been my outlook itself and in the interest of improving my mental health as well as my physical well-being I'm going to cheer the fuck up! :D

Good idea. Recently I was thinking I got lost and took a wrong turn into Bluestreaks journal.

Good idea. Recently I was thinking I got lost and took a wrong turn into Bluestreaks journal.

Good christ! :eek: Had it really gotten that bad? :confused:

I'm going to have to go back and read this stuff at some point. :nod:

Good frame of mind, M@ :) We all get like that from time to time, sometimes it's due to an underlying physiological abnormality, like depression, and sometimes it's just a natural low point and you're in a funk mood cause of some crappy life circumstances (I'm in one of those right now). But that doesnt mean you cant take stock, look at things logically and positively, and see the good that is there and the accomplishments you've made. My little brother sponsors a kid in Africa for instance, and he said it's really impacted who he is and the way he looks at the world. (I'm about to sign up to sponsor a lady in a war torn country ---- Afghanistan, Kosovo, Africa, etc.)

Hope you have a good day, M@ :tu: :)

I'm going to be proofreading my posts for positivity from now on.

Great -- I guess it's time to find someone else's pain to wallow in?

:whistle:

M@, I really enjoy your journal...you dont come across as overly negative to me...just "real" (?)

Props on training for your 5k, I was supposed to run one a couple weeks ago, but it got rained out...I am thinking about getting set up for another one.

This comment:

There's the voice in my head saying, "You could shave 2:30 off of your mile-time TOMORROW!" That's the voice that yells at me to run past people and put the heels into anybody that thinks they're going to catch me from behind in a race.

It reminds me of the voice mentioned in DFD that tells you to throw your drink in someone's face when they are talking to you...dont know if you remember that part or not, but it made me chuckle when I read it! :lol:

Naturegirl - Maybe altruism would help. I need to look into more volunteer programs or just get my ass to a Habitat session next weekend. :p Thanks for the good wishes. ;)

Coachese - You'll still get your quota of pain, mania, and sarcasm here. I just want to remember the good things as well. I promise to keep the hugging and learning to a minimum. :nod:

Ryan - I'm actually a pretty staggeringly positive person. I think it started to turn when I lost my job but Clare may have been to blame. Anyway, I miss the old outlook and want it back. Just another excellent thing to strive for.

What's DFD? The acronym's not jumping out at me. :confused:

Naturegirl - Maybe altruism would help. I need to look into more volunteer programs or just get my ass to a Habitat session next weekend. :p Thanks for the good wishes. ;)

Coachese - You'll still get your quota of pain, mania, and sarcasm here. I just want to remember the good things as well. I promise to keep the hugging and learning to a minimum. :nod:

Ryan - I'm actually a pretty staggeringly positive person. I think it started to turn when I lost my job but Clare may have been to blame. Anyway, I miss the old outlook and want it back. Just another excellent thing to strive for.

What's DFD? The acronym's not jumping out at me. :confused:

Delivered From Distraction :tu:

Delivered From Distraction :tu:

:lol:

Wow, no I hadn't remembered that line or really had it resonate when I first read it, but now it all makes sense.

Yes, that voice in my head that tells me to do ridiculous things simply because they're very interesting. :D :lol: :nod:

Assuming you follow through with your plan to train for four weeks and then pick up the eight week Higdon program I sent you, what weekend does that "practice" 5K fall on (I believe it's week four of the Higdon)?

The 5K test on the Higdon program is week 4, which would be my week 8, or Sunday, September 3rd.

The 5K test on the Higdon program is week 4, which would be my week 8, or Sunday, September 3rd.

Which would be Labor Day weekend. I'm supposed to run a five miler on Saturday that weekend, a twelve miler on Sunday that weekend, and have the day off from running on that Monday.

But what the hell... look around for a 5k race down around there that weekend and I'll put it on my schedule and work around everything else. Don't book it yet though.

Or if you want to get out of town, there are a couple of good races at the Jersey Shore... a 7m or 5k race on that Sunday in Avalon, and a 5k on that Monday in Ocean City... I just put in an e-mail to my buddy who has the beach house in Wildwood to see if it's being used that weekend.

But what the hell... look around for a 5k race down around there that weekend and I'll put it on my schedule and work around everything else. Don't book it yet though.

I'll see what's available. There's probably 20 different 5K's to choose from that weekend within a 50 mile radius. Considering I need to save $10,000 by January I'm eliminating extraneous travel. So no go for me on the Jersey Shore deal.

There's a fresh-faced little blonde in my office who I know is a runner. I just ran into her in the break room and asked her if she could recommend one of the billion running clubs in the area. She couldn't, but it turns out that she's a triathelete. What is it with this sport? It's like all I hear about anymore. Nobody just wants to run or bike.

Extreme!

One thing at a time. I'm not entering any triathalons this summer. :rolleyes:

What is it with this sport? It's like all I hear about anymore. Nobody just wants to run or bike.

I would bike or swim. Screw running you crazy nuts. Im too tender. Need low impact. I bike and swim and you do the running part. We could win a lot of triathalons.

I would bike or swim. Screw running you crazy nuts. Im too tender. Need low impact. I bike and swim and you do the running part. We could win a lot of triathalons.

That's what we need [sarcasm] is a JSF Triathlon Relay Team [/sarcasm off]

EDIT: I couldn't figure out how to say this next thing without including myself, and making me sound like a hand job (like that has ever stopped me before now though....)

Screw running you crazy nuts.

Believe me, I hear you. As a general rule I despise cardio. I do, however, like the way it feels when I stop and it has a great deal of health and aesthetic benefit.

That's why I run. It's more efficient. I feel about as burnt from 20 minutes running as I do from an hour on the bike. As a result: I choose the shorter of the two exercises. :nod:

Believe me, I hear you. As a general rule I despise cardio. I do, however, like the way it feels when I stop and it has a great deal of health and aesthetic benefit.

That's why I run. It's more efficient. I feel about as burnt from 20 minutes running as I do from an hour on the bike. As a result: I choose the shorter of the two exercises. :nod:

I could pump out 20 minutes on the bike that would rival the running easy. I would have to target hills though. Correct me if I am wrong but the safe places to ride a bike by you are pretty flat.

I could pump out 20 minutes on the bike that would rival the running easy.

It's not very hilly around here, but not too flat either. I've never been able to reproduce the exhaustion of running with another exercise, especially biking. Swimming's come close.

It's not very hilly around here, but not too flat either. I've never been able to reproduce the exhaustion of running with another exercise, especially biking. Swimming's come close.

Maybe thats why I hate it. Maybe I have not run enough.

Maybe thats why I hate it. Maybe I have not run enough.

Possibly. No marathoner's going to compete with a professional cyclist in heart size, V02Max, or RHR as far as I know. So there's definetly incredible cardiovascular benefit to be had from the sport, and it's fun. It just seems you've got to spend more time in the saddle than I'm willing to alot.

It just seems you've got to spend more time in the saddle than I'm willing to alot.

Yep... that there's the truth. I've heard it takes seven miles of cycling to replicate the benefits of one mile of running. Three miles of running = 30 minutes. Equal amount of cycling = 21 miles @ 14mph = 90 minutes.

PUFF, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee

I've heard it takes seven miles of cycling to replicate the benefits of one mile of running. Three miles of running = 30 minutes. Equal amount of cycling = 21 miles @ 14mph = 90 minutes.

Jumping crap! No wonder cyclists have better cardiovascular systems. By that calculation, the Tour would be the equivalent of running 310 miles in 2 weeks! :eek:

So no go for me on the Jersey Shore deal.

Well, if you decide you want to change your mind, my buddy said I can have the three bedroom apartment in Wildwood for that weekend (no cost). So what would it be... a couple tanks of gas in the bike and some food (which you would have to eat anyway, even if you stayed home)? Sun and surf all day (with a couple of good running races in the mix) and cruising the boardwalk at night for some non-alcohol based amusement in the evenings. Think about it...

when's the race, philly?

when's the race, philly?

We're talking about Labor Day weekend...

We're talking about Labor Day weekend...
Crap, brother in law getting married that weekend.

Think about it...

I will. While these room-provided trips always sound like a bargain they invariably cost a hell of a lot more than staying at home. Still...it's tempting (and is also the reason I don't own my own home yet). I'll keep it in mind. :tu:

I've only got one more day on SGX and then a week off from weight training.

Thank freaking god!

There had to have been thirty people in the weight room tonight, and that place would be crowded with fifteen. I was doing my dumbbell shrugs in the Pro-Spot 'cause it was the only three square feet of floorspace available. Thank goodness nobody knows how to use that f'ing thing. :lol:

I haven't missed a workout since January 18th and I only recognized three people tonight. I think the reason I've never noticed a July surge at a gym before is 'cause I always used to go in the mornings. Considering I saw three people in there this morning, the surge does not apply to early risers. I am so looking forward to getting up, walking Ri, eating breakfast, and going to lift. :bb:

Tomorrow's the first official day of my running training and my last SGX workout. I've been killing the workouts in this final week. My back is completely exhausted from tonight's session and I'm going to sleep like the dead.

Gonna clean up dinner dishes and crash. :sleep:

Yep... that there's the truth. I've heard it takes seven miles of cycling to replicate the benefits of one mile of running. Three miles of running = 30 minutes. Equal amount of cycling = 21 miles @ 14mph = 90 minutes.


wtf? who rides that slow?

wtf? who rides that slow?

If I'm riding my cross-training bike, 14mph average speed over a 90 minute ride is a good workout.

Then again, I think the same way about people who run ten minute miles. :D

I shouldn't judge, really. If I ride about 15 - 16 in my neighbourhood I'm pretty happy.

14 just seems slow over an extended period.

Yep... that there's the truth. I've heard it takes seven miles of cycling to replicate the benefits of one mile of running. Three miles of running = 30 minutes. Equal amount of cycling = 21 miles @ 14mph = 90 minutes.

I want to run again,,, maybe Rcokin Mama can give me pointers for protecting my back.. 2 surgeries but that was 13 years ago....

Hey, it's only 16 mph slower than the riders in the Tour are pulling on the Trials. :eek:

PS: Kiss my 10:42 minute/mile ass, Philly. :mad: Gimme a season to get my legs back and we'll burn some pavement. :cool:

Got a lot of work to do today and a client meeting. I'm all dressed up (collared shirt and slacks)! I actually like getting dressed for work. Makes me feel like I've got an important job. There's so many attorneys and doctors in this area and I've already got a complex about being the only person in my family without a postgraduate degree.

I want to do a better job here. I'm the tech lead on this project and I feel that my developers are doing a better job than I am. It makes me look good that they're efficient and thorough, but I can be doing a better job with my own specific tasks and I want to make that happen. It'll mean less JSF time and that's probably a good thing too.

Ryan mentioned the voice in an ADD'ers head that tells them to do ridiculous things because they're interesting. It makes me wonder if that has been a factor in my bad moods recently. I can't stop thinking about negative things unless I've got something interesting to do. Yesterday instead of trying to ferret out a particularly bizzare problem with one of our applications (i.e. boring) I Googled Clare's name (i.e. sickeningly interesting) and had to shove my heart back down my throat as it returned a wedding registry site. It was a different Clare, but that killed about a half hour of time with my brain leaping and diving into possibilities and making me feel like utter crap.

In short, I'm wondering if I've been so upset/annoyed recently because I'm bored. :confused: It'd be great if all it took to improve my overall mood was getting more interested in my daily life. I'm looking for ways to make that happen.

My dog gets destructive when he's bored. Get him some toys and play games with him, he'll cherish the things and guard them like babies. Stop playing with him for a couple of days and he'll tear them apart in a disinterested fit of pique.

Running went great this morning. I breezed through the 2 miles at the projected pace and my legs feel energized. The comment I made yesterday about carrying a pair of 15 lb dumbbells hit me while I was on the 'mill: It makes perfect sense that LISS lost its effectiveness for me since I'm carring 30lbs less weight! I didn't do anything to increase my perceived effort in the course of the past three months, just maintained my 75% MHR target. I'll bet if I carried a pair of dumbbells it'd return to being an effective method of exercise. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow?

Final SGX lifting session tonight! Pictures tomorrow. I'm still bloated from the weekend and wonder if they'll look better than my week 10 photos. :confused:

They'll look better than my Week 0 photos, fo sho! :D

May or may not have a date tonight. I've tentative plans. :D

wtf? who rides that slow?

Me.

Running went great this morning. I breezed through the 2 miles at the projected pace and my legs feel energized. The comment I made yesterday about carrying a pair of 15 lb dumbbells hit me while I was on the 'mill: It makes perfect sense that LISS lost its effectiveness for me since I'm carring 30lbs less weight! I didn't do anything to increase my perceived effort in the course of the past three months, just maintained my 75% MHR target. I'll bet if I carried a pair of dumbbells it'd return to being an effective method of exercise. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow?

I've considered walking with weights myself, since I'm carrying a bit less bodyweight now too. But after reading up on it, it seems the risks outweigh the benefits. Articles like this are pretty typical of the warnings (http://www.adventuresportsonline.com/weights-walk.htm):
Long story short: Don't do it. In most cases, carrying weights burns only a fraction more calories, while setting you up for potential injury because your natural walking movement gets thrown askew, ligaments and tendons are weakened and stretched, or blood pressure increases from gripping the handweights.

Other articles (Google / Google.Groups for "walking with weights") suggest that if you do want to try it, use a backpack with evenly distributed weight, or perhaps a weighted vest. Using dumbells could injure your upper body.

PS: Kiss my 10:42 minute/mile ass, Philly. :mad: Gimme a season to get my legs back and we'll burn some pavement. :cool:

No worries mate... it wasn't directed at you. Just a general observation that what seems like a lot to some people is nothing to others. Same can be said for the bench press, or the paycheck, or the naughty bits.

The comment I made yesterday about carrying a pair of 15 lb dumbbells hit me while I was on the 'mill: It makes perfect sense that LISS lost its effectiveness for me since I'm carring 30lbs less weight! I didn't do anything to increase my perceived effort in the course of the past three months, just maintained my 75% MHR target. I'll bet if I carried a pair of dumbbells it'd return to being an effective method of exercise. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow?


Ask Zen about it. I notice he often wears a 35 lb vest.

Plus, I guess it works for the armed forces :)

Ecrivain - Hrmmm...yeah, that makes sense considering I'll often get shoulder fatigue on long runs. :confused: Thanks for the warning. I'm not gonna be buying a weight vest anytime soon so I guess I'll stick with the increased intensity. :nod:

Philly - Get stuffed. I remain jealous of your speed. :D It's friggin' hard to keep myself from trying to run fast. :lol:

Plus, I guess it works for the armed forces :)

One of the coolest things I ever experienced: My cousin and I are at the Boston Marathon 'cause our buddy Pete's running in it. The leaders go by our spot on the course, then the intermediates, then the larger portion of the pack. It dwindles off a bit and Pete goes through with the stragglers. My cousin and I yell ourselves hoarse. Then he's gone and it's just a couple of folks every few minutes, all lookin' half dead.

We're ready to go and this dull buzzing starts coming from behind us, down a hill. The buzz grows to a low roar and we realize it's just all the spectators yelling and cheering. Everybody who was ready to leave is now watching to see what comes over that hill. Then we saw it. The tops of two standards, waving back and forth coming up over the rise. Then staffs with Old Glory flying from one and a military designation (unit?) off the other. Finally two soldiers in BDU's, packs, combat boots, the works, come over the hill running in step and holding the flags high.

Everybody went batshit insane. Yelling, screaming, cheering. I don't know how on earth these guys could've run the entire marathon in all that gear and figure they had to be part of a relay squad or something. An absolutely incredible sight. :tu:

If you have a regular backpack, you could try that with some plates in it. If there isn't enough padding, wrap 'em in a towel or something.

Or, better yet, fill up some bags with sand...

You might get some funny looks, but screw 'em.

I used a pack when I started weighting dips and pullups before buying a dip belt.

Cool story, though.

One of the coolest things I ever experienced: My cousin and I are at the Boston Marathon 'cause our buddy Pete's running in it. The leaders go by our spot on the course, then the intermediates, then the larger portion of the pack. It dwindles off a bit and Pete goes through with the stragglers. My cousin and I yell ourselves hoarse. Then he's gone and it's just a couple of folks every few minutes, all lookin' half dead.

We're ready to go and this dull buzzing starts coming from behind us, down a hill. The buzz grows to a low roar and we realize it's just all the spectators yelling and cheering. Everybody who was ready to leave is now watching to see what comes over that hill. Then we saw it. The tops of two standards, waving back and forth coming up over the rise. Then staffs with Old Glory flying from one and a military designation (unit?) off the other. Finally two soldiers in BDU's, packs, combat boots, the works, come over the hill running in step and holding the flags high.

Everybody went batshit insane. Yelling, screaming, cheering. I don't know how on earth these guys could've run the entire marathon in all that gear and figure they had to be part of a relay squad or something. An absolutely incredible sight. :tu:


that's really cool.. thanks for sharing that :tucool:

The tops of two standards, waving back and forth coming up over the rise. Then staffs with Old Glory flying from one and a military designation (unit?) off the other. Finally two soldiers in BDU's, packs, combat boots, the works, come over the hill running in step and holding the flags high.

That's awesome! :claplow: :claplow:

One of the coolest things I ever experienced: My cousin and I are at the Boston Marathon 'cause our buddy Pete's running in it. The leaders go by our spot on the course, then the intermediates, then the larger portion of the pack. It dwindles off a bit and Pete goes through with the stragglers. My cousin and I yell ourselves hoarse. Then he's gone and it's just a couple of folks every few minutes, all lookin' half dead.

We're ready to go and this dull buzzing starts coming from behind us, down a hill. The buzz grows to a low roar and we realize it's just all the spectators yelling and cheering. Everybody who was ready to leave is now watching to see what comes over that hill. Then we saw it. The tops of two standards, waving back and forth coming up over the rise. Then staffs with Old Glory flying from one and a military designation (unit?) off the other. Finally two soldiers in BDU's, packs, combat boots, the works, come over the hill running in step and holding the flags high.

Everybody went batshit insane. Yelling, screaming, cheering. I don't know how on earth these guys could've run the entire marathon in all that gear and figure they had to be part of a relay squad or something. An absolutely incredible sight. :tu:

Goosebumps...

I have always thought about joining the armed forces just for the conditioning aspect of it. I am pretty sure I would be able to hit my peak potential in terms of physique and physical ability in an environment like that...an environment very different from my current office as described in my journal this morning!

Goosebumps...

I have always thought about joining the armed forces just for the conditioning aspect of it. I am pretty sure I would be able to hit my peak potential in terms of physique and physical ability in an environment like that...an environment very different from my current office as described in my journal this morning!

bum-de-dum-dum

bum-de-dum-dum

What, you want a piece of this biznatch!?:moon:

The comment I made yesterday about carrying a pair of 15 lb dumbbells hit me while I was on the 'mill: It makes perfect sense that LISS lost its effectiveness for me since I'm carring 30lbs less weight! I didn't do anything to increase my perceived effort in the course of the past three months, just maintained my 75% MHR target. I'll bet if I carried a pair of dumbbells it'd return to being an effective method of exercise. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow?

Holy shit. That's genius. I'm trying that tomorrow. I'm going to take my backpack to the gym, and look like some asshole stealing plates. :lol: Will post a trip-report on this in the morning.

- Matt.

Ryan mentioned the voice in an ADD'ers head that tells them to do ridiculous things because they're interesting. It makes me wonder if that has been a factor in my bad moods recently. I can't stop thinking about negative things unless I've got something interesting to do. Yesterday instead of trying to ferret out a particularly bizzare problem with one of our applications (i.e. boring) I Googled Clare's name (i.e. sickeningly interesting) and had to shove my heart back down my throat as it returned a wedding registry site. It was a different Clare, but that killed about a half hour of time with my brain leaping and diving into possibilities and making me feel like utter crap.

In short, I'm wondering if I've been so upset/annoyed recently because I'm bored. :confused: It'd be great if all it took to improve my overall mood was getting more interested in my daily life. I'm looking for ways to make that happen.

My dog gets destructive when he's bored. Get him some toys and play games with him, he'll cherish the things and guard them like babies. Stop playing with him for a couple of days and he'll tear them apart in a disinterested fit of pique.




wow... oddly enough... our brains seem to work the same way... my imagination takes me all over the place when I'm bored and it's not usually down happy trails :p

Holy shit. That's genius. I'm trying that tomorrow. I'm going to take my backpack to the gym, and look like some asshole stealing plates. :lol: Will post a trip-report on this in the morning.

- Matt.

UPDATE: This didn't do shit for me except hurt my shoulders. :lol:

Matt - Thanks for bein' the guinea pig on that one. :lol:

Andy & Matt - This morning I cranked up the incline and started walking, like usual, but when I got above my THR zone I didn't back off the pace and just kept it steady throughout the entire session. It averaged out to 147 for the 45:00 but most of the latter half it was up around 151-153 and I sweat like a lawn sprinkler. This may be a good compromise.

Chameleon - It's such an asset most of the time! Being a creative, quick-thinking individual can really take you places. Unfortunately the boredom issue can get self-destructive. Gotta find a way make it constructive instead. :nod: I'll let you know if I every figure out a way to do that. :lol:

Ryan - I thought about joining the military when I was your age for a challenge and to inject enforced discipline in my life. I talked to recruiters and the chief NCO at Ft. Benning. I talked to friends who'd gone to one of the branches instead of college...and then usually college afterwards. Most influential was my talk with my father and my Uncle. They had this to say:

--
Dad (Capt. Infantry): "I would worry about you and be proud of you. I didn't want you to have to join the army and worked to send you to College instead, but I also worked to make you your own man. I'd feel better if you went if called, and found some other way to challenge yourself for now."

Uncle JR (Tank Commander): "I can see the appeal of wanting to challenge yourself physically and I think you'd love that part of it. I can also see the appeal of wanting to shut your brain off for a couple of years and just do whateverthehell you're told. But you shouldn't go, and I'll tell you why: In the Army, they have jails for people like you.

See, you're a bright, well-educated guy. You, like most in our family, don't suffer fools. What you're talking about doing will put you under the complete and total authority of some dumb motherfuckers.

I'm serious. You wouldn't trust these guys to open a can of tuna, let alone make life-and-death decisions involving you. These are the guys you're going to have to say 'Yessir/Nossir' to. You'll have to salute. You'll have to stand when they enter the room. You'll have to stand when their wife enters the room. And it'll burn your ass more and more every day.

And one day you'll pop off and tell one of these imbeciles exactly what he needs to hear. And then you'll be well and truly screwed. 'Cause it's the Army. Nobody cares if the guy's an idiot. If he outranks you, he's right and you're wrong. And you're fucked."
--

...and that changed my mind. I got involved in running 5K's and windsurfing instead. :D

It's the last day of SGX! I gotta take pictures tonight. I was thinking about doing it this morning but I had a late night last night and felt like sleeping in. I'm really looking forward to this week off of the weight training. I'm debating making it a week off of a nutrition plan as well. :confused:

I don't mean I'd go hog-wild, but just not plan/think about everything? I wonder if I'd immediately go back to all my old habits. That'd be a scary thought. :(

The date didn't work out last night. I called her up and she didn't want to go. She sounded miserable. Ugh. That's a bad sign for sure. It didn't bother me so much up until the sign-off:

K: "I'm sorry. I do want to go out with you. I'm just not feeling social tonight."
M@: "No problem. I feel that way myself sometimes. Tonight, however, I want to get out of the house so I'm gonna go and watch the game. ;) "
K: "Okay."
M@: "Take care. Feel better. I'll give you a call later in the week."
K: "Thanks.......please don't hold it against me. :( "
M@: "Err...I won't! G'night."

Please don't hold it against me? What is that? Honestly I wouldn't have thought twice about it if she'd just said she didn't want to go and asked for a raincheck. Please don't hold it against me set off sirens in my head like this is a girl with some baggage. I dunno...it's just...it seems like something someone with a really low self-esteem would say. Guys are taught from square one that dating is about confidence: Confidence, confidence, confidence. Confidence is sexy. Confidence is fun. I guess it's not exclusive to guys. How is it that I'm just figuring this out at age 31?

K's not confident and it's a pretty serious turnoff. Well...maybe not that she's not confident, but that she's the opposite of confident. :confused:

Aaaanyway! I watched most of the All-Star game by myself at a bar and hit on the bartender but got negged on her number. C'est la vie. Got home and there was a message from one of the online dating girls. It was the only girl I'd responded to who didn't provide a photo. She sent her regular email address and promised a photo if I responded to her there. I did and she sent the photo. Score! She's a tall, slender, attractive woman of Asian descent...looks to be Chinese. I get a good impression from our correspondence so far and am daring to be optimistic. :tu:

K: "I'm sorry. I do want to go out with you. I'm just not feeling social tonight."
M@: "No problem. I feel that way myself sometimes. Tonight, however, I want to get out of the house so I'm gonna go and watch the game. ;) "
K: "Okay."
M@: "Take care. Feel better. I'll give you a call later in the week."
K: "Thanks.......please don't hold it against me. :( "
M@: "Err...I won't! G'night."


Could be working from a place where other men HAVE held it against her if she declined a planned social engagement? As in: "The bitch stood me up, so I'm never calling her again." Or: "She had her chance and she blew it, so I'm waiting for her to make the first move now." Maybe: "I'll show her who's in charge... we'll see how she likes it when she's bound and gagged and riding in the trunk of my car on the way to the landfill."

Chameleon - It's such an asset most of the time! Being a creative, quick-thinking individual can really take you places. Unfortunately the boredom issue can get self-destructive. Gotta find a way make it constructive instead. :nod: I'll let you know if I every figure out a way to do that. :lol:


LOL... thanks :p


The date didn't work out last night. I called her up and she didn't want to go. She sounded miserable. Ugh. That's a bad sign for sure. It didn't bother me so much up until the sign-off:

K: "I'm sorry. I do want to go out with you. I'm just not feeling social tonight."
M@: "No problem. I feel that way myself sometimes. Tonight, however, I want to get out of the house so I'm gonna go and watch the game. ;) "
K: "Okay."
M@: "Take care. Feel better. I'll give you a call later in the week."
K: "Thanks.......please don't hold it against me. :( "
M@: "Err...I won't! G'night."

Please don't hold it against me? What is that? Honestly I wouldn't have thought twice about it if she'd just said she didn't want to go and asked for a raincheck. Please don't hold it against me set off sirens in my head like this is a girl with some baggage. I dunno...it's just...it seems like something someone with a really low self-esteem would say. Guys are taught from square one that dating is about confidence: Confidence, confidence, confidence. Confidence is sexy. Confidence is fun. I guess it's not exclusive to guys. How is it that I'm just figuring this out at age 31?

K's not confident and it's a pretty serious turnoff. Well...maybe not that she's not confident, but that she's the opposite of confident. :confused:


hmmm.... it may not be a lack of confidence, but her trying to make sure you don't think she was just blowing you off... I'd probably say something similar if I wanted to make sure the guy didn't think that (that I was blowing him off)... just a girls point of view ;)



Aaaanyway! I watched most of the All-Star game by myself at a bar and hit on the bartender but got negged on her number. C'est la vie. Got home and there was a message from one of the online dating girls. It was the only girl I'd responded to who didn't provide a photo. She sent her regular email address and promised a photo if I responded to her there. I did and she sent the photo. Score! She's a tall, slender, attractive woman of Asian descent...looks to be Chinese. I get a good impression from our correspondence so far and am daring to be optimistic. :tu:

kewl :tucool:

M@ that was a hell of an entry, could you summarize them in the beginning in the future. Sounds like you're in good humour though, so Cheers :tu: , how did that come out british?


Maybe: "I'll show her who's in charge... we'll see how she likes it when she's bound and gagged and riding in the trunk of my car on the way to the landfill."
Phillydude, you're out of control!

Could be working from a place where other men HAVE held it against her if she declined a planned social engagement? As in: "The bitch stood me up, so I'm never calling her again." Or: "She had her chance and she blew it, so I'm waiting for her to make the first move now." Maybe: "I'll show her who's in charge... we'll see how she likes it when she's bound and gagged and riding in the trunk of my car on the way to the landfill."

Now, I've never know a**holes like that ............not :lol: (well, not the trunk guy) But who wants to date 'em if they're like that?

Philly, Chameleon, & Justitia - If it had been said in a playful manner I don't think I would've minded either. It was just the gloominess inherent in the statement, like you could hear the black cloud rumbling to life over her head. Kinda scary. It's like I can envision a bitter, vitriolic email tomorrow if she hasn't heard from me. :eek:

gh - I get verbose. Feel free to skip long posts. It's unlikely I've said anything I'll even remember in a week's time. :nod:

http://www.foolserrand.com/funneh/graphic/lovedandlost.gif

http://www.foolserrand.com/funneh/graphic/lovedandlost.gif

:lol: :lol:

M@, whats up buddy! Hope your having a great day!

Remember no one is perfect...I have seen my uncle who is now 55 years old go through life looking for the "perfect mate" according to his standards...he now is basically beyond the point of no return in the marriage dept.

Ahem.... :nono:

My best friend just got married and she's 67.... And the # 1 thing on her and her new groom's mind is... well, you know.... :D

Hey, just dropped in to see how the hostile takeover was going. I should've known not to expect much from bigtalker:rolleyes:

Got home to an Arlington Co. parking ticket under the wiper of my truck last night. I was pretty pissed off about that but it was my own ignorance for not getting the VA safety inspection. I thought I had a month from registration, which still gives me two weeks. I was wrong. Whatever. I figured it'd be $40 stupid tax and would motivate me to get it done today. :rolleyes:

There was another on there this morning. :mad:

How asinine is that? Where the fuck am I going to get the truck inspected between 7pm and 7am? I'm contesting the 2nd ticket and will hope that someone in the beaurocracy is sane.

:jumping: :jumping: :jumping: :spaz: CEREAL FOR BREAKFAST!!! :spaz: :jumping: :jumping: :jumping:

God. It tastes like heaven. It feels so freaking good to put carbs in my body in the morning. It washes away the fury of the parking violations and makes me ready to face the day.

I slept in this morning. Went and got my training run in and only averaged 143 on the HRM over the course of the run. I wonder if that's an anomaly or if my cardiovascular system is already adapting to the increased load? :confused:

It felt like I was late getting into the office since I arrived about an hour and a half later than usual but it was still only 9:00 and I beat most of the other folks in.

SGX final pics are up. (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?p=346393#post346393) :flex:

I wonder if that's an anomaly or if my cardiovascular system is already adapting to the increased load? :confused:

I find that mine adapts to a more intense work load very quickly. Usually just after 2 sessions there is a noticable improvement in the heart rate meaning I have to work harder to get it up there.

Ahem.... :nono:

My best friend just got married and she's 67.... And the # 1 thing on her and her new groom's mind is... well, you know.... :D

I was afraid my comments might be taken in the wrong context, but I did not have time to clarify so I thought I would let the chips fall where they may...and they did...so I am glad you piped up!

When I say "Beyond the point of no return" I mean that my uncle has seemingly set his standards so high that what he is looking for is not out there anymore at his age or perhaps never was, yet despite years of searching he has not realized his standards might be too high or unrealistic...yet he keeps searching. I am all for marriage and romance at ANY age, as a matter of fact I hope that happens with him! However, at this point he would have to drastically change his "pre-reqs" for a relationship and come back from the point of no return. Some people also might decide they enjoy the single life over marriage/relationships anyways...perhaps that is many people's feelings, of which they have every right to hold. I dont know if that clarified anything extremely well, but hopefully it conveyed the gist of things. :confused: :lol:

bg - Definetly. I've found the same thing. Given the increased intensity of my cardio over the past five days I wouldn't be surprised if it was actually my system getting more efficient. I'm just concerned 'cause my legs and joints are not ready to start increasing the pace just yet. I think I'll give it one more session and if I'm registering < 144 over the course of 22:00 I'll start boosting the incline. That'll pump it right up without putting on extra miles or speed.

Ryan - Do you feel as though you had to lower your standards to marry your wife? :confused:

I understand your point, just don't agree with it. I'm not looking for someone perfect, just someone who makes me happy and whom I make just as happy. That hasn't happened yet. :(

Ryan - Do you feel as though you had to lower your standards to marry your wife? :confused:

I understand your point, just don't agree with it. I'm not looking for someone perfect, just someone who makes me happy and whom I make just as happy. That hasn't happened yet. :(


No, I dont feel that I lowered my standards at all, she is perfect for me and vice versa. Since I am sure what you said about looking for someone who makes you happy and that you can make just as happy is true I think you are right on! I think that is where the dichotomy occurred with my uncle, it was an issue of "does this person meet my standards and expectations fully?" and only when that occurred would he decide to reciprocate and carry out the latter of your comment of "making her just as happy". It would have been a relationship dependent on his needs/wants/expectations being met first before he reciprocated...if that makes sense? Perhaps we are closer to agreeing now? If we dont, we dont and that is C-O-O-L.

/Now I will delete anything I said about my uncle in case he ever reads this journal or comes to JSF...he is one of the most fit people I have ever met!

Hey, just dropped in to see how the hostile takeover was going. I should've known not to expect much from bigtalker:rolleyes:

SO I don't get this!? What's it in reference too? You guys... you got a lingo all of your own...:lol:

Ryanator: I took what you wrote in the spirit you meant it :nod: I just couldn't help doing a little tease....;)

Justitia - badgolfer said (in the VIP I believe) that he was planning to hijack and take over my journal. Apparently, he spotted something shiny and has forgotten all about that so all is well. :nod:

Ryan - Don't sweat it, I know where you're coming from. ;)

My truck passed the emissions inspection but failed the Safety inspection 'cause I've got a fog light out. I don't remember the last time I turned the fog lights on, but in VA if it's a light on the vehicle -- it has to work. If I were to actually remove the fog lights, it would pass inspection. :rolleyes:

Fortunately, there's a "Failed Inspection" sticker which they placed on the windshield and will stave off any additional tickets for 15 days. I'll get a replacement bulb for the fog light this weekend and take care of the inspection next week.

I'm loving the first day of my new nutrition plan. I can see this working well from a lifestyle standpoint. Need to go get some oats to keep around the office. Whole Foods sells 'em in bulk...meh...I'll get 'em tomorrow morning.

My truck passed the emissions inspection but failed the Safety inspection 'cause I've got a fog light out. I don't remember the last time I turned the fog lights on, but in VA if it's a light on the vehicle -- it has to work. If I were to actually remove the fog lights, it would pass inspection. :rolleyes:


Insane. If it isn't a federally required light for safety, it shouldn't matter if it works or is just for cosmetics.

Big government sucks.

Justitia - badgolfer said (in the VIP I believe) that he was planning to hijack and take over my journal. Apparently, he spotted something shiny and has forgotten all about that so all is well. :nod:

Ryan - Don't sweat it, I know where you're coming from. ;)

My truck passed the emissions inspection but failed the Safety inspection 'cause I've got a fog light out. I don't remember the last time I turned the fog lights on, but in VA if it's a light on the vehicle -- it has to work. If I were to actually remove the fog lights, it would pass inspection. :rolleyes:

Fortunately, there's a "Failed Inspection" sticker which they placed on the windshield and will stave off any additional tickets for 15 days. I'll get a replacement bulb for the fog light this weekend and take care of the inspection next week.

I'm loving the first day of my new nutrition plan. I can see this working well from a lifestyle standpoint. Need to go get some oats to keep around the office. Whole Foods sells 'em in bulk...meh...I'll get 'em tomorrow morning.

Not sweatin it...just wanted to make sure I clarified what I meant...sometimes it does not come out clearly in what I say.

word....:tu:

Hey M@ you're making some good progress :) You're in the home stretch pretty much, eh? Me too :) And just when I think you cant get anymore tanned, you do. I am totally envious :mad:

Oh man I am so gonna miss cereal :cry: I love steel cut oats and make them nice and chewy, but I adore the crunch of plain old cold bran cereal. Alas, that indulgence will be few and far between for the next several weeks.

Oh man I am so gonna miss cereal :cry: I love steel cut oats and make them nice and chewy, but I adore the crunch of plain old cold bran cereal. Alas, that indulgence will be few and far between for the next several weeks.
Eat your oats raw. :) I haven't cooked my oatmeal in at least 6 months. I eat it twice a day. It's good. Promise.

*Goes to get steel cut oats*
Hmm, not bad. A bit like crushed nuts! :)

Andy - Yeah the whole thing is kind of stupid. I'm really glad all I've got to do is replace a light, though. Would've sucked to get new brakes and whatnot. :nod:

Naturegirl - Totally down with George's suggestion on the Steel Cut Oats. I've cooked them *once*. Ever since, it's been straight crunchy raw oats for me. :tu:

Woke up at 4:30 am wide-awake. I've no idea why...but since my alarm was going to go off in an hour and a half anyway I figured I'd get up. Right. Now what? I should go workout. Put some new tunes on the iPod so I got that goin' for me.

They have to fix the steam room in the women's locker room at my gym so they switched the locker rooms this morning. I've worked in a couple of movie theatres and a half-dozen restaraunts. All in positions where it was at one point or another my responsibility to clean the restrooms. Every place had a much nicer, more luxurious area for the women than the men. The men's rooms were always functional and without flair. The women's always seemed to double as a social area or retreat.

It was refreshing to see that the women's locker room is exactly the same as the men's. There are no urinals, predictably, and it's slightly more compartmentalized but I don't think that's design so much as the requirements dictated by the space. If anything, their scale is in the worst possible spot. When you weigh yourself you can be seen from the entrance, the lockers, the showers, and every mirror in the bathroom. It must be traumatizing! :cry:

They're going to go back in there tomorrow and find all the toilet-seats left up. :lol:

I'm feeling very positive today. The same anxieties and crap that bother me all the time are still there but my attitude is unaffected. I actually thought this morning, "What if I just accepted this stuff and didn't worry about it? I could still work diligently towards all my goals and my life wouldn't be any different...I'd just be happier." Maybe it's the diet?

Got a nice email back from that asian girl. I responded this morning and asked her out tonight. I hope she's down with it. I'd really like to meet her and it'd be wonderful to spend the evening with interesting company.

Justitia - badgolfer said (in the VIP I believe) that he was planning to hijack and take over my journal. Apparently, he spotted something shiny and has forgotten all about that so all is well. :nod:

Im lazy. I get ideas in my head that seem like a good at the time, make a written commitment and then I dont follow through. Its a pattern. :sleep:

Maybe it's the diet?

Stop dieting.

Stop dieting.

Stop braiding your nosehair.

Stop braiding your nosehair.

Chicks dig it!


I was serious. You cant diet forever. Just eat healthy. That was my point as unclear as it was.

I was serious. You cant diet forever. Just eat healthy. That was my point as unclear as it was.
True, a diet starts and stops. Eating clean 90% of the time is something I will have to do for the rest of my life. Or get fat, there is always that option too.

As I learned last summer just because you get a six-pack doesn't mean your metabolism becomes like all those kids in highschool/college who had six packs no matter how many six packs they chugged. Of course they're gonna all be fat in 10 years because they never had to develop the discipline to attain a six pack. six pack.

six pack

You know what, I myself just said to hell with everything else. I've developed tunnel vision in regards to my goals. It's my one shot to focus soley on achieving what I've wanted to do for the last 5 years and I cant let it slip through my fingers. Mental funk or not. I'll worry about everything else in a couple months, the same anxieties will always be there, the same problems will always be there. I might as well shut them out of my mind or just deal for a short while as long as I have something else to focus on, especially if it's a positive thing like improving one's health and body (and the mind too through better nutrtition and confidence.)

I really wish there was one of those 'pat on the back' smileys or 'hug' smileys here. Okay maybe the hug one is alittle mushy, but you see what I'm trying to say.


Hope you're able to get together with your new friend tonight :)

bg & homer - For now it's a diet to accomplish a specific goal. Someday it'll just be eating healthy. :nod:

Naturegirl - http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/hug.gif

Plans with Trin fell through and I couldn't be more fine with that. I've almost gotten all my laundry done, my room is 90% clean, and I've watched a couple great episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm. I did get a number, an apology for not being able to get back to me in time, and a counteroffer. I'll give her a call tomorrow afternoon and see if we can set something up for Sunday. :tu:

Getting up at 4am has taken its toll. I'd be completely unconscious now if my duvet cover weren't in the dryer. I'm so looking forward to sleeping until I wake up naturally. Then it's time for outside training run #1! I'm quite excited about that. :D

I'm also ravenous! I've had more calories today than a typical day from the past three months -- and all from healthy, voluminous foods -- yet there's a gnawing in my gut. I love it. It feels good! I can just picture my metabolism taking its fuel from fat cells and the reduction slowly taking place all over my body. Tomorrow's a totally free day and it's easy to put off the cravings 'til then. Feels very good to deny myself after two weeks of practically nonstop indulgence.

I'd be completely unconscious now if my duvet cover weren't in the dryer.

Metrosexual alert! :D Guys don't talk about duvets! ;)

Note to self, don't talk about cooking so much in my own journal...;)

:lol: I was going to say the same thing. Duvet? I didnt even know what a duvet cover was, up until about a month ago.

One thing I can admit to being girly about is needing a hug :o Thanks M@ :) BTW I like the gnawing (well not if it's painful) hunger as it makes me feel like I'm doing something right.....

Mannishboy-- Dont you know a man that can cook is considered sexy?

have to go back to page 47 and read from there to catch up on what I've missed - that might be on the agenda for tomorrow
:tu:

Andy - It's practical! I've got a 55 lb fuzz generator who loves to sleep on the bed. Washing an entire comforter is a colossal pain. Having the duvet cover means I can get rid of all the dog hair easily. :tu:

Naturegirl - The gnawing is completely gone this morning. I fell asleep, no problem, woke up and went for a run and I'm still not even hungry. Gonna eat anyway 'cause I know when it hits it's going to be a powerful hunger. :nod:

Silver - Pffft...like anything of consequence happens here. :rolleyes: (good to see you back ;))

Woke up naturally at 9:30 am with some help from Ri. He's such a polite dog. He didn't whine or stick his nose in my face, just clicked his toenails on the hardwood floor. He always used to do that in my old apartment when he wanted to go out on the balcony and spy on people. He'd sit at the threshold of the sliding glass door and put one paw on it, the pull back so that his toenail would make a pinging noise I could hear anywhere in the apartment. :lol:

Running outside kicked my ass. According the the Gmaps Pedometer (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/)my route was just over 2 miles and I finished it right around when I should have for a 10:48/mile pace. At the end, my heartrate was 169 and my legs felt like rubber. I don't know if my route was longer than estimated or if keeping up that pace outside was just a great deal harder than the treadmill. I know outside is harder than the 'mill...but it's not this much harder. :confused:

Anyway, I feel great. I'm well rested, happy, and anxiety-free. I had really wanted to go out with Trin last night and was disappointed that it didn't happen, but it wasn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I think that last week I would've been in an awful, black depression over it and would still feel like shit this morning.

Yay balanced diet! :D

Andy - It's practical! I've got a 55 lb fuzz generator who loves to sleep on the bed. Washing an entire comforter is a colossal pain. Having the duvet cover means I can get rid of all the dog hair easily. :tu:


I didn't say there was anything wrong with them. However, it's kinda like a Fight Club thing. Don't talk about them in public :) ;)

Anyway, I feel great. I'm well rested, happy, and anxiety-free. :D

could it be?...chipper old M@?? :confused:

Andy - Excellent point. Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow. :nod: (the pun was unintentional but I'm leaving it in 'cause it makes me look clever)

Abigail - Toldja. :neener:

My diet has been wonderfully awful so far today. I'm not going into detail about what I've consumed. I'm actually craving some healthy food.

I've got a barbeque to go to tonight. It's a 30th birthday party for a guy I work with. The weather has been sporadic, rain one second then bright clear skies. I'm thinking I'll take the bike no matter what.

He's having a keg and there are only going to be about 25 people so bringing beer is kind of pointless. I'm going to stop and get him a Home Depot gift card. I should probably get him a birthday card too...damnit. That's two friggin' stores...and I'm gonna have to bring a pen. :mad:

It started at 4:30pm but I don't want to be one of the first ones there. I know the birthday boy and two of the other folks on the eVite but I've never done anything outside of the office with any of them. I'm looking forward to interacting with these folks in a social situation and maybe making some new friends. Most of them play soccer for the company team. I don't know a damn thing about soccer and would probably be suck-to-mediocre if I tried...but nobody's asked me anyway. :lol:

Think I'll finish this episode of Curb then head out.

Yesterday was fun.

Too much fun.

Jeremy's family is awesome. His friends are a blast. His rec-room/bar is magnificent. I got wicked drunk. I rode my bike home wicked drunk. I wound up going over the Wilson Bridge at 3:00 am. I have no idea how I got home since I have no reason to go over the Wilson Bridge, ever.

Woke up with intense sinus pain from snoring. Apparently when we set our A/C at 72 degrees it's the same as shutting it off. I was in intense pain and sleeping in a pool of sweat on top of my covers with a trail of clothes from my computer room into my bedroom. At the trailhead was a pack of Sausalito cookies, a 20oz Coke, a Starbucks Frappuccino, and a Snapple Raspberry Iced Tea. I apparently needed carbs.

Jeremy's sister in law is gorgeous. I think she likes me. I know her boyfriend likes me. :rolleyes: He was fawning all night about the motorcycle. He wants to get one but she won't let him. One of Jeremy's other buddies wanted to ride it and I let him for some reason. He smoked out the tire and I decked him square in the chest when he got off. He went down like a bag of oats but got up and said he deserved it so I don't think there's any bad blood over it.

Christ. I'm writing like wh0 because I just got done reading his weekend's entries in the VIP. Everything's a statement. It's more a list of statements than any kind of narrative. Having watched all of Curb Season II can't be helping anything either.

My across the street neighbors had a birthday party for their dog today that I was supposed to attend but I overslept and missed it. Went to the gym for cardio even though I didn't want to and then headed over to IFC for some hair of the dog to set me straight. There were a dozen guys there who were part of some Vespa customizing club. I'd passed them earlier in the afternoon and most of their scooters had louder exhaust than my bike. Imagine someone shaking a can of spray-paint at 110 decibels and you've got the noise these idiots were making. I wanted to walk out and kick their bikes over. Who the fuck spends $15K making mods to a Vespa?

There's a hole in my tongue and I have no idea how it happened. Hurts like a bitch.

I've got skin cancer on my left hand. :( I'll need a biopsy to be sure but from what I've found on the internet I'm pretty sure it's skin cancer. I'll be making a dermitologist appointment this week. I should probably check out the rest of my body, too, but I'm kind of scared. It doesn't look like melanoma but it ain't good. I'll be cancelling my membership at the tanning salon this week too. I wanted to do that anyway and was actually debating how to go about getting out of it. It's actually kind of cool that I'll just be able to point to this slowly spreading brown/grey blotch on my hand and say, "Cancer" when they try and retain me. What the fuck are they gonna say to that?

Heard back from Trin last night. She couldn't get together today 'cause she was going to play paintball. I called her back and left some fucking ridiculous message about how hot it was and how the balls must've been sticking together in the hopper and about how I need to replace my propellant system with Nitro or compressed air 'cause I had to sound like Mr. Big-Smart-Paintball-Guy. Came off sounding like a complete retard. If I ever hear from her again I'll be amazed.

I'm still in a really good mood. :tu:

Your drunk carb binge sounds like my days back in highschool, after a long night of smoking practically a whole eighth of pot to myself :D
Man, I really hope you get good news at the doc's. That sounds pretty scary, though if it's still relatively small they can probably excise all of it?
Were you drunk when you called Trin? If not than I bet you didnt sound retarded, more along the lines of cute :)

Naturegirl - Define drunk. :o I hadn't had anything to drink for a couple of hours when I called so I'd say I was sober with a touch of euphoria. I gotta go back on the wagon for good.

I'm tired.

I didn't sleep well last night so that's two nights in a row of disturbed sleep. It makes me glad I'm not hitting the weights yet.

I'm also tired 'cause I'm doing hard cardio again. It was nice to zone out with LISS for a while but there's nothing there that can compare with strenuous, endurance-building cardio. I just feel healthier. I sweat like a sponge too. It's pretty gross. I know people try to get out of my splash zone when I'm on one of the machines and I'm the only person that has to clean off the machine and the floor when they're done.

Still in a good mood. Just got off the phone with my best friend. We had similar weekends. He met a girl at a bar on Friday night and she's called him 10 times so far. He really seems to attract these psychotic women. It's hilarious. I told him about the paintball story and we laughed at each other's follies. The people around me must hate it when I get a call from him. :lol:

The alpha-blonde was working out in my field of vision for most of the time I was on the elliptical this morning. She's so beautiful. I mean, not only is she hot with an incredible figure, she's just got an absolutely angelic face. I would love to see her smile just once. It'd probably be radiant.

I'm done with alcohol.

It's going the way of cigarettes. This isn't a hangover-induced bout of remorse that I'll discard later in the week or a month or whatever. This decision's been a long time coming and it needs to happen.

No more booze for me. Ever. Just wanted to make a note of that here for accountability's sake.

Hey M@, want to go to the Brickskeller for a beer? I can make it to DC in about 30 minutes if I leave now.

Hey M@, want to go to the Brickskeller for a beer? I can make it to DC in about 30 minutes if I leave now.

drunkard.

Hey M@, want to go to the Brickskeller for a beer? I can make it to DC in about 30 minutes if I leave now.

Antagonist

I'm done with alcohol.

It's going the way of cigarettes. This isn't a hangover-induced bout of remorse that I'll discard later in the week or a month or whatever. This decision's been a long time coming and it needs to happen.

No more booze for me. Ever. Just wanted to make a note of that here for accountability's sake.
M@, I have assembled some Minor Threat lyrics for you.

Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch
---
(I) Don't smoke
Don't drink
Don't fuck
At least I can fucking think
---
Get your bravery from a six pack
Get your bravery from a half-pint
Drink your whiskey, drink your grain
Bottoms up and you don't feel pain

Go out and fight, fight
Bottled violence

Lose control of your body
Beat the shit out of somebody
Half-shut eyes don't see who you hit
But you don't take any shit

Go out and fight, fight
Bottled violence

Okay so that last one only works for jk0.

Bandit - :rolleyes:

bg & Ryan - Thanks for the backup. :tu:

George - Thanks for the lyrics. Jeremy apologized profusely this morning for his "bad drunk" friends and I've had several people ask me about my Saturday night so it looks like my minor scuffle was noted and then discarded.

Got the drop-amp for our cable connection today. It works, but not well enough. :( I think the splitter is killing us. Both of the splitters are pretty high impedence and I just don't think the modem can get enough of a signal when it's connected through them. I'm going to get a low-impedence splitter tonight or tomorrow and see if that does the trick.

I'm friggin' tired. I kind of just want to go to bed but I need to do a bunch of crap. I'd never fall asleep anyway.

No problem M@.

got the screening results today...I got it.

Damn did I sleep well last night. I didn't want to get out of bed because it was so comfortable but I was completely rested and ready to face the day. Had an excellent run and got into the office a half hour earlier than usual. Pretty damn good day so far!

I start TBT tomorrow and am totally ready. It feels like I haven't worked out in months.

I'm also a hypochondriac. The slowly spreading patch of somethingorother on my left hand wiped off in the shower last night. :rolleyes: It must've been some nefarious insect-bite or something. There's new skin underneath. Kind of like a blister but no pain or anything. I should still go to the dermatologist I guess. I'm not as worried about it anymore.

That's all I got.

I'm also a hypochondriac. The slowly spreading patch of somethingorother on my left hand wiped off in the shower last night. :rolleyes:

Quiting the alcohol might be a very good thing ;) :D

Quiting the alcohol might be a very good thing ;) :D

True, perhaps I'll post less and more rationally. :D

On the 350Z board I mod, we have an acronym we use to explain irrational posts caused by alcohol consumption in the Off Topic Section. PUI. Posting Under the Influence. Put that at the end of any post and you are at least partially excused for random rants, flames, or other irrational thoughts.

I'm also a hypochondriac. The slowly spreading patch of somethingorother on my left hand wiped off in the shower last night. :rolleyes: It must've been some nefarious insect-bite or something. There's new skin underneath. Kind of like a blister but no pain or anything. I should still go to the dermatologist I guess. I'm not as worried about it anymore.
Are you still going to give up tanning?

Are you still going to give up tanning?

Yeah. :cry:

With all the stuff I've checked out about skin cancer in the past four days I don't think I could ever bring myself to get back into a tanning bed again. It's like the perfect carcinogenic storm. :(

I'll still go out in the sun...but doing something for vanity's sake that could result in skin grafts doesn't make much sense. Not to mention how bad it could get if melanoma sets in and goes below the surface. :eek:

for vanity's sake
Even from a vanity standpoint it isn't a good idea. Have you ever gone to a warm region like Florida and seen some of the tanning locals in their 40's and 50's? I was amazed at how much older they look compared to people up here in the mitten.

http://www.foolserrand.com/funneh/graphic/linshaye_1.jpg

I know that tan skin used to be considered coarse and that an alabaster complexion was the height of beauty. Some of the cancer literature I read said that a French fashion designer's advocacy of tanned skin in the 1920's changed the entire view of western culture in that regard.

Whatever. It worked. I think tan looks better than pale. :(

I still haven't painted anything in 2006 and this guy's making artwork out of dust (http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/photos/062706dustart/index.html).

I'm captivated by the temporary nature of the drawings. So much effort for something that will soon be destroyed. And how the hell does the car get that dusty anyway? How long does that even take?

Another cool fuck-with-your mind art project:

http://www.foolserrand.com/funneh/graphic/toilet1.jpg http://www.foolserrand.com/funneh/graphic/toilet2.jpg

I'm captivated by the temporary nature of the drawings. So much effort for something that will soon be destroyed. And how the hell does the car get that dusty anyway? How long does that even take?


If you live on a dirt or gravel road without a lot of rain, not long. With a vertical back window like an SUV or wagon (or Mini in this case), if there is nothing directing air down across the back of the car, you basically create a vaccuum that sucks the dust up to that back window.

Hmm...excellent point. My Xterra does exactly that, though I don't live in a particularly dusty area. If he's in Austin I guess it could get that dusty just driving to the store to pick up ammo. :nod:

I swore I'd never belong to two gyms at the same time after I'd wound up paying for two Golds memberships in two separate states back in 2000. While I'm not technically violating that vow, I do have two active memberships.

Went over to that Sport & Health club across the street from my new office. Sport & Health is a local "Name" health club and has a reputation for being very luxurious and expensive. That's the rep. This individual location must be the rattiest of the bunch. It's cramped and old and it looks like people go there to work. I also got my membership at half the cost of my membership at WSC. :tu:

The only major drawback I saw was that it doesn't have a dedicated squat rack. :cry:

The guy giving me the tour didn't even know what it was:

Jose: Is there anything in particular you're looking for here?
M@: A squat rack and a cage. I'm sure you've got everything else...and there's the cage.
Jose: And those are the squat racks.
M@: Those are Smith machines.
Jose: No, next to those.
M@: That's a leg press.
Jose: Oh, you mean "Free Squats"?
M@: Um, I guess?
Jose: Those are upstairs in the stretching area.
M@: No. I'm talking about something you actually use to rack an olympic bar on.
Jose: Oh, well there's one of our personal trainers. Jim, we have a squat rack, don't we?
Jim: Yeah, right there.
Jose: Right there, behind her.
M@: That's the cage.

In the end, I was gonna get a membership no matter what. At half the cost of my current gym and directly across the street from my office, I can do squats in a cage. I also found out that the gym in my office isn't going to open 'til the fall. That includes the showers so all the folks who were planning on riding their bicycles to work are ten kinds of pissed off.

TBT starts tomorrow! Very exciting. :nod: :flex:

What are you looking for in a squat rack that would be different than a cage? (...from a guy that's always worked out at home and just has a cheap Weider power cage with pulley attachment that he bought at Sam's before he knew what the heck he was doing)

In other words, what's wrong with the cage? Seems all you have to have are hooks and safety catches.

I also found out that the gym in my office isn't going to open 'til the fall. That includes the showers so all the folks who were planning on riding their bicycles to work are ten kinds of pissed off.

And that doesn't even mention the level of concern of the people who's cubes are adjacent to the riders! ;)