Kaizen - Continuous Improvement

[Shamie]

I could definitely eat a whole container without thinking about it.

Ecrivain,
I could, and I have. I will admit it looks pretty pathetic when I allocate the food to each baggie, but you got to do what works.

The weirdest part for me was throwing away food.

Ameer,
I still can't throw away food. I wish I could, but I can't, and I probably never will. But that is okay, I can work around that.

I should do that with nuts too. I like almonds and ate a small jar of them in two evenings the other day. I just can't stop!

Jesse,
Give it a try. I don't like to buy those foods that they already prepackage into small packages for you, like the 100 calorie packages that are popular now. I like to determine how big a portion I want. If I had a 100 calorie portion of nuts, I would eat 3 packages (defeating the purpose).


Cut day #28. Weds - Jan 28, 2010. arms; 30 minutes stairs; 30 minutes arctrainer. mtd workouts 24/28. Whey shake 7/27 days, I did skip the whey shake, but at 1:30 am I woke up starving, and had a MetRx protein bar. (this is becoming a habit). I only bought the Met-Rx bars for when I didn't have time to prepare a meal, or are away from home. I have got to break this habit. I am off from work today, so I had more time for my workout. Have a great day.

[Seltzer]

Those prepackaged little bags are also significantly more expensive than if you buy a regular box and portion it out as you're doing.

Enjoy the day off. Did you get a lot of snow?

[Shamie]

Enjoy the day off. Did you get a lot of snow?

It was snowing hard in the morning, but when I returned home at night, it was all gone, nothing to shovel on the driveway.


Cut day #29. Fri - Jan 29, 2010. chest day (no cardio). mtd workouts 25/29. Whey shake 7/28 days, I did skip the whey shake, but at 1:00 am I woke up starving, and had a MetRx protein bar. (this became a habit). It is really cold today, about 15-17, and it is windy. Maybe not cold for Wisconsin or Michigan, but cold for here. Glad this month is almost over, just have to get through the cold of February, and in March it will start to get warmer. Last week I skipped weighing myself, and measurements, so I hope for some decent numbers on Sunday. On the whole, I am satisfied how January went, apart from not drinking the whey drinks. I guess I will see what the numbers show on Sunday to get a final assessment. Working out 27/31 days (will do by end of month) is decent, my diet while high in calories at the start of the month improved the last 3rd of the month.

[Seltzer]

Originally Posted by Shamie

It was snowing hard in the morning, but when I returned home at night, it was all gone, nothing to shovel on the driveway.


Cut day #29. Fri - Jan 29, 2010. chest day (no cardio). mtd workouts 25/29. Whey shake 7/28 days, I did skip the whey shake, but at 1:00 am I woke up starving, and had a MetRx protein bar. (this became a habit). It is really cold today, about 15-17, and it is windy. Maybe not cold for Wisconsin or Michigan, but cold for here. Glad this month is almost over, just have to get through the cold of February, and in March it will start to get warmer. Last week I skipped weighing myself, and measurements, so I hope for some decent numbers on Sunday. On the whole, I am satisfied how January went, apart from not drinking the whey drinks. I guess I will see what the numbers show on Sunday to get a final assessment. Working out 27/31 days (will do by end of month) is decent, my diet while high in calories at the start of the month improved the last 3rd of the month.

It's always nice to end the month with positive momentum.

[ameer]

Originally Posted by Seltzer

It's always nice to end the month with positive momentum.

Absolutely.

[Ecrivain]

Originally Posted by Shamie

but at 1:00 am I woke up starving, and had a MetRx protein bar. (this became a habit).

What's up with that? Are you not eating enough throughout the day? Not having a good dinner?

[Shamie]

It's always nice to end the month with positive momentum.

Thanks Paul.

Absolutely.

You too Ameer

What's up with that? Are you not eating enough throughout the day? Not having a good dinner?

Ecrivain,
Nobody can accuse me of eating too little, even when I cut. Met-Rx protein bars are really good, almost as good as a chocolate bar. It is my way of subconciously cheating.


Cut day #30. Sat - Jan 30, 2010. back day; 45 minutes running; 30 minutes acrtainer. mtd workouts 26/30. Whey shake 7/29 days. I did skip the whey shake, but at 1:00 am I woke up (again), and had a MetRx protein bar. (this became a habit). I think I only have 5 left, and I am not buying any more, so this habit will end one way or another. I did a back workout on Monday, but I wanted to get back to my regular schedule so did it today again, and will do legs tomorrow.

It was 14 degrees when I left my house this morning. On the way to the gym, I saw somebody running. I said to myself, what nut would run in 14 degree weather. (Oh that reminds me, I have to check Pauls journal). I am roasting at the moment in the library, I have on thermals, sweat shirt and sweat pants, a hoddie sweatshirt over the sweatshirt, and another hoddie over that one.

[Seltzer]

Originally Posted by Shamie

It was 14 degrees when I left my house this morning. On the way to the gym, I saw somebody running. I said to myself, what nut would run in 14 degree weather. (Oh that reminds me, I have to check Pauls journal).

Hey, I resemble that remark!

I did run, but I'm c'mon 14 degrees is just nuts. I was much more sensible and waited until it was 17 degrees.

Originally Posted by Shamie

I am roasting at the moment in the library, I have on thermals, sweat shirt and sweat pants, a hoddie sweatshirt over the sweatshirt, and another hoddie over that one.

Hint: You can take a layer or two off.

[xingcat]

Originally Posted by Shamie

It was 14 degrees when I left my house this morning. On the way to the gym, I saw somebody running. I said to myself, what nut would run in 14 degree weather. (Oh that reminds me, I have to check Pauls journal).

I keep thinking that I have to get outside and run, because the longer treadmill runs get so boring for me, but the temp has been so low that I can't even fathom it.

Originally Posted by Shamie

I am roasting at the moment in the library, I have on thermals, sweat shirt and sweat pants, a hoddie sweatshirt over the sweatshirt, and another hoddie over that one.

You must look like those little kids trapped in their snowsuits, who can't put their arms down.

[Shamie]

You must look like those little kids trapped in their snowsuits, who can't put their arms down.

XingCat,
I could just picture that. I didn't take off the sweatshirts, because I wasn't staying that long.

Hint: You can take a layer or two off.

Paul,
I should have thought of that.


Cut day #31. Sun - Jan 31, 2010. 30 minutes bike; 30 minutes stair machine; 30 minutes dreadmill (walked incline 15; run incline 15); 30 minutes arctrainer. mtd workouts 27/31. Whey shake 7/30 days. I had planned on training my legs today, but after 90 minutes of cardio I realized that was not happening today, so did an additional 30 minutes of cardio, and called it a day. Tomorrow or Tues will do legs. I had a ton of energy today.

After my workout, I was going to go in the steam room for awhile, but there was no steam coming out, so I decided to shower and shave, and then go in. Still no steam coming out, so I decide since I am so hungry, I will have my Cliff bar. I go to get the Cliff bar, and was going to go in the steam room with it. Then I decided I would take the wrapper off first. I open it over the garbage can, and 3/4 of it falls in. There is no way I am doing a George Costanza and taking it out (it fell right on top). So I was starving, and am still staving.

Before I went to the gym, I had a problem. I flush the toilet, and no water refills the tank. I refill the tank, to see if there is anything mechanically wrong with it, and it worked. The problem was the pipes froze. I had a vision of the money I saved having the house so cold, going into the plumbers pocket. I took a space heater, and made the bathroom very hot, and the pipes unfroze with no damage done. I am going to make the house a bit warmer, so this doesn't happen again.

[Paddy]

Originally Posted by Shamie

I took a space heater, and made the bathroom very hot, and the pipes unfroze with no damage done. I am going to make the house a bit warmer, so this doesn't happen again.

[Seltzer]

Originally Posted by Shamie

XingCat,
I could just picture that. I didn't take off the sweatshirts, because I wasn't staying that long.



Paul,
I should have thought of that.

Originally Posted by Shamie

I had planned on training my legs today, but after 90 minutes of cardio......

Wimp.

Originally Posted by Shamie

I had a ton of energy today.

Originally Posted by Shamie

After my workout, I was going to go in the steam room for awhile, but there was no steam coming out, so I decided to shower and shave, and then go in. Still no steam coming out, so I decide since I am so hungry, I will have my Cliff bar. I go to get the Cliff bar, and was going to go in the steam room with it. Then I decided I would take the wrapper off first. I open it over the garbage can, and 3/4 of it falls in. There is no way I am doing a George Costanza and taking it out (it fell right on top). So I was starving, and am still staving.

Thanks for the comedic visual and I love the GC reference. I just responded to what you wrote in my journal and stated that I watch very little television, but that is one show that I'm very familiar with.

Why were you going into the steamless steam room to eat your Cliff bar?

Originally Posted by Shamie

Before I went to the gym, I had a problem. I flush the toilet, and no water refills the tank. I refill the tank, to see if there is anything mechanically wrong with it, and it worked. The problem was the pipes froze. I had a vision of the money I saved having the house so cold, going into the plumbers pocket. I took a space heater, and made the bathroom very hot, and the pipes unfroze with no damage done. I am going to make the house a bit warmer, so this doesn't happen again.

So you're going to keep the house at 57F degrees now. Sorry. Seriously, frozen pipes are no joke. Going forward it may be in your best interests to vary your thermostat according to the ambient temperature so that when we get those low double digit nights you've raised the heat enough to keep the pipes warm. Alternatively have you looked into better insulating the pipes? That will most likely be a more effective long term solution. There are a number of different ways of doing this and while they vary in complexity they're all easily doable by even someone like me.

[ameer]

Originally Posted by Shamie

Before I went to the gym, I had a problem. I flush the toilet, and no water refills the tank. I refill the tank, to see if there is anything mechanically wrong with it, and it worked. The problem was the pipes froze. I had a vision of the money I saved having the house so cold, going into the plumbers pocket. I took a space heater, and made the bathroom very hot, and the pipes unfroze with no damage done. I am going to make the house a bit warmer, so this doesn't happen again.

Really glad it was an easy fix.

[Shamie]

Really glad it was an easy fix.

Thanks Ameer

Wimp.

Paul,

Why were you going into the steamless steam room to eat your Cliff bar?

There was still a little residule steam before it shut off, so it was warmer in there.

So you're going to keep the house at 57F degrees now.

I went from 45 back to 48. Thanks for the advice.

Paddy,
I am not surrendering yet. It is already February, the winter is almost over.


Cut day #32. Mon -Feb 1, 2010. legs. mtd workouts 1/1. Whey shake 7/31 days. I almost didn't work out today. I woke up so tired, but I had packed my gym bag, and made my lunch for today last night, so I had no excuse not to go, so I went. To be honest, I go there just for the heat. Without any cardio, I had a pretty strong day of leg training. I don't like to take the first day off of the month, since it sets a bad tone for the month. Since Feb is a short month to begin with, I can't be taking too many days off.

[Seltzer]

Nice going on pushing yourself to get to the gym and start the month of right.

[ameer]

...

Originally Posted by Shamie

and made my lunch for today last night, so I had no excuse not to go, so I went. To be honest, I go there just for the heat. Without any cardio, I had a pretty strong day of leg training. I don't like to take the first day off of the month, since it sets a bad tone for the month. Since Feb is a short month to begin with, I can't be taking too many days off.

I tell you man I would be right there with you and I don't even live where it gets very cold! I hate paying to heat! It's eating me alive!
Seriously I would bundle up, cut the heat down to 40 degrees, and deal with it. There's just one thing... well three... and really one. 2 babies and 1 wifey.

Great start to the month! We'll make it a great February!

[Ecrivain]

Originally Posted by Shamie

I went from 45 back to 48.

Whew! Gonna be like Springtime in your place.

[Shamie]

Whew! Gonna be like Springtime in your place.

Ecrivian,
In yesterday's mail, I got a letter from the utility PSEG, telling me they need access to my house to check the gas meter. Apparently, my bill is low, it caused suspicion. I had been reading the meter myself, and entering it on their website, now they have to see it with their own eyes.

Nice going on pushing yourself to get to the gym and start the month of right.

Thanks Paul,
Truth be told, rest is also a critical part of the fitness equation, so on second thought, it is not a bad way to start the month also.

Seriously I would bundle up, cut the heat down to 40 degrees, and deal with it.

Actually, I have found that my thermostats only go down to 45 degrees. I think it is actually an American thing about keeping the house so hot. I think in Japan, if I recall correctly, they keep it around 60.

Cut day #33. Tues -Feb 2, 2010. rest day. mtd workouts 1/2. Even though I got up early to exercise, I am beyond tired, so I took a rest day. When I workout, the alarm rings at 4:10, but I don't usually get out of bed until 4:30, and leave the house a little before 5:00 am. When I skip working out, I still have to get up 6:15, so that is still pretty early (the sad story of a commuter). The time between 4:30 and 6:15 flys by in what feels like 5 minutes, so it is pity not to spend that time exercising.

[Jedi]

Originally Posted by Shamie

Ecrivian,
In yesterday's mail, I got a letter from the utility PSEG, telling me they need access to my house to check the gas meter. Apparently, my bill is low, it caused suspicion. I had been reading the meter myself, and entering it on their website, now they have to see it with their own eyes.

hilarious that they don't believe you!

Originally Posted by Shamie

Actually, I have found that my thermostats only go down to 45 degrees. I think it is actually an American thing about keeping the house so hot. I think in Japan, if I recall correctly, they keep it around 60.

I feel cold in anyhting under 70F

[Shamie]

I feel cold in anyhting under 70F

Jedi,
70 is too hot. Maybe I am still carrying too much fat, so that keeps me warmer.

Cut day #34. Weds -Feb 3, 2010. shoulders / triceps; 30 minutes stairs. mtd workouts 2/3. I have been using this stair machine for a few months now, and I still think of it as that new machine I am now using. I haven't been rowing in a long time now. I haven't for no particuliar reason, I just haven't felt like it.

Accross from where I work, they opened a cupcake bakery, that sells mostly fancy cupcakes. I pass by and see people enjoying their cupcakes, and sometimes I think they have the right idea. Sometimes I feel this life of weighing, measuring, timing, journalizing nutrition, in addition to deciding what is acceptable to eat, what is off limits is a bit neurotic. But on the other hand, I never want to be fat again, so this "neurotic life" seems to be working so far. But I am jealous of those people, especially the thin ones who get to eat cupcakes.