LWL #116 - Week of 18 Aug 2003

[redballoon]

Well, I salvaged what was looking to be a lost day. Out with friends on the town til very, very late last night and by the time I got up it was noon. I had wanted to spent a long, leisurely time in the gym today but it was looking like the gym was going to be nixed today. I started even writing in my food journal . . ."wasted day today" and then I said, "No! I'm going to go to the gym even if I feel rotten." So I went (nearly an hour walk one-way) and just did some abs and squats and so, then walked home. But it was a great accomplishment because I didn't waste the day. I took hold and made something of it! It's way too easy to take it easy and I've got to stop doing this if I ever want to get the body I want. So there!
to me! My triceps are killing me still, by the way. I think it was Thursday I worked them and boy, did I ever hit them hard. I'm finding it painful to lift food to my mouth. Perhaps I should keep my triceps as sore as possible all the time!

MrsJim, I checked out the T-Mag. It made me laugh, all this testosterone stuff. I can't imagine a guy actually going to the store and buying that magazine just because I think the title is embarrassing. It's too funny. But, that aside, I did find some interesting reading. Thanks. I've also looked into the Draper site on the links you listed. I like his writing. Seems like a very sensible guy.

Right susanje, isn't Title9 great? By the way, since I'm new here I hadn't read about your stitches. Did you have the same thing done as Meg? Whatever, it sounds painful.

Kempyd, yes, with the doing things in the present thoughts. I found that to work for me too especially when I go off something, like when I quit smoking and when I'm not eating sugar. It seems to make all the difference to say something like, "I don't eat sugar," instead of "I'm not going to eat sugar." Even though that "not going" means like in the next moment, there must be something that allows you to push it further away and trip up.

Mindi, I too have looked into insulin sensitivity. It was a big thing over here recently. I don't know if that's what I have. Probably is but since I'm off sugar I don't get any cravings. It's fantastic, utterly unbelievable. And I stay away from white flour and white rice as much as possible.

tikanique, you cracked me up with your Snicker bar scenario! Yes, utterly, totally disgusting things, those!

jennifa, wow, what a pantsometer feat! I had to read what you'd written a couple times before it actually registered. God, I can't remember being able to do that with a pair of jeans in years! I got rid of my biggest sizes. Let's see if I can eventually do that with what I'm wearing now! Oh, and reading labels. It's a must. Whenever I'm slipping or have totally slipped that's one of the signs. I close my eyes to the labels. Calories and sugar. The two things I don't want to see when I doing the head-in-the-sand routine. Looks at the gym? What kind of looks are you talking about, admiring looks, stunned looks? Maybe people are just looking because they have nothing else to do. It's not as bad as it used to be but when I first came to Japan everyone stared at foreigners. I just got used to it and didn't let it bother me but so many people hated it. I had been in India and there it was much worse because I was out in the countryside and many people had never seen a white person. In Japan they usually looked away if they saw you looking but in India they just kept staring. It was annoying but I guess having been through that made Japan easier for me to take. I just always think that people must be admiring me and don't think further about it. But I'm not very shy and I'm used to talking in front of big groups and so. Perhaps you could strike up a little conversation with the people looking at you. It's a lot nicer to know something about someone who's looking. Makes it a lot easier and if they are just staring without thinking about it it tends to cure that as well. Heh, are you "huge" yet? Just how huge do you plan on getting. I loved that.

Meg, glad to hear you're back in the gym and enjoying working out. For some added inspiration to people, there was a guy at the gym the other day. He's one of the "old crowd" that I knew from 20 years ago and my heavy lifting days. He had been in an accident, something fell on him injuring his spinal cord. He was totally paralyzed for a month, couldn't move at all. But he was determined to move again and slowly, as feeling came back, he was able to drag himself to the gym. He says he would come in with a cane and move around, so determined he was to get better. Said the hospital was useless and if he'd listened to them he'd never have gotten better. He looks really good, loads of muscle. He always had a great body. But now he says he has to move his body every single day or he loses motion. Now that's dedication, huh?!

lanaii1, you made me laugh when you said the looks at the gym make you go heavier. I do the same thing! I think it's a form of rebellion, of throwing it back in their face, "You don't like it? Fine with me. Here's something you REALLY won't like!" But of course, those are only for the stunned looks from the ones (male and female) who hate to break a sweat and don't have a trace of muscle. Some of those people looking may be impressed or wondering how they can get the same way. I always think of the positive, often giving the people the benefit of the doubt that they're thinking highly of me when it's extremely doubtful they are. Ha!

Right, good night. On to Monday.

[RavenToy]

Ok ladies. I don't know what the heck was the matter with me, but whatever it is, I think I just beat it into submission. Admittedly, I used fairly low weights, but I just did a FBWO and you know, immediately after my first set of squats, I was laughing and cackling about how good it felt, and I was befuddled as to why I was so scared to come back. I will pay for this, I know. If I can move anything at all tomorrow and the next day without wincing I'll be amazed. I also did a 1.5 mile walk/run just to pound the point home. And now I think I'm going riding!? Yeah.

RedBalloon - I checked out that sports bra site, it's wonderful! Thanks so much for posting that link. I can't wait to try a few... I've needed some new sports bras for a long time.

Jennifa - I used to get looks, too. But those looks changed from smirks to respect when I kept coming back and lifting heavier and heavier and lost the fat. Now, of course, I do the home lifting stuff. Not because of the looks, though, but because it saves me an incredible amount of time.

Ilene - Welcome back!! I'm glad you had a great time!

That jeans thing... I've lost nearly 30 pounds, and the amazing thing to me is that yes my jeans are baggy, but I can still wear them. What freaks me out is how unbelievably tight they must have been. Scary.

Meg - You are a goddess!! I kept thinking about you and how you just went right back to lifting - and I kept wondering what the heck was the matter with me, and one of the things that finally got me moving was telling myself that if you, who just went through major surgery, could get your butt back into the gym, then dagnabit so could I. Thank you.

Mrs. Jim - They say a horse isn't truly yours till you take at least one spill off it, right? Well then, Arashi is mine now. Green horse, returning rider, crowhop and mad dash with more crowhops thrown in for good measure. I think I want a saddle equipped with an ejection switch and a parachute. I did a fairly decent emergency dismount for not having been on a horse for nearly 20 years, but I did manage to tangle two fingers of my left hand in the reins. Nothing broken, just some really impressive bruising and swelling. And my horse staring at me on the ground like "what the heck are you doing down there? get back on, lets do that again!" God I love that boy. And cats.. I love cats. I used to be one of those bleeding heart take in every stray cat types. I ended up with 17 of them at one point. Attrition took it's toll, and by the time I left AK, I only had to find a home for one. Thank goodness my best friend took him. I'd have one here, but my BF is violently allergic to them. And honestly, I need another animal like I need a hole in my head.

Tik - My greatest weakness is a Snickers bar. They call my name from vending machines, they whisper sweet things in my ear. I can generally avoid them, but that is the first thing I head towards if I'm majorly stressed.

Alright then... off to rinse off my hard earned sweat, and get some lunch. Maybe vacuum the steps, do some laundry, then off to the stables to ride - my son will be riding for the first time tonight! Wish us luck!

[JEC]

OMG OMG OMG OMG

Can't talk long... must work.... I got my marks back and I came 1st in my tax law exam and first in my class!!!!! Wooo hooo!!! I got tears in my eyes when I heard! I also won a prize!!

talk to you later - I have to work!

JC

[Ilene]

OH JEC LET ME BE THE FIRST TO SEND YOU
THAT'S ABSOLUTE WONDERFUL NEWS!!

[redballoon]

JEC, congratulations!!
You must be so happy! Way to go.

[JEC]

Thanks guys!!!

Hey who was looking for stuff on insulin resistance? this is a good link that a friend of mine has posted. I hope that it's ok to post this here http://www.kristilarsen.com/fitnessinsulininfo.htm

JC

[RavenToy]

JC, that's fantastic!! Congrats!! First in your class.. wow, all that hard work paid off! WTG!

[diphthong]

Congratulations! JC! That is awesome news!

dip

[AudreyGayle]

JC, that's awesome!! congrats!!

~Audrey