Loose Pants = Progress

The simplest possible math. Less than two weeks of working out and I'm already noticing improvements. My pants are considerably looser and I have taken one belt notch off my waist. In addition, the cool leather jacked I bought in January that was SNUG around my chest and belly now has a little room. I feel like part of me is melting away (what a world, what a world) - but in a good way (what a world! what a world!).
Did a quick stint on the bike this morning (just over 20 minutes) and I wish I would have gotten by shit together enough to get there earlier (on time) so I could have done more. I noticed a slight improvement in my cardiovascular performance over last week. I had to jack up the resistance to get my heart rate up and it took a little longer to get there this time. Similarly, I have noticed in my weight lifting that my stamina is increasing rapidly. The first night, I was panting and sweating wildly after the first set. Yesterday morning, I was winded, but not panting, sweating, but not dripping, until the last set of the second triplet (end of the workout).
So, overall, I'm happy thus far with the progress, I must say.

Summering at the coast

Start Thurston Howell III accent now... Looks like we'll be summering at the coast this year, at least for one week of it. We're moving up our annual Sea Ranch trip to the first week of July and I just booked our rental house. We'll be on the bluff, overlooking the water, just a short walk from some of the numerous hiking trails and Shell Beach. Yaaay.


Here's the view from the Deck:
Doesn't it just look divine? We sure like Sea Ranch! We have spent a week up there for Labor Day each of the last two years and it is the most wonderful place in California, as far as I'm concerned. If you want to check it out, get a rental house here. Once you're there, you have to check out some of the local flavors:
TwoFish Bakery (get there EARLY), St Orres (bring lotsa money), the Sandpiper, and so many more. Don't forget your golf clubs, Sea Ranch has a great 18 hole links style layout. It's some of the best coastal golf in California and it's reasonably priced at around $60 per round. If you feel like exploring, head over the hill to Boonville or drive up the coast to Mendocino or nearby Fort Bragg and have some lunch at North Coast Brewing's tap room. They have some kickin' beers and good grub. Put down a few Old Stock Ales (13+% alcohol), then drag ass down the street and get some coastal ink.
Well, the couch is calling, and I'd better heed.
Thurston Out!

Mmmmm, that's good workout!

Good workout today - bumped up the weight on a couple things, tweaked my form just a little, and did some endurance training on a bike. I've posted my workout tracker on Google Docs and Spreadsheets (bitchin tool, I must say).
I'll try to update the tracker each time I work out and post updates on weight and general fattiness progress. I didn't really lose any weight this week (1 lb - could just be water), but I definitely feel a difference in muscle tone, cardiovascular fitness, and especially energy level.
All for now,
C

Arj and Poopy

Arj and Poopy are BACK. For those who don't know, soon you'll understand. This episode prominently features Bouncy the Dog.

Enjoy!!

Valentine's Meal

Wednesday was, of course, Valentines Day. Going out to dinner on VD-Day has proven to be a disappointing event over the years, so we decided to just eat at home this year. I picked up some organic filets at Golden Gate Meat Market as well as some buttercream potatoes and red leaf lettuce at the Ferry Building produce market (the same folks who deliver our produce - see earlier post).

I made a red wine demiglace sauce for the filets (fa-bu-lous) and creamed the potatoes with milk, butter, grey salt, fresh rosemary from our herb garden, and Parmesan cheese. I dusted off a 1999 Folie A Deux Eschen Vineyard old vine zinfandel that had aged perfectly. All the tannens had softened and what was left was full of rich, dark fruit, a great mouth feel, and a brown sugary, oak-laden finish that could only be described as heavenly. It paired perfectly with the steaks and played very well with the demiglace. Then, of course, there was the salad, too.

C

So Far, So Good.

Well, working out is going okay so far. I had my first solo workout on Wednesday morning and managed to do pretty well. I didn't really allow myself enough time, so I didn't finish everything, but that's okay. I'll get more efficient as this becomes more familiar, so I'm not really worried about it. I went in this morning and did 20 minutes on a recumbent bike (and even threw in a sprint or two). Tomorrow, I'm back on weights and maybe a little cardio if time allows.

I created a spreadsheet to track my progress (of course) and will post that soon. I haven't decided how I'm going to handle the weekend since I'm not supposed to do weights two days in a row and I'd like to stick to a Monday-Wednesday-Friday weight schedule. Maybe I'll just do cardio, but go for a longer stint.

More to come soon, I'm sure.

Workout Update - Day One

Had the first session with the personal trainer tonight. She (Cathy) and her husband (Mark) were both there. Cathy will be my trainer, but she brought Mark along for input on plan development and in case she can't make it sometime.
In short, my ass is kicked (and this was just the assessment). The word of the day is squats. That's right, squats. I thought I was going to squat out my innards and two partially digested carnitas tacos. The whole purpose of this session was to identify exercises that would work for me and set weight and rep counts. I think I found my threshold quite well for a beginner.
About half way through the weight lifting portion of the program, I started having a weird sensation like someone was muffling my hearing on and off in a slow, cyclical pattern. It wasn't going along with my heartbeat and it wasn't too intrusive, but I took a break. It went away eventually, but it really felt like some odd pressure in my head. I took a break a little later, before the last set of barbell squats because my vision was getting a little flat and grey (a sure sign that it's time to take a break and breathe deeply before dropping like Lucille Austero with a case of the dizzies).
After weights, we moved on to cardio. I finally, truly understand the scene in Lost in Translation where Bill Murray is trapped on the elliptical trainer and cant get off, and is yelling, "Help! Help!!" I'm sure I'll get used to it, but I felt as though any grace or poise I'd had upon entering the room had left me like French Soldiers fleeing a combat zone.
After a few minutes (84 seconds) of that, it was clear that I am not yet ready for heavy intervallic training, so we're going to keep it to some steady cardio for 20-45 minutes for two or three weeks before stepping up the intensity.
So, here's where I stand at day one:
Height: 6'2" (this one won't change)
Weight: 259 lbs
Chest: 48"
Waist: 40"
Biceps: too large to measure. Freakishly large. Ladies - wanna feel?

All for now - more as things progress...

Joined the Gym

Okay, so we finally joined the gym. It's about time. So, I'm setting a goal for myself. We're planning to go back to Cabo at the end of May, so I'm going to try and lose 30 pounds by the time we leave. That gives me until May 25th.

I've got a call into a personal trainer - Mark, I think. Hopefully we'll be able to hook up one evening this week and work up a routine. The name of the game seems to be weight loss and cardiovascular fitness. The tough thing right now is staying away from all the unhealthy things I love: chips, beer, burgers, more chips...

I also signed us up for organic veggie delivery service. We've gotten one box thus far and I have been very happy with the food. We're really bad about actually buying vegetables at the store and then really cooking them. The nice thing with this service is that they include recipes as well for the items they bring. It may be time for another delivery...

Gotta waddle...

The Stadium Pal

I'm hoping to get this out there in time for the SuperBowl. I saw a clip on YouTube this morning of David Sedaris performing a reading on David Letterman. I'm pretty much always up for some Sedaris (David or Amy), so I was excited to see what he had to say. He reviewed a product called the Stadium Pal. I realize now that I could have happily spent the rest of my life blissfully unaware of this product. Alas and alack, I did learn of its existence; gratefully through Mr. Sedaris' reading rather than seeing it in action at a public function.



I was sure that he made this product up, so I checked their website. Sure enough, this is a real product. Really, really, really real. They've also expanded their product line to meet the needs of the oft neglected ladies. I don't actually know any women who would want to enjoy the freedom of urinating in a bag strapped to their leg, but I don't get out much anymore. Maybe a his and hers set would make an interesting Valentine's Day gift?

On the Stadium Gal page, there's a link to the product they call the "best way to complement" the Stadium Gal - The Beerbelly. This product is a beverage bladder (think Camelback) that holds 80 ounces of liquid refreshment in a low profile, beer belly simulating pouch intended to be worn under the shirt.

Check out a video of the Beerbelly in action. The Beerbelly folks are attempting to tap the oft neglected female alcoholic market as well. They understand that the ladies aren't so excited to strap 80 ounces to their bellies, but would rather add that volume to their chest. Hence, the Winerack. It is what you think it is. A bladder system that stores your covert beverage in your now overt breasts. Think of it like brastuffing with consumable products.

Okay, nuff said.