Archive for January, 2012

Resolution 5: A Peaceful Diet

SerenityTwo years ago when I started this blog I weighed 157 and went on a mission to hit 130 by the end of March. After reaching that goal I stabilized at 135 for most of 2010. Towards the end of the year I crept back up to 143 and stayed at that weight for most of 2011. After two months of inactivity and poor eating habits I am now 146.

Strangely, I don’t have the same level of emotional turmoil I usually do about weight. This morning I went to Bikram Yoga, my first workout of any kind in 7 weeks. I found out that staring at yourself in a mirror with few clothes on for 90 minutes is the perfect motivation for a better diet. But at the same time I feel at peace about where I am now – more so than in years (even though it isn’t ideal that most of my pants are too tight – heh heh).

My thoughts this morning were more practical. I was looking at my body the same way I look at my hair when it needs a haircut. I don’t stress out. I just get it cut. My body is looking just a little rough around the edges and it is time for a trim. No need to go militant. Just need to clean it up, be consistent, and I should have no trouble reaching my weight goal of 137. Just 8 pounds.

Piece of cake – so to speak.

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Resolution 4: Fitness – Unknown

couch_potatoNotice there has been no mention of fitness. By this time I usually have plans to compete in one ridiculous event or another and have already been active 6-8 hours. But I have not done anything since November 18th – almost 7 weeks.

That was the day I decided I was done pushing through the pain in my shoulder and knee. Training on these injuries this past year has done no earthly good. It has caused me to stop playing volleyball, stop running, stop mountain biking, and give up on the idea of doing a triathlon. The ability to do CrossFit workouts started slipping away as well. So I called it.

Timing could not be worse. The CrossFit Open starts in less than two months. In the fall, I was completely charged up for it. Team MBS is on track to get to the Games in California this year and I would love to have trained my butt off to try to gain a spot on it again. But it is not meant to be for me this year. [Sad face].

So the theme, for this month at least, is to do whatever it takes to heal. I have an appointment at Boulder Orthopedics on Monday. So we’ll see what they say.

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Resolution 3: Make over everything

Let’s start with the house. Most of it suffers from the same curse our landscaping did before. It is only partially finished. Sometimes it looks like we just moved in. I bet the model homes across the street look more lived in than ours. The only room in our whole house that is really finished is our kitchen and even that needs work.

Inspired by a gift we received at Christmas, we decided to start with the bedroom. Seven years ago I bought furniture that was too big and awkward for the space. Step 1: Sell the old bedroom furniture. Todd already put up the ad: http://denver.craigslist.org/fuo/2780461740.html.

Bedroom

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Resolution 2: Prevent the end of the world

I poked fun at the end-of-the-world panic yesterday but maybe I shouldn’t have. The signs are everywhere. Yesterday, the Broncos lost for the 3rd week in a row and still made it into the playoffs. Proof of the effects of the planets realigning? Or to some that hell is freezing over? On the same subject, Todd and I watched a movie called “Home” last night. Terrifying. It was a documentary about how Earth is fairing. A few stats:

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1. The world’s population is increasing by 1 billion every decade. The population of China is 1.3 billion. That means we add the entire population of China every 13 years. The total recorded population exceeded 7 billion on Oct 31, 2011.

2. Since my generation was born, over 230,000 square miles of Amazon rainforest have been cleared. More than double the size of Colorado. My generation could see it officially reduced by half. It provides more than 20 percent of the world’s oxygen supply.

3. In the last 40 years the polar ice caps have been reduced by 40%. My generation could live to see the day when man can drive boats back and forth across the North Pole in the summer.

Disturbing movie. It was a lot like watching Paranormal Activity. You spend the whole movie waiting for something you know won’t be good. Then they scare the crap out of you at the end and leave you thinking about how frightening it would be if it were all true. Honestly, I am kind of a skeptic when it comes to stats. You have to question the accuracy of a movie showing footage of “Colorado’s… Grand Canyon”. But I also think debating those stats seems like a pointless activity for most people. Common sense dictates that it cannot possibly be good for us to consume resources and energy so outrageously while the population continues to rise. I am not quite ready to board a pirate ship to throw stink bombs at whaling ships but certainly I can do better at home.

Resolution #2: Find measurable ways to reduce our consumption.

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New Year’s Eve: Crashing the party

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Yesterday I had my doubts about whether it would start out that way. I am usually inspired to pursue a long list of resolutions by New Years Eve. But yesterday morning I didn’t feel inspired by anything. We wiped ourselves out all month and our original plan was to stay home. But going to bed early seemed like the wrong way to start 2012. You know, with the Apocalypse right around the corner and all that.

At the last minute we called my aunt and uncle and invited ourselves to their party. When it comes to entertaining, they never disappoint. It wasn’t long before I was inspired to make my first resolution for this year: To exploring the unknown. To do things I’ve never done and go places I’ve never gone. And to search for adventure where I might never have looked before…

A nursing home, for instance. Never thought I’d be crashing a private party at a nursing home on New Year’s Eve. Oh man. Hilarious! Ever watched 90 year olds who can barely get out of a chair shake their groove thang? What a riot! One gentleman was a real lady killer. He would scan the room before each song and finally point at some lucky lady to join him on the dance floor. Hahaha.

Here is my talented Aunt Debbie singing with her band at Arvada Estates Independent Senior Living

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Debbie’s hands working the piano:

At first I thought this guy was just shuffling his way back to his room after a short serenade. But look closer…

After the party we headed back to Uncle Edward’s house to play cards. Stayed up just late enough to watch the ball drop on Times Square and kiss my sweetheart goodnight. 2012 is going to be a good year.

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