Afterglow

Almost Over

2011-11-18T01:59:00.001-08:00

For the past 11 months, I've been involved in the nutritional and exercise program from Precision Nutrition. It's called the Lean Eating Coaching program. I've learned a lot and lost 39 lbs in the process.The beauty of it all is the habits I've developed that I'm quite sure will help me from here on to preserve what I gained given my young age of 54. I will definitely post my entire experience

Blogging and Journaling

2010-07-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

I started blogging some years ago as a way to do journaling. It morphed into various activities but I quickly learnt that putting very personal items on a blog was not a good idea. My venture in blogging continues and have now started journaling again using a specific kind of software to journal. Well, I really have not decided on which one, I still have my book where I hand wrote my thoughts

A Farewell to Dad

2010-02-22T03:45:00.000-08:00

February 13th, 2010 On Saturday February 13, 2010 my mother and I went to visit Dad at the convalescent home where he was being cared for. He could hardly talk, a few words were all we could pick up, my name, a nickname for mom 'conchita', water and 'give me more'. I fed him lunch, gave him water, held his hand, caressed his forehead. We struggled to make out what he wanted go say, just

A night at the ER

2010-01-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

For 15 seasons ER entertained at one point 16.4 million viewers. Shows as ER give you a dramatization of what happens in emergency rooms in hospitals across the U.S and perhaps the world. Television is one thing, being there is another. Recently because of my father’s health issues I’ve had the opportunity to visit the Emergency Room (ER) quite a few times in the last couple of months. I think

Fake or Not?

2010-01-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

Like to take a poll. What do you think? Vote on it.

Cardinals and Ordinals, do you know the difference?

2010-01-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

It's 2010 C.E. So far our calendar has recorded 2009 years and a few days as of this writing. When most people speak of the last 10 years, technically, they are really referring to the last 9 complete years and whatever amount of days within the 10th year since 10 complete years have not passed. In 2001, December 31st for example, one complete year had passed. Actually on 2002, January 1st,

Almost over..

2009-12-30T13:06:00.000-08:00

It has now been a month, since my dad experienced a stroke. He was hospitalized, and since then has been discharged, sent to a convalescent home, back to the hospital twice, sent to convalescent home again a number of times. Phew! I really believe he's going to outlive us all. My mom is surely stressed out, he wants to go back home. Can't! He needs to complete his therapy. He has improved but

The Day After (Stroke)

2009-11-26T22:15:00.001-08:00

It has been four days now since my dad has been hospitalized. He has lost use of his left leg and while can move his left arm he has no strength in his left hand at all.The stress that this whole thing places on families is amazing. But there is one thing for sure. Nothing brings a family together like a stroke or a hear attack. I'm sure other catastrophic diseases tend to do the same thing.The

My Parents ll

2009-11-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

I'm still very fortunate to have both my parents around. I have been sharing stories with them and getting together once a week.Today (11/23/2009) my Dad experienced a stroke. Although he seems to be doing better, having recovered use of his left arm and left leg, we'll see how he does in the coming days. This is the second stroke in about two weeks span.I'll be visiting him again tomorrow at

Land of the lost

2009-11-16T11:24:00.001-08:00

I was reading an article on technology. In conversing with others about it, a thought was brought out. The promise of technology was to give us more time to do the things we enjoy. Imagine having to go get your water out of well every day. Indoor plumbing beats having to get out really early in the morning to fetch water. I grew up with indoor plumbing but no hot water. We used to fill a tub

My parents..

2009-10-22T14:48:00.001-07:00

The Da Vinci Code

2009-10-19T21:38:00.001-07:00

Secrets revealed.

2009-10-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

Squeeze an Orange and you get: Orange Juice. It may be sweet or bitter or too tart. But it's always Orange juice. What happens when we get squeezed? Squeezed by friends, family, our jobs, difficult situations? Someone said that people are like tea bags. Put them in hot water and you'll quickly see what you get. Do we like what comes out? Now I need to explore some ideas to maintain

Alternate Paths

2009-08-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

As of August 26, 2009 I'm taking a different direction. This blog will have general stories of interest. My tech (geek) side will be recorded at http://refreshrate.wordpress.com/ My fitness endeavors will be recorded at http://fitconundrum.wordpress.com/ My photographic vision at www.lumiouscanvas.com I'm excited about the changes. Although photographic in nature but focusing on just the

Parting of a friend

2009-07-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last night, Cookie our Rottweiler passed away. How Cookie came to be part of our family three years ago is an essential part of the story.First lest talk about Rottweilers for a minute. This dog's genus original breeding came from Germany. It was called the Rottweil Mezgehund (“Butcher Dog”). Rottweilers are strong and very intelligent. They have been used as messengers and guard dogs but also as

Riding Memories...

2009-07-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

I learned to ride a bike when I was twelve, maybe thirteen. Before that I used to stand on one pedal and push myself around as if riding a skateboard.One day I just started riding, maybe the ability was there all along and fear of falling was holding me back. Once in full throttle, the ten speed, the twelve speed, and the three sprocket bikes with umpteen speeds came my way. There was a time

Sometimes you must go at it alone!

2009-06-14T19:45:00.001-07:00

I read an interesting blog post the other day. It dealt with the issue of having support for your endeavors and what to do when you realize that your social circle is the enemy. A wise man of old said it well: " Indeed, a man’s enemies will be persons of his own household."In order to find out if this is the situation for you as an individual, others must know what you're trying to achieve.

Sugar is sugar or maybe not...

2009-05-19T08:58:00.001-07:00

Apparently High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is OK in moderation. So is Nicotine in moderation. How about Cocaine in moderation? Arsenic anyone? A bit extreme yes, but so are the commercials trying to pass off junk food as good for us.Depending on who you ask and what size you're getting, a can of soda can contain from 9 to 12 teaspoons of sugar. Is that moderate?

Keeping your business

2009-05-10T14:28:00.001-07:00

Today is the busiest day for restaurants across the US. The long lines, packed to the hilt reception areas don't help all the confusion. We decided to avoid the whole affair and order out. In this the busiest day of the year, even that does not work. I went to the restaurant to pick up my food, 'curb side', and promptly was greeted by one of the restaurant staff with my food. Or so I thought. I

Spring beauty

2009-05-02T13:52:00.001-07:00

While doing some grilling in my backyard I took some photos from our garden. This flower was just there calling for attention. Hope you see what I did.

A week worth of training

2009-05-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

This week marks the first of a few coming weeks where I'll be putting some extra time training at the gym or on the road. With trails lke these is hard not to go outside and enjoy some fresh air.It's also a break from all the weightlifting during some days of the week and primarily from all the sitting at work. I'm thinking of ways to stand up more while working. I'm thinking of buying a drawing

Tea to the rescue..

2009-04-24T22:42:00.001-07:00

"Make tea, not war". The benefits of tea are many, this particular brew is soothing and sleep inducing. Sweet Lily White.

Remember...

2009-04-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite iPhone apps. Excellent productivity tool.For more details go here: http://lifehacker.com/software/geek-to-live/get-organized-with-remember-the-milk-309789.phpOr go to their site: http://www.rememberthemilk.com/Don't forget, remember the milk!

google77b43b0d5ad43cbd

2009-04-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

google77b43b0d5ad43cbd.html

True Friends

2009-04-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

"There are those acquaintances that are disposed to tear each other to pieces, but there are friends that are willing to stick up for you more than a relative" Proverbs 18:24.And so I have special people in my life that look after my well being with adroitness, and deal with my quiddities without a blink, and surely by their actions keep my spirits soaring.And how do such friendships begin?A

Got a lemon?

2009-04-14T13:04:00.001-07:00

Whenever you hear this question regarding cars and other items, it means there is a problem. Back in the 1800s lemon juice was used to practically eradicate scurvy (which killed many sailors). Lemons have therefore both a good and bad reputation. The words of this song say it all:'lemon tree, very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon, is impossible to eat.'When

I hear the voice...

2009-04-13T13:09:00.001-07:00

I hear the voice of the valley calling me. Yosemite has been for a long time a place to center myself. My fortress of solitude. As I contemplate a somewhat overcast day near my home, the yearning for this place grows. The early morning walks, listening to the birds chirping, catching a few deer feeding in the early morning. The cool breeze against my skin, reminds me of my youth in the mountains

Ex-Kentucky basketball star Casey dies at 60

2009-04-10T11:35:00.001-07:00

I read this short blurb on former basketball player Mike Casey.http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9438878/Ex-Kentucky-basketball-star-Casey-dies-at-60?MSNHPHMA60 is such a young age to die. Heart complications. Barring congenital hear problems it just shows that no matter how much or what we do, the inevitable happens.Does that mean that we should just not care? While there is not much we can do

Smart Cardio For Strength, Mass, And Fat Loss…

2009-04-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

Smart Cardio For Strength, Mass, And Fat Loss… By Charles Staley, B.Sc, MSS Director, Staley Training Systems http://www.staleytraining.com/ecm8/ezGaffurl.php?offer=iglowcb&pid=1 If you’re a typical guy who loves to lift big weights, but considers anything over 3 reps to be "endurance" training, you might not be interested in this article. However, if you

Work in progress

2009-04-04T21:51:00.001-07:00

Some panoramic work and what not to do. I used a fish eye lens and the distortion made the panoramic work a bit more difficult. I have pano tools to correct this but I got lazy and must go back to work on them again. In any case a different perspective for sure.

California Gold

2009-03-31T17:03:00.000-07:00

I visited Oregon, first time in spring. I was a little reticent to leave and come back home. There was more than the usual flora all around. Coming back to California, feeling a little down I was welcomed by this: Home sweet home!I'm planning on hitting the hills this weekend again and capture some more of the local beauty.

How to ruin your lungs without smoking!

2009-03-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of talk about second hand smoke and the effect it has on our health. I'm not exposed to the traditional second hand smoke (from smokers). I live in California and smoking in public places is prohibited everywhere. Cars, that's another story, but I digress.It may be that second hand smoke is over hyped but there is something we don't hear enough about. This will ruin your lungs

Bookmars and your Favorites

2009-03-24T11:19:00.001-07:00

I've discovered a neat add on to my broswers. Foxmarks. It allows you to have your bookmarks and favorites synchronized between browsers and locations as well.Bookmarks are now available on the road, at home, at the office.You can visit the site and read more about it here:http://www.foxmarks.com/While looking this up, I was informed that Foxmarks is becoming Xmarks (for Firefox only at this time

Daylight Savings and my wedding anniversay.

2009-03-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

After a week of struggling I'm finally used to the earlier time change. I woke up at around 4:00 AM and shortly after got up to do some body training. I celebrated my 34th wedding anniversary. March 16th, 1975 was the big day. Given the economy situation there was not much splurging but we really had a pleasant time. My daughter baked some Lasagna for us and it was just absolutely great.

Scales are for suckers...

2009-03-15T03:21:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting article on why one should be very apprehensive about putting complete trust in the scale. A body weight scale that is. Basically our weight does not tell the whole story. An obese individual weighing 220lbs is not the same as a very fit individual weighing 220lbs. And yet we persist in using the scale as the final judge of our progress.I saw a cartoon drawing depicting how

A thought or two...

2009-03-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

The best educated people are those who are always learning, always absorbing knowledge from every possible source and at every opportunity. -Orison Swett Marden, 1908. There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative. -W. Clement Stone, 1946

Messing with Mojos

2009-02-27T12:03:00.000-08:00

Shakey's Pizza is a popular eatery. Have not been there in a while! Being that I need to check my calorie intake I did a search on one Shakey's entries, Mojos. Not exactly a heath food is it? 950 calories for 15 pieces! If I have two, that will be the equivalent of one slice of thin crust sausage and mushrooms pizza. The amount of sodium is astronomical.As always,

Half-a-Habit

2009-02-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

I recently read and interesting suggestion. When setting goals we sometimes tend to go for an all or nothing deal.There is anothe way. A Half-a-Habit. While I now can't remember exactly where I read the concept of a Half-a-Habit this may be a good unitended definition.From BrianKim.net--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In the beginning, set the

How much? That is the question!

2009-02-24T12:59:00.000-08:00

The question was how many calories does an individual need for maintenance, to gain or loose body fat.The Basal Metabolic Rate formulas for men and women are listed below.Women: BMR = 655 + ( 4.35 x weight in pounds ) + ( 4.7 x height in inches ) - ( 4.7 x age in years )Men: BMR = 66 + ( 6.23 x weight in pounds ) + ( 12.7 x height in inches ) - ( 6.8 x age in year )So my BMR is 66+(6.23 * 233) +

Do we really know?

2009-02-23T16:18:00.001-08:00

I think I finally figured out the reason for my plateau; it's basically thinking you understand something when you really don't.

Tea, cake and my grandmother!

2009-02-11T14:42:00.000-08:00

My other secret attraction comes in the form of sweets such as ‘sweet breads’, cakes, doughnuts (as opposed to Ice Cream).Self examination is once more in order. Besides the usual, ‘I’m mad so I’m going to have some sweets’ trigger, what else is going on?Well let’s see, just like the ice cream story confessions, there is something similar here. When I was a little boy (I know, here we go again),

My food log and the iPhone!

2009-02-02T18:02:00.000-08:00

By far what I'm describing here is not a novel idea. I was actually doing a similar thing using my old PDA; but for some reason it was not as fun.Tracking your food intake fun? Well, sort of. The fun lies in taking control of your daily eating habits and having some semblance of what is actually happening throughout the day. Lots of folks do well without it; I prefer this new method for now.Must

My love affair...

2009-01-21T19:17:00.000-08:00

For a long time I've had this secret love affair.Every time I've let myself go and squelched the voice of my inner self telling me to stop, I've succeeded in feeling great for a few moments and feeling guilt the rest of the time.Why do we do things fully knowing that there will be consequences, unfavorable ones at that! Following the path of least resistance, taking shortcuts, looking at the

Sandbag training again!

2009-01-17T21:23:00.001-08:00

My previous sandbag met an untimely death. One of the seams gave way and sand spilled into the carpet. I've been looking for a replacement and ordered one from here: http://sandbagexercises.com/packagedeals.html I hope this one last way longer than the last one since I'll be putting it to rigorous use. I've taken my sandbag to the gym with me and it has been great! Looking forward to fun

Procrastination and its aftermath

2009-01-16T11:33:00.000-08:00

For some time my car's alarm clicker has been showing sings of its battery dying. I have a pair of remotes for the alarm so I did not worry about it.Judgment Day!The battery died and I could not find the second alarm remote. I figured no problem. I'll just open and close the car manually until I get the new battery. That was the plan!The aftermath!I set out to work remembering not to engage the

The aftermath and the power of denial

2009-01-14T17:57:00.000-08:00

Yes while on vacation I stayed active. But I also ate a ton. Cuban bread with cheese for breakfast. Roast Pork, fried pork, stewed pork and more pork. I gained a few pounds. Since then I'm back on track and eliminated all the foods that caused me problems. It's easy, I'm not around them.I have lost at least four pounds since I got back and feeling good. In retrospect, I should have been more

Speaking of resolustions

2009-01-06T16:43:00.001-08:00

I was on vacation in Florida from December 15th, 2008 till January 5th, 2009. I did not want to gain weight on this vacation. I took my Kettlebell on the trip and filled it with sand and pebbles. Used it at the beach, the hotel, my wife's cousins' home, played baseball, ran at the beach, walked and laughed a lot.I'm decompressing right now. We'll see how successful I was. Clothing still fits so

New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-06T16:39:00.001-08:00

I'm not a fan of New Year's resolutions. I do however believe that resolutions with actions to back up your goals are very effective. So last year, about November, I'm implemented a tip on simplifying e-mail. No need to wait for the dreaded new year date. So everything goes to one box forwarded from the many other e-mails boxes I have. How did I ended up with Hotmail, Google, Att , Verizon, Yahoo

No checks or cash....

2008-12-19T03:53:00.001-08:00

It's now about a week since we arrived in Orlando, Florida. One of the first things we had to do upon arriving was to obtain a rental car. What happened next is but a glimpse of why we have economic problems. I read an article about the issue of saving and not using credit whenever possible. One of the issues mentioned in various sources about our economic woes has to do with how Americans

Kettlebell Flight

2008-12-08T04:48:00.001-08:00

My family and I are going to visit relatives and friends in Florida this month of December. I wanted to take my kettlebell on our trip for maintaining our exercise routines. I'm travelling on JetBlue so I called them last night to find out if there would be any problems in me taking a kettlebell with my luggage.The person I talked to was very nice and looked up as much information as she could.

Speedy Gonsalez

2008-12-05T16:19:00.001-08:00

Recently I came across some information in the various fitness sites about workout duration. After workout calorie burn and Tabata protocols are the rage.To tell you the truth, spending as little time as possible exercising is appealing. No more long bouts, dragging yourself off the tarp, barely making it to the shower.The link below explains some of the concepts in more detail.http://

Sandy's departure

2008-11-30T10:00:00.001-08:00

I found out today that the service IwantSandy from iWantsandy.com will be shutting down on December 8th, 2008.It's funny but I became attached to my cyber personal assistant. I'll have to go looking for a new one. I liked Sandy!Anyone out there that can recommend another service like Sandy?Off to Google I go. :-(

Wine and Dine...

2008-11-27T17:58:00.000-08:00

Today was another day of grilling. These kind of things take a long time. What to do? My video gives you an idea. I've done a similar thing while Earning my Carbs.Here is to all my friends. Go here Wine and Dance!

Kettlebell creativity

2008-11-20T11:01:00.001-08:00

My kettlebells have now become an important part of my workout routines. The variety they offer allows for interesting workouts to say the least.Some time ago I thought of using them on my barbell instead of plates. I mainly use them for dead lifts since they are easier to control. The barbell becomes unstable and you have focus on what you're doing.Using them while performing Deadlifts and

Roll with the punches

2008-11-14T17:38:00.000-08:00

roll with the punchesto adjust to difficult events as they happen. She had to perform shortly after her brother died, but she rolled with the punches and put on a great show.Etymology: based on boxing, from the literal meaning roll with the punches (= step back or to one side as you are being hit), so that you do not receive the full force of the attackFrom theFreeDictionary.comI had fun plans

Cinq étoiles Sleeping

2008-11-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

Taking care of ourselves and living a healthy lifestyle seems to revolve around being very active. What is often forgotten is the amount of inactivity we do need!Through sleep that is: http://www.bettersleep.org/

A little Color in your life!

2008-11-03T14:36:00.001-08:00

The color RED as in red wine to be exact.Red wines have Reservatrol which according to Men's Health: prompts a reflex in your body that improves tissue maintenance,which seems to extend life by cutting down on the degenerative diseases of aging.Cool huh?The downside to this is that you need to drink 4 to 5 five ounce glasses. That my friends is a whopping 20oz of wine.That will put on weight on

The word is out

2008-10-25T22:26:00.001-07:00

Tom is coming out with a new book. Looks promising.http://www.burnthefatblog.com/archives/2008/10/announcing_tom_venutos_new_har.php

Mom was right!

2008-10-25T14:53:00.001-07:00

Eat your veggies, slow down!Oh the wisdom in those words! Studies (there is always a study), have confirmed the health benefits of veggies in all their glorious colors; to get the best of them and anything else you eat, eat slowly (another study). Not only will you enjoy your food more but as a natural consequence get full faster making you eat less without really trying. Neat trick!Now for the

Sandbagging

2008-10-15T13:43:00.001-07:00

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -sand·bag [sand and-bag] noun, verb, -bagged, -bag·ging. –noun1. a bag filled with sand, used in fortification, as ballast, etc. 2. such a bag used as a weapon. –verb (used with object)3. to furnish with sandbags. 4. to hit or stun with a sandbag. 5. Informal. a. to set upon violently; attack from or as if from ambush. b. to coerce or intimidate,

A fun workout

2008-10-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

Being that I'm taking a small vacationoff the barbell I been thinking of new things to do. I went and boughtthree bags of sand. I'm not exactly sure how much they weigh but Icould only handle two of them. Three is my goal now.This is what I did. Put each bag of sand into five zip lock bags and then used a gym bag to hold them together. The fun workout for today then:100 full squats, alternating

New Things Learned

2008-10-08T15:12:00.001-07:00

I skipped my workout during lunch today to listen to a webinar on dieting. It seems like there is something new to learn or to actually solidify your understanding of certain issues.What I realized is that while my eating is really good, I'm eating too much! Well...Ok, I had come to that realization a long time ago, but in addition I'm able to pinpoint when I'm doing this.I eat seven times a day.

Dog Tricks

2008-10-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

Some weeks ago I started a fat loss program. If there is one thing I've learned is that you can work out all you want, but if your food intake is not where it should be, progress will be slow if any. In the last few weeks I've worked hard and definitely improved my strength. I've actually gained some weight but not necessarily a bad outcome. Arm, neck, and thigh circumference has increased. I

Saturday 6:00AM

2008-09-20T06:59:00.000-07:00

Sunrise is definitely at a later time by now. It was dark at 6:00AM this morning. The sun has risen by now and I'm sitting on my park bench in my front yard at this moment. There is a cool breeze coming or going South West as I perceive it. There is nothing spectacular about this Sunrise, but it really depends on how you look at it. It's another glorious day. I can hear the birds chirping, slowly

Fat Loss Part Deux

2008-09-19T11:50:00.001-07:00

Today I end the high rep phase of the program. I'll be doing Squats followed by bent rows. Lunges, Presses, abs and Hip Extensions. My reps today will be in the 20s instead of 15s. Just cause I like to experiment. Inches have been lost but weight fluctuates a lot. I'm still happy with the results.

Tracking (again).

2008-09-08T17:16:00.001-07:00

My progress has been up and down (mostly flat). I was reviewing my old training logs and it dawned on me that I could not review what I have done in the last nine months.Simply I have not been using my workout log. So who knows what's going on! How many servings of Ice Cream have derailed my progress? Don't know! How many days have I worked out? Don't know! Has my weight improved (muscle vs fat)?

Wave Workout

2008-09-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

The object of this workout called a "Wave", is to do sets at higher weights progressively. You do a one repetition set at a higher weight. Then you do your regular set at a lower weight. The idea is to overload on the one rep set and make the subsequent set easier.Hard work as you'll see on the last one set rep.The "Wave" then goes something like this (I'm doing deadlifts, you can apply it to

Checking Dead Lift Form

2008-09-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

I shot this video of myself because I always wanted to see if I'm doing the lift correctly. Comments are welcomed. Videos are great for use as mirrors when other eyes are not available to help you out.

The weekend -- Labor Day

2008-09-02T15:08:00.001-07:00

I had another chance to barbecue this weekend. There was some dancing as on my last episode but I was tired. The day begun with real world dead lifts. I had agreed to re-arrange our pond's design and that involved moving all the pebbles and rock arrangements. I had forgotten how heavy some of these rocks were. It's one thing to pick up a barbell with let's say 200lbs. There is the bar and the

Earning your carbs!

2008-08-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

I accomplished two three things today. I was outside and got some good sunlight. I danced (workout) for a good two to three hours and I grilled a bounty for a party tonight. The video seems a little long so after some more editing I should probably shorten it quite a bit more.My setup allows me to do various things while grilling. I can choose to use the weight rack or transform it as I did today

Nordic Run

2008-08-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

This is my early morning Nordic Run. I woke up at 4:15AM, saw a bit of the Olympics (Darra Torres) and went out for my run. Our new trail is almost complete, the bridge that connects the two sections now open. This is what it looks like when you're up early. It's just you and the trail.

Diffused light

2008-08-11T11:27:00.001-07:00

This morning was overcast. My energy level was not as high as it has been in the last few weeks. The alarm actually go to me this time.Two things happened. I did not get up immediately and I did not go outside either to walk. My drowsiness level therefore remained a little higher than usual.Diffused light such as that produced by overcast day is great for photography. It's also darker as far

The light difference and why we still live in caves!

2008-08-11T10:36:00.001-07:00

Much is said about our modern age. We pat ourselves on the back for all our accomplishments. And rightly so, there is been a lot of good accomplished through collaboration, exploration and just plain curiosity and determination to not let one failure or one thousand ruin the party. There is of course the dark side of the picture but we sure have so much potential. We as humans though keep

More light measurements

2008-07-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

My office lighting is roughly two steps lower than sunrise light. I retrieved my light meter's manual to get a conversion to lux. Just after Sunrise lux measurements are at 5000. With additional lighting in my cubicle lux measurement goes from 1300 to 2600. Not quite there but better than 700 without additional lighting using only overhead lights.More measurements are in order to get an good

The morning show

2008-07-25T06:12:00.001-07:00

It's about 4:45 and I'm awake, I beat the alarm again! I usually go for a run this early and catch the sunrise. This morning I'm taking a break. I've made my breakfast and I'm sitting in from of my house under my Mulberry tree along with all the other critters enjoying the sunrise. No coffee necessary.Since hardly anyone is up at this time, I've chosen my front yard to do kettlebell workouts on

3d Week 100Pushup Challenge

2008-07-22T15:49:00.001-07:00

Today I started the third week of the 100 push up program. It's getting tougher to say the least. I completed 82 push up split into five sets. I was holding on to dear life at the end. I may have to go down a notch to be able to do this. Or change the rest periods between sets.82 is quite an accomplishment so far. Adjustments are coming for sure!

When going to bed

2008-07-21T09:18:00.001-07:00

I have modified my sleeping habits quite a bit and my energy and sleep patterns are much better. Our room goes completely dark at night. I made some covers for the windows which block must of the light coming from outside. We make sure to cover alarm clocks, phones, radios and anything else that emits the smallest hint of light. There is also no Television in our room. There never has been and

Sunday's trek

2008-07-20T08:42:00.001-07:00

After this morning's 'trail' run I had the pleasant surprise to find myself locked out of the house. Apparently someone borrowed the house key and I did not notice it this morning when I went out on my little hike poling expedition.It was a good thing! I was able to enjoy the run the clouded 'sunrise' and not worry about how I would get back in without waking everyone up. When it was time to get

Sunday Sunrise

2008-07-20T05:35:00.001-07:00

Woke up around 4:50 (body temperature rise), out for a run at 5:30AM.

Getting the most out of sleep!

2008-07-19T07:47:00.001-07:00

This past week and a half, I have been consistently getting up before the alarm and going out on the trail to run/walk and catch the sunrise. It's cloudy today maybe that had an effect on me. I woke up at around the same time but made the mistake of not getting off bed. I finally realized I was not going to sleep any more and here I am outside taking in the light. Feel so much better. I think I

Week 2, day 2...

2008-07-16T07:47:00.001-07:00

Today I again woke up at around 4:45. Did not want to wake my wife up so I sneaked out of bed as quietly as possible. Had a large drink of water and went out hike poling. It's really nice to be out early morning. I practically own the trail at that time. I specifically went off trail (on the dirt). Wanted to work on my balance and while I was not huffing and puffing

94.6, 96.7, 97.1, 97.7

2008-07-15T17:36:00.001-07:00

Body temperature throughout the day. I'm trying to figure out what is the best time to take a power nap and where to perform better at my job. Today drowsiness came in at 4:00, went away and back at 5:15. My idea is to park the car underneath a shade to be able to take a 10 minute nap. Let's see how this project goes.

The ladder workout

2008-07-13T08:03:00.001-07:00

How to use a ladder to workout without really trying.In the last couple of days, actually it's been the last couple of weekends, I have been doing work around and inside my home.From getting on the roof to get access to tree limbs to cut them to light and fan installations. All required the use of a ladder. Yesterday my legs were sore. And I knew I had gone out for a fast walk in the morning, I

The third day is coming...

2008-07-10T21:59:00.001-07:00

On Friday July 11th, 2008 my third workout building up to 100 push ups. The plan is to hit a higher amount of push ups overall with a little longer rest between sets. Again I did not pay attention to the instructions on the last bout and I did not rest long enough between sets. I still did good but I certainly will be paying attention to the rest periods on this next attempt.

Day 2 (100 push up quest)

2008-07-09T21:05:00.001-07:00

After a good rest yesterday, I performed my second day of the 100 push up program. It consisted of push up in sets of 1x9, 1x8, 1x6, 1x5 and 1x10 plus a bonus 1x3. I'll be doing some more stretches in a bit to make sure that I stay limber or at least improve.The one thing I can say is that I felt really strong. I did a total of 41 push up plus a 1.5 mile walk and sprints. I earned my carbs

The Saga Continues...

2008-07-09T09:07:00.001-07:00

Today is my second day of training to get to the 100 push up max. I'm including a stretching program on my routines on a more structured basis to prevent injuries as experienced last week. Nothing major but certainly annoying!I need to be more limber and the tightness around my shoulders and generally my left side are somewhat inhibitting. This morning I had beef stew, chicken and vegetabels for

100 pushups

2008-07-07T07:02:00.003-07:00

I began my quest to hit 100 consecutive pushups yesterday. Typical guy, I read the manual carefully after I started and found some parts that did not fit anywhere. So I went back to review the program.Where I got that I was supposed to do them every day, I have no idea. But here is what happen. I did 10 pushups on my initial test. That same day (Sunday), I did 3x9 and 2x8 for a total of 43

Pancakes after a workout

2008-07-05T12:24:00.001-07:00

Since I joined the Precision Nutrition forum and getting the plan, I've learned a few things that have helped me break the plateau I was stock in for months.I'm eating vegetables on most meals in the day. The other is the timing of eating carb loaded foods like pancakes. This is the recipe I've adapted to my life style.I call the kettle bell pancakes not necessarily because of the ingredients

Strength "Challange"

2008-07-04T23:56:00.001-07:00

While visiting the Precision Nutrition forum I came across a program called Greasing the Groove (GTG). It's designed to improve workout performance in certain exercises (push ups, pull ups, sit ups). So I'm on it. Coincidentally I came across this site: http://www.hundredpushups.com/ which details a program to increase your push up max to 100 plus. Six weeks to a hundred push ups. Interesting and

Swimming bout

2008-07-04T21:26:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I've been in the pool. I just saw the Olympic trials and while the only competition I'll see is if I join the masters, I'm ready for a dip in the fast lane. Mike Phelps and Dara Torres sure look smooth in the water. That's what I have in common. Not speed but smoothness. So here we go. Time to get my swim workout book out. And for the las time, Dara Torres is NOT OLD!

The new kid in town

2008-06-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

This is my new acquisition. Lead shot, sand, these and other items are what could go in it to vary the weight. The handle is quite large. We'll see how it goes.More info here: http://www.artofstrength.com/OnlineStore/reloadable/tabid/351/Default.aspx

Kettlebell Pancakes

2008-06-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

The healthiest pancakes on the planet! What I’m about to describe is highly classified. The recipe described therein is highly energizing. No need for coffee if you do this. Disclaimer: Following the recipe below should be done only if you are in great shape or getting there. I’m no a doctor, consult your doctor before following any strenuous activities. Damage to your kitchen is your

Protect your brain with daily caffeine

2008-06-09T09:16:00.001-07:00

Protect your brain with daily caffeinePosted using ShareThis

54:05.4

2008-06-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

My new PR, running home. I beat my previous time by 32 seconds. Other numbers. Average heart rate 148bpm. 808 calories. On my way.I'm also beginning to see some photos of my daughter's wedding. Hoping for more soon.

54:37

2008-05-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

My new PR, running from work to my home. In a couple of weeks I'll beat this time if only for a few seconds less.

The week after

2008-05-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

Still waiting for the wedding photos and the video. Being that I've photographed many weddings before, not having many photos of my daughter's wedding is driving me patty!

And so it happened

2008-05-12T12:41:00.001-07:00

After all the pre-wedding caos (see previous post), everything came together. This photo taken by a good friend of ours just does it for me. I feel really good when I look at it. Now the only thing I wished is that the festivities lasted way longer than they did. Hey that's an idea. We're going to have another party, soon!My daughter and friends who made the whole thing possible!

Project Management 101

2008-05-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

A project has been defined as something that has a starting and end date. A wedding for example is a project. It begins at a given date and ends on the wedding date. A bathroom or two to be remodeled are also a project. The project ends when remodeling of bathroom(s) comes to a completion. What is required for successful completion of said projects? Definitely a project plan is needed for

Fitness Hype

2008-05-04T21:34:00.000-07:00

Some time ago (six years to be exact), I begun a journey. I went to get a health checkup and found out that I was borderline diabetic. Is there really such a thing as borderline anything? Ok, was getting very close to it. My weight was 284lbs. I blamed it on my clothing and my shoes. Of course eating a whole box of Italian cookies did not help. For the first time I looked at myself without

2.74

2008-04-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

This morning I went out for a short walk/run. According to my GPS it was 2.74 miles give or take a few feet. I averaged a speed of 3.8 miles per hour. What's in between is the important thing. I warmed up with a 2 minute walk followed by a 5 minute run. After which I did eight (8) all out wind sprints. The whole thing took only about 30 minutes in which I used 457 calories.This type of workout