Thursday, February 28, 2008

C1W2D4


Today I'm facing one of those challenges I have with doing the challenge. I'm spending the day at a work related conference in another city. All day sitting in a chair listening to whatever speaker is up, interspersed with breaks for donuts and a lunch run at whatever greasy spoon restaurant happens to be close by.

Impractical to lug around my own food so I'll probably just eat very little as opposed to settling for junk food all day. Maybe I can find something healthy at lunchtime but I doubt I will get a chance to eat the mid morning and mid afternoon meals suggested by BFL and ignored by the rest of the working world in favor of just a honking big lunch in the middle of the day.

Shouldn't matter. It's not like I'm going to be working out my body much today anyway.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

C1W2D3

Whew!

I think this bug is has finally wound it's way through my body. My voice is still a bit croaky and my energy level is a little on the low side, but I feel ready to rejoin the living.

This was a good opportunity to see if I could continue the Body for Life even when my body didn't feel like it had much life in it. Though I was sick, I continued to eat healthy. Of course, I didn't do any intense exercise but I tried to stay as active as possible.

These things happen. Just because you are trying to live healthy doesn't make you immune to illness or injury. What I've found that is important is to not just throw up your hands and say "screw it" because things aren't working out as planned.

I'm back on track and getting stronger. My weight is down to 211 from 225. My motivation is high. I'm achieving my goals.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

C1W1D7

My Gawd!

It wasn't a cold folks...it was the flu in all its dreaded glory.

I lost over 12 pounds this weeks. Not too hard when you can't eat.

I feel almost human today.

almost

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

C1W1D3

I'm sick. What a great way to start off the challenge.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

C1W1D2

What better way to start off the challenge than with a cold? Coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and generally feeling like crap.

Does that mean I don't exercise the best I can with clogged up sinuses and achy body? Does that mean I forgo my eating plan and sooth myself with comfort foods all day?

Not on your life....or rather, my body for life.

Monday, February 11, 2008

I Can Cook!

And believe me, if I can do it anybody can. My cooking expertise has been generally limited to nuking crap in the microwave or charcoaling animal parts over a fire. Both handy skills but not conducive to preparing healthy balanced meals for the challenge. So...seeing as I either needed to try my hand at actually preparing and cooking meals or be forced to settle for ready to eat or drink thingies; I whipped up this tuna casserole from a recipe I found in the Eating for Life cookbook.


Not bad if I do say so myself. No smoke alarms were triggered and Vicki did not gag while sampling a bite.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Water...the other drink

As a culture we don't think much of water. For most of us, clean and safe drinking water comes out of any tap we choose. It's pretty much always available; unlike a good part of the world where the simple act of finding water that will not scour out your intestinal tract is a bit of a challenge. Heck...we have so much potable water we bathe in it and even throw hundreds of precious gallons on our lawns.

As a result, most of us seem to forget how much we actually need this miracle liquid every day. We drink soda pop, coffee, tea, kool-aid, and even beer..but not a simple glass of water, especially with meals. Even when we do drink water, it tends to be in a bottle flavored and sweetened by chemicals with sometimes a bit of carbonation for kick.

Water isn't cool. Water is boring. But water is absolutely critical for your body to function. There are a lot of things that, doing without, will kill you. Air is at the top of the list. After a few minutes your body will start to shut down without oxygen. Food is another, though it will take you several days or weeks before you keel over by not eating. I seem to remember reading somewhere that you can live about a week without water; though the last couple of days will be extremely unpleasant.

We need water. Every cell in our body is made up mostly of water...and we continually lose it just by breathing, not to mention if any of us are engaging in any activity such as exercise or simply walking around. Many of us are chronically dehydrated. Have headaches? Sore muscles? Tired? Depressed? It may be as simple as not having enough water in your body to efficiently carry out all the thousands of processes that go on.

So before I grab that protein shake, before I take that supplement, before I eat that well balanced and proportioned meal....I'm going to drink a nice tall glass of plain old water. At least ten of them every day.

Here's mud in your eye.