Jun 272010

Yes.  Yes.  Yes.  Pardon me?  Yes.  Still injured.  Yes it is taking a long time.  Very little blood flow to connective tissue and all that….  No I’m not getting any younger?  Yes I’ve had it looked at.  Yes.

Quit acting like I’m a teenager?  Yes that’s good advice.  Yes.  No I haven’t lost any more weight.  If I get sick?  I’m sure I’ll be fine.  Yes I am eating.  I know I’m not 18 years old.  Yes yes.

Nope I’m quitting BJJ for sure.  No more running or dieting either.  In fact I’m going to give up on enjoying life completely and develop an underachieving and self absorbed attitude just like everyone who thinks they know how to make my life “better”.   Wish I’d kept my fat clothes…oh yeah, never had any.

I don’t think much of people who resort to the use of profanity.  Guess that makes me a hypocrite.

May 202010

May 182010

You wake up, shower drive, meetings, computer stuff, drive, physio therapy, tortellini and tomato sauce, dishes, kiss kiss, bang bang…. blah blah.

Then someone nice gives you a call and is so positive that you smile.

Then you ask the boys if, on the off chance, they might consider contemplating, the possibility of riding my coveted Rocky Mountain race bike beside me while I run in the dark?  Who am I kidding?  They’re on their computers.

Then, I decide that bed is a better option, I get a drink, and Aidan brings in the dogs.

Now Aidan, to be fair, rides beside me a lot.  he always has.  But wait…

“What was that about a bike ride in the dark?”, Liam asks.

So we’re back.  Ran 7.5km on dark trails and quiet streets.  Liam rode and lit the way with my Petzl head lamp.  And we talked.

Life is very very good.

May 092010

So no BJJ for a while if I’m smart. I rowed today and that didn’t hurt. Tomorrow will run. We’ll see how it is tomorrow night but I’m guessing it needs a couple of weeks rest. Minimum. CRAP.

Apr 132010

Stupid post title I know.

I am STILL doing the Fast 5 Intermittent Fast.  Who would have guessed?    How I last until a measly sub-1000 calorie dinner every day I’ll never know.   My scale vacillates at present between 165.5 and 164 but is steadfastly convinced that body-fat is at 12.5%.  It’s full of electronics so I know it’s wrong.   My face does look a lot thinner in the mirror and I have tightened my belt a notch.  I can pull my size 32 jeans over my hips without undoing them so the belt is mandatory.  I think the last time I was sub-32 was in my 20′s.  Cool.

In any case, there are times when I am hungry and long stretches where I am not.  Staying hydrated seems to help.  I seem to be able to run and work out at the usual intensity levels, a fact that baffles me.

In any case, once my tournament is done I will stop the intermittent fast but I do not plan to gain back any fat.  I may gain weight… but it will be muscle.

Right now I am nursing a sore shoulder and a stomach full of dinner.  I’ll kill some time on my guitar before my workout.

Cheers

Apr 072010

I say yes.

I’m still on an intermittent fast.  I think I am burning fat.  Ketones are definitely being produced which is actually annoying.  I am not suffering by any means.

Tonight I had a great but clean meal with Annette.  Chicken with carrots, parsnips and onions and acouple of glasses of red wine.

After the boys went to bed I went for a run in the rain.  I actually felt really good.  Light on my feet.  I have always loved to run.  600 calories burned.  A bit of an endorphin high.   Forty-six and still flying.

Now I’m turning off the lights.

Mar 262010

I am starting to question this North American obsession with food.   I have been trying the Fast 5 diet for 5 days now and I am starting to think that I have spent my life believing I needed more food.

Given the mental anguish (real or imaginary) I suffered at first, I would have thought that I’d be skinnier than a super-model by now.  Not the case.   My scales registered a 2 pound drop from my start weight this morning.  2 lbs is not even outside the range of accuracy of my scale.  So despite a reduced calorie intake and having maintained my exercise regime – I’VE LOST NO WEIGHT.  So why am I feeling this good?

The articles I have read online suggest that intermittent fasting could result in:

  • Maintenance of muscle mass
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Reduced blood glucose and insulin levels
  • Increased fatty acid oxidation
  • Reduced oxidative damage
  • Increased cellular stress resistance
  • Decreased risks associated with degenerative diseases of aging (cancers, heart diseases, diabetes, Alzheimers)

I could live with that.  I’ve also noticed a significant reduction in the swelling on my injured hand this week.  Coincidence?  AND I am stunned at how few calories I am consuming.  STUNNED.  Then again I have had some hunger pangs.  And the odd light headed moment.  But they have become fewer and far between in the last two days.  Maybe I’m starving to death and have an eating disorder.  Ah….No.

Anyway, I’m not here for the health benefits (which is pathetic).   I’m Fast Fiving it to try and get into the light weight class at my first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament in Toronto in a month.  Okay that’s a bit of a fabrication…I also want to be leaner.   I just feel better and more confident when I lose the belly fat.   I am extremely curious to see whether this forty six year, single father, can get lean without getting skinny or sickly looking.   So I am using this tournament as a bit of an excuse. 

This is an “intervention“.  I heard about it at my seminar at Gym Jones back in 2008.  They told me that the results would be “shocking”.  Well…SHOCK ME.

Mar 162010

IF, yes IF I ever come into a lot of money…  Then here is my car of choice.

I used to love watching Colin McRae drive. He died, not driving, but in a helicopter crash back in 2007.

Mar 132010

As soon as registration opens I will put in my name for the Ontario BJJ Open In Whitby.  I need to lose weight, find some way to get my fingers to heal a bit more, and do as much rolling as possible between now and April 24th.

Clearly I am out of my mind to be considering this because the thought of being torn to shreds by much younger, stronger, faster and more talented opponents is truly terrifying.  I don’t like competition.

I do like a challenge.  Making weight will be a challenge.  Building some endurance will be a challenge.  Progressing with my skills will be a challenge.  Not injuring my fingers even more as I prepare will be a challenge.

I turn 47 in July.  Kinda old for this sort of thing.  So I’d better get moving.  I’m not going to live forever.

Feb 072010

Ha!

Haven’t been able to train or workout this week due to other commitments so between laundry loads I did a quick Crossfit “Cindy”.  As many sets as possible in 20 minutes of:

  • 5 pullups
  • 10 pushups
  • 15 squats

I stranded 7 seconds at the end so it was close.  Of note:  I managed to do the pullups without stopping all the way up to set 12.  Around set 16 I had to slow down or throw up.

20 sets in all.  1 better than last time and 6 better than when I started using it as a test again.  Good form.  That’s a record.  Now 21 is calling my name.  Yuck.

I wonder if all that time off helped.

Not bad for a guy in his mid 40′s.

Where I bought our Koral & Keiko Gi’s