RJ's Blogtastic Universe

I’ve been a little frustrated with my weight loss adventure lately. I’ve been making it five days a week to the gym and eaten reasonably well for about a month now, and I am still fighting the same five pounds or so. What is up with this? Apparently, the weight training is not the best idea at this stage in the game. I do weight training because I enjoy it – it’s great meditation, you know? I also like being able to challenge myself and lift a little more each time – it keeps my mind from getting bored of my workout routine. A bored RJ will always find alternative entertainment, so in order to stay interested, I was lifting weights.

Why this isn’t a fantastic idea – the needle on the scale never moves, even if you’re doing well. Muscle weighs more than fat. So while you lose fat, you gain back just as much (or more) poundage from the muscle you’re gaining. Discouragement sets in, and Ben and Jerry begin to make house calls. (Phish Phood – dude. What an excellent example of an ice cream flavor.)

So don’t let this happen to you, because I’m not going to let it happen to me. I’ve come a long way, and I’m not ready to give up over this! The new routine started today – it’s the all cardio, all the time channel. Positive aspect: I did burn way more calories in less time. My next challenge is to keep myself from getting bored on the elliptical machine.

Ok, so I did not know this at all: late night eating changes nothing, provided you are still under your calorie count for the day. I heard this last night from my friend Aaron, who has some experience on these matters. I scoffed. I really thought it made a difference. In fact, I’ve been telling everyone that it’s one of my main secrets, not eating past a certain time of night. The flip side of that, of course, is that when I do eat later than the approved time, I feel guilty about it.

Well, screw guilt, officially. The pathway to a skinnier me can be dotted with late night food, as long as it’s not crappy food. I feel the metabolism gods smiling on me today…

Due to some scholastic commitments, I did not work out today. However, I am still under on my calorie count. I’ve noticed that I have been bouncing up and down a bit, lately. I think it’s time to get a scale at home. The ones at the gym are never synched with each other, and I sometimes have problems with math. I’ll get back on track yet!!

That’s all for today… feed yourself well.

I had a magnificent idea today. One of the components of my thesis project is an “IT Workshop” for small businesses/nonprofits in the Omaha metro area. I gather a few of my IT friends, small business owners come up with a list of common difficulties, and we all get together and figure out better ways of doing things. If you know me at all, you know this is right up my alley – better ways to do the same old thing has always thrilled me. This IT Workshop – or maybe a series of them – will be held through the spring, with possible extension into the summer, if necessary.

I’ve done many of these interactions over the years, with differing results. Whether we’re successful or not depends on many factors, but the most important factor seems to be self-efficacy. That type of “I can do this” mentality is generally a recipe for success, at least in my experience. The question is, how much of a part does it play? Is it as necessary as I think it is? Is it the most important factor, and how can we measure this? Hmmm…

As I was having this idea, I saw an image in my head (typical RJ behavior) of myself in front of a room of people, leading a sort of 10-minute session that is geared toward helping achieve an “I can do this” mentality before the IT teaching begins. For a control group, we could do the same sort of IT teaching without the ten minute session at the beginning. We could give surveys before and after the teaching sessions, and follow up by phone a few months later.

I am excited about this. We may have something here.

Today I cracked the 160 lb barrier – now down to 159.8. Yay… It’s been awhile since I’ve written, but there has been some progress. My eating has been pretty on track this week, which is always good. Also, my plan to exercise at the same time every day is proving fruitful. Consistency breeds results, isn’t that what they say?

Speaking of fruitful, let’s talk about pomegranates. As worldly as I am, I never actually had one of these until a few weeks ago, at a friend’s house. I discovered a while ago that when changing your eating habits, it’s a good idea to try new foods. Reasoning: when food gets boring, it’s easier to stray off of a diet. Anyway, I really enjoy this fruit. Why? Because it’s kind of an adventure. The process of de-seeding one of these isn’t difficult, but it does take a while. Food that takes a little more work is good for me, especially because it means that I’m less likely to overindulge. Also, one pomegranate is about 105 calories, so that works for me as well.

That’s about all for today – I’m really loving this opportunity to share whatever progress I’m making. It’s a way to accentuate the positive, you know? I have spent so much of my life only paying attention to the negative aspects of my body – it feels nice to make a change in that pattern.

Darlings. It’s that time again, and as always I’m attempting to do things a bit differently this semester. I always get so stressed, but I think this time that it’s nothing that a positive attitude and some sharper organizational skills can’t fix. At any rate, what do I have to lose by trying a new plan? (I’m going with “nothing” for that answer, Chuck…)

Things I’m trying to avoid this semester:

• Worthless stress. Seriously, in the long run there is very little difference between an A- and a B+, except for my own ego gratification.
• Throwing up after I read the syllabus. Really, it never turns out badly for me – I just think that after many years of being in school, that this is the semester that it will all change. I’m going to try some positive messages this time. Again, I have nothing to lose – and possibly much to gain. I’ll be reporting on my progress.
• Focusing only on school. My brain gets tired, but the tricky thing is, it doesn’t know it’s getting tired – until it stops working completely.
• Being more accountable. it helps me feel better about things.

Well, that’s it for now – I know it’s short, but short is beautiful!!

It’s been a bit of a questionable holiday season, I must admit. Because of some different circumstances, I ended up missing many of my favorite holiday traditions. However, my favorite holiday went off without a hitch. New Year’s Eve is (of course) my favorite, and yesterday I was able to do everything I wanted to do. One of my favorite things is to deep clean my apartment. Not just clean, but do things I’ve needed to do for a long time, and get rid of things I don’t need. It’s pretty liberating. I think Jazz always wonders if we’re moving, because so many bags are leaving the apartment. I still have a ways to go before I start school again on the 11th, but I got a good start.

Purging stuff is pretty spiritual. I kind of like it. It’s an opportunity to realize that the things I possess don’t really define me as an individual. If a flying cabbage hit me in the head tomorrow, and I perished, people wouldn’t stand around at my funeral and talk about how much they were going to miss the bookshelves in my living room.

As always, I celebrated New Year’s Eve at the Millard Club. In fact, I was surrounded by friends most of the day. I’m an extremely lucky person. We did the usual karaoke bit, as well – it was a good time. I will have to say, though, that confetti really does get everywhere. I tried to shake it off at the party, but from the looks of my carpet, I wasn’t completely successful. I went home shortly after midnight to snuggle with Jazz and fall asleep on the couch.

All in all, a successful holiday. Tomorrow I’m helping to host a party, which promises to be a lot of fun. It’ll be another opportunity to catch up with some people I haven’t seen in a while, and hug nearly everyone I know. I really like those days. In fact, thinking about the last year, I’ve never felt better about myself and where I’m at in life right now. I’m a little different than most people I know. My goals are a little different, and I don’t have the same things that most other people my age have. It’s just that this year, I don’t feel uncomfortable with that at all. I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be, doing what I am meant to be doing.

2010 is looking pretty good too, so far. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted!!

Today’s stats – 164.4, burned about 400 calories at the gym, under on my overall calorie count for the day.

Here’s a little something I have discovered about holiday eating: Getting a bit off track is not nearly as damaging when you are on track most of the time. When I’m really watching what I eat, I’ll only go off track for a couple of days, rather than a couple of weeks. Also, I feel my chances of losing any extra poundage is better when it hasn’t been there for long.

I did put on some extra this holiday season, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it has been in the past. Also, it was remarkable easy to get back on the elliptical. I’ve started a new workout schedule, where I visit the gym at the same time every day. That way, i don’t have to “decide” whether or not I should go to the gym. My car just points there at a certain time every day. I’m a lot more likely to get there if I don’t give myself an opportunity to talk myself out of it.

On the nutrition side, I’ve discovered a new fruit – the pummelo. These are basically just huge grapefruits, except they are a bit sweeter than regular grapefruits. They are only around for the first three months of the year, so get them while you can. If you like grapefruits (and I really love them), you’ll like the pummelo.

Until tomorrow, then!