The next item on the agenda for becoming healthier is participating in an FC Health Assessment class. They asked for volunteers to work with the undergraduate students and so I decided to take them up on the offer for a free health assessment and more.
My portion of the class starts on Thursday. TT will be assessing my health and helping me meet my goals. Here are the goals I look to set and accomplish by the end of May:
- Weight loss (Need to be advised at what is realistic)
- Increased Flexibility (Able to touch my toes without feeling the stress in my legs.)
- Run a 5K without dying.
- Improve my cholesterol and the various components of it.
I will continue to update you on these goals as well as the Dump Your Plump status. In ways they will start to overlap one another at least for the next 5 weeks until Dump Your Plump is over.
Good Luck on your health goals! Stay positive and keep looking towards a positive outcome!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Dump Your Plump - 5 Full Weeks In
With five more weeks to go, it is exciting that my large pants are starting to fall off of me and the next size is starting to fit a little less snug. I have met my initial goal of 7 lbs and hope to maintain a nice consistent weight loss for the remaining 5 weeks. I look forward to the day that I can truly fit back into my latest wardrobe and maybe eventually fitting into some clothes from the wardrobe prior to that one.
Current weight loss 15 lbs.
After Week 5 - 192 (-3 lbs)
After Week 4 - 195 (0 lbs)
After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207
Current weight loss 15 lbs.
After Week 5 - 192 (-3 lbs)
After Week 4 - 195 (0 lbs)
After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207
Monday, February 09, 2009
25 Random Things About Me
For those on Facebook, you may have already seen these, but for those not, I thought I would share with you what the rest of the world has learned about me this past weekend. For more information about the goal of the list, read details below the list.
1. My current car is 6 years old and has 137,000 miles (22,800 mi/year). Over half of those miles (78,000) were put on within a two year span. The car currently sits in great neglect lucky to move more than once a week, but it still has great adventures to see family and friends. Most friends say I am never in one place maybe that is true, maybe it is not. I do enjoy a nice drive through the countryside.
2. The trunk of my car contains a large blue Rubbermaid container (contents: a matte black Snell certified helmet, tarp and blanket, jumper cables, air compressor, window cleaner, paper towels, de-icer, sunscreen, Sahara Sombrero, blue chalk, flashlight), two folding chairs, magnetic numbers and letters (during the summer), spare tire, and spare tire tool kit.
3. From the age of 3 through 7th grade (10 years), I took dance lessons (tap & ballet with a few years of jazz, toe, and summer acrobatics/trampoline). I know this is shocking to those who have ever seen me attempt to dance or keep a beat/rhythm because I can’t.
4. My current job is the start of my second professional career. After spending six years as a web developer, application programmer, and database administrator, I left the technology field to pursue my desires to work with young people and help develop strong leaders in all aspects of our community.
5. I over analyze everything including the creation of this list.
6. While spending two months in Western Australia (Perth), I played basketball for the Lakeside women (Western Australian State Basketball League, second-tiered semi-professional basketball league), coached an under-9 boys basketball team, learned to kick a footy, had a kangaroo eating out of my hand, worked with the youth of the church and local schools, fell in love with Tim Tams, and much more.
7. One of the weirdest/strangest things I have ever eaten was fried cow’s blood in Puerto Rico.
8. August 1993 included a 24+ hour bus ride to Denver, Colorado for World Youth Day. I saw Pope John Paul II and still have the bandana that a kind soul gave me on the sick bus.
9. Photography is a great passion of mine. I stopped taking as many pictures years ago because I always felt like people were looking at me funny. A camera use to be attached to my every move and everything was documented. To give you an idea of my crazy picture taking: Australia 600 plus film pictures in 2 months and Ghana 2,100 plus digital pictures plus several rolls of film pictures in 2 weeks.
10. A dream of mine since freshman year of college is to have my own black & white dark room. I received honorable mention for an experimental black & white photograph in undergrad.
11. I am a pack rat rarely ever throwing anything away. That is why there are boxes and boxes of items waiting to go into scrapbooks from college years to friends’ weddings and baby showers.
12. Current collections include shot glasses, postcards, key chains, porcelain dolls, UK basketball posters, bibles, and money (state quarters, pennies, foreign currency). Collections not as frequently added to these days include pencils, pens, unicorns, stamps, baseball cards, NASCAR collectibles, and books (most have not been read).
13. Christmas is my favorite holiday and winter my favorite season. (I love the beautiful white snow outside.)
14. Often times, my first experience at events will never be topped by future experiences.
First NCAA basketball game 1994 SEC Championship game in the Pyramid, Memphis, TN, Kentucky defeated Florida. We had seats about 10 rows up from the floor across from the UK bench.
First NCAA football game UK vs #1 LSU 2007 in Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, KY. I had seats in the end zone right in the middle of the LSU Indianapolis Alumni section. (Very nice fans to those of us wearing Wildcat blue.)
15. Would you like to catch me on IM? You probably can from any medium (ICQ, AIM, Yahoo, MSN, GMail, Facebook) you use and some may have never known of their existence. Am I missing any?
16. Summer of 1998 included the creation of my own personal website and unlike today, I had to actually figure out HTML and design the site. There was also a cool little chat feature (at the time) that I added to the site to talk back and forth with friends.
17. The one thing you will always find in my refrigerator is cheese. Yes, I am 100% addicted to cheese and working very hard to reduce the intake. There is a crisis when the refrigerator is without cheese.
18. Snooze once upon a time was not in my vocabulary or in arms reach. I truly was a morning person except on Saturday’s. Then summer of 1998 happened and 12 hour shifts at campus safety on weekends. Life has never been the same and snooze has turned into two alarm clocks.
19. I have partaken in homecoming festivities at Georgetown College every year since I started in 1996, only missing the last two Songfests.
20. So the second of the 25 in this list still has you perplexed as why I have a helmet, magnetic numbers and letters, and blue chalk in my trunk. These are all necessary things in order to autocross or solo on a Sunday afternoon. Quick: Cones are setup in a pattern in a parking lot and cars are individually timed.
21. Besides autocross, I also love to road rally and am one mean navigator. Quick: Each team is given a set of directions to navigate through the countryside at or below speed. The goal is to hit hidden controls exactly on time based on speed and distance.
22. The first thing that pops in my mind when someone talks about skiing is water skiing not snow skiing. I spent my entire childhood on the lake water skiing and finally learned how to slalom ski in college before going on hiatus for the past 9 years.
23. The conclusion and beginning of a new year of life must be celebrated to its full extent no matter the year. Therefore I love to celebrate and wish others a Happy Birthday.
24. Many are scared of the dentist but I am not as the worst thing to happen to me at the dentist was getting my four wisdom teeth cut out. (Knock on wood) I have never had a cavity.
25. If you like to play cards, board games, and other logic/analytic games, you have found a friend who will play about anytime, anywhere. But if you are interested in video games, charades, trivia, and related games, then definitely do not call me. Also I should warn you that I am a competitive individual.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apparently, you're supposed to write a note of 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. Then, tag 25 people. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people - in the right hand corner of the app - then click publish.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. My current car is 6 years old and has 137,000 miles (22,800 mi/year). Over half of those miles (78,000) were put on within a two year span. The car currently sits in great neglect lucky to move more than once a week, but it still has great adventures to see family and friends. Most friends say I am never in one place maybe that is true, maybe it is not. I do enjoy a nice drive through the countryside.
2. The trunk of my car contains a large blue Rubbermaid container (contents: a matte black Snell certified helmet, tarp and blanket, jumper cables, air compressor, window cleaner, paper towels, de-icer, sunscreen, Sahara Sombrero, blue chalk, flashlight), two folding chairs, magnetic numbers and letters (during the summer), spare tire, and spare tire tool kit.
3. From the age of 3 through 7th grade (10 years), I took dance lessons (tap & ballet with a few years of jazz, toe, and summer acrobatics/trampoline). I know this is shocking to those who have ever seen me attempt to dance or keep a beat/rhythm because I can’t.
4. My current job is the start of my second professional career. After spending six years as a web developer, application programmer, and database administrator, I left the technology field to pursue my desires to work with young people and help develop strong leaders in all aspects of our community.
5. I over analyze everything including the creation of this list.
6. While spending two months in Western Australia (Perth), I played basketball for the Lakeside women (Western Australian State Basketball League, second-tiered semi-professional basketball league), coached an under-9 boys basketball team, learned to kick a footy, had a kangaroo eating out of my hand, worked with the youth of the church and local schools, fell in love with Tim Tams, and much more.
7. One of the weirdest/strangest things I have ever eaten was fried cow’s blood in Puerto Rico.
8. August 1993 included a 24+ hour bus ride to Denver, Colorado for World Youth Day. I saw Pope John Paul II and still have the bandana that a kind soul gave me on the sick bus.
9. Photography is a great passion of mine. I stopped taking as many pictures years ago because I always felt like people were looking at me funny. A camera use to be attached to my every move and everything was documented. To give you an idea of my crazy picture taking: Australia 600 plus film pictures in 2 months and Ghana 2,100 plus digital pictures plus several rolls of film pictures in 2 weeks.
10. A dream of mine since freshman year of college is to have my own black & white dark room. I received honorable mention for an experimental black & white photograph in undergrad.
11. I am a pack rat rarely ever throwing anything away. That is why there are boxes and boxes of items waiting to go into scrapbooks from college years to friends’ weddings and baby showers.
12. Current collections include shot glasses, postcards, key chains, porcelain dolls, UK basketball posters, bibles, and money (state quarters, pennies, foreign currency). Collections not as frequently added to these days include pencils, pens, unicorns, stamps, baseball cards, NASCAR collectibles, and books (most have not been read).
13. Christmas is my favorite holiday and winter my favorite season. (I love the beautiful white snow outside.)
14. Often times, my first experience at events will never be topped by future experiences.
First NCAA basketball game 1994 SEC Championship game in the Pyramid, Memphis, TN, Kentucky defeated Florida. We had seats about 10 rows up from the floor across from the UK bench.
First NCAA football game UK vs #1 LSU 2007 in Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, KY. I had seats in the end zone right in the middle of the LSU Indianapolis Alumni section. (Very nice fans to those of us wearing Wildcat blue.)
15. Would you like to catch me on IM? You probably can from any medium (ICQ, AIM, Yahoo, MSN, GMail, Facebook) you use and some may have never known of their existence. Am I missing any?
16. Summer of 1998 included the creation of my own personal website and unlike today, I had to actually figure out HTML and design the site. There was also a cool little chat feature (at the time) that I added to the site to talk back and forth with friends.
17. The one thing you will always find in my refrigerator is cheese. Yes, I am 100% addicted to cheese and working very hard to reduce the intake. There is a crisis when the refrigerator is without cheese.
18. Snooze once upon a time was not in my vocabulary or in arms reach. I truly was a morning person except on Saturday’s. Then summer of 1998 happened and 12 hour shifts at campus safety on weekends. Life has never been the same and snooze has turned into two alarm clocks.
19. I have partaken in homecoming festivities at Georgetown College every year since I started in 1996, only missing the last two Songfests.
20. So the second of the 25 in this list still has you perplexed as why I have a helmet, magnetic numbers and letters, and blue chalk in my trunk. These are all necessary things in order to autocross or solo on a Sunday afternoon. Quick: Cones are setup in a pattern in a parking lot and cars are individually timed.
21. Besides autocross, I also love to road rally and am one mean navigator. Quick: Each team is given a set of directions to navigate through the countryside at or below speed. The goal is to hit hidden controls exactly on time based on speed and distance.
22. The first thing that pops in my mind when someone talks about skiing is water skiing not snow skiing. I spent my entire childhood on the lake water skiing and finally learned how to slalom ski in college before going on hiatus for the past 9 years.
23. The conclusion and beginning of a new year of life must be celebrated to its full extent no matter the year. Therefore I love to celebrate and wish others a Happy Birthday.
24. Many are scared of the dentist but I am not as the worst thing to happen to me at the dentist was getting my four wisdom teeth cut out. (Knock on wood) I have never had a cavity.
25. If you like to play cards, board games, and other logic/analytic games, you have found a friend who will play about anytime, anywhere. But if you are interested in video games, charades, trivia, and related games, then definitely do not call me. Also I should warn you that I am a competitive individual.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apparently, you're supposed to write a note of 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. Then, tag 25 people. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people - in the right hand corner of the app - then click publish.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dump Your Plump - 3 Full Weeks In
Wow...the weight keeps coming off to my great surprise. I am a bit concerned about the upcoming weekend and following week because I will be on call for the first time since this journey started. On-call means being up late and really not wanting to get up in the morning. But I will report back next week with an update, good or bad.
Current weight loss 12 lbs.
After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207
Thanks to all those who overtime have helped motivate me! Soon I will start actually running and maybe compete in a 5K with you. Give me a target date.
Current weight loss 12 lbs.
After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207
Thanks to all those who overtime have helped motivate me! Soon I will start actually running and maybe compete in a 5K with you. Give me a target date.
For my readers or just my personal notetaking...
Do I have any readers left? I feel the answer to be no, but surely there is one or two of you still out there. My latest posts just do not seek any comments or thoughts from those avid readers :-) Maybe, I can trick myself into believing that people are reading but like me are scanning quickly and have little time to comment. Whatever it is, I hope someone is enjoying my posts.
Monday, February 02, 2009
What type of electronic device do you use as a phone?
Is it a phone, a radio, a tv, an organizer, your to do lists electronic, a camera, a calendar, email conduit? What exactly does your electronic device that was once just a phone now do? Do you really need all of that information and abilities at your fingertip?
As many of you know, I am always a stage or two behind technology to say the least. I have no huge desires to be on the cutting edge or maybe in the near proximity of it. There are various reasons for this reluctance to move to the new and leave the old: costs, needs, familiarity, comfort, costs, simplicity.
Another issue these days is not working with all of my tech friends, I really have no clue what is out there these days in terms of cell phones. So if you were to buy a new cell phone, what would you purchase and why? I currently have a 3 to 4+ year old Razr and have AT&T service. I really don't use my phone much except to talk to friends and family. I definitely need Bluetooth capabilities for headless earpiece, but besides that I am not sure I need a whole lot else.
I appreciate your advice and thoughts.
As many of you know, I am always a stage or two behind technology to say the least. I have no huge desires to be on the cutting edge or maybe in the near proximity of it. There are various reasons for this reluctance to move to the new and leave the old: costs, needs, familiarity, comfort, costs, simplicity.
Another issue these days is not working with all of my tech friends, I really have no clue what is out there these days in terms of cell phones. So if you were to buy a new cell phone, what would you purchase and why? I currently have a 3 to 4+ year old Razr and have AT&T service. I really don't use my phone much except to talk to friends and family. I definitely need Bluetooth capabilities for headless earpiece, but besides that I am not sure I need a whole lot else.
I appreciate your advice and thoughts.
Ice, Snow, Sleet, Electricity, Phone, Gas, ......
Wow what a week was had by many. Here in Indiana, we received around a foot of snow and sleet. Thank goodness! I will take a foot of snow any day over the massive amounts of freezing rain and ice that hit Kentucky.
Thanks to all of those who have prayed for my family, who have gone out to help those throughout the state, and continue to provide support and prayers!
My hometown was quite crippled with all of the ice. Curfews were set and I even saw that liquor sales were to stop at 10:30 in the evening. Electricity went out to many on Tuesday morning and did not come back for several days. I still have some family and friends without power though I believe a majority of them have regained electricity. Phone lines are working much better now after being down for several days and then very spotty for several more days.
Communication has been an interesting task over the past week. A lot of communication occurred between family and friends outside of the area who in one way or another had contact with their family down home. The connections created by Facebook helped me know that a) most of my family was out of power b) the reason I could not contact family was because the only phone service was Verizon. Without Facebook, I would have continued to sit in the dark unknowing of what was really happening. Friends' statuses were updated all in search for any news of those back home and the situation.
The stories of the family pulling together to help one another and others sharing and providing are wonderful. May God continue to bless and keep everyone safe who need power and who are working to provide power and clean the roads.
Check out this link for pictures of the Snow of 2009.
Thanks to all of those who have prayed for my family, who have gone out to help those throughout the state, and continue to provide support and prayers!
My hometown was quite crippled with all of the ice. Curfews were set and I even saw that liquor sales were to stop at 10:30 in the evening. Electricity went out to many on Tuesday morning and did not come back for several days. I still have some family and friends without power though I believe a majority of them have regained electricity. Phone lines are working much better now after being down for several days and then very spotty for several more days.
Communication has been an interesting task over the past week. A lot of communication occurred between family and friends outside of the area who in one way or another had contact with their family down home. The connections created by Facebook helped me know that a) most of my family was out of power b) the reason I could not contact family was because the only phone service was Verizon. Without Facebook, I would have continued to sit in the dark unknowing of what was really happening. Friends' statuses were updated all in search for any news of those back home and the situation.
The stories of the family pulling together to help one another and others sharing and providing are wonderful. May God continue to bless and keep everyone safe who need power and who are working to provide power and clean the roads.
Check out this link for pictures of the Snow of 2009.
Prayers for Baby Bailey
Baby Bailey was born Friday morning in the midst of the Ice Storm 2009 chaos in Western Kentucky. She is a beautiful little girl weighing in at 7 lbs 13 ounces. She joins the ever growing family as the 10th great grandchild.
I ask for your prayers for her and her family as she was born with an infant heart condition called "Transposition of the Great Vessels of the Heart". Basically, her aorta which is suppose to carry blood to the body from the left ventricle and her pulmonary artery which is suppose to carry blood to the lungs from the right ventricle are swapped.
She is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday, February 3 to swap the arteries. After speaking with my friend DG, I have learned a lot about the process and though there are potential complications. Bailey's condition seems to be a very positive one. She has been doing very well thus far and as long as all of today's tests turned out okay we are looking forward to a great prognosis.
Some have asked if the condition was found prior or after birth. It was discovered after birth and after speaking to my friend, it is not something that can be detected in prenatal scans. The fact that she was carried to full term and is otherwise healthy provides her with a great prognosis and a quick recovery.
Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers! I will update you on her condition soon.
I ask for your prayers for her and her family as she was born with an infant heart condition called "Transposition of the Great Vessels of the Heart". Basically, her aorta which is suppose to carry blood to the body from the left ventricle and her pulmonary artery which is suppose to carry blood to the lungs from the right ventricle are swapped.
She is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday, February 3 to swap the arteries. After speaking with my friend DG, I have learned a lot about the process and though there are potential complications. Bailey's condition seems to be a very positive one. She has been doing very well thus far and as long as all of today's tests turned out okay we are looking forward to a great prognosis.
Some have asked if the condition was found prior or after birth. It was discovered after birth and after speaking to my friend, it is not something that can be detected in prenatal scans. The fact that she was carried to full term and is otherwise healthy provides her with a great prognosis and a quick recovery.
Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers! I will update you on her condition soon.
Dump Your Plump - 2 Full Weeks In
Update on how things are going with Dump Your Plump. We are now 2 full weeks in and completed the third weigh in today.
The Start - 207
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
I believe a lot of the loss has come down to portion control and what I eat because I have not really increased the exercise. I am walking 5 days a week for approx 30 mins and 2 miles.
The other key is the motivation of knowing that I have to weigh in on Monday mornings. Otherwise, I know will power would not have succeeded last night at the Super Bowl party. There are still 8 more weeks to go and who knows what will happen.
I encourage you to find a friend or a group to motivate and keep you honest about your goals for weight loss, exercise, etc. It is definitely one of the best motivators and is keeping me on task. Look for another update soon.
The Start - 207
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
I believe a lot of the loss has come down to portion control and what I eat because I have not really increased the exercise. I am walking 5 days a week for approx 30 mins and 2 miles.
The other key is the motivation of knowing that I have to weigh in on Monday mornings. Otherwise, I know will power would not have succeeded last night at the Super Bowl party. There are still 8 more weeks to go and who knows what will happen.
I encourage you to find a friend or a group to motivate and keep you honest about your goals for weight loss, exercise, etc. It is definitely one of the best motivators and is keeping me on task. Look for another update soon.
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