Day 11: Back on track

I'm back on track with my back and core building exercises and eating. My thank you notes site has been having 6,000 visitors a day lately, and I'm partnering with a company that will allow people to send out thank you notes from their computers. It's pretty neat, but time-consuming. Plus, I just signed up for NaMoWriMo, the write a novel in a month challenge. So my time is a bit limited. I hope everyone is doing great. Have a great Day 11.

Day 10: Finish Strong

Things have been hectic and exciting, but I'm gonna focus hard and finish strong. Internet problems last night so this is up late. Hope everybody is doing great. I've gotta get around to all the blogs when I get home. I ate all my points last night. I think I'm negative -5 on the Flex points. Gotta catch up on putting everything into my web tracker. But my internet is so darn slow.

Day 9: History! Change! Hope! Celebration!

Those speeches were amazing tonight. I am so proud, happy, and hopeful about the future. I totally partied my ass off! Had an awesome time. History was made, and I am alive and part of it AND totally out of flex points. Looks like I'm eating a lot of spinach and mushrooms this week. SO worth it!

Day 8: HUNGRY

OMG! I am so unbelievably hungry, and I totally went wild on the free snacks at the USO. I'll log it into my WW program when I'm home and see the damage. Yikes!

Day 7: Woo-hoo Congrats Everybody

One week down! Congratulations everybody for doing such a great job.

I'm so excited I stayed on plan this week despite things getting pretty busy. I ate 25.5 points today, and I wrapped up the week with 14 flex points to spare. So glad that the movie theater popcorn didn't set me back. The trick was no butter, and after the previews are over, I stop eating and just drink water. I get so involved in the movie anyway, I never even miss it. My sister digs it, because she gets most of the popcorn. A win-win.

Day 6: Almost No Sleep

A very quicky post today. Did great on WW, but did have some movie theater popcorn. Haven't had a second to do the tally, but will add first thing in the morning. I've got to get to bed. Happy Day 6. It's almost been a week already. Wow!

Day 5: Halloween Candy-Free Zone

I have lots of work to do tonight, because tomorrow is my weekly 3 Percenters Meeting. We all make goals every week (one spiritual, one health, one charity, and then other life goals) and we commit to completing it by the next week. We bring proof and brainstorm how to help us each reach our full potential and bring in a motivational reading. The people in the group that don't reach their goals have to buy completers coffee. :)

It's fun. My health goal this week was to log all my food 5/7 days. Thanks to the group shred I'm 7 for 7. I've got some business to finish so I don't have to buy coffee. It can get kind of pricey, because a lot of time nearly everybody completes their goals. :)

Rest day for my back exercise today. I did get in my wall push-ups and my stretching. I've got to keep working on my range of motion to avoid re-injury.

WW points today: I ate 23 points. I have 28.5 Flex points still available. Yay! I'm going out to dinner tomorrow night so I'll need to use some. They reset after Sunday, so everything is going according to plan.

The great thing about being single: NO HALLOWEEN CANDY. I live near Universal Studios on the area of Ventura Blvd. that is full of shops in a tucked away building between a cafe and public storage. So I knew there would be no trick or treaters so no reason to buy candy. I'm saving money and calories. I love this apartment.

Day 4: Feeling Skinny

You ever just feel skinny?

It's like those days where I feel fat and nothing fits right and I feel icky but the EXACT opposite. Even though I may weigh just a fraction of a pound lighter than I did last week, I felt skinny today. When I'm eating right and taking care of myself I spend a few extra seconds on my makeup. I walk a little bouncier. I smile even more. Overall, I feel happy. Days like today it's easy to make the right choices. I just love em when they come around. I'm sure the Group Shred is the reason. (There are those OTHER days, but who needs to think about that right now.)

I did some cardio, and I'm getting ready to do my core and back exercises and stayed on my WW Plan. I'm falling a little behind on hitting everybody's blogs, but I'll just keep going down the list and doing my best.

Today I used 21.5 points and have 26 Flex point remaining. Happy Day 4 everybody.


PS You were right Lynda SoCal = Southern California.

Day 3: On the go, but still on plan

Busy day today. I'm exhausted so I'm going to take a little nap, and then hit the blogs. I think I've got it down to hitting half the list one day and the other half the next. So if I missed you yesterday, I'll be checking in on you today.

The greatest thing about SoCal is there's always something healthy on the menu to order. So far today I've eaten 19.5 points, I have 1.5 more to eat and still have 29 points flex points left for the week, which is cool, because there's a yogurt in the fridge that I'm saving for dessert.

I had to eat one of those frozen dinners because I was in a hurry, but what I love to do is when it has sauce (like this had tomato sauce, because it was ravioli), I add extra vegetables to the dish. It makes it feel like more, and I get another fruit & veggie serving in, because I try to hit 5 or 6 of those a day.

HAPPY DAY 3!

Day 2: The Group Shred Continues

Happy Day 2 Everyone!

I've been working on my back and core exercises from my physical therapist, wall push-ups and walking. Plus, for those of you familiar with Weight Watchers, I'm staying within my points. Yesterday I used 22 points. Today I've used 26 points. My remaining flex points for the week is 29.

I haven't been able to find my swimsuit and my extra contact lenses since I came back from the Philippines. They've got to be somewhere. Yesterday, I weight myself 162.5 and 37% body fat on my Tanita scale. I don't know how accurate that scale is, but it will be relative to itself. I don't have a tape measure, but I may pick one up tomorrow and just compare for the rest of the shred. The most important part is to focus on eating clean and shredding hard.

For anyone in the Los Angeles area or will be I'm co-producing and hosting a weekly stand-up comedy show in Beverly Hills at the Roxubury Cafe beginning January 8th. Naturally I'll plug it when it's sooner.

What a difference a year makes! Happy Day One of 14!

Last year my goal was to ditch my walker and get my own coffee and now I walk around pain free for days and days. Everything is possible with a lot of grace, gratitude, and support. I'm dedicated to eating clean and shredding hard these next fourteen days. I'm kick-starting an 18 week life plan that includes my business. But I am not sure with my hectic life how much daily accountability I can handle after these 14 days. But the slogan "One day at a time" (a slogan that has saved and turned around my entire life) comes to mind.

Happy Day One EVERBODY!!!

My goal is to visit four blogs a day and provide support. I will get around to wish everyone well before the end of the 14 days is up. (and update my blogroll)

No hoodie! Boo. Group Shred YAY!

The photo shoot was on a white backdrop so they said the white RTP hoodie wouldn't work. It was fun anyway. I'll tell everyone when it's out.

It's GROUP SHRED TIME.

I can't believe it's been a year. So many things have changed. I can feel that old excitement. :)

Attn: Kroger's Grocery Stores Shoppers

A pick of me and might be featured in the New Year's Resolutions of the Krogers supplements. It quickly mentions how I lost 25lbs this year and made my New Year's Resolution to lose weight, but want to lose 30 next year. (or sooner)

The photographer may come by as soon as Thursday, I'm going to try to take it wearing my RTP hoodie if they'll let me. :)

Quick Post

I wrote this short film. We just submitted it to Slamdance. Also, the back of my head is in it and I say "Hey."

I was on TV for a show I did. I want to be on tv again.

Hey guys! I've been really busy, but still shredding hard. I was on CNN and Fox News and a few other news shows for a comedy show I did in LA. It later became a challenge segment on Last Comic Standing (I was edited out :( of that episode) and even parodied on Mad TV.

I'm on a show biz mission to sell the show to tv and go on tour with show and visit your town!

Here's what I'm working on:

Origin of Three Percenters

Marty, one of the founding three percenters, told us a story he'd read in a book about a group of graduates. The top 3 percent who set goals for their careers turned out to be more successful than the other 97% combined or something like that. Hence the name.

Had a great workout and walked 1.5 miles. I was ravenously HUNGRY today. I think it's because I've been working out hard with the weights. I'm actually doing 3 sets of 12 like the book says. Some of the exercises I still have to modify and some are still abbreviated sets, but I'm getting stronger! My body fat % is pretty high, because of all my immobility and inactivity over the last three years. I'm not saying that to get down on me, it's just how it is. The cool thing is that I've lost weight over the three years even while being unable to be a physically active as I would like. That means I can progress even better. Now, if I can only find where I packed that swimsuit. I haven't see it since I left the Philippines. I've gained weight since then (greater mobility, greater access to food, lol). But I'm not sweating it. The extra pounds are already falling off without too much thinking about it. Plus SOME (but not all of the 11 lbs I've gained) has to be muscle. I'm sure like a pound of it is.

It's only up from here.

Settling In--FINALLY!

Moved in--check. Jury duty served--check. Caught up on blogs--not even close.

But I did get around to a few today BEFORE I posted. So many motivating thoughts. It really puts me in a great and positive mood. I have a weekend "mastermind" group called the 3% (Three Percenters) that meets every Saturday that I'm using to help with my accountability. We set fitness and career goals and the person who doesn't meet them that week has to buy the coffee. I've had to buy a week or two here in there, but it's really been working. It's like the blog, but since I make my living online I've kind of needed to step away from the computer a little more and BE OUT with people.

I've been carefully noting my moods, foods, and exercise and have also discovered that I can't be holed up in my apartment on the computer for too many days at a time without it affecting me in a less than positive way. But it was super cool to catch up with everybody.

ANYWAY, the reason I've mentioned the 3 percenters is that it's really helped me up the weight training. I still can't believe how WEAK I am, but all the more reason to keep at it.

I Have Internet!!!

Yippee! I've missed you guys. Can't wait to run and around and catch up on everybody's blogs. But first, I'm going to go to the store (walk of course) because I've been waiting for the UPS guy all day to deliver my internet hardware.

Caffeine Cutdown

It's so odd. Left to my own devices I don't drink as much caffeine if it's just not in the house. I just bought really good decaf coffee and have been too lazy to lug a 2 liter bottle of soda from the store. Since I walk to the store to get my food for the most part, if I get soda, I can't carry too much else. As a result, NO DIET COKE. I just have one or max two a day. Sometimes none. Here's the crazy thing: If I drink a diet coke and have a regular cup of coffee with it (I used to always have a diet coke while I was waiting for my coffee to brew), I totally get all shaky (hypoglycemia). I read a cool article about it on the internet. I have had issues with anxiety attacks and I have been logging my moods and foods, and noticed that caffeinated coffee seems to bring about some of the early symptoms of an attack.

# Coffee Elevates Stress Hormones

* Caffeine in coffee elevates the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and norepinephrine.11, 12, 13, 14 These hormones are responsible for increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and a sense of “emergency alert”. Circulation of oxygen to the brain and extremities is decreased and the immune system is suppressed. Elevated epinephrine levels can decrease insulin sensitivity.15
* The purpose of this “fight or flight” response is to provide the body with a temporary energy boost for intense physical activity. With today’s sedentary lifestyle, the continual state of increased stress resulting from caffeine consumption negatively impacts health. Although research about the effect of stress on diabetes is inconclusive, stress management has been shown to improve blood sugar regulation.16

I've also noticed the weirdest thing about coffee and that awesome low-fat Bryers or is it Dryers? slow-churned ice cream. When I would drink a lot of coffee at my sister's house I would totally overeat on ice cream, but it wasn't like indulging it was like I needed that ice cream to stave off the shaky, jittery feeling. It mentions it in the article. That low-fat icecream has a low glycemic index.

The body’s reaction to hypoglycemia results in food cravings, often of higher fat foods with a lower glycemic index, further increasing the hypoglycemic effect.

Tonight we all went out for frozen yogurt, and I couldn't even finish a small. Wasn't even tempted to finish it. So strange. It's really interesting how putting focused attention on what I'm eating, and how I feel after eating it is helping me. I've haven't been dieting all week, and I haven't gained any weight. I'm gonna keep logging my moods, foods, and workouts and see what happens.

An experiment

I'm letting myself eat whatever I want and logging the time and my mood and seeing how much weight I gain or lose when left to my own devices. I'm not running off the rails, but I'm not trying to diet. I've been drinking a lot less caffeine lately, it's been cool. Plus, I'm very dedicated to keep a workout log. Having a grocery store that's Open 24 Hours within walking distance is so great! I just don't buy any tempting treats unless I want ONE serving A LOT, but tell myself I can always go back for it. It helps that my refrigerator is small and my freezer is even smaller. No room for icecream.

I'm on borrowed Internet. Still waiting for mine to be connected. I hope this posts. Hope everyone is doing great. Here's a pic of me with my new food/workout log. :) Thanks Juli for inspiring the idea to keep a log!

PS I posted a new comedy song on my Otter Blog.

No Internet for a Week

I'm going to be one of those people typing in coffee shops with free Wi-fi. Thanks to everybody for visiting my Otter Blog. I did get a walk in today, and I'm sure going up and down the very skinny staircase to bring some of my things up to my apartment must have burned something. :)

More soon.

Thank You Shredder Council!

Howdy fellow shredders!

I've have been so happy to be a part of Adam's Shredder Council (of Adam Waters RTP 2.0 ) especially, because with the support of such a great group of people, I have been able to not only heal from my injuries, but to actually prosper and take many great steps toward improved health.

Now that I have regained full mobility, and I'm moving into my new apartment (TODAY! Yay! My stuff and Internet won't all arrive until next week, so I'll be roughing it) I'm moving into a new life. My focus is going to my stand-up comedy and other creative endeavors, (Cheap plug: Visit My Otter Blog for My Showbiz news) and I won't be able to honor my pledge as a Council member. So I'm moving into my new life and embracing my fitness as a very proud and grateful member of Adam's Shreddersphere.

Thank you to all the Shredder Council members past and present:
Suzette, Lynda, Mike, Michael, Andrew, Dougal, Debbie, Lilla, Massimiliano, Christina, Joni, Bec, Diane, and I'm sure there are some I've forgotten.

THANK YOU ADAM! Your inspiration and encouragement has changed my life for the better. You can have know idea how much you have and will continue mean to me.

I'm not going anywhere, and I will be continuing my shredder blog. I will make one hearty recommendation. If Adam ever opens up the Council to new members, JUMP at the experience. Your health will be better for it.

This is the official end day of my Otter Vision Mission. I'll have to post stats next week, because according to the body fat thingy this week isn't an ideal time. (Lady issues, I'm sure the world wide web needs to know that. Yikes.)

Welcome New Shredders!

A very quick post today, but I noticed there are so many new shredders in the shreddersphere and I wanted to say a quick welcome.

Thank you for coming to read my blog and your wonderful comments.

Feeling confident

I went out with friends and we decided to walk down the street to get something to eat. I said I was going to walk, and other people asked to walk with me. I warned people in advance that I walk kind of slow, but as it turned out nobody noticed. When we walked back to our cars after dinner, which was about a mile down the road, I didn't even give my disclaimer again. I may have a bit of pain now and again (especially from my workouts and increased stretching), but I am so much more FUNCTIONAL. I'm so happy I could cry.

There's been lots of moments like that lately. Like when I chose my new apartment. Even though I felt a little pain when I climbed the stairs, I knew I could get up that flight of stairs every day. When I was in the Philippines, we were worried I would be able to maneuver the two steps from the family room with my walker. For SO LONG the world had just been a sea of stairs and long walks that I was trying to problem solve my way through (if I walk to the end of the street I could probably rest, I'll wait until those people are up the stairs so I don't slow people down, I'll walk by myself, because I have this tendency to get hyper talking to people and walk faster than I can and end up hurting myself, etc.). But slowly, as I've walked further, worked out little by little, I'm watching my body get stronger. And I've gone weeks at a time without taking even an Advil for the pain. But I may take one tonight. That push-up was hard on my lower back, but it was worth it. :)

Finally did it!

A cabillion years ago in the shreddersphere there was a push-up challenge. I could not do one. I've only recently been strong enough during this mission to do some light weight training. In all honesty, my legs kind of shake after I walk up stairs (but my new apartment is on the second floor, but that's gonna be a BIG help) and I can barely complete two reps of most of the upper body workout exercises, BUT I've been doing wall push-ups for the last few weeks. So today I just gave it one try. I tried an official boy push up. OMG! It was so HARD. I fell the first two times on my face, but I finally did ONE! Better late than never. In the past I've found the hardest progress was from zero to one (like just getting to walk to get my own coffee) and then before I knew it I could walk FIVE miles. So I think the same will be true for these push-ups. :)

Today I'm grateful I got to:
• Meditate
• Eat THREE servings of fruits and vegetables (but I've only been up eight hours so "m sure there will be more)
• Did ONE boy push-up (I'm totally feeling it, for reals, lol)
• Read more of Do You by Russell Simmons

PS Yes, those were my beloved big pajama bottoms in yesterday's shot.

Dark photo

Sorry about the dark photo. Too lazy to move my computer, I guess, but I just had to get this done. Hmm. I've got a lot of things going on, but sometimes when I have a lot on my plate I get a little overwhelmed and it gets hard to do anything. But I just do what I can and have faith that the rest will take care of itself. I'm reading a book by Russell Simmons (Def Comedy Jam, Def Jam Records). It's really inspiring.

Today, I'm really grateful for his book. (Title: Do You)

Quickie

Just a quick walk today, but my eating is back on track. I've been neglecting my gratitude list lately. I do better when I remember to do it.

Today I'm grateful I got to:
• Eat FIVE servings of fruits and vegetables
• Drink a FIVE glasses of water
• Walk 1 mile.
• Meditate

I GOT IT!

I haven't gone to sleep in over 24 hours. I got a lead on an awesome apartment a few hours after I came home from the USO (6am), and I GOT IT! A great deal. A great neighborhood. Has parking. It's small, but I LOVE IT. And I move next week. Yippee! Edie and I went out to dinner to celebrate (chicken wings YIKES!), but I was too exhausted to cook dinner. Now I'm going to bed, which for me is late 8:30 pm, because I normally go to bed at around 10 am on Tuesdays, but now it looks EARLY. Haha. I did get a lot of walking in today, checking out my neighborhood and to save money on parking.

Here's a shredder benefit that I never thought of: BEING A SHREDDER CAN SAVE YOU MONEY ON PARKING!

More later. I'm EXHAUSTED and so PSYCHED. My new residence on is in Studio City on the main drag--VENTURA BLVD. (like in that Tom Petty song, but not in suburb Reseda end in the cool Studio City side.) SO HAPPY! The photo is so dark, because I'm too tired to move my laptop cam into the kitchen for better lighting.

Slow Internet

At USO again. Internet very, very slow.

A Shift in Focus

I had to buy coffee at my our 3% meeting today (that's what Marty, Brett and I call our weekly career-life meetings). But that's okay. I switched up my goals this week to cut down on my overwhelmed factor. To use one of Joni's phrases from Mary Kay, "I've got a lot of life going on." It's all good stuff.

So I'm going to break it down into doable chunks, do daily meditation, eat my meals more consciously, commit to FOUR weight training sessions and FIVE walking sessions this week. I'll just do my best. I read in Juli's blog that she has a much-loved training log. I keep a journal, but I don't keep an official record of "my workouts." I've only been weight training for a few weeks and just jotting the date and reps right into the book w/ the exercises. And my walking I keep a running tally in my head (like I do my checkbook), and I never forget how far I walk, because I have to map on the computer and that makes it stick. BUT I like the idea of getting in the habit of keeping an official training LOG because I fully expect to progress at much more rapid rate. (I DO keep very good business records and now that I think of it, will keep even better personal finance records, too.)

I'm going to label it training log and call what I do working out instead of practicing walking, my back exercises, or any other apologetic term that pretty much says, "I'm not really working out." Because I don't actually believe in living my life by comparison, but the reality of that kind of phrasing is that there is an underlying thought that I have that because my workouts would not be strenuous to somebody else then it's not "real." And that's not the kind of thinking I like to encourage in myself. I like to run my own race and go my own way, but I have to say my confidence in the physical arena and my own ability to correctly assess what it is I can do has been shaken in the last few years. I'm not regretting or apologizing or beating myself up for having these thoughts, I've just go to the point where I can see them and act on them differently.

The most important thing is to put my focus on embodying fitness now instead of recovering from injury. I feel the shift has arrived at the exact right moment as this kind of stuff generally does.

PS If I ever put the phrase--my workouts--in quotes again, remind me to knock that stuff off. Since the shift is literally taking place as I was writing this, I'm leaving that last self effacing quotation marks in there for posterity. :)

Big Gigs and Traffic Tips for Your Blog

My sister, Edie had a big gig at the Blue Ridge Pickin Parlor tonight. She's the fiddler for the bluegrass band, Murphy's Flaw. The Pickin Parlor is legendary and every seat was taken. It was a long drive but totally worth it.

My eating is a little off. I try not to sweat that stuff too hard, because I live a no regrets life and just keep moving forward (but I do get bummed out from time to time, but not from regret, just plain old sad. I'm not an advocate of emotion stuffing. It leads to food stuffing lol.) BUT things have been pretty great and fun lately. Things are busy, because I'm apartment hunting and putting things together for my show at The Improv. Plus, my second website for comedy and other stuff is getting 100 hits a day. I had some nerve damage on my left side from the car accident and in the past it interfered with my playing any music. I've been practicing a little more each day, and have started writing funny songs again while playing the guitar VERY BADLY. I debuted a few songs on July 3rd and it went okay, and then I did more songs last Wednesday. I may be hitting a few of the music open mics soon, too. I've got plans to put together an comedy music album for sale online and to add to my act. So much work to do.

BTW, if anybody is looking to get more traffic to your blog, I highly recommend doing some good keyword research and submitting to article directories like EzineArticles. I've had over 19,000 visitors just from the 13 articles I wrote and submitted to their site. It's pretty cool. Also, try to use your targeted keywords and keyword phrases in your tags, title, first sentence, and a link and for that particular entry make sure to have at least 125 words.

A little pressed for time

Wow! Life is really getting exciting (and BUSY). More later.

Day 49: Free Day

I've got to do a LOT of walking before Saturday at 3pm, or I'm buying coffee for my friends Marty and Brett. Marty and I are still waiting for our first show date at the Hollywood Improv, but FREE SHREDDER TIX if anyone is visiting LA.

Tonight my sister and I went to the Howard Hughes Center and got to see a really kickin' band Phat Cat Swinger. It was a super fun show.

Day 48: Two weeks left!

In two weeks, I'll have my new apartment and be the fittest I've been in years.

Jury duty did not go as expected in that I didn't go. I'll have to work that out tomorrow BUT Marty and I had our meeting at the Improv and we're getting a night to do a show. Now, the hard part about producing a show--butts in seats. :) I got in a quick mile today, and did a quick set in Culver City tonight.

Jury duty & my meeting?!

My meeting with the Improv was moved to tomorrow, and magically my jury duty number has come up for the same day. We'll see how it all works out. Boo! Thumbs down on that whole deal. Plus, I have to be up in the morning YUCK!

Great day today on the shredder front. I walked three miles. I'm committed to walking 15 miles by Saturday at 3 pm or I have to buy my friends Brett & Marty coffee. So far 5.25 miles. I want Friday to be my "long walk" day, so I'll take Thursday off to prep. That means I better get some walkin' tomorrow or I'm buying coffee.

USO night again

Day 45: Great Day

I got in a 2.25 mile walk today. What's really cool is that my speed is picking up. It took only 45 minutes. I can't wait until I can walk 8 miles straight (at any speed). Then I can do the marathon training mileage chart I found. I wonder how many miles I'll be able to do on my long walk day. I've gotten up to 4.75 miles. I'm sure I can at least do 5 miles, but I wonder how much more I'll be able to do. My long walk day will be Thursday or Friday.

I'm on call for jury duty this week. We'll see if civic duty calls.

Day 44: Horrible photo

The shirt untucked in a weird way in my photo and totally makes my poochy tummy all the more poochy. Normally, I would take another photo, but I'm pressed for time.

I'm so excited. A good friend and awesome comic Marty Laquidera and I are "doing lunch" with the booker at the Hollywood Improv to book a night there every month. She's a super cool lady, and I'm really psyched about the meeting THIS MONDAY. We're doing it up with lunch (well actually it's dinner 6pm) at a cool Italian joint in Beverly Hills. I haven't taken a meeting in over three years (pre-accident). When I started in comedy I dreamed of performing at the Hollywood Improv. I've performed at the club before, but only once since my car accident, and I've never been made a regular there.

I'm so excited and NERVOUS. We're prepping tomorrow. My proposal is all written up and luckily I have a lot of friends in the business from slugging out all these years to come down and lend their "celebrity" (if comedians can be celebrities) to the show.

It's not until Monday, but feel free to wish me luck in advance. :)

Day 43: Need to update my blogroll

In a hurry. More soon.

I need to add to my blogroll. If you're a shredder reading this and your blog isn't in my shredder blog roll, drop your URL and name of your blog in a comment so lazy me can just copy and paste it into my blogroll. :)

Day 42: End of Week Six

Wow! Time sure flies. I'll be honest, I weigh about 2-3 pounds more than when I started. I'm not worried about it. I'm feeling stronger and fitter than when I started and the rest will take care of itself. My eating has been sporadic as has my workout plan. Also, I've had to switch up my business efforts from content building to link building and learning more stuff. I'm not making excuses, but I don't want to give a false impression like I'm working really hard. I'm just having a great time. The cool thing about having a mission for me though is there's that deadline at the end. It just sort of a thing where I want to see what I can do over the next three weeks. It's just for fun and for good health, too. :)

Adam got me thinking about how many people have visited my thank you notes. Can you believe I've had OVER half a million visitors. The world is full of grateful people. It's just so cool.

BTW, I get my vegetables from spud.com (formerly Organic Express).

Day 41: Feeling Good

The house is low on fruits and veggies, but luckily I've got another box of organic fruits and vegetables being delivered tomorrow. I'm so excited. The convenience is amazing, and a box lasts about a week and half for the two of us (Edie and I) and costs less than two takeaway meals.

Day: 40

Things are getting pretty excited. My business had it's biggest month last month so it's official, I'm looking for my own place. It's going to be so cool to not only be physically fit enough to not worry about living alone, but ALSO be financially fit to afford living alone, too. I'll be COMPLETELY debt free by August 28th, and the great thing about that is that the current debt I have is on a 0% interest card. Woo-hoo.

Day 39: Back at the USO

I'm sore from yesterday, but not scary sore. I've got to do my strength training when I get home from teh USO before bed. Today I'm grateful I got to:

• Eat SIX servings of fruits and vegetables
• Drink FIVE glasses of water
• Read a chapter of a spiritually enriching book

Day 38: Inspired

I watched the amazing Wimbledon final with Nadal and Federer and was just so inspired. They were so fit they were hitting incredible winners even in the last game in the last set of the longest final in Wimbledon history. I just loved it.

I kept imagining to myself, "What if I were so fit that no matter what I was doing, I could just focus on the task at hand without having so much of my energy and joy being distracted by the hindrances my lack of fitness puts on my life?" From martial arts to learning to dance or rushing to catch a plane or carrying luggage. Imagine having all that extra focus for learning and enjoying life! No more distractions of pain, my back, or lack of breath--stealing my joy.

So in my long day, I just focused on that feeling and walked. I made it a point to just enjoy my walk and go for time and distance over speed and HIT MY PERSONAL BEST! It took two hours, but I did it. I took a warm bath and changed into my pajamas right after to celebrate. (after LOTS of stretching)

Tomorrow strength training. This week I'm shootin' for 2.5/2.5/5, but I'm gonna do what feels good be it more or less.

Today I'm grateful I got to:
• Walk 4.75 miles!
• Eat FIVE serving of fruits and vegetables
• Drink FIVE glasses of water
• Read THREE chapters of a spiritually enriching book

Maxin' and Relaxin'

Holiday. Not feelin' on the blog thing today.

Happy Fourth of July

I'm exhausted. I had a show in Northridge, and it's been a long day. I'm grateful I got to:

• Eat FOUR servings of f&V
• Drink FIVE glasses of water
• Walk one mile
• Practice guitar - A LOT

Day 34 Already?

I walked three miles today even though I was only scheduled for 2. I think I've got a great shot at 4 miles on Friday, but I'll be super careful. Weight training tomorrow. It would be way cool if I could do two sets of everything, but all I've got to do is keep up my best, be patient and my body will grow healthy and stronger before I know it.

I was on a day schedule today, which was kind of cool. Having that box of organic fruits and vegetables delivered has really been handy. Next time, I'll go heavier on the fruits (because I love to have them handy).

Today I'm grateful I got to:
• Walk three miles
• Eat FIVE servings of fruits and vegetables
• Drink SIX glasses of water

Back at the USO

It's volunteer night. Got to get my strength training in when I get home before bed. This week I'm increasing my mileage. 2/2/3.5 (possibly 4), but we'll see.

The glare from my flash and the window obscured the painting of Bob Hope. So just know there's Bob Hope in the background. :)

Day 31

Will just post photos for now. More later.

Day 30: Busy busy busy

My shift at the USO was super busy last night. I was on my feet in the kitchen all night, and my back is sore. But I was able to STAND (which is oddly harder than walking) for nearly the entire four hours which was a victory. I wasn't up to walking today and had a lot of commitments to keep, so tomorrow will have to be my long walk day. So tired. More later.
Hope everyone is having great weekend.

Week Five Begins

Yesterday I did an extra 1.5 miles and my strength training so I took a rest today. Tomorrow is my BIG WALK day. I'm going to do three miles or maybe 3.5, but I'll check really carefully. I'm a little sore today, but actually very excited about the soreness being in the actual muscles that I was working out instead of my back. I had the greatest organic zucchini with dinner. It didn't need anything on it. That magic box has really made it easy to eat clean. :)

Today I'm grateful I got to:
• Rest
• Eat SIX servings of fruits and vegetables
• Drink SIX glasses of water

Week Four Ends on a High

I did 1 1/2 sets (2 sets of push-ups and bicep curls though, and a not quite 1/2 a set of those pesky dips) of all my upper body exercises WITHOUT any weird spasms or shooting pain. I'm hurting, but no numbness or anything weird. I started off doing two sets of the first exercise and could feel it was too much, so I went with one and half, but when I felt like I had a little extra at the end I did two sets of the last exercise. Bicep curls are easier than the other stuff. The stretches were easier, too. Although, those are the ones that actually seem to hurt after, because I hold my body tightly all the time. I'm one of those people. Massage therapists always just freak out when I get on the table, which reminds me I have to get to a massage. AND learn to R-E-L-A-X my muscles. Anybody recommend anything I can read on this?

I think when I tried before the weight was too high and I was just didn't start slow enough. But what's important is that I accurately gage where my START is and just progress as I can. I'M SO HAPPY. I know it sounds so dinky, but it's a real victory to push a little without getting hurt. I seemed to have swung from pushing too hard and getting re-injured and rehab then getting a little better and then pushing too hard getting re-injured MORE rehab. I really think I've finally reached a place where I'm functional and can PROGRESS toward being FIT and BREAK this nearly four-year cycle. I just have to be patient and not get ahead of myself. Michael (from Michael's Fat Burning Machine) did it. So can I. I just keep hearing my Mom's voice, "Don't get carried away, kid." Man, my life would have been so much easier if I just listened to my mom. lol

I decided to go to the movies after staring at my computer screen (My friend Jonathon Lipow is a voiceover guy and he did the snarls and grunts for The Hulk and the Abomination. Isn't that cool?) So I WALKED to the theater and got in another 1.5 miles. (I got my days mixed up yesterday, so tomorrow I'll rest and Saturday do the BIG WALK day.) The Incredible Hulk was fun and those snarls were great.

The box of organic fruit and vegetables came. The thing about organic stuff is it doesn't look as shiny and pretty as the chemically stuff (which I eat a lot of because of budgetary concerns) but it tastes SO GOOD.

Also, re: my business I've surpassed last months earnings already and there's still a few days to go on the month. Plus all this week I've had consistently great traffic to my thank you notes site. Last month I had 90,000 unique visitors and a little over half a million page views, and but this month I've already beaten it with 95,000 unique visitors and 550,000 page views and there's still four days left. I've had a lot 5,000 visitor days (not on the weekends hehe) BUT Mondays are big for me and there's still one more left.

Today I'm grateful I got to:
• Eat SIX servings of fruits and veggies
• Drink FIVE glasses of water
• Walk 1.5 miles
• Post TWO webpages

Day 27: Otter Vision Mission

Today was my 1.5 mile day again. Tomorrow will be my 3 mile day. Then Sat. Rest Day.

Next week I'll try 2-2-4. We'll see if I can hit that four. I haven't been able to get passed three miles in one walk without hurting. But I'm doing the gradual thing and taking rest days so we'll see. No weird back spasms so today I'm gonna do my upper body strength training and go for a SECOND set.

That awesome box of veggies will come tomorrow.

Today I'm grateful I got to:
• Walk 1.5 miles
• Eat FIVE servings of fruits and vegetables
• Drink SIX glasses of water

PS Couldn't upload this to blogger last night, but just got it up. :)

Adam wrote about time today

If you haven't read Adam's post today on Adam Waters : RTP Blog 2.0
check it out.

Adam asked the shreddersphere, "Does this feeling of uncertainty drive you to live every day as if it were your last?" My answer is Yes.

My first major boyfriend in college committed suicide after we broke up. I think I was 22 at the time. After that, the number of people I got to know, love, and mourn their death just kind of grew. I've always had a great respect for the fragility of life and the having grieved and celebrated the lives of many close friends, lovers, family, and co-workers that have left this plane of existence has really solidified that lesson.

However, this is a shredder blog and how does this effect my shredding? Frankly, on some days it looks like NOT SHREDDING. Yeah, really it does. I don't want to live my life sad that I didn't hit my a body fat percentage or staying home because I don't want to be tempted by the food or with my mind pre-occupied on what I can or can't eat at a party instead of enjoying the celebration of my friends and loved ones. I don't want to feel like a failure, because I've gained a few pounds. Life is just too short.

BUT I don't want my last day to be MISSING OUT on going to see my friends because of my darn back. Feeling ugly at a big awards banquet, because I wanted to look nice in my dress and it fits crappy. I don't want my life to be about regret and I don't want it to be about obsession.

In short, I'm looking to add great health to a great life. To be fit and healthy so that it doesn't factor negatively on all the other wonderful, fun, things that life has to offer. I want to feel confident on a date and be able to RUN to catch a plane. I want to be able to help a friend move into a new house.

That said, I've noticed that there are shredders who REALLY ENJOY making their fitness the CENTER POINT in their life. It's their calling in life. It's not mine, BUT I see their undeniable joy and think to myself, "There has got to be a way that I can make my exercise and eating into a joyous process." That's why I try my best to celebrate what I've done and not beat myself up too much about what I didn't. I try to focus on the foods that are healthy that I really like instead of on what I can't have.

There is so much more I have to say on this topic, but I'm kind of hyper and rambling. In short, my dedication to my overall mission of living healthy shredder lifestyle is more an exercise in moderation (which has never been my forte in life) and a strive for balance. I want to live my last day being of service, loving and enjoying the company of my fellow man. Some days it means eating clean and shredding hard and some days not so much. ;)

********

I have so much actual shredder stuff to report. I've altered my strength training to having my little water weight half full so and only doing ONE set of 15 reps for each upper body exercise to insure that I could get through the ENTIRE repertoire of exercises without having to stop because of any shooting back pains. AND I DID IT. Except for the dip things, which I could only do three of (but not because of a spasm) I really can only do three of those things they're tough.

Then, my eating has been all crazy so I splurged and ordered a fresh box of organic fruits and vegetables expertly selected and home delivered to me for Thursday. So I'll have delicious, fresh veggies and fruits for me to eat throughout the whole week. It was about $42 and the delivery was free. The poor selection at the market, my inability to pick out the good stuff from the bad, and not having good food choices on hand has been hindering my the joy of progressing on my mission. So, I decided to go for a FUN solution, and and just work harder to earn some extra money. It's actually not that expensive considering how much eating out and what I would spend at the grocery store on canned and frozen stuff.

Today I'm grateful I got to:
• Do strength training (I'm sore, but no super bad pains so far YAY!)
• Drink FIVE glasses of water
• Eat THREE servings of fruits and veggies

At the USO

I thought I'd do something different a post a pic of me at the USO. I'm picking up an extra shift this Friday, because they're short a volunteer. That's another PRW to stay fit and healthy enough to be of service. Still gotta get my strength training in today, luckily for me I'll be up for another eight hours. :)

Day 25: Back in Business

PRW Day was awesome. I'm still catching up on everybody's powerful reasons why. It's really motivating. I forgot to take my pic before I got ready for bed so it's baggy pajamas today, but I didn't stay in the them all day.

I've been thinking about my goals and my life and doing more research about it. I've been reading about training to walk marathon, and in order to begin the ideal 19-week training program, I would have to be able to walk eight miles without stopping.

I've been reading about the best way to build more mileage, and an every other day program with one "long" day seems to be the best way. On the alternate days I'm going to do some upper body strength training ANOTHER try (really, really slowly)and take a full on rest day once a week.

The LA Marathon is March 1 2009--about 38 weeks away. It's just something I'm keeping in mind.

Regarding my business goals. I have been busy learning how to do more things with my sites and how to bring more traffic--particularly with more links and diversifying how I revenue opportunities. I don't like to have all my eggs in one basket.

I guess with my business and fitness, I'm focusing on working smart.

Today I'm grateful I got to:
• Walk 1.5 miles
• Eat FIVE servings of fruits and vegetables
• Drink FOUR glasses of water

PRW Day

Thanks to Debbie: of Debbie Can We Talk Blog.

My Powerful Reasons Why I Want to Take Care of My Health

• Never use a walker again.
• Be physically able to go anywhere.
• Never worry about stairs or bending down.
• To feel what it's like to run until I'm breathless without being scared.
• To feel strong.
• To be able to lift my own suitcase off that airport conveyor belt thingy and put my carry-on luggage into the overhead compartment.
• To feel YOUNG.
• Live pain free.
• Confidence.
• Fit into clothes I like.
• To heal faster should fate ever dole out another accident.

The last one is inspired by Dougal. Just seeing how quickly and confidently he has attacked recovering from an accident that would have actually killed anyone that did not have such great health is really inspiring. I've re-injured myself so many times during my recovery, simply because I didn't have the base level of fitness and know-how to recover. I'm getting there with a lot of help from my shredder friends.

Tomorrow is PRW Day!

I'll write more and get reconnected with everybody and myself tomorrow.

End of Week Three

Wow! Where did week three go?

I just saw there were even more supportive shredder comments about my bummer week, and I've got to say SHREDDERS are the best.

Thank you guys so much for all your great support. And I thought I'd just give some more shout outs on my blog to everybody who commented on my most recent (I know I have more than most) bummer day:

Thank You Suzette from Suzette's Quest for Success for citing one of the most golden pieces of Truth I try to live by, "seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you."

Thank You To CK aka Christina's Blog My Modal Life for reminding me of the progress I've made so far and her encouragement of blogging about your feelings.

Thank You Michael from Michael's Fat Burning Machine for "being with me" and for setting such a great example of persistence.

Thanks again to Lynda for all the virtual hugs and good wishes. Nothing beats a heart of a Texan when you're feeling down.

Last but certainly not least, I want to say thank you to MIKE GROOM, aka Mike's Blog Aussie BodyBuilder
for all his supportive comments throughout this mission and naming his mission Harvey.

Thanks to all the shredders. We're all busy, and are trying to find balance. So your supportive comments and the time it takes to read and type is really appreciated.

Today I'm grateful for:
• My fellow shredder
• I drank FIVE glasses of water
• FOUR servings of fruits and vegetables

PS Our film, "Be Happy With What You Got" screened tonight at the 48 Hour Film Project. We all had a lot of fun, and we campaigned for the audience award with fliers attached to snacks which made it that much more fun, because we got to meet all the attendees. Can't wait to see if our snack bribes worked!