Half the Man I Used to Be

Not quite half, but a good bit lighter.

In February 2010 I stood on a scale at the gym. My visit to the gym had been prompted by how poorly I was feeling. We were awaiting Isaac's birth, so life was pretty stressful and I was spending very little time on fitness or healthy eating.

So I felt lousy, and realized that I needed to start exercising again. The easiest way to do this was to run periodically, which I did. Ours was not a house for dieting, given the pregnancy, so that was the extent of my efforts for a while. My starting weight? 267 pounds! The highest I had ever measured.

I would run when the kids were asleep, and very rarely in the morning. never more than 3 times in a week, and rarely for more than 1 mile, at least at first. This small effort bore some fruit, so that by August I was down to about 250. By this time Lacy was ready for us to work together, so we started following the plan put forth in Bill Phillips' Body for Life. This meant eating 6 small, healthy meals a day, and exercise six times a week. I won't go into much more detail, as I want to focus on the results. I will say that for us, it has been an extremely successful plan.

The last time I weighed myself the scale said 204.9. Over the months between August 1st and the Christmas holidays I only missed six workouts in a week 2 or 3 times. We followed the eating plan pretty closely, with some small aberrations here and there and some big ones over Christmas. We've dealt with a lot of sickness since the holidays, but I've managed to better my goal and now have a new goal to be less than 200 pounds.

I plan to accomplish this by increasing the intensity of my cardio workouts and eating more fruit as the carb for my meals. I like to think that my brain works differently now, that it won't be possible for me to slip back into those terrible habits of sedentary living and unplanned eating. This will require diligence, because the slide downward did not occur overnight either.

The bottom line is that I was fat. Seem harsh? To put it in perspective, one year ago I weighed 30 PERCENT MORE than I do today. My old pants are enormous. I can't imagine ever fitting in them. I had several pairs altered back in October, and all of those are at least 2 inches too large in the waist.

My main incentive to keep the weight off is that I feel great. I haven't been at this weight since high school, and I'm convinced that I am healthier and more fit than at any other point in my adult life. It is easier and more fun to play with the kids, I can run more, and faster than ever before (I am not a runner). It has truly been a transformation.

A Leader of the Band

Band of Brothers is one of my all-time favorite books. One of the people profiled in it, Dick Winters, passed away last week. He was beloved by the men that he commanded:

When he said 'Let's go,' he was right in the front," Mr. Guarnere, who was called "Wild Bill" by his comrades, said Sunday night from his South Philadelphia home. "He was never in the back. A leader personified."
Another member of the unit living in Philadelphia, Edward Heffron, 87, said thinking about Mr. Winters brought a tear to his eye.
"He was one hell of a guy, one of the greatest soldiers I was ever under," said Mr. Heffron, who had the nickname "Babe" in the company. "He was a wonderful officer, a wonderful leader. He had what you needed, guts and brains. He took care of his men, that's very important."

It is impressive that they continued to respect and honor his memory over 65 years since they served under him. If you have not read the book, I suggest that you pick it up!

The Oprah

There is an unauthorized biography of Oprah Winfrey that comes on sale next week. According to this post from Margo Howard, many media elites are not going anywhere near it for fear of upsetting the Oprah.

I don't think any of the people mentioned, such as Barbara Walters or David Letterman, should be required to have anyone on their shows. It does say something about them that they have refused to address the book for fear of offending Oprah.

I've never read any books by Kitty Kelly. Not my genre of choice, but a major book about someone as powerful as Oprah Winfrey is certainly newsworthy.

Awesome Video Saturday CXXVIII

Joseph has been requesting this story every night. I don't know if he gets the environmental message, because when I ask him what he likes about it he says "the grickle-grass and the old crow."

He has quite a bit of it memorized though.

SPOTD #164

No phrase today, as I'm tired and this has been a particularly low-ouput month for the SPOTD.

Pre-Digital
How books used to be made.

Science Bummer
It turns out that traveling at warp speed would be hazardous to your health. Like, you would die.

Clotbuster
There is a new application for soundwaves, as it is hoped they can be used to treat strokes. This is a tremendous possibility, as it would eliminate the need for dangerous and invasive procedures.

Toyland
Here are some highlights from the International Toyfair.

Unusual Airports
This is an interesting look at some of the most unusual airports in the world.

Link of the Day
One (expensive) way of taking home movies... in the old days.

SPOTD #161

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

I'm headed to Atlanta tomorrow for the SEC Championship Game. I've never been much of a Gator fan, but I'm not the Gator-hater I once was. I am a Tebow fan and I hope the Gators pull this off.

Today's Phrase:
The College football season is nearing its end. This is the time for championship games and the bowl season will soon be upon is. Now you can root for your team in espanish.

Actual
Sí, se puede.

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable
See, say pway-day.

Translation (roughly)
You can do it!

Whistle Past the Graveyard
This is a pretty cool look at the Mojave Desert's airplane graveyard.

Supersub
Most submarines have been very slow-moving. This one is not, at least from a relative standpoint.

What Might have Been
Star Trek was one of my favorite movies this year. For a long time there was speculation about whether William Shatner would have appeared. If he had, this is how it would have occurred. It's too bad it didn't work out. I like this quite a bit.

Ch-ch-changes
Social changes have led to alterations in beloved classics like Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever.
Not quite as best as it used to be I think. Take a look at how things have changed.

Human Tragedy
My dad, a fellow car buff, sent me this distressing story about how $1.5 million went for a swim.

Link of the Day
Creepy, clever marketing.

SPOTD #160

Again I have a long-delayed edition, as well as failing to produce as much on the blog. I found some of these articles months ago. I hope the links still work.

Today's Phrase:
Back to basics. I've been trying to teach this one to Joseph so he can impress his Mima.

Actual
Me voy al baño.

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable
May voy ahl bahn-yo.

Translation
I'm going to the bathroom.

Hollywood History
I've always considered Walt Disney one of my heroes. This article about the Disney Family museum in San Francisco has added another place to my to-visit list.

Survivor
These are four interesting stories of survival that we can profit from. Also, interesting tips for survival kits. I think that a good book is a great suggestion for any occassion.

Husbandry
If you want to raise your own livestock, these are good animals to consider.
I would avoid this one, a purported chupacabra.

Extraordinary
An extremely impressive collection. Lacy's opinion? "What a waste of money!"

Books
I recently read the first 5 books in the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. It is a fantasy series and I've really enjoyed each one. Also enjoyable is the author's photo on the back cover. He appears to be the High Lord of Nerdlery.

Hard Hits
The NFL commissioned a study that has demonstrated a correlation between higher occurrences of neurological disease in NFL players than what is found in the general populace. This will add to continued debate about what role the NFL should play in the ongoing health issues of retired players.

Link of the Day
Behold...or don't behold, the Invisible Man! Pretty cool trick, with no digital fakery involved.

Quick Hits

A few things I wanted to point out.

• The Obama Administration is engaged in fishy politics. Some are asking if it is illegal?
• Why are people rejecting the health care proposals? One answer.
• Governor Mark Sanford is a bigger loser than we thought he was.
• When does consumer safety go too far? When it makes old children's books illegal.

Awesome Video Saturday XCIII

I don't know what to think of this adaptation. I read The Road and was moved and disturbed by it. It felt utterly real, both as a description of what that kind of future would be like, and for how different people would choose to behave. There are some indelible images in my head from this film.

Since becoming a father there are a few novels that have deeply impacted me. This was one of them. I don't know if the movie could retain that. If not, if they chose to separate the two, then it could work, as a stand-alone piece. I probably won't watch this, but I wanted to post the trailer.

Atlas Filmed

This is the 5th time that I have written about Atlas Shrugged on this blog, the first time being 18 October 2006.

I got this link from my old friend Tim. The recent increase of government involvement in our economic affairs is again pushing Atlas Shrugged to the fore as a potential film production. It will be an extremely difficult film to adapt. For one thing it is set in a 50's era period where oil production, railroads, and steel were the backbone of the American economy. I don't think it will work as a period piece, so bringing it to the modern era seems essential but thorny.

Let's see if this renewed enthusiasm goes anywhere.

SPOTD #151

It hasn't been that long since the last edition. I've just read a lot of great stuff, especially the link of the day.
I'll be pulling for Michigan State tonight. UNC is pretty formidable. Should be a good game.

Today's phrase:
From Winston Churchill. He would know.

Actual:
El éxito es aprender a ir de fracaso en fracaso sin desesperar.

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable:
Ell ake-see-toe ess ah-prain-dare ah eer day frah-cah-so enn frah-cah-so seen dace-ace-pare-ar.

Translation:
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.

Rare Dolphins
A large group of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins was found near Bangladesh. This is great, and not just because these dolphins look like alien dolphins (they are actually more closely related to orcas than the familiar bottlenose dolphins).

Battlestar Blues
I am feeling the lack of one of my favorite shows, Battlestar Galactica, and it looks like I'm not alone.
Another show has left the air, ER, and I think that it did so quite well.

Bad Film = Good Humor
Eric Snider reviews Bruce Willis' 1991 film Hudson Hawk:

Die Hard and Die Hard 2: Die More Harder were huge hits in 1988 and 1990, and that gave Willis the confidence to try an idea he'd come up with himself. The concept: a grating action-comedy where the action doesn't make sense and the comedy isn't funny.
The film: Hudson Hawk
The result: I CANNOT SEE YOU, FOR I HAVE CLAWED MY EYES OUT.

Black Market Spokane
A ban on detergents deemed environmentally unfriendly has led residents of Spokane Washington to Idaho.

Bad Call
An interesting bit of history has emerged between T.S. Elliot and George Orwell. Orwell orginally sent the classic book Animal Farm to the publisher where Elliot was director. It was rejected, as its politics were not all that convincing. Very interesting in retrospect.

Link of the Day
I saw this on the Travel Channel- it is something called the Hellfire Challenge at a wing joint called SmokeEaters. The extra-hot sauce has the equivalent of 1/2 a Habanero pepper PER WING! I once ate two habaneros as part of a pepper challenge, but I had non of the restrictions of this place:

1. SIGN WAIVER FORM ADMITTING THAT YOU ARE AN IDIOT FOR THE DAMAGE YOU WILL BE CAUSING YOUR MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT FOR ATTEMPTING THE HELLFIRE CHALLENGE.
2. PARTICPANT HAS 10 MINUTES TO EAT 12 WINGS TO THE BONE.
3. AFTER EATING 12 WINGS PARTICPANT MUST WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 5 MINUTES AT THE TABLEBEFORE EATING OR DRINKING ANYTHING.
4. NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK DURING THE CHALLENGE INCLUDING THE 5 MINUTE WAITING PERIOD.
5. NO NAPKINS ARE ALLOWEED TO BE USED DURING THE CHALLENGE OR DURING THE 5 MINUTE WAITING PERIOD.
6. PARTICPANT MUST LICK CLEAN ANY SAUCE ON HANDS BEFORE THE 5 MINUTE WAITING PERIODWILL START.

This is just nuts. Would any of you try it?

SPOTD #150

The first fourth of 2009 is over. ¡Que loco! And this is the 150th SPOTD. Enjoy!

Today's phrase:
Summer is just around the corner. We were trying to find someplace new to try. This phrase may be of use.

Actual:
¿Dónde están las mejores playas?

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable:
Done-day ace-tahn lahs may-hore-ace ply-ahs.

Translation:
Where are the best beaches?

No 1 Ladies
The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency is a book series that Lacy and I have enjoyed quite a bit. It has been adapted as a TV series on HBO.

Musica
-I really like the new U2 CD. If you're a fan of the band it seems like a can't-miss to me.
-The soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire is pretty good, and I especially like the song, "Jai Ho."

Colombia & Trade
I don't think free trade is necessarily a partisan issue. I've written about our failure to pass the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia. Not much progress on that front, and it is limiting our effectiveness in the hemisphere.

Stunt Jumps
This is a great article on the physics of stunt jumping cars, seen most often in the movies. There is a short video and the reality check is interesting.

Putin Pic?
This is a photograph taken during Ronald Reagan's visit to Moscow in the 1980's. The man who took the photo now alleges that the blond man with the camera is Russian leader Vladimir Putin, then a KGB officer.
It doesn't seem conclusive, but it is an interesting scenario.

Cheap Rides
This is a $2000 car from India's Tata Motors (now the owner of Jaguar). Not everyone is excited about it. We who take such things for granted should put ourselves in this man's shoes:

I’m buying it because it gives a sense of freedom,” [Vishal] Bhatia wrote, “freedom to go to someplace in uncrumpled clothes, with my deodorant still being able to mask my body odor. But above all to see the look in my family’s eyes when they see it in person.”

Economic development and technical innovation can improve dignity. Not a bad outcome.

Link of the Day
Just click it and rock out.

SPOTD #148

I hope you enjoy today's edition.

Today's phrase:
From author Paulo Coelho:

Actual:
La posibilidad de realizar un sueño es lo que hace que la vida sea interesante.

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable:
Lah po-say-bee-lee-dahd day ray-ah-lee-sar oon swayn-yo ess low kay ah-say lah vee-dah say-ah een-tare-ay-sahn-tay.

Translation:
It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.

Devolution
I thought this was a very interesting article. It may only be available to WSJ subscribers, but if it isn't it is worth a look.
The family profiled was prominent during the Cuban Revolution. The patriarch was the personal physician of Fidel Castro. Castro was often a guest of the family after the change in government. Despite the auspicious beginning, they fell out of favor. It's an interesting look at life in a totalitarian state.

Lead into Gold
I must have been living under a rock because everyone I know seems to have read The Alchemist. I had never read it before, actually I still haven't because I listened to the audio book, but I thought it was fantastic. I thought it was full of important truths about dreams and the presence of God in all creation. The fable was a good one, and engaging as well. The book was read by Jeremy Irons, and the performance was certainly of benefit too.

Great Movie Idea
My wife is a huge fan of Jane Austen. There is starting production that has the potential to invite a whole new group of fans to Edwardian fiction:

Will Clark is set to direct "Pride and Predator," which veers from the traditional period costume drama when an alien crash lands and begins to butcher the mannered protags, who suddenly have more than marriage and inheritance to worry about.

Pleasure Cruiser
I know we're in a tough economic environment, but this boat may be just what you need, if radar invisibility is the solution to your problems. The best news? It's free!


Cave House for Sale

The bidding starts at $300k. I think this is a really cool idea. You have to check out the pictures. A family of 5 actually lived there for 5 years.

Link of the Day
A look at the ancient sport of camel racing in the United Arab Emirates. PETA beware. Instead of jockeys they use robots!

Crichton

Michael Crichton passed away this week. I've always been a fan of his fiction, ever since reading Jurassic Park in 1991 or 1992. His most controversial work was State of Fear, scathing critique of global warming alarmism.

The Wall Street Journal reproduced a speech by Crichton from 2003:

I want to pause here and talk about this notion of consensus, and the rise of what has been called consensus science. I regard consensus science as an extremely pernicious development that ought to be stopped cold in its tracks. Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you're being had.
Let's be clear: The work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable by reference to the real world. In science consensus is irrelevant. What is relevant is reproducible results. The greatest scientists in history are great precisely because they broke with the consensus.
There is no such thing as consensus science. If it's consensus, it isn't science. If it's science, it isn't consensus. Period. . . .

I read State of Fear and thought it a fantastic expose. Crichton's books were often popcorn fiction, but they also contained a message worth remembering. As this Wall Street Journal editorial explains:

A medical doctor by training, Crichton knew better than to treat scientists and technologists as a priestly class, immune from temptations of fame, profit or power.

SPOTD #142

Its been over a month since the last SPOTD e-mail, but I have been posting here and at In Rare Form. More than anything else, I want you to read the story of Lopez Lomong, an American runner from Sudan. His story is part of what the Olympics are really about.

Today's phrase:
In recognition of the beginning of the Olympics, a quote from Samuel Johnson.

Actual:
Las grandes obras son hechas no con la fuerza, sino con la perseverancia.

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable:
Lahs grahn-daze oh-brahs sewn a-chahs no cone lah fwair-sah, see-no cone lah pare-sair-vare-ahn-see-ah.

Translation:
Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance.

Movies
I've seen four movies in the theater lately and all have been worth the price of admission, which is not always the case.
The Dark Knight: One of the best movies I've seen in a long time, period. Definitely the best comic book movie ever made. I plan to see it again tonight with Lacy.
Wall-E: Beautifully crafted, a good story.
The Incredible Hulk: I actually enjoyed The Hulk but felt this was a simpler, superior iteration. I don't know if it made enough money for a sequel. I hope it did.
Get Smart: I laughed out loud many times at this movie. It exceeded my moderate expectations.

Music
Coldplay: Fantastic new album. Listening to it actually enhances my enjoyment of their earlier work.
Weezer: I don't love it. It's just aight. I loved the black album right away. Still, there are some good songs.
Jason Mraz: Never paid much attention to him, but bought this album on a whim. I like it a lot. Kind of jazzy. Good variation in the song styles. The missus likes it.

Truck Laser
It's a laser. On a truck. What could be better than that? A shark with a laser.

YA
Who decides that a young adult novel is a young adult novel? Hint: It's not young adults.

Oh behave!
At the last Winter Games Bode Miller behaved like an idiot. The U.S. is trying to be more careful this time.

Link of the Day
Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?