For those following along my journeys…some may wonder what my physical fitness…and my struggles to achieve it…has to do with a motorcycle blog…
The truth is…everything…at least for this motorcycle blog. Faithful readers will know that my writings are not a “I went here and did that” travelogue. I’ve always struggled to convey in my writings…not just what I did…but…how I felt…the motivations and drives behind the man and machine. These are the important things, and frankly, the most difficult to convey.
Those are not easily separated into neat little boxes…and it’s difficult to describe to the reader in a meaningful way what it is that drives me…when I’m not entirely sure myself.
What I do…and why…and how I felt about it…is not confined in any concrete way to JUST my motorcycle.
Passion as principle. It has it’s advantages…it also has it’s costs.
Oh hey…I should note for the deliberately obtuse that may be reading along…I am NOT (surprise) a doctor. In fact, I’m rather well known for being skeptical of more than a couple claims and guidelines the medical community puts out. I’ve been known to tell doctors…in rather plain language…to “bugger off” on occasion…particularly since I’ve had more than one that seems to think that what I’ve done here…can’t BE done…is unrealistic…and doomed to failure. You sure ya don’t want these (expensive) pills? Or surgery maybe?
You also may find contradictory opinions or statements from me amongst the postings. This is because my knowledge, experience…and in particular…my feelings on this issue are growing…and changing. These posts are written at the time of the incident/failure/accomplishment and are seldom edited later (except for obvious typos).
As a young man, growing up in an “economically challenged” (means “poor”) environment, hard work was often my only currency. Construction/electrical and farm-field work…as well as many, many night hours taking whatever job I could get, traded a bunch of my health (and more than a little of my soul) to make my way and eventually progress in this world.
A young, healthy, hard-working man can sustain a work output burning 900-1100 calories an hour most of the day. I did so…for months at a time. Thirty-six hour shifts were not uncommon…
Made of nothing but muscle and blood, I learned to eat cheap, calorie-rich, easy to make/carry foods. My work required consumption of better than 8000 calories a day just to maintain my weight and be capable of doing the hard work necessary to survive.
Injuries (some serious) accumulated in a lifetime of hard work (and occasional play) also began to take their toll…
Then, as many hard working people do…I “progressed”…putting myself through college and eventually landing what was mostly a desk job.
Those eating habits don’t just magically vanish…but I still worked hard…just a different sort. THINGS had to be done…stress. Study. Put in massive hours…and try as I might…those things never seemed to include worrying about myself.
Wasn’t a habit, ya see. Essentially, everything but me was on the list of things to do or worry about…but my own well-being never was. I simply went to sleep.
It’s the only thing in my life I’ve ever truly failed at…utterly and completely.
One day I woke up and decided I had to do something. It is…bar none…the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
That story is here (newest posts at the top).
Thanks for following along.
*blinks*
Yeah, I know the numbers. Intimately. But still…every now and then they jump out at ya in some new manner. Realized today…over the last couple years I’ve lost more than 40% of my peak body weight. …and still working hard. … Continue reading
Dedication?
I think I’ve mentioned that it’s hard to come to terms with just how much of this fitness thing is actually a head game… It seems the universe conspires to help your brain make excuses to NOT go do the … Continue reading
Shout it from the rooftops! The math works!
Math and dieting… Diet and exercise. Tracking what I eat. Limiting calories. Burning more at the gym…generally 5 times a week. Cardio. Weight training so I don’t lose muscle. 77 pounds. 222 days. Doesn’t sound like much…for all that work. … Continue reading
Countdown…
-77 today. That’s -177 from my peak weight. But it’s getting harder. I dunno…can ya turn it up to twelve? edit: So…a great weigh in…ya feel like a reward is an order.. And then my company pulls a Häagen-Dazs Ice … Continue reading
Forgive the somewhat narcissistic selfie…
I’m still trying to come to terms with just how much of this fitness thing…is a head game. Hard work I can handle…but the mind is a horrific and absolutely ruthless combatant…fighting…excusing…justifying…It’s not really on your side either… …and that’s … Continue reading
Progress…
Doc visit yesterday… Just this year… Lost 63 pounds. Ate better. Worked hard. Gained strength. Dropped 2-1/2 prescriptions. Misplaced 10 inches off my waist. Normalized my blood sugar. Threw out all my jeans. Bought some more at the thrift store. … Continue reading
Those Moments…
It starts as *that trip*…that most of us middle aged males are intimately familiar with…taken just after waking deep in the night to that somehow surprising but rather fundamental realization that there is only so long a man can go … Continue reading
I wasn’t up to it…but…yanno…the plane!
So…a tough week. Way too much work. Way too many night calls. Not near enough sleep. Lots of worries. Add 5 days a week in the gym (WAY too early in the morning), two of ’em with a trainer…and then … Continue reading
Inch by inch…
An inch at a time… That’s 22 of ’em for those keeping count… And since I like nice, round, numbers? -40. That’s -140 from my peak… …and that’s despite the faceplant into the brisket I did at the Red River … Continue reading
Learning…things…
I’m not quite 12 weeks into an intense weight/exercise training regimen…and significantly modified diet. 36 pounds gone. Significant increase in endurance and muscle tone. I don’t have any jeans that are small enough to fit properly (I reckon I need … Continue reading
The Secret
In late 2013, getting dressed for work one morning, I realized that I couldn’t button…a SIXTY inch-waist pair of jeans. SIXTY inches. Think about that (’cause I don’t want to). For some reason it was a surprise. It was also … Continue reading
Unexpected…
I have attended…on too many occasions…the “School of Hard Knocks”. Now…the “School of Hard Knocks” can be a pretty efficient (pronounced “ruthless”) teacher…but I am apparently a somewhat dense student in this regard (pronounced “stubborn”). I ride for my sanity…I … Continue reading
Losing it…
I am of a breed that works tirelessly to support my family and friends…protects the same…and does my best to solve problems for them and others. This intense drive is part instinctual/sex. Yes kiddies, there actually is a difference between … Continue reading
Diminshed
I posted this picture a year ago. On the left…60″ jeans. (!) On the right…42″ jeans (and a shirt that’s three sizes too big). I’m only 18 pounds down from that (right picture) today. At least I haven’t gained any…and … Continue reading
A little project (me)
I’ve been busy of late…work pressures, misbehaving vehicles, home and business repairs… And a little project… Mainly…ME. I’m the project. I’ve been battling weight all my life. I’ve more recently figured out that the main reason is I pay very … Continue reading
