2013 Year in Review

Well, it's New Year's Eve and I'm writing in my blog...  (Ok, it's the middle of the afternoon on NYE, so it's not nearly as pathetic as it sounds, but my actual NYE activities will not be much more exhilarating.)

What a year it's been.  Little did I know that when I started this blog 366 days ago that I would actually still be carrying through with it, that I would have purchased not one, but two, new bicycles, or that I would consider the year to be pretty successful.  Yet here I am, and all of the above are for real.  I still owe you a post about my sweet new MTB, but that might have to wait until spring.  

Let's start with the stats...

• Weight as of Jan 1, 2013 - 226 lbs
• Weight as of Dec 30, 2013 - 203 lbs
• Net loss - 23 lbs
• Pants size still the same, but they feel a whole lot better...
• 1,965 miles on at least four different bicycles in many "media," including snow, mud, dry, rocky, and sandy as well as the usual blacktop
•  156 workouts (riding, walking, weights, whatever I entered in MapMyRide)
• 173 hours of activity in those workouts
• 166,000 calories burned (which I consider to be grossly inaccurate - MapMyRide calculates them, and this is what it says for my yearly chart, so...) 

Overall I'm calling it a pretty successful year!  A 10% loss in body weight, feeling better in my clothes, about myself, etc.  All very good stuff.

Here's what I thought this morning after 30 miles on the "nowhere bike" in the basement: "if I still look like this after losing 23 pounds, how bad was it a year ago?"  

I'm still not happy with my body shape or size.  I love hearing how I look better, etc., but reality is I'm 5'8" and over 200 lbs.  Not exactly skinny.  As a matter of fact, I look like I need to lose 30 pounds...  Which I do.  So I will keep going.  It would be nice to drop those 30 by my birthday in July, at which I will turn the magical age of 50.  I don't know what 50 is supposed to feel like, but I do know that it sounds weird...  And I'm the youngest in my family - five kids who range in age from almost 50 to just about 61.  How on Earth did that happen?  Pam will be 61 in February.  Weird.  But she looks great and is very healthy, so is she "old"?  Will I be "old"?

Anyway, this wasn't going to be about age...  How about some frustrations?  OK, here's one:

Sunday morning I was getting dressed for church.  In my shirtless condition I wasn't feeling all that fabulous about my waistline, but hey, my pants fit better lately.  So anyway, I grab some Smartwool socks because not only are they awesome, but it's also 15 degrees outside.  Since they're wool, they're obviously considerably thicker than my regular socks, but sooo comfy and warm...  And I grab my penny loafers because they're old and I don't care if they get snowy/salty/winter-damaged.  And they're LOOSE.  My FEET are thinner.  WTF???  Are you kidding me with this right now?  I have enough paunch left around my middle to be considered "heavy" by someone just meeting me, and some of the 23 pounds have come off of my FEET???  Shit...  But it's true.  I noticed it last week as well, when I went to a wedding, able to button the coat on my good suit AND feeling pretty slim in my black dress shoes.  I figured I hadn't worn them in a while, so maybe I didn't really remember how they felt.  But no - looser shoes.  Rings, watch, all of the auxiliary areas are indeed slimming down with the rest of my body, which is cool, but since it goes ON the belly first, can't it come OFF of there first??  It's not fair.

But back to my 10% loss...  Studies show that even a 10% reduction in weight can have big benefits for your body.  Lower cholesterol (my almost-annual physical is coming up in February, and I'll share the results here), lower blood pressure (I was 117/72 the other day - still medicated), lower risk of Type 2 Diabetes (runs in my family), lower risk of heart disease (runs in my family), and better overall feeling (doesn't run in my family).  My resting heart rate the other day was 64.  At my age and weight class, that's pretty impressive.  So I am beginning to reap the benefits of this work.

And the work, as I said, must continue.  Dana and I have been working on a largely plant-based diet the last couple of months, and both of us think it's pretty great.  We've seen evidence via documentaries and read many articles on the benefits of this diet, and we really don't miss the animal products.  Strangely enough, I've remarked that it's not exactly low fat, but we are still managing to lose weight.  Our bodies are responding to what many scientists consider to be the ideal diet for humans.  She has reduced the intensity and frequency of her migraine headaches, and both of us have managed to actually LOSE a couple of pounds during the holiday season!!  I still miss burgers and my father-in-law's smoked animals, but I figure that if I partake of them only occasionally and in moderation that I am still better off than I was.  (Honestly, last night and again today I have a serious jones for a burger...  Don't know why, but there it is.  And I won't beat myself up if I have one, but I also know that I'll pay for it the next day with feeling not so good physically.  I can really tell the difference in that department!)

And so, faithful reader, comes to a close year one of this grand experiment.  Like I said, I'm going to call it a success.  Thanks for reading along!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...

Well, it's been quite a year...  I know, it's not over yet, but this post came to me on a recent Saturday morning (yesterday...) as I was doing my morning exercise with several other crazy intrepid individuals who thought that an 8 a.m. pedal on the trainer was a good way to start the day.  So these thoughts will be about me, as usual, but also some other folks I've seen along the way to today.

But first, a favorite song; you can listen while you read:
 

Nothing quite like a mellow tune from the Scorpions to get you thinking.  But we were talking about changes, weren't we?  I'm honestly hesitant to write about this topic at any point, really,  because I don't think I ever know if I've ever really made a change, if that makes any sense.  Like, "hey, I've been at this less than a year, do I really know what I'm talking about?" kind of things.  Mostly this is due to my own fear of failure, if I'm honest, I guess, because who wants to say, "hey, look how much I've changed" and then a year later you're back to your old slacker self and looking like you did 25 pounds ago?  So yeah, this one's kind of tough.

But I know there have been at least some changes.  Most obvious would be the most recent, in which Dana and I have embraced a more vegan lifestyle/diet.  Dana has embraced it more than I; there have been a few meals (Thanksgiving, Nathan's birthday, and a couple breakfasts) that have included animal products on my plate.  But I can tell I'm doing much better!

I've also come to know and appreciate the "other" kinds of bicycling.  This may not seem like a huge deal to anyone else,  but I used to totally look down my nose at the MTB world.  Then Mike Clark and Chris Davison got me on a fat bike.  You've seen my posts about those...  I also bought myself a real mountain bike this summer.  I haven't written about that yet, but it's on the list.  It's partly worthy just because of the cool factor - it's a sweet-looking bike!

There are also many people in my life who have either been part of the changes, worked with me through the year, or have always just been there and are constants in my life.

The last category, of course, would include my wife Dana and our children, Nathan and Erin. "The wife" and I have been married for over 23 years now, and have known each other since the fall of 1986, when I started my intern teaching at her alma mater.  Her little brother was in the band, and her mom was the uniform lady; it was inevitable that I would meet the recently-graduated drum major of the EKHS band, and by the following January we were dating.  Next marching season will be our 28th since we met...

Sister Pam and brother Kevin have also been a big help through the years.  Pam and I have talked more the past three years than we did the first 46 I was on the Earth, and Kevin is probably my favorite riding partner.  And I would be remiss to not mention my other two, much less crazy, sisters, Brenda and Marcia.

BUT.  The reason this post started taking shape in my mind yesterday morning is thanks to two individuals I met only several short months ago.  Brad and Jenny White bought Velo City in March 2013.  As many of you know, I am NOT a fan of change in any form, and these two have been responsible for major upheaval in my life.  And I couldn't be happier!

Here's a list of the changes they perpetrated on the unsuspecting:
 - OK, first they bought the shop
 - then they rearranged the shop
 - then they moved the shop 
Can you BELIEVE these two??  I mean, seriously, don't they know how I can get?

And through it all they have been two of the most wonderful, caring, and thoughtful individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and working with.  Brad is a pro cyclist, riding for the UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling team.  I don't know what you have heard about the attitude and demeanor of pro riders, but Brad completely destroyed any pre-conceived ideas that I had formed based on media accounts of the guys I followed.  He's totally cool.

Brad even spent a couple hours in July with my marching band leadership team as we prepared for the upcoming season.  I used bicycling as an example of how leadership works, and Brad came in and talked about riding as a team, working together, and bringing together multiple personalities and talents of team members from various backgrounds (and countries!).  It gave the kids an opportunity to hear from a professional athlete as well as reinforcing my ideas and thoughts on the subject.  Oh, and did I mention that he did this discussion two days after his wife gave birth to their third child?  I certainly would have understood if he'd canceled, but he jumped right in.

Speaking of his wife, if anyone is nicer and cooler than Brad, it would be Jenny.  Honestly, my own family doesn't ever seem as glad to see me as she does when I come into the shop.  A great mom to their kids as well as a great "runner of the business," Jenny makes it all happen with a smile on her face.

So what a cool experience it was for them to ask me to run the shop training session yesterday morning.  Brad is at a training camp in Arizona, enjoying the weather, so he needed a sub.  Watching Jenny move around the new shop and greet people with her usual warmth and enthusiasm, then jump on her bike and do the session with us, I was reminded about how much my life has changed this year.  I managed to survive the ride, even doing my best Coach Troy impression ("3, 2, 1, and soft pedal...  two minutes rest"), but noticed especially how much better my upper body felt as I got on my road bike for the first time in a month or more.  Another change!!

So now I look at the upcoming new year and wonder where it will take me.  Usually I figure it will be the "same old, same old," but I don't think it will be.  I'm almost half-way to my imagined goal of "50 by 50," in which I will be 50 pounds lighter than I was Jan. 1, 2013 by my 50th birthday July 31, 2014.  I made it through an entire marching band season without throwing a major fit at the band (it's because they listen better and do what they need to do more than because I am a more relaxed person, believe me...).  And for the first time in several years (10?), I will weigh less on Jan. 1 than I did the previous one.  Has to count for something, right?

So thank you to all who have been there this year, whether it's riding alongside me, encouraging me on my journey, putting up with my shit because you're part of my family, and especially to Brad and Jenny, who made change seem almost pleasant.  I was down another pound this morning, so that's 21 for the year.  Four more would be great, but I'll be happy to get through the holidays without going UP from here!

Merry Christmas!!

The Fat@$$

Let's Get FAT!

Today is Saturday, December 7, and while it is indeed a day that will live in infamy for obvious reasons, this date this particular year was one that will live in great memory for yours truly.

December 7 is also known throughout the entire world as "Global Fat Bike Day."  It's true.  Perhaps you remember this post from last June, in which I extolled the virtues of owning a 2013 Salsa Mukluk "fat bike."  4" wide low-pressure tires float on top of sand, snow, and mud (well, usually...).  Today was no exception as a couple of acquaintances and I took to the trails in the Allegan Forest near Fennville for 11.5 miles.

Here we are preparing for departure

 We headed out around 8:30 a.m. with snow falling and temperatures in the low 20s. (Thank God for Lake Michigan - temps in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and points west were in the single digits!  The lake keeps us "warm.")  

Lots of pretty stuff in the forest: rivers, trees, you know, the usual stuff.  The blanket of new-fallen snow made it quite exceptional. 

Around a bend in the trail as it follows the river

 So how does one keep warm on such a trip?  Well, let's start out with 'warmth' is a relative term...  But:
 - Regular bib cycling shorts
 - Base layer long-sleeve jersey
 - Winter-weight thermal tights
 - Fall/spring-weight jacket
 - Winter-weight jacket
 - "The Blaze" wool cycling socks
 - Toe warmers in the shoes
 - Cycling shoes
 - Winter shoe covers
 - Winter-weight cycling gloves
Overall I stayed much more comfortable than I figured I would.  My toes got a little numb by the end (it took us almost two hours), and occasionally I had cold fingers, but everything else was fine.  Actually managed to break a sweat, sort of...

Some big differences between this style of riding and others?  Mostly the constant pedaling; there's no coasting on these things, especially in the snow or sand.  Downhills are an obvious exception to this, but for the most part it was constant spinning.  Annnnd...  It weighs about twice as much as my road bike.  But that's not the point of the Mukluk.  Nope.  Blast through anything.  Kind of like driving a Hummer!

Here are some more pics...

This is me, looking like a boss...

We thought we should stop and take a picture of our bikes...

Really not sure about the calorie burn, but here's a report of our route, anyway.

This was AFTER the ride.  I think it warmed up!

 
 

Giving Thanks, or Detox Final

Well, it's December 1 already.  I really don't know how that happened.  I mean, what happened to July?  Or 2009 for that matter??  My son will be 20 in eleven days, and my daughter is a senior in high school and getting college acceptance letters.  And it seems like just yesterday that I sat down at this computer and wrote down some thoughts.

 And here I am 334-ish days later.  And I'm 20 pounds lighter.  And I feel better about a lot of things in my life.  I consider it a pretty successful year, actually :)  Of course, based on one of my musings, it's definitely a success.

I set some manageable goals.  I worked hard to do things better.  And I fell a bit short in several places.  By the fall I was down about 15 pounds but losing control of the situation as school picked up and I turned to my convenience eating schedule, my stress eating, and my general love for the American Bacon-Cheeseburger...

Then up stepped my wife of 23 years.  "Check this out - sounds cool," she said as she looked over the "28-Day Back to School Detox with Margaux Drake" flyer.  "I'm going to try it."

"Go ahead, dear.  Sounds horrible."  And I watched as she prepared vegan foods for virtually every meal, including a week of raw foods and many different delicious meals at dinner.  I tried a few things, especially at dinner, but Erin and I also spent quite a few evenings eating out.  (Perhaps the amount of money we spend on meals out each month should be a blog post, but for now let's let it pass...)

Then the results started flowing in.  She was losing weight, feeling better, having fewer headaches, etc.  And so, a few weeks later we BOTH signed up for round two: "28-Day Pre-Holiday Detox with Margaux Drake" or something.

You've read my last few posts, so you know it went well!  And I lost another five pounds.  Started feeling better.  Started thinking more about everything I was eating.  That's a lot of thinking...  Anyway...

I also managed to get out on the mountain bike a few times, enjoying the outside as usual.  Not tons of miles or time at this time of year, but I certainly enjoyed myself.

A brief synopsis:

• Weight as of January 1, 2013 - 226 lbs
• Weight as of December 1, 2013 - 206 lbs (that is officially an average of a 3-day weigh-in of 207, 204, and 206.5.  I settled for 206 because it made it 20 pounds...)
• 21 miles (oh, my...) on various bikes, which included a double (17 on the road and 6 in the trails) and a trifecta on the MTB (three different trails in the same outing)
• At the state finals game yesterday I tightened my belt one more notch :)  (Said belt now holds up my pants in addition to being a swell accessory.)

So, things are definitely looking up.  I'm really hoping that this ends up being a kind of re-boot in my lifestyle and that I continue to concentrate on good foods.  I also would like to lose another six pounds before the end of the year, though I know that will be tough.  I've spent a lot of time here in the low 200s, but it would be very cool to change that first number; I don't remember the last time it was a "1."  And the holidays are on the way.  So yeah.  Wish me luck...
 

Detox Week 3-ish

Well, it's Sunday morning and Dana and I are about to head out to our final detox "class" with Margaux Drake and a few friends we have met over the weeks.  I didn't write anything about last week; hence the title of today's post.

This is a 28-day program, so today is day 21 of 28.  Things have gone amazingly well with one exception: this week was supposed to be a raw foods or liquid fast, and I made it two of the recommended minimum three days on raw foods.  More on that later.

Here are some more things that I have observed or whatever regarding this whole adventure:

• Vegetarian is OK!  (I know, go figure...)  But vegan is difficult.  Not at home; when you go out.  It is difficult to find even one item on most restaurants' menus that is completely devoid of animal products.  Dana and I enjoyed a rare weekday luncheon at the New Holland Brewing Co. a couple weeks ago.  We had the day off for conferences, and before we had to report to school we decided to have lunch and go for a walk at Riley Trails.  We were both pretty sure that NHBC had been on a list of vegan-friendly restaurants that we had seen somewhere, but alas, reality proved otherwise.  We both decided on the Stuffed Portabello Mushroom Cap, a wonderful concoction of wild rice, mushroom pieces, and calamata olives scooped into the top of a large mushroom.  Did I mention the feta cheese in the stuffing?  Yep.  Also sprinkled on top, which you can skip, but there was indeed a small amount of cheese IN the stuffing mixture as well.  We figured we could replicate this recipe easily, so that's cool.  The issue, though, is the lack of food available that is 100% vegan.  And as much as I know veggies are good for me, there's only so much salad and fresh, crunchy carrots and celery you can eat at restaurants.  So it would be cool if more mainstream places put some vegan stuff on their menus.  (Don't even get me started on BWW...  Went there with a big group after our concert last week; not a single meat-free item on the menu, let alone zero animal products.  I know, I know, what did I expect?  For $3.79 you can get a side salad, but the water was free...  Otherwise, nothing.)
•  I am trying hard to not be one of those "zealots" - you know the type: "I quit (smoking/drinking/eating poorly/whatever vice) that I was really good/bad at for decades, and now that I've seen the light I feel free to judge others."  It's most difficult with the kids I work with.  The "lunches" they eat are quite sad.  One kid brings three chocolate chip cookies and a Gatorade to my office every day.  The same one who will consume three double cheeseburgers and a strawberry shake at McDonald's several times a week.  He's tall, thin, and healthy at this point...  But I really think that if people would give it a shot they could easily change their bad habits.  It's all about the convenience for most people, though, and as you all know, that is what makes Yours Truly tick :)  There is one student with whom I have shared several stories and recipes, though.  She's been vegan for over a year and hasn't looked back.  We've talked about where to find good food (Vitale's pizza has a decent gluten-free crust which can go under a veggie pizza, but there's parmesan in the sauce...), and she even sampled some of the raw "taco meat" Dana made last week.  "I definitely want that recipe!"  She's pretty aware for a 16-year-old about what her long-term health is all about; she is even considering joining us for our next detox!
• Let's revisit the "fasting" idea.  The goal for the week was to, for a minimum of three days, consume either raw foods only (fresh fruits/veggies, smoothies, dried foods, or foods cooked to no higher than 115 degrees), or do a liquid fast of fresh juices, smoothies, etc.  I made it a little more than two days.  Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty good; on Thursday I was inches away from ordering Hungry Howie's with a triple order of Howie Bread because I needed something warm and chewy in my belly.  I settled on something far, far better for me, though what it was escapes me at the moment.  I told someone that "I like to chew the warm food and drink the cold,  but so far this has been kind of the opposite."  It DID, however, prove to be beneficial, at least as far as my digestive tract was concerned, which was the goal.  The philosophy is that your body needs rest even from eating, and keeping foods raw retains almost all of the essential nutrients that cooking can strip away.  Dana made it all week with virtually all liquids, but we both decided it would be easier to do this in the summer months.
• I managed to lose a couple more pounds, which is no surprise.  I am now down 19 for the year!
• I would be remiss if I didn't mention Margaux Drake here.  Not just her program or her job, but her person(ality) in general.  Margaux is indeed a true believer.  I have enjoyed listening to her stories the last few weeks; many are painful to hear as she relates the physical health problems that eventually cost her brother his life.  She is truly on a mission to save others from themselves before it's too late.  She isn't one of those folks who is simply selling a product or service; she actually came up with this on her own and happened to (over a year later) find a product line that fit her program.  I am glad to have made her acquaintance! 

That will do for today, I think.  Time to go put some baby kale in the blender and make myself a smoothie.

Detox Week 2

Well, so far, so good...  On day 9 of 28, I believe, and am actually thinking that this will be way easier than I ever thought.  As I type, however, Dana is in the kitchen juicing wheat grass.  Yeah, wheat grass.  Apparently it's amazing for you.  It's allure is lost on me, but I'll persevere.  Gives a whole new meaning to "having a shot after work," though.

Here's what I see so far, and I'm quite surprised:

• Pretty sure I've consumed more fruits and vegetables (solid or liquid form) in these nine days than in the entire year so far.  That may be a stretch, but not a really long one.
• My skin is softer and drier.  Seriously.  Al of my life I have had oily skin, and by the end of most days it will leave a sheen on my fingers as I wipe my head.  That's gone.
• I haven't lost weight (yet), but can definitely feel that my digestive tract (btw, it's "tract," not "track," for those who are wondering...) is much happier.  Frequently after meals I experience discomfort such as bloating or general pain, and haven't had that in nine days, really.
• I haven't eaten an animal product in that time, either, with the exception of however much parmesan cheese is in the sauce in Vitale's gluten-free veggie pizza (with no cheese).
• I don't really miss animal products.  Dairy was an easy one; not a huge fan of milk anyway, and I can take or leave cheese.  I do, however, miss some of the texture and general feel of meat (sorry, Margaux!) sometimes.  Like when someone mentioned a pulled pork BBQ sandwich.  Yeah, I wanted one...  Part of the goal here, though, is to change habits for the long term, so I think cutting back on animal products will indeed be easy in that respect.
• I DON'T MISS BREAD.  (Full disclosure - Dana found some awesome flourless bread.  Made with sprouted grains, but no flour.  So I don't know how that works; it's not gluten-free, and it's still made with wheat grains, but it's not the same as the real thing - check it out here.)  Rolls, bread, pizza crust, Howie Bread (I swear that stuff is made of crack...), and that sort of thing are out.  I think that the refined/bleached/processed flour may be a culprit in the above-mentioned discomfort after meals; the flourless bread causes no trouble and it's great.  Seriously, as good as any bread I've had.

Just took a time out for a shot of fresh wheat grass juice.  Mmmmmmm....

• It's easier than I thought.  And Dana isn't doing ALL the work.  Yesterday I made hummus, for instance.  And my morning smoothies are quite tasty, thank you very much.  (They have kale in them...  Really.  I know, I know.  Who am I and what have I done with the real Keith Walker??)

Here are some things that didn't totally surprise me:

• Yeah, not much I can think of...

So there you go.  There's the beginning/middle of week two.  It's going well so far!

Detox Week One

Well, it's Tuesday, and Dana and I started our "Pre-Holiday 28-Day Detox" with Margaux Drake and friends on Sunday.  So that makes this the end of day 3 of 28, and I have to say it's going just fine.  So far.

Day 1 was pretty easy, since Sunday meals are relatively easy to prep and cook (especially if you're Dana, who does all the work...), and we enjoyed a delicious smoothie for breakfast.  Lunch and dinner were also quite good; I continue to be surprised at the list of stuff that is NOT "forbidden:" basically if it's a whole food product, dairy-free, gluten-free, etc., it's OK.  We are trying to stay away from animal products completely, so no meat, either.  Dana even found some awesome bread - made with sprouted grains and somehow no flour/gluten - great texture, flavor, etc.  Made some toast for breakfast along with yesterday's smoothie.

So here I am at the end of Day 3, and while this is not my best bloggish writing work I thought I would put a few thoughts on, um, the screen, I guess, since it's not paper...

I'll be more creative in the future, I promise!  See you soon.

November - a New Adventure Awaits...

HOLY CRAP!  I missed so many weeks I'll bet most of you forgot all about this, and now I'll have to build my impressive audience all over again from scratch (it's hard to find 14 regular readers...).

Anyway, I think I may have found part of the reason things go south in the fall and then require a New Year's resolution: school.  Apparently when things get busy in my "real life" I tend to come home and unwind rather than keep my energy level high by sucking it up, changing into the kit, and spinning for an hour or two.  Go figure...  

But seriously, the change in routine seems to bring with it a change in other things as well.  But as I have told my students when things are not going well that a reason eventually turns into an excuse.  As in, "boy, I'm really not sounding good today; must be my new mouthpiece" or something like that.  At what time do the reasons turn into something we just latch on to and don't let go?  I know there's a line there somewhere, dammit!  Pretty sure I've crossed it a time or three as well...

Anyway, some good news on the official tally front - lost about a pound somehow this month.  And believe me, based on the amount of food and fun I've had and the amount of exercise I haven't had, this miracle ranks right up there with the virgin birth.

STATS:
Weight on January 1 - 226 lbs
Weight as of October 30 - 210.5 lbs
Net loss - 15.5 lbs
170 miles on the roads and trails in September; a whopping 29 in October :(
BUT - 1,817.5 miles since Jan 1.  Not bad...

And next week, as promised in the title of this post, begins a new adventure for the fat@$$.  Wife Dana has recently completed a 28-day "detox" - a month of whole foods, raw foods, vegan foods, and other fun stuff like that.  Well, they're doing another one for a pre-holiday session, so we BOTH signed up!  Dana lost more than 16 pounds last month, improved her migraine headaches, reduced stress and anxiety, and saw many other life benefits.  

It was a lot of work.  And I will refer you to one of my earlier posts from the year so you can remember that I don't like doing a lot of work.  So I made Dana promise to do all the work for me...  

The food she got to eat was very tasty and not at all what one might think of regarding a "detox."  Fresh vegetables, fruits, and many other wholesome goodies were on the plate, alongside nutritious shakes and supplements (though, admittedly, some of the shakes were not so tasty; she assures me I will have other choices).

So I will begin my journey with excitement and wonder on Sunday.  I went to the information meeting last week and sampled some of the liquid supplements and met the folks, both of which/whom were awesome.  I need a kick start to get back on track, Dana seems somewhat excited to help me out, and we do work pretty well together.  Erin is a little freaked out...  But we're doing it.  Wish me luck!

I'll try to post more regularly over the next several weeks to keep you updated.  

Monthly Update

HOLY CRAP!!  It's been over a month since I did a blog post.  Now I have to re-build my audience and hope that I still have the magic touch when it comes to pithy, insightful sentiments...

Whatever.  Here's the latest on the battlefront:

Weight as of Jan 1 - 226 lbs
Weight as of Sept 1 - 212.5 lbs
Net loss - 13.5 lbs

I "found" a little more than one of the pounds I lost in the last month.  Not a surprise - August brought with it band camp and all kinds of other things to keep me away from exercise and not eating right.  Still, I only gained a pound or so, so not too bad overall.

On the up side?
 - 1100-ish miles on the bike for June, July, and August
 - Yearly total this far in the neighborhood of 1700
 - I bought a new bike!  (Yes, another new bike...)  A Cannondale F-29-2.  Black and green aluminum frame, "Lefty" fork, and a fun ride overall.  This brings my stable of rides up to 4, and that should be all I need.  ("Yeah, right, you know you're going to want a fixie or something else..."  Wife Dana, after being told I really think I don't need any more bikes.)
 - My pants fit better :)

Challenges?
 - Riding (or some type of exercise) now that school has started again
 - Probably others, but I know you are all looking so forward to reading this that I must publish it ASAP...

See you sooner than this time, I promise!  I sort of slacked off on a lot of things during August...

Monthly Update - July 2013

Ahhh, July...  Riding hits full stride, the form on the bike is finally up to par, and it's my birthday month.  And then it all comes to an end and band camp happens and then summer fades, and...  oh, never mind.  Let's just enjoy where we are right now.

Here's the monthly stats a day early:

• Weight as of Jan. 1, 2013 - 226 lbs
• Weight as of July 30, 2013 - 211 lbs
• Net loss - 15 lbs!!
• 27 workouts - 4 different bikes, a couple sessions at the gym
• 511.12 miles on the above-mentioned machines

Unfortunately I am still struggling a bit with the tendinitis in my right shoulder.  Physical therapy was a big help, but lifting weights still bothers it.  Lifting and hanging bikes at the shop makes it flare up as well.  It usually goes away over night, but there have been some painful moments.

HAPPY stuff:

• 3 (THREE) times in recent weeks I have used the word "happy" to describe my current mood.  It's an under-used word in my vocabulary...
• I went shopping in my closet.  Found two pair of pants that fit again :)
• Bought a new set of riding bib-shorts in a size Large and they fit very well; other riding stuff feels better as well.
• It's been chilly the last couple mornings, so I put on my jeans.  Which fit better.
• I can feel a little difference body-wise, but to me it's not noticeable visually (maybe my face looks a little thinner, and my rings slide on my fingers better, but otherwise?).

OTHER stuff:

• Still have some shirts that should fit better...
•  I could still be doing better with food.  I have seriously eaten pizza far too much the last couple weeks as I work with people and/or have it with the family or lunch/dinner with folks.  I try, on those days, to watch my intake at the other two meals.

Part of the cool here, I discovered, is that when the scale read 211 the other day I thought, "cool, that's almost 20 pounds off."  Because, as I mentioned in January, thinking in smaller, manageable increments makes achieving goals much easier.  And now that I am close to having 20 pounds off, I am more conscious of what I'm eating.  Don't want to go back up, after all, right?

So it's been a good month.  Thanks to all who rode with me and encouraged me along the way - MC, Daylin, Kevin, Pam, Dennis, Ross, and many others.  Tomorrow, holy crap, I will be 49 years old.  I don't know how 49 is supposed to feel, but it sounds kind of old...  I feel quite good, though.  I guess.  Two years ago today I had my last attack of diverticulitis before surgery that November.  I remember it hitting me the day before band camp, and I ended up missing Tuesday's camp that year.  Never missed a day before or since.  THAT situation seems to be entirely behind me now, so that's very cool.

And, finally, I guess you could say I'm looking forward to band camp next week.  I'm darn good at being lazy all summer, and would still retire tomorrow and sit around all day if I won the Lotto or something, but teaching is great.  I think part of that is because I don't really ever have to grow up - teenagers keep me (at least feeling) young...

For Dennis (because it's not all about me...)

So as I sit here I realize that it's been TEN days since I last posted.  Far too long to keep any readership on the edge of its seat, eagerly awaiting my next pearls of wisdom or tales of my exploits (I don't even think I have any of either of those things...)

As it turns out, according to Google Blogger, most of you who read this hook up to it via the Book of the Face.  And don't we all...  What is it about that particular "social" medium that connects over a billion people while at the same time leaving them so unconnected?  

Over the years on the bike I have met some very cool people.  One of these folks is Dennis, who has been a great conversationalist for literally hundreds of miles.

"Nice transition, there, Walker," many of you are thinking right now.  But as it turns out, Dennis and Facebook and conversation all connected just this past week.  And I thought maybe I should put some thoughts down on paper.  Oh, stop, you know what I mean... 

"Dennis, I tried tagging you on FB yesterday and couldn't find you.  Are you off it again?"
"Absolutely," was the immediate answer.  "And for good this time, too.  I can't stand the 'me, me, me' about it all any more.  It wasn't good for me to go there."  
"Yeah, but how are you going to read my blog any moooorrrre..." I whined back, somehow missing the irony.

Dennis may feel the need to change that quote; I really don't know if it's completely accurate.  But either way it gave me pause and forced some thought.  Because he's right.

What is "social" media if not a great big sign screaming look how (cool, important, amazing, unique...) I am?  Maybe that's a bit harsh; after all, I get TONS of great links to news of the world of education (thanks, Marilyn and Alison) and cycling as well as many other fun nuggets of world events. 

"Walker, that pic I put on Instagram has 120 likes already."  This news was delivered by a student who snapped a pic of me attempting to not fall off his long board in the band room (the only real safe place for me to accomplish such a task).  Kids, I think, are probably the most at risk here; how much of their self-worth is tied up in how many "likes" they get?  Is it like being picked first or last for the softball team in gym class?  (How many times have I seen a status of "like my status for _____", and when the "like" icon is clicked the person responds with how amazing you are, or how you met, or whatever.  So liking the status gets some attention for both parties...)  Or is it something they, in the speed of our modern technology-driven world, don't even think about because the next picture is already up and they need to "like" it?  (It is called Instagram, after all.)  By the way, if you think I didn't get a little excited about those 120 likes then you really don't know me all that well...

So what is up with this?  Sister Pam would say it's our chronic need for validation.  And she is a big proponent (I mean BIG) of "self-validation."  She and I have had several conversations about this.  When I started teaching in the late 1980s, the self esteem movement was in full swing.  There was a poster called "How many ways are there to say 'you didn't do that correctly'?"  And there was a list of about a hundred phrases that said, in the most gentle terms, "ya screwed up, kid; try again" without really saying it.  Some of this was a good idea; some just drove me crazy and continues to do so to this day.  At what point do we just stop believing (sorry, Journey) anyone because we are constantly told we're great?  Maybe it's called SELF esteem because it comes from ourSELVES...

So sometimes I seriously wonder about our social media culture.  Are we ALL just looking for validation?  Is this blog, my latest adventure in putting myself in front of the public, nothing more than an exercise in "I hope people love and support me"?  I certainly hope not, but can also see how easy that could be.  How many Facebook posts do we make that are simply bragging that we probably wouldn't do otherwise?  

OR, because I can't help seeing both sides of arguments (how did that happen?), is it really something we do to stay connected with each other, especially far away folks?  I have a bunch of former students and band parents on my FB friends list, most of whom are in far-flung places such as California (hi, Deb and Monica!), Texas (how's it going, Brian!), and Washington state (Ski!!).  And it's cool to hear from those folks and see what's up with them, and also be able to update them occasionally on what I am doing.

So what the heck is the point of this post, anyway?  I'm not sure I really know.  I'm not even sure it makes sense or is any good. (ooohhh, fishing for validation again, are we??  nah.  I know it's not my best.  And now I have too much time into it to scrap the whole thing.)  My weight loss, exercise, and other experiments in wellness are something I'm doing for myself, but I am glad to hear voices of support, encouragement, or whatever from others.  And maybe my musings will be of some value to someone in a similar situation to mine.  Is that the point?  I don't know.  But I hope you enjoyed reading this one.

So Dennis, I will email you the link to this post, because not only do I value you and your feedback on my thoughts, but also because much of my self-worth is tied up in how many page views Google tells me I get for this blog ;)  

The Summer Wind

OK, the opening organ stuff is cheesy and sounds like the old roller rink days and not like the great blues from a Hammond B3 as it should be, but this song sums up a lot...

I have decided over the years that the wind is my nemesis.  Countless times I have left on a ride against the wind only to have it shift on me and give me a headwind on the way home, too.  And blow?  No, the wind doesn't blow.  It sucks.  It sucks your energy, your enthusiasm, and your will to live.  (OK, maybe that's extreme...) 

A few years ago on my last attempt at the 24-hour challenge the wind was ridiculous.  I sincerely believe that it was in our faces every time we turned.  I remember yelling out loud as we made the final turn of the 125-mile loop into the school: "just make it stop!  This is driving me crazy!!"  Scared the crap out of the guy who had ridden up on my left side while I was looking the other way...  He thought I was nuts, I'm sure.


There have been many similar experiences; the worst of these are the rides where I forget to check the weather before I leave, and realize too late that I started out with the wind.  My feelings of elation are erased as I turn for home - "what a great ride this is!  I feel great!"  <turns for home>  "Never mind..."

It's usually about this time in most of these musings that I relate something about cycling to real life, or apply it somehow to a new situation.  This time, I close with this:  I saw a quote several years ago, while riding the MS 150, that I really appreciate:
     "There is no such thing as a tailwind.  It's either a headwind or you're having a great day."

Sitting In

Ah, July: summer is in full swing, my legs are beginning to feel like maybe they don't totally suck, the weather is almost always conducive to riding (making for fewer excuses, unfortunately...), and I get to watch the Tour.  And in about four weeks it's band camp and such again, and I get back to work.  But enough about those things.  Today's topic is about sitting in.

Perhaps you've heard of sitting in.  There are many kinds of sitting in, actually.  The most famous is a form of protest.  I remember recently hearing about college students "occupying" their campuses to protest high tuition costs.  Now that I have a kid in college, perhaps I should go find a place to sit in East Lansing... 

There's another definition of sitting in, one that is more familiar to my career.  That's the one in which a musician gets to sit in with a group that happens to be playing, but it's not his/her regular group.  Like when Miles Davis was unable to fulfill an obligation for a gig in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1960.  So John Coltrane sat in!  Friend Jordan VanHemert sent this when I asked him about the idea (he is definitely my go-to person for all things jazz) -

 It was a date in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1960 (March 28 to be precise). Miles Davis was supposed to perform with (and lead) the group, but he was unable to do so. Therefore, the band was the Miles Davis Quintet minus Miles Davis. This was just as Trane was about to form his own quartet--he only agreed to stay on through the end of this tour as a favor to Miles. The video is from Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic Presents Jazz Winners of 1960.  It just so happens that two of the other jazz winners, Oscar Peterson and Stan Getz, would join the band for the last tune of this historic set: Hackensack by Thelonious Monk. Wynton Kelly is actually playing the intro, and you can see Peterson tap him on the shoulder and take over at the piano. This is the only recorded instance of Coltrane and Getz playing together.


So now we come to the definition of sitting in that is pertinent to this post, and the one that I take part in the most: that spot in the midst of a line of bicyclists in which there is no wind, very little resistance, and plenty of energy savings!

In a line of riders, the guys at the front "pull."  In other words, they are catching all the wind for the group and using way more effort than the rest.  In most cases the line will rotate and these folks will drop back and allow the next people in line to pull for a while.  In theory, everyone gets a chance at the front and there is at least somewhat equal distribution of work.  

Pulling is not fun, really.  You do get to set the pace,  but there is the added pressure to not let the group slow down, so you don't want to take it easy.  Plus you're in charge of calling out the obstacles, direction changes, and things like that.

So "sitting in" refers to the guys who don't ever pull.  Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be seen as a guy being lazy, too.

We have some folks in our regular group of riders that seem to have an affinity for, and are very good at, pulling.  So sometimes I just sit in.  Occasionally it leads to feelings of guilt and shame, but, as was the case last Friday (when I was quite certain when we set out that I would not make it through the ride well), it allowed me to zip along at the 20+ mph mark for most of the ride.  I cannot do that on my own.

So now seems like a good time to refer you to one of my earlier posts - the one in which I told you how important friends are to our various journeys.  Friend Ross shot me a compliment after the ride, as a matter of fact - "best riding I've seen you do this year, Keith."  That was pretty cool.  And he was right - I had a great ride.  But it also wouldn't have been possible without those guys pulling for me.

It's good to have folks like that around sometimes.  Sunday's ride was a zippy one with just one other person, and we took turns pulling; sometimes we even rode side-by-side just hanging out, which is different than sitting in :)  

So look at what's up in your life.  Is someone pulling for you?  Do you take your turn at the front?  We all need some support at some point in our journey; maybe today it's your turn to let someone else pull for a while.

Monthly Update 6.0

It's July the freaking first.  HOW are we half-way through 2013??  The last few months have positively flown by, and it always seems as though I really have nothing to show for it.  I mean, really, what do I do sometimes?  

Well, the month of June saw:
 - An early start (yes, you read that correctly) working ahead for next school year.  Full disclosure - not my idea.  I owe that one to my teacher's aide.  But the band camp stuff was ready to send out before the school year ended.

 - Musical performances with the Holland Symphony and Holland Jazz Orchestras

 - 21 workouts totaling nearly 28 hours of exercise on the bike and in the gym

 - 335 miles on the bike (a bit low, since I had so many days "off")

Weight as of January 1 - 226 lbs
Weight as of July 1 - 216
Net loss of 10 lbs, but up one from June 1st.

This past month I tried totally giving up a few things.  Bread was one.  I LOVE bread.  It doesn't always work for my digestion system, though.  Gave it up for three days and never missed it.  Except for breakfast - I love my toast and bagels, etc.  More on that later.

 Summer has been an easier time to eat good, fresh foods and make better choices.  I don't always make the good choices, but I'm getting better.  Baby steps, as they say...

Saw this on Facebook the other day and thought it would be perfect for a blog post, so I decided to use it right away.  See you in a few days!

Fatty, Fatty, 2X4...

It's a gorgeous summer afternoon (OK, late morning), and I am about to go for another ride.  This time on my newest addition to the stable, the 2013 Salsa Mukluk 2.  A fat bike.  What an adventure...

I first tried one of these a year and a half ago.  The shop has had a demo fleet for a couple of seasons now, and on the afternoon of New Year's Eve a few of us grabbed our bikes and headed north to Port Sheldon.  We hit the beach by Roy's house and headed south to the Holland State Park.  Even managed a walk on the pier!  In what was a complete anomaly for December weather in west Michigan, we ended up with a south wind pushing us back to the north.  It was also about 40 degrees that day, so we enjoyed some good weather!

"Where can you ride that thing?" is a frequent question I get from folks.  "Anywhere I want..."
 - Trails
 - Gravel
 - The beach
 - Snow
 - "Bushwhacking" (this is on the Salsa website.  Not sure I know...)

These machines have been used extensively in adventure racing, specifically the Iditabike race in Alaska.  An adventurous ride from the Hamilton, MI food store a couple winters ago still lives on in legend and lore around the shop: riders left in a snow storm and returned in a blizzard, averaging around 3-5 MPH as they slogged through fields and trails in the Allegan County backroads.

I prefer less adventure.  There are some great trails down near Saugatuck, and they lead directly to the Lake Michigan beach.  That is the plan for this afternoon, as a matter of fact - the water is said to be around 70 degrees, so I may dip a toe or two in!  There's something very cool about pedaling along the beach, the water lapping at your tires, the stares from people who have never experienced such a sight (the bike, not me in spandex...  though that is traumatic as well, I suppose...) as this.  As you can see, shorts and T-shirts are the outfit for this thus far.

 Here are some shots from last time.  You can look at these while I grab some lunch and get ready to go!

That's What I Like About Me

Hey, fans!  (Or even casual readers.  Or innocent passersby...)  LOTS of cool stuff coming up in the next few posts.  As I was riding this morning I hatched several new ideas, and there is this one that I was already working on, so if you've missed me you are in luck!  Shouldn't be too many days between posts for the next couple weeks.  So here goes.

First, I would like to start with the "some material may be too intense for some viewers" for this particular post.  There will be pictures posted.  Of me.  I happen to like them, but it's possible not all of you will enjoy the sight.  So consider yourself warned...

As I have mentioned before in these musings, I have lots of great talks with kids.  One thing that has come up a lot the last couple years is the fact that there are all kinds of people in the world (OK, in my life, anyway) who are simply not happy being who they are.  Too tall, too short, too fat, too thin (I'd have to give that a shot before I complained...), and all manner of shortcomings.  At least as far as they're concerned.  And I put myself in this pile as well.  I would certainly change several things about my appearance if I could; I happen to be working on the weight part at this point.

Something I learned in Weight Watchers, and has been reinforced in other areas of my life, is to do some positive self-talk.  When I think it's helpful, I encourage kids to do this as well.  "What do you like about yourself?"  It's an exercise that has proven very beneficial to me over the years.  I can think of many several a few things that I indeed like about myself.  Top of the list, in most instances?  My legs.

Seriously.  I have amazing legs.  I will not hesitate to put them against most other legs in a contest.  As a matter of fact, in my early teaching days, I won a great legs contest at one of my elementary schools.  The other guy was a runner. Skinny legs...  He never had a chance.

I'm not really sure why I'm blessed with these particular gams.  Doc had some skinny legs, as I recall, though perhaps the genetic combo of his and Helen's made mine look pretty good.  I don't really work on them much.  Riding and the occasional leg workout at TB's Gym is really about it.  One of those things that I just got lucky with, I suppose.

The thing is, though?  Somewhere in the world is a guy walking around with my torso.  You know the one: 40 Regular, flat stomach, maybe some ab definition, but not too much...  My fear?  What if I have that guy's legs??  What if he is thinking, "WTH is up with my legs?  They're all squishy and lumpy and out of shape!"  Perish the thought...  These are mine and I'm keeping them.

Want to see them?  You know you do...  I'll tell you, though, that taking "selfies" of one's legs is somewhat of a challenge.  Here are a couple that turned out pretty well:

 After my ride the other day.  Some decent definition there!









Now, I don't claim to have the best legs anywhere.  BUT - I have received many compliments over the years.  Most recently - "dude, your calves are like baseballs.  How do you do that?"





For comparison, though, here is a shot of Lance Armstrong's legs:

Might be a bit much, actually...  And you could argue that he was a doper, so maybe that helped.  My understanding of EPO, however, is that it is a recovery/endurance supplement, not a muscle-builder.  (You could also argue that if you recover faster/better that you can build more muscle faster.  So either way.)

So now you know one of the things I'm happy about.  There are a couple more, but they don't really fit the blog topic.  Have a great weekend!  And since that is kind of a bad closing, here's another music video link to sort of pump up the end:

24-Hour Challenge

Next week an event takes place that will rank among my favorite and least favorite experiences on a bicycle at the same time:  the National 24-Hour Challenge.  The event I love to hate.  Hate to love?  Ah, the joy of completing that first circuit, mixed with the trepidation of heading back out.  The elation of a personal best one year, only to be followed by deflation the following year after completing only 75 miles.  

Every Fathers' Day, the Rapid Wheelmen, GR's cycling club, puts on this grueling nightmare/dream.  I've participated three times, each one ending differently than the last.  It's cool to compete against yourself and see how you stack up.  Oh, and you get the pain and suffering of the short, sharp, steep hills in Barry County,MI.

Here's how it works*:  starting from Thornapple-Kellogg Middle School, you take off at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.  The first loop is about 125 miles, and each rider must complete that loop to continue.  There are three checkpoints along the route, and you must have your event number punched at each location to prove you were there.  Riders must complete this125-mile loop by 5 p.m.
*disclaimer: I haven't done this in a couple years; these are the rules from my last run.

Once you complete the first loop, you may begin the second, about 25 miles in length.  You may do as many times around the second loop as desired, but at least ONE is required.  Once you have completed that one (riders must be done by 8 p.m., I believe), you begin the "night loop" of 7.5 miles.  There's one important kicker on the second loop, though: if you're not off of it by 8 p.m., the mileage from the loop you are on doesn't count!  No half-loops are allowed, so you plan carefully...

Once you have completed the first and at least one of the second, there are no more time constraints.  You are allowed to enter and leave the night loop at will; the event is simply 24 hours, not "ride until you drop," though that does happen.

Year 1:  I finish the first loop in decent shape, do my single second loop.  Brother-in-law Mark does two of the second loop on his quest.  We begin the night loop together, and do several.  At some point around 1 a.m. I begin moving my brake/shift lever in a vain attempt to turn on my bright lights as if in a car.  Having enough of my faculties still about me to realize that I am in danger, I head in for a nap.  After a couple hours I get back out and do a few more night laps, finally quitting about 6 a.m.  Total in almost 24 hours - 202.5 miles.  I will be happy tomorrow.  Right now I want to lie down...  And eat Peanut M&M's, which my lovely wife had the forethought to purchase.  5 pounds of them...  It WAS Fathers' Day, after all!

Year 2:  Feeling like a much stronger rider and knowing the course, not to mention a lot more pre-ride miles, I figured I could better my previous year.  My goal was between 250 and 275.

The day dawned HOT and humid.  I don't remember the temp when we started, but it had to be close to 80 already.  Checkpoint 1 was good at mile 36.  Somewhere around mile 60 I started feeling not so great, but figured I could make the 75-mile check.  Around 68-70 I was seriously thinking that lying down in the road and letting a truck run me over would really not be so bad at all.  I called Dana and told her to bring the van to the checkpoint - I was done at mile 75.  When we got home the next day I was very surprised to learn I had lost 9 pounds in 48 hours!  Holy dehydration!!  I gained 6 of it back on Sunday...

Year 3: Ah, the wind....  And the hills...  And the heat.  It seems I can do 2 out of those 3, but that's it.  My brother and I did the first loop and called it quits.  It seemed that every time we turned we ended up into the wind.  Feeling weary we decided we'd had enough.  Now if you'd like to hear some excuses in addition to the above-mentioned elements, I can tell you that the night before we ended up sleeping in our cars.  Dana and Erin ended up in the gym; the third member of my faithful crew, son Nathan, slept in the van, and I ended up in the Pacifica.  Because the torrential downpour that occurred during dinner pretty much wiped out the entire campsite at the school.  We returned to carnage!!  Gave a whole new meaning to "pitch the tent" as I threw it into the trash can when we got home.  And as flat as the floor of my station wagon-type car looks when you put stuff in it, it just ain't that great for sleeping.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...  One summer Tuesday a few years ago I was opening the shop at 10 a.m. as usual, and was greeted at the door by an older gentleman.  Looking pretty fit and determined, he said good morning, and proceeded to walk into the shop to look around.  "I need a new bike.  I want a Cannondale Synapse carbon.... and I have about three grand for a budget."  Sweet.  And I sold him a Cervelo RS.  He needed a new bike because the one he borrowed didn't fit him very well, and he was quite sure he could do better.  Better than the 400+ miles he had just done in the 24 Hour Challenge...  (You remember that one, right?  The one I did the first loop of.  I could feel my accomplishments circling the drain...)

Since then Bob has gone on to finish in the top three in his age group every year, though can't quite squeeze that first place out.  He's a great guy - has a farm north of town, and apparently rides his bike a lot.  A whole lot.

Other notables we have run into include a guy who ended up competing in the Race Across America (those guys are really crazy!), and many folks just seeing how they can do.  The times I rode, the top male finisher ended up with 475-ish miles (do the math 475/24 = 19.8 MPH.  For 24 hours.  Which doesn't count the checkpoint stop time, etc.  Dude.)  AND the top male finishers were in the 40-49 age group.  That really surprised me.  The RAAM guy we met was maybe 30; he finished 2nd that year.  (boy, was he pissed when he found out the one rider had passed him at some point!)

Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  It is difficult, though, to do something like that at this time of year, at least for me.  My job doesn't quite fit the demands of the training required, but I could make it work if I really tried.  The sense of accomplishment in knowing that with every pedal stroke I am riding farther than I ever have in one day is pretty cool.  And the folks you meet are pretty cool, too.  My biggest challenge is the nutrition and hydration required while on the ride.  It's hard to figure that one out.  But yeah, I'd do it again :)

Here are some pics from the 2010 ride:

The view from our freshly constructed tent on Friday evening.

Nathan lounging in anticipation of being a crew member...

Every year the event begins with a bagpipe band!

Feeling pretty badass with the Cannondale canopy...

The remains of the tent the next day!

The starting line.

Me and brother Kevin (he's in orange).

We're off!!

 

Impatience is a Virtue

I forgot my cell phone the other morning.  I realized this about half way to school, and we really didn't have time to turn around and go back for it, so I decided to just move on.  It was the day that the new drummers came to the HS for auditions for next year, and I picked them up and dropped them off.  And then I couldn't stand it any more and drove home on my plan period to grab my phone...

I give kids crap about this stuff all the time.  And here I was, in the same position.  Now, I'm not as bad as most of the kids who have phones; I have subjected them to many rants about how addicted they are to immediate feedback and constant contact.  (They love those, let me tell you.)  And I am serious - I really wonder how close to addictive behavior this is and why no one really seems to be worried about it.

And therein lies the problem we shall discuss today: what a colleague or two of mine like to call "immediate needs gratification," or "The ING."  "Avoid The ING," my English-teaching friend cautions.  And it's so hard any more, what with the interweb, cell phones, iPads, iPods, and all kinds of things that give us immediate feedback.  

And that immediate feedback then becomes needed in every facet of our existence.  We have to have immediate results when we start something or do something.  Twice today I have sighed and "encouraged" two devices - my Garmin GPS on my bike and the laptop I am using right now - to HURRY UP.  Yeah, GPS unit, find those satellites in space faster, dammit!  You and your little 1.5 x 3" sealed box that tells me how fast I'm going, where I am going, how fast my heart rate is, plus a billion other functions...  GO FASTER.  Really?  My cell phone was a little slow getting something online the other day.  "Stupid thing."  IT TALKS TO SPACE AND GETS ME WEATHER, A WORLD OF INFORMATION, AND A GOOD PLACE TO GET A BURGER.  Go faster...  Remember the phones we had when we were kids?  My house had exactly one phone, attached to the kitchen wall.  By a wire.  It had an actual DIAL on it.  Now my iPhone 4S is too slow and I get pissed when Siri can't understand what I want.

"First world problems," my students call them.  Yeah, sounds about right.  Your phone doesn't talk to space fast enough?  What a shame...  GPS gave you incorrect directions?  That stuff was all military secret technology 20 years ago...

So we let this run our daily lives.  "Why am I not very good at trombone yet??"  Well, kid, you're 11, you just started in September, and, unlike World of Warcraft or whatever, there are NO online cheat codes to make you better.  YOU HAVE TO WORK AT IT.  EVERY DAMN DAY.  If you gave it even half as much time as you give to that electronic device that was supposed to save the world of education but you use it as a toy to play games with, you'd be in the dang Chicago Symphony already.

And so that brings us to food.  And losing weight.  I frequently have to remind myself that these extra pounds did not arrive here overnight, and I should not expect them to leave that fast, either.  "Why have I only lost 8 pounds?"  Maybe because you gained 15 over the course of a full year and you can't just get rid of it all by Tuesday...  So I keep at it, hoping that little by little I can work it off.  And it seems to be going OK at this point.  I even got asked last week by a student if I was losing weight.  "I don't think so; this time of year the fat just kind of shifts around..."  (She thought that was funny; there's probably another blog post about our inability to accept compliments!)

I have been paying at least a little more attention to my intake, and I notice that smaller amounts help (whoa...  no WAY!), but more surprisingly, less/fewer carbs make me happier as well.  Slightly higher protein and fat holds my appetite at bay longer and I don't feel that awful, weird bloated/full/ugly thing that I get after bread products or fried stuff.  I love bread...  Sigh...  

OK, I'm back :)

Also, this past week was quite a victory for both Dana and me - we cooked some stuff last weekend that we were able to eat as leftovers and such, and neither of us went OUT for a meal for like 5 days.  FIVE DAYS.  Seriously, that's a record during the school year.  And it was good stuff, too - chicken and pork chops and asparagus and other vegetable-type things.  I also had several (yes, several) glasses of milk this week.

Speaking of victories, it's June 1st.  Here's the latest in the statistics column: 

Weight as of Jan 1 - 226
Weight as of June 1 - 215
Net loss - 11 lbs.  (YAY!)

13 workouts in May
142 miles on various bicycles
4 weight lifting workouts (heading back Monday, I think - physical therapist says I should be OK) 

So there you have it.  Five months to lose 11 pounds.  Seems like forever, but if you multiply that out over the year I think it equals 24, maybe?  Which isn't bad.  And summer is coming up, and June and July are usually 6-700 mile months :)

This post needs a pic.  Hmmmm...  I'm STILL waiting for my phone to email it to me!!!  This is taking FOREVER!!!!  Ah, there it is...  Here is a shot from the new Salsa Mukluk 2 from a couple weeks ago at Lake Michigan near Saugatuck.  What a blast!  You'll get to hear about that bike soon.

I'm off now.  Time to do some laundry and such.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!