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...