Wow. Two Weeks. Two freaking weeks have passed since I last posted. Needless to say, I am again in the middle of a no games week, though I haven't really had any desire to play recently anyway. Not sure if that is good or bad, as it makes the "punishment" much less severe. It might be time to change things up because I am seriously waning in motivation here.
The past two weeks have been... uneventful. I should qualify that by mentioning that things have been happening, but nothing I care to go into on this public blog. Certain aspects of my life seem to be in a constant state of entropy, making the once stable aspects of my life less stable by virtue of the second law of thermodynamics.
Lately, I've debated just completely giving up this list idea. Parts of it have become a tedious chore, while others are already integrated into my life enough to not require constant reminder. I enjoy blogging, but not when it is a weekly requirement whether or not I have anything to say. I enjoy reading, but feel rushed towards the end of the month if I am not far enough in my book, making it more akin to reading textbooks than reading for pleasure. This list was intended to help me integrate things into my life that I thought were lacking or could use improvement. I think it has accomplished that goal to some degree, but lately has felt like a self-induced weight upon my shoulders. Alas, I am not yet to the point of giving up completely, but if anyone has ideas on how I can regain some of the initial momentum I once had for this concept, please feel free to share...
On a more cheerful note, I am starting the motorcycle safety course tonight. Tonight will be lecture only, but Saturday morning I get to go for my first ride. Wish me luck! I am really looking forward to it and, assuming I like it as much as anticipated, will probably be getting a bike within the next month!
That's all for now. I will try to be more proactive in my postings, but I know I've said that before. Maybe I should just let the chaos consume me...
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Weight Creep
So my weight has slowly been creeping back up, hitting 169 just a few days ago. It started off slowly at first, reaching around 165 after a brief dip down to the 161-162 range. I have been eating out a LOT, and missing several classes, so it's not really a surprise, but it does kind of suck to have gotten so far down only to let it get back almost to my max weight of 170. I was 167.4 this morning, as I have been trying to eat a bit better (finally went grocery shopping) and get to more classes this week (already at 3 this week and 1 workout down). Hopefully I'll be back below 165 by next week...
It is really amazing how much difference those extra pounds make when working out or doing forms. Even an extra 5 pounds can make it seem like you are wearing a weight vest or just make you feel all around sluggish and lethargic. It's almost hard to believe that I once maxed out around 203 or that just 6 months ago my mean weight was around 175-180. I hope to never go back to that, but it is a constant struggle to not let myself eat whenever and whatever I want. Especially because I absolutely LOVE food. Luckily, I have been taught how to shop smarter and been given some great advice on how nutrition actually works, both of which have played huge roles in my new routine. I will definitely have to do some more research into nutrition, though, as I know my knowledge in that area is still sorely lacking...
Anyway, just wanted to write a quick update, as I've been pretty lax with the whole blogging thing the past few weeks. I've noticed the number of readers has gone down quite a bit lately, and I blame myself for not really giving many updates, so I'll try harder to keep everyone current on my progress.
It is really amazing how much difference those extra pounds make when working out or doing forms. Even an extra 5 pounds can make it seem like you are wearing a weight vest or just make you feel all around sluggish and lethargic. It's almost hard to believe that I once maxed out around 203 or that just 6 months ago my mean weight was around 175-180. I hope to never go back to that, but it is a constant struggle to not let myself eat whenever and whatever I want. Especially because I absolutely LOVE food. Luckily, I have been taught how to shop smarter and been given some great advice on how nutrition actually works, both of which have played huge roles in my new routine. I will definitely have to do some more research into nutrition, though, as I know my knowledge in that area is still sorely lacking...
Anyway, just wanted to write a quick update, as I've been pretty lax with the whole blogging thing the past few weeks. I've noticed the number of readers has gone down quite a bit lately, and I blame myself for not really giving many updates, so I'll try harder to keep everyone current on my progress.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Week of Failure #2
This week was a bust. I missed nearly every goal though I had plenty of time and no good reason not to do everything on my list. I made only 4 classes this week, worked out only once outside of class, practiced only once and didn't even get a blog in at all (this one is late by about 2 hours). Pretty much a week of failure.
Not to say that I did nothing at all. I did get to hang out with friends, made a small trip to SA, got a lot of work done, and finished up my book of the month. It has been a while since I've missed my weekly goals, so I'm not really looking forward to a week with no video games. This past week I didn't play at all, and had no real desire to even fire up WoW or my 360. I am, however, human, and easily fall prey to the human weakness of wanting what I can't have. Thus, I can expect unusually strong cravings for WoW and Guitar Hero this coming week...
On a side note, I have been using FitDay every day since my last post and have grown to like it quite a bit. It does an excellent job of helping me to more accurately track my caloric intake, as well as a plethora of other nutritional tidbits I would never be able to keep tabs on with my written journal. I also use it to track my weight and daily activities, though I still have to start making notes of specific exercises, weights, and reps for my workout days. If you're interested in seeing what I'm eating and doing, you can view my public FitDay log at this link.
Also, I've decided to do away with actual book reviews. I've been dreading writing up this last review, mainly because I see it as such a chore. I enjoyed the book, but writing up a witty commentary on exactly why I liked it just makes me want to avoid blogging. I will probably mention some things in passing (yea or nay, quotes, etc.) but no official reviews anymore. Just too much hassle.
And with that, I'm off to bed. Hopefully I'll get back on track this week...
Not to say that I did nothing at all. I did get to hang out with friends, made a small trip to SA, got a lot of work done, and finished up my book of the month. It has been a while since I've missed my weekly goals, so I'm not really looking forward to a week with no video games. This past week I didn't play at all, and had no real desire to even fire up WoW or my 360. I am, however, human, and easily fall prey to the human weakness of wanting what I can't have. Thus, I can expect unusually strong cravings for WoW and Guitar Hero this coming week...
On a side note, I have been using FitDay every day since my last post and have grown to like it quite a bit. It does an excellent job of helping me to more accurately track my caloric intake, as well as a plethora of other nutritional tidbits I would never be able to keep tabs on with my written journal. I also use it to track my weight and daily activities, though I still have to start making notes of specific exercises, weights, and reps for my workout days. If you're interested in seeing what I'm eating and doing, you can view my public FitDay log at this link.
Also, I've decided to do away with actual book reviews. I've been dreading writing up this last review, mainly because I see it as such a chore. I enjoyed the book, but writing up a witty commentary on exactly why I liked it just makes me want to avoid blogging. I will probably mention some things in passing (yea or nay, quotes, etc.) but no official reviews anymore. Just too much hassle.
And with that, I'm off to bed. Hopefully I'll get back on track this week...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Lazy Days
I have been way too lazy this past week. Like, borderline comatose lazy. Although I made it to conditioning class on Sunday, I skipped all of Monday, Tuesday noon class and all of last night. Thursday is my "day off" but I feel like I should be doing something just to shake off the feeling of apathy. I need to make it to 2 classes tomorrow AND Saturday morning black belt class just to barely scrape by with 5 classes for the week. Not to mention, I have to practice guitar/piano every day for the rest of the week, work out again tomorrow, and keep my steadily increasing weight under 170. I'm not really so much worried about hitting 170 as I am disappointed that I let myself slip so much after hitting 161 just the other week (168 as of this morning). Sigh.
I have also been putting off writing up a book review of last month's book, making some more changes to the list, and starting this months' research topic (I'm thinking stretching techniques). Apparently, I am just a list of complaints and self pity today. Sigh.
On the plus side, I am slowly but surely getting used to eating multiple smaller meals a day. I average 4 meals a day, sometimes 5 or 6 if I really try, and all around 200-600 calories. I still have a ways to go before getting completely accustomed to eating like this, and an even longer way to go before I can accurately calculate the calories I'm taking in without having to constantly read nutrition labels. I'm actually thinking of signing up for an online site called fitday.com that is supposed to be an excellent way to track meals and workouts. It may even replace my workout log if I like it, but I want to give it a decent test run before fully committing to it on the list. Anyway, I'd best get back to work, seeing as how I actually made it in to the office today (only the second time this week). Those excel sheets won't update themselves. Sigh...
I have also been putting off writing up a book review of last month's book, making some more changes to the list, and starting this months' research topic (I'm thinking stretching techniques). Apparently, I am just a list of complaints and self pity today. Sigh.
On the plus side, I am slowly but surely getting used to eating multiple smaller meals a day. I average 4 meals a day, sometimes 5 or 6 if I really try, and all around 200-600 calories. I still have a ways to go before getting completely accustomed to eating like this, and an even longer way to go before I can accurately calculate the calories I'm taking in without having to constantly read nutrition labels. I'm actually thinking of signing up for an online site called fitday.com that is supposed to be an excellent way to track meals and workouts. It may even replace my workout log if I like it, but I want to give it a decent test run before fully committing to it on the list. Anyway, I'd best get back to work, seeing as how I actually made it in to the office today (only the second time this week). Those excel sheets won't update themselves. Sigh...
Thursday, April 3, 2008
New Workout Routines!
So here are my new workout routines. There are a few main points I tried to hit when creating these and I've already seen some major improvements since starting last week, so hopefully this will be a good change up. I added pull ups as a major component of both routines, as I've found that they are bar none the best total upper body workout you can give yourself. On my best day, I've gotten in 3 sets at 13/8/6 reps, which isn't too shabby, but I'd like to get that to 3 sets of 12 minimum. I also added a decent sized push up set to both routines because, again, they are a key strength builder, and with so many varieties, you get a great overall workout doing them. I have three ab sets which I will rotate in for my 2 workout days a week. Eventually, I'd like to get all 3 ab sets in one week, just adding in the last one after a class or before bed. So, without further ado, here are the new routines. If you have any suggestions, feel free to comment. Or, better yet, go and try them out, and then tell me what you think!
Workout 1
Workout 2
Workout 1
| Exercise | Weight | Reps | Sets |
| Jump rope | 2 min | 1 | |
| Dynamic/Active stretching | 5 min | 1 | |
| Jump rope | 2 min | 1 | |
| Pull up | 12 | 3 | |
| Curl | 75 | 12 | 3 |
| Lunge w/ weight | 25 | 20 | 3 |
| One leg knee bend | 15 | 3 | |
| Shoulder lift | 25 | 12 | 3 |
| Inverse Curl | 75 | 12 | 3 |
| Ab workout 1, 2, or 3 | |||
| Push up - Normal | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Side to Side w/ MB | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Vertical or Incline | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Diamond | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - One Hand | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Plyo (Clapping) | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Tricep | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Row | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Offset Hands | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Lateral Hand Raise | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Wide | 10 | 1 |
Workout 2
| Exercise | Weight | Reps | Sets |
| Jump rope | 2 min | 1 | |
| Dynamic/Active stretching | 5 min | 1 | |
| Jump rope | 2 min | 1 | |
| Pull up | 12 | 3 | |
| Rear Delt Raise | 65 | 12 | 3 |
| Knee bend (fingers touch) | 20 | 3 | |
| Calf raise w/ weight | 25 | 50 | 3 |
| Bench Press | 155 | 12 | 3 |
| Bentover Row | 40 | 12 | 3 |
| Ab workout 1, 2, or 3 | |||
| Push up - Normal | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Side to Side w/ MB | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Vertical or Incline | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Diamond | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - One Hand | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Plyo (Clapping) | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Tricep | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Row | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Offset Hands | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Lateral Hand Raise | 10 | 1 | |
| Push up - Wide | 10 | 1 |
| Ab Workout 1 |
| Crunch w/ weight |
| Leg Lift w/ weight |
| Knee bent crunch |
| Crunch twist w/ weight |
| Oblique V-up |
| Flutter kicks (fast and slow) |
| Situp and punch |
| Supermans |
| Oblique crunch |
| Froggy crunch |
| Ab Workout 2 |
| Leg pull ins |
| Double crunch |
| Leg up crunch |
| Leg climb |
| Finger to heel oblique touchers |
| Bicycle |
| Cross leg situp |
| Supermans |
| Oblique V-up |
| Froggy crunch |
| Ab Workout 3 |
| Lower ab crunch |
| Decline situp w/ weight |
| Crunch twist |
| Hanging knees to chest |
| Hanging knees to side |
| Leg Lift w/ thrust |
| Leg climb |
| Back lifts |
| Side to side w/ weight |
| Froggy crunch |
Monday, March 31, 2008
Change is Good
After a few months of following the guidelines set forth on my list, I have a few minor tweaks that will hopefully allow me to keep up with the list better without getting overly frustrated or constantly making me feel burned out. So, without further ado, here are some of the changes...
OLD: Drink more water and green tea (at most one diet coke).
NEW: Drink more water and green tea.
I'm trying to actually count the number of calories I take in now and since diet cokes have 0 calories, I'm not as concerned with drinking only one coke a day as I am with drinking enough fluids to keep my appetite down without adding excess calories.
OLD: Eat at least one healthy meal.
NEW: Eat at least 4 times a day and hit current calorie count.
Along with the calorie counting, I'm trying (yet again) to increase the number of meals I eat in a day and reduce the caloric intake per meal. So eating one healthy meal a day becomes less important than eating at least 4 times a day (preferably 6) and making sure I hit my calorie count for the day. The number of calories will change periodically as I workout more/less and my weight and body fat changes. For now, around 2000 calories a day is what I'm aiming for to trim down, then I can up that when I try to gain more muscle mass.
OLD: Lift weights at least twice.
NEW: Work out at least twice outside of kung fu class.
With my new routines, I have the option of not actually lifting weights but still getting in a great workout, so this will change to working out at least twice a week outside of kung fu class.
OLD: Attend church at least bi-weekly (once I find one).
NEW: Removed
Taking this one off the list until I actually find a church. It just irks me to have something on my list that I am not currently doing.
OLD: Do at least 2 items from the Eventually list.
NEW: Do at least 3 items from the Eventually list.
No explanation needed...
NEW: Add three Eventually items to my list each year.
Gotta keep things fresh and you can never really run out of things you need/want to do.
NEW: Additions to the Eventually list.
1) Get first patent
2) Do something with garage (training room, gym, tool area)
3) Take motorcycle safety course
NEW: One day off a week.
Give myself one day a week where I can cheat on anything or everything. Everyone needs a day off, so this gives me a chance to spend one day a week eating horribly, getting only 3 hours of sleep, and not doing anything physically or mentally stimulating. Yeah, I know it sounds bad, but I'd rather this than quit entirely in 3 months due to burnout.
OLD: Drink more water and green tea (at most one diet coke).
NEW: Drink more water and green tea.
I'm trying to actually count the number of calories I take in now and since diet cokes have 0 calories, I'm not as concerned with drinking only one coke a day as I am with drinking enough fluids to keep my appetite down without adding excess calories.
OLD: Eat at least one healthy meal.
NEW: Eat at least 4 times a day and hit current calorie count.
Along with the calorie counting, I'm trying (yet again) to increase the number of meals I eat in a day and reduce the caloric intake per meal. So eating one healthy meal a day becomes less important than eating at least 4 times a day (preferably 6) and making sure I hit my calorie count for the day. The number of calories will change periodically as I workout more/less and my weight and body fat changes. For now, around 2000 calories a day is what I'm aiming for to trim down, then I can up that when I try to gain more muscle mass.
OLD: Lift weights at least twice.
NEW: Work out at least twice outside of kung fu class.
With my new routines, I have the option of not actually lifting weights but still getting in a great workout, so this will change to working out at least twice a week outside of kung fu class.
OLD: Attend church at least bi-weekly (once I find one).
NEW: Removed
Taking this one off the list until I actually find a church. It just irks me to have something on my list that I am not currently doing.
OLD: Do at least 2 items from the Eventually list.
NEW: Do at least 3 items from the Eventually list.
No explanation needed...
NEW: Add three Eventually items to my list each year.
Gotta keep things fresh and you can never really run out of things you need/want to do.
NEW: Additions to the Eventually list.
1) Get first patent
2) Do something with garage (training room, gym, tool area)
3) Take motorcycle safety course
NEW: One day off a week.
Give myself one day a week where I can cheat on anything or everything. Everyone needs a day off, so this gives me a chance to spend one day a week eating horribly, getting only 3 hours of sleep, and not doing anything physically or mentally stimulating. Yeah, I know it sounds bad, but I'd rather this than quit entirely in 3 months due to burnout.
Monday, March 24, 2008
From Blah To Eh...
Last week sucked. This week is looking a little better, but still rather eh... I took some friendly advice and took last week off from my regimen of tasks and tortures. It was nice to have a few days where I didn't have to journal my food and workouts and didn't have to practice or workout x times during the week. I think the concept of this blog is still sound, I just have to work out some of the kinks, like burnout and times when I really just need a day off. It's still a work in progress, but I'm open to suggestions and I already have a few good ones I will probably implement soon, so expect another blog this week with some minor tweaks to the list and rules.
Overall, though, the week off did help a lot. I am feeling much more motivated to continue training and working on some of the other list items that I seem to procrastinate on until the last moment. I have been spending all my time on guitar, so I think I will start mixing it up with some piano as well. I am just about finished with my new workout routines, so I'll post those up when I think they are ready for public criticism. And the weather has been on and off perfect the last week or so, so I think I will try to get out more this week and weekend, and maybe take some pics or just hang out with friends. After all, this list is supposed to be helping me improve my life, not make it a daily/weekly/monthly chore.
As always, comments, suggestions and criticisms are welcome. I think over the next month or two, I will finally have a list and routine that doesn't kill me, but makes me stronger. That's the goal anyway...
Overall, though, the week off did help a lot. I am feeling much more motivated to continue training and working on some of the other list items that I seem to procrastinate on until the last moment. I have been spending all my time on guitar, so I think I will start mixing it up with some piano as well. I am just about finished with my new workout routines, so I'll post those up when I think they are ready for public criticism. And the weather has been on and off perfect the last week or so, so I think I will try to get out more this week and weekend, and maybe take some pics or just hang out with friends. After all, this list is supposed to be helping me improve my life, not make it a daily/weekly/monthly chore.
As always, comments, suggestions and criticisms are welcome. I think over the next month or two, I will finally have a list and routine that doesn't kill me, but makes me stronger. That's the goal anyway...
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Unmotivated...
I find myself unmotivated lately to do, well, anything. I should qualify that last statement. Physically, I've never been fitter. I weighed in at exactly 163 this morning, well below my limit of 170, and even 2 pounds below my initial goal of 165. I am lighter, faster, and have kept my strength at the same level as when I was12-15 pounds heavier. Mentally, I am psyched about getting close to my 6-pack goal. Work is busy enough to keep me occupied but not so overbearing as to require weekend work or late nights at the office. Emotionally, however, I am wiped....
Lately, I've been feeling as though I've been run over by a train. Repeatedly. And then the passengers all get off and step on me. Repeatedly. I could go into reasons why, but I'll save that for my personal blog. Suffice it to say that motivation for life in general has been lacking as of late, and it really sucks. I have been keeping up with the items on my list by a slim margin. I often journal hastily just before bed, or cram three sessions of guitar in on Thursday through Saturday. In fact, the only goal I am able to completely keep up with is my reading, probably because I just don't feel like doing anything else productive.
Sigh. I really don't even want to write this post right now, but I have some time to kill before working out and shopping, so here you go. Hope your day/week/life is going better than mine...
Lately, I've been feeling as though I've been run over by a train. Repeatedly. And then the passengers all get off and step on me. Repeatedly. I could go into reasons why, but I'll save that for my personal blog. Suffice it to say that motivation for life in general has been lacking as of late, and it really sucks. I have been keeping up with the items on my list by a slim margin. I often journal hastily just before bed, or cram three sessions of guitar in on Thursday through Saturday. In fact, the only goal I am able to completely keep up with is my reading, probably because I just don't feel like doing anything else productive.
Sigh. I really don't even want to write this post right now, but I have some time to kill before working out and shopping, so here you go. Hope your day/week/life is going better than mine...
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Unrelated Post...
This post doesn't really have anything to do with my goals or punishments, I just wanted to vent quickly about my car, which is again in the shop after having been out for just over a month. I finally got my car back in January after battling with Acura and my warranty company for the last third of 2007. After months of no updates, getting the runaround, explaining to at least half a dozen different people what was wrong with my car, and an expensive final bill, I had my RSX-S back. I liked the loaner cars Acura gave me (for free thank God), but I was ready to get my sporty little standard back in a big way. It drove fine for a while, save for an annoying vibrating noise which I was a little concerned with, but I wanted to wait a month or so to let the new parts settle in before taking it back for a checkup.
Then this morning came along. Driving to work, I noticed a few gentle wisps of white smoke coming from my engine. I thought perhaps it was just the exhaust from the car in front of me, so I changed lanes and got behind a different car at the next light. Again, faint curls of white smoke wafted up from my engine. The engine heat looked ok, no weird noises, and no check engine lights, so I figured maybe I was making a mountain out of a molehill. Just to be safe, however, I slowed down and decided to cruise the rest of the 2 miles to work. At the next light however, I noticed a grumbling sound coming from the engine. Crap! This can't be happening again. I look at the engine heat gauge and it is quickly climbing, reaching max heat in seconds. The needle tries valiantly to break free from its constraints, desperately wanting to show me just how overheated my engine really is, but the poor thing gives out just past the end of the "H" (which apparently stands for hellfire).
I am just a block away from work, so I cruise in with as little acceleration as possible, park, pop the hood, and jump out to check the engine. The once gentle wisps of smoke have by now united into a noxious cloud that sucker punches me as I lift the hood. The oil is running less than half and I come to the slow realization that my car, along with so many things in this life, hates me. So after a long wait, a tow, and some polite banter with the good people at Acura, my car is now back in their hands. I have a brand spankin' new MDX on loan from them. It's nice. It has satellite radio, GPS navigation, and runs without the constant threat of inadvertently starting a wildfire. I just hope this repair goes more smoothly than the last one...
Oh, and don't buy Acura...
Then this morning came along. Driving to work, I noticed a few gentle wisps of white smoke coming from my engine. I thought perhaps it was just the exhaust from the car in front of me, so I changed lanes and got behind a different car at the next light. Again, faint curls of white smoke wafted up from my engine. The engine heat looked ok, no weird noises, and no check engine lights, so I figured maybe I was making a mountain out of a molehill. Just to be safe, however, I slowed down and decided to cruise the rest of the 2 miles to work. At the next light however, I noticed a grumbling sound coming from the engine. Crap! This can't be happening again. I look at the engine heat gauge and it is quickly climbing, reaching max heat in seconds. The needle tries valiantly to break free from its constraints, desperately wanting to show me just how overheated my engine really is, but the poor thing gives out just past the end of the "H" (which apparently stands for hellfire).
I am just a block away from work, so I cruise in with as little acceleration as possible, park, pop the hood, and jump out to check the engine. The once gentle wisps of smoke have by now united into a noxious cloud that sucker punches me as I lift the hood. The oil is running less than half and I come to the slow realization that my car, along with so many things in this life, hates me. So after a long wait, a tow, and some polite banter with the good people at Acura, my car is now back in their hands. I have a brand spankin' new MDX on loan from them. It's nice. It has satellite radio, GPS navigation, and runs without the constant threat of inadvertently starting a wildfire. I just hope this repair goes more smoothly than the last one...
Oh, and don't buy Acura...
Monday, March 3, 2008
New and Improved!
I have added a few new features to the side column of my blog that you may notice. The first is a simple poll, which I will occasionally update with new questions such as which book I should read next or which Eventually task I should attempt first. The first poll is intended mainly to give me an idea of how many different people are actually visiting this blog, so PLEASE VOTE! I have a hit counter, but I have no idea if it's 2 very sad people visiting 10 times a day, or 200+ very dissatisfied customers that came and left without ever checking back. I am hoping for somewhere in between...
The second addition is a Currently... section which will detail what I am currently reading, researching, weighing, and anything else I (or y'all) think fit to add. If you have suggestions on other topics to post, or just comments in general about what you'd like to see, likes/dislikes, etc. please let me know. I think this little project is going well so far, as I've stayed on task most days and weeks without too much problem and have punished myself appropriately whenever I stray. Feel free to forward this blog on to anyone and everyone you know. I have no shame and want as many readers as possible to egg me on, even if that entails random people getting a look into my life. Happy reading!
The second addition is a Currently... section which will detail what I am currently reading, researching, weighing, and anything else I (or y'all) think fit to add. If you have suggestions on other topics to post, or just comments in general about what you'd like to see, likes/dislikes, etc. please let me know. I think this little project is going well so far, as I've stayed on task most days and weeks without too much problem and have punished myself appropriately whenever I stray. Feel free to forward this blog on to anyone and everyone you know. I have no shame and want as many readers as possible to egg me on, even if that entails random people getting a look into my life. Happy reading!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Book Review: Play Money
Book - Play Money: Or, How I Quit My Day Job And Made Millions Trading Virtual Loot
Author - Julian Dibbell
Rating - 8/10
Play Money is one of those books that goes a long way in proving the old adage, you can't judge a book by its cover. For instance, I spent the first 100 or so pages of the book thinking the author was female. In fact, the author is male, married (at the time), and with kids. Whether the writing style or the virtual vixen on the front cover first swayed my impression towards the feminine, however, I may never know. Among other first impressions that were quickly dispelled:
1) The book's author is, in fact, a writer by trade. Not a random gamer that tried to make a living playing MMO's only to realize that writing about trying to make a living playing MMO's is more lucrative.
2) The book goes much deeper into philosophy, economics and other more intellectual matters than I first thought.
3) Playing games for a living is definitely NOT something I will be looking into any time soon.
So, I must admit, part of the reason I wanted to read this book was to see how realistic it was to make an actual living playing video games. I don't consider myself a hardcore gamer by any means. Yes, I own lots of fancy systems, but I don't remember the last time I played a console game. And the only computer game I currently play (WoW) is down to about 4 hours a week at most. Still, I do enjoy playing games when I have the time, and earning some real money in the process was a concept that intrigued me on multiple levels.
Julian Dibbell is a tech-writer, living mostly off articles for techie magazines such as Wired! He is fairly well known for his work and, thus, his attempt into the netherworld of virtual trading and online bartering was akin to the manager's nephew getting a job someone else really deserved. His connections in the business were already plentiful and his alibi of taking this project on as a legitimate press piece garnered him audiences with powerful players in the virtual world other noobs could only dream of. All in all, though, this allowed for a richer story and quite a bit more at stake than the average gamer with dreams of making it big online.
Dibbell uses everything to his advantage, from his press pass to his business trips to gaming conventions, allowing him to fall deep into the abyss of MMO trading. His participation in a myriad of deals offer ethical dilemmas that are at the same time intriguing and revealing about the true nature of virtual commerce. With references to long dead (and oft unheard of) economists, philosophers, and game theorists, Dibbell poses many questions to himself and the reader that few have dared to ask, let alone answer. Questions concerning farming sweatshops in foreign countries, the effects of virtual existence on real life, addiction, and the future of games and real world economics. Through Dibbell's trials and tribulations, witty observations, and borderline obsession, the reader is allowed to draw his or her own conclusions about what the future will bring and where the average gamer (such as myself) will stand.
Author - Julian Dibbell
Rating - 8/10
Play Money is one of those books that goes a long way in proving the old adage, you can't judge a book by its cover. For instance, I spent the first 100 or so pages of the book thinking the author was female. In fact, the author is male, married (at the time), and with kids. Whether the writing style or the virtual vixen on the front cover first swayed my impression towards the feminine, however, I may never know. Among other first impressions that were quickly dispelled:
1) The book's author is, in fact, a writer by trade. Not a random gamer that tried to make a living playing MMO's only to realize that writing about trying to make a living playing MMO's is more lucrative.
2) The book goes much deeper into philosophy, economics and other more intellectual matters than I first thought.
3) Playing games for a living is definitely NOT something I will be looking into any time soon.
So, I must admit, part of the reason I wanted to read this book was to see how realistic it was to make an actual living playing video games. I don't consider myself a hardcore gamer by any means. Yes, I own lots of fancy systems, but I don't remember the last time I played a console game. And the only computer game I currently play (WoW) is down to about 4 hours a week at most. Still, I do enjoy playing games when I have the time, and earning some real money in the process was a concept that intrigued me on multiple levels.
Julian Dibbell is a tech-writer, living mostly off articles for techie magazines such as Wired! He is fairly well known for his work and, thus, his attempt into the netherworld of virtual trading and online bartering was akin to the manager's nephew getting a job someone else really deserved. His connections in the business were already plentiful and his alibi of taking this project on as a legitimate press piece garnered him audiences with powerful players in the virtual world other noobs could only dream of. All in all, though, this allowed for a richer story and quite a bit more at stake than the average gamer with dreams of making it big online.
Dibbell uses everything to his advantage, from his press pass to his business trips to gaming conventions, allowing him to fall deep into the abyss of MMO trading. His participation in a myriad of deals offer ethical dilemmas that are at the same time intriguing and revealing about the true nature of virtual commerce. With references to long dead (and oft unheard of) economists, philosophers, and game theorists, Dibbell poses many questions to himself and the reader that few have dared to ask, let alone answer. Questions concerning farming sweatshops in foreign countries, the effects of virtual existence on real life, addiction, and the future of games and real world economics. Through Dibbell's trials and tribulations, witty observations, and borderline obsession, the reader is allowed to draw his or her own conclusions about what the future will bring and where the average gamer (such as myself) will stand.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tournament Pics and Vids
As promised, here are some pictures and videos from the tournament. Enjoy!
Ravi and me doing Xing Yi 2 Man Set...Bryan getting his Chen on...
Elizabeth with some spear action...
Me laying the smack down on Gary (I lost this match)...
And I couldn't resist, so here's a slo-mo of my sweep from last year's tournament (please excuse the night vision)...
Impromptu Fast
The past week or so has been a veritable smörgåsbord of eating out and late night dinners, due mainly to the gathering of Shaolin-Do friends for testing and competing at this year's tournament. For those that know me, I am (almost) always thinking about food and/or eating and it is a rare occasion when I'm not in the mood to go out to eat, regardless of time or place. As a result of the past week's gluttony, however, I now feel like a fat cow. I weighed myself this morning and I was only 170, a good 3-4 pounds lighter than I thought I'd be, but it feels like I'm carrying around a sack of potatoes, thus my impromptu decision to fast for the next 72 hours...
I have fasted before, usually for 72 hours each time, allowing myself only water for the entire 3 days. This time I will also be drinking green tea, as it has some natural appetite suppressants and should help keep some of my energy up for the duration of the fast. My last meal was around 1am this morning, and it was a pretty nice meal to go out on. I'm working 2nd shift at work this week (4pm - 12am), and I ended up at Kerby Lane afterwards to read and get some grub. If you think their pancakes are good in the morning, try having them after midnight, they are phenomenal! I had one strawberry and one pumpkin pancake, along with half a pita pizza. Hit the spot without question.
So now I am about 16 hours into my fast, drinking a green tea, and obsessively thinking about what 2nd shift will be getting for dinner tonight. I think it is chicken fried steak night. I know it makes me a horrible person, but that just sounds so good right now. With mashed potatoes. And rolls. And cream gravy. Ok, Tommy, think happy thoughts. This is a great green tea. Very refreshing. With added citrus for that little extra kick. And cream gravy. Argh...
I have fasted before, usually for 72 hours each time, allowing myself only water for the entire 3 days. This time I will also be drinking green tea, as it has some natural appetite suppressants and should help keep some of my energy up for the duration of the fast. My last meal was around 1am this morning, and it was a pretty nice meal to go out on. I'm working 2nd shift at work this week (4pm - 12am), and I ended up at Kerby Lane afterwards to read and get some grub. If you think their pancakes are good in the morning, try having them after midnight, they are phenomenal! I had one strawberry and one pumpkin pancake, along with half a pita pizza. Hit the spot without question.
So now I am about 16 hours into my fast, drinking a green tea, and obsessively thinking about what 2nd shift will be getting for dinner tonight. I think it is chicken fried steak night. I know it makes me a horrible person, but that just sounds so good right now. With mashed potatoes. And rolls. And cream gravy. Ok, Tommy, think happy thoughts. This is a great green tea. Very refreshing. With added citrus for that little extra kick. And cream gravy. Argh...
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tournament Results: Meh...
Well, the tournament did not go as well as I would have liked, but I still had a good time. I ended up placing 4th in Tai Chi forms, against a much larger crowd than last year at least. Ravi and I performed the Xing Yi 2-man set for the upper black belt forms competition, but didn't end up placing at all. There were a LOT of great forms done, so I don't feel too bad about losing out, but it would have been nice to live up to the past performances of Tommy and Dan with the same form.
Sparring was even worse. I lost 2 of 3 matches, and didn't even get close to making the finals. A pretty big disappointment from my 2nd place finish last year, I must admit. I can't even blame the draw, because my opponents, though tough, were not nearly as bad as they could have been (no Paul, Cory, Matt, or Sean). I must give a congrats to Ravi, though, for placing 4th against some very stiff competition. And an even bigger congrats to Elizabeth for getting 1st place in the MEN'S 1st Black Belt division. She completely schooled all the guys in that division. Awesome!
The rest of the weekend was fairly unproductive, but at least enjoyable. I went to some parties, the Black Belt Banquet, and out to eat way too many times. I'll try to download some pics and vids from this weekend and post them up here soon. This week looks to be a tough one. I haven't worked out much the last week due to the weird testing/tournament schedules, and I have been eating complete crap due to all the celebrating and general merry making for the same reasons. I have several pounds to lose, I'm working 2nd shift all week, and I work all weekend. I just want to go back to the beginning of this past weekend...
Sparring was even worse. I lost 2 of 3 matches, and didn't even get close to making the finals. A pretty big disappointment from my 2nd place finish last year, I must admit. I can't even blame the draw, because my opponents, though tough, were not nearly as bad as they could have been (no Paul, Cory, Matt, or Sean). I must give a congrats to Ravi, though, for placing 4th against some very stiff competition. And an even bigger congrats to Elizabeth for getting 1st place in the MEN'S 1st Black Belt division. She completely schooled all the guys in that division. Awesome!
The rest of the weekend was fairly unproductive, but at least enjoyable. I went to some parties, the Black Belt Banquet, and out to eat way too many times. I'll try to download some pics and vids from this weekend and post them up here soon. This week looks to be a tough one. I haven't worked out much the last week due to the weird testing/tournament schedules, and I have been eating complete crap due to all the celebrating and general merry making for the same reasons. I have several pounds to lose, I'm working 2nd shift all week, and I work all weekend. I just want to go back to the beginning of this past weekend...
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Much Procrastinated Update
I know, I know, I'm a horrible blogger. I've neglected my blogging duties for over a week now, leaving everyone wondering how I'm doing, what I'm up to, and how many extra push-ups I've had to do. Ok, maybe not, but I still feel neglectful so decided I have to post today no matter what.
Unfortunately, there's not too much to say. I finished my first No Video Games week without too many uncontrollable cravings. I think the very fact that I wasn't allowed to play made me want to even more, because there were some moments I was ready to call the whole thing off just to log a few hours on WoW. With some support, however, I managed to stay on the wagon and haven't even played yet this week either.
In other news, I have completed a few monthly chores and have plans to complete the rest with time to spare. I'm well into my current book, Play Money: Or, How I Quit My Day Job and Made Millions Trading Virtual Loot. When I finish it, I'll post a short review, but I can already say it's a must read for anyone into online gaming or with an interest in macroeconomics or virtual worlds. I also have a Kung Fu tournament and Black Belt Banquet coming up this weekend, which should provide plenty of photo ops. I'll post more on those events as they come to pass, along with any pictures that turn out well enough to share.
That's about it for now. Unless anything major happens, my next post will probably be post-tournament, so wish me luck! I'm hoping to compete in kung fu forms, tai chi forms, and sparring. Last year I did pretty well, but I expect the competition to be even stiffer this year since I'll be in the 2nd degree and up division in several events. Anyway, it should be a good time and I'm looking forward to it! If you're in the area and interested in coming to watch, just let me know, or go here for more info: http://www.austinkungfu.com/2008springfest.asp
Unfortunately, there's not too much to say. I finished my first No Video Games week without too many uncontrollable cravings. I think the very fact that I wasn't allowed to play made me want to even more, because there were some moments I was ready to call the whole thing off just to log a few hours on WoW. With some support, however, I managed to stay on the wagon and haven't even played yet this week either.
In other news, I have completed a few monthly chores and have plans to complete the rest with time to spare. I'm well into my current book, Play Money: Or, How I Quit My Day Job and Made Millions Trading Virtual Loot. When I finish it, I'll post a short review, but I can already say it's a must read for anyone into online gaming or with an interest in macroeconomics or virtual worlds. I also have a Kung Fu tournament and Black Belt Banquet coming up this weekend, which should provide plenty of photo ops. I'll post more on those events as they come to pass, along with any pictures that turn out well enough to share.
That's about it for now. Unless anything major happens, my next post will probably be post-tournament, so wish me luck! I'm hoping to compete in kung fu forms, tai chi forms, and sparring. Last year I did pretty well, but I expect the competition to be even stiffer this year since I'll be in the 2nd degree and up division in several events. Anyway, it should be a good time and I'm looking forward to it! If you're in the area and interested in coming to watch, just let me know, or go here for more info: http://www.austinkungfu.com/2008springfest.asp
Monday, February 11, 2008
So very tired...
Well, for anyone that read through the comments for my last post, there were a total of 4 workouts posted that I ended up going through. I must admit that I cheated a little as I didn't complete the last one until today. Honestly, though, I was pretty exhausted from classes and the extra workouts and didn't want to push it too far. I must say that there were some fairly grueling workouts posted. If you want to know exactly what each one was, just read the comments from my last entry, but here are some "awards" for each one:
1) Best workout to get your heart racing in 10 minutes: Ivan's gymnastics routine.
2) Longest and most overall tiring workout: Anh-Thu's 500 situps, 10 minutes of jump rope, and too many short katas to count.
3) Best workout where I was just glad my arms didn't fall off afterwards: Bryan's spartan workout.
4) Workout that most made me feel like a little girl: Elizabeth's Burpee and Tabata sets.
So, all in all, a good week for working out and losing a few extra pounds, but not something I'd ever like to do on even a semi-consistent basis...
On a different topic, last week was a wash in terms of completing my weekly goals. I only practiced guitar/piano once and only lifted once, so this week it's no video games. Sigh. This week looks to be a fairly boring week already, so not even being able to log on to WoW and killing a few hours kind of sucks. Actually, it really sucks. Hopefully I can use the extra time to catch up on reading and some of my monthly chores, but right now I just want to sleep...
1) Best workout to get your heart racing in 10 minutes: Ivan's gymnastics routine.
2) Longest and most overall tiring workout: Anh-Thu's 500 situps, 10 minutes of jump rope, and too many short katas to count.
3) Best workout where I was just glad my arms didn't fall off afterwards: Bryan's spartan workout.
4) Workout that most made me feel like a little girl: Elizabeth's Burpee and Tabata sets.
So, all in all, a good week for working out and losing a few extra pounds, but not something I'd ever like to do on even a semi-consistent basis...
On a different topic, last week was a wash in terms of completing my weekly goals. I only practiced guitar/piano once and only lifted once, so this week it's no video games. Sigh. This week looks to be a fairly boring week already, so not even being able to log on to WoW and killing a few hours kind of sucks. Actually, it really sucks. Hopefully I can use the extra time to catch up on reading and some of my monthly chores, but right now I just want to sleep...
Sunday, February 3, 2008
We're All A Bunch Of Pansies
Yeah, you heard me. Pansies. We're all a bunch of freaking pansies for not trying out for the show. I thought about posting some excuses (or "reasons") for why I didn't make it, but the bottom line is I didn't go and there is no one else to truly blame but myself. So, in the spirit of the whole reward vs. punishment theme of this blog, I must undergo some serious castigation. This is where you all come in...
I am opening up the comments of this post to everyone for suggestions on physical forms of penance for my sins of cowardice and sloth. Since trying out for American Gladiators would have been a good test of my physical shape and ability, I'd like to focus my impending abuse on the same qualities. Whatever grueling forms of exercise you come up with, I will do this upcoming week. Pull-ups, running, crunches, whatever; name an exercise and the number of reps you think I deserve for chickening out, and I will do it this week. Please try to keep it realistic, a million push-ups is probably not going to happen, but an extra 100+ a day I can accomplish. There is no limit on comments, so please, EVERYONE try to post something.
P.S. Yes, E, you were right and we all suck. Happy? :)
I am opening up the comments of this post to everyone for suggestions on physical forms of penance for my sins of cowardice and sloth. Since trying out for American Gladiators would have been a good test of my physical shape and ability, I'd like to focus my impending abuse on the same qualities. Whatever grueling forms of exercise you come up with, I will do this upcoming week. Pull-ups, running, crunches, whatever; name an exercise and the number of reps you think I deserve for chickening out, and I will do it this week. Please try to keep it realistic, a million push-ups is probably not going to happen, but an extra 100+ a day I can accomplish. There is no limit on comments, so please, EVERYONE try to post something.
P.S. Yes, E, you were right and we all suck. Happy? :)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
My Childhood Dream Come True
So, American Gladiators is having open tryouts this weekend in Austin. I loved the show as a kid, and it should be fun to try out, even if I humiliate myself in front of hundreds of fitter, faster, and stronger applicants. It's just for fun, and I'll be there with several friends, some of whom are trying out as well. I'll post an update after the audition, hopefully with some pics or vids of the event itself. I just wanted to put it up here so I have no choice but to actually go through with it...
http://www.nbc.com/American_Gladiators/
http://www.nbc.com/American_Gladiators/
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
A Lesson in Pain
So, I forgot to log my workout and food for the day last night. I had every intention to, but then I got wildly distracted with something much more important and, by the time I had finished, I completely forgot about logging and fell quickly asleep. And now I must pay.
It sucks too, because I just freaking got out of the shower, and 250 push-ups, crunches and knee bends is sure to build up at least a light salty covering. Not to mention the grueling workout in store for me in class tonight means I really can't wait to do it before bed. Argh. Well, it had to happen sooner or later right? Guess I'll go get it over with...
It sucks too, because I just freaking got out of the shower, and 250 push-ups, crunches and knee bends is sure to build up at least a light salty covering. Not to mention the grueling workout in store for me in class tonight means I really can't wait to do it before bed. Argh. Well, it had to happen sooner or later right? Guess I'll go get it over with...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Bored...
So, I'm at work with nothing to do for the last 2 hours and nowhere to be for another hour. I'm bored. I figured I may as well blog and kill some time. There's not really much to report so far. The list is going ok. Not great, not horrible, just ok. I have definitely found a few items to be more challenging than the rest. Several of them I have been successfully doing for months now, just not with any type of strict regulation or tracking. Eating and drinking healthier are easy at this point (thanks e!), even on a daily basis. Writing out my eating and workout habits for the day, however, along with getting 6 hours of sleep a night, are not so much. I find myself procrastinating journaling until just before bed, at which point I'm already tired and want to just skip it, but not tired enough to actually think for a second that the punishment tomorrow would be worth it.
On the weekly front, I think the musical practice will be the hardest to keep up with. Most weeknights, I don't get home until around 10pm, and the last thing I want to do is something productive. It's already Tuesday and I still haven't had my first practice, which means I can either put it off until Thursday/Friday/Saturday, or suck it up and just do it around 11pm tonight or tomorrow night. Neither sounds particularly appealing.
On a better topic, thanks to everyone who wrote back or commented/browsed this blog! I think a key part of actually keeping up with this is having lots of others supporting and cheering me on, so your e-mails and comments are greatly appreciated! I'm also open to suggestions for new goals or ways to achieve my current ones. Anything at all is welcome! That's it for now. I will hopefully have more exciting news to blog about later...
On the weekly front, I think the musical practice will be the hardest to keep up with. Most weeknights, I don't get home until around 10pm, and the last thing I want to do is something productive. It's already Tuesday and I still haven't had my first practice, which means I can either put it off until Thursday/Friday/Saturday, or suck it up and just do it around 11pm tonight or tomorrow night. Neither sounds particularly appealing.
On a better topic, thanks to everyone who wrote back or commented/browsed this blog! I think a key part of actually keeping up with this is having lots of others supporting and cheering me on, so your e-mails and comments are greatly appreciated! I'm also open to suggestions for new goals or ways to achieve my current ones. Anything at all is welcome! That's it for now. I will hopefully have more exciting news to blog about later...
Sunday, January 27, 2008
First Day Blues
Well, it's around 8:30 am on my first day adhering to the list, and I am already regretting it. I woke up in kind of a bad funk this morning around 7:30. I tried valiantly for half an hour to force my restless mind back into a state of blissful dormancy, but it would have none of it. So now I am fully awake, with a whole list of crap I need to do, not wanting to do any of it yet, and longing for nothing more than a few more hours of lethargic reprieve. Argh...
So, my plans for the day are minimal, but I hope to get at least a few things crossed off for this week/month. I'll have a muscle milk for breakfast (Cookies 'n Cream is freaking awesome!), then head to conditioning around noon. After that, I might try to convince some others to grab a healthy lunch. No solid plans for the rest of the day, but I will try to get some practice time in as well as squeeze out a few e-mails from my new contact list. If I'm feeling uber productive, I may also read more of my current book, Blink, instead of WoWing or wasting time in front of the TV all evening, but I don't want to commit to that just yet. Anyway, just wanted to give a quick update. I am off to (grudgingly) start my day!
So, my plans for the day are minimal, but I hope to get at least a few things crossed off for this week/month. I'll have a muscle milk for breakfast (Cookies 'n Cream is freaking awesome!), then head to conditioning around noon. After that, I might try to convince some others to grab a healthy lunch. No solid plans for the rest of the day, but I will try to get some practice time in as well as squeeze out a few e-mails from my new contact list. If I'm feeling uber productive, I may also read more of my current book, Blink, instead of WoWing or wasting time in front of the TV all evening, but I don't want to commit to that just yet. Anyway, just wanted to give a quick update. I am off to (grudgingly) start my day!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Prep Work... Check!
Well, I procrastinated most of the week in getting to the preparations needed to start this crazy adventure on time, but I technically still have one day left, so I guess I'm ahead of schedule! I finished all of my prep work today, as I was in an unusually productive mood. I jotted down a few details for anyone interested below...
1) Find some teas I actually like
I have at least one tea I actually enjoy now, an organic Chai tea. Mixed with a little pink-packeted fake sugar, it is actually fairly tasty, and is at least a step in the right direction.
2) Buy a workout/food journal
I got a Moleskin Pocket Ruled Notebook to log my workouts and eating each day. If you like journaling, sketching, or even just for jotting down quick notes, Moleskins are pretty freaking awesome, and I highly suggest you try them out.
3) Get to under 170 lbs. for at least a week to start
I just weighed myself after getting home from another grueling Friday night conditioning class, and was right at 170. This is after a full day of eating and drinking, so I feel confident in knocking this one off the list before my final weigh in tomorrow morning.
4) Create list of friends I really want to keep in contact with
With a mix of high school, college, and various other friends, I now have a list of 20 very lucky individuals that I will try to keep in better touch with from now on. Hopefully they all still like me.
5) Make at least a loose daily schedule (time to blog, read, sleep, eat, etc)
I have a detailed workout schedule on Google Calendar now (18 hours a week!), and a rough estimate of days I want to try to practice piano/guitar and blog. Bedtime is 1am every day but Saturday, which should give me some padding for my 6 hours a night (this will be a tough one to keep).
So all the prep work is done, now to enjoy my last day of freedom...
1) Find some teas I actually like
I have at least one tea I actually enjoy now, an organic Chai tea. Mixed with a little pink-packeted fake sugar, it is actually fairly tasty, and is at least a step in the right direction.
2) Buy a workout/food journal
I got a Moleskin Pocket Ruled Notebook to log my workouts and eating each day. If you like journaling, sketching, or even just for jotting down quick notes, Moleskins are pretty freaking awesome, and I highly suggest you try them out.
3) Get to under 170 lbs. for at least a week to start
I just weighed myself after getting home from another grueling Friday night conditioning class, and was right at 170. This is after a full day of eating and drinking, so I feel confident in knocking this one off the list before my final weigh in tomorrow morning.
4) Create list of friends I really want to keep in contact with
With a mix of high school, college, and various other friends, I now have a list of 20 very lucky individuals that I will try to keep in better touch with from now on. Hopefully they all still like me.
5) Make at least a loose daily schedule (time to blog, read, sleep, eat, etc)
I have a detailed workout schedule on Google Calendar now (18 hours a week!), and a rough estimate of days I want to try to practice piano/guitar and blog. Bedtime is 1am every day but Saturday, which should give me some padding for my 6 hours a night (this will be a tough one to keep).
So all the prep work is done, now to enjoy my last day of freedom...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
First List Amendment
After some feedback, it appears I was too light on myself with only a set of 100 push ups, crunches, and knee bends, so I'm upping it to 250 for missing a daily goal. With 100, I probably would have been too tempted to eat that 4th plate at the buffet or have a non-diet drink for lunch, but for 250, I will probably think twice...
New Daily Punishment:
250 pushups, 250 crunches, 250 knee bends
New Daily Punishment:
250 pushups, 250 crunches, 250 knee bends
Preparations
Some things I need to do to prepare for the upcoming onslaught. I'll cross these off as they get done...
1) Find some teas I actually like
2) Buy a workout/food journal
3) Get to under 170 lbs. for at least a week to start
4) Create list of friends I really want to keep in contact with
5) Make at least a loose daily schedule (time to blog, read, sleep, eat, etc)
1) Find some teas I actually like
2) Buy a workout/food journal
3) Get to under 170 lbs. for at least a week to start
4) Create list of friends I really want to keep in contact with
5) Make at least a loose daily schedule (time to blog, read, sleep, eat, etc)
Crap I Need to Do, Or Else
Well, here it is, my "Crap I Need To Do, Or Else" list. So, what exactly is a "Crap I Need To Do, Or Else" list? Well, I'm glad you asked! Basically, it's a list of crap I need to do with the added caveat of some form of punishment for when the list is not adhered to. Yes, I am a masochist. But I'm also a psychology minor, and realize that goals without reward AND punishment are rarely achieved. My reward for doing stuff is getting my crap done. My punishments vary by type of goal, which I have separated into Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly tasks. There is also an Eventually list that plays into the Yearly goals. I will find a better way of posting my list of goals so that they don't whither and die under more recent posts, but here it is for now. The punishment is listed next to the type of task.
Daily – 100 pushups, 100 crunches, 100 knee bends
- Drink more water and green tea (at most one diet coke)
- Get at least 6 hours of sleep
- Eat at least one healthy meal
- Update workout/food journal
- Pray
Weekly – No Video Games Next Week
- Update blog
- Lift weights at least twice a week
- Attend at least 2 material, 2 conditioning, and 2 teaching classes for Kung Fu
- Attend church at least every other week (once I find one)
- Practice guitar or piano at least 3 times a week
- Keep weight under 170 lbs. (more allowed if muscle mass)
Monthly – No TV Next Month (Live or Recorded)
- Increase reps or weight
- Go out with friends in
- Talk to all family members
- Read at least one book
- Find and research a new and interesting topic
- Find an opportunity to take photos
Yearly – Pick One Random Item from the Eventually List to Start by Next Week
- Contribute to Roth IRA
- E-mail long-distance friends at least twice a year (need to make list)
- Visit at least 2 long-distance friends
- Take at least one class at ACC or UT
- Take better care of my car (oil changes, maintenance, less harsh driving)
- Dental visit at least twice a year
- Do at least 2 items from the Eventually list
Eventually
- Find a new church
- Test for 3rd degree black belt
- Test for 2nd degree black sash
- Learn a new language
- Get a new job (possibly in management)
- Look into investment houses
- Look into franchise or start-up business
- Install surround sound in bathroom
- Clean up/hide wires and cables in living room
- Get media center fully connected and operational
- Build deck or pool in backyard
- Paint upstairs bedroom
Some notes:
1. The Eventually list is just a bunch of things I'd like to do at some point. Since they don't adhere to a schedule very well, I decided that getting any 2 things on this list accomplished a year would suffice.
2. If I fail at doing my Yearly tasks on time, I have to select one RANDOM task from the Eventually list. This task will not count towards the 2 for that year, and must be started within the first week of the new year. If I fail to do that, well then, I fail at life and probably shouldn't have a list anyway.
3. Rather than inundate this blog with daily successes ("Yea! I ate a healthy meal today!"), I will instead update with larger milestones, failures and subsequent punishments, and changes to the list itself.
List Making
So, the latest rage among my friends has been to make a list of 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days. It is an alternative approach to making New Year's Resolutions, and one that seems to have caught on rather quickly. I agree that new year's resolutions are old hat, and are even more likely to fail than normal To-Do's for a variety of reasons. They are always the same (lose weight, work out more, eat healthier, blah blah blah). They are never well defined (how much weight, how will I work out, what is healthy eating). On top of that, they are usually not very well planned, often thought of on New Year's Eve when someone asks you, "So what are your resolutions this year?" Or worse, on January 1st, when you think to yourself, crap I need to do better this year...
In some ways, the 101 in 1001 list resolves those issues but, for other reasons, I don't really like this concept either. Most of all because I think defining a list so specifically (both in quantity of tasks AND time to accomplish them), forces the list maker onto a predefined path. Some people may not have 101 things they want to accomplish while others have well beyond that number. Some items may take years to get done (finishing a degree, turning first profit on a business, earning enough to retire), while others can be done immediately. Lists will be padded with easy tasks to accomplish first, giving the maker a warm fuzzy when he/she gets to check something off. Eventually, however, the tasks will get harder, the list will not change so frequently, and as the final days count down on several seemingly impossible tasks left, the unavoidable sense of failure will come.
While the concept of New Year's Resolutions or 101 things to do in 1001 days is admirable, I think both are inherently flawed so have decided to create my own list: Crap I Need To Do, Or Else...
Details on this innovative new concept are forthcoming.
In some ways, the 101 in 1001 list resolves those issues but, for other reasons, I don't really like this concept either. Most of all because I think defining a list so specifically (both in quantity of tasks AND time to accomplish them), forces the list maker onto a predefined path. Some people may not have 101 things they want to accomplish while others have well beyond that number. Some items may take years to get done (finishing a degree, turning first profit on a business, earning enough to retire), while others can be done immediately. Lists will be padded with easy tasks to accomplish first, giving the maker a warm fuzzy when he/she gets to check something off. Eventually, however, the tasks will get harder, the list will not change so frequently, and as the final days count down on several seemingly impossible tasks left, the unavoidable sense of failure will come.
While the concept of New Year's Resolutions or 101 things to do in 1001 days is admirable, I think both are inherently flawed so have decided to create my own list: Crap I Need To Do, Or Else...
Details on this innovative new concept are forthcoming.
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