PenteKing’s BodyBlog

Those of you who read my blog know that I have a fantastic training partner. Here name is Julie, and I’d like to take this opportunity of publicly proclaiming my belief that she is the BEST training partner anyone could ever hope for. She loves biking as much as I do, and is willing (nay, enthusiastic) about accompanying me on some of my wilder jaunts around San Diego, including my trip from downtown to Oceanside and back. She was my partner during the 156 miles MS Bay-to-Bay bike ride, and was alongside me during the century ride to benefit the American Diabetes Association. She has done a double century (200 miles in one day!) and is planning on doing the 175 mile San Francisco to Napa Valley ride to benefit MS. We rode together today for what will in all likelihood be our final ride together. The movers are coming tomorrow, and as soon as the moving truck is loaded, I’m heading out. Julie promises to get up to Boston, but I don’t hold out hope. It’s not that I don’t believe her. I do. Her intentions are pure, and I know that if there is a way for her to get to Boston, she will do so. But I’m also pragmatic enough to know that getting to Boston is not high on her priority list. She’s attending school, has a full-time job, and is trying to start a new relationship. Those are all laudable goals, and I don’t begrudge her her goals one tiny bit. If she does make it to Boston, I will be the first one to welcome her with open arms. Until that happens, let me say this - Julie; I love you. Of all the people that I’ve met here in San Diego, I will miss you the most. Good health and good fortune, my friend. You will always have a place in my head and in my heart. 

Okay; it’s official. I am permanently leaving san Diego in less than three weeks. After five years, it’s time to move on. Many of you will probably consider me crazy for abandoning San Diego’s fantastic weather. In this, I must agree with you. However, that being said, I must also add that there is more to an area than an average mean temperature of seventy degrees.

I am returning to Massachusetts, to live in the Republic of Cambridge. I’ve found an apartment near MIT and just across the river from downtown Boston. I hope to find gainful employment with one of the area’s employers. I believe it will be easier to find work in Massachusetts than here in San Diego. At least that is my hope. I have a whole coterie of people who are willing to help me find work. (I did, after all, live in Boston for more than 25 years.) My new apartment has a gym, along with a lap pool, so I’ll be able to continue my triathlon training. Adjusting to the weather won’t be easy (I HATE the cold), but as I said, there’s more to a city than an average mean temperature of 70 degrees. Wish me luck.

I’m looking to replace FitDay. While it has proven useful in the past, I find that I’m moving past it. I think I need something more.

I found a website that considers DietMaster 2100 to be the best of all the programs reviewed, with NutriNote a close second. Does anyone have any experience with either of these programs? If so, drop me a line and let me know what you think.

I achieved a new personal best today. I swam 560 yards. I can’t begin to tell you how psyched I am about this achievement. I mean, we’re talking about a guy who could barely make it 50 feet without laboring like a beached whale. Today, I went 560 yards. Granted, this isn’t even close to what I need to do in order to compete in October’s Triathlon, but it’s a huge leap forward. I actually felt like a swimmer today. There was very little thrashing about, and even on those occasions when I temporarily lost my rhythm and swallowed some water, I didn’t panic. Instead, I concentrated on what my instructor told me. I slowed down, rolled to one side, cleared my mouth, took in a new breath of air, and kept going.

Man, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. I’m so happy, I could bust.

Okay, it’s now been officially four days since the start of my routine/attitude (whoa! hold the presses! Four whole days!) and I’m here to report that so far, I’ve adhered to my promised activities. My diet has been super clean. I’m eating only fresh, unprocessed food, and have eliminated bread, pasta and wheat from my meals. I’m substituting brown rice, barley and quiona (which doesn’t taste half bad, if the truth must be told). I’m lifting religiously and so far this month, have been in the water 3 out of the 4 days. I’m gradually getting more and more comfortable in the water. Of course, it helps knowing that at any time all I have to do is stand up and I’m out of danger, but still…For me, this is huge. I mean, we’re talking about a man who has never learned to swim. Even though I live in San Diego, I visit the beach maybe three time a year, and when I do, I play volleyball or lay in the sun, working on my tan.

I haven’t weighed myself yet. I plan to weigh myself every Friday morning, immediately upon waking. If I weigh myself any more frequently than that, I’ll become obsessed about my progress (or lack thereof) and lose focus on what I’m trying to accomplish. Sooooo, as the old saying goes, "So far; so good."

To snap myself out of this funk that I’ve been in for the past week and a half, I’ve decided to mix things up a bit. I have made a personal commitment to myself to lose approximately 10 pounds this month. I’ve been struggling to get below the 200 pound mark for about a year now, and it hit me that the only thing standing in the way of my achieving my goal is ME! In the timeless words of Strother Martin in the film, Cool Hand Luke, "I haven’t got my mind right." I’ve been eating pretty clean, but I can do better. I’ve been exercising pretty hard, but I can do better. I can. I will. As of today, there are no ‘ifs’, ‘ands’ or ‘buts’. No excuses will suffice. I will not cut myself any slack. None. Today is a new day. My mind is right. Let’s get it done.