dougbowling’s BodyBlog

Well everybody, I thought my flight was this afternoon, but it turns out that it is tonight.  It doesnt matter to me that much as long as I get out of here today.  It gives me more time today to sit in my office and think of things I may have forgotten to pass down to the young Captain filling in for me, and for him to pass on to my successor.  I have been sitting at the computer all day, cleaning out my mailbox, cleaning out My documents, and surfing the news.  Luckily, I also have a television in my office and have been able to catch a couple of movies today.  I missed the gym this morning because I was finishing my packing and loading the car with my sea bags.  This is the first time I have missed it in the morning since I travelled to Baghdad at the end of May.  Even then, I went in the evening.  I am not going to go today, and will probably go sit at the terminal all day long. 

I finally get to leave Iraq!  I was hoping to have left last week, but there was a mistake made with my replacement, so I dont get to leave until tomorrow as scheduled.  Things have been hectic for the past few days as I wrap things up, but the hysteria has been worth it.  I have to spend a few days in Kuwait, but then I will be home on Guam on the 17th.  It is going to be a very exciting day for me.  I want to thank everybody for all of their kind words and encouragement, and wish everybody the best.  I hope to remain as active while I am at home, but I will just have to wait and see exactly how much I will be able to do.

Things got scary for a little while.  Even though I was supposed to leave next week, I had not been given the name of the person who would be taking over for me.  I got worried and asked my boss about it Monday.  She said she would tell me the next day.  No word on Tuesday!  Yesterday, I pointed out to her that I was supposed to be leaving to subtly remind her, which lead to a telecon at the end of the day.  As I dialed in, I worried because I was afraid I was going to be extended a little while longer.  Even though I can not complain because some of the soldiers have been here much, much longer, I was still worried because my daughter’s birthday is a week after I get back and she has been excited about me being home for a long time now.  Small things like that are important to her because she is autistic.  I didnt want to let her down and was elated when I was told they werent going to keep me longer!  I was finally able to sleep last night!  I am very excited about getting back, and cant wait! 

How do you determine that fine line between too much cardio, and just enough cardio to burn fat?  As I am getting closer to returning home, my focus has shifted to trying to burn more fat.  I think I am losing mass too.  I know I am not supposed to do that much cardio, but how do you get the mind to realize too much is too much?  The mind is also keeping me from eating as much as I should I think. 

I took some more photos last night, and I realized I didnt lose as much fat as I thought I had.  I still have a ways to go.  I am not going to let it get me down though. I still have about a week to go, so I’ll lose a little bit more.  I am not going to starve myself, but will continue eating healthy, lifting, and doing cardio.  I am afraid I will lose some muscle during the week though.

For all of you that have seen people use the hip abductor or hip adductor machine, and watched them sit there opening and closing their legs with resistance, and thought it was easy, think again.  I tried the hip adductor machine yesterday, with inward resistance, and the insides of my thighs are so sore right now, I cant stand it.  I had read that the adductor muscles help with a golf swing, so I wanted to make sure I spent time working on them, and it hurts!  I’ll be sure to do them again on my next leg day.

It looks like my relief may be here to take over this weekend, which cuts my stay here short by a week.  I’ll be going home to family and friends who will see me for the first time since Christmas.  I have made a lot of progress the past 7 months and hope I dont waste it too soon after I get back.  It has been easy to adapt to a lifestyle of fitness in Iraq, but I am sure things will change.  I just have to figure out how to get into a routine where workouts are a part of it.  Any tips?

I have heard about, and seen advertisements, for oatmeal with protein.  How does it taste?  Is it a good way to put protein in your breakfast diet?

I am getting ready to do my daily cardio workout.  I need to run today because I know I wont be able to run tomorrow because it is my leg day.  I may try the same workout I used last time for my legs.  I only did leg extensions, and seated leg curls and tried to do sets of 100.  When I couldnt go any longer, I would drop the weight down and try to keep going.  I was sore for about 4 days!

I probably shouldnt be doing it, but I am excited about it.  After I finished my hard, 30 minutes on the lifecycle, I ran for 15 minutes, for 1.5 miles.  It isnt a lot, but it may be too much cardio while I am trying to gain muscle.  I am excited because I feel good when I am done; I feel like I did years ago when I used to run 5Ks and even ran a half marathon.  I think I am going to try to run harder and farther tonight.