Don’t Have a Keg…

Virtually no change from the early weigh in on Thanksgiving day (2/10 of a pound) but I recorded it anyway to stay consistent with the weekly weigh in. I’ve not been eating well this week because it seems whenever I eat my stomach starts to hurt, had an especially bad attack last night after an extremely modest dinner as an example. So, until my Crohn’s settles down I do expect more weight loss. Hopefully, I can keep up with my workouts so that the muscle loss is minimal during this active period of my condition.

Good news though was the pleasant surprise I got when I went in to be measured for the tux I’ll wear as Oliver Warbucks in my theatre groups’ upcoming production "Annie." My waist was several inches smaller than I thought! While my chest has lost a couple inches too - which normally I wouldn’t like, but I’m sure it’s fat that’s gone as my pecs seem a little firmer to me at least. This explains why I can’t seem to keep my pants from falling down lately. Unfortunately, it does mean I may need some padding for when I play Santa Claus in a children’s play in about a week, but oh well. Such is life.

Just for kicks I thought I’d weigh in before Thanksgiving dinner and also afterwards today. I was pleased to see that both my bodyweight and bodyfat continue their downward track. Unfortunately, this week these were aided by another bout with my Crohn’s (sigh). Feeling pretty good today though so we’ll see how it goes!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone (even if you don’t celebrate - or you celebrate on a different day, as my many Canadian friends do, I suggest you take a moment to pause and reflect on what’s good in your life anyway!)

Nothing much to report, my weight continues its downward trend though bodyfat was up again. I’m hoping that’s still because of my relatively dehydrated state this morning. The time change has done a real number on me - or something has - because it seems I’m spending a lot of time asleep and never feeling rested! Back to work tomorrow morning and I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to make it to, and through, my 8:00 am meeting. Wish me luck!

Well, I’m back home again in "sunny" Michigan after my trip to Hawaii with a stop over in LA on the way back. I enjoyed meeting with friends in LA and visits to Disneyland and Universal Hollywood (which I hadn’t been to in more than a decade). Slept for about 12 hours last night - guess I was more worn out than I thought!

Decided to weigh in today as I wanted to see the effects of all my walking, hiking and training while on vacation. Good news is that the weight is down, not as much as I hoped of course, and my bodyfat is still tracking downwards as well. I may be dipping below 20% very soon if I can keep the momentum going!

Despite the wonderful time I had it’s good to be home!

Well, I’m back on the mainland after a week in beautiful Hawaii. I capped off the trip to the islands with a day jaunt over to Kauai - including a spectacular helicopter tour of what must be the most beautiful island in the chain (I have yet to see Maui and the other islands between Hawaii and Oahu). Because of the heavy rains there were waterfalls everywhere!

On Oahu I did not climb Diamond Head as originally planned but took a much tougher, and longer hike to Moana Falls and the mountain above them. The good news is that my legs aren’t nearly as sore as I feared given my San Francisco experience. A little snorkeling as well as some time in the fitness center and my active rest in the islands was complete.

I’m in LA now for a couple days and started off in the hotel’s fitness center, which has been expanded and remodeled since I was last here (pleasant surprise). I met with some friends last night and I’ll be meeting another friend this morning then it’s off to Disneyland for the remainder of the day and probably Universal tomorrow before I head home on Tuesday to rest up from the vacation.

I’ll take a weigh in when I get home, but I think I’ve actually dropped several pounds while on vacation. My belt just isn’t holding up my pants at all anymore! Which is great except I don’t think the "saggy pants" look is very cool on anyone - especially middle aged men…

Well, I’m in the islands and between my conference and other activities I’m having a great time. Since nearly everyone at the conference is from the mainland, the sessions have been scheduled pretty early so the afternoon’s are mostly free allowing time for fun in the sun before we all head back. I’m staying a couple extra days to visit Kauai and do other things around Honolulu.

My trip started off in San Francisco and I have to say that I inadvertently got one of the most intense leg workouts of my life. Note to self: when using public transportation it’s important to check the bus schedule going back as well as getting to your desitnation! I ended up walking the width of the peninsula from the Presidio to downtown. And anyone who has walked San Francisco knows that the city is just about as hilly as you will find anywhere. And not just low lying gentle slopes, but some that I swear are 80 degree angles and uphill both ways! My upper thighs were sore for two days after.

Here in Honolulu I’ve mostly walked, but got some snorkeling in yesterday for about an hour and of course the fitness center at the hotel. I’m planning on getting a hike up Diamond Head before I leave as well. I kinda wish I had a scale with me though - I certainly feel thinner this week. Especially since my diet is primarily salads and sea food (not fried of course). 

I hope to have an update again before I leave for excitement of a few days in LA.

Happy Veteran’s Day everyone. Don’t forget to take a moment to thank a vet for his or her service!

Oh, and why did I say "Aloha Y’all" for the title - well, I am in the South Pacific (haha)!

Okay, here’s a new problem…well not a problem really. More of an annoyance. My right foot feels funny a lot lately - almost like it’s cramped and I can’t flatten it out. It’s tough to describe, but it just doesn’t feel right. Maybe I need new shoes or it’s the plantar fascia acting up again. It’s not effecting my walking or anything but it’s a new sensation. I’ll keep track of it and if it continues mention it to the doctor next time I’m in…oh, well.

I just couldn’t resist and had to weigh myself this morning to get a better idea if the weight loss was real. Why this morning? Because I had a pretty good day yesterday and knew that I wasn’t weighing myself after a day of virtual fasting since I ate more regularly and certainly wasn’t as dehydrated.

Good news - still down 3 lbs over the previous week and my bodyfat was much more consistent with where I was last week (229 lbs and 23% respectively). As I had discovered earlier my bodyfat is always lower when I’m not dehydrated from being asleep - even though I usually have a glass of water before I weigh myself (I take my medicine and vitamins upon waking in case you wondered) that never seems to be enough to fully compensate for 6-7 hours of no liquids. And yeah, the water is all still in my stomach and not in my cells where the scales electric impulse can be effected by it.

Feeling very good today, very good indeed! Maybe because of the extra hour of sleep the time change gave me? I know I don’t get enough of it - who does these days? And changing time zones at the end of this week is really going to mess up my sleep cycle, which is part of the reason to spend some time on the west coast before coming home from Hawaii. I handle the 6 hour time change pretty well going west, but not coming back. Or is it only a 5 hour change now? I’ll find out soon.

The real question is should I shave my back before I hit the beach?

What? Too much information? Real men have body hair - and based on mine as I get older I’m about as real as a man gets…(for you young, ie. less than 25 or so, guys here’s something that they never teach you in health class. The hair from your head begins to migrate down your back as you get older…scary but true!).

Here’s an appropriate topic for Halloween…

I’ve been cruising through a few bodyspace profiles while resting this afternoon, and noticed that there seem to be a lot more guys who are choosing to cover their faces in their profile pics with either a mask or a "blur." Now I’m not criticizing - in fact I’m friends with a couple of these folks - but I’m wondering about the motivation of doing this. It seems to me that if you want to remain anonymous you just don’t post a profile picture. I presume part of this is because they do want some legitimate feedback on their physiques - but how can anyone be sure it’s them without a face? Is the concern about not showing their face because they are afraid of what people they know will say when and if they find them on Bodyspace? It’s obvious to me that in most of these cases it’s already obvious that these guys (and some gals) workout.

Oddly enough, it’s actually some of the folks with the best bodies who hide their faces. Apparently those of us in the, er, heavier weight classes, have already come to grips with our body images. Though I’ll admit it took quite a bit before I posted my first picture too!

So, I don’t really know what I’m saying here except maybe to urge our hidden brethren to come out of the bodybuilding closet (so to speak) and proudly show your face with those biceps! There’s nothing to be ashamed of…though I’m not going so far as to say you should post your last names or addresses. It’s still the internet you know (darn identity theives)!

Big surprise this Halloween! My weight is down about 6 lbs. I wish I could say this was because of my hard work and dedication but I’m afraid it’s a side effect of my Crohn’s being mildly active all week. Plus starting last weekend -during my show no less - I developed a cold (no fever, just congestion and coughing -not the flu thank goodness). But that’s on the wane now so I’m doing better with my breathing at least. Stomach really bothered me last night so much so that I had to cancel my plans to attend a friends show, but I’m feeling pretty chipper today.

So now that things have calmed down for me it’s time to re-evaluate my workout. Granted in less than a week I’ll be off to sunny Hawaii (can’t wait) with a stop on the way back to sunny southern California (mecca of the bodybuilding world among other things). I anticipate staying active while on vacation. I’ve been to the hotels I’ll be staying at so I know that they have relatively good gyms. Of course hiking, swiming and maybe even surfing will be the order of the day when my conference is over. So I plan to come back no worse for the so-called layoff.

But, what should I do for the winter? I’m hearing good things about this 5×5 training…maybe I should actually continue with the weight loss and bodyfat reduction. But the urge to finally build arms that stretch the tape past 18" is still there. What to do, what to do?

Suggestions anyone?