Stop the hate!

I'm sorry but I have to digress from my normal posts to post something that I just don't understand.  How can you hate someone for the color of their skin or the religion they profess?  I just don't get it. I can see disliking someone based on their actions towards you, but to just hate someone for the way they look is just wrong!

I had the TV on over the weekend and some news report was doing a bit of "in depth" reporting on the recent violence and they were interviewing a young couple in Virginia and the interviewer asked the woman point blank if she believed that Jews and blacks should be killed because they are Jews and Black.  her response haunts me.

As she stood there with one young child in her arms and another playing near her feet, she flat out said "yes, they need to be killed."  I couldn't believe I heard it correctly so I rewound (the beauty of having a DVR) and replayed the question and answer and that is what she said. I was and am dumbfounded.  Not only does she have this belief but she is obviously teaching it to her children from a very young age.

I had hoped that they would follow up with other questions to get to the reasons she had for this belief but of course being a news program after ratings, they left it at that.  What is scary to me is how easily she was able to say they should all be killed.

I will confess that I am not a religious scholar , but I have looked into the beliefs of several of the world's major religions and from what I have seen, at their heart, they all have a message of love and I cannot reconcile that with the hatred that so many groups profess int eh name of religion.  I was brought up as a christian and no where in the teachings have I seen where we should kill.  In fact it is one of the 10 commandments that we should not kill.

How can we get people to stop hating others?  What can we do to promote unity and tolerance?  I just don't know.  One thing I do know is that we certainly need to find that answer before we wind up killing ourselves off.

2016 100 MON straight off the couch in Las Vegas Edition

 Here is a post I started to write last year, when I did the ride, but never published:

11/12/2016

So, today was the date for the 100 Miles of Nowhere, straight off the couch in Las Vegas edition. I won my division but it was a shortened event and was more like 100 Minutes of Nowhere.  There is a lot to be said for conditioning and training when you are looking to complete an event like this.

To set the stage, I rode my bike a single time in the 6 months leading up to the event.  Not what you would call an ideal training plan.  I was also carb loading for a good 2 to 3 months before the event as well.  So you can see, I was certainly ready for the big day - NOT.

The weather cooperated with abundant sunshine, temperatures starting in the low 60's and not too much in the way of wind.  I had been scouting the area near the house for an appropriate course and settled on a tour of  the cul-de-sacs in my neighborhood.  It certainly made for an interesting Strava Track:

I chose the course, not for the art of the Strava track, but because it was right outside my door adn it was basically flat - 2 of my biggest criteria for the ride.

I started off strong but within the first 3 miles realized that I was no longer acclimated to riding a bike as it started to feel uncomfortable sitting on the seat.  In fact that was the one thing that really impacted me and helped to shorten the event - I was not accustomed to sitting on the bike seat and it hurt!

I made myself continue on and didn't take any breaks until I had completed over 10 miles of the ride.  I then headed into the house to hydrate, eat a little snack and give my rear a bit of relief.  I then went back out and completed another 7 miles or so before taking another break.  Then I completed the last 5 miles to get over 22 miles for the ride.

You might wonder why I chose that distance.  Well, I had originally hoped to do an organized ride on this day the Ride to Recovery Honor Ride, but I had never signed up, so I decided that I would ride the same distance in support of 100 Mon instead.  I'm happy I was able to do it and I know that next year I will be in much better shape and go for the whole 100.

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That is what I wrote just after the ride. I had planned on going back and doing some editing and plan for the next year, but I never did.  Now, here it is 9 months later and I have only been on the bike once since then.  Time to get back on it and get ready if I have any hope of riding this year.

I'm still here, all evidence to the contrary

Hello.  I am still here and I check on my blog every once in a while over the last year or so.  I just haven't felt like posting anything as I feel like I haven't done anything worth posting.  I have been trying to do the right things and eat better and lose weight.  One area that I have been neglecting over the last year has been the physical activity side of things.  I know that I need to change that and as such I know posting here will help.

It will help me to set goals and measure progress towards those goals.  I realize that without having a firm goal to strive towards I founder.  I'm tired of foundering. I need to get myself in a much better place physically.  I want to get off my medication for my blood pressure and the only way to do that is to lose the weight and increase my physical fitness and activity levels.

So, even if no one is reading this (and truthfully I will be surprised if anyone does after my neglect of this blog), I am going to try to post at minimum 3 times per week to work on getting my self focused and heading once again in the right direction.

This is but a short and sweet post to say I'm back.  I will be posting more in a day or two about where I am physically and what has been going on during my absence from here.

Dan

2016 100 Miles of Nowhere sign up

OK, I think I may have temporarily lost my mind as I've ridden less this year than any of the last 5 years, but I went ahead and signed up for Fat Cyclist's 100 Miles Of Nowhere ride this year.  He reduced the sign up fee and I just couldn't resist. I guess that means I really, really need to get on my bike and ride!

The official date of the ride this year is November 12.  That is the date I had been thinking of doing the Honor Ride, but I figure this might be a better choice.  Now I need to figure out where I am going to ride and who might ride with me.

You may recall that in 2013, I did the metric version (100 km of nowhere).  I had been shooting for the full 100 miles, but the lack of riding cut that short.  I hope do acquit myself nicely this year, but am not holding out high hopes for a long distance as my total distance on the bike for 2016 is only 48.1 miles. that is over 19 rides.  Certainly nothing near respectable so I will need to do some serious digging to get any kind of real distance this year.

Why not join me, either here or in your own neighborhood and do your version of this crazy ride.  It definitely benefits a great cause and you get a t-shirt!

Dereliction of duties

I need to apologize for my lack of posts over the last couple of weeks.  It seems that With the move and then the trip back to Michigan, there has been little of note for me to write about in terms of the target content of this blog.  I have been doing very little over the last 2 weeks of note in terms of weight loss and fitness.  I haven't ridden my bike, I haven't had weight loss, I am basically stagnant.

My weight, as of Saturday, is 402 lbs.  I realize that is up a pound from my last reading but there are likely contributing factors, including a bit too much salt on restaurant food the day before (those sweet potato fries at Red Robin are great).  I realized this morning that my excuses are just that - excuses.  I will get my butt back on my bike and moving forward both literally and figuratively in terms  of fitness and weight loss.

There is an upcoming ride - the 2016 Honor Ride, that I am thinking about doing and I talked to my grandson before he left for the summer and he said he might like to do it as well.  this ride is scheduled for Saturday November 12 - Veteran's Day weekend.  There are 3 options 20, 40 and 60 mile routes and I am planning on the 20 mile route.  That means I have 2 1/2 months to get my butt in better shape to get out there and do the ride.  I could likely suffer through the 20 miles at the moment but I want to enjoy the ride so I need to get in much better cycling shape.

My riding partner will be home tomorrow and I think we can get ourselves into shape for the ride in the time we have.

Mid-week update

I know with my posting schedule of late that this update will be a surprise to many.  My wife and I are heading out early tomorrow for a quick trip back home and I just wanted to share as it is close to the end of the challenge I had set for myself and I'm not sure I will be near a scale on the 6th.  as of this morning the scale said 401 lbs.  That is an overall loss of 57 lbs. for the challenge and I am happy with that.

What I'm even happier with is that this isn't the end of anything but a time frame.  I am not going to go out and pig out on ice cream and cake and nachos and chips.  This has been a lifestyle change for me and I plan on continuing it.  That's not to say that I won't enjoy an occasional treat, but they will be few and far between.

Week 25 update

It is amazing what 5 days of moving boxes and other items from one house to another will do for one's activity level. A few weeks ago I averaged 4496 steps per day.  Last week my average was 7046 steps per day - a definite increase in activity to say the least.  As a result the scale was favorable - 404 lbs for a total loss of 54 lbs. for the challenge. I am very happy with that after last week's number.

I had planned on riding my bike at least once over the weekend, but with moving and all the associated work, I just didn't feel like doing it.  I was and am still, tired.  I hope to get out soon and explore the new neighborhood and nearby parks, but it hasn't happened yet.  It likely won't happen this week,either as it is a short week followed by time away.  We will see, though.

Week 24

The scale was a little disappointing this morning - 409 lbs.  I was expecting it, though with the heat and increased liquid consumption along with the salty foods over the weekend.  I haven't gone crazy on the food front so I know that the increase is likely retained water and not an indication of eating gone wild.  Speaking of heat, we have been at 110+ for the last 4 days and are forecasting another 5 days in that range, with a 115 on Thursday.  Of course it will be the hottest day of the year on Thursday as that is the day we are moving.

We can't even put out there that it's a dry heat, since relatively speaking, the humidity levels are increasing all week leading to some likely thunderstorms this weekend.  I was hoping to be able to get a ride or two in at the new house, once we get settled, but it may wait another few days withthe heat and humidity.

Not much else going on with fitness for me at the moment.  I am hoping that a change in residence will help spur a resurgence in activity for me.  We will wait and see.

Week 23

Another week and down another pound.  I know I will not make the 80 pounds by 8/6 but I'm OK with that.  I will likely have lost 60+ pounds and that is significant.  Also my change in mindset about what I eat will be much better for me long term.  I will still struggle with temptation and wanting to eat much more than I need to, but I believe this is a struggle I can win on a daily basis.

Our move is less than 2 weeks away and I am greatly hoping that the move will help with my riding motivation.  I rode much more when the roads in my area were flatter and I think there will be flatter roads near the new house as well as less traffic on the roads.  Its time to let this new house e a new beginning on our journey to more active, fit lives.

Weeks 21 and 22

I realized this morning that with the holiday and the busy week last week, I had forgotten to post an update.  So this weeks covers the last 2 weeks.  Not that there is much to say.  Last week's weight was 409, a 1 lb. loss from the week before.  Not much but still movement in  the right direction. I am happy with that. This week I'm at 407, which is another 2 lbs. gone bringing my total so far to 51. At my current rate I don't think I will hit my 80 lbs. lost 4 weeks from now.  I'm OK with that, though.

I realize this is a lifestyle change and not just a temporary diet.  As such, I am just making sure I am making the right choices each and every day.  the next few weeks are getting crazier as well.  We are packing and moving and then have a trip back to Michigan for a reception and to see family.  All that makes making the right choices important.  As long as I keep on track and don't go off the rails, eating those things I know aren't good, I will be fine.  I'm not going to obsess over the number on the scale.

I'm also hoping the new location will be conducive to more riding as the streets are quieter and a bit fatter than around the current location.  It is amazing what a difference a couple of miles distance will make.