Salad, various veggies and veggies and veggies...
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday breakfast
Spinach and carrots, long onion with egg and satsuma - age, bagel with bananacinnamush.
Monday, November 29, 2010
kung fu masters
I found a couple of awesome inspirational kung-fu master videos on teh internets:
Update: fixed! Videos should be visible now.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
new 10k record!
Despite the fact that I got home and in bed at 1:30am, and that it was plenty cold when I woke up a short 5 hours later, I had a good run.
Finished the 10k in 53 minutes, beating my previous record of 58 minutes. My running strategy: pace myself against the cutest women immediately in front of me. Luckily, it was easy this time.
We ran two loops around the palace, and just as I was finishing my first loop the winner crossed the finish line: 25 minutes.
He ran 10 kilometers.
In 25 minutes.
That's nearly 20 kph (about 12mph for you metritards). For TEN KILOMETERS.
I don't think I could sprint 100 meters at that speed, let alone maintain it for 10 klicks.
In the afternoon I took the kids to Appi, the local community kids place; basically a giant room with lots of toys, a changing area, etc. Today that had lots of balloons, so I tried Patrick's shadow-box-the-balloon challenge.
The good news I was in a room full of kids, so although I looked like a completely uncoordinated idiot, after a few minutes all the kids were doing it too, and we had balloons flying all over the room.
The hardest part is the waiting. Balloons are SLOW, and waiting for them to float down, to be in range, when all I want to do is flail about, is actually quite difficult. I found the entire exercise illuminating; reminding me just how uncoordinated I am.
Then again I DID run 10 kilos this morning, so gimme a little credit.
I also discovered that I can do deep wide-angle forward bends in my shower, just. If I jam my nekkid ass against the door and stretch out, my right foot reaches the tub and my left foot just barely makes it to the wall. Then I can lean down and let the hot shower pummel my neck and back from above. Stretching whilst wet and warm is most excellent.
Finished the 10k in 53 minutes, beating my previous record of 58 minutes. My running strategy: pace myself against the cutest women immediately in front of me. Luckily, it was easy this time.
We ran two loops around the palace, and just as I was finishing my first loop the winner crossed the finish line: 25 minutes.
He ran 10 kilometers.
In 25 minutes.
That's nearly 20 kph (about 12mph for you metritards). For TEN KILOMETERS.
I don't think I could sprint 100 meters at that speed, let alone maintain it for 10 klicks.
In the afternoon I took the kids to Appi, the local community kids place; basically a giant room with lots of toys, a changing area, etc. Today that had lots of balloons, so I tried Patrick's shadow-box-the-balloon challenge.
The good news I was in a room full of kids, so although I looked like a completely uncoordinated idiot, after a few minutes all the kids were doing it too, and we had balloons flying all over the room.
The hardest part is the waiting. Balloons are SLOW, and waiting for them to float down, to be in range, when all I want to do is flail about, is actually quite difficult. I found the entire exercise illuminating; reminding me just how uncoordinated I am.
Then again I DID run 10 kilos this morning, so gimme a little credit.
I also discovered that I can do deep wide-angle forward bends in my shower, just. If I jam my nekkid ass against the door and stretch out, my right foot reaches the tub and my left foot just barely makes it to the wall. Then I can lean down and let the hot shower pummel my neck and back from above. Stretching whilst wet and warm is most excellent.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Colored veggies breakfast
Miso soup with egg and big slimy mushrooms, carrot with spinach, namuru and kimchee with grasshopper topping.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
grasshoppers, and other non-vegetarian topics
Yes, real grasshoppers. And damn tasty, too. I am all about my alternative proteins.
In Japanese they're called inago, usually prepared tsukudani-style; sweet and delicious and crunchy.
My kids are absolutely mad for tsukudani little shrimps and fishes. Actually, my kids are mad for all kinds of fish. This weekend they both totally nommed on several ayu-no-shioyaki (salt-covered and grilled on a stick; my wife's favorite), and I have become most proficient at pulling off the head and dragging out the entire spinal column with nearly all the bones. The key is to rip off the tail and squish up the meat to loosen it off the bone, then the whole head-and-bones just slides right out.
Daughter loves the skin, so once the bones are out she just starts picking and nibbling.
My son also lacks in subtley and just stuffs his face onto the place, taking big bites out of whatever is near his mouth. This weekend he got lucky and scored a fat komochi; biting into the fish he was rewarded with a mouthful of roe and he was smiling ear-to-ear as he squished the little fish eggs.
Speaking of which, last time I went to sushi with a bunch of tourists from the USA, they seemed to have the biggest issue with ikura. No idea why. I mean, you eat chicken foetus, so what's wrong with unborn fishes?
Then again I also love me some uni, though I am not a big fan of shirako, and no I'm not being pesci-homophobic.
I also don't really groove on mollusks, raw or cooked. Except for hotate. I am an absolute fan of the mighty scallop.
Damn, I am glad I live in an island nation. I will take quality sushi over a nice steak any day!
In Japanese they're called inago, usually prepared tsukudani-style; sweet and delicious and crunchy.
My kids are absolutely mad for tsukudani little shrimps and fishes. Actually, my kids are mad for all kinds of fish. This weekend they both totally nommed on several ayu-no-shioyaki (salt-covered and grilled on a stick; my wife's favorite), and I have become most proficient at pulling off the head and dragging out the entire spinal column with nearly all the bones. The key is to rip off the tail and squish up the meat to loosen it off the bone, then the whole head-and-bones just slides right out.
Daughter loves the skin, so once the bones are out she just starts picking and nibbling.
My son also lacks in subtley and just stuffs his face onto the place, taking big bites out of whatever is near his mouth. This weekend he got lucky and scored a fat komochi; biting into the fish he was rewarded with a mouthful of roe and he was smiling ear-to-ear as he squished the little fish eggs.
Speaking of which, last time I went to sushi with a bunch of tourists from the USA, they seemed to have the biggest issue with ikura. No idea why. I mean, you eat chicken foetus, so what's wrong with unborn fishes?
Then again I also love me some uni, though I am not a big fan of shirako, and no I'm not being pesci-homophobic.
I also don't really groove on mollusks, raw or cooked. Except for hotate. I am an absolute fan of the mighty scallop.
Damn, I am glad I live in an island nation. I will take quality sushi over a nice steak any day!
'tis the season
I go away for a long weekend, and it all goes to hell!
Seriously though, this is a rough time to stick to any kind of program that requires discipline. By 5pm it's dark, at 5am it's COLD, and various holidays and visiting friends/relatives means huge social pressure to eat, preferable unhealthy and/or sweet and/or in serious quantities.
What can I say besides some corny, canned platitudes? We all do what we gotta do.
I certainly know I have no excuses; I know exactly how eating / not eating various foods will affect me. Likewise for exercise.
Yeah, my discipline slacked this weekend, too; had some awesome sushi by the ocean, killer traditional meals at the resort, grandma's home cookin' with veggies fresh from the backyard. Although I did skip most of the dinner carbs and snacked mostly on all the awesome apples and persimmons...and instead of a couple of the workout routines, I made do with carrying 15 kilos of child around as we checked out the waterfall, picked 60 kilos of apples (!), and explored the aquarium (dolphin shows rock!)
But after all that fun, I dragged my lazy ass outta bed this morning and did too many damn leg swings and smacked around ball-on-a-string and knocked out some pull-ups and kung-fu sits until the pull-up bar calluses on my hands (yes, I have them; hard lines of skin at the base of each finger, on the palm) were cracked and sore.
And then I had way, way too much awesome vegetarian Indian curry for lunch, and skipped all my snacks because it was just work-work-work, and then I did sword at night for two hours with my boy and it was awesome.
And now I have hard-boiled some eggs and sliced a bunch of fruit and ate two small carrots with spicy rayuu sauce.
Tomorrow 5am will be here in...well in about five hours actually. It will be cold, and possibly even overcast, and I have all these OTHER things to do, like dry out the stinky compost pile, boil and prep veggies, fold the laundry, put away the washed dishes, take out the trash, check a bunch of emails and update facebook and contact the Salvation Army about donating all those old clothes and asking the landlord to fix the paper screens in the guest bedroom...and then the kids are up and it's time to feed them breakfast, diaper changes, pajamas off, clothes on, teeth brushed, hair combed, shoes found, toys fought over, to school, to work, work work work...
Then again, I think I like the messiness of life. The busy-ness. The crazy big-city-livin' hustle and bustle. And I especially like taking 10 minutes to sit on the cushion and do some zazen after a gnarly workout.
I like it when my youngest son stands in the doorway starting at me as I stare at the wall. Then he silently comes in, stands right next to me for a moment, sits down on my legs, delicately balances his toy car on my knee, reaches up, and shoves his adorable little finger deep, deep into my nose.
Well, I don't really like the finger-in-the-nose part. But talk about being in the moment. He then invariably poops and I have to change his diaper, or daughter is having a crisis because her favorite blue princess t-shirt isn't clean and she can't find her princess tiara headband and is simply not in the mood for oatmeal until it's been sitting on the table for 20 minutes. At which point she declares that it is too cold to eat, completely missing the snide mockery when I respond "It was plenty warm when I made it!" and simply says to me: "Make it again, warm."
I won't belittle anyones choices in life. Just reminding me/us that it IS all choices we make. Some of the choices suck utterly, but still we get to, we GOT to, choose. "Doing nothing" is a choice, too. Often the biggest one, but also a great excuse to blame fate or God or whom/whatever.
Can choose to fight for every inch; clawing every little success no matter now ugly and hard it is. Can choose to be totally apathetic, not actively DO anything, and just let life slide by. Can choose and combination, any variation or gradation. Actively pursue that which we enjoy, are engaged in, curious about; hobbies, friends, Glee. Ignore and dismiss that which is beyond reasonable influence or scope; taxes, North Korea, Glee.
Finding that balance, that's kung-fu, methinks.
Seriously though, this is a rough time to stick to any kind of program that requires discipline. By 5pm it's dark, at 5am it's COLD, and various holidays and visiting friends/relatives means huge social pressure to eat, preferable unhealthy and/or sweet and/or in serious quantities.
What can I say besides some corny, canned platitudes? We all do what we gotta do.
I certainly know I have no excuses; I know exactly how eating / not eating various foods will affect me. Likewise for exercise.
Yeah, my discipline slacked this weekend, too; had some awesome sushi by the ocean, killer traditional meals at the resort, grandma's home cookin' with veggies fresh from the backyard. Although I did skip most of the dinner carbs and snacked mostly on all the awesome apples and persimmons...and instead of a couple of the workout routines, I made do with carrying 15 kilos of child around as we checked out the waterfall, picked 60 kilos of apples (!), and explored the aquarium (dolphin shows rock!)
But after all that fun, I dragged my lazy ass outta bed this morning and did too many damn leg swings and smacked around ball-on-a-string and knocked out some pull-ups and kung-fu sits until the pull-up bar calluses on my hands (yes, I have them; hard lines of skin at the base of each finger, on the palm) were cracked and sore.
And then I had way, way too much awesome vegetarian Indian curry for lunch, and skipped all my snacks because it was just work-work-work, and then I did sword at night for two hours with my boy and it was awesome.
And now I have hard-boiled some eggs and sliced a bunch of fruit and ate two small carrots with spicy rayuu sauce.
Tomorrow 5am will be here in...well in about five hours actually. It will be cold, and possibly even overcast, and I have all these OTHER things to do, like dry out the stinky compost pile, boil and prep veggies, fold the laundry, put away the washed dishes, take out the trash, check a bunch of emails and update facebook and contact the Salvation Army about donating all those old clothes and asking the landlord to fix the paper screens in the guest bedroom...and then the kids are up and it's time to feed them breakfast, diaper changes, pajamas off, clothes on, teeth brushed, hair combed, shoes found, toys fought over, to school, to work, work work work...
Then again, I think I like the messiness of life. The busy-ness. The crazy big-city-livin' hustle and bustle. And I especially like taking 10 minutes to sit on the cushion and do some zazen after a gnarly workout.
I like it when my youngest son stands in the doorway starting at me as I stare at the wall. Then he silently comes in, stands right next to me for a moment, sits down on my legs, delicately balances his toy car on my knee, reaches up, and shoves his adorable little finger deep, deep into my nose.
Well, I don't really like the finger-in-the-nose part. But talk about being in the moment. He then invariably poops and I have to change his diaper, or daughter is having a crisis because her favorite blue princess t-shirt isn't clean and she can't find her princess tiara headband and is simply not in the mood for oatmeal until it's been sitting on the table for 20 minutes. At which point she declares that it is too cold to eat, completely missing the snide mockery when I respond "It was plenty warm when I made it!" and simply says to me: "Make it again, warm."
I won't belittle anyones choices in life. Just reminding me/us that it IS all choices we make. Some of the choices suck utterly, but still we get to, we GOT to, choose. "Doing nothing" is a choice, too. Often the biggest one, but also a great excuse to blame fate or God or whom/whatever.
Can choose to fight for every inch; clawing every little success no matter now ugly and hard it is. Can choose to be totally apathetic, not actively DO anything, and just let life slide by. Can choose and combination, any variation or gradation. Actively pursue that which we enjoy, are engaged in, curious about; hobbies, friends, Glee. Ignore and dismiss that which is beyond reasonable influence or scope; taxes, North Korea, Glee.
Finding that balance, that's kung-fu, methinks.
I guess this is MY kung-fu life; alternating between freestyle punch sets and microwaving oatmeal.
Yoga stretches with morning cartoons on the TV.
Working 12 hour days at my desk, then hitting the dojo to swing swords.
Sitting zazen with son's finger in my nose.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
two-thirds down, one-third to go
Day 60: done.
I sit here munching on some pear and apple slices dipped in cinnamon, I reflect back on the past two months, and I extrapolate a month into the future.
First of all, I am finally, really, seriously starting to feel the effects of KFB. I find it almost reassuring that the numbers are monstrously misleading.
All the suit pants that I had taken in after PCP still fit just fine.
I have lines on the sides of my stomach, going down into my pelvis, indicative of the serious core muscle build-up happening below the surface.
I ran 10k in 58 minutes and recovered in 10 minutes.
I planked for 3 minutes straight. It hurt like a bitch, but I did it.
I can balance on one foot, body extended in various positions, for over 30 seconds at a time. 1-2 of those seconds I am totally and completely stable; rock-solid steady and perfectly balanced, effortless.
The muscular definition I had at the end of PCP (after pumping my muscles expertly for the final day photos) is still there, joined by some new lines, especially on my legs, arms, and abdomen.
I can deep wide-angle forward bend deeply and widely.
I can punch and kick a ping pong ball on a string hundreds of times in row without missing.
And what does the next month have in store?
First, food:
I think I will use the next 30 days to fine-tune my "normal" eating habits. For example, I really, really don't want to eat carbs at night. The more I think about it, the more it is and has always been a bad idea. I feel too full and my blood-sugar spikes just when I need to wind down and sleep.
Yet every meal I encounter is carb-based, especially in this the-land-of-white-rice Japan. So I am developing strategies: don't order rice with Korean BBQ. Instead get a couple salads and a bunch of sangchu (Korean lettuce) and a pile of kimchee. Have the soup with the lunch set. Buy osozai instead of a bento with a pile of rice in it. Raw fruit is king.
Exercise:
Need to figure out how much running I want to do. It obviously is not conducive to keeping high muscle mass -- no mystery that all long-distance runners are skinny -- then again it is a great way to keep the body-fat percentage down and build cardio strength. As the weather gets colder I prefer running on the treadmill at the gym. Preferably late at night, when it's practically empty. Headphones on, speed set to a constant rate, staring at myself in the window-become-mirror, I can definitely zone out and knock out 30 minutes no problem.
Most likely I will run 3 days a week, keep going to fighting 2-3 days a week, and do a bunch of pull-ups and sit-ups and stretching most mornings. We'll see; whatever catches my fancy, I reckon.
Meditation:
This one is easy. I have already been sitting daily fairly consistently for several years now, and I will continue to do so. I find it much, much easier to sit after a workout. With the body tired out, it's less of a distraction and it's nice to sit down, catch my breath, and find my balance again.
Also I don't feel bad about "only" doing 5-10 minutes; I think a solid 10 minutes of zazen is better than slouching on a cushion for 30 minutes thinking about the crap I have to do at work and what's on TV this weekend.
For now, I got 30 more days of slapping a little white ball on a string, hundreds of leg-lifts a day, and some deep, wide-angle forward bends to get into!
I sit here munching on some pear and apple slices dipped in cinnamon, I reflect back on the past two months, and I extrapolate a month into the future.
First of all, I am finally, really, seriously starting to feel the effects of KFB. I find it almost reassuring that the numbers are monstrously misleading.
All the suit pants that I had taken in after PCP still fit just fine.
I have lines on the sides of my stomach, going down into my pelvis, indicative of the serious core muscle build-up happening below the surface.
I ran 10k in 58 minutes and recovered in 10 minutes.
I planked for 3 minutes straight. It hurt like a bitch, but I did it.
I can balance on one foot, body extended in various positions, for over 30 seconds at a time. 1-2 of those seconds I am totally and completely stable; rock-solid steady and perfectly balanced, effortless.
The muscular definition I had at the end of PCP (after pumping my muscles expertly for the final day photos) is still there, joined by some new lines, especially on my legs, arms, and abdomen.
I can deep wide-angle forward bend deeply and widely.
I can punch and kick a ping pong ball on a string hundreds of times in row without missing.
And what does the next month have in store?
First, food:
I think I will use the next 30 days to fine-tune my "normal" eating habits. For example, I really, really don't want to eat carbs at night. The more I think about it, the more it is and has always been a bad idea. I feel too full and my blood-sugar spikes just when I need to wind down and sleep.
Yet every meal I encounter is carb-based, especially in this the-land-of-white-rice Japan. So I am developing strategies: don't order rice with Korean BBQ. Instead get a couple salads and a bunch of sangchu (Korean lettuce) and a pile of kimchee. Have the soup with the lunch set. Buy osozai instead of a bento with a pile of rice in it. Raw fruit is king.
Exercise:
Need to figure out how much running I want to do. It obviously is not conducive to keeping high muscle mass -- no mystery that all long-distance runners are skinny -- then again it is a great way to keep the body-fat percentage down and build cardio strength. As the weather gets colder I prefer running on the treadmill at the gym. Preferably late at night, when it's practically empty. Headphones on, speed set to a constant rate, staring at myself in the window-become-mirror, I can definitely zone out and knock out 30 minutes no problem.
Most likely I will run 3 days a week, keep going to fighting 2-3 days a week, and do a bunch of pull-ups and sit-ups and stretching most mornings. We'll see; whatever catches my fancy, I reckon.
Meditation:
This one is easy. I have already been sitting daily fairly consistently for several years now, and I will continue to do so. I find it much, much easier to sit after a workout. With the body tired out, it's less of a distraction and it's nice to sit down, catch my breath, and find my balance again.
Also I don't feel bad about "only" doing 5-10 minutes; I think a solid 10 minutes of zazen is better than slouching on a cushion for 30 minutes thinking about the crap I have to do at work and what's on TV this weekend.
For now, I got 30 more days of slapping a little white ball on a string, hundreds of leg-lifts a day, and some deep, wide-angle forward bends to get into!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Leftovers breakfast
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
weekend recap
So the wife was out on Saturday, leaving me on single-parent duty. Kids both got flu shots on Friday so weren't feeling great, but a friend from school was having his 4th birthday party, and that needed attending.
Loaded the kids onto the bus and headed down to Shibuya, then walked to the park, getting lost and finally arriving thanks to excellent navigational instructions from my cell phone.
Kids ran about, slid, dug, popped baloons, looked at the fish, fell down, etc. for a couple hours until the required amount of snot was running and it was getting cool as the sun started to dip.
Walked back to the (closer) station and took the train back to Shibuya, then the bus home.
Son passed out in his stroller on the train, daughter started nodding off in my lap on the bus. Managed to get them both home and on request ordered pizza (and pasta, and sausage, and gnocchi, and a spinach salad.)
Son woke up just as the food arrived. Kids ate like they had never seen food before. I had some sausage and spinach salad and no-cheese thin-crust pizza. Yeah more carbs than necessary, but I had walked all damn day, hardly ate, and was bonding with my kids.
Into the shower, pajamas, teeth brushing, and to bed. Son not interested, so back to the couch we go to watch TV. Daughter promptly passes out. Son still not having any of it, crying for mom (aka breast milk). Hold him for about 20 minutes in the dark bedroom until he figures out he ain't gettin' none. Lay him down on the futon, chant Kaigyoge to him about 50 times, and he is snoring. (Works every time. I mean, what's more boring than listening to Buddhist sutra chanting?)
Get daughter off the couch and install her into futon, too.
Retire to kitchen table, surf teh internets until wife comes home. Duly impressed, she rolls a natural 20 and I get double Husband Experience Points, immediately leveling up and earning a +1 Laptop of Sharpness.
Sunday, I get up reasonably early and deep wide forward bend forever whilst checking email. I rented a tango dance studio up the street for two hours, so head over to practice iai for the first time in forever.
This is Totally Awesome.
Whatever core building KFB has done for me, my iai is absofuckinglutely rock solid.
I feel totally light on my feet but am effortlessly thumping heavy on every cut. And due to the low ceiling in the studio, I am in deep stances or on my knees the whole time, feeling stable, solid, centered, and generally ass-kicking. All those goddamn leg swings are totally paying off. Can also feel the strength in my back and shoulders, and on top of that had no tension; I was loose, smooth, and light, yet fast and heavy. It was the best workout I have had in a very long time, and has convinced me KFB is on.
Recently, been in the "middle third" valley -- more than half-way, but not quite near done yet. Sticking to the diet is tough, though I know exactly what's happening, and plowing through the exercises sometimes is a chore. BUT, FTSP! I don't care that I could stand to lose another couple kilos on the gut to rock the chiselled abs. More importantly, my iai is better, my posture is better, I feel strong and agile and generally fit.
Sure, I'd like to LOOK better, too. But for now, given the choice between having the six-pack and eating the extra chocolate with my cinammon and honey apple slices...
Loaded the kids onto the bus and headed down to Shibuya, then walked to the park, getting lost and finally arriving thanks to excellent navigational instructions from my cell phone.
Kids ran about, slid, dug, popped baloons, looked at the fish, fell down, etc. for a couple hours until the required amount of snot was running and it was getting cool as the sun started to dip.
Walked back to the (closer) station and took the train back to Shibuya, then the bus home.
Son passed out in his stroller on the train, daughter started nodding off in my lap on the bus. Managed to get them both home and on request ordered pizza (and pasta, and sausage, and gnocchi, and a spinach salad.)
Son woke up just as the food arrived. Kids ate like they had never seen food before. I had some sausage and spinach salad and no-cheese thin-crust pizza. Yeah more carbs than necessary, but I had walked all damn day, hardly ate, and was bonding with my kids.
Into the shower, pajamas, teeth brushing, and to bed. Son not interested, so back to the couch we go to watch TV. Daughter promptly passes out. Son still not having any of it, crying for mom (aka breast milk). Hold him for about 20 minutes in the dark bedroom until he figures out he ain't gettin' none. Lay him down on the futon, chant Kaigyoge to him about 50 times, and he is snoring. (Works every time. I mean, what's more boring than listening to Buddhist sutra chanting?)
Get daughter off the couch and install her into futon, too.
Retire to kitchen table, surf teh internets until wife comes home. Duly impressed, she rolls a natural 20 and I get double Husband Experience Points, immediately leveling up and earning a +1 Laptop of Sharpness.
Sunday, I get up reasonably early and deep wide forward bend forever whilst checking email. I rented a tango dance studio up the street for two hours, so head over to practice iai for the first time in forever.
This is Totally Awesome.
Whatever core building KFB has done for me, my iai is absofuckinglutely rock solid.
I feel totally light on my feet but am effortlessly thumping heavy on every cut. And due to the low ceiling in the studio, I am in deep stances or on my knees the whole time, feeling stable, solid, centered, and generally ass-kicking. All those goddamn leg swings are totally paying off. Can also feel the strength in my back and shoulders, and on top of that had no tension; I was loose, smooth, and light, yet fast and heavy. It was the best workout I have had in a very long time, and has convinced me KFB is on.
Recently, been in the "middle third" valley -- more than half-way, but not quite near done yet. Sticking to the diet is tough, though I know exactly what's happening, and plowing through the exercises sometimes is a chore. BUT, FTSP! I don't care that I could stand to lose another couple kilos on the gut to rock the chiselled abs. More importantly, my iai is better, my posture is better, I feel strong and agile and generally fit.
Sure, I'd like to LOOK better, too. But for now, given the choice between having the six-pack and eating the extra chocolate with my cinammon and honey apple slices...
Really, really late lunch
By the time I got around to eating lunch...it was dinner time!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Indulgence
Actually, a bit too much chocolate. Probably the caffeine more than the sugar, but got a bit of a headache after eating this. Next time, will limit it to only a couple of pieces, but I will melt them and dribble them all over the apples, just like the honey.
But damn, dark chocolate is GOOD.
Family dinner
My wife is Teh Awesome. I did so well as dad on Saturday, for Sunday dinner she cooked one of my favorites: thinly slice carrots, rencon, gobo, and ground chicken, mixed together and fried.
Yeah, it's fried. But it's So. Good.
Plus chicken and greens on the side. AND cabbage with boiled chicken. AND salmon with mushrooms and potato in white miso sauce.
My wife is an amazing cook. Throw in two seriously bad-ass kids, and it was a proper goddamn awesome Sunday Family Eats.
So yeah, I busted the Mindful Indulgence to 11!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
the rest of friday
Hit the gym at lunch-time; ran slowly for about 30 minutes then did some pull-ups, and a nice big long deep wide forward bend stretch. I discovered that the stretch area and the two running machines next to it are within reception of the restaurant dowstairs. Which has free wifi. So now I can use teh internets whilst I stretch. Wrote a long email to me brother today.
Went back to my desk with every intention of eating my bento, but ended up going out to lunch with one of my bosses (I have at least five. Don't ask.) We went to West Park Cafe, where I had my Chinese Chicken Salad, with a small starter salad. Right next to Japan's first Hooters. Meh. Huge line outside, but empty inside. Saw some of the wait-staff. Sorry, but not impressed.
Ended up going to dinner late (about 9:30) with a friend I hadn't seen in forever. Chinese food; not the healthiest, but coulda been worse.
Went back to my desk with every intention of eating my bento, but ended up going out to lunch with one of my bosses (I have at least five. Don't ask.) We went to West Park Cafe, where I had my Chinese Chicken Salad, with a small starter salad. Right next to Japan's first Hooters. Meh. Huge line outside, but empty inside. Saw some of the wait-staff. Sorry, but not impressed.
Ended up going to dinner late (about 9:30) with a friend I hadn't seen in forever. Chinese food; not the healthiest, but coulda been worse.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
persimmons
A magical fruit, really, the humble kaki. (Not to be confused with kaki.)
The magic of modern geneering even brings us seedless versions.
Sadly nothing can be done about the skin. I would love to able to eat a whole kaki, skin and all, like an apple. But alas it is too thick and tough.
I would love to be able to peel a kaki, tool-free, like an orange. But alas it is too thin and weak.
Generally I just quarter the beast, then bite out as much meat as I can and keep noshing until I have a ridiculous kaki-skin smile over my teeth.
I have tried peeling, using both knives and peelers.
I generally end up leaving too much meat attached to the skin, which is one of those ridiculous things that annoys me greatly (all that wasted food!) and makes me a miserable person to spend any amount of time with (peeling fruit, specifically.)
I also discovered that the dark brown innards are the sweetest, and when over-ripe and mushy, it's easy enough to simply cut open the top and spoon out the slimy sweet innards, leaving nothing but an empty husk, jack-o-lantern style.
Kaki and and western pear bits and slightly mushed banana, with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon...yummy...
The magic of modern geneering even brings us seedless versions.
Sadly nothing can be done about the skin. I would love to able to eat a whole kaki, skin and all, like an apple. But alas it is too thick and tough.
I would love to be able to peel a kaki, tool-free, like an orange. But alas it is too thin and weak.
Generally I just quarter the beast, then bite out as much meat as I can and keep noshing until I have a ridiculous kaki-skin smile over my teeth.
I have tried peeling, using both knives and peelers.
I generally end up leaving too much meat attached to the skin, which is one of those ridiculous things that annoys me greatly (all that wasted food!) and makes me a miserable person to spend any amount of time with (peeling fruit, specifically.)
I also discovered that the dark brown innards are the sweetest, and when over-ripe and mushy, it's easy enough to simply cut open the top and spoon out the slimy sweet innards, leaving nothing but an empty husk, jack-o-lantern style.
Kaki and and western pear bits and slightly mushed banana, with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon...yummy...
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
week 8 results
Checked in with Patrick, and as expected, fat up, but surprisingly weight fairly stable.
Losing muscle mass; running is probably the cause. Ever seen a buff marathon runner?
But then again I did have a crappy two weeks of being sick and slacking on the diet.
Well, game is back ON.
I am now steaming up a huge pile of veggies, and I am ready.
I was discussing with Patrick how to explain my new-found core strength.
I think I have finally come to understand what FTSP really means: doesn't matter what my chiseled abs look like, core strength is by definition unseen. Its presence is felt.
When I exercise at 5am, work a 12-hour day, and walk 3 kilometers home carrying a heavy backpack, my shoulders are tired, my legs are sore, my head is fried and my feet hurt. And yet I am not actually exhausted. I am tired and want to sleep, but waiting for the light to change, I notice my posture is not slouching, my trunk is upright, I am alert, and looking off down the street instead of at my plodding feet.
The next morning when I wake up, I sit up straight and stand up. No rolling over and groaning, not wobbling. Though I squint at the sudden rush of light into my eyes, I feel well grounded, balanced on my feet.
Speaking of balance, I have also recently noticed then when doing the 1-legged crane pose (or flamingo as my daughter likes to call them), I don't wobble nearly as much, and my posture is upright; shoulders back and down, chin up. I don't feel my feet and legs trying to correct my balance as much any more. For the most part, my foot is flat on the ground, and internally, inside my pelvis and around my spine, I am coiled tightly but not tense, holding firm but not straining.
So I doubt if I will end KFB like I did PCP; rocked six-pack, pumped muscles. Instead, I hope to do better on the diet and bring down the overall fat, maybe build up some more lean muscle, and really strengthen my core and balance. Tough to show the results, but I can certainly feel it!
Losing muscle mass; running is probably the cause. Ever seen a buff marathon runner?
But then again I did have a crappy two weeks of being sick and slacking on the diet.
Well, game is back ON.
I am now steaming up a huge pile of veggies, and I am ready.
I was discussing with Patrick how to explain my new-found core strength.
I think I have finally come to understand what FTSP really means: doesn't matter what my chiseled abs look like, core strength is by definition unseen. Its presence is felt.
When I exercise at 5am, work a 12-hour day, and walk 3 kilometers home carrying a heavy backpack, my shoulders are tired, my legs are sore, my head is fried and my feet hurt. And yet I am not actually exhausted. I am tired and want to sleep, but waiting for the light to change, I notice my posture is not slouching, my trunk is upright, I am alert, and looking off down the street instead of at my plodding feet.
The next morning when I wake up, I sit up straight and stand up. No rolling over and groaning, not wobbling. Though I squint at the sudden rush of light into my eyes, I feel well grounded, balanced on my feet.
Speaking of balance, I have also recently noticed then when doing the 1-legged crane pose (or flamingo as my daughter likes to call them), I don't wobble nearly as much, and my posture is upright; shoulders back and down, chin up. I don't feel my feet and legs trying to correct my balance as much any more. For the most part, my foot is flat on the ground, and internally, inside my pelvis and around my spine, I am coiled tightly but not tense, holding firm but not straining.
So I doubt if I will end KFB like I did PCP; rocked six-pack, pumped muscles. Instead, I hope to do better on the diet and bring down the overall fat, maybe build up some more lean muscle, and really strengthen my core and balance. Tough to show the results, but I can certainly feel it!
motivation: an admittance
Yes, I am happily married and have been with my lovely wife for over 15 years.
I also have not one but two totally awesome kids.
On top of that, a job that pays well and that mentally challenges me on a regular basis.
BUT.
The Kinda Chubby And Short But Always Kills It On The Treadmill During Her Breaks Hottie Who Works At The Gym is still a hottie.
So last night when she was helping some old guy stretch, and I was on the mats next to them doing my planks, instead of doing five wimpy sets of 35 seconds, I just manned up and did one three minute plank.
Seemed like a good enough idea.
Was fine for the first minute and a half.
Next thirty seconds hurt. Mostly shoulders though.
Yeah! Check out my rock solid core! Go me!
Last minute, I was shaking so hard I think I spilled all the drinks in Starbucks downstairs.
Last 30 seconds, I do believe I was wimpering.
But I can't be sure, since someone had heated several thick iron poles to white-hotness and proceeded to slide them slowly, at various angles, into my abdomen.
At least my shoulders didn't hurt anymore.
When I collapsed in a heap after three minutes, as I winced and quivered attempting to do a little cobra strech or upward puppy or something to relieve some of the pain, she glanced over at me and gave me a little Gosh-that-looks-painful-you-poor-guy pouty smile.
So yeah, she was massively impressed, and my manliness was appropriately invigorated.
I also have not one but two totally awesome kids.
On top of that, a job that pays well and that mentally challenges me on a regular basis.
BUT.
The Kinda Chubby And Short But Always Kills It On The Treadmill During Her Breaks Hottie Who Works At The Gym is still a hottie.
So last night when she was helping some old guy stretch, and I was on the mats next to them doing my planks, instead of doing five wimpy sets of 35 seconds, I just manned up and did one three minute plank.
Seemed like a good enough idea.
Was fine for the first minute and a half.
Next thirty seconds hurt. Mostly shoulders though.
Yeah! Check out my rock solid core! Go me!
Last minute, I was shaking so hard I think I spilled all the drinks in Starbucks downstairs.
Last 30 seconds, I do believe I was wimpering.
But I can't be sure, since someone had heated several thick iron poles to white-hotness and proceeded to slide them slowly, at various angles, into my abdomen.
At least my shoulders didn't hurt anymore.
When I collapsed in a heap after three minutes, as I winced and quivered attempting to do a little cobra strech or upward puppy or something to relieve some of the pain, she glanced over at me and gave me a little Gosh-that-looks-painful-you-poor-guy pouty smile.
So yeah, she was massively impressed, and my manliness was appropriately invigorated.
dumb and dumber
Got my flu shot yesterday. Not terribly concerned about the flu, but if I can avoid giving it to my kids, that helps.
For several days my left triceps area will be nice and red and swollen; totally normal reaction to the flu shot. Happened last year, too.
Went to fighting at lunch.
Did lotsa punches.
Dumb idea.
Left arm hurt quite a bit.
Now I know why the doctor says to avoid exercise for a few days.
I also bought new cheap pair of boxing gloves.
That suck.
I got what I paid for!
Used them for one session and then gave them to Macchan who doesn't have her own gloves.
So she was happy.
After fighting, on Sensei's recommendation, went to the ghetto sports shop in Shibuya, above the pachinko parlor, under the boxing gym.
Dropped Big Money on a proper pair of Mexican bag gloves, in blue.
These gloves make me awesome.
Will head to the mother ship this evening to work out with Patrick, which I have not done in almost forever, or at least a couple weeks.
On the one hand, I am a bit wary; I know I will weigh in high. Last week was bad, diet-wise. Too much sugary Starbucks, too many snacks and diet deviations. I can tell my gut is a bit wider than it should be.
Then again, I can REALLY feel my core solidifying. The six-pack (on top of the inner gut fat) is gnarled and hard, and I also noticed this afternoon some serious lines running diagonally, external obliques I think.When I tense up my gut and suck in the fat, I feel some solid muscle or something which I am guessing is the transverse abdominis...will confirm all this with Patrick.
But the point is I am sure I have put on some fat, but I am just as sure I have really strengthened muscle. My legs all of a sudden feel really strong; maybe running that 10k was the proof I need. And during balance poses I just feel very stable and centered. Waking up in the morning I can just sit right up, no issues, no hassle. My tanden just feels solid, grounded, stable. Walking around, I can feel my leg muscles and shoulders are tired, but I am alert, upright, and stable.
I remember when Patrick said it's tough to measure the KFB results. Unlike PCP, you can't just measure core strength, flexibility, and stability. But I can certainly feel the change!
For several days my left triceps area will be nice and red and swollen; totally normal reaction to the flu shot. Happened last year, too.
Went to fighting at lunch.
Did lotsa punches.
Dumb idea.
Left arm hurt quite a bit.
Now I know why the doctor says to avoid exercise for a few days.
I also bought new cheap pair of boxing gloves.
That suck.
I got what I paid for!
Used them for one session and then gave them to Macchan who doesn't have her own gloves.
So she was happy.
After fighting, on Sensei's recommendation, went to the ghetto sports shop in Shibuya, above the pachinko parlor, under the boxing gym.
Dropped Big Money on a proper pair of Mexican bag gloves, in blue.
These gloves make me awesome.
Will head to the mother ship this evening to work out with Patrick, which I have not done in almost forever, or at least a couple weeks.
On the one hand, I am a bit wary; I know I will weigh in high. Last week was bad, diet-wise. Too much sugary Starbucks, too many snacks and diet deviations. I can tell my gut is a bit wider than it should be.
Then again, I can REALLY feel my core solidifying. The six-pack (on top of the inner gut fat) is gnarled and hard, and I also noticed this afternoon some serious lines running diagonally, external obliques I think.When I tense up my gut and suck in the fat, I feel some solid muscle or something which I am guessing is the transverse abdominis...will confirm all this with Patrick.
But the point is I am sure I have put on some fat, but I am just as sure I have really strengthened muscle. My legs all of a sudden feel really strong; maybe running that 10k was the proof I need. And during balance poses I just feel very stable and centered. Waking up in the morning I can just sit right up, no issues, no hassle. My tanden just feels solid, grounded, stable. Walking around, I can feel my leg muscles and shoulders are tired, but I am alert, upright, and stable.
I remember when Patrick said it's tough to measure the KFB results. Unlike PCP, you can't just measure core strength, flexibility, and stability. But I can certainly feel the change!
Monday, November 8, 2010
change or be changed
Excellent article in the Times.
I believe people should be free to do whatever stupid things they want. As long as their stupidity does not infringe on my right to live a safe, healthy life.
Therefore, given the MASSIVE and undeniable secondary costs to me through society of having a whole bunch of obese people, I think not allowing people to use food stamps to buy soda and junk food is a great start. Though it needs to be coupled with alternatives, like ensuring there is some actual food (fresh vegetables, etc.) available to those food stamp shoppers.
Bottom line: America has an addiction problem. Addicted to alcohol, addicted to guns, addicted to sugar and salt and trans-fat.
And the first step towards curing an addiction: admitting there is a problem.
Until the USofA, as a nation, as a people, collectively say "This is a problem and it is unacceptable", nothing of any significance will change.
The only thing to do is, each of us, one at a time, live our life as best we can; being an implicit role model.
I believe people should be free to do whatever stupid things they want. As long as their stupidity does not infringe on my right to live a safe, healthy life.
Therefore, given the MASSIVE and undeniable secondary costs to me through society of having a whole bunch of obese people, I think not allowing people to use food stamps to buy soda and junk food is a great start. Though it needs to be coupled with alternatives, like ensuring there is some actual food (fresh vegetables, etc.) available to those food stamp shoppers.
Bottom line: America has an addiction problem. Addicted to alcohol, addicted to guns, addicted to sugar and salt and trans-fat.
And the first step towards curing an addiction: admitting there is a problem.
Until the USofA, as a nation, as a people, collectively say "This is a problem and it is unacceptable", nothing of any significance will change.
The only thing to do is, each of us, one at a time, live our life as best we can; being an implicit role model.
pre-10k, post-10k
Friday night I exercised at the gym after work. As expected, practically empty. Ran for 30 minutes at 9kph but my heart rate was up to 150 so I slowed down to 8kph for the last 15 minutes, keeping my heart rate about 110.
Then I did the routine. DAMN that is a high number of leg swings. Hard to imagine that with all that modern equipment, they don't have two chairs I can use for chest dips, so I improvised: jacked up the two inclining benches in front of the free weights to 45° and dipped between them. One guy watching me commented: "Hope you didn't patent that move, I'm gonna do that from now on!" and another older Japanese guy had a complex set-up involving two 30k bars with neck/shoulder pads, braced on the squat rack, so that he could climb up and dip between them. He saw me on using the benches and had a slightly confused-but-trying-to-hide-it look on his face.
Oops, sorry for slashing you with my Occam's razor.
After the workout, went back to the office, finished off some emails, and walked home.
This morning I slept in late, got up about 8am, stumbled through my workout whilst the kids watched Saturday morning TV, skipped breakfast because it was a beautiful day and we went out for a walk before meeting friends for dim-sum brunch. I definitely over-ate, but figured it would be the one meal of the day and I need some carbs for the run tomorrow anyway.
As predicted, dinner time rolled around and I was incredibly not hungry. Kids wanted soba so went to where we always go for lunch and took our usual table in the back corner.
Table next to us had 2 guys smoking, and 5 seconds after we sat down I got a stunning headache. Turns out the place is no-smoking at lunch but not so at dinner. We moved to a table on the other side of the restaurant, but my head was pounding, and I was still not hungry anyway.
Haven't gotten a smoke headache like that in a long time. Even though I live in the Last Bastion of Smokers, aka Japan, I have managed to avoid being around much smoking for quite a while. Guess because I am so cleansed from PCP and KFB, I am really sensitive. I am quite sure if I stayed at the table next to those smokers I would have been covered in hives, itchy, and shivering.
Nasty stuff, that. Glad both my parents quit!
Incidentally, one of the reasons I was and am straight edge is that I cannot even imagine the concept of smoking being fun. Watched my parents do it ever since I was born, had plenty of friends start, and I never, ever felt any kind of peer pressure. I just thought to myself: "light something on fire and inhale the smoke? WTF kinda moron thought this is even a remotely good idea?"
My parents I can forgive; they started smoking when it was cool and healthy. Pretty sure the doctors told my mom to keep smoking when she was pregnant because it helped relax her.
Speaking of which, one day in junior high school, after dinner my mom lit up a cigarette, as was the tradition. But instead of my dad joining her, he stood up and declared: "I am going for a run."
And I remember thinking "From what?"
He went upstairs, came down wearing a choice 80's jogging fashion statement of mid-thigh shorts, knee socks, and giant bright yellow radio headphones held in place by a white cotton tennis headband, and left out the front door.
30 minutes later he returned, sweating and red-faced.
This repeated several days a week for the next few decades.
Anyway on Sunday I got up early, did some zazen, had a reasonable breakfast, and got on the train. 10k kicked off at 9:10am so I got there just about 8:30, found our spot, joked with the others, and headed to the track. There were several thousand people running the 10k; quite excellent and scary at the same time. I took off at my usual leisurely pace, getting passed by many. The route started in the stadium, then went outside and finally looped back into the stadium. 4 circuits. After the first time around I felt good, hit my stride, and noticed some people slowing down to walk. Half-way through the top guys were already finishing. 3rd time around I just saw one of my co-workers, a proper long distance runner, finishing.
I push hard on the last lap, lengthening my stride and gulping for air, and when I checked the clock I finished 10k in 58 minutes.
I was shooting for 1 hour and 15 minutes, so I thought I did great. I have never run a 10+kph pace before, and any time I try I get really tired really quickly. So I guess the power of the crowd helps alot!
After the run I collected some free food; granola, banana, bag of chips, curry-bread...
Hung about for a bit, watching the other runs (5k, 2.5k walk, 400m relay), then the family arrived so we headed back for some lunch.
After eating I was dead tired, so when I got home I napped for about 3 hours, got up in time for dinner and a bath, and then back to sleep.
Then I did the routine. DAMN that is a high number of leg swings. Hard to imagine that with all that modern equipment, they don't have two chairs I can use for chest dips, so I improvised: jacked up the two inclining benches in front of the free weights to 45° and dipped between them. One guy watching me commented: "Hope you didn't patent that move, I'm gonna do that from now on!" and another older Japanese guy had a complex set-up involving two 30k bars with neck/shoulder pads, braced on the squat rack, so that he could climb up and dip between them. He saw me on using the benches and had a slightly confused-but-trying-to-hide-it look on his face.
Oops, sorry for slashing you with my Occam's razor.
After the workout, went back to the office, finished off some emails, and walked home.
This morning I slept in late, got up about 8am, stumbled through my workout whilst the kids watched Saturday morning TV, skipped breakfast because it was a beautiful day and we went out for a walk before meeting friends for dim-sum brunch. I definitely over-ate, but figured it would be the one meal of the day and I need some carbs for the run tomorrow anyway.
As predicted, dinner time rolled around and I was incredibly not hungry. Kids wanted soba so went to where we always go for lunch and took our usual table in the back corner.
Table next to us had 2 guys smoking, and 5 seconds after we sat down I got a stunning headache. Turns out the place is no-smoking at lunch but not so at dinner. We moved to a table on the other side of the restaurant, but my head was pounding, and I was still not hungry anyway.
Haven't gotten a smoke headache like that in a long time. Even though I live in the Last Bastion of Smokers, aka Japan, I have managed to avoid being around much smoking for quite a while. Guess because I am so cleansed from PCP and KFB, I am really sensitive. I am quite sure if I stayed at the table next to those smokers I would have been covered in hives, itchy, and shivering.
Nasty stuff, that. Glad both my parents quit!
Incidentally, one of the reasons I was and am straight edge is that I cannot even imagine the concept of smoking being fun. Watched my parents do it ever since I was born, had plenty of friends start, and I never, ever felt any kind of peer pressure. I just thought to myself: "light something on fire and inhale the smoke? WTF kinda moron thought this is even a remotely good idea?"
My parents I can forgive; they started smoking when it was cool and healthy. Pretty sure the doctors told my mom to keep smoking when she was pregnant because it helped relax her.
Speaking of which, one day in junior high school, after dinner my mom lit up a cigarette, as was the tradition. But instead of my dad joining her, he stood up and declared: "I am going for a run."
And I remember thinking "From what?"
He went upstairs, came down wearing a choice 80's jogging fashion statement of mid-thigh shorts, knee socks, and giant bright yellow radio headphones held in place by a white cotton tennis headband, and left out the front door.
30 minutes later he returned, sweating and red-faced.
This repeated several days a week for the next few decades.
Anyway on Sunday I got up early, did some zazen, had a reasonable breakfast, and got on the train. 10k kicked off at 9:10am so I got there just about 8:30, found our spot, joked with the others, and headed to the track. There were several thousand people running the 10k; quite excellent and scary at the same time. I took off at my usual leisurely pace, getting passed by many. The route started in the stadium, then went outside and finally looped back into the stadium. 4 circuits. After the first time around I felt good, hit my stride, and noticed some people slowing down to walk. Half-way through the top guys were already finishing. 3rd time around I just saw one of my co-workers, a proper long distance runner, finishing.
I push hard on the last lap, lengthening my stride and gulping for air, and when I checked the clock I finished 10k in 58 minutes.
I was shooting for 1 hour and 15 minutes, so I thought I did great. I have never run a 10+kph pace before, and any time I try I get really tired really quickly. So I guess the power of the crowd helps alot!
After the run I collected some free food; granola, banana, bag of chips, curry-bread...
Hung about for a bit, watching the other runs (5k, 2.5k walk, 400m relay), then the family arrived so we headed back for some lunch.
After eating I was dead tired, so when I got home I napped for about 3 hours, got up in time for dinner and a bath, and then back to sleep.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Sunday family dinner
Friday, November 5, 2010
Cafeteria lunch
Thursday, November 4, 2010
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