Again with the planning. I know, there are some things I am a broken record, but it is worth saying again the importance to have a plan and work the plan. And part of that plan is to look ahead which means for me, I’m running 12 miles today and not tomorrow. Thus, Friday is Saturday or Fri-turday.

RUN TIP

I tore open a Vega Sport Endurance gel on my trek today. It may be able to tote the all-natural flag, but it also almost tore open the edges of my mouth a la The Joker knive. Why So Serious? Because it almost cut the sides of my mouth. The package is wider than the Clif Shots, but when you’re on mile 6-7, I didn’t stop to think, “is this going to fit in my mouth?” I just routinely did my routine. Tear, squeeze, and suck. Bad move.

And the taste … if you crave warm baby food, you found your product. The raspberry pouch I had tasted like a warm, and very sweet, very tart, apple sauce.

The Verdict … I’ll stick with my Clif Shots Chocolate!

Life lesson #89 – Know when you’re too old for baby food and snacks (ie – someone telling you what you want to hear versus what you need to hear). Never turn down a good meal (ie – sound advice or wise counsel) when someone offers it.

Morning weight = 171.5. Post run weight = 168

Today’s Meals:

• 8:45am – Herbalife Shake.
  • 8 ounces of Old Orchard Healthy Balance Apple Juice
  • 2 scoops Herbalife Personalized Protein Powder
  • 1 scoop Herbalife Formula 1 French Vanilla
  • 1 cup of Baby Spinach
  • 3 Costco Frozen Strawberries
  • 8 Costco Frozen Blueberries
  • 2 Costco Frozen Pineapple Chunks
  • 1/4 cup Mountain High Plain Yogurt
• 9:45am – Pre run nutrition
  • Herbalife24 Prepare (2 scoops)
  • Herbalife24 Hydrate (1 scoop)
• 11:47am – During run nutrition and energy
  • Brought a full water bottle of Herbalife 24 Prepare, Herbalife24 Hydrate along on my adventure
  • Vega Sport Endurance Gel – Raspberry.
• 1:30pm – Microwave and Treats
  • El Monterey Bean and Cheese burrito
  • Flaming Hot Cheetos (1/3 package)
  • Filipino Suman
  • Skippy Super Chunky Peanut Butter (2 tbsp)
  • Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix (2 tbsp)
  • Sue Bee Cover Honey (.13 tbsp)
  • Herbalife Supplements
    • Multivitamin
    • Cell Activator
    • Celluloss
    • Joint Support
    • Xtra-Cal
    • Herbalifeline
• 7pm – Chinese Food
  • Vegetarian Egg Drop Soup (no chicken stock!) 2 1/2 cups
  • Vegetarian egg roll (1 1/2)
  • General Sesame Tofu with fresh broccoli (1 1/2 servings)
  • Singapore Curry Tofu Rice Noodle (2 servings)
  • 1 orange
  • Herbalife Mango Aloe
  • Herbalife Supplements
    • See full list on MyFitnessPal
• 10:30pm – Herbalife24 Restore

Meal 2

Meal 3

Meal 3.1

Today’s Activities:

• Great route! Explored a part of town I have yet to travel on. Actually did a quick, unexpected turn when I saw another runner going down a country road, hoping to follow him to the next hidden bike trail. Unfortunately, he eventually hid from me when he turned into a court and I assume went home. I ran around the area for awhile, even called out to a biker, “is there a bike trail entrance somewhere around here” to which he pointed, “keep going and it’s to the left.” I kept going for about 3/4 mile, but decided best to fight this “keep going” battle at a later date. I only had 3 more miles to reach today’s goal and if I turned around now, I’ll be right around there when I get home.
• Got tired and walked somewhere around mile 10. The heat eventually got to me, but after about a 10 minute walk, I was back on the trail and finished miles 11 (9:29) and 12 (9:23) in great splits.

12 Mile

Splits

Friday, September 06, 2013

Feeling a bit like a 1-pound yo-yo. This week’s progress:

• Monday, September 02, 2013. 170 lbs
• Monday, September 02, 2013 after run. 168 lbs
• Tuesday, September 03, 2013. 171.5 lbs
• Wednesday, September 04, 2013. 172 lbs
• Wednesday, September 04, 2013 after run 170
• Thursday, September 05, 2013. 171

What I’m learning … weight loss can’t be solely measured by the scale. You need to be mindful of how your clothes fit. How your skin feels … for example, mine is feeling much tighter these days. And that tightness is either from a loss of overall body fat or it is the sun actually cooking my skin while I’m out on the road.

I say these things because if I started out the week at 170 and four days later I’m weighing in at 171, even after logging in 12.29 sidewalk miles, it could be discouraging. So, if you stumble upon this particular entry today, tomorrow, or years from now, and have been scale-discouraged, take heart and take measurement. You may need to tighten your belt and didn’t even realize.

Life lesson #88 – The scale doesn’t measure all your efforts. Sometimes, you need the eyeball test!

Morning weight = 171

Today’s Meals:

• 8:15am – Herbalife Shake sans spinach. Time for grocery store trip.
  • 8 ounces of Old Orchard Healthy Balance Apple Juice
  • 2 scoops Herbalife Personalized Protein Powder
  • 1 scoop Herbalife Formula 1 French Vanilla
  • 3 Costco Frozen Strawberries
  • 8 Costco Frozen Blueberries
  • 2 Costco Frozen Pineapple Chunks
  • 1/4 cup Mountain High Plain Yogurt
    • Herbalife Supplements
      • Coq10
      • Tri-Shield
      • Aminogen
      • Multivitamin
      • Herbalifeline
      • Cell Activator
      • Garden 7
      • Total Control
      • Ultimate Prostate Formula
      • Florafiber
      • Xtra-Cal
      • Male Factor 1000
      • Joint Support
      • Mega Garlic Plus
        • Nature Made B12
• 12pm – More leftovers
  • Homemade Panko Breaded Tofu
  • Homemade veggie pasta with Quorn soy ground (still some sauce left in the freezer so you haven’t seen the last of this meal)
  • 1 cup of fresh broccoli
  • Bahlsen Choco Leibniz Milk biscuit – a favorite treat
  • Nestle Kit Kat Chocolates (9 little bites)
• 3pm – Last of the leftovers
  • Homemade Panko breaded tofu (that’s the last of it)
  • Homemade veggie pasta with Quorn soy ground
• 5:30pm – Take Out Mexican and “Eat In” the parking lot
  • Rice, pinto bean, and cheese burrito (3/4 of the burrito)
  • Tortilla chips (about 5)
  • Sour Cream .05 ounces
  • Funion Hot Chips (about 3 chips)
  • Flaming Hot Crunchy Cheetos (1/2 bag)
  • Homemade thumbprint cookies
  • Fresh cut Farmer’s Market peach wedges (About 1/2 peach)
• 10pm – Homemade fruit salad (this leftover is almost finished too, but I’ll miss it. So tasty)
• 10:30pm – Kraft Easy Mac (1 1/2 servings)
• 10:30pm – Herbalife24 Restore

Meal 2

Meal 3

Meal 3.2

Food and Rest

Today’s Activities:

•  My favorite two words lately, Off Day! Watched a press screening of The Family starring Bob Dinero himself. Very good. Give it an A (just in case Bobby happens to read this!)

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Getting up earlier and earlier these days means it’s getting darker and darker in the morning. Don’t get me wrong … I’m not strapping on the ole’ miner’s hat and heading to the man-made elevator. I’m just saying I know Summer is officially over and Fall is officially here.

That Fall weather doesn’t keep for the entire day so morning runs are the best option for now. My advice … run in the early morning. You’ll feel stronger and more powerful versus attempting any physical activity after eating a typical breakfast, atypical lunch, and an outrageous dinner. I’m sure there’s science behind it, but I’m talking real-world experience.

Life lesson #87 – Seasons change and we need to change along with them. Don’t get caught wearing a parka in the dead of Summer, that’s all I’m saying.

Morning weight 172. Post run weight 170.

Today’s Meals:

• 6:45am – Pre Run Nutrition
  • Herbalife24 Prepare (2 scoops)
  • Herbalife24 Hydrate (1 scoop)
  • 1/2 banana
• 8:15am – Post run hydration
  • Herbalife24 Hydrate (1/2 scoop in 4 ounces of water)
• 8:45am – Herbalife Shake.
  • 8 ounces of Old Orchard Healthy Balance Apple Juice
  • 2 scoops Herbalife Personalized Protein Powder
  • 1 scoop Herbalife Formula 1 French Vanilla
  • 1 cup of Baby Spinach
  • 3 Costco Frozen Strawberries
  • 8 Costco Frozen Blueberries
  • 2 Costco Frozen Pineapple Chunks
  • 1/4 cup Mountain High Plain Yogurt
    • Herbalife Supplements
      • Coq10
      • Tri-Shield
      • Aminogen
      • Multivitamin
      • Herbalifeline
      • Cell Activator
      • Garden 7
      • Total Control
      • Ultimate Prostate Formula
      • Florafiber
      • Xtra-Cal
      • Male Factor 1000
      • Joint Support
      • Mega Garlic Plus
        • Nature Made B12
  • 11:35am – Monday leftovers and Tuesday leftovers
    • Homemade pasta with Quorn soy ground
    • 1 cup of steamed broccoli
    • 4 pieces of homemade Panko breaded tofu
    • Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water with Herbalife Mango Aloe — I’m such the mixologist!
    • Herbalife Supplements
      • Xtra-Cal — doing my best to be consistent with core products to keep my body strong to finish the race
  • 2pm – Homemade fruit salad
  • 3:30pm – Mid Day Protein Snack
    • Kind Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Protein Bar
    • Arizona Green Tea with Ginseng and Honey (couple of gulps)
  • 5:40pm – Local Cafe – pre movie dinner
    • 4 small slices of personal sized cheese pizza
    • 1 1/2 cups of mixed green salad with balsamic
    • 1/2 order of french fries
    • Herbalife Supplements
      • Xtra-Cal
      • Garden 7
      • Multivitamin
      • Herbalifeline
      • Joint Support

Meal 2

Meal 2.1

Meal 3

Food and Exercise

Today’s Activities:

• Runkeeper is like Simon … I do exactly what it says. Today is a 6 mile slow/fast. 1st mile slow. Miles 2-5 fast. Last and 6th mile slow. Finished at a pace fo 9:14 which is off my pace just 2 days ago which only emphasizes my earlier point that I tend to thrive with other runners around. Definitely helps with pacing and pulling towards the finish.
• Also watched the press screening of Riddick … Give it an A.

6 mile slow/fast

Runkeeper 09-04-2013 Splits

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

The day after a race is the perfect day to spend with your wife doing nothing. My sister-in-law may have convinced me to run with her yesterday, but those persuasive skills don’t just belong to her. Using my best Puss in Boots face, she called in to take the day off. Not with a fake cough. Not with a sniffly voice. And especially not with an untrue reason … simply just said, taking the day off. And regarding my level of persuasiveness, probably not the hardest thing to convince someone to stay home.

Life lesson #86 – Don’t fake your way out of responsibilities. And if you have in the past, think about it and you’ll see there are always consequences to compromising.

Morning weight = 171.5

TODAY’S MEALS:

• 9:45am – Costco Samples Brought Home. Our Sunday trip to Costco’s sampling stations turned into breakfast today.
  • Afghan Spinach Bolani (1 pizza wedge slice)
  • Bolani Cilantro Pesto (1/8 cup)
  • Bolani Sweet Jalapeno (2 tbsp)
  • Bolani Garlic Mint Cheese (2 tbsp)
  • Scrambled Eggs (1 1/2 eggs)
    • Herbalife Supplements
      • Coq10
      • Tri-Shield
      • Aminogen
      • Multivitamin
      • Herbalifeline
      • Cell Activator
      • Garden 7
      • Total Control
      • Ultimate Prostate Formula
      • Florafiber
      • Xtra-Cal
      • Male Factor 1000
      • Joint Support
      • Mega Garlic Plus
        • Nature Made B12
• 2pm – Leftovers from the Labor Day Party
  • Homemade Fresh Veggie Pasta with Quorn soy grounds
  • 1 cup of fresh, steamed broccoli
  • Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water
  • Homemade Parmesan Bread (1.5 slices) and delicious! If there were more, I would have eaten more
  • Kraft Parmesan Cheese (1 tsp)
  • Herbalife Mango Aloe
• 3:30pm – Homemade fruit salad (1/2 bowl)
• 5pm – Snacks
  • Herbalife Herbal Concentrate Tea
  • In the Raw Stevia Packet
  • Hawaiian Kettle Style Chips – Mango Habanero (about 13 chips)
• 7:45pm – Fried Panko Goodness
  • Panko Breaded Tofu (6 slices)
  • Steamed rice (1 cup)
  • Fresh steamed broccoli (1 cup)

Meal 1

Meal 2

Meal 2.1

Meal 2.2

Meal 3

Food and Rest

Today’s Activities:

•  Wife stayed home. So any scheduled plans are now secondary to unscheduled time with my wife. So what did we do … what we always do. Eat, laugh, movies, walked, and eat more.
• Lots of our friends recommended Butter starring Mrs. New Batman. I can’t remember her name as I type and I don’t know if there are two or one “Fs” in Affleck / Afleck. Both look peculiar, so we stick with Mrs. New Batman. As far as the recommendation from friends, I’ll keep the friends and ditch the movie. Little girl was adorable.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

The kick-off to the second-half of the running season starts today. It feels like just yesterday I was saying I’m not going to enter any more of these organized races. My sister-in-law either should become a District Attorney with her persuasive ‘tude or I’m just a sucker for a medal. What? No medal, just a performance T? I guess I’ve just been found guilty!

And They’re Off!

In either case, I’m glad to be tagging along — it is fun to participate with others. Notice how I didn’t say run with others, only participate. I’m a Hermit Runner — headphones and my thoughts, but I certainly do notice I thrive in race scenarios. Ninety-nine percent of the time I have gone into a race feeling like the UCSC Banana Slug, but I come out like a UNLV Running Rebel. The 1% was during a Moonlight race where the start time was 7pm. 7pm in the middle of a Northern California summer is just cruel.

Life lesson #85 – In many circumstances, 99% is 100%. The pursuit of perfection can lead you to be imperfect with added strife and disappointment. Tony Horton, “do your best and forget the rest” sums it up very well.

Plus, this race actually falls on my scheduled run day. I was suppose to run a 6-mile run today anyway so why not get a shirt for my efforts. Finished 21st in my age group, 57th for all males, and 75th overall.

Laboring on Labor Day

Morning weight = 170. Post run weight = 168

Today’s Food:

• 6:15am – Pre-run Nutrition
  • Herbalife24 Prepare (2 scoops)
  • Herbalife24 Hydrate (1 stick)
  • 1 banana
• 9:15am – Post-run Nutrition sponsored by Whole Foods
  • Various grains, nuts, Greek yogurt, soy milk, berries and other fruits, and flaxseed. Quote of the day from one of the young volunteers in charge of the flaxseed station and in response to what is it. She said, “It’s flaxseed — it will make sure flaxseed stronger in your body” OK … whatever you say.
• 9:45am – Post-Post run protein. Meeting with family at a local restaurant.
  • Over medium egg and 3 potato wedges. Not hungry, but want the protein I didn’t get from the Whole Foods snacks.
• 12:45pm – Labor Day Grub
  • 1 plate of homemade pasta with Quorn soy ground
  • 1 serving of peach slices
  • 1 serving of fruit salad
  • 1/2 cup of fresh mango
  • 1 serving of homemade cranberry quinoa salad
• 3pm – Fun Sized Snacks
  • 1 Payday fun size bar
  • 1 Snickers Peanut Butter Square. I’ll stick with the original.
• 5:30pm – Finishing leftovers
  • 1 plate of homemade pasta with Quorn soy ground
  • 3 pieces of garlic bread. With about 10 kids of various ages at the party, these went fast.
  • 1 homemade Rainbow Cake
• 10:45pm – Herbalife24 Restore

Meal 1.1 – Post Race Fuel

Meal 1.2

Meal 2

Meal 3.1

Food and Exercise

Today’s Activities:

•  Labor Day Race! My first 10K and I loved it. Before you know it, you’re done! Paced myself against other runners with nice strides for the first 2 miles. Passed this group when I noticed their were laboring on Labor Day and caught another group with great strides. Ran with this group for a little over 2 miles and when I noticed they were gassing out, politely passed them (runner’s etiquette) in an open area and never looked back. Had negative splits each mile and finished mile 6 at a sub 8-minute mark.
• Forgot to bring my Clif Shots so my sister-in-law actually had a few bucks on her and we went to Whole Foods (aka The Starting Line) and bought their equivalent, Vega Sports. All natural, blah, blah, blah. I bought a packet, but it in my pocket, thought about using it, but didn’t want to change my routine.

Labor Day Run

Splits

Shout to all the runner’s on this day that participated in the ceremonial “donation of the shoe” post race.

The Sole of a Runner

Monday, September 2, 2013

Since Saturday’s scheduled long run morphed into Friday’s long run, I have officially been recovering for 2 whole days. When you work out constantly, you certainly appreciate these two little words … “off” and “day” Ask anybody who has done Insanity or P90X and they’ll all eventually get to the same message … “I enjoyed my Sundays (insert any day of the week) because it was my off day.”

Life lesson #84 – Google shabot and it will change your life.

Morning weight = 171

Today’s Meals:

• 8:15am – Herbalife Shake.
  • 8 ounces of Old Orchard Healthy Balance Apple Juice
  • 2 scoops Herbalife Personalized Protein Powder
  • 1 scoop Herbalife Formula 1 French Vanilla
  • 1 cup of Baby Spinach
  • 3 Costco Frozen Strawberries
  • 8 Costco Frozen Blueberries
  • 2 Costco Frozen Pineapple Chunks
  • 1/4 cup Mountain High Plain Yogurt
    • Herbalife Supplements
      • Multivitamin
      • Joint Support
      • X-tra Cal
      • Herbalifeline
      • And Much, Much, More! See MyFitnessPal chart
• 10:50am – Krispy Kreme glazed donut. Just another reason why I love my church. Grateful for the Krispy Kreme! Been at least 2 years since I had one of these babies — still not my favorite, but it sure does make for a grateful communion!
• 1pm – Mexican Food
  • Breakfast burrito with hashbrowns, eggs (no meat)
  • Fresh roasted jalapeños
  • Green Tomatillo Sauce
  • Tortilla chips (7 total)
  • Fresh carrot and orange mixed juice (6 onces)
• 5pm – Payday Fun Size candy bar
• 7:30pm – Chinese Food
  • Veggie Chowmein
  • Honey Walnut Tofu (yes, tofu!)
  • Herbalife Supplements
    • Multivitamin
    • Herbalifeline
    • Cell Activator

Meal 2

Food and Service

Today’s Activities:

• Church service.
• Prep for tomorrow’s Labor Day Race and post family get together at our house. My sister-in-law who is running as well and her two kids stayed the night to get in as much extra ZZZZZZ’s as possible. The race is in our backyard, almost literally, and it kicks off the second half of the Tour de Fit! The plan for tonight … sleep by 10:30pm which means I’ll be asleep by 11:30pm and rise by 6:15am which means I’ll rise at 6:35am. My sleep and rest/rise is something I am still working on. If this was a Twitter post, I would follow that statement with a #NightOwl

Sunday, September 01, 2013

My nephew is big into anime and happened to mention there was a local anime convention. So, being the great uncle that I am, I told him I would attend. I would sacrifice for him. And bumping into Mega Godzilla didn’t hurt. Mega Godzilla

Truth be told, I love toys. Not a fan of Halloween in August, but I love toys. Started in the 80’s, ran out of space in the early 90’s, discovered eBay in the early 90’s, built some shelves in the late 90’s, and after more shelve space, here I am again.  In the 25+ years of toy, comic, sports memorabilia, and music collecting, I’ve eBayed, donated to people I know and people I don’t know. One of the more rewarding experiences, donated about 75 Beanie Babies to a great friend’s 4th grade class. She teaches them well — my wife and I actually received a thank you letter from the class with reasons why they choose the Beanie Baby. Never agreed with Bill Cosby any more — kid’s do say the darndest things.

Life lesson #83 – You don’t have to dress up like a superhero to be a super. Make a difference in someone’s life.

Morning weight 170

Today’s Meals:

• 8:15am – Herbalife Shake.
  • 8 ounces of Old Orchard Healthy Balance Apple Juice
  • 2 scoops Herbalife Personalized Protein Powder
  • 1 scoop Herbalife Formula 1 French Vanilla
  • 1 cup of Baby Spinach
  • 3 Costco Frozen Strawberries
  • 8 Costco Frozen Blueberries
  • 2 Costco Frozen Pineapple Chunks
  • 1/4 cup Mountain High Plain Yogurt
    • Herbalife Supplements
      • Multivitamin
      • Joint Support
      • X-tra Cal
      • Herbalifeline
• 10:45am – Kind Bar – Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate. Sometimes, you need just a little extra energy while walking the Con floor. These vendors are ruthless with their pricing negotiations.
• 12:45pm – Thai Food. Remember vegetarians, ask for no fish sauce!
  • Veggie Pad Thai with tofu and no fish sauce
  • Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
  • Massaman curry with tofu
• 2:30pm – Bag of Nacho Doritos. Salty snacks also help to negotiate the Con floor and the Con vendors.
• 7:45pm – Vietnamese. Remember vegetarians! Ask for no fish sauce and they usually have Bragg’s Amino Acid dipping sauce as not just an alternative, but a better, tastier alternative.
  • Vegetarian Vermicelli Bowl with fried tofu, fake chicken, and no fish sauce!
  • Fried egg

Meal 2

Meal 2a

Meal 3

Food and Fun

Today’s Activities

• Arrived at the Sacramento Anime Show at 10am to beat the crowds and also because I had no idea what to expect. Been watching this Heroes of CosPlay show and I envisioned buses upon buses of unicorned, zombified, or googled-people wandering the streets. I guess this convention doesn’t draw the attention of the larger ones, but it didn’t detract from all the fun I had with my wife, nephew, and niece. Took me back to my days of walking the convention floors at sportscard shows in the mid 80s. Met some great, enthusiastic people and seeing people fully enjoy something passionately is a bonus.

Saturday, 08-31-2013