New Years Eve

Goodbye 2010. I will not miss you.

In celebration that you will be over we are having a party.

--See you there.

During the break

While we are on the holiday break I have still be working on the health side. I had a full physical, blood work and even the joy of a colonoscopy. All of that resulted in good news and not so good news.

The good news is my lower GI "is perfect". I was worried about that because I had passed some blood in recent months. Simple roids. No worries.

The not so good news was my blood work results. My cholesterol was a bit too high at 209. My good cholesterol was too low. Most concerning to me was my blood sugar was a bit too high at 150.

My doc endorsed and encouraged me to continue my weight loss. That alone should solve my blood chemistry issues in the long run. Got to step up the exercise too. The sedentary life is the real culprit here.

So far I I have gained back about 5 lbs since Thanksgiving.

--Time for a walk!

Time out...

Yeah, that's right...we're just taking a little time out for the holidays...... January 1st the race will be on.

Pennsic Makes The Darwin Awards!

Medieval Mayhem
2010 At-Risk Survivor
Confirmed True by Darwin

(August, various years, Pennsylvania) Every summer, the Society for Creative Anachronism holds a two-week-long "war" in rural Pennsylvania. The Darwin Awards team loves SCA members for their welcoming enthusiasm and their passion for medieval history and arts both fine and martial. But as with any large organization, there are always a few outliers! And at an event the size of Pennsic, which attracts over 10,000 attendees from around the world, there are bound to be some potential Darwin Award winners running around. For example:

The saying goes, fighters have two neurons, one is lost and the other is out looking for it. A knight fell "dead" (i.e., passed out) on the battlefield after a minor body blow. When he came to, it was revealed his appendix had been removed just last weekend, and he was still "stapled shut" from surgery. Please, hide your knight's helmet if he intends to endanger himself. Protect your fighters!

A woman was taken to the camp's medical facility with heat exhaustion verging on heat stroke. Attempts to lower her temperature failed. Finally the EMTs removed her clothing to apply ice. Beneath her elaborate historic dress, they found that she was wrapped neck to ankles in plastic wrap -- perhaps in order to lose weight? Removing the plastic wrap brought her temperature under control. Remember, ladies: Your date wants to stroke you, not plastic!

When the damp weather made it hard to get a campfire started, a knight suggested using a capful of white gas. His squire heard "cupful" and poured on two. The fumes became a situation. The knight, a real-life munitions expert, said, "We've got to burn it to defuse it." One match later...WHOOMPH! A 14-foot column of hot fire was the result. The mushroom cloud could be seen a mile away. An actor in a nearby play glanced offstage, then hollered, "Fire!" to the crowded theater. The squire is restricted from using accelerants henceforth.

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 11

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad!

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 257
  • Gain This Week: 0.6 lbs
  • Total Loss to date: 13.0 lbs
--My goal should be to simply maintain during this season.

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 10

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad! I was disappointed this week. It is officially a plateau!

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 256.4
  • No Change This Week: 0.0 lbs
  • Total Loss to date: 13.6 lbs
--Maybe my goal should be to simply maintain during this season.

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 9

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad! I was disappointed this week. It is officially a plateau!

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 256.4
  • GAIN This Week: 1.3 lbs
  • Total Loss to date: 13.6 lbs
--And I ate NO candy at all! I did enjoy the weekend! How did you do?

Halloween - Damn It!

Not a horrible week, but I did some damage over the weekend. House guests and Halloween.. so lots of food. Lost .1 pound.

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 8

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad! I was disappointed this week wanting to clear what I put on last week.

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 255.1
  • GAIN This Week: .1 lbs
  • Total Loss to date: 15.1 lbs
--It was our anniversary weekend and on my weigh-in on Friday I was down a pound. I did enjoy the weekend! How did you do?

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 7

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad! I was disappointed this week wanting to clear what I put on last week.

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 255.0
  • Loss This Week: .7 lbs
  • Total Loss to date: 15.0 lbs
--I will take a loss any week. How did you do?
The Obama administration on Tuesday lifted the six-month moratorium on deep water oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico that was imposed after the BP oil spill.



--Just in time for the November Elections.

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 6

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad! Not a good week for me, but I was away on vacation this weekend and ate a mountain of meat!

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 255.7
  • GAIN This Week: 2.1 lbs
  • Total Loss to date: 14.3 lbs
--I was up this week, as expected, but the bacon was worth it!!

Traveling

So I am taking a trip this weekend. Going to visit friends.

This is one of those situations where I can really hose my weigh loss efforts. There will be lots of eating at restaurants, beer, laughing, dumb ass stories and mountains meat from the smoker.

I will be careful when I can. But I will enjoy myself this weekend.

--We will see on Mondays weigh-in.

Exercise

Today we did it...we actually got on the exercise machines in the basement, dusted them off and got the heart going....Watched an episode of House too!

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 5

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad! I had pizza twice last week. Gotta stop that.

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 253.6
  • Loss This Week: 1.1 lbs
  • Total Loss: 16.4 lbs
--Time to step up the exercise!

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 4

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad! I ate out several times this week and managed to still make good choices. God I love Pho!

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 254.7
  • Loss This Week: 2.1 lbs
  • Total Loss: 15.3 lbs
--This week Brenda and I both did well. We actually started using our exercise machines!

Good Week -

I had such a good week I'm posting first thing!! Whoo Hoo!! Down 4 for a total of 8. This makes up for last week. Only two more for next week and I make my goal of 10 for the month.

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 3

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad!

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 256.8
  • Loss This Week: 2 lbs
  • Total Loss: 13.2 lbs
--Here is hoping we all had a good week!

Motivation-Putting your money where your mouth is

Hey all, It's been pretty quiet on the blog. We need to keep the encouragement going and posting the news. The weekly weigh-ins are a way to keep you on track. I know. If I didn't know I'm going to face the scale every Monday, I'm going to be way more likely to stop at Dairy Queen on the way home from work.

So, C'mon everyone. Post. Post what was difficult for you this week. What worked well. AND Post the Weekly Weigh-in. We are all in this together.

You can even say...I'm not getting on the scale this week, It's been a rough week, but I promise I'll do it next week. Keep at it.

If you just here for the company or you're in for the contest, We want to hear from you.

...Oh, and those of you in the contest. I need your Money!!! Post dated checks are fine too.

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 2

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad!

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 258.8
  • Loss This Week: 4.2 lbs
  • Total Loss: 11.2 lbs
--Another good week for me. Knowing I have to post this weekly really helps!

A Good Weekend

It was another perfect example why I like weighing in on Mondays.

Brenda was making soups and stews to feed us lunches for the week.

Because I knew I was going to weigh in tomorrow I did not over eat today. I am so much more likely to over eat if I am at home.

--12 hours until scale time!!

Fairfax Police to crack down on distracted driving

CHANTILLY, Va. - Distracted driving in Fairfax County has caught the police's attention.

Fairfax County Police have launched a new distracted driving campaign, aimed at keeping drivers focused when they are behind the wheel.

"Talking on the cell phone, eating, personal grooming, because (drivers) are doing those types of activities, their driving is not where it should be," says Fairfax County Police Captain Susan Culin.

Officers will be posted along high-volume roads and intersections where there have been a high number of crashes, including the Route 28 corridor and the Tysons Corner area.

Culin says the officers will be in "unorthodox" locations to monitor drivers, and they will be charging people who are driving erratically due to distracted driving.

"Swerving in their lane, stopping inappropriately, braking inappropriately, not going on a green light right away," says Culin.

In addition to enforcement, Fairfax Police have a survey on their website that will allow police to gather attitudes and behaviors that cause distracted driving.

The campaign will run until June 2011.

--I'm cool. I only Facebook while driving. They didn't mention that.

Google Maps Oddities


While you are out there wasting time on the Interwebs, take a couple minutes and check out the strange stuff that has been captured and is available on Google Earth and Google Maps.

--Fun Stuff!

Number

No change in my weight still 320lb. Well OK it went up. Damn it.

In Theaters Now: Machete


I loved the Grindhouse Movies from Quinton Tarentino. They came with fake previews, parodies really, of the classic grindhouse genre.

I actually got to meet Danny Trejo last year at the Horrorfind convention. Got an autographed photo!

From the Kansas State Collegian:

This weekend “Machete,” Robert Rodriguez’s story that follows a man named Machete (Danny Trejo) as he slices and dices his way through drug cartels and corrupt politicians.

Do not see this movie if you do not like violence or nudity, as the entire film is filled with both. I simply lost track of how many graphic decapitations were in the movie or how many women got naked. This is not a film for everyone.

--It's good to be an American!



7 pounds. Sounds good. I'm down 4. Started at 221, down to 217. 37 to go.




Jeff
7 pounds. I'm down 4. 37 to go.

Jeff

Weekly Weigh-In!!

OK People, it's time to post the news, Good or bad!

We will do this every Monday from now on. Mondays to ensure we are on plan during the weekends!!

Here are my numbers:
  • Starting Weight: 270.0
  • Today's Weight: 262.9
  • Loss This Week: 7.1
  • Total Loss: 7.1
This week I ate every meal saying, "I am stopping now even though I could eat ALL the bacon!" I also got several chances to wear my new hiking boots! Drank water daily. Started taking the stairs at least once a day at work.

--Time to Fight some Gravity!!

Posting at High Speed

So technology is getting better and better.

Right now I am posting at 70mph, in my van, cruising through the mountains of Pennsylvania, on my long battery life, solid state laptop, via the 3G high speed network. (Oh, and Brenda's driving)

And all this was easy.

Just hook my Blackberry and press a button and I am off!

--Now if there was just some content worth reading...

This weeks weighin will be delayed

Labor Day weekend holiday finds me far from my scale.

I will be doing my official weighin on Tuesday this week.

--Get ready folks!

Writer Neal Stephenson Unveils His Digital Novel The Mongoliad

Author Neal Stephenson has been credited for inspiring today’s virtual world startups with his novel Snow Crash. Now he’s launching a startup himself: Subutai, where he is co-founder and chairman.

They are developing their first project, The Mongoliad.

The Mongoliad is a new kind of serialized novel, created by Neal Stephenson, and written by Neal, Greg Bear, Nicole Galland, Mark Teppo, and a number of other great authors. It will be told on the web and via custom apps on iPad, iPhone, Kindle, and Android, and will be something of an experiment in post-book publishing and storytelling.

--If this goes well, it could be a great new entertainment form...

Why you don't have to give up chocolate to lose weight

For years, the myth has been spread that chocolate is a diet buster and absolutely has to be removed from your diet to lose weight. Whether you’re a chocoholic or just indulge from time to time, you should know that today’s research into chocolate is now connecting its consumption to lower weight. While moderation is still key, eating dark chocolate on a daily basis is more likely to result in weight loss than weight gain.

--I don't eat it myself.

Jim Fixx all over again!


What the Hell?

Michel Montignac, French diet guru who wrote 'Eat Yourself Slim,' dies at 66.

--Eat right, exercise and die anyway...

Recipes!

So last night we were talking about recipes. I set up a new category for people to be able to post their favorite weight loss recipes!

What are you Eating?

--Let the Googling begin!!

Weigh In Roll Call!!

So here is the plan.

Once a week I will call a "Weigh In Roll Call".

All you have to do if you want to work with us is to leave a comment like this.
  • Goal Amount to Lose:
  • Weight Loss This Week:
  • Total Weight Loss So Far:
I am going to include my actual weight. It's optional for anyone that wants to participate. Just weigh-in weekly!

So here is ME!
  • Current Weight: 270 lbs
  • Goal Weight: 200 lbs
  • Goal amount to lose: 70 lbs
  • Percentage Weight: 26%
Let the posting begin!!

Walk this way...


So I got my new hiking boots and I plan on using them. I have got to start off easy. Got to interesting places I like.

I plan on starting, "Coffee Walks".

There is Caribou Coffee about 5 miles, round trip. Starbucks is about 10 miles round trip. Bad Ass Coffee is 14 miles round trip! (Black Quad Espresso!!)

I like the idea of Coffee Walks because they would be better for me than say "Ice Cream Walks". (damn you Cold Stone Creamery!)

--Who's with me!!??

Hiking Boots


One of my main exercises in the next year is going to be walking. Hiking really.

I like that as exercise because you can go interesting places while you are at it. For instance there is a 4.2 mile walk that has a coffee shop at the half way point!

So to that end I need to get some good hiking boot. A pair with good ankle support. That will last more than one season. A pair that won't mind getting wet!

--Any suggestions?

The Grizzly 5K


Looking for a way to Fight Gravity this week?

Join the Gainesville Grizzlies for a fun filled day to include a 5K, Community Street Fair, Live Bands, Carnival & Parade of Teams!

Help the youth of this community raise money to build additional sport parks in the area and support Youth for Tomorrow Foundation, Founded by Joe Gibbs!

http://www.grizzlyfootball.org/Page.asp?n=12707&org=grizzlyfootball.org

--Take good care of your knees. You'll miss them when they are gone...

Anyone Can Join Us!!


Lots of people have chimed in, wanting to take the challenge with us.

Sounds like we will have several different weight loss methods going on at the same time here. Weight-Watchers, Atkins, Paleo Diet, No White Food, lots of exercise, and my "stop eating like a pig plan"!

All you will have to do is Weigh-In every week.

The starting gun goes off a week from tomorrow!!

--In the mean time, SPAM for dinner!!

Next Steps


So a group of us are taking the Fighting Gravity Challenge. We will all be weighing in sometime in the next couple weeks.

The next thing each of us needs to do is to make an appoint with our docs. Tell them we intend to go on a diet. Get blood work done. Find out the cholesterol numbers. Get recommendations from the docs and share it here.

--I might even cut mine in on my winnings!

Driving is Why We are Fat!!


--I knew it was something like this!!

What I am looking forward to...

When you are a fat guy, wearing ties is a pain in the neck. (yuck-yuck-yuck I crack myself up)

I look forward to having my neck back.

When I am slimmer, all my clothes fit better. My pants stay up better. T-Shirts don't bind in my arm pits.

--Even my damn shoes fit better...

How Fighting Gravity Got Started

So were were at Pennsic this year and, within about 5 minutes of each other, we had two separate hammock failures.

There was lots of laughing, a few bruises, and a lot of cursing at gravity. That day was the day we first discussed a weight loss challenge.

--And yes I was one of the hammock failures, dammit!

I Added a Links Section

If you look on the right hand side, we now have a "Links" section.

Add interesting links!

Exercise

I'm going to really step up the excercise. Use the dusty eliptical in the basement. Get my choresterol levels down to acceptable.

12 Days Until Weigh-in

Today is the 15th of August.

Despite my best efforts, I was surprised to discover I lost 6 pounds at Pennsic.

We weigh in on August 27th. I plan to hit a few restaurants that I will really miss:
  • Five Guys
  • Aragato Sushi
  • Pizza (done)
  • Thai Taste
  • McDonalds
  • 7-11 Hot Dogs
What are you going to miss the most?

And so it Begins

This is the beginning of our effort to lose weight between August 27th 2010 and July 27th 2011. We are intending to be fit by next Pennsic.

To that end, our lucky few, will be each pony up $100 for the challenge! Spicing the pot!

I am hungry already!

Who's in!!??

RIP Frank Frezetta

I had so many Frezetta calendars and books with his covers.

His paintings will live on.

My New Ride

My car had been in the shop for 11 weeks. My poor mechanic never did figure out what the problem was. No charge, with apologies.

The thing would run great for about 30 miles. Then the trans would begin to slip.

I needed a new commuter transport but decided to get something with a bit more utility. A Small Pickup.

I saw this truck on the CARMAX web site ad went in for a peek. It is like new. It gets 26mpg, has a 4cyl engine, excellent AC, Excellent stereo, automatic and so clean I cannot believe it. The bed liner isn't even scratched. And it has new tires!

It is super easy to drive. It has the best visibility ever.

--Now BR wants a new ride...

Martys World has a new home

I established my first blog back before they called them blogs. In those early days it was ALL manual html. I guess that was about 1992 on www.hell-labs.com. There was a major migration ten years later in 2002 to www.wilsey.org. It was easier to post and tune.

Now I have made another big move. The older I get the lazier I get so I am now using the free service on blogger, letting the free cloud do all the heavy lifting.

The old sites will redirect here.

I enjoyed looking back at the old sites. It's like a diary. I go through periods of activity followed by a flurry of activity and a few hundred movies.

Facebook and micro-blogging has been a big thrust lately. Fun stuff.

--Enjoy it! Both of you!!

New Digs


I have moved my blog.

More later...

Pic of the Day: Gun Show!

The Size of 2 football fields!

Over 1 1/2 miles of Guns, Knives and Accessories!

--See you there!

Pic of the Day: Mandrake!

Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk... ice cream. Ice cream, Mandrake, children's ice cream.

--Why?

Pic of the Day: BR and the Parental Units


BR was up visiting last week.

--Classic.

Pic of the Day: Pain


The Pain is almost gone. What will happen when there is no more pain?

--Wasabi will get me through...

Pic of the Day: Smiling

Every time I see thins photo it makes me smile. After I took it I went over and wedged meself in there with her.

--We kissed and stuff...

Pic of the Day: Mmmm Bacon

Some things are so good they are sins in some religions...

--I gotta get me some of that!


Pic of the Day: Milestones

One of the big things about being a father is the Milestones. Some are small, like a babies first tooth. Some are huge, like when your daughter starts driving!

--That sound you hear is my beard getting gray...

Pic of the Day: The Woods

With all this damn snow I am still dreaming of warmer days.

--In the woods...

Pic of the Day: The Coupon

30 years ago today, Brenda gave me this coupon for Valentines Day 1980.

"One night out for any Movie etc..."

--I like the "etc" part.

Pic of the Day: It isn't Easy Being Green

BR and I went to a Valentines Day costume party. The theme was "Famous Romantic Couples".

We won first prize as Shrek and Fiona!

--Yes. The ears were superglued to my head.

Pic of the Day: Mo's Bacon Bar

Roo sent me a Mo's Bacon Bar for Valentines Day.

She thought it would "Dis-Gust-Ing"! But it was smooth and delicious!! More chocolate than bacon!

--So very good...

Pic of the Day: Summer

I am so sick of snow. Sick of winter. Sick of driving in it, shoveling it and cursing at it.

--Longing for summer...

Pic of the Day: Grilling Weather

Yes. I know there is a Winter Storm Warning in effect. I know that there will be another foot of snow out there by this time tomorrow.

But we gots to have our meats...

--Top of the food chain, baby.

Pic of the Day: Duck Boy

The fugitive evaded the police largely do to the excellence of his disguise...

--He watches you while you sleep.

Pic of the Day: Cat Thoughts

Ketah suddenly awoke and wondered if she had been transported into a catalog.

And if so... how?

--IKEA loves cats.

Pic of the Day: My Toof

I broke my middle tooth, dammit.

--Maybe I can whistle real loud now!

Pic of the Day: Snowday!

Where is global warming when I need it. Another pile of snow, dammit!

--At least there are movies here.

Pic of the Day: It's a Day for that Hat

Today is a day where everyone should be wearing a hat like this.

--Damn, it's cold out there.

Pic of the Day: BR and the Farmer!

This is BR with her dad from a recent trip to the great white north.

--I love this pic!

Pic of the Day: The Great Scanning Project

So I have embarked on the Great Scanning Project! Piles of classic family photos await. I started on the pile tonight and among the smiling faces was this classic!

--I want this lamp!

Even the building is a piece of art.

--I love it when it's not crowded.

Pic of the Day: Enola

I love going to the Smithsonian. The newest addition is near where I live and is huge.

This airplane is the Enola Gay. Yeah, that plane. A bomber, a B-29, that bomber...

Did you know it was named after Enola Gay Tibbets? She was the mother of the pilot, Paul Tibbets.

--I wonder how she felt about that?

Pic of the Day: Me Cranium

In my mis-spent youth I was always sporting long hair. The style mattered but I could never actually act like it mattered.

--Now, when it really doesn't matter, I go for easy...