Steve Update for ….wait, what day is this?

Weight Update

Just when you thought that Steve had reached the lowest of lows…he did it again.

PEOPLE!!! If you want to lose weight, feel great and be stronger…more fit.PRIMAL BLUEPRINT is the way to go. If it is NOT your “cup of tea” you definitely need to go LOW CARB!!! Doing P90X from Beachbody hasn’t hurt me any either… :)

Why? My latest weight is 157.5 …from my highest of 235 lbs… I’ve lost 77.5 LBS!!!

Question: It’s only a pound from a couple of weeks ago….what’s the big deal?

Answer: My NEW goal was to not lose additional weight!!! I am eating all I want of good, healthy, tasty and nutritious foods….AND I STILL LOSE WEIGHT!!!
When you “live” a primal life:

· you exercise 30-60 mins, 5-6 days a week.

· Eat meats, veggies, fruits, nuts >>> Limiting processed foods.

Fitness Update

Ok Steve, you’ve lost a lot of weight….good for you…but are you fit? Are you weak from the

weight loss????

I am more fit and I am getting stronger every SINGLE week.

…yesterday I did an ALL TIME HIGH Total Consecutive Push

Ups…44!!!
… every week I see an increase of strength in some area of fitness….

I DO NOT want to lose any more weight… I do NOT…but if I continue to gain in strength every week….I am NOT worried about it.

Someone (Perry) said, “Steve why don’t you have 6-pack abs?” He said this because I completed (and still use) the P90x workouts from Beachbody. Well if you’ve read my Blog ….PERRY…you would know that I’ve stated several times that I could have lost more weight had I wanted to do so. I said that I did not want to be a 150 lb fit guy….I much prefer to be 180 lb muscular “fit guy”. But the 6 pack abs are coming….but at my pace…not Perry’s!! :)

BTW - having "6 pack abs" is a function of body fat...the lower your body fat % the more they will show.

Blood Work Re-visited

Question: Ok, Steve, we get it. You are losing weight, you are getting stonger…but what about your heart and blood, what has been the affect from your diet and exercising?

Did you see my blood work results? Below is the link to the previous post.

http://peak-fitness-now.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-story-ii.html

Results from my doctor visit/blood work.

Weight: 165 lbs (clothed with cell phone, wallet etc) --- LOST 70 lbs!
Blood Pressure: 112 / 67 (lowest ever in the doc’s office!!!!)
EKG: Perfect – yeah! :)
Blood Sugar = 85 ( remember my target!! I am truly normal!!! )
Cholesterol = 182 (below 200 is highest rating of “Desirable”)
Triglycerides = 61 ( below 150 is highest rating of “Normal”!)
HDL = 65 ( above 60 is highest rating of “protective”)
LDL = 105 (100 and below is optimum, I am “near optimum”)

So… 7 months from being an obese, sedentary garbage disposal…. I am rated highest in every category except for LDL where I am “near optimum”.

** From a review of my blood work I was told, “Steve I see no evidence of obesity nor diabetes.”

I loved hearing that….and I really love sharing it. IF YOU SUFFER from being overweight or diabetes…. PLEASE do something about it. It is a journey you WILL want to take….like all journey’s they all have a “first step”. Your “first step” can be contacting me for assistance.

BG (Blood Glucose) Update – This morning…. I read an “89”…so yes…I am sporting a NORMAL Blood Sugar reading….normal for NON-DIABETICS that is.

U-Can-TOO! Decide.Commit.Succeed

See ya!

Steve

Same Old Song and Dance ....my friend!

PLEASE remain calm….Steve is continuing his blog…I will continue to post. I’ve just been busy the last week and finding time to provide you with solid, quality content is not as easy as it appears….I know I am fudging a little but work with me here! :)

This lady in China…bless her heart she so looks forward to my post…she’s afraid I’m going to stop….

I've included a video link to Aerosmith's song "Same Old Song And Dance"....why? Because I want to do so. ...oh ...and the title ties in with want I want to talk about today.

1) Old Bad Habits CAN BE BROKEN! CREATE GOOD, POSITIVE, NEW HABITS....TODAY!

2) My old habits of daily consuming empty, high carb foods has been broken.

3) My new habit of eating properly has coincided with my new workout habits...


Together they have created a trend of increasing strength and reducing body fat.....so....

STOP! the same old song and dance......Create new, positive habits today and improve your health and fitness....TODAY!

Just a couple of days ago…I was bragging in a post that I have “managed my weight loss” … blah, blah, blah. I was actually going to talk about weight maintenance in this blog post….and then I weighed this morning…..lost another pound.

THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING TO THIS…

…”adding muscle creates a fat burning furnace” talk.

Honestly…I have eaten BIG this week, stuffing myself on both Monday and Tuesday. I have eaten “clean” except for Monday night…I stuffed on pizza. As you probably know, I am diabetic type 2 and I am not taking insulin or meds…so you may be wondering what the heck am I doing eating pizza or more specifically the high carb crust????


1) I have been eating very clean for the last 6 months, which means low carbs.

2) I have been eating SUPER clean the last 90 days, which means very low carbs.

3) My P90X workout was over so I wanted to reward myself.

4) I’ve learned a few tricks along the way to mitigate the full affects of carbs entering the system.

a. Consume Fiber before the meal (or during). This will help slow the assimilation of the carbs in to your system.

b. Add protein to the meal, I added a can of tuna to my pizza. Why? Same as (a.) but it also “dilutes” the carb load (glycemic load) of the meal.

*** The most important thing….the next day I was back on my “clean” eating habits….except that as previously noted, I have been eating more this week.

This is a pic of my Friday lunch...it is talapia and collard greens....hmmmm good! I cooked the talapia/greens in a pan with water, Texas Pete and Tony Chechere's spices. I also had a handful of pecans and an apple.



Today is Friday and I have worked out all but one day….but I only worked out 20-30 minutes each day (versus an hour plus). I also jogged/sprinted three days this week… but that’s less than 30 minutes a day. I have been utilizing the Fartlek method of jogging /sprinting, jogging/sprinting. I run at an estimated 80% heart rate level for 30 secs and then jog for 60 secs.

SO to summarize this section….I have been eating more, working out but not as much and yet I still lost a pound from last week.

That’s all for today!

STEVE

Trip to Mt. Airy, NC & Goal Update (End of Wk 11)

The family unit had a nice relaxing trip to Mt. Airy yesterday to visit my dad, Larry and his wife, Kathy.

When we arrived Dad was cooking pork tenderloin on the grill...the pork as well as the entire meal was "most Xcellent".

We also had homegrown green beans, tomatoes, fried apples and fried potato wedges. The desert was homemade strawberries and homemade short cake.

For the record, I did NOT have the apples, potatoes or dessert...but they looked delicious. :) This picture shows my dad grilling some "pig". Dad grills better than anyone I know....always spiced just right.

After the "eats" we took an hour trip to Maybry Mill in Virginia. If you have never been, it is definitely worth the drive especially if you are headed to Mt. Airy, NC area.

The mill gives a snapshot of mountain life in the early 1900's. Mr. Maybry, the creator, used a

creek to power the mill which he used for a wood lathe and to grind grains.

There are several "stations" where folks were demonstrating cloth making, milling, blacksmithing etc but my favorite treat was a stage where local musicians play "mountain music".

You can learn more by viewing this link, there is also restaurant and souvenir shop on site.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Mabry Mill, VBR http://ow.ly/jysF

Here is a picture of me, my wife and my son. Just in case you can't tell who is who...I am the one in the middle. I wanted to tell you in case you know...because I've lost so much weight, you couldn't ...ok, I'll shut up now. :)

In this picture is my son, my dad and his wife, Kathy. Dad is the one on the right, hamming it

up, you know, in case you couldn't tell who was who....

Goal Updates

1) Wearing 32” jeans…Done!

2) BMI = Normal, Weight = 166 lbs…..Done!

Yes...I reached new low....

3) 30 Push Ups….DONE!

Completed 38 Push Ups, up from 35 last week.

4) “Beating sons in basketball”…Done!

5) Sub 7 Minute Mile - No Update....I returned home too late last night. To be honest...if I thought I was getting closer...I'd probably run a test at 3:00 am if I thought I could "brag" about it. :)

Steve

The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth

More WEIGHT LOSS ..... (yawn).......down to 167 lbs...(yawn).

Why am I no longer concerned about weight loss?

While I do continue to lose weight, I am also still getting stronger.

I lifted more weight with bicep curls today than I've done in my life ...combined! JUST KIDDING ABOUT the "combined" comment. just checking to see if you were reading for comprehension!

SO, I am losing weight and I continue to strengthen ...that's a combo that I am comfortable with.

Squash Noodles Recipe

Speaking of combos, I tried a simple change to an age old recipe...AND IT WAS AWESOME!

BRIEF RECAP: Once I started becoming fit...I greatly reduced my carbs but I was still eating legumes and All Bran cereal almost daily. Also, I occasionally would eat whole grain pasta, whole grain breads and rice. I have reduced them all ...my goal is to only receive carbs from vegetables. I am still adhering to the Low Glycemic Index...just more stringent than their general guidelines.

In the past I would eat whole grain pasta which is better for us than regular pasta, but my sugar would still increase some. In other words, it still has a lot of carbs...just not as many AND the fiber from the whole grains is supposed to slow the assimilation of the carbs into your system.

BUT I FOUND A RECIPE ANYONE CAN USE TO REDUCE CARBS YET ENJOY A TRADITIONAL DISH with a twist.

I used squash noodles with my spaghetti sauce, I followed this recipe...IT WAS TASTY!

Low Carb Pasta Substitute |

Mark's Daily Apple http://ow.ly/ixrE

I followed the cooking instructions but not the prep...as you can see...I used a knife to slice the squash....got in a hurry and cut them too thick...but they still tasted great.

I know the picture of just squash may look like french fries...I assure you it's yellow squash. :)

I could eat the squash by itself, they were so delicious when cooked by the recipe. They were heated with virgin olive oil and minced garlic....hmmm.

Be good,

Steve

Goals Update : End of week 7

SIX WEEKS LEFT TO GO!

1. BMI = Normal : done (wt 170) Yet another new low...
   
   …HOW LOW WILL I GO?
2. 32” jeans : done, I can wear 29’s but with 30’s I have room to spare.
   
3. 30 Push Ups : **Completed 27 !** Up from 25 last week, it’s hard for me to believe this. FYI – to show you that I had my doubts…I had Tammy count with me as well….just to make sure oxygen deprivation (or something) wasn't causing me to lose count.
   
   
4. Beat sons in Basketball : no update -- barring an injury…I ain’t worried about this. Cocky?...maybe…confident…absolutely.
   
   
5. 7 Minute Mile – Ran a 8:23 mile today. This is down from 8:41 two weeks ago….this goal is not looking promising…but we shall see.

Just so you know

1) My workout today was Kenpo X – a very serious cardio workout that utilizes boxing and karate moves. There is a lot of punching and kicking involved and by the end you are “worn out”…or at least I am.

I “tested” two goals several hours after performing Kenpo X, both the mile run and the push ups. It is possible that I could have performed them better with a fresh set of legs & arms.

2) Weight Loss – Down to 170 lbs and as I’ve said, I eat often, I eat A LOT but I eat “clean”.

I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE WEIGHT LOSS…as long as my strength increases. If my performance suffers…then I’ll worry.

Food Eaten Today
Breakfast: ½ cup of All Bran, ½ cup of milk, (2) eggs, spinach, cheese, wheat toast
Pre-Lunch: Meal Replacement Shake with serving of protein whey powder.
Lunch: Chicken Breast, Tomato, Pinto Beans w/onions
Pre-Dinner: Meal Replacement Shake with serving of protein whey powder.
Dinner: Shrimp Salad
Post Dinner: Protein Bar

** What I drink daily – coffee, unsweetened tea, non-fat milk, water, water, water, etc.

Cooksey's A Quitter???

First…I know what some of you are saying…”Cooksey hasn’t posted in like 36 hrs …he must be running out of material”.

Folks, “that isn’t happening”. Just been busy over the weekend and the first of this week. I have much more to say…you may not want to read it… but there is much more to say my friends!

So here we go!

----

Honey I Shrunk Myself!

First Rule they tell you with Beachbody, the company behind P90X, (ok, it may not be THE first), do not watch the scale. Follow the meal plan, follow the workout schedule and don’t worry about your weight.

That is what Steve is doing from now on. I am not watching the scale any more… (we’ll see).

The reason I bring this up…I have reached a new low of 171.5 pounds!

I weigh in every morning and I’ve been in the 172-176 range …until today. I am not going to worry about it, I am going to follow both the workout plan and the nutrition plan and let the pounds fall as they may.

* For the record, I have not run / jogged in 9 days.

---

Steve’s A Quitter??

The day I was diagnosed as being Diabetic (Feb ’09) and I was told that I would likely be on insulin for the rest of my life, I was in the hospital. At that moment…

I did decide to fight for my “freedom”, freedom from the shackles of measuring and injecting insulin FOUR TIMES A DAY and freedom from having to take pills for cholesterol and hypertension.

My relatives are from the mountains of NC where fatback, cornbread, biscuits and gravy were daily staples and I had seen too many of my relatives go down the same road I was on…it was a slow ride down….and I wasn’t going down without a fight. Having said all that, the day after I came home from the hospital…I was wavering.

I can only assume I was wavering due to another fight that was going on at the same time…I was fighting depression. I remember thinking that I could learn to deal with taking shots FOUR TIMES A DAY, “it wasn’t that bad” and I could continue eating like I had been…maybe a little better but basically the same. Yes, I could just take the medications and insulin and life may not be that bad…I could learn to deal with it.

I was considering “giving up” and not becoming more fit. But all is not quite as it seems. At this point in time, I didn’t know if any of my efforts would help my situation. In other words, for all I knew, I’d be on insulin all my life, regardless of my efforts! If that were the case, why should I try to improve my condition? My mind was trying to cope with the “reality” as I perceived it to be.

Unlike some people that I have spoken to since my hospital stay…

I decided:

-NOT to settle for taking diabetes drugs just so I could eat a lot of simple carbohydrates.
-NOT to settle for taking more pills just so I could continue being a couch potato.

So why do I tell you all this?

So you will know the depth of my depression AND how close I was to “giving up”.

Obviously, I decided to fight for my fitness, not give up and at least at the moment, I am medication and insulin FREE! But I must stay vigilant, for I never know what tomorrow may bring.

Spring Forward to TODAY, Tuesday 07/07/09…today, it is difficult to describe how great I feel. Another reason I went back through some of the “old stuff” is so….

YOU WILL KNOW HOW THANKFUL I AM TO BE WHERE I AM TODAY!

Sunday - I played basketball and I felt GREAT! I am lighter, stronger and generally more fit. Words just can’t describe how I feel…ok that’s enough but it does feel great.

BTW, I know some of you are saying…but didn’t you get hurt….YES, but my injury was not related to my fitness level. I could have had the same injury if I’d been my old sluglike self and I was rebounding for my 10 year old nephew.

Monday & Tuesday – Worked out with P90X and FELT GREAT! (I know it’s redundant but what can I say???)

Let’s see what Wednesday brings….shall we?


Steve

Fitness.....a Destination or Journey?

The name of my blog is "Steve Cooksey’s Journey".

Why did I name it that?

1. My name IS Steve Cooksey....helloooo! (sorry...sometimes I just can't resist)

2. ...but more to the point, I named it a "journey" because fitness should be a lifelong journey not a destination.

What does this mean?

Too many times most of us (myself included) have treated Fitness as a destination, we arrive and then we move on. It is a pitstop along the way. Once we achieve a desired fitness level, we move on to other things. We forget to eat healthy foods and we forget to exercise and pretty soon we have fallen back into bad habits, gained weight and have become physically UN-fit...again.

Of course there are other times we don't even make it to our desired fitness level, we get side tracked before we even arrive....some times before we even start. It's easy to get side tracked with all the clever marketing campaigns and the fast paced lives we live.

BUT we all MUST treat fitness as a life long journey. Yes, we may veer off course occasionally but if our compass is set in the right direction and we stay “on the road”, we should be able to live longer more fulfilling lives than had we not stayed on the path to proper health and fitness.

At least twice I have gotten into good physical condition, back in 1990 and then again in 2000. In both instances, after I had achieved a desired level of fitness…I went back to my old habits and before long all the exercising, all the dieting was for nothing. I had gained all of my weight back and then some.

As I gained more and more weight...I probably started a diet every week (if not every morning when I looked in the mirror) but until I had major health problems I could not find the motivation to do something about it.

I hear this ALL the time when I try to talk someone into eating right and exercising. "Steve, it took a hospital stay to get you motivated." They actually use me as an example of how they can play the game!!!! Eat whatever you want, get fat and when health problems come...then you'll get fit???

Why that is wrong!!!

1. I almost screwed up so bad...I almost didn't have a second chance, don't assume you will.

2. If you are obese or significantly overweight...you will have health problems at some point. It WILL reduce the quality of your life or reduce the length of it. It may just be increased joint pain, it may be diabetes type 2 or it could be a heart attack or stroke....don't wait for an ambulance ride to begin your fitness journey.

Housekeeping Issue

Sorry about this but I have to take up some space here with some “housekeeping” duties.

1) Yesterday, the blog had over 100 page views so that was cool, an all time high.

So for those of you who have passed this on to family or friends…. I thank you.

2) Blog Layout

a. I don’t like the way the blog “archive” is laid out here…so I am working on a solution. One solution may be html code to create my own archive listing…I’d prefer an option that allows you the reader the ability to review titles more quickly.

b. One option is the Label section, on the right hand side. Check it out, you can click on a label and it will pull up posts associated with the label.

c. Also, on the right hand side, there is a “subscribe to the blog” and “search the blog” sections. If you subscribe, you will receive updates via email. The "search the blog" should be self explanatory.

3) Comments / Suggestions / Questions – if you have any of these, please let me know.

THANKS FOR READING!

Steve

Goal Update - End of Week 5

Goals Update : End of week 5 *8 weeks left!*

1. BMI = Normal : done (wt 172)
   
   
2. 32” jeans : done (I can wear 30"....)
   
   
3. 30 Push Ups : completed 23 (up from 21 last week, getting closer...)
   
   
4. Beat sons in Basketball : no update
   
   
5. 7 Minute Mile – no update - I attempted my test yesterday, in the neighborhood. I had not run all week so I was going to continue on after my test and jog 6 miles. I don’t think I warmed up enough as both knees caused me some problems so I slowed to a jog and finished the 6 miles.
   
   I may have been too ambitious on this goal. I know how to train to run a 7 minute mile (I ran track in high school) and to train properly I would need to run ¼ and ½ sprints as well as 1 mile and 2 mile runs…I don’t like the idea of running ¼ and ½ mile sprints in July/August…..
   
   Another reason I don’t want to run the sprints, the goal was to accomplish a 7 minute mile after completing the P90X, it was not to run a 7 min. mile by any means necessary. So I am only going to utilize the P90X workouts and we’ll see what happens. As a personal challenge, in the fall, I may see if I can run a 7 minute mile, IF I don’t accomplish it by the end of August with P90X.

Weight Moving

I was moving some of my weights around yesterday. I picked up two 20 lb dumb bells and I realized something …this is how much weight I’ve lost since discharging from the hospital. (212 – 172 = 40 lbs).

Just to see what it was like, I walked around the house carrying the weights for 10 mins.…that’s a lot of weight to carry around and it’s a hell-u-va lot of fat to be carrying around.

Try this, determine how much over weight you are then pick up and carry that much weight around for 5 -10 minutes, if you have some stairs you can climb that would be even better. Then sit the weight down and walk around for a few minutes.

1) While you are carrying it, you’ll realize how much extra work it takes for your body to carry that weight around.

2) After you sit the weight down …you’ll get a sense for how much easier it will be on your body when you lose the weight.

Steve

Steve's on Drugs!?

Steve isn’t following the P90X diet/nutrition plan ….strictly.

Side Note: I enjoy writing about myself in 3^rd person…it makes me feel impotent…er…I mean important, you know like those sports stars. Wait, I don’t mean that I am impotent like sports stars, I don’t take steoids. I have never thought about buying Viagra..wait, ok I did think about buying it but I didn't and I do not need it.

LOOK! Before this rumor gets started and spreads ALL over the internet, Steve is NOT on steroids, Steve is not impotent.

I know, I know what you are thinking….”But Steve, how can you lose weight and gain such large muscles…soo fast? “ “Say it ain’t so Steve”.

Ok, I’ll say it one more time, “it ain’t so”, “I, Steve Cooksey of sound mind and (super sound) body do hereby claim that I am not taking any banned substances.” LOL! I AM JUST KIDDING! I have a long way to go to have a sound body…just kidding GEESH!

On a serious note, back in ’00 I was working out on my Bowflex (before it became a coat rack) and I took an ephedrine based product…my heart started racing…it really scared me….I mean REALLY SCARED ME. I guess drinking a pot of coffee and taking the equivalent of speed isn’t good for you. :)

Really Seriously….getting back to bidness----I have not been following the P90X nutrition plan.

Look, I was hospitalized essentially for being a sedentary garbage disposal….so I studied real hard about what to eat and what not to eat plus I have this Diabetes “thang” hanging over my head…so you know…I know how to eat right.

The diet plan I have been following:

• eat often
• eat food groups daily (each meal if possible)
• eat smaller amounts
• eat real “clean” (no heavy starches, nothing fried nor breaded).

Unfortunately, this isn’t working for me. I weigh in each morning … I weighed 172 lbs….I lost another pound so far this week!!!! At this rate, in 3.36 years I will cease to exist!

Before you start in on me, NO…I HAVE NOT BEEN RUNNING, thus far this week I’ve logged -0- miles jogging, only doing the P90X workouts for exercise.

I am officially going to correct this weight loss…..

1) I am going to follow the P90X nutrition guide
2) I am going to maintain a food journal for the next several days.

FYI - This morning I had a ½ cup of All Bran cereal (yum yum), ½ cup of skim milk, a tomato and 1 1/2 grilled chicken breasts (I estimate that Max ate .5 grilled chicken breasts). For my early lunch I will eat a meal replacement shake and a scoop of whey protein. For my late lunch I will have chicken breast, beans, spinach and cool clear water.

Hey! Have a great and safe weekend.

Steve

P90X Week 4 Update

Steve Update - 6/21/09 - Week 4 is “In the books”

Goal Update with 4 weeks down and 9 weeks to go!!!

Note: These goals were created on June 2^nd after preliminary goals had been achieved.

1. Maintain BMI Reading of Normal – accomplished…

weight range 173-176 as measured first thing each morning. My goal was not to “achieve it and forget it”, it was a goal to maintain it for as long as I live.

This morning I reached a new low, 173 lbs. I will have to increase my calories, I do not want to lose any more weight….

2. Do 30 Push Ups Consecutively – I did 21 today…I am feeling good about being able to accomplish this goal.

3. Run 7 Minute Mile – this one is going to be TOUGH! I ran an 8:42 minute mile today versus 8:53 last week. I improved 11 secs from previous week but that won’t get it done.

4. Beat my sons in basketball - no update. Please don’t tell them…but barring an injury I am NOT worried about this one.

5. 32” Jeans – I have not tried on any jeans since I made it a goal three weeks ago. On that day I put the 33” jeans on and they fit snugly. I had already lost a lot of weight, so I really thought it would take awhile to lose another pant size.

Today, I put on the 33” jeans, they were feeling loose…so I thought “what the heck, let’s try the 32” jeans. WOW! I CAN WEAR 32” JEANS!!! I thought maybe these are stretched so I tried a pair of 32” corduroys, I could wear them as well!! And better yet, there was still some room in the jeans.

Next, I tried on my son’s 30” jeans. They were tight…but I buttoned them up. I could wear 30” JEANS!!!

SO, goal accomplished!!! but for the record, I have to maintain this until my 90^th day.

Max the Magnificent!

In doing market analysis of my page CTRs and eCPMs, I noted an incremental variance in click-thru rates on the days I have digital images of Max.

….or to put it another way, people like to see pictures of MAXIMUS!

Therefore…I bring you “Max the Magnificent”.

To the left, is Max waiting for me to fix him breakfast. Usually, a couple of days each week I clean out the refrigerator. I take out some of the food that is getting older and I add it to Max’s dogfood.

NO I DO NOT FEED MAX OLD & SPOILED FOOD!!

I do however, feed the spoiled dog, “older” food.

You know, food that has "some age" but doesn't yet have the bacterial levels high enough to make them visible to the naked eye. (ok, I'll leave this alone now).

Wait a minute….I think I have the pics mixed up.

I do have the pics mixed up, the first picture is actually Max performing another Yoga Relaxation Therapy Session, I get these confused!!!

The second picture (to the right) is Max waiting for breakfast. (I have to keep these organized better.)

If you look closely you can see the difference.

In the first pic, he is about to start panting from the strain of the Yoga Relaxation Therapy Session. Actually, he started panting immediately after the picture was taken.

In the pic to the right, you can clearly see that his eyes are laser focused on the food handler, he's attempting to discern any movements that might suggest a meal or snack may be forthcoming.

Then....BAM! He's "on location" and as you can see in the picture to the left, he means business.

If you look closely, you'll notice that drool has formed on the left side of his jaw, it can form quickly and in seemingly endless supplies.

BTW, I sent NASA an email about using Max's drool as a jet propulsion lubricant. The day after the email, these black helicopters started flying over my house...I wonder if it has anything to do with the email???

Enough about Max ALREADY!

I have actually lost another pound... "and another one bites the dust."

To the right is a picture of my scale this morning, 174 lbs! A NEW LOW has been reached. I really don't mind losing another pound, but I don't want to lose any more weight. I want to maintain and turn remaining fat into muscle.

I honestly feel that I am eating a “ton” of food…I eat 4-6 meals a day. Granted they are smaller meals BUT I do NOT feel hungry, when I feel hungry….I eat. I may have to eat more....

Caloric Expenditures – in addition to my P90X workouts 6 days a week, I’ve started adding in some jogging. I was hesitant at first but after talking with some folks online who do P90X and run, I’ve added it back in to my routine. One lady in particular was very helpful, she is and has done P90X as part of her marathon training...very impressive woman. She says that P90X gives her added strength and flexibility which assists with her running but it also reduces the odds of injuries.

On top of all of the benefits, I truly do enjoy running/jogging. I started out jogging …only recently could what I do be called “running”. I am sure there are “speed walkers” who have better mile times than I do…or did.

Miles Last 7 days:

Wednesday 5.6 miles (this was my “punishment” run, after eating pizza)
Saturday 5.6 miles
Sunday 1 mile
Monday 2 miles
Tuesday 5.6 miles

My plan is to maintain 15-20 miles per week but only run when my body feels like it. This is still a decent number of miles but down from the 30 - 40 miles I was running before the P90X workouts.

Until we meet again,

Steve