Getting Fit

It’s been a good month working out. I’ve gotten more serious about weightlifting, adding more weight to each set. It’s tough, but it’s paying off. By the time I get to the garage to lift, it’s hot AF out. 4-5PM is the hottest part of the day here, and that’s when I have the time for working out. Walking down the street doing a farmer’s carry with two 35 lbs dumbbells is special. Gotta keep the head up and back straight. I’m sure my neighbors think I’m nuts.

I’m down to a new weight set-point. I seem to hover around 195. Sometimes less, sometimes more, a pound or two. I’m OK with that. My clothes fit well and look good. I sprung for actual LaCoste polos, some decent button downs, and a linen sports jacket. When I go out, I try to avoid looking like a slob. The only issue I have is some of my jeans are tighter in the thighs and butt. Not a bad thing. But like the dude at Men’s Warehouse told me, I still think like a fat guy, so it bothers me but for no reason.

The heat makes it tough to do aerobic exercise. Last weekend, I farted around too much in the morning on Saturday, so we hit the trail later than usual. It was a lot more crowded. Lots of dog walkers, lots of unsocialized dogs. My two are champs. All I have to say is “No Mam!” or “No Sir!” when I see them start to challenge another dog. I can tell them to sit and they’ll just watch that yipyip dog go berserk. They really are stupid. Aria’s kilt opossums double the size of these dogs. David doesn’t always win against Goliath.

Lot of people out trying to get fit. Lot of runners and bikers.

Some walkers were rather large. God bless’em. They’re out doing the thing, suffering. As we turned on the trail, we were passed by a rather large woman, clearly struggling, giving lie to the healthy at any weight trope. As I said before, we walk two miles. At the one mile there’s a good hill. This is towards the top:

It’s a blessing.

But if you can’t make it to the hill, up, and back, you aren’t fit in any way. You don’t have to do the mile like me, there’s a park midway, and another nearly at the base of the hill. It’s mostly flat around here. I consider the hill a blessing.

Still, they are going for it. I get it. That hill used to kick my ass on my bike. Now, I blast up it without nearly a thought. They’ll get there. Far as the blue haired water buffaloes that crow about fit at any size, you don’t see them out on that trail in the heat.

Got to do the diet thing though. I’ve been lax there this month. Sometimes I don’t feel like cooking. Even when you cook, you have to be careful. What you are cooking with may not be what it seems. Denniger had a piece on this. That avocado or olive oil may not be, or may not be 100%. Luckily I don’t use the products on that list. I’m picky about my olive oil. It’s not tough to get decent oil to sauté with. Read the ingredients. You see a blend, put it back. I picked up some Italian salad dressing and when I looked at what’s in it when I got home, the oil is soybean in it. Dammit. I’ll donate it. I’m not eating that shit. He’s right. There needs to be fat fines or jail for those selling bait and switch fakes.

If I don’t use olive oil, I’m using lard, butter, or beef tallow. It makes a difference. It’s worth it for the taste anyhow.

I did fall off the wagon this month, though:

I heard the Bluebell guy talking about it on the radio one morning and figured I needed it in my life. It was worth it. I’ll fast to compensate. Besides, I didn’t eat it all at one sitting.