Life, Law, Gender

Apple Cider and Donuts

Last winter I reported on a weight loss and fitness program that I was undertaking.  At the time, I knew that the reason I was undertaking it was because I wanted to be in better physical shape for surgery, in the hopes that my recovery would go more smoothly.  Well, I failed miserably to keep up with my program.  One reason I think I did so poorly was the fact that I was doing it alone.  I don't like doing much of anything alone.  This is not to say that I don't like my alone time, I really do, merely that most activities are more enjoyable for me when shared.  In this case, the old adage "Misery loves company" may be apropos.

The Girl and I have been taking to visiting a different cider mill each weekend and sampling their wares.  For those of you who don't know about cider mills in Michigan, you're truly missing out.  These are places where they harvest fresh apples and, using a blend unique to each mill, squeeze them with enormous presses to get all the juice (cider) out of them.  They add nothing else to the cider.  At the mill, you can watch the entire process from apple to cider.  They also make their own fresh donuts. 

I was talking with the Girl a short while ago and we were discussing our love and commitement to each other (I really do believe in love at first sight and also believe that two people our age are well equipped to evaluate who may be good for us and who may not) when she asked me how we should celebrate our love.  I made some not-so-serious suggestion and she retored that she was serious and was thinking of something that we could share with our family and friends.  I suggested a party.  She suggested Canada.  After several moments of stunned silence, I told her how much I loved her and she asked "Is that a 'yes'"?  YES! I said.  You should see my ring.  Oh. My. God.  [UPDATE: Added photo of ring, per request.  Not a great photo, but it gives you an idea; the solitaire is about 1 1/4 carat.  I'm still on cloud 9]

So, I am now, once again on a weight loss and fitness program.  We joined the local YMCA (they offered us a family membership; how cool is that?) and I had my first fitness training session yesterday.  The Girl has her's today.  I have until December 29 to get into a nice dress. 

Donut, anyone?

I'm on a roll --- why stop now?

I got a call from my doctor yesterday (Friday).  She tells me that the blood work they did on me when I was in for my UTI shows that my PSA is elevated.  My what?

It turns out I have something called a prostate gland.  And it emits stuff that is helpful for sex and reproduction.  But, since I'm definitely done with the latter and I no longer have the equipment necessary to function in the former capacity (in the way that the prostate is intended to aid) my question is: why do I have this thing? 

Anyway, the doctors don't seem all that concerned.  My PCP insisted that I call and make an appointment with a urologist (so they can 'digitally' examine me - seems to me if it's digital, can't we just 'handle' this over e-mail?) and she faxed the test results to them, but their first available appointment isn't until August 11.  Ain't health care grand?

So, just to get this straight understood.  I now have to deal with both women's AND men's health issues associated with aging.  Cool.  At least i know I'll get treated for both (unlike my friend Robert Eads who couldn't get treated for his ovarian cancer until it was too late).

...as a bee

Busy, busy, busy.  I've taken Melody to two of my classes, to a study/research session in the law library, to a pre-Regents' Meeting meeting, to the Regents' Meeting itself (I spoke again this month - more about that later), to the Advisory Board  meeting (for the LGBTA office)  but NOT to the SFF auction (just flat ran out of time).

Today, I got up early and have been working on my paper (that is due at 5 today) and she slept until noon. 

I signed up with Medical Weight Loss Centers and started on their diet yesterday.  I weighed myself this morning and I'm up 1/2 pound from last week.  These folks guarantee that I'll lose the weight if I follow their program.  Well, we'll see.

Otherwise, I'm well and I'll be back here in a day or so -- tonight, as part of preview weekend, I have to go meet and greet prospective queer students.  Afterward we'll take them out to the Aut bar.

Melody has gotten a pretty good indoctrination to my life in these two days!

Quick update

Almost forgot to post:  down 1.6 pounds this week.  Didn't get all my exercise in, but I started walking everywhere and using stairs (even carrying my backpack) at school instead of elevator, and I played some HARD racquetball, plus I bowled.  Progress is slower than I would like, but it's in the right direction.

[Update] Oops, I forgot to post the total; to this point I've now lost 7.2 pounds.  It doesn't look like I'll make my 15 pounds goal by my birthday, but I'll be close!

Progress report

I missed reporting last week for a very stupid reason -- the battery in my scale died.  I finally replaced it today.  I have totally fallen back into old habits with respect to both my dieting and my exercise program.  Damn, this makes me so upset with myself.  Zero weight change over  the past two weeks.   It is important to me that I get in better physical shape (I don't actually care that much about the weight, except as a proxy for progress in getting in shape) before the end of this semester.  My biggest challenge is snacking while doing my reading. 

Progress report

There are three important elements to achieving my health/weight goals, as I see it.  1) Diet 2) Exercise and 3) Reporting on it.

I have not kept up with any of those three this week, as I wanted to.  Still, I also didn't completely back off.

Diet

I have managed to be more conscious about what I eat and how much.  I have started taking my vitamins again every day.  I am pretty convinced that I have reduced my caloric intake, although as you'll see, I'm not certain.

Exercise

I have done a LOT more walking than I normally do, and I've not tried to record that as exercise (though perhaps I should start).  I have played racquetball twice a week and that is worth about 1000 calories burned for the week.  I have NOT yet met with my personal trainer -- that gets fixed this week.

Reporting

I have not been recording my meals, or my exercise, as planned.  I've just been lazy.  I've been able to rationalize to myself that I 'know' I'm doing fine, so no need. Again, that gets fixed this week.  I plan to start publicly reporting what exercise and how many calories it accounts for weekly (as estimated by my software).

Results

Fortunately, the combination has not been fatal to my plans.  I've lost 4.0 pounds this week.  Clearly, that includes some serious fluid loss -- a reasonable weight loss each week is 1-2 pounds.  Still, it's not uncommon to lose more at the beginning of a program (it's also not uncommon to fluctuate a bit because of fluid retention or loss). 

So, so far I'm down 5.6 pounds.

Progress report

I've decided that my reporting day will be Friday (help keep me motivated for the weekend; plus I don't have classes on Fridays).

I joined a gym yesterday and today I have my first appointment with a personal trainer.  I'm also playing racquetball again today.  I've been pretty good about eating -- I eat a lot of Lean Cuisine!

I did, however, over-imbibe last night at bowling (I went bowling -- first time in years!  Yay, it was much fun, despite my lousy scores (124 & 133)).  I had 4 Coors Light beers.  Man, what has happened to me? From almost never drinking to drinking 4! beers in one night.  I need to curb that shit!

I'm down 1.3 pounds.  I don't have a tape measure yet, so can't report on any measurement changes.

The Plan

Stag asked me what my plan was to lose the 30 pounds that I need to lose.  Plan?  You mean I should have a plan?  OK, fine.  Here is the plan as it now exists; subject to modification over the next couple of weeks as I implement it and find what works and what doesn't.

First -- Let everyone I know that I'm working on this.  I want myself committed to this goal and I intend to incorporate all my friends into helping me achieve it (plus, it has a side effect of putting me on the spot if I don't actually follow through (something I'm notorious for)).  While I won't post my actual weight or measurements (I weigh more now than I ever have in my life and I'm simply too embarrassed to post that!), I will  post the changes on a weekly basis.

Second -- Modify my eating habits.  I am taking no really drastic steps here, at least not initially.  It is my objective to simply cut back on the sweets, the alcohol, and the fats as well as portion size in general.  I will supplement with vitamins.  I will use a web-site that I found to help me count calories, monitor progress and record exercise. 

Third -- I will exercise regularly.  My class schedule is such that I should be able to fit in 90 minutes a day for exercise.  That's not to say that I'll exercise all that time, that also accounts for travel time.  I will likely join a gym by my apartment so that I can employ a personal trainer.  This has two benefits for me: 1) it keeps me motivated (I pay her and I don't want to waste my money or schedule something that I can't attend) and 2) muscle burns fat (I don't want a lot of muscle, but right now, I have only the bare minimum to keep me upright when I walk and manage my autonomic functions).  I will utilize the personal trainer 2 days a week and I will employ other aerobic exercise 3 days a week.  I will give myself Monday and Tuesday off each week (my busiest class days).

So, there you have it -- at least as it currently exists.