Dia de los (Un)Muertos

Basically, I’m not dead.

Although, yesterday I pretty much felt like it was imminent. I’m starting to feel like this blog simply serves as an example of “what not to do”. Or, as Sam once said about me: “Some people have to touch the stove twice.” My birthday celebration was no exception. If you decide to go to an all-night dance function, in an abandoned warehouse, without heat, and use port-a-potties without hand sanitizer available, your immune system WILL drop. Germlets WILL get all up in your mucus membranes. You WILL get sick. Luckily, (I suppose) I have a bacteria and not a virus, so a days worth of antibiotics has me feeling nearly human again.

Since I missed a few days of work this week, my weekend will consist of …work. Also, I plan to get outside and walk my usual running paths (five miles tonight, and five tomorrow), and hopefully be running again by Sunday. I didn’t allow myself to completely fall off my diet due to sickness, and because my throat was hurting so badly, I actually ate less than usual–oddly a silver lining.

But, I absolve that this is a sign I need to take better care of myself. Set-backs this early in training aren’t going to do too much damage, but I can’t keep staying out all night and partying with friends just because it sounds fun. I have bigger fish to fry. Dancing for one night can impact an entire week’s worth of training. I highly doubt I’ll be thinking about how awesome my birthday party was when I’m blowing my quads out at Hood to Coast this summer. Anyway, cheers to the weekend and also cheers to having my health. I always take it for granted until I realize how miserable life is without it.

Olga’s 50-day Goal

I met Olga in college back in… 2005 or 2006… maybe(?)… at a party. We never really spent much time together but being of similar personality and tastes she has stayed on my radar (through Facebook) all of these years. Right now she has just set out on her own fitness journey and is blogging about a 50-day challenge she has set for herself.

She says it best in her first post:

Anyone who’s been overweight knows what I’m going through right now.  You see an event in the future that you’d really like to look slimmer for and you set crazy goals to be thinner by then.  Maybe you even start out well by getting back to the gym and starting a restrictive diet.  But most of you know that this doesn’t last long.  The date of the event gets closer and closer and you just keep starting over, each time with more frustration.

Which inspires me to pick a future goal and start a daily countdown as well. Nothing like an event to provide real motivation, and even if you don’t make it all the way to your goal, you’re better off than when you started. I’m adding Olga’s blog to my blogroll and I encourage you to follow it and see her progress. Great work so far lady and I’m excited to see where this challenge takes you in the future!

Best Workouts at your Desk

I mentioned yesterday that I was feeling a bit under the weather after my birthday celebration. Turns out my gift to myself was some flu like virus–HAPPY BIRTHDAY. So, I’m taking Nyquil and sleeping all day today in hopes that I’ll be able to return to work tomorrow. Until then, here is a article from Forbes.com on the best exercises you can do at work, right at your desk. I’m posting this as a follow up to the post I made last week about sitting all day. One of my coworkers actually approached me concerned because he had read that post and was experiencing back pain. There is hope for you yet Dave!

Measurement Monday

Partied HARD this weekend. So much so that I now have a bit of a cold. But, my calves are thinner… something about dancing in a warehouse in near freezing temperatures all night will do that to you. Anyway, I ran this morning, and have been back on my diet since yesterday. Here’s to a week of recovery and progress!

• Waist: 33″
• Hips: 40″
• Bust: 38″
• Thigh: 25″
• Calf: 16″
• Upper Arm: 12″

It’s My Birthday

Well blog world, I’d like to thank you for reading and also share that today I turn 25 years young. It’s pretty weird to think that at 25, I now weigh approximately what I did at 13. I’m spending the weekend with my dearest friends and not really watching my diet. Why? Because sometimes it’s good to just let yourself live life and enjoy the moment.

Blogging will resume Monday, along with measurements, re-dedication to running and eating well, and plenty of stories to tell. Have a great weekend and happy birthday to me (and Molly Ringwald, sup grrrl?).

Childhood Obesity via CNN

As I’ve written in the “About” section of this blog, I have been overweight pretty much as long as I can remember. I mean, I’ve seen pictures from when I was 4 or 5 and I was thin, but my earliest memories from grade school involve me being very body conscious.

I had to wear womens sized clothing in middle school, and I remember the desks with the built-in chairs being very uncomfortable, so this article article from CNN really hit home.

I realize now that it is my responsibility to get my health under control–all aspects of health, including my weight. But, for kids as young as grade and middle schoolers, parents need to make healthy meals a priority and stress the importance of exercise and physical activity.

I know most people that read my blog are not parents, so I expect that this article will really only be meaningful to people like myself that braved childhood not fitting in very well (both socially and in physical spaces), but if you were a fat kid like me you should check it out.

Ass Ass Ass Ass…

I have this song by Big Sean stuck in my head from running this morning, so please excuse the title of this post–although it is related.

I’ve posted before about the dangers of sitting all day, and this post from The Huffington Post says sitting is the new smoking. They provide six things you can do if you’re employed at a job which requires you to sit all day. One of these is sitting on a fitness ball, which is something I already do. If you’re stuck at a desk in your office you should definitely check it out.

Larger than Life

Over the weekend I bought the shirt pictured at Target. I didn’t already own a flannel, plaid shirt and figure at some point I’ll need to have one in my closet to be considered a true hipster.

The point of this post is not to tell you how cool I am, though. Instead I want to call attention (yet again) to size discrepancies in clothing.

I bought this shirt in a size XXL. I’m not ashamed of the size listed on the tag, but I am really annoyed by the wide differences I see between different retailers and brands. In a similar shirt I wear a size medium at Old Navy, and a large at American Eagle.

I guess the moral of this story is that you should be open to trying on 2 or 3 sizes and buying whichever one fits best regardless of what it says on the tag–don’t let sizing discourage you. When I started this blog I was wearing XXL jersey knit dresses from Target and about 100lbs later I am still wearing a XXL from the same effing store. Despite how ridiculous that is I both look and feel way better and health is the most important part of this journey.

Good Idea, but I Can’t Stop LOLing

Reposted from HipsterJew.com, Jeff Rogers of Bon Iver has come out with a trailer for a workout video?

Not gonna lie: I like Bon Iver. I listen to them at work when it’s raining. I drink tea. It’s relaxing. I also really enjoy exercising not-in-a-gym. Read this blog, you’ll see. But, really? REALLY?!

Watch the video, just, you just have to:

On the Road with Jeff Rogers trailer from Rogcity Fitness on Vimeo.

Did you watch it? Are you ROFLing? Hey… at least you just burned a bunch of calories, right?

Valentine’s Day

First off, happy Valentine’s Day to all of you out there in blogland. Just like last year, this year I am single on the big V-day. In some ways this isn’t so bad–I made cards for my coworkers (think grade school era here) and I’m not obligated to spend the day with anyone specifically.

However, it can be nice to have some companionship and there’s nothing like a greeting card holiday to remind you that you’re alone. So, what do you do if you’re feeling lonely on this seemingly “meaningful” day? I’m planning to dress up as a Zombie and roam the local bars with other Zombie-fied individuals. If this isn’t a thing that’s done where you live, why not make plans with your other single friends, or set up a platonic date with someone you just enjoy spending time with?

I realize that the meaning of V-Day is convoluted or non-existent, but that doesn’t make the feelings of loneliness any less real. Avoid sitting at home crying into your popcorn and make plans with someone you love–even if they’re just a friend.