Author: Robert Ford

Thunderbird in the image above came to mind yesterday, a tragic figure in the 1975 X-Men comics. Today’s New Brunswick destination is Grand Falls.

Mutant Diet Phase 3 Day 7
I was having fun on Twitter last night. The Vancouver School Board has a survey asking which of the essential programs they run we should cut to make a $2 million-dollar shortfall. On the list was Aboriginal programs. I guess the appointed Trustee didn’t read the Truth and Reconciliation Executive Summary.

What does this have to do with dieting? Not much. Yesterday was my day off which was good because frig, I was sore from last week. But tonight has yoga so the muscles will all be warmed up and ready to go.

I have to avoid the carb temptations, but I am fully stocked with meat so hopefully I can duck and weave.

I couldn’t resist the panel where Wonder Woman nearly removes the head of vampire Joker. Today’s New Brunswick destination is the Fundy Coastal Drive.

Mutant Diet Phase 3 Day 6
I am sure I am sane. I am sure I am sane. I am sure I am sane.

I hate those dreams you have in the night that you don’t want, don’t make sense, but after you go back to bed and start dozing off, they repeat, loop or vary on the same theme. It was something about travel, losing luggage, planes and one really, really grumpy travel companion who I didn’t even know.

The mysteries of sleep. If you are too fatigued, it’s hard to sleep. If you stay in bed too much you can’t do all the stuff.

I am feeling justified in today being a non-gym/non-yoga day. I was so tired yesterday after my workout my eyelid muscles were twitching.

Apparently there’s Earth 43 that has a vampire Batman. I found this image that looks cool but I’m not sure it’s related. Today’s New Brunswick destination is the Miramichi River area.

Mutant Diet Phase 3 Day 5

It always helps when the numbers go the right direction for a change. Of course I went off the rails carbs-wise about 3 hours later.

Yesterday’s personal trainer session revealed a one pound loss and record low % body fat as compared to the measurements on March 28.

It’s nice to have some cooperation from my body for a change. Of course Victoria upped the workout.

The Revised Workout is as follows. I try every other gym visit to reverse the order as I find my form and energy fail at the end.

Updated Routine

1. Pendulums with blue kettle bell
2. Kb swing now using RED for 15 reps x 3
3. 1-arm Kb swing with yellow/purple, 15 reps x 2 each side
4. Farmers carry – RED
5. Sumo squat and bicep curl – Yellow, 15 reps x 2
6. Kb jump jacks – blue x 10 (when foot is better)
7. Burpees with Kb – yellow 10 reps x 2
8. Squat and press – yellow, 10 x 2

Switch into Bulgarian bag (Red):

1. Swing – upgraded to the grey bag
2. Chop – this is pivoting on your back foot and bringing the bag up on one side – 10 on each side
3. Squat and press
4. Spin – green

TRX Rip Trainer: – form before speed

1. Bat swing
   1. Pivot on back foot
   2. Underhand grip with power hand and overhand grip with the other
2. Rowing / Punting
   1. A lunge position
   2. Keep the stick upright the whole time

1. Walk outs and push up – 10 x 2
2. Ball slams – use 25lb black floor ball, 10 x 2

I am reading a comic where one universe’s Wonder Woman is battling another universe’s vampire Joker. Today’s New Brunswick destination is Saint Andrews.

Mutant Diet Phase 3 Day 4
Rest is an issue. This therefore leads to sanity problems. And food. I had a meeting for a volunteer activity and managed to eat before going so there was no temptation with treats. By the time I got home I was hungry to the point I snagged a few corn chips and some chicken.

When the fatigue kicks in the desperation for sugar directly or sugar via carbs kicks in.

I will try to go to bed earlier. And do my taxes, and write to my kids’ teachers about a math teacher issue, make sure my relatives with birthdays in April are suitably acknowledged, do my day job, keep on top of the side projects and try to be a good parent and husband.

Oh, yeah, I don’t have time to write this.

At least I can blame my age: Is it harder to lose weight when you’re older?

An image from the DC Convergence series. Today’s New Brunswick destination is Port Elgin.

Mutant Diet Phase 3 Day 3
Day 2 was nearly perfect except for a sick child, another child with a math teacher crisis and a cream cheese bagel that was not eaten by the sick child.

The gym workout is interesting. The routine that I’m following is so all-body that I’m willing to just keep doing it in alternating order each time I’m at the gym. Apparently the burpee is not only named after an actual guy, but is considered a universally all good exercise. And, I do mine with kettle bells. Hah. Runners World re Burpees

One fellow saw me doing these kettle bell burpees and said, “that’ll get you in shape fast,” to which I replied, “not fast enough.”

I’m reading a comic with Nightwing, the original Robin, in it. Today’s New Brunswick destination is Bouctouche, which I’m not sure how to pronounce.

Mutant Diet Phase 3 Day 2
Day 1 of Phase 3 went well given the classic challenge of the free lunch. I was in a training session that ran over lunch time and they provided lunch. I had my own, but didn’t have time to prepare so it was the salad I brought from home and grapes from the provided fruit platter. I think however I had the benefit of the previous days’ indulgences.

However, I did a gym session before going home for the day so I got to the gym when I would normally not have.

Steps. Without an extra 20 minutes of walking, I can’t break the 7500 – 8000 number. The weather is not cycling friendly (for me) yet.

Carbs. When I took a week off I noticed I would grab a handful of corn chips or some of the pasta the rest of the family was having. It’s not fully conscious so I’m going to have to be watchful.

Today is looking more do-able for ultra lo-carb but when the sense of food deprivation kicks in, look out.

I definitely need Earth 2 Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman for this Phase. I am pushing New Brunswick with month with places like Cap-Pelé on the list.

Mutant Diet Phase 3 Day 1
Phase 3 started today. This will be a mind game primarily this week. “Hands of the carbs dork-face.” This is an 82-day run ending June 23.

The weather is still starting out too cold here for normal riding. I was kind of hoping to kick off with some riding but the near term forecast is rubbish.

I’ll admit right here that it isn’t enough to know that moving backward is not a meaningful option. The extra treats I had last week I feel right away in the body. But who really wants to take a road that is known to be tough slogging?

This is where Spider-man is injured during an X-Men vs Avengers series. Kind of like how I feel. And it’s still frigging raining in Vancouver.

Mutant Diet Phase 2 Finale

Well the results are in and I can’t say I’m happy but I can say I’m not giving up.

The image of a year’s work is below. Who knew this would be this hard. I sure didn’t.

The simplistic stats are also below.

And yes, the personal trainer did not change her height and dye her hair. I can’t thank Mary and Victoria enough for putting up with me. Jerry the meat chef also was a huge help.

Phase 3 starts April 3. I’m hoping for some weather that will allow me to ride will appear!

Click image for larger, scarier view.

More from the DC Convergence series I want to read. We had two days of spring in Vancouver and now it’s back to winter.

Mutant Diet Phase 2 Day 78
I’m feeling a bit absurd because today because technically yesterday was the end of Phase 2. But I don’t have a trainer session or weigh in until tomorrow.

I conclude therefore that there are 78 days in Phase 2, not 77.

I’ve planned Phase 3 to run from April 3 to Friday June 23, which is one day after a scheduled appointment with a different abdominal surgeon. Yes, I still have a hernia which I’ve been supporting by continuing my growth of ab muscles. I can even do a dolphin plank (no high pitched squealing required) which, when I first was dealing with the hernia back in July, was not an option.

But I’m stuck with a mystery of having to be at a “stable” weight before the repair can happen. Not to be rude or anything, but what the f__k does that mean? My weight is absurdly stable in the face of diet and exercise. Time for a second opinion.

I was trying to figure out the DC timelines and I discovered a convergence series that crosses over with some comics I have from the 80s.

Mutant Diet Phase 2 Day 77
Wow. I’m in West Vancouver right now and it’s pouring. Yesterday was a good enough day to go for a walk by the beach and now … swampland.

Honestly, I’m trying to stay on track but I’m not feeling energetic. I am totally supplied with the right food to carry on starting fresh on April 3. But it’s going to be an endurance race. I feel like the tortoise.

No matter. Yoga tonight. Gym tomorrow. Weigh in and photo Tuesday. The official comparison photo is here.