Category: Mutant Diet

Mutant Diet Day 23

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Black Widow is on Team Iron Man, but I bet she switches. This cover is from a comic I have somewhere in storage. Visit Galiano Island where I want to go on vacation.

I just finished my Mary Killer Workout for the week and I can report that I don’t feel quite as pulverized as I did last week. However, the afternoon is young.

As I was composing this post, Mary sent me my homework with this message:

Great job today!! Killed your workout I did not expect what I saw today so I am happy and you should be too. So this means the homework is amped up a notch!

Not to be cynical or anything, but she could simply be being encouraging. However, I don’t think she’d write “holy crap what a useless lard bowl you are.”

However, she’s right the homework (click on image below) is amped up. I hope I don’t need to call the paramedics when I try this on Thursday.

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April 19, 2016

Mutant Diet Day 22

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This is an early comic image of Falcon, who’s on Team Captain America.
I think he’d enjoy flying over Toronto.

Day 22 of 92. Starting of Week 4. I still feel daunted even though there has been progress.

The lack of pills continues. But I will be taking readings. If I can’t through Advanced Mind Control (aka deep breathing and calming visualization) control the top number, I’ll go back on. So the blood pressure mystery is interesting. After two days off the pills, my readings were bouncing between 134/74 and 124/74. So I conclude that my body is adjusting to a new normal. The lack of pills continues. But I will be taking readings.

If I can’t through Advanced Mind Control (aka deep breathing and calming visualization) control the top number, I’ll go back on.

Today I see the chiropractor. I’m going to tell her to focus on the right hip/SI joint as it’s in the way of my progress. All other parts are strengthening, except this.

Somehow I have to fit in a Mary Homework session. Gasp.

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April 18, 2016

Mutant Diet Day 21

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This is War Machine for Team Iron Man.
He should chill with the polar bears in Chruchill.

Last day of the third week. Crazy. I must have some kind of new pattern in place because yesterday I had a baked potato (How come they never cook in a predictable time?) and it felt like a total luxury. Also I was feeling a little (only a little) bad that I wasn’t doing some kind of fitness thing.

But, honestly today, I feel much better for having not done much other than run the kids around town for various things.

But, it I follow my earlier idea that week 4 is the final week of the demolition phase, I can’t delude myself into thinking that I have lots of time. Before I know it I’ll be in the final four weeks and be wondering if I’ve wasted this opportunity.

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April 17, 2016

Mutant Diet Day 20

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Since the new Captain America film is coming, I’m going to pick obscure images of the characters.And go here: Charlottetown. Please.

Let’s talk about rest and blood pressure. Yesterday I skipped the bike, went to the gym at lunch and did a decent bit of Mary’s Homework. The twist I suffered at karate seemed to have passed, but I was careful with step ups due to the damn right hip.

When I was in Grade 12, I got up too fast after a long time studying and fell and hurt my knee and hip. Last night I stood up from the couch and had a similar head rush, except that, since these have been happening more often, I have conditioned myself to always grab something. In this case, I grabbed a bookcase but needed a rare two hands to steady myself.

Once the little tweety-birds had stopped flying around my head I realized I’d been meaning to take my blood pressure. I have my own cuff and had not taken a reading since before starting this diet-fitness journey. After three successive readings a couple of minutes apart, the numbers were 118 over 67 and 111 over 68. Pulse was 75.

My blood pressure, after being on meds for a while, was 125 over 81 (or thereabouts). I’ve been taking the blood pressure meds during the diet. I was assuming I’d go off near or at the end. According to a cardiologist I saw almost three years ago, I estimated I’d need a lot more lard removed before seeing a significant drop in BP.

So I am taking the weekend off of the meds and then on Sunday night or Monday I will do readings again and see where it’s at.

Odd, eh?

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April 16, 2016

Mutant Diet Day 19

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Today I did not ride the bike. Partly weather. Partly because I have Mary Homework. But mostly due to the fact I was totally fried last night. Both mentally and physically. I describe this as pushing myself up to but not including injury.

(The Internet lets me find the best images. For awesome cottage decks try Parry Sound Cottage Country.)

I wrote this during an involuntary break at karate class:

As I sit in karate class, where I just slightly twisted my right knee and foot, I was remembering an analogy for what I’m doing to myself.

This is a three month process that makes me think of building a new deck. The first chunk of work is planning the new deck (fun work) and then demolishing the old deck (less fun; more splinters).

The second month is building the new deck.

The third month is all the finishing. Sanding, paint, weather proofing‎, decorating.

Then you can have a BBQ.

Right now on this Mutant Diet, I am midway through the demolition phase.

And my fried legs are proof.

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April 15, 2016

Mutant Diet Day 18

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Today is Day 18. When I woke my body was pretty much begging not to get on the bike. By the time I was finished my shower, it felt better. The Burrard Bridge did not feel better. The legs were whining.So how far is too much? Yesterday I tried cycling up Fir St between 4th Ave and Broadway. Yeah, that hill did me in. Particularly at the end of the day.

But I did not turn into a blue furry mutant. However, I have to do Mary’s Killer Homework today.

The Beast, from the X-Men
For more beasts, try The Toronto Zoo.

Mary’s Killer Homework
click image to enlarge

Yesterday’s Eats
A burger wrapped in lettuce from Vera’s sounds terrible but was really good.

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April 14, 2016

Mutant Diet Day 17

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I figure The Punisher is a good symbol for this entry. This is from the original Civil War comic book series. Please visit The Bowmanville Zoo this summer.

Mary is inventive. The workout yesterday was not what I was expecting as she changed things up when I thought I’d have to do review. The hips seemed to be the target. Step-ups, squats, but the new one was the kettle ball that you swing up to standing, crouch, then swing between the legs. I was thinking it was a really good way to send your nuts into oblivion.

Where do I buy gym shorts? These ones are so loose in the legs that I feel like I’m wearing a damn kilt.

I felt the workout take effect right away, but it did leave me with a headache at work. Tylenol did the trick, but I was pretty wobbly.

However, on the downside I had a complete tantrum last night when the BC Gaming people sent a letter to the Hudson PAC asking for documentation I sent them on Nov 23, 2015. I have so little spare time to have to deal with this kind of rubbish that it sent me over the edge.

So now the challenge is to sustain effort without burning out the little processing chips in my head.

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April 13, 2016

Mutant Diet Day 16

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I’m really looking forward to Suicide Squad, hence Harley Quinn.

Right. Food. Exercise. Too much work. Today is Day 16 and I didn’t ride because it’s raining. Now, before all you all-weather cyclists with your fancy Gore-Tex underpants say how great it is to ride in the rain on slippery surfaces, let me just say with confidence (and the deepest respect and care) that you all f__king mental.

For me, riding on wet surfaces is as safe a bull elk riding a unicycle with a plastic bag over its head and antlers. While singing Hey Jude.

Today I have a killer Mary Workout. I need all the strength I can muster.

Sponsorship: could you please go to this arts organization and donate money? I’m the Treasurer and my budget isn’t right. Vancouver Bach Choir. Otherwise enjoy beautiful New Brunswick. I have fond memories of Saint Andrews.

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April 12, 2016

Mutant Diet Day 15

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For sponsorship, try the ever changing moods of Ottawa. Mr. Mulcair might have some insight.

This is the start of Week 3.

Self-perception. I think I’m now 100% certain that anyone on a weight loss program has experienced this: no one notices the changes in your body that you’ve noticed. One does not do this kind of work simply, for example, to have the ability to sit more comfortably in economy class seats. People on a diet want people to notice that your lard no longer spills over the arm rests.

My wife decided to join in on the removal of wheat and packaged foods from her diet. In two weeks she noticed a loosening and some clothes were fitting better. She has added a 45-minute fast walk in the AM after school drop-off.

But no one sees this and the emotional component of being observed and recognized for doing good work is huge. The advice I give myself is that at the end of the first month, the change will start to be externally visible.

This also makes me glad the weight and other measurements are being hidden until the end. I really want to avoid the “I’m in agony from this effing diet and exercise and I only lost x pounds??”

The other message is to trust yourself. If you feel change in your body, who else is better to judge?

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April 11, 2016

Mutant Diet Day 14

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Spider-man is looking like this so far in the next Captain America movie. For sponsorship, try Halifax.

Today is Sunday. It’s my sister’s birthday. It’s the end of week 2 for this Mutant Diet.Yesterday had too many carbs. However, it was at our friends Jerry, Cory and Ava. I bought the best cut of steak at Costco and Jerry BBQ’d it. It was good. Our friends are very generous to me and without his cooking help, this first two weeks would have gone quite differently.

I know have chicken and lamb at the ready. I have ground beef ready to cook. (I can do that at home with enough fans and windows.)

So I feel challenged to do better next week. I want to reduce portion sizes and I want to be more vigilant about carbs.

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April 10, 2016