Category: Phase 6

A famous silver age cover. I wanted to complain about Vancouver pollen, but then I looked at Halifax‘s weather and thought better of it.

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Finale
Welcome to the most lack-lustre finale of a phase yet. All I have to show for it are sore muscles and a sugar/carb addiction that would crush most people’s imaginations.

March Break has started and the normal family schedule that I rely on to anchor my diet and fitness is now disrupted. But maybe this is the time to focus on my mental health. The tough aspects of January and February are clearly not helping the food control. I have some books to read and ideas for Phase 7. I will document Phase 6a over the break and see if I can stay in the realm of sensible.

One thing I noticed is that I’m increasing the fitness level and the weather is almost at a point where I can ride the bike. I’m looking forward to this. I figured out that every time I do a workout, I feel stronger. There’s an immediate positive change, despite the tight leg muscles and other aches. They are the aches of progress, not the aches of injury.

I’m convinced that the more I can increase strength and cardio, the more overall strength I will have to do battle with the diet.

Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman discuss putting a team together. Cavendish sounds like a type of sandwich but is a place name in Anne of Green Gables

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Day 61
I’m at a crossroads. I’m blaming emotional strain (losing a parent can do that) on the diet being a shit-show. The fitness I’m happy with as I feel stronger everytime. (Although my use of Tylenol has increased.) But, I am at the scheduled end of Phase 6 with March Break and Easter looming.

Naturally I’m not done. I need to regroup, but if I just stop the process, I will lose ground. So I’m pondering a Phase 6a and start Phase 7 in April. Hopefully I will have more mental horsepower to deal with the food cravings.

But if I keep documenting, I will at least have my eye on the ball.

I want to create new tracking sheets that allow plan vs actual.

Although I know it from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, this quote from Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. “To the last, I grapple with thee; From Hell’s heart, I stab at thee; For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee.” The “thee” in this case is the diet part of diet/fitness.

Wolverine and various Hulks. What could be better? Still snowy in Banff.

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Day 60
This is just embarrassing. My food log says it all. And I realized I mis-counted the days. Goodness.

At least the fitness is working. I had a personal trainer session Tuesday at noon. Wednesday at noon the workout really hit me. I felt like I could barely lift my fork to my mouth. I had my lunch meeting and then at the office realized I could make a 1:10 PM yoga class. So I went. It was the level 2 class so it was harder and my shoulders were particularly unamused by the activity.

I’m aware of the mental strain that’s derailing the food choices, but I am trying to gently steer the boat back on course as opposed to beating myself up.

Iron Fist trying to take on The Hulk. Good luck with that. I’ve only ever driven past Brockville.

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Day 58
How effed is that? I did a personal trainer session that would have left The Hulk a bit tired and then later I went to True Confections with the family.

Honestly I think this whole stress eating thing is not just some minor mental problem.

However, nothing seems to be stopping the Personal Trainer from upping the game. Dang, we forgot to ask the general manager for heavier kettle bells.

Back to reality today. If I’m lucky I can straighten out my sore shoulders at a yoga class.

This is a Spider-man montage that I found that doesn’t make sense but looks cool. Huh. The pollen count in Toronto is low.

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Day 57
As I looked at my schedule I realized that I’m supposed to be done this phase on the 16th of March and then enjoy March Break.

I am prohibited by a mental health professional to express how I feel about myself. There’s a new rule that if you insult yourself, you have to apologize. Even though this makes you look like some kind of walking-down-the-street-talking-to-yourself looney.

And, as I predicted, allergies have come and I have my 2-4 week battle with Alder trees. Praise the heavens for my prescription eye drops.

Today I see the trainer to determine how much useful harm I can do to myself in an hour.

This is Ms Marvel who later became Captain Marvel. Her movie is due in 2019 movie. I might have to have lunch in Scarborough soon.

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Day 56
Distressing situations invoke a craving for carbs and sugars. In quantity.

So we start Monday morning fresh in the knowledge that I’m weak. For example, eggs and chocolate almonds and bacon. The breakfast of champions.

Another kicker is that we are close to alder tree season in Vancouver. It’s been delayed due to the cold weather and we have a warm spell coming. I have my prescription for eye drops ready. When I was a kid I ate a lot of carbs and sugar during the allergy seasons of southern Ontario as a way to stay awake after taking a lot of allergy pills.

So the dietary whammies keep coming. My resolve stays the same.

I was feeling nostalgic for silver age comics today. The Avalon region of Newfoundland has Canada’s most eastern point.

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Day 55
Despite an urge to hide, I am still plugging away at the diet/fitness routine. I was really tired even before I started the day. When it came to the time to head to the gym, I was unconvinced that I was going to be able to do anything. My policy is to go, change clothes and see what happens.

Well, in the end, I did 98% of my high intensity workout at a higher intensity. I.e. shorter rest intervals between sets. I was sufficiently winded that I scared a guy in the locker room as I sat trying to regain my normal body temperature.

It’s very odd that the energy available for a workout can be so disconnected from how you feel. I also managed to walk home which is why the step count is so high.

Today I did started with protein so as not to kick off the day with a sugar/carb craving. I make no promises going forward.

Never argue with a woman who can create force fields inside your head. Victoria BC is on my mind.

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Day 54
I thought train wrecks stopped moving once they happened. I don’t even want to talk about yesterday. This is turning into a mental health blog more than a diet/fitness blog.

Which of course might be the point. Faced with overwhelming cravings for foods that don’t help with weight loss, the will power and focus from the mind is critical.

This morning I managed to remember my bacon and eggs and eat them and the cravings are lessened. This gives my mind a minute window to set the intention for lunch time. In my view only presetting the intention has a hope of offsetting temptation.

Once mental and physical fatigue set in, it may not be game over, but you are on your last turn.

Spider-man meets X-23 Wolverine. We’re thinking about Harrison Hot Springs.

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Day 53
For crying out loud why don’t I just go to a brownie or ice cream factory and eat myself to death?

I was required at an early meeting this morning and I forgot my eggs and bacon at home plus some other stuff that I forgot. I am so sore from previous workouts that today is a rest day. I booked a lunch meeting which I think is now cancelled. My eyes are twitching and I think I’ve lost my mind.

Yes, I tried to go to bed earlier.

So, now that I’ve had chocolate almonds for breakfast, what will lunch hold?

She-Hulk should have her own movie. And who’s going to Meat Cove Nova Scotia this year?

Mutant Diet Phase 6 Day 52
To not lose it completely I need to be analytical. I lost my way and ate two bowls of cereal late at night. This for a dieter is like an alcoholic going to an open bar at a wedding.

Obviously the question is why? It’s not like I can’t do good things for myself. I did a battle ropes and Bulgarian bag workout at the gym where I was able to do two 8 rep overhead bag spins with the heaviest (37 pound) bag. I had never done that before. I had been on track until that desperate run for chocolate almonds which went with Tylenol and St. John’s Wort.

Then I bought chicken and mojos at Safeway.

I know better. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I’m sure I’ve quoted the New Testament (Matthew 26:41) before. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Dieting of biblical proportions.