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Another day, another attempt to stay on track. My neck is killing me right now. I’m not sure how on a day when I didn’t do much I managed to make the muscles all tangled up.

Today’s diet/fitness will be a mind game. There are all the elements in play. Lots of running around. An enormous amount of computer work (i.e. sitting around) and the weather is wet and grey. It’s really hot chocolate and chips weather.

But, with less than 1/3 to go, do I really want to feel like a total loser after 99 days of effort? Wouldn’t I rather want to feel progress and a desire to finish this off in the New Year?

Question do you think it’s a bad sign that I’m on a diet and my daughter just started work at a place called Chocolate Arts?

Remembrance Day in BC is a stat holiday and I always feel guilty sleeping in a little but I think I can be honest in a diet/fitness blog that I am mentally and physically tired. Of course, after some rest, one’s mind starts jumping like a frog on a hot plate to items in one’s personal and professional life. But rest is key to being able to focus on problems and keep an eye on what is shoved into your pie hole.

I always feel a bit sad on November 11. I don’t always think people generally quite grasp the significance of the effort the Canadian Forces put into the military actions that Canada participates in. And hopefully we all took a moment to try to imagine just for a moment.

Hey 66. That means 33 days to go.

Yesterday was one of those times where you can feel better if you go out for beer with friends.

That of course does not help with the diet. Nor does being depressed by the outcome of a foreign election help with diet/fitness. However, a good kettle bell workout helps with the anxiety brought on by forces beyond your control.

It was a gift to be able to ride my bike in today. The cool air however steamed up my sunglasses when I came to a stop at red lights.

However, I’m tighter than a steel drum so I’m contemplating a yoga class.

It’s hard to concentrate today. Misogyny, racism, homophobia and plain insanity took a leap forward today.

I can’t see the future because I called this mess in the USA completely wrong.

Today I have to spend the day focusing on the many, many things in front of me that matter and to carry forward in a positive manner.

And to think I saw a rainbow at this time yesterday.

A sunrise with a rainbow. And 18 degrees. I am working on a volunteer organization’s budget-to-actual documents today and am not in the office. I woke at the normal time and headed to the local Starbucks. I was thinking the light of the sunrise (light being rare these last many days) was looking odd and I found a rainbow.

It’s amazing how such a thing gives you energy. My right hip was being very annoying yesterday and I needed to push it when I did my workout. But in the afternoon, I was kind of messed up. I managed to take in about 30 minutes more sleep and I feel better.

The rainbow is gone now. The clouds are back but I’m hoping to keep them from my mind.

Nothing to see folks. Move along.

The only good news of the daughter’s birthday weekend is that I’m fully stocked for food for the diet.

The weather is not helping so I will be hitting the gym for kettle bells and cardio.

OK. Back to work. Focus on staying away from anything that’s not meat or salad.

It’s my daughter’s birthday. Cake to be made.

I figure if you’re doing any strength training and you’re not doing yoga, or an equivalent, you are likely locking yourself up. I had a lot of tight muscles, especially in my neck via the shoulders, from the kettle bell workouts. I am a huge advocate of that workout but I am certain that I’d start to lose ground without the yoga. It’s the being guided to hold stretches just a couple of seconds longer that really releases the muscles. My theory is that as the muscles heal/grow, I’m encouraging them to grow into the right place.

Must dash. I lost about 2 hours yesterday due to timing issue and I’m way behind on a couple of issues.

Stupid crazy wet day with bad traffic.

And my daughter has a big birthday party today. Real birthday tomorrow.

So I learned something about lard removal. I was talking with my trainer yesterday and I voiced my assumption that fat leaves your body from the locations you want it to, last. So I hate my gut so it will go last. However, apparently, the fat comes off your body in the accounting method of LIFO. Last in, first out. Many of us boys tend to gain weight around the middle in the early years of lard accumulation. Guess what? That will be the last to come off.

Of course, I have to make a birthday cake. (Yes I hear you disciplined minded people thinking, “but you don’t have to eat it.”)

I won’t tell you what I’m thinking.

The constant losing the battle of will power versus compulsive eating is becoming really annoying.

I have to reset my intents today. For example, I forgot my lunch today but I have salad in the fridge. I have to go to Urban Fare, buy the fish from the take away options, and only the fish. I find if I repeat this intent a few times it tends to stick better. Also, I have “emergency” food in my desk. It has to stay there. Tonight if we go out with a friend, I have to special order a carb-free meal. I can’t engage in autopilot.

On the good news front, I can believe how intense and effective the kettle bell workout is. I have never been able to push myself that hard with any other self-paced workout.

Frustration is normal but is not a nice feeling. If I want to go carb-free I’m going to need to make totally different meals from the family. It’s anti-social and hits on the little kid feeling of “you’re weird and have to eat special food.”

My kids have this happen because they’re vegetarian and somehow they just shrug it off. I guess I have to be more like my kids.

I have a motivation, however. I realized that my body has changed from being a blimp to having a spare tire. It’s a monster-truck-rally-sized spare tire, but there’s no doubt about it. I am officially down a belt notch on the second belt of this entire 7-month process.

If I can focus on my hatred of spare tires and enjoyment of the sense of progress, I might progress.