New Leaf: Incremental Increase
July 13, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
2comments Categories: Castle, Fitness
Tags: 300, abs, bmi, fat, gym, happiness here i come, new leaf, the pain
One of my goals is to have abs like the ones painted on the Spartans in the movie 300. Then I can go around half naked on my segway wearing a red Spartan like cape and a bad ass helmet like King Leonidis. Oh yeah.
This last trip to the gym I upped the number of reps as well as adding a new set with more weight.
I did a total of 120 crunches.
4 sets of 20 - 80 lbs
2 sets of 15 - 100 lbs
1 set of 10 - 110 lbs
That last set of 10 at 110 lbs was tough, at first the thing didn’t move when I tried. Thankfully the gym was mostly empty because I’m pretty sure the sound I made was a grunting, growling, swamp-thing type scream as I willed my body to repeatedly lift the weights.
I also added a new machine that works my man boobs. I was feeling pretty weak from the ab cruncher so I only did - 1 set of 15 - 90 lbs
After taking a shower, I was too weak to dry off. So completely wet, I’m now weighing in at 181 lbs making my weight loss to about 24 lbs of fat. Which puts my BMI at 24.5, within the normal weight according to the body mass index calculator. I still have what looks like a deflated bicycle tire around my waist, but I’m getting there.
It’s Making Me Tingle
June 12, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Castle, Picture of the Day, Squirrels
Tags: comics, common sense, happiness here i come
My long time friend Michael Dodd sent me a link to this awhile back and I just found it again.
I used to have a lot of common sense, too much actually. I see people all around me that have almost none who are way happier. Thus I’ve concluded I can dump at least half of my common sense and still be a super hero while increasing my happiness 50% at least. Genius!
Here’s to that tingling feeling.
New Leaf: More Gym Time
June 11, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
4comments Categories: Castle, Fitness, gnash-teeth
Tags: alkins, angry monkey, fat, gym, happiness here i come
So yesterday I went back to the gym. Mainly to try to not think about everything that’s pissing me off. Blow off some steam and all that.
I tried that bike machine again and set it to a much higher resistance than last time. I told the machine to keep my heart rate at 156, which felt like it was going to explode. I have no idea if that’s safe for a out of shape, chain smoker, that hadn’t eat yet that day, but whatever. For 30 minutes I biked up what felt like the steepest hill on the planet.
Despite my legs shaking after the first 30 minutes I jumped on a treadmill because I still wasn’t exhausted. I set it to a steep incline and did that for another 15 minutes or so. I stopped after that because it was getting crowded in there, and that many stinky brethren along with music I did not want to listen to, was making me even more agitated.
Unfortunately this didn’t tire me out like it did the day before, so sleep did not come quickly. The upside of this? Genetics have given me fat free, muscular legs, which are now getting a nice tan. Despite not having been used more than to carry me over very short distances in the last 15 years, they don’t feel sore at all. I’ve also lost a little over 20 lbs and am now weighing in at 185 lbs. I eat one meal a day, because I have no appetite and force myself, chain smoking and exercise - this is a great diet. Better than the Atkins, it’s the Alkins.
Sign-up now and I’ll send you a weeks starter package. Includes: A carton of cigs, seven frozen pene-pasta dinners and a black rock that you can pretend is whatever pisses you off the most.
The New Leaf
June 9, 2008 Posted by Al Castle
add a comment Categories: Castle, Fitness, Puter Stuff
Tags: fat, fire, gym, happiness here i come, sleepless & worrying, tanning
So this morning I did something really different. I actually got up. As in out of bed. Then it was into the shower, got dressed, then got my coffee. I haven’t done that in a loooong time. And I actually sat at my desk today instead of geeking from my bed. I also refrained from answering emails from my iPhone while still under the covers. My morning emails tend to be more incoherent than normal when I only have one eye open. I can’t say I was anymore productive, but the shower definitely woke me up.
Around 1pm today a small “mall” (a large building with shops, bank & a restaurant) in downtown Lynden caught fire (pictures are here). Several blocks were cordoned off, at least six different fire departments were on hand, it was pretty intense. So much so that the power was cut off for the surrounding blocks, including mine. Which meant no Internet.
I took this opportunity to head to the gym. I threw myself in the microwave for another 7 minutes and got all toasty. Then it was off to this peddle machine-thingy. I worked out on the machine for 60 minutes and went an estimated 20+ miles. I burned 266 calories and it kept my heart rate above 121, according to the built in monitor. My legs were shaking after that. The first thing I wanted afterward was a McDonalds cheeseburger. Instead I headed to the deli and had them make me a healthier sandwich with some water.
It’s now about 8:40pm and I’m completely exhausted, hopefully I’ll crash soon and get an early start on my morning. It’s been pouring rain, a gray sky eyes kinda day. But I’ve managed to stay positive despite this and one way or another I’m going to stay this way.
Update 4am: Going to bed at 9pm with worries on your mind makes sleeping pretty hard. I passed out for a few hours, but had weird dreams that kept waking me up. Life at 4am sucks. I don’t think I’ve ever had a good time at this hour. When I used to stay up till this time, I was always feeling exhausted and sick from drinking too much. Or getting up this early to make it to the airport to catch a flight was never fun either. I don’t think my ability to pretend everything is alright in the world starts until much later in the day. Of course that’s many a sleepless hour from now. 
