Happy Birthday!

So, Saturday was my birthday. I'm now 33 years old. I won't say I feel older, because I don't, and I won't say I feel wiser, because I don't. I will definitely say that I feel...different.

10 years ago, in the year 2000, my wife and I were moving into a new house after being married for a year. It's hard to believe that was 10 years ago.

I ate a lot of cake and ice cream on my birthday. It was low carb, of course. But I was definitely full. I don't eat until I am full very often. My wife made the cake, and though she didn't care for it, I enjoyed it, obviously. It was a low-carb apple sauce cake mix, that tasted like a carrot or spice cake. Maybe it was because she eats higher carb stuff more often than I do, but she didn't care for the flavor. I think that is one benefit of low carb eating - a little sweet goes a long way!

I have learned something of late though. I can't force or convince people to change their eating habits. It has to be a conscious effort of their own. And I have learned to relax on myself as well. I have maintained my weight within 10 or so pounds for the last 2 years. As long as I don't get stupid, I can have a treat every now and then. Hence the birthday cake!

I still feel that too many people eat too much, too often, and that the last 50 years of medical breakthroughs have done nothing to help solve the base issue - overprocessed, preservative laden foods that people eat too much of. Drugs don't solve it, surgeries don't solve it. The only solution is eating pure, healthy foods, in moderation. Sure, treat yourself now and then. I do. Just don't go overboard!

Happiness is contagious...sometimes...

This past week was "Open House" in our school district.  The night for my grade level (4th and 5th) was Tuesday night, with the other grade levels happening on various other nights.  There are some who see it as a trivial night, but for me it is a chance to see a lot of parents that I might not get to see otherwise.

On the way home after open house, I found myself drumming on the steering wheel along to whatever song was on the radio.

Now, I am not saying that I'm stodgy, unhappy, or a hermit, but 9 times out of 10, I am an introvert.  In fact, for most of the day, I had a headache, and was stressed about open house because of my "introverted-ness."  However, open house forces me to smile, be happy, and have generally pleasing misdemeanor in public.  Don't get me wrong - I like meeting people, but I am the kind of person that is pretty happy keeping to myself, and doing what needs to be done on my own.  Not the usual music teacher type!  I think part of it comes from growing kind of an only child - my sister was 8 years older than me, and my brother...um...more than that (Sorry, Bill - I can't remember).

But my point is, by the end of the night, after spending 2 hours smiling, shaking hands, answering questions, and the like, I realized that my mood was better, my headache was gone, and I actually felt happier than I had 2 hours prior.

I can't help but think that if, at times, we force ourselves to act happy, sometimes it can actually take root in our psyche and we will actually feel happy.  I guess it's a version of "you decide how you feel."  I definitely believe that we define our demeanors by how we react to the situations we really have no control over.  One of my favorite sayings is "Just because you are in pain, doesn't mean you have to be one!"  There are some people (teachers included) who go through their whole career thinking and believing that they need to be the stodgy-ness in a students life, when really, especially today's students, need a teacher who can show them the joy in life and learning.

Kay.  'Nuff said.

Things I forget...

At the beginning of every school year I remember that I forget things.    For instance, I forget that 4th grade students know almost nothing about playing an instrument.  You'd think that I would remember that, but it's always hard to come back to a fresh class after the previous year's students have progressed a lot!

And I forget how to run slow.  Last night I did an easy 2 mile run.  I was supposed to keep the pace at around 9:45, which for me, is REALLY slow.  I didn't mind going slow, as it was the first run back after the half.  But it was hard - my GPS kept telling me to slow down.

I guess the same idea could be applied to both situations - I want to go fast, even if I need to go slow.  Training takes time, and there will be days when I need to go faster than others.  Tomorrow I will be doing a speed workout.  Something I haven't really done before.  We'll see how it goes.

Other things I forget - to put the child locks on the cabinet doors, to close the medicine cabinet, and to put the seat down (you know what I'm talking about).

There are definitely other things I won't forget, both good and bad - breaking a toilet seat when I weighed 300 pounds, my first half-marathon, the birth of my son, and my wedding day.  There are lots of other little things I remember, like when I was swinging on the weeping willow tree growing up, and the branch broke and I fell - no injuries, but whenever I see a weeping willow tree, I think about it.

I remember when my entire family was together to see my dad before he died.  Coincidence, I think not.

I remember graduating from high school, and it was the first year the orchestra was playing instead of the band, and me and my band friends laughed because we couldn't hear the orchestra until we were almost to the seats - our graduation at that time was always outside, unless it rained.  I remember bringing the little sound module from a graduation card that played Pomp and Circumstance, just so I had some music to walk to.  Sorry, string players.

It's funny the little things you remember - and it's not facts, or numbers.  It's the experiences that stick with you.  That's part of what slowing down is about, I guess.  Taking the time to stop and enjoy what's happening around us.

Yet, still, there are times when training for the race, and improving for the sake of improving, is what we need to do.

Hmmm...

Back in training...

Today starts my first day back training.  I am taking on the duties myself, with a little help from technology.  I am using the Runner's World "SmartCoach" app for iPhone to design my training plan; TrainingPeaks.com to track my mileage, performance, and routes; an iPhone app called RunMeter to record my run data, which sometimes I trade out for a Garmin 205 wrist-GPS.  I guess you could say that I have a lot invested!

Over the past week, I have relaxed on the dietary needs a little bit - and I haven't stepped on the scale.  Not that I really worry about what it says anymore.  It was definitely important at first, and it still is important, but I don't worry about it so much.  I do want to drop some pounds so that I can get down to a better racing weight.  They say 10 pounds can shave about 20 seconds per mile, which would be great.  Admittedly, I have put some stuff into my body that I normally wouldn't.  Now I have to be mindful again, and hopefully make it until Christmas, when I can enjoy my sister-in-laws cookies - everyone needs some kind of treat at Christmas time!

My next race is going to be the Pumpkins In the Park 5k race in Rochester.  My last 5k time was 23:25, and my best was actually the first 5k I ever did (Race for the Cure in Buffalo 2009) at 21:35.  I would like to be closer to that by the end of October!

Got my flu shot yesterday.  Where?  Target!  Saved about $10 over some other places, and I didn't have to wait.

Today is the first day of the 4th Grade beginner lessons for me.  It is always interesting to see what the kids do at the first lesson!  By the end of the day, everyone will be blowing in the correct end, and hopefully producing a good sound!

Looking ahead to the Past...

So where did the summer go? With my mind so clogged with thoughts about running the half, I think summer kind of passed me by. I mean, it always goes very quickly - 'tis the nature of the world I suppose. But honestly, I didn't think about school until yesterday. Yeah, I know - we started last Tuesday for the teachers, and Wednesday for kids (around here, anyway). But for me, my brain really kicked into gear yesterday. Probably why you, "faithful" reader (which, by the way, isn't hard to be when I only post like, once every 3 months...)..."SURPRISE!" get to read another entry so soon!

I had someone tell me after reading yesterday's post that I was an inspiration, and the coolest guy in the universe. Okay, maybe not the latter, but they did say I was an inspiration. But here's the thing (and skip this if you've heard me say this before)- that is not why I do this. At least, not when I started out, and I don't think I have strayed from that too much.

When I first started blogging, it was to keep everyone up to date on my life, because for some reason, I thought someone might care. And people do, but I also think I knew that my life was changing, and I wanted, needed, or was somehow charged with the responsibility of chronicling it...(i hope I spelled that right...).

So know you reap the benefits, however valuable they may be. For me, it is simply a way of getting off my chest the things which MEN so often have a hard time expressing to anyone. It's not that we don't want to - TRUST ME, there are times when I would like nothing more than to share what's going on inside my head - but I think many of the more upstanding gentlemen in the world find themselves in a chivalrous role when it comes to feelings - they don't want to burden others with something that should be their own to deal with.

Okay, that's all I got there.

On a Facebook status yesterday, someone wrote (I may not get this verbatim) -
"I believe in morality, which is doing what's right, regardless of what I am told...not in religion, which is doing what I am told, regardless of what is right."

I agree, to a point. And I am not a philosophical mastermind here, but you have to also take into account that the statement says "religion" which by definition is "a collection of practices, based on beliefs and teachings that are highly valued or sacred; Any practice that someone or some group is seriously devoted to."

I worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died for my sins, and is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. That statement alone guides my actions. I guess you could say that I am a religious person - I go to church every Sunday, at the same church, and I am a member of that church. But the Church, be it the building, the parent organization: the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, or the people within either one of those, does not serve as the north in my moral compass.

So that bears the question - where do we get a moral compass? Is it instilled in us from birth? Do animals in the wild have "morals?" I think that we are taught about morals by the people that serve as our mentors, whether it is parents or family, or pastors, or teachers, or friends.

Again, I am not a philosophical giant...I am sure that there are lots of strong arguments that could tear me apart. But what will always stand is my FAITH, not my religion. My faith is a belief that I should model myself after Jesus Christ. Look at it this way - who is the judge of morality - ourselves? That's got to be some kind of contradiction. I'd like to think that there is someone impartial to judge. Jesus said that he who is last will be first. Even the worst of sinners are accepted into the kingdom of Heaven, if the accept Jesus as their Savior. I think that some "Christians" believe this absolves them of doing what is right, because they can just "confesss" and be forgiven. This is the way of the old church. I do not hold any illusions (or is it allusions...?) as to the fact that I will sin for the rest of my life. But I know that I can be forgiven, and will be, because I accept that Jesus died for my sins. My faith may be different than someone else's and my morals may be different because of it. So - are my morals right, or are yours, or his, or theirs? What if your morals contradict mine?

The same person who posted the FB comment (and don't get me wrong, I respect this person - we just disagree on points of faith-related issues) participated in a lengthy FB discussion on the same subject, and I have to admit that I didn't have a lot to counter with. Perhaps if I was stronger in my faith, I would have. Will I ever be at that point? I don't know honestly, but I do know - God gave us the abilities to do many things, and he has a design for each of us - someone has to be there to challenge us, and if it's not your neighbor, it's a dear friend, or a despised colleague. Look around...who do you see?

OKAY - in other news...
I have decied to run another half marathon in May, provided I don't have a school commitment (which I shouldn't, being that the Buffalo half-marathon should be on a Sunday...).

I'm going to run some other 5k races, and try to knock out some other goals that I mentioned a while back:
1. Win my age group in a 5k (again)
2. Win a 5k (this one seems far out, but it could happen)
3. Drop a little weight (i'm comfortable where I am, but my racing weight should be a little lower)
4. Run a full marathon (this is a new one....we'll see how that goes...)

All right. Tomorrow brings another day, and mayhap, another entry?

Running the Half, and other thoughts...

As usual, I promise no revelations, or anything relating to real coherent thought.

Well, I did it.  Last September I said I wanted to run a half marathon, and yesterday, September 12th, I did it!  I finished 45th in my age group, 208th out of the males, and 387th overall (out of 3,000).  My official time was 1:50:39.  And I finished before my Albion "peers"!...though I am younger than them by at least a few years, and not all of the Albion-ites who run actually ran the half marathon. I have to say though - the running community is a very supportive, but competitive one. I am glad that I am part of it, and I am glad to have made some new friends (or at least friendly acquaintances) from it! And to think, 3 years ago, I complained when Lisa tried to get me to walk to the end of our road and back (barely a mile round trip...).

Not that I follow football, but I guess it was opening weekend around here.  The Bills played (couldn't tell you who they played) and lost (I think.  And I also think that is to be expected around here...).  I was too busy trying to recover from 13.1 miles.

Now, don't get me wrong, but I have changed from a person who used to sit on the couch, to one who would rather be outside running.  Sometimes I wonder who the real athletes are in the world; the people we see on the TV every Sunday, or the ones we see out in our own fields and on our roads every day of the year?  Don't get me wrong - I am sure that most pro athletes will defend their training regimen, and their athleticism. But I gotta tell ya - I don't get paid to run, and I don't run to get paid. It's nice to hear "Good luck!" and "Congratulations" when all is said and done, but I can't help but wonder if these pro athletes would continue to play if there was no pay!

In other news - potty training with the boy is getting better - he will sit now, and go in it, but we have to tell him to, and often he sits for quite a while! You may have seen the Facebook video of our little "potty party" - Adam went in the potty 28 times, and we made a little cake and he got a prize (an Imaginext BatCave). And so it goes - hopefully soon we can stop buying pull-ups. My wallet will rejoice!

Some observations I have made lately:
Ever notice how many people everyone say "We" when talking about their favorite professional sports team? As in "We" kicked the Giants behind this week. As if they has something to do with the success of the team, other than buying the team-logoed paraphernalia. Interesting.

Ever notice how some people walk into Subway (which is supposed to be "healthy"), order 3 footlongs, 10 chocolate chip cookies, 3 large sodas (not diet; not that diet is any better), and then order a low-calorie, low-fat yogurt? Don't get me wrong - I ate pizza and wings last night (remember - I burned about 2000 calories yesterday). But the folks I'm talking about weren't the type that looked like this was a special occasion. Interesting.

Here's a positive one - ever notice how when someone is down, 9 times out of ten people come out of the woodwork to try and help. I have seen a lot of that lately, both with my own program and trying to find instruments for students, and with a former student who has become seriously ill. Definitely a good thing (the fact that people come out in droves to help and support).

Teachers - ever notice how your credit card bill gets higher in August and September?

Here's one that is more of a question - why do people not follow the arrows in parking lots? I understand that it's not a city street, but when I follow the arrows, it sure get awfully frustrating when I have to squeeze by in the Wal-Mart parking lot because someone else doesn't. And shopping carts - I love how people walk to the cart return...and leave it outside it! Or when someone uses two parking spaces, or parks so close I have to climb out the back door. I am sure this is nothing new, but I'm just saying'...

Anyway - I guess that's it. Keep movin'!

Wow...March, huh?

Don't hate me - the last time I posted was in March.  Here's some updates:

1.  I have been running consistently.

2.  I am training for a half-marathon on September 12th (it's for the arthritis foundation - sponsor me here:

          http://2010rochestermarathon.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=338766&u=338766-295963905

3.  I have been having a little knee-pain, but it's manageable.

4.  I still constantly think about food.

5.  Yes, I still eat low carb.

I used to think I had to make these huge revelations here, but who has time?  Thoughts are good enough right?  Though I do hope to post soon about some revelations I have had about food.

Adam is still learning at an amazing rate.  We just wish he would use the P-O-T-T-Y.

Drop me a line, and let us know how you are.  Here something to get you started:

What inspires you to do what you do?  I know that I used to think being thinner was the key to happiness.  HAH!  I learned that the key to happiness is as elusive as a greased pig!  I am happiest when I am with my family, or when I am running, or when I am playing my instrument.

this horse is killing me...

So. I've looked at my recent posts (sparse as they are), and too many times I see "Okay, I'm going to start running again."

The last time, it did happen...for a couple of days. But for the past 2 weeks I have been "back on the horse." it was probably stupid, but I started with a 5k outdoor run to get going again. Definitely not at race pace - I don't think I want to share my time from that first one...ugh.

At any rate, I am up to 4.2 miles a session, outside. when I start, I feel like a superhero in my cold weather tights and layered tech-shirts, but by the end I feel like the guy the superhero trashes in the
movie. Right now my mantra is "I don't have to go fast...I just have to go." and it's working out. I'm shaving seconds off this 4.2, and soon I'll be back to my 5.something mi. route that I was at in June of last year before I stupidly doubled my mileage and caused an injury.

2 things I learned:

1. I hate the treadmill.
2. Cold weather sucks, but it beats the mill.

I will always...

I will always be an over-eater.

I just came to this realization this weekend.  It seems to happen when I have too much time on my hands.  I over-eat when I'm bored, but I also over-eat when I feel upset.  Yeah...a vicious cycle, right?

I don't want to offend anyone, but I equate it to alcoholism - alcoholics know that they could slip back at any moment, and fall off the wagon.  And everyone knows that falling is easier than climbing.

At any rate, our brain's chemical responses must be similar in those folks who are alcoholics, and and those who are over-eaters.  Once you start again, it's easy to rationalize (just one more helping, just one more drink, I'll start again tomorrow...) and hard to quit.

The nice thing is - we can start again - every day IS a new day, and a chance to start over.

Thankfully, it's not like I am going to put the 130 pounds I lost back on over night.  But I think everyone out there would be amazed at how much I can eat in very little time, and how easily my weight fluctuates.  I could never be a "professional extreme eater".

But you know what?  It gives me a starting point to conversations with people who need encouragement, or a listening ear.  That's why God puts challenges before us, and we can't always see right away what good it is going to do for us!

Other items:

Adam is rhyming. He's 3.  And he's RHYMING.  I love it!

I am trying to reduce my Soy intake.  Do the research.  I am still learning, so I'll put more up later.

The end all of my nutrition info - low carb is the way to go!

time moves too fast...

Wow. Okay, so the everyday posting isn't gonna work. so here's the new plan.

post a couple of times a week, with some of the more interesting menus - especially since my daily breakfast and lunch and snacks don't vary much.

So far since Christmas (185) I'm down 8 lbs (177) from a little running, an sticking to the low carb life.

I once heard a theory that time goes by faster as you get older, because of our perception, not actual time passing faster. think about it... to a 1-year old, a month is 1/12th of his life. to a 32 year old (OMG...) it's...hold on I need a calculator...1/384th of his life. so consequentially, that month SEEMS to go by faster, b/c of our relative experience.

Einstein would be proud...!

Sunday 1/17 Menu....Undecorating...rearranging

6:00 - Egg Beater Omelette/Cheese/Bacon
11:30 - Salad 86g Iceberg Lettuce, 56g ColbyJack, 32g Oven Roasted Turkey, Salt Pepper
2:00  3 Babybel Light 18g raw almonds
6:00 2 Schwan's Seasoned Stuffed Chicken Breasts,  170g Broccoli
7:00 Muffin in A Minute with Walden Farms Chocolate sauce
7:30 Sugar Free Jello Cup


We undecorated today.  It's not running, but it is time consuming, and if you had seen my trying to stuff the new tree (which will premiere next year...) into one of those artificial tree storage bags, you would have laughed!

Anyway, the house inside is undecorated, and today I'll take down some lights from outside.  Usually when we undecorate, we also do some rearranging of furniture, changing the layout etc.

It's funny how when we get rid of all the ornamentation in our lives, we can start to rearrange what our priorities are.  Perhaps we can look at ourselves as we are supposed to be - how God see us, and without all the burdens of this earth.

today's menu...

7:30 egg beater omelette/bac/cheese

9:30 muffin in a minute with walden chocolate sauce

2:15 Applebees's 9oz. sirloin w/ shrimp and Parmesan, side salad (I only ate the lettuce and shredded cheddar, no dressing)

5:30ish - 1-carb soy-butter and pecans with walden chocolate an caramel

I'll do about 1/2 hour on the bike tonight.

Yesterday's Menu and thoughts about teaching...

Yesterday, 1/15

6:30 Egg Beater Omelette w/ Bacon and Cheese
9:30 3 Babybel Light and 18g raw almonds
11:00 Ostrim Jerky
12:30 Dixie Broc/Cheese Soup, 4.5 oz. Beef Roast (leftover), sugar free jello cup
5:00 Joseph's Lavash Bread Pizza (cheese, turkey-roni, onions, no sauce)
5:30 32g I.M. Healthy 1-Carb Soy Butter w/ 14g pecans and Walden Farms caramel and chocolate

Today's eating may be off from the norm, with chiro and haircuts...

Now my thoughts on teaching....

There is a line between being friendly to your students, and being their friend.  This distinction was made clear to me by my high school band director.  I heard last night of a teacher in a neighboring district that was ENCOURAGING students to make what I feel were inappropriate comments, and so did this parent that was telling me the story.

As teachers, we need to show our students that we care, but also be good examples for them - God knows in my district that there aren't a lot of great role models in our community (we had the mayor that got a DUI, and posed for some inappropriate pictures as well...).

Please also realize, that one teacher does not speak or act on the behalf of all of us.  There have been quite a few cases in our area of "inappropriate relationships with students."  I am appalled at how a teacher can think that they have so much leeway with ethics, and that anything of this sort is even close to right, Christian, and appropriate.  So please, don't think that we are all like that...

Anyways...have a great weekend, and don't forget that Martin Luther King Day is Monday - what are you going to do to promote civility, and harmony, and Christian values in your area?

thoughts about sugar...distance training...exercise progress...

So I was listening to Living La Vida Low Carb and the interviewee expert was explaining how much carbohydrates turn into sugar in our bodies. I was amazed at how
much sugar intake people have in a day. ¹cup of grapes is like eating 4 tsp. of table sugar!!! Not that grapes are altogether bad, but imagine eating grapes along with your cereal in the morning (10 tsp of sugar after carbs are ingested andmprocessed...) plus sugar in your coffee, plus a muffin. Sounds healthy at first until you consider all the carbohydrate conversion!!! Our society is so ingrained into the "diet" products, they don't realize that pure natural, untampered with food is soooooo much better.

Distance training - I am going to an info session at Fleet Feet to see about training for a spring half-marathon...

exercise - I've run a mile every day in under 8, as well as ridden the recumbent most days, along with doing core strength stuff. next week I up the t-mill to 1.25 or 1.5...6lbs. down since Xmas...

Today's menu...

I am going to use times for menu posts. generally I eat breakfast, 2 morning snacks, lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner, and an evening snack, and don't eat anything after 6pm-ish.

6:00am EB Omelette/bac/cheese/coffee

9:30 - 3Babybel/18g raw almonds
11:00 - Ostrim jerky
12:30 - Dixie Carb Counter Broc/cheese soup
3-ish - probably a Muffin in a Minute recipe I got online
5pm - 6oz. Bottom Round Beef done in crock pot, 6oz of broccoli
6pm-ish - probably 32g I.M. Healthy Soy butter w/ 1/2 ounce chopped pecans and Walden Farms caramel sauce and Walden Farms Chocolate sauce (Walden products are 0 everything per serving - carb, calorie, etc.)

testing my blog for connecting to facebook...

just trying to test my blogs' connection to facebook with Networked Blogs

today's menu, plus tidbits

BFAST
EB Omelette w/cheese bacon, coffee

SNACK¹- 3 babybel light/18g raw almonds

SNACK2 - Ostrim Jerky

LUNCH - Dixie Car Counters Broc/Cheese Soup

DINNER - Schwans Herb Pork Loin (6oz), 170g Broccoli

Lots of snacking room today calorie wise, so I need to watch the carb count - I need to keep mine under 20. Good thing I have a rehearsal tonight - staying active keeps me from eating...

...tidbits...

Everyone should check out Jimmy Moore's "Living La Vida Low Carb" podcast available on iTunes, or check out his blog. I don't have the address on hand, but you can google it. it has a lot of great inormation about low carb an how we can eat healthy in today's world.

also - check out "The Paleo Diet for Endurance Athletes" it's available on amazon. Not strictly "low-carb" literature, but very close.

last one - if you are food network fan, check out Alton Brown a he's dropped 50 pounds by eating a basically low carb diet!!!

finding time part 2...

exercise...what's that? my treadmill has become like a distant relative that I haven't seen in a while. before I laid off around october, I was doing about 20-25 miles a week. it's not a ton, but it was a good amount. the beginning of November saw me stop completely, which was a bad idea!!!

so now I have started on the treadmill again, which is what I was doing last year at this time. I have put about 20 pounds back on, but at 180, I am still 110 pounds lighter than when my son was born...

anyway, I am going to try to get between 5-10 miles a week for the next two weeks, and then start to increase. My goals are to:

1. shave some time off my 5k PR
2. run the Rochester half marathon in September.
3. get down to at least 170.
4. get back to 20-25 miles week by May

I'll keep you posted...

finding time for new goals...

I don't know how many check this but I felt like I owe an update!

I am going to try to update at least a few times a week. the posts will hopefully consist of three things - my recentvmenus, exercise goals, and personal tidbits!

Today's menu:
Bfast - Egg beater omelette w/ cheese and bacon
Snack ¹- 18g almonds, 3 Babybel light
Snack 2 - ¹Ostrim jerky (ostrich and beef)
Lunch - Swanson Fat Free Beef broth seasoned with black pepper, and a sugar free jello cup
Dinner - Schwan's wild blue hake (2 pieces) with homemade tartar sauce, and 170g of asparagus seasoned with olive oil salt and pepper.

All told about 900 calories so far. I am trying to keep my daily under 1860, so I have some snack room left for the day. I had some Christmas bingeing going on, but I have been better recently.

I am running out of characters on this iPhone app, so more about exercise later!!!