diddlee

I have in the past few years posted some worthy resolutions for the New Year. Some I've managed to accomplish. Others I worked at and still found myself at the same place at the next Jan. 1st. Lately I've been doing some running. My goal was to do running and swimming to go with biking so I could do a summer triathlon with Chris H. Bev bought me some great technology to help get that done. Two HRM's and a GPS for my bike. Last night I wore the HRM while running on the treadmill. I didn't feel my best. Probably due to all the rich food I've been eating. I feel downright bloated. But after a week or more running, I should continue my weight loss with my goal of 187 arriving before April. There will be need for some discussion about Mother's situation. Her ability to care for herself has declined even further. Whatever plans we make for the year 2010 will have to include a plan for her care. But I think now my big resolution will be to run the 50k Cheaha event next...

Nikki snapped this photo of Santa on the front porch after delivering presents to Max and David on Christmas Eve. It was a rainy night but the old boy came through.

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As quickly as time has been passing, it is no wonder that Christmas is at our doorstep. I've watched the weather forecast with interest. They mentioned snow last week. It would be a dream fulfilled if only it would snow at Christmas. But now they say it won't happen. Although the precipitation is coming, temperatures won't get low enough for snow. But that isn't a surprise. I don't expect to see snow in my lifetime unless I move far north. We've filled Santa's bag with lots of goodies. Two little boys should have a really good time tearing into them. Bev should really enjoy her gift. She's wanted a long arm quilting machine for a long time. I don't know what I'm getting. I'm far more interested in giving the kids their Christmas. Ruth and I have traded time so we'll each have a day off for the holiday. I'll take Christmas Eve off. She'll have Christmas day. Then back to the routine.

After having two good days for mountain bike riding, today has dawned rainy and cold. I awoke early this morning to the sound of pouring rain. Right now I am looking out on our lake that is brimming over its banks. The water is over half way up past the canoe. The wood that marks the boundary of the water's edge is floating away. And it is still coming down. And it is a cold rain too. I walked to the garage through the run-off. Wow! That was cold water. It really has been the year for rain. I don't know how many inches of rain above average but it seems nature is making up for those years of drought. Those drought years made for good bike riding. Perhaps there will soon be a break in the weather and we can get back to training for the Safari. It is only 114 days away now. 

Today was the first rain-free day in a few. So I got out and took advantage by riding the mountain bike trail. It was cold. Not only was there low temps, it was breezy and cloudy. So Chris H. and I rode a big loop of around 12 miles. Because today was pizza day, I had to get in some significant exercise. The bike riding filled the bill. My weight is down to 200 even. In just about 10 days, I've knocked off 10 lbs. I am headed toward the 190 mark quickly but even more important is the desire to remove the flab from my midsection. With lots more running, and swimming, and biking; I expect to succeed.

Another day too cold to ride. I think over the first few years of my riding career, I must have drawn some great luck to have lots of riding days. Lately the cold and rain have seriously curtailed my chances. Tonight it is cold and breezy with rain coming our way. The forecast includes a chance of freezing rain late tonight into morning. If they are wrong about the amount, I could have to come in for Ruth. Maybe we won't have a severe freezing rain event. The boys will be spending the night. Most mornings they wake up very early. That makes for long days. But they are excited and happy to be at Diddlee's. I probably ought to go in and sleep with them. Then when they awake and find me there, they might be less inclined to get out of bed. Bev's quilting machine arrived. I joked that she was not to snoop and try to figure out what it was. (She knew it was coming) Anyway it is in the basement with a do not open till Christmas sticker on it.

Weather has turned cold here in Sylacauga. After that balmy Wednesday morning, we have had 20's return for lows. That has really put a pinch on bicycle riding. The battery in the Honda needed replacing but the Yamaha shop didn't have it in. They are supposed to call tomorrow. That means I get to ride in a truck instead of on the bike. While I was out there pulling it down, I took a good look at the mountain bike I built. Nice looking machine. It performed well on the ride yesterday. Having those disc brakes that weren't affected by mud and water was nice. Paul was riding well. He ran off and left me a couple of times. UPS called to say they would deliver Bev's Christmas present tomorrow. She is excited. 

I got the chance to go riding this morning. Paul and I did a 10 mile 1:30 ride on the trail. The rain overnight didn't make it too mushy. There were a few places with standing water I've never seen before. The new disc brake setup was great for those. No problem with muddy rims for brakes. I did a short run last night. Combined with the good ride this morning I am going to rest tonight. My weight is coming off. The scale reported 202 this morning after the ride. My goal, however is to eliminate or nearly eliminate my midriff bulge. That may be a particularly tall order. But worth it I hope.

The weather was just a bit rainy so I didn't get out riding again today. I took the time to add the disc brakes to the bike frame. I ordered the 185mm set to allow sufficient braking power for my weight. A weight I hope to lose. The plan to eat properly and lose back down to 190 is going along. All that junk I've been eating is making it harder to maintain resolve. But I'm doing it. It will be harder to get past Christmas without a mishap but by starting early, I should be in the hunt for the first of the year. Tonight is supposed to be stormy. I am watching weather radar and I see a big blob of rain headed this way. I was meeting Paul for a ride tomorrow but at this rate, it may be soggy.

Here it is another day of being good (food-wise). And I really wanted to say how hard it is but that isn't true. It just takes paying attention. It takes putting down those cravings for all those carbohydrates I've been consuming. I've also had a dull headache since I stopped downing so much DMD. Caffeine withdrawal. Here I am at work having one. I still had some in the refrigerator. I'll only allow 1 today and the other tomorrow. Then it is H2only. There is fuzzy information about the sweetness of aspartame drinks causing you to be even more hungry. And Arnold mentioned a link between aspartame and joint pain. I don't know if that one is confirmed. Oops. I didn't have a cup so I drafted the other bottle of DMD. Looks like a water night tomorrow. That's ok. I need to be drinking more water anyway.

It sure is hard to give up all the extra stuff I've been sucking down. But I am glad to have the effort under way to get back to my best riding weight.

How did I do it? A couple of years ago, I used Diet Organizer to help me lose down to 190 lbs. I was really lean and able to ride well. Since then, I've let it get away from me. My weight is now 210. I had started getting it down with an awesome amount of exercise but that isn't practical. I am starting today to reel in those impulses. I got an account online at Fitday and set a goal for my weight. The cold weather we're having will hamper the progress but I'll hit the gym to add to the program. I have to hold myself accountable. So what are some specifics? Firstly, I'll swear off breads for the next four weeks. No fatty things either. NO sugars. That means leaving off bagels, bread, crackers, oreos, candy, peanuts, peanut-butter... pretty much everything. What can I do. Veg, fruit, water, and such. It also means registering everything I get. Good food journals.