I think part of my problem might have been that I was at a plateau, a really long, boring, barren one. Nothing that I was doing was helping my weight, my blood pressure or anything else. I tried doing Carido, Weight lifting, etc. My doctor upped my medication for my hypertension, then dragged it down, then brought it up again. Even my blood pressure was plateaued, right around 145/100... which isn't good.
I'm not sure what happened in the last 2 1/2 weeks, but Friday I got some good news. Perhaps it was Stacy's class, perhaps its the B12 I've been injecting, perhaps its changing my eating habits or working out more... I don't know. What I do know is that on Friday I found out that I'd gone from a 44 inch waist to a 41.5 inch waist. Which is good, its not what I need, I need to lose more, but its a step in the right direction.
I kind of feel like I'm on an episode of House. The one where they treat a problem with a ton of medications and when the patient starts improving, House says, "Now start taking each one away, one by one to figure out which is helping him." I don't want to do that just yet, but it may have to be done.
November 9th is my official BCA (Body Composition Assessment) and November 10th is the PRT (Physical Readiness Test). I should be good on the PRT, though I would like to try for an excellent. The BCA is what I am worrying about. Failing this one, is the 2nd failure I will have on my record in 4 years... which means, just like baseball, three strikes... you're out.
I really want to do all of this for my health. So that I feel better, so that I look better. Its hard, however, not to be motivated by the fact that I could lose my job. The worst part of this, is the Navy. For decades there has been zero emphasis on fitness and nutrition. Eating healthy on a ship, even today is a Herculean feat. That last time I was on a ship, the only way I could eat healthy was to buy a freezer, put it in my shop and pack it with healthy food.
So, way back in 2005/2006, for some reason, the Navy got on the "Culture of Fitness" wagon. They revamped their instructions and decided that if you had more than 3 PFA failures in 4 years, you would be ADSEPed (Administratively Separated) out of the Navy. They made a big deal of instituting a culture of fitness into the Navy and that everyone should work out at least 3 times per week during working hours. I have yet to be at a command that truly believes or has put forth this "Culture of Fitness".
Most ideas of fitness are making sure their people get afford the opportunity to PT. There's no real training on how to do that properly. There is no instruction on how to change your eating habits. Its still the Navy, expecting you to do what they tell you to with zero help. If I could do one thing, one thing to change the Navy before I retire, it would be to get the upper chain of command of the Navy to understand that just because you put something down on paper in an instruction, doesn't mean its going to change anything. They need to back it up with action.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Joys of Silk...
Part of the class that I am taking deals with nutrition. A lot of it is very good information, like not eating after seven p.m. unless you have to and then making it leafy green vegetables or something like an apple with a little peanut butter. I also asked, its ok to drink liquids after 7 p.m., but you shouldn't really be drinking caffine that late.
It also came with a shopping list. Some of it, I knew already... fruits, vegetables, chicken, turkey, etc. One I had already discovered on my own - Mrs. Dash's salt-free spices! I have three different ones the Lemon Pepper, Italian Medely and the Tomato Basil. The Instructor, Stacy Dinter, has told us that you should really only be consuming around 2400mg of sodium per day. Adding these spices to a chicken breast or other meal gives it a lot of flavor without adding to your sodium intake.
One, that I heard about, the topic of this post, is Silk - Soy Milk. I have seen and heard about it from other people... and when I saw it on the list, I was really hesitant to try it. I have tried other soy products before. Yes, several years ago, but... my opinion of them was that they tasted horrible. However, I am trying to give this my all, so I bought what was on the list: Vanilla Lite Soy Milk and Chocolate Lite Soy Milk.
The other night, with my dinner of a lemon pepper chicken breast and vegetables, I add 1 cup (yes, exactly one cup as the serving size states on the back of the box.) to a glass for my drink. I was expecting a nasty, chalky soy taste. The box states that 1 cup is 90 calories, which isn't too bad. I sat down with my dinner and began to eat. First drink of soy milk and I was impressed. It was very smooth, very much like regular chocolate milk and had zero soy taste or nasty after taste.
So, what I have learned from this... I recommend Silk ;)
It also came with a shopping list. Some of it, I knew already... fruits, vegetables, chicken, turkey, etc. One I had already discovered on my own - Mrs. Dash's salt-free spices! I have three different ones the Lemon Pepper, Italian Medely and the Tomato Basil. The Instructor, Stacy Dinter, has told us that you should really only be consuming around 2400mg of sodium per day. Adding these spices to a chicken breast or other meal gives it a lot of flavor without adding to your sodium intake.
One, that I heard about, the topic of this post, is Silk - Soy Milk. I have seen and heard about it from other people... and when I saw it on the list, I was really hesitant to try it. I have tried other soy products before. Yes, several years ago, but... my opinion of them was that they tasted horrible. However, I am trying to give this my all, so I bought what was on the list: Vanilla Lite Soy Milk and Chocolate Lite Soy Milk.
The other night, with my dinner of a lemon pepper chicken breast and vegetables, I add 1 cup (yes, exactly one cup as the serving size states on the back of the box.) to a glass for my drink. I was expecting a nasty, chalky soy taste. The box states that 1 cup is 90 calories, which isn't too bad. I sat down with my dinner and began to eat. First drink of soy milk and I was impressed. It was very smooth, very much like regular chocolate milk and had zero soy taste or nasty after taste.
So, what I have learned from this... I recommend Silk ;)
Monday, October 17, 2011
First of 10 Days...
So today I started the first of a 10 day "fat burning" program... because that's what I need to get rid of. I've been working on weight lifting, which helps build muscles and speed up metabolism. Last week I started taking Vitamin B12 twice a week. The last few months have been seriously disheartening, as I haven't seen any results. Each week we have to get weighed, taped and measured so the Navy can monitor my improvement. There has been zero improvement. Even the Command's Fitness Leader, who has seen the work outs I have been doing and what I have been eating, was speechless. He did this thing where he stood there staring after I asked him a question... I hate that. I wanted to slap him.
Friday, however, I saw something. Maybe its a glimmer of hope, a sliver lining in the black storm clouds that have been hanging around the last six months... but it was something. I put on my uniform, buttoned my pants, zipped up the fly and adjusted my belt. My pants slipped down towards my hips. Now that's not that impressive, one of the great things about our new Navy Working Uniforms (NWUs) is that they have adjustable elastic waistbands... these things fit like pajamas, I love them! However, the change was in my belt. Normally, I had to buckle it with the tip of the belt butting right up against the buckle. Friday, I had to sinch it down and there was a good 1 1/2 to 2 inches of belt past the buckle... that is a good change.
I enjoyed Stacy's work out this morning, it was fun, there were new work outs that I hadn't done over and over before, and from what she has said I think it will keep being interesting. There are 7 of us out there this morning... I was the only guy. For some reason, maybe its just the way I was raised, I didn't feel out of place.
I'll keep you informed on the rest of the program :)
Friday, however, I saw something. Maybe its a glimmer of hope, a sliver lining in the black storm clouds that have been hanging around the last six months... but it was something. I put on my uniform, buttoned my pants, zipped up the fly and adjusted my belt. My pants slipped down towards my hips. Now that's not that impressive, one of the great things about our new Navy Working Uniforms (NWUs) is that they have adjustable elastic waistbands... these things fit like pajamas, I love them! However, the change was in my belt. Normally, I had to buckle it with the tip of the belt butting right up against the buckle. Friday, I had to sinch it down and there was a good 1 1/2 to 2 inches of belt past the buckle... that is a good change.
I enjoyed Stacy's work out this morning, it was fun, there were new work outs that I hadn't done over and over before, and from what she has said I think it will keep being interesting. There are 7 of us out there this morning... I was the only guy. For some reason, maybe its just the way I was raised, I didn't feel out of place.
I'll keep you informed on the rest of the program :)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Day 2 - 31 Day Boot Camp
In hopes of seriously kicking my own ass for the next month before our command's official PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) I am working out like crazy. Today was day 2 of my 31 Day Boot Camp program. Not a bad work out, only about 30-40 minutes, but it was all concentrated on my arms.
Started with Dumb Bell Press and moved on to: Split Squat Push Press, Front Dumb Bell Raises, One Arm Dumb Bell Rows, Standing Dumb Bell Curls, Seated Tricep Press and Pile Dumb Bell Squats. All of it concentrated on my arms, so they feel like absolute jelly.
I have another three workouts this week in this program, and then along with the regular Physical Training I have to do with the command, 3 days per week, plus one more on Tuesday afternoons, next week I will be starting a 10-day fat burning class that an acquaintance is doing. Last week I worked out for approximately 12 hours. This week it will be about the same and next week, well it will increase a little.
Hopefully, this will have some effect. We shall see.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Saturday morning musings
So, I didn't start this to whine about my weight, or the prospects of being forced out of the military before retirement. I started it as a place where I can put down my thoughts on the direction that my life is heading. I've always been the type of person who internalizes everything. I am constantly thinking and mulling over situations, until I find the answers that I am happy with. Perhaps writing down those musings will help me avoid making the same mistakes that I have in the past. Only time will tell.
Its Saturday morning, one of the first in a very long time where I haven't been up and doing something to keep my mind off of everything. I forgot what the solitude of being alone is like. Part of me missed it, part of me didn't. Its like anything in life, we are creatures conflicted over what we want. When we get what we want, we want something else. Maybe it wasn't always like this, but as they say it is what it is. I do have stuff to do this weekend. At noon I have friends coming over and we will be playing the roleplaying game, Exalted. I am currently browning meat for the chili that I will be putting in the crock pot soon.
Tomorrow, Sunday... no real plans yet. I have some ideas, but we'll see. There are things that I want to do, things that... well, let me preface this first with I am not saying that I regret the sacrifices I made for some people. I feel that in a relationship, there are sacrifices made on all sides. Now, though, being alone, on my own, I am faced with the daunting prospect of keeping myself from falling back into some of my old habits, like isolationism. I used to love to write, I still do, but I took that time and I gave it to other people. Now that I have it back, the creative side in me, wants to break loose.
I have been reading up on self-epublishing. Very interesting market. Back in the day, it used to be that you could spend $500-1500 to get a publisher to knock out a couple hundred copies of your book. You, of course, had to do all the marketing and selling. It never really worked. Only in a few rare, extreme cases did anyone really benefit from it. With epublishing its opened new doors. Sony E-readers, Nooks and Kindles, cellphones and iPads are opening up a new way for people to experience literature.
I've always wanted to be published, I just don't know if I really feel like dealing with the rejection that comes with it. Most authors are rejected by the majority of publishers, before one of them picks them up. Stephen King had thrown Carrie in the trash because it had been rejected so many times. Luckily, his wife was smart enough to pull it out for him. Self-publishing however could be the middle ground that I am looking for. I would easily be able to get people to edit, critique and assist me with revisions. Once it is done, the file is submitted to Amazon, who transfers it into their Kindle format and then its placed in the marketplace for sale. The author dictates how much to charge for it. Their fee for doing this, around .15 cents on the dollar. So you don't pay anything up front, like it used to be. They simply take a small portion of the sales when someone purchases the book.
So, that is where I am this morning. One of the many things that I am considering.
Its Saturday morning, one of the first in a very long time where I haven't been up and doing something to keep my mind off of everything. I forgot what the solitude of being alone is like. Part of me missed it, part of me didn't. Its like anything in life, we are creatures conflicted over what we want. When we get what we want, we want something else. Maybe it wasn't always like this, but as they say it is what it is. I do have stuff to do this weekend. At noon I have friends coming over and we will be playing the roleplaying game, Exalted. I am currently browning meat for the chili that I will be putting in the crock pot soon.
Tomorrow, Sunday... no real plans yet. I have some ideas, but we'll see. There are things that I want to do, things that... well, let me preface this first with I am not saying that I regret the sacrifices I made for some people. I feel that in a relationship, there are sacrifices made on all sides. Now, though, being alone, on my own, I am faced with the daunting prospect of keeping myself from falling back into some of my old habits, like isolationism. I used to love to write, I still do, but I took that time and I gave it to other people. Now that I have it back, the creative side in me, wants to break loose.
I have been reading up on self-epublishing. Very interesting market. Back in the day, it used to be that you could spend $500-1500 to get a publisher to knock out a couple hundred copies of your book. You, of course, had to do all the marketing and selling. It never really worked. Only in a few rare, extreme cases did anyone really benefit from it. With epublishing its opened new doors. Sony E-readers, Nooks and Kindles, cellphones and iPads are opening up a new way for people to experience literature.
I've always wanted to be published, I just don't know if I really feel like dealing with the rejection that comes with it. Most authors are rejected by the majority of publishers, before one of them picks them up. Stephen King had thrown Carrie in the trash because it had been rejected so many times. Luckily, his wife was smart enough to pull it out for him. Self-publishing however could be the middle ground that I am looking for. I would easily be able to get people to edit, critique and assist me with revisions. Once it is done, the file is submitted to Amazon, who transfers it into their Kindle format and then its placed in the marketplace for sale. The author dictates how much to charge for it. Their fee for doing this, around .15 cents on the dollar. So you don't pay anything up front, like it used to be. They simply take a small portion of the sales when someone purchases the book.
So, that is where I am this morning. One of the many things that I am considering.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Crunch Time - Day One
So, here it is: Crunch Time. I have almost literally 30 days to get in better shape, or its another PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) failure on my record. One wasn't terrible, two is toeing to close to the line and three, well as they say in baseball... three strikes, you're out.
How to explain this to anyone who isn't in the Navy or even the military. It does not matter how good I am at my job. It doesn't matter if I am one of the best sailors in my command or even the Navy for that matter, if my body does not match their ideal, they will kick me out. The worst part is the method that is used for testing us; it isn't even scientific. Here's what they do:
During our PFA cycle we have to do weigh-ins. If you are over your weigh limit, you get taped, or as we call it: Roped & Choked. The method is simple in fact, just like many of the pseudo-science aspects of the Navy. The person conducting the measurement uses a specially designed measuring tape to measure the person's neck circumference and then their abdomen circumference. The numbers are subtracted from each other, neck from waist, and then compared against their height. This "number" then tells what percentage of fat the person's body holds. If you've done any cursory research into body fat, you'll know that the only accurate scientific method for measuring body fat is water immersion.
There is, however, no way to change this. The Navy won't change their minds on how they do things, because it means they have an easy way to discharge people. Fail three PFAs and you are out in as little as 1 year. So, utilizing this method, is extremely cost effective for them.
That's where I am now. I have one failure on my record. I have four years left to retire. Which means I have 9 PFAs left to go. It used to be that if you made it to 18 years, you were safe. Not so any more. Now, with new changes to the instruction, if you get three failures, it doesn't matter how long you've been in, you're out. Which could be the difference between getting some chump change severance pay in a lump sum to a retirement check for the rest of your life.
Hence the title; its Crunch Time. I have got to do everything and anything to pass the PFA this cycle. I've been working at it, working hard. I started off cutting down what I was eating and increasing my work outs to 5 days a week. That didn't work. The next month, I further decreased what I was eating and increased my work outs to 6-7 days a week; still nothing.
So, I'm trying out a couple of different things. Rearranging my eating habits again. I have new blood pressure medication. I'm trying out a 31 day fitness boot camp work out routine, along with my other regular works out, and I'm going to try B12. Supposedly, it helps, but there isn't any research to back up many of the claims I have heard, but if there are people saying it has helped them, its worth a shot.
I'll keep you posted. Cross your fingers for me.
How to explain this to anyone who isn't in the Navy or even the military. It does not matter how good I am at my job. It doesn't matter if I am one of the best sailors in my command or even the Navy for that matter, if my body does not match their ideal, they will kick me out. The worst part is the method that is used for testing us; it isn't even scientific. Here's what they do:
During our PFA cycle we have to do weigh-ins. If you are over your weigh limit, you get taped, or as we call it: Roped & Choked. The method is simple in fact, just like many of the pseudo-science aspects of the Navy. The person conducting the measurement uses a specially designed measuring tape to measure the person's neck circumference and then their abdomen circumference. The numbers are subtracted from each other, neck from waist, and then compared against their height. This "number" then tells what percentage of fat the person's body holds. If you've done any cursory research into body fat, you'll know that the only accurate scientific method for measuring body fat is water immersion.
There is, however, no way to change this. The Navy won't change their minds on how they do things, because it means they have an easy way to discharge people. Fail three PFAs and you are out in as little as 1 year. So, utilizing this method, is extremely cost effective for them.
That's where I am now. I have one failure on my record. I have four years left to retire. Which means I have 9 PFAs left to go. It used to be that if you made it to 18 years, you were safe. Not so any more. Now, with new changes to the instruction, if you get three failures, it doesn't matter how long you've been in, you're out. Which could be the difference between getting some chump change severance pay in a lump sum to a retirement check for the rest of your life.
Hence the title; its Crunch Time. I have got to do everything and anything to pass the PFA this cycle. I've been working at it, working hard. I started off cutting down what I was eating and increasing my work outs to 5 days a week. That didn't work. The next month, I further decreased what I was eating and increased my work outs to 6-7 days a week; still nothing.
So, I'm trying out a couple of different things. Rearranging my eating habits again. I have new blood pressure medication. I'm trying out a 31 day fitness boot camp work out routine, along with my other regular works out, and I'm going to try B12. Supposedly, it helps, but there isn't any research to back up many of the claims I have heard, but if there are people saying it has helped them, its worth a shot.
I'll keep you posted. Cross your fingers for me.
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