AlanBarber.Org
Monday, May 31, 2004
My Dietary Changes
Ok, I promised I’d do a post about my dietary changes so I guess I better get to it.
Along with the exercise routine I made some dietary changes. Now I didn’t go on a “diet” like so many people do. Instead I decided to just make permanent adjustments to my eating style. Personally, I think diets are a crock. All those 30 day diets, liquid diets, atkins, south beach, weight watchers, etc are just a waste of time in my opinion.
People go on diets to loose weight. However, for probably 90% of them once they loose the weight they go off the diet. They return to their old style of eating and as a result just put the pounds right back on. It’s becomes an endless cycle of gain and loss.
This is why I refuse to go on a “diet.” From the very beginning I understood the problem was very simple, I needed to eat less! However, it’s not just about eating less, it’s about eating less of the so called “bad” foods and more of the “good” foods. Notice I said LESS of the “bad” and MORE of the “good.” I didn’t say I was cutting out anything! I wasn’t going to just do a short term change of my eating pattern but make permanent changes.
This is the fundamental idea you need to keep in your brain. Sure you could spend two or three weeks eating nothing but carrot stick and water and you’ll loose the weight. However, soon as you loose your willpower once you are lost. You spend an evening eating an entire box of Oreos or Ben and Jerry’s and you admit defeat and give up.
Instead, what you want to do is cut back on the “bad” foods but still allow yourself to eat them. When you keep the cravings at bay by allowing yourself to have the “bad” foods from time to time you will find that it’s easier to stay the overall course and keep on your new improved diet.
So what are the “bad” foods? The “bad” foods are those that have so called empty calories. For me that means all your junk foods (cookies, candies, chips), sodas (all sodas even so called diet sodas), caffeine, alcohol and everyone’s favorite new “bad” food, high carb foods!
Basically, for me I’ve cut down on junk foods but not got rid of them. For me I know follow very closely the serving size of a snack. If the box says 2 cookies than that’s all I’ll eat now. I’ve cut out sodas completely. Yes even the diet sodas. I’ve managed to loose probably 15-20 pounds just from not drinking soda. Ok, I do occasionally break down and have a soda but I average maybe one a week instead of 4 or 5 a day. In similar light to sodas I’ve cut back on anything with caffeine or alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol have so many side effects I could write a whole paper on them so I won’t. Suffice to say that cutting back can do a lot to improving your overall quality of health.
Now for the big guy, carbs! I’ve cut down on my intake of carbs but not completely. Simple put, I try not to eat potatoes, white bread, etc and stick with whole grain breads, rice, etc.
As for the “good” foods. This includes fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, nuts, high fiber foods, etc.
Along with my food changes I’ve also started taking some vitamin and supplements.
(500mg) oyster shell calcium
(50mg) zinc
(500mg) Vitamin C
(1000mg) Fish oil
(400iu) Vitamin E
1 pill of Osteo Bi-Flex - this is special supplement that claims to help maintain your joints.
Honestly, I don’t know how much good they do but they claim they help. If you take the time to research the claimed benefits of all these things it sure sounds like a good idea to take them?
Remember that above all you have to start exercising too! By changing your diet you can help to remove excess calories but it takes exercise to raise your bodies metabolism so that it also uses the remaining calories more efficiently so you can loose weight.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Week 5 Day 29
Well 2 weeks of being sick has not been fun at all! It's really messed up the program again. Seriously, I seem unable to go more than two weeks without something happening to screw me up.Well Last week was a complete loss. After working out Tuesday I stopped the program entirely due to being sick with tonsillitis. My throat was sore, tonsils swollen, and had a fever. The fever didn't break till Monday. I began anti-biotics Thursday and just finished today. The infection is still there though which has me a bit worried being as I've been sick for 2 weeks now. I don't think I've ever had an infection, bacterial or viral, that's last more than a week or so. Whatever though, I'm feeling probably 90% back to my usual self.
Anyways, as I stated I pretty much stopped all exercise while I was sick. I started working out again Thursday, minus the running. Weight wise I'm at 171 pounds right now. At the end of week 4 I'm should weight 172 pounds so I'm a pound ahead of schedule.
Actually, I've been thinking about my weight goal recently. Originally, I had set the goal to loose 15 pounds and get down to 165 pounds. However, the more I look at myself the more I begin to think that I could stop right now. I'm amazed at how much I've shrunk!
My pants are too big now. I wear 36(waist)/32(length) jeans and I'm using the last hole on my belt just to hold them up. When I first bought those jeans, oh about a year and half ago, I didn't need a belt at all! However, over the last year I cut out sodas and lose enough weight that I needed a belt by Christmas time. So I've come a long way. In fact I just found an old pair of 34(waist) jean shorts that I couldn't wear a year ago and they fit again!
My t-shirts are all getting big too. I've always bought XL because plain old L were usually just a bit too small and with my stomach sticking out I was self-conscience of how I looked. I've slimed down enough and my confidence has grown to where I think I can now buy plain old large. I know I could never get away with mediums. My chest has no definition and my stomach is still a too flabby.
Anyways, me rambling again. The point being that I think I may have actually lost enough weight. Oh heck I'll probably just go though and loose the last 6 or so pounds I have to go. There's still more than enough flab around my waist that I should probably stick with the original plan. I'm not really sure though. Since I'll be going back to the doctor for a checkup this week I'll just have to ask.
Ok, I said I was going to write about issues and things I've learned from this workout plan and I know I didn't today. Tomorrow I'll write a post completely about my dietary changes.
Friday, May 28, 2004
Cats and Dogs
EXCERPTS FROM A DOG'S DAILY DIARY:8:00 a.m.Oh, boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9:30 a.m.Oh, boy! A car ride! My favorite!
9:40 a.m.Oh, boy! A walk! My favorite!
10:30 a.m.Oh, boy! Getting rubbed and petted! My favorite!
11:30 a.m.Oh, boy! Dog food! My favorite!
Noon- Oh, boy! The kids! My favorite!
1:00 p.m.Oh, boy! The yard! My favorite!
4:00 p.m.Oh, boy! To the park! My favorite!
5:00 p.m.Oh, boy! Dog food! My favorite!
5:30 p.m.Oh, boy! Pretty Mums! My favorite!
6:00 p.m.Oh, boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6:30 a.m.Oh, boy! Watching TV with my master! My favorite!
8:30 p.m Oh, boy! Sleeping in master's bed! My favorite!
EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DAILY DIARY:
Day 183 of My Captivity:
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another house plant.
Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded; must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair, must try this on their bed. Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan.
There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary confinement throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to my power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.
I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant, he speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the high metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time...
Thursday, May 27, 2004
More than two downloads at a time with Internet Explorer
If you’re a heavy downloader like I am, I’m sure you get flustrated by the limitations imposed by Internet Explorer sometimes. By default Internet Explorer limits you to two active downloads and 1 queued download at a time.
Microsoft is actually following an internet standard so don’t blame them. They’re following what’s known as RFC(Request for Comment) 2068. It’s the specifications for the HTTP/1.1 protocol standard.
Section 8.1.4 Practical Considerations states
quote:
Clients that use persistent connections SHOULD limit the number of simultaneous connections that they maintain to a given server. A single-user client SHOULD maintain AT MOST 2 connections with any server or proxy. A proxy SHOULD use up to 2*N connections to another server or proxy, where N is the number of simultaneously active users. These guidelines are intended to improve HTTP response times and avoid congestion of the Internet or other networks.
However, this is just a suggestion and not law. You are free to design your client to use as many connections as you want.
So this is how to change it so you can use more than 2 connections at a time in Internet Explorer.
This requires the use of the registry editor so the usual precautions should be taken. That means don’t go messing around in things you don’t know what you’re doing!
1) Click the Start button
2) Select Run
3) Enter in “regedit.exe” and hit enter or click the ok button
4) Navigate till you find
“HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionInternet Settings”
Create two new DWORD values with names (right click inside the right pane and select new DWORD value)
“MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server” = Dword:0000000a
“MaxConnectionsPerServer” = Dword:0000000a
You’ll now be able to download up to 10 files at a time. You can change that setting to whatever you want. However, personally I think if you need to download more than 5 or 10 files simultaneously it’s time to look into getting a dedicated download manager program such as Download Accelerator, Gozilla or GetRight.
I use GetRight personally and love it. When there are many files to download I can just drag and drop till my hearts content then let GetRight handle the hard work while I sit back and wait for my files to get transferred.
on 05/27/2004 at 05:32 PM
Computers & Technology • Tips & Tricks • (1) Comments • Permalink
Friday, May 21, 2004
I hate being sick
Well I have tonsillitis. I went to the doctor yesterday and got some antibiotics so hopefully in another day or so it'll clear up.Actually, I was happy to visit the doctor's office for a change. Why you may ask? Because my doctor wasn't in. No offense to the guy but he's just not a very good doctor. I mean sure he knows his stuff and can diagnose your illness but he lacks bedside manners. You sit around for 15 minutes alone in the room, he walks in, asks what's wrong, does a quick check, writes up a prescription and send you on your way with a nice big bill. You feel like cattle being herded through the slaughterhouse with the guy.
For some odd reason at this office doctors don't see other doctor's patients. So if a doctor is out normally you can't see anyone and have to wait till he/she is back or go to the emergency room. However, for a change they asked if it was urgent and I said yes. So the lady on the phone said she'd squeeze me in with one of the other doctors.
Suffice to say I was happy. So they scheduled me with another doctor. The doctor turned out to be a young women and boy was she nice. She walked in with a smile, made friendly small talk and just generally showed real concern for my health. She even took time to see if I had any other general questions not related to my throat problem. Oh, sure it could be completely faked and nothing but an act but who cares. It's the presentation that counts in the end and she did a heck of a job!
So, I'm on Amoxicillin which seems to be starting to help. The prescription is for three pills a day for the next ten days. Whoopie!
P.S. When you have tonsillitis and it hurts so much you don't want to eat try watermelon. It's great because watermelon is like 90% water so most of it is just liquid you can easily swallow and the little bit of solid breaks down easily too. I was so hungry last night I ended up eating an entire watermelon quarter. It's good stuff!
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
My Weblog's First Birthday
It was this day a year ago that I began this blogging adventure. Man how time flies! I find it very interesting how much my posting style has changed. When I first started I decided that I didn't want the blog to be some silly diary like many bloggers out there. As a result I tried to post only topics tech geeks would be interested in and I decided outright to be careful about using people's names.However, around October I switched over to posting more personal topics about myself. It really started after my birthday. I was getting pretty depressed and didn't really care too much about technology. I started using my blog as a soapbox to rant and rave. I mean sure I still post the occasional tech news bit but now I focus more on topics that interests me and I want to talk about.
I guess the major change in posting styles has been because I've had a major change in my life. I've meet the most amazing woman in the world. For the first time I have someone truly special to share my life with. It's been a little over three and a half months since we first started dating. Although, I had feelings for her since November, and she has since admited she had feels too, it took a while for us to get together. It actually happened at CPAC the end of January. We spent almost the entire trip together and have been a couple since then.
I posted this quote before but it just works perfectly to show my feelings so I'll post it again.
"The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed."
-J. Krishnamurti
So to celebrate this first birthday I'm switching my blog from MovableType to ExpressionEngine. I'm a bit busy right now with some other projects so I hope to get switched over this weekend or the next. I'll just have to see how time works out.
Although, not all is good in my life right now. Unfortunately, I'm sick. I think I got whatever my girlfriend had like 2 weeks ago. I have a sore throat, tender lymph-nodes, mild fever, etc. It's not strep though, that I'm sure off. I can swallow without major pain. I mean swallowing does feel slight pain in the actual act of swallowing but there isn't the burning in the throat. I can chug down a glass of OJ and eat granola cereal without the sharp pain you would normal have with strep. It just came on rather suddenly Monday. I went running and my throat was a bit sore but it passed by evening. Again on Tuesday when I ran my throat felt sore but this time it didn't go away and by nighttime it felt like it does this morning.
Whatever, I'll live.
Monday, May 17, 2004
Week 3 Day 16
I've decided to cover actual topics about my exercise plan to share some of my experiences I've learned. First though I'll give my update.Well week 2 is over so here is where I stand.
My weight is 173.5 pounds. I'm scheduled to weigh 176 pounds at the end of week 2. Since the plan is to loose two pounds a week I'm still a good week ahead of schedule. This is great news!
I'm doing ok with all my exercises. My only problem spot has been my abs. Doing the ab exercises are just still difficult to do so I've been bad and skipped twice last week. I did make up and do them this weekend because I felt guilty though. I'm doing very well on my running. In fact I ran almost every day last week! I've just had so much pent up energy this last week and running has been one of the ways to help me relax.
Speaking of running I'm suppose to add 5 more minutes to the running portion. That is I do a 10 minute walk to warm up, 15 minute jog/run and a 10 minute walk to cool down now. I don't think it should be too much of a problem to add 5 minutes but I think I might just slow down my pace a bit so I don't kill myself.
So anyways today I wanted to write about the energy I've gained.
You want to start working out and get into shape. You've though about trying to loose a few pounds. You try to run but you're out of breath and feel like you're about to collapse after just five minutes of jogging or you can barely go up a flight of stairs without needing to sit down and rest. I know the feeling!
No matter how much you want to you just don't seem to have the energy to go exercise. Well now that I've been doing this exercise routine for about 4 weeks now I've found out something wonderful. After about 2-3 weeks of exercise you'll actually start gaining energy. Yes that's right! I went through about 2 weeks of just hating to go out to run or do my exercises. It was hard, I would get tired and my whole body just felt like trash afterwards. I pushed through though. There's this first hump of lack of energy. Once you get into the routine you'll find that as your metabolism rises and you start dropping pounds you're energy levels go through the roof.
All of the sudden you can run up and down flights of stairs without being winded. You actually try to run more than you plan to just to see how long you can go now!
That energy follows you all day too. I used to take forever to get out of bed in the mornings. Now I can jump out and get moving as soon as my eyes open. I no longer need shots of caffeine from coffee or tea to wake me up or sodas to keep me going throughout the day.
It's a great feeling. So, just remember though it might be hard to get going once you push through that first hump you'll find your daily life gets easier and easier.