mek.highcroft.com

Caffeine Headache

It's a small thing really, but being saturated by it is a bit of a problem. Well, maybe that's not entirely correct...

Working to become LESS saturated by it is the problem. See, it's CAFFEINE and coming down from a caffeine high is basically called withdrawal. No shakes, not sudden desire to go crazy, just a nasty, throbbing headache that will take 24 hours or more to subside.

Wikipedia has an interesting writeup regarding caffeine, including the note that caffeine acts as a psychoactive stimulant in humans where it "acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it alters brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior." Don't forget to look at the images of what happens to spiders loaded up on caffeine... I'm sure the same effect just produces different workday results in humans... Nice. Yeah, years of Mountain Dew and double mochas are taking their toll as I try to wean myself (AGAIN) from caffeine. For now, it's just a lot of discomfort. This will last for a few days.

In the mean time, I'm NOT going "cold-turkey" on the caffeine, really... just
aggressively cutting down on intake. Last time I did this and got through the withdrawal, I felt great and slept better than I had in months. I hope the same will hold true this time.

Till then, I've just got to cut way back on the soft drinks and espresso - which will also help cut out a huge number of calories I'm ingesting every day. Hmmm, it's amazing the things we think of when it comes time to lose weight. Now I just need to get started with the exercise...

Weight Loss? Right. Now.

I've been blogging for years now, sometimes about healthy things, sometimes about nerdy things, sometimes, both. Well, in all these years of blogging, I've noticed only one constant... one that is not even remotely related to this blog but it's on my mind and, well, that's why I have this spot to write down things I think about and then (apparently) forget I ever thought about or mentioned it.

As far bask as 2002, I've mentioned weight loss and my on again / off again intent to actually lose weight. So far the battle has hardly been waged... just another blog entry to be read and swiftly forgot.

Amazingly, the stats I reported on December 15, 2003 are the same. In the FOUR YEARS since I posted my intent to lose weight, I've dropped NOT ONE POUND from that date. Yes, i've gained and lost weight, but here I am, October 30, 2007 and I'm at 255 lbs.

I have a feeling that my weight will actually change for the better over the next six months. Why? Because I'm not trying to go it alone this time.

Cutting portion size a bit, working to cut out most of the soda I consume, and cutting down on the late night snacking will certainly help. Exercising a bit more will help too, especially since my new employer has a fitness center on-site which I can visit anytime.

Most importantly, however, is that I now have a fitness coach who will be in touch with me every week or so to see how I'm doing - to find out if I'm exercising, eating better, feeling better, sleeping better, all that. Basically, I think the premise is that it helps to have someone coaching you through the process, but it also takes a but if harranguing and guilt to get the process started.

My goal is to lose ~30 lbs in the next 6 months. That would bring my weight to 220. I'm sure I will feel better when I weigh less, and maybe I'll be able to keep up with the kids a litle bit better too!

Dusty Disks

It has been a VERY long time since I broke out the golf disks. VERY long time indeed.

I'm waiting for anti-virus software to install so I have a few moments to type an entry here.... why not post about disk golf for the first time in years?

A weekend or two ago, I uncovered the bag of disks under a pile of rather heavy tools including a 4 pound hammer. I'm pretty sure most of my golf disks are pretty severely warped now, but I suppose I'll replace them when I get out to play disk golf again... perhaps when in 2010 or so.

I think it would be fun if Kikboxes could sponsor a disk golf team... where, of course, Stu and I would have to be team captains. I think it would be great to play on such a sponsored disk golf team, especially if it meant we'd get to travel to interesting locations for tournaments (and win millions, of course... well, millions of pesos or lira, maybe). Corporate bigwigs are often out playing ball golf, so why can we not get out where the courses are free and the equipment much less expensive AND engage some of the folks who are likely to buy our products?

Well, until that time arrives, I'll just try to unwarp my golf disks somehow... and remember to keep the heavy tools off them!