Toe touching

I have rarely ever been able to touch my toes. I have done it very few times without bending my knees over my entire life. After two-three months of stretching everyday, I am finally able to touch my toes.

Pretty exciting!

I'll keep stretching. I think most of my problems before was not realizing that more of the stretch is in the lower back than it is in the hamstrings. It is similar to another problem I had once.

Before I joined the US Army, about six months before, I was unable to perform a perfect form push-up. I just never realized how to do it and how to bend the right ways in my arms.

Of course, the Army made me do lots of push-ups. I can now do a good amount even though I gained a good bit of weight. I am working on losing it, but it can be slow.

Squatting is another big project of mine. I had trouble staying in a cross-fit program due to lack of being able to squat with perfect form. I'll start working on that next.

Getting stuff done

I have been getting a lot done.

I have been counting calories to stay around 1800. I have been drinking 166 or more ounces of water per day. My dissertation is sitting at my proposal stage and I have a population and sample lined up. I stretch and am getting really good at remembering my medicines.

I am looking forward to the next couple of iterations with my dissertation proposal. I think it will be accepted soon.

As for weight loss, there is probably minimal of that yet. I will get to it. My main goal isn't to look better or anything but deal with a fatty liver issue.

I have read probably 50 books over the last month. This would be bigger but I have been somewhat scattered, as two weeks ago I was dog sitting and house sitting.

I have been contemplating a single question: If my life were ideal, what would I do? Obviously, this leaves a few steps in between, but I should start figuring out those steps soon.

More readers

Yesterday was a big day for the blog. I simply made the difference by scheduling a post telling people about my blog in the middle of the night.

I had not set up auto-tweets too much in the past due to people hacking my Twitters. I made my password super-secure by using all kinds of symbols. Through that, I'll try it again.

I hope this readership keeps on, but I don't have any followers or replies as of now. Not on this blog anyway.

I am sure that things are looking up.

Tomorrow is test day in class for my students. After that, we'll give a halfway point grade and be on our races for the end.

I am still walking regularly, even though the monsoon season is in Tucson. We had a big rainstorm from it yesterday. It is humid, but nothing compared to Georgia.

Have a good day.

Without a car for a bit

I have been very busy since work Tuesday. My car is having battery or alternator troubles. I worked on it a bit on Wednesday, but don't think I have all the tools. That means I will have to wait until I can pay someone.

I have been walking. In fact, the entire family has, but primarily me. I am getting great exercise and building a habit that isn't dependent on the car.

I am working on quizzes for my class and trying to get back to a sense of normal. I have been busy, and tired. I am a bit out of shape, but a brisk walk doesn't wear me down. Neither does carrying pretty heavy loads during the mile walk back.

I could use the bus, but it would just be for a stop and the crossing (the dangerous part) remains even if I rode the bus. I should be able to get back to regular blogging soon, but for now I am trying to adjust to walking more.

Response.

Work is going steady. I am in my third week out of my ten-week (this term happens to have ten classes out of a normal 11-week term) term. My students and I normally grab more rapport over time.

I am having a very busy day. I have laundry, some shopping, homeschooling, blogging, and cooking all to do and most of it is done. I like busy. It gets hard if I hit snags, but I love to have a full schedule.

I am listening to Mike Cernovich's Thinking Big podcast (check out his excellent Gorilla Mindset). I have done some reading on Lt. Col. Poole's Afrique: A Warning for America. I am feeling like re-reading Taleb's Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder (Incerto) as a response to the Orlando incident.

I try always to have a response to big events. Most of the time, it is double down on productivity or re-reading a book. What do you do to react to real events? I would recommend self-defense training. I would recommend more frequent exercise. Only your body can respond to events faster than you know they are happening.

Falling behind

I am busy preparing for an upcoming doctoral residency. I'll still try to post, but it has been hard to keep up like I had before.

There is a lot of editing to do. It is harder to find time to cook, so I am at the point of quickly grabbing a meal and then back to work. Keeping on track has been difficult.

I am not sure what is different except for mindset. I need to think tougher.

One book that is relevant to that which I have not read in a while is Mike Cernovich's Gorilla Mindset.

I need to read it again. It is not Kindle Unlimited eligible.

What are some strategies you readers use to or books you read to get motivated?

I guess, besides diet, productivity is at an all time high for me.

Busy yesterday, blogging today

I committed to four blog posts a week when I made this blog active again. I have kept to that. I didn't post yesterday which makes me responsible for four solid days of blogging.

I had an interview yesterday. I am hoping to hear back today or tomorrow. That is one reason why I didn't post yesterday. On top of that, I finished the first draft of my Prospectus. It is only about six pages, but I pulled the data from a few places and it made the work arduous.

I cannot wait until I have worked out enough that I am not sore after every time. I took a weight training class in high school and never got sore after a point, but those were controlled conditions and I am getting older. #Yourenot16anymore.

How can I make myself more valuable to you readers? Let me know if you read regularly. More book reviews? Less?
I'd be glad to hear back from you.

End of week recap

So, I am not down to 255 from 269 a month ago. I am keeping a record in my fitbook lite.


Drinking eight glasses of water is easy. Just pick up some cheap flavor enhancers. I like the Kool-aid Brand.
Kool-Aid, Liquid Drink Mix, Grape, 1.62oz Container (Pack of 4)

I have had good improvements on the blog and posted 4x/week.

How are you improving?

I can keep adding on because of my willpower. Fourteen pounds is just a start.

Cheers.

Results arriving from habits

So, I started a program of ditching donuts, and using my Fitlosophy Fitbook Lite 6-Week Weight-Loss Journal on April 4th. Today is the 25th, and I am down 14 lbs.

It has been hard work. I even pushed down to 1400 calories a day. This was part of an effort to combat fatty liver. The GI doctor either hates me or loves me.

I am not sure, but I think I can get much lower. I will keep working towards 1400 calories a day. I have committed to it for three months. It has not been that hard.

I blame willpower. I have read many books on willpower, such as Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength and I think I've finally got to a point where I can beat my gut anytime.

Buy your  Fitlosophy Fitbook Lite 6-Week Weight-Loss Journal at Amazon. You won't regret it.

Progress by fitbook

I've made some wonderful progress through a book the Wounded Warrior Project sent me. It is called fitbook lite.
It focuses on several goals.

1. Move 30 (exercise for 30 minutes a day).
2. Sip 8 (8 ounces of water a day).
3. Eat 5 (5 servings of fruits and vegetables).
4. Stop by 9 (Stop eating at 9 PM). 

I have only been at it for a week during the six week program, but we'll see how it goes. I have kept up with every goal for six days a week or better.

Too busy for exercise?

Exercise is the culprit to my productivity.

I seem to make time for journaling, meditation, and many other activities that help my productivity. I get plenty of sleep and am eating a diet with enough vegetables and fruits to keep my goals alive.

I do not make time to exercise.

I recognize that I am busy with my family and homeschooling, as well as being a doctoral student. I need to make more time for exercise.

I want to do it five days a week, but the shyness of being seen exercising seems to change that.

Oh, well. Time to get dressed for night and do some calisthenics.