Friday, March 9, 2007

“This is How We Do Spring Break”

For some, that quote might be a prelude to heavy binge drinking or lounging on a beach of an island, for three of us…it translates to chasing birds and sleeping at rest areas.

Our spring break started off with relative ease. We hopped into our snack-filled Kia Sorento, and after a few obligatory stops (our apartments, McDonald’s) we were on our way around 7:45am.

We traversed the 5 quickly making our way outside of Los Angeles. PCH had practically any traffic, and while our morning had started off with muggy weather, the coastline drive was gorgeous for a majority of the way up. Here are some scenic shots:






We also got to check out the Hearst Castle visitor center (didn’t have time for the castle itself). Our trip hit an exciting note when we took the 17-mile drive near Monterey. We got to hang out on the beaches, Peter made a new friend, and we even got to see the 18th hole for the Pebble Beach golf course!







Afterwards, we breezed through Cannery Row (the inspiration for Steinbeck’s novel of the same name), and eventually made it up to San Francisco.

We were a little later than we had hoped and would not make it to our planned campsite of China Beach. So, while trying to contact all of our native SF friends, we ate some calamari, chowder, and fish and chips (I ate a shrimp pasta which was inevitably a bad decision). Afterwards, while Peter was fruitlessly trying to find us a place to stay, Adam was cautiously watching over me as I was so close to vomiting so many times (pretty, I know).

Since we couldn’t find anywhere, we decided to get some of our driving done at night (since the closest rest area was about 2 hours away). In addition to telling embarrassing stories, we traversed the foggy mountains and ended up at a rest area around 2am. We got situated and tried going to sleep, for which Adam apparently had a talent. Instead of Peter and I being the loudest snorers (as accustomed to being), Adam shuck the entire car. (It probably didn’t help that we were all within 6 feet of each other in an enclosed space. Peter and I got some sleep, but most of our night was spent giggling about Adam’s narcolepsy. He would be talking to us, laughing at jokes with us, and then literally TWO SECONDS later, within the same breath, he would be snoring up a storm!!!




Great first day of our long-awaited spring break road trip.

And just so you know, THIS, is how we do spring break.

The Week of Gary (for Serious this time)

Did you hear that? Wait...wait a minute there it is again....*KERPLUNK*. That was Week of Gary falling to its miserable demise. Of all of my expectations (6 total), I completed half of one. But let me highlight a realization I arrived at last week.

• Partying several nights leads to 1) inefficient workouts, 2) unhealthy late night binges, 3) loss of money.

Was it a fun week? Yes and no. But my continuing to feel immobile is unacceptable, repulsive to me. That said, let's try it again.

THIS time, I'm going to be in seclusion (b/c I sort of need a break from everything). I really want to test myself, see if the hard work I put into something can produce the results I want.

• Still working out everyday
• New song or two
• Figure out some recording stuff
• Catch up on reading
• By doing some work at work
• Get to the low 270s, preferably 270 itself (I'm at 279 right now after a few days of 283)

Gotta do it for me.

Day 2

Yesterday ended with a *SPLAT*.

I had pasta. We're talking A LOT OF CALORIES. Eh.

This morning I had yogurt (170) and a Kellogg's diet bar (90).

Disappointed? Yes, I am.

Day 1 recap

Rather than talk about how annoying yesterday was (because of frustrating classes), I'd like to focus on the good.

• Good: I ate in some moderation.
• Breakfast: 3 eggs (210 calories), 4 thin pieces of ham/turkey (40), 1 piece of 7-grain toast (100 calories? i need to check)
• Not so good:
• Lunch/Dinner: turkey sandwich, macaroni and cheese (1800-2000?)
• Good: Exercise was okay
• 10 minutes on the bike (burned 100 calories)
• maintained weight for biceps, triceps, bench
• walked a mile at the track

Today turned out to be pretty good:

• Good: Exercise was brutal
• Peter indicates this means our work out last night (8 hours prior) was effective
• Couldn't do all the weight I did last night, but certainly tried
• 30 min on elliptical - 400 calories
• Weighed 276.2lbs
• Not so good:
• Same breakfast as yesterday, but with some tater tots
• Gonna have a salad for lunch, some pita chips and hummus for dinner

woot.

The Week of Gary

Well, it has regretfully been awhile. Nevertheless, I'm back in action after a relaxing yet uneventful weekend. I did, however, go grocery shopping, and am looking to minimize my purchasing food at school. I got yogurt, protein bars, ham/turkey for sandwiches, vegetables for tuna salad sandwiches, and hummus w/pita chips. In addition to my diet, I'm looking to this week to be relaxing, fun, eventful, productive, and inspiring. Here's a glance:

• consume around 2500 calories a day
• 500 crunches at least 3 of the days
• still workout everyday
• go out every night
• do all my hw/reading
• write at least 1 more song (maybe 2, we currently have 8 songs w/lyrics and chords)

My intent is to lose 10-15 lbs within the next 2 weeks. Oh yes, it is possible. And it is okay for me to do. It's go time!

Gotta get through this...

Come on...let me get to 275 please.....277.8 today. I needed that boost this morning. Almost a month now of this and if I didn't show any signs soon, I would've been UNHAPPY.

Nevertheless, some improvement.

Last night was fun. 7 games of racquetball (about 1hr 45min) and then a mile at the track (Peter/Adam did more). Then we hung out at Trojan Grounds just telling funny stories and reminiscing about good foods we want to eat but shouldn't! Feelin the annoying stress of school right now...gotta get through this.

WOOT PART DEUX!!!

adrenaline's still going into tonight's 2 hour racquetball foray.

- 279.3lbs today! Not really a big improvement since I've been here before (once during this diet, 4 or 5 times in life), but i take it more for it's significance - frankly i'm tired of seeing the first two numbers be 2-8.

- ate a 12-in italian sausage sandwich w/caramelized onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, on oats and seeds bread from malibu subs. and kettle chips. i could've picked a healthier choice. wouldn't be surprised if i go back up over that dreaded 2-8-0 mark.

- feelin pretty sore today though. i really pushed it yesterday by upping the weight on everything. oh well, it's a good kind of sore =0)