Monday, May 21, 2012

#88. or, The UPDATED Pish Posh Fitness Final

  IF you've followed the link on Pish"s blog here and it looks surprisingly  like a post that i did last Monday, you'd be right. It's the same one. The challenge is over. But not quite. There's a couple things left to be said.

  Thing is, some of the stuff she asked us to talk about, i jumped the gun and talked about before the challenge was officially over. Now i just feel silly. You can skim through the part that you've already read if you'd like, i'm going to add an amended part to the end to talk about something Pish Posh asked us to talk about. You can go there now, You'll know when you get there.  

  Twelve weeks ago or so I stumbled across this blog, by this crazy, funny, smart gal calling herself Pish Posh. I liked what she had to say, so I bookmarked her page so I could come back later.

  About that time, she introduced her Get Fit Challenge. The Pish Posh Get Fit Challenge. I thought about joining this, but at the time, I didn't talk to any other bloggers. Over the past weeks I've got to know her a bit and she's turned out to be a pretty darned good blogging friend. (even if I can't convince her that Clamato juice is awesome.)

  Anyways, the challenge ends next week. The impetus to start it, was when I hit 190 pounds and discovered I no longer fit into the cool suit I bought a couple years back After about 3 weeks, officially in, I weighed 184 pounds, Friday morning. I'm trying to stretch more but it's harder during seeding time for me. Am I done? No, the reason I'm in this was to fit into my "suit of awesome" and I'm still a bit off from that. I've got to the end of June and I still plan to be able to get those pants buttoned up by then.

  But the challenge wasn't only a weight loss program. It's also about shedding fears and inhibitions and at that, i think, with her help, I've made steps in a positive direction. I've made new friends through blog commenting and even started a little challenge of my own with Brett Minor to lose about 13 pounds by that end of June deadline. That would put me at 177 pounds. I hope he's still in.

  So although I haven't been in all the way from the beginning, i think i'm headed in the right direction. And I will fit back into that awesome suit, i promise.

  ..........now if she couldn't only be as successful in getting a few pounds off her overweight, 3-legged cat, that smells like cookies, she'd indeed be a miracle worker.

  THE AMENDED PART!!


  You lose some you win some!

  I think we've all lost at least a little weight through this challenge. Granted, some more than others. Some of us were on our way, well before the Pish Posh Get Fit! Challenge even started, like the Lady in Red. To them, it was a place to come and be around others with similar goals. Maybe you worked your ass off and the scale didn't reflect it. If that's the case, don't be discouraged, if you feel better, that's a step in the right direction. Lose some weight, lose some bad habits, lose the desire to sit on the couch and eat uncooked, peanut butter cookie dough from a bowl with a spoon. You will feel better for it.

  I need to say a little more about friends. Or rather, i want to say a little more about friends. That's the winning part. I've made some really good friends here. Pish, Lady in Red, Brett, and Workingdan. It seems that i look forward to talking to these people almost everyday now. And new friends i'm just getting to know through this, like Cindy and Robin. Or Rachel and Reanna whose blogs, i've only just checked in on in the last couple days. This whole little support group, working together to make sure no one gets left behind. I know there's more and i feel guilty that i haven't had the time to stop by your site yet. Sorry.

  Pish Posh asked that we choose a person to carry this challenge on with to help us reach our goals. I'm still in my mini-challenge with Brett Minor, The Transformed Non-Conformist. That's going to the end of June. It seems though,  that the Lady in Red has chosen me to be her partner, so i will happily accept her offer and return the favour. It's pretty tough to go wrong teaming up with someone committed enough to lose 70 pounds over the last year, i think that i'm getting the better end of the deal in this arrangement!

  Anyways. i hope that we can all continue to reach the goals we set for ourselves. Maybe the Pish Posh GET FIT! Challenge is over. I'm just happy that she invited us all along for the ride. :)



42 comments:

  1. Well, this is a great post and you've really done justice to the Pish Posh challenge. Also, that's a nice new tractor picture you've placed for the heading.

    So....I'm curious, how tall are you? It's going to be the greatest thing when we all finally get where we want to be... I can't wait!

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    1. I'm 6'4 with abs of steel and wavy brown hair! I WISH! 5'8, fluffy, with greying hair.

      I've still got some work to do to fit into that suit but 14 hours a day in a tractor seat isn't all that conducive to weight loss.

      I changed the picture back for now because i can't seem to make the other one fit the header and i'm kind of anal that way. I'll get my wife to help me try to fix it and get it back up as soon as i can. :)

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    2. Ok, well I'm almost 5'10" - I was just trying to figure out how our present weights compare.

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    3. I see. But that thought got me thinking about a song by Brad Paisley called Online. You should look it up if you get the chance. :)

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    4. I missed this last reply from you - now I'll have to check out the song you mention.

      It's fun to read your updated version and to be named your buddy for this round of fun! :-) I better go back to Pish's blog and see what the guidelines were again... I think it was basically checking in and supporting a friend - but there may have been some specifics!

      I loved the way you talked about the friends you've met online - speaks so much to the way I feel too. I'm always happy when one of you is about on Twitter... sometimes I even stay quiet and just watch your conversations for fun lol...

      But, my dear cape-friend, as to getting the better end of the deal... you're wrong there :-)

      And now to eat a salad lol... It will have a yoghurt dressing though to give it some substance!

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    5. i still feel bad about using the old post. I hope i spiffed it up enough?

      You better memorize the rules, i'm going to be cracking the whip here! ;)

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    6. I think the update is fine. I've seen people do this before so I'm sure people are used to it.

      Lol, cracking the whip, ay? (Is that how you spell the Canadian "ay?" sound?) I'll be ready!

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    7. I've always assumed that it's "eh!" in the proper Canadian. I think "ay?" is Australian. :)

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    8. "Eh" it is then ;-)...

      I was on my way to bed but just listened to "Online" so wanted to tell you how much I LOVE it! That's one of the best songs I've heard in a long time lol... Thank you for suggesting it - and I'll probably listen to it some more tomorrow... it's so me! lol

      Good night.

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    9. Good night, Hot Tuna, I know that it applies to me as well. :)

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  2. I have been meaning to ask how the challenge was going! Glad you updated. I SERIOUSLY need to join in with you all doing some sort of 'get fit' challenge because I have fallen off the fitness wagon, big time, of late. For a few years, I have been a runner, and also just various exercise depending on what I found fun or interesting. This past year brought some fairly serious/major health issues with my heart and all of my best intentions to work out fell by the wayside. I started to do P90x in January but got sick and had to stop. I NEED to do something, I tell ya!!!!

    So let's encourage each other! I am going to try starting small and work my way back, hopefully with the blessing of my doctor and some answers and resolve to my wacky heart. I had come to a place of feeling comfortable in my own skin, and that hasn't been the case lately.

    Good for you! Keep it up! Maybe you'll inspire me to get in shape!

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    1. Well, i'm not sure if i'm the proper inspiration....i have a love for peanut butter cookies that slows me down. However, i'm trying and if that's at all help to you, i'll gladly throw a bit of encouragement your way! :)

      P90X.....that just scares the crap out of me!

      I hope that you get your heart issues resolved, or at least come to terms and be able to work within them. I have a history of heart problems on my fathers side and that's at least part of the reason i try to stay in a little better shape.

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    2. P90 really wasn't as bad as I thought. Well...that's not entirely true. For a few days after the first couple of videos, I felt like I'd been hit by a train, but then it got better. It is tough, but it works.

      Ken, step away from the peanut butter cookies. PUT THE COOKIE DOWN. Did that help? :) Hey, you're trying, I'm going to start trying again...it's all good!

      Yes, I hope so too. I REEEEEAAAALLLLY don't like for things to slow me down, and a cantankerous heart has been a bit of an inconvenience. Guess that's better than a heart attack or stroke. No familial heart conditions here - I just happened to like to be the rarity and crop up with all kinds of bizarre issues. Makes like interesting, I suppose!

      Hope you have a marvelous Monday!

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  3. When I was fighting the terrible monster that is weight loss,I went to the store and bought the smallest bowls, and plates I could find. If I wanted ice cream or salsa? Tiny bowl. If I wanted a sandwich? Tiny plate. I found I would eat to the limit of my container and then stop. It works wonders. You will be surprised how just limiting portion size without changing what you eat for the most part will really help.

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    1. I'm finding it quite hard in the tractor for 14 or so a day, I just want something to munch on. Also, I was just telling my wife, I need to try less in mu lunch. Just sitting there doesn't burn anything off.

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    2. Maybe you should get a horse and a...thingy that they pull behind them...you know, like the Amish...and walk your fields. Get rid of that tractor!! I use a simple push mower on my lawn and that it a great work out. Granted, my lawn is just under 2 acres and you've got a back 40 but still it can't be too much difference, right?

      :)

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    3. The ONLY reason that I can think of why that wouldn't work is because ken-andhisthingy is going to draw a completely different audience. :)

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    4. ken-andhisthingy totally made me giggly!!!

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  4. Good for you, headed in the right direction! I'm sure you will indeed look awesome in that suit in June, and we'll be wanting pictures here!

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  5. next week....though I haven't done as well as I had hoped and I didn't discipline myself enough to conquer all of my goals, I hate to see the challenge end. I have gotten so used to it.
    I hope you fit into your "suit of Awesome" real soon! and by the way, I don't know about P90X...i wanted to do it but I went with The Insanity program instead. it was H-e-c-k. Seriously. It became the most miserable hour of my day. It takes a special person to do that, and obviously, it ain't me. Not sure how P90X compares.....

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    1. i'm somewhat dreading weighing on Friday, Even though i'm trying to stay on track with the eating, i'm not very active these days while i'm seeding crops. I'm going to have to come up with something to remedy that.

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  6. I fell off the wagon for a bit, but I'm back on now.

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    1. i have good intentions but my will is weak. I'm still trying though. Keep on zumba-ing! :)

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    1. i've seen 190 lbs three times now. I'd be fine never seeing it again. :)

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  8. Aw Ken you really know how to get a girl in her flabby gut I mean heart :) my favorite thing is the new friendships we've made. You're sweet, loyal, goofy, wise, and a fanged nice guy with a great wife. I do hope we get to meet in real life some day :) and I'll make your wife a nice cranberry salad so she can put her feet up and you can give me more advice.

    Maybe we should do a short summer challenge?

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    1. I almost forgot the cranberry salad. That's way back at the beginning.
      I'd like that but i'm not so sure my advice is worth much.

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  9. Yeah that's supposed to be "danged" nice guy, nit fanged. I mean fangs are cool but that's not what I meant.

    And my cat is not fat he's fluffy!!

    But he and both could stand to lose 3lbs and by 3 I mean 15 (me). But 3lbs less of him? So much less to love!!

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    1. yes......3-15 pounds of lovable fluffiness. :)

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  10. Wonderful response Ken!! Thank you for your amendment and for the support of the other blogging friends!! :)

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  11. Ken, you are a hoot! As much work as you put in on the tractor, its a wonder you have time to focus on this challenge, but you did. Good luck with your june challenge. I'm sure you'll make it!

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    1. The hardest thing is trying not to have a beer when i get in during the week. I'm afraid the beers that i'm drinking over the weekend are cancelling out any good i've done over the week!

      I'm happy if i've made you smile a bit. :)

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  12. Ken, you talk about eating peanut butter cookie dough like it's a personal experience...is that your guilty pleasure? Hehehehe
    I have so enjoyed reading your stories. My grandpa and uncle had a farm and whenever I come here and see the picture of your tractor or read your latest blog, it reminds me of,them and makes me smile.
    I so agree that we are all winners in this challenge. I think we all came away with something positive and the bonus of new friendships.
    Good luck with your challenge and the farm and I look forward to reading your blog whenever you have the time to write.

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    1. about the uncooked, peanut butter cookie dough.......um, well, ya.

      I'm trying to get another picture up but i'm having trouble with the sizing.

      I'm so happy about the new friends made here, please, come back any time. :)

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  13. Awesome final post, Ken! I hope Pish does a summer challenge as well that we can all be a part of. Either way, it looks like you've made a great commitment to change.

    Peanut butter cookie dough... I bet that's even better than peanut butter on cheese. Darn you!

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    1. I'm thinking that a summer challenge might be fun?

      I've never considered peanut butter on cheese? It sounds.....interesting? :)

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    2. Yeah, I'm up for the summer challenge. I don't guarantee my posts won't wander into sun-don't-shine territory again, but I'm all for it. I still need tattoo abs.

      Peanut butter on cheese = so much yum. I gave up the cracker portion because it impeded the sticky tastiness and fat absorption.

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    3. who need that damned cracker!.....i like the way you think. :)

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  14. I am still in, but have been almost internet absent for a little while. I am trying to catch up on my blog roll now. I am exactly the same weight as when I started, but I have been hitting the gym everyday and feel fantastic. I will have to step it up to meet my goal, but feeling good has been well worth it even if I don't lose all the weight.

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    1. I am sure if you keep up at the gym and start feeling better by doing that, the pounds will start to fall off. :)

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