There's a quote that I like but I don't really follow although if I did, I would be a much better person for it.

"Insanity is doing what you've always done & expecting something to change"

At least, that's my best paraphrase of the quote, I don't remember the exact wording.

Although I've lost 30+ lbs & changed my fitness & nutrition, I haven't changed some of my other habits: such as video game playing.

Video game playing isn't as scorned as it used to be. Nowadays, it's actually "in style" so to speak to be playing games on xbox, ps3, or wii although PC gamers are still a bit scorned by the newer "console" generation of gamer.

I don't remember why I played first person shooter type games in the first place, multi-player experiences for me just gets me so riled up that I dissolve into a untidy mess, my emotions running hot & my blood pressure shooting through the roof! That's most likely because I'm not very good at these games.

So tonight, I was playing Battlefield 3 on Xbox when for whatever reason, I just quit. I just had enough. Okay, I got really angry, threw my controller at the Xbox inadvertently powering the unit down as it crashed off the shelf onto the floor.

Realizing the stupidity of it all, I picked it up off the ground & cleaned up my mess. Then I went down to the basement, screamed a bit in frustration & sheer anger. I really wanted to hit something & my puny little punching bag just wasn't cutting it.

After spending about 5 minutes in the basement doing things that I shouldn't be (yes, inanimate objects don't hit back - I know this: I broke my already broken Band Hero drums with my bloody fists), I bandage my 2 fingers (that I somehow cut against my Band Hero drums that was defending itself valiantly) I lace up & go to the gym thinking that I would lift some weights or something - instead I wound up running off my anger.

I accomplish my goal from 2 posts ago. For 33 minutes, I ran a 12 minute mile (approx. 5 mph). My math was really fuzzy at the time, thinking that 32 min = 3 miles. I only realized as I approached the 32 minute mark that 3 miles x 12 min = 36 min. Silly, angry me, can't think so good when I'm the big dumb raging "hulk" like beast.

Still, I hit the 30 min of running at 5 mph achievement! No gamer score, no visible indication of my triumph (unlike playing video games), just my sweat on my supposedly "sweat-proof" shirt.

The realization that I've been afraid to admit for quite some time now: video games suck.

There's just so much more that one could do with their time rather than play video games. I know this fact too.

Reading, photography, exercise, music, learning something new that will increase my job prospects in the present & the future, etc.

The side effect of increased exercise is: better health, increased appetite, clothes that no longer fit, increased testosterone (makes getting angry really easy), & eating MORE.

So, why play video games? Especially if playing certain video games alters my perception by coloring my vision in crimson hues? I'm not even good at the games.

I'm thinking of getting rid of my games collection & my Xbox. Is that too extreme?