This morning I made a difficult financial decision, but an obvious personal one: I rejoined a gym. Not the Rolls Royce place I had belonged to, but one with the functional basics of Cardio and weight training equipment. The price is one I can afford and while I have sacrificed some of the glamor of the facility I used to go to, this one has a billing structure that even paupers like me should be able to afford.



Six weeks late, but a New Year's Resolution nevertheless. So, competitive Sparkies, who's into some weight-loss racing? Remember I'm the creator of games out here, and baseball Spring Training is upon us. There are 30 major league baseball teams, about half or slightly more train in Florida and play a round robin schedule of games in late February and March. These teams collective call themselves the "Grapefruit League." Grapefruit is a nice tidy word, with ten letters.... hmm...



Ten weeks. Ten pounds. ANY of us not already at maintenance can lose a pound a week, right? How about 1.5? OK, 15 lbs over the next ten weeks. Grapefruit...



G - Get moving. Up and off the couch, out of the Lazy-Boy, outside, to the gym, whatever.

R - Realize that you are human and can have off-days. But even on those, drink the Sparky water. Everyone has time for that.

A - Act your age. Do not compete with the built teenagers and 20-somethings at the gym. Compete with yourself.

P - Purge the bad habits. Late night eating, TV eating, overeating, absent-minded eating, convenience-eating, Starbucks Lattes, beers with the guys, fruity drinks with the girls, did I miss any?

E - Exercise. Regularly. Break a sweat. Don't just read about other people doing it.

F - Freggies (XRSIZE18 are you listening - it's YOUR word!). Re-balance your diet by getting enough of these, without the unhealthy salt, dressings, dips, etc.

R - Rev up your metabolism. This one means exercise.

U - Undershoot your daily calories. In the long run this is no good, but a day of a deliberate undershoot, say once a week, might be just the trick. I'm going to try this and see.

I - Invest in your health. For me, it's the gym. Maybe it's buying a piece of equipment? Who said healthfulness was cheap.? At the very least, write a fat check to Sparkpeople to renew your membership here.

T - Top your previous exercise records. And track everything.



So, who's ready for some Spring Training Competition, and to drop some 15? Tell me. Oh - Weigh-in is every Sunday morning when you first get up, after pee and before coffee/tea/water. Otherwise...