http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal.asp?id=GREENMAN71 GREENMAN71's Blog on SparkPeople, home of free diet plans and a healthy living community http://assets2.sparkpeople.com/assets/nav/logo_spark.gif http://www.sparkpeople.com/ http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4921604 Every time I go cycling, I feel a little stronger. My increased strength, endurance, and activity levels have also boosted my overall confidence, mood, and quality of life. Funny how that works. :) Two days ago I was in a slump, spiraling into a true funk, and forced myself to go cycling - 16 miles in 2 hours of solid cycling (modest for many, but a new record for me!) and I felt FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC the rest of the day. I am having a strange side-effect on the days that I really push it ... Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:17:21 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4905918 I've been a lame SP member as far as checking in recently, but I've been sparking in real life left and right. My summer is off to an amazing start, and the whole family is really getting into cycling. We are privileged to have so many amazing trails right here in town, but they get even better when willing to travel a little. Here's the "Omaha trail" that is about an hour away with pictures from my ride on Memorial Day: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.<BR>3677682613298.2150820.1... Thu, 31 May 2012 13:35:31 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4876151 <img src="http://photos-ak.sparkpeople.com/nw/2/9/l292290043.jpg"> <BR> <BR> I am LOVING my trike - we picked my wife's up last weekend and now are a "biking" family! I've been riding to work every day and we've hit the trails twice as a family since Saturday. One evening after dinner I just got the urge to get on and RIDE. Love, love, love, love, LOVE my Rover! It is an adjustment, but my legs (mainly my quads) are getting stronger which seems to be helping out my knee problems. Gonna... Thu, 10 May 2012 21:18:38 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4857522 Meet my new BFF - the Terratrike Rover <BR> <BR> <img src="http://photos-ak.sparkpeople.com/nw/6/1/l615343967.jpg"> <BR> <BR> I had to drive a little over an hour and a half to get to the bike shop as there are no local Terratrike distributers. Quite a nice drive through beautiful Wisconsin country though. Interesting sights to see as well... <BR> <BR> <img src="http://photos-ak.sparkpeople.com/nw/7/3/l735293296.jpg"> <BR> <BR> Spaceships, buffalo, lambs, alpaca, lots of eagles and ot... Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:10:04 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4853302 So, I've had food "issues" pretty much forever. But a few years ago, I had some life/health issues put a whole new twist on things. My family went through a very traumatic time, all while I was working full-time and pursuing a PhD full-time - one way or another, it was bound to take its toll. My unhealthy behaviors were pretty maxed out, and I was at the upper end of my weight range once again. I knew if I was to survive physically AND mentally, that I needed to make some changes. I star... Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:20:27 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4847718 Let me start by saying how fortunate I am to have a job. Any job. Especially a stable job that I find meaningful and provides me with much flexibility and health insurance for my family. For many, many reasons, my career is a marker of privilege. That said, just like any job, it comes with stress sometimes. Recently, the stress has been HUGE and constant. Some of it is self-imposed, some just a natural cycle in the semester, and some that just happens to be the icing on the proverbial c... Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:07:16 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4845259 The good: <BR> Hoop Path is coming to Madison, WI in June! I really might go! <BR> Earth Day Hoop Jam tomorrow! <BR> Trying to get more serious with my food. <BR> In the process of ordering our cycles!!! <BR> <BR> The bad: <BR> A lot of joint pain this week. My right knee is acting berserk. <BR> Extra moody today. Think it is the mountain of grading I need to do. <BR> <BR> The ugly: <BR> My body anxiety is overwhelming. This started again last night. We are going to an indoor water ... Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:13:21 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4839269 My baby boy turned 8 today. I won't go into all of the cliches about how fast time goes, etc. except to say that they are all true. Watching my children grow up is definitely a bitter-sweet experience, and they are my everything. <BR> <BR> Even though it is not MY birthday, it feels a little like it is... My wife and I decided last night that we are investing in two Terratrike Rovers (I've been wanting one ever since they hit the market) so that we can ride with our kids on some of the am... Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:10:18 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4837215 I hate it when people say things like "happiness is a choice", because life is so much more complex than a Hallmark card can embrace. However, as part of my new mantra of being open to joy, I'm trying really, really hard to CHOOSE to be happy. When I wake up with the anxious gerbils running on their wheel in my head, I stop and think of what I'm grateful for and what I'm looking forward to. So. Damn. Cheesy. But it seems to be helping. Oprah would be proud. <BR> <BR> I've convinced my... Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:49:16 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4831028 I've been deliberately searching for moments of gratitude and joy to give myself a needed attitude adjustment. Forcing myself to hoop with the kids among aches, pain, fatigue, and straight-up grouchiness really paid off in these areas. I'm really not hooping for the sake of learning "tricks", but it is always fun to accomplish something that I earlier thought I wouldn't be able to do. Starting to become more comfortable in the hoop and in my skin while hooping. I'm really excited about at... Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:49:27 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4826874 I'm so tired of the roller-coaster. Seriously exhausted. My emotions are tied so deeply to weight issues, and my weight is tied so deeply to emotional issues. As in, for my whole life. I'm not a whiner, but I get really, really, down, sometimes in a very dark way, about feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. I know that these are counter-productive and illogical, and I am still able to simultaneously feel gratitude at the same time. I usually keep these feelings pretty hidden, espe... Mon, 9 Apr 2012 11:12:57 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4815020 So, the 30/30 hooping challenge already had to bend to be an "average" since the kids refused to participate due to bad weather one day, and there have been days when they were focused on other physical activity which needs to be encouraged too. I'm still trying to keep the 30 minute average, but I noticed that they were getting a little discouraged about all of the time they had to make up. Since the whole point of this was to encourage fun physical activity together, I decided to change t... Sun, 1 Apr 2012 13:34:02 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4810640 The dreaded early slump. Always hits me a few days after really pumping myself up about change. Yesterday I couldn't even hoop with my kids more than 13 minutes (had been averaging 35/40 minutes a day). Ended up sleeping a lot in the evening and reverting back to bad eating habits. I'm not throwing in the towel or saying its ok, but it is what it is. I did walk to work yesterday at a good pace (knocked 5 minutes off of my time by listening to my iPod on the way there) but still in a bit ... Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:21:02 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4805196 <link>youtu.be/7MRqOClwLj8 </link> <BR> <BR> Yes, I am a beginner and I look a bit silly - but that is part of what makes it fun. I've spent most of my life worrying about how my body looked in motion to others. $%^& that. My body is my body, and here is an example of it having fun. Nuff said. :) Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:20:33 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4804312 30 minutes of hooping yesterday, and 40 today. So far, so good, and so much fun. I'm thankful for the sunshine to help us along. We even took some video clips, but I'm not sure if I have the guts to share... Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:39:07 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4803039 The hula-hooping thing is a long story, but the short version is that I made the family a bunch of hula hoops last year. Last night, I had the bright idea of challenging my son and daughter (7&8 years old) to a 30/30 challenge where we average 30 minutes of hooping a day for the next 30 days. Have 15 down for the day, but it was harder than I thought. Now for the next 15... I can't imagine what the neighbors think! ;-) Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:49:19 EST http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4792250 I just went through all of my old blogs from years past and deleted them. It was actually enlightening to see where I have come from, but in many ways, I'm just not that guy any longer. <BR> <BR> I'm starting over, but with a bit more maturity and less neurosis than in the past. I've had problems living in the past before and worrying too much about 'what could/should have been' so a fresh start is in order. <BR> <BR> Now to get off the damn computer and out into the sunshine!!! Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:44:04 EST