Tarrador

I am excited about this month’s bootcamp because it gives me a chance to create a balance between play and productivity. Usually one comes at the expense of the the other in my life. I workworkworkwork until I’m miserable and feel like I’m missing out on so much, then I go overboard and have a big play blowout and like a guy who gets a fat paycheck on Friday and wakes up hungover and broke on Monday I have a helluva time… and pay a helluva cost.

But why not a little of both, in proportion and balance? I’ve often used play as a reward for productivity, but can’t play be an incentive to productivity? I need to make play more what it is meant to be: a release from the routine and occupying my mind and body with events solely for amusement and sport. Rather than controlled and purposeful, it is better to be a little light and irregular, like wind upon the water. Small, reasonable doses of fun. And I mean real fun. An hour watching tv is not fun for me. Fun has to get me out of my routines, not reinforce them.

Equally with productivity. Turning a corner here I need to be productive in many areas of my life, not just one or two. Sometimes I get so focused on doing one thing so well that it eclipses everything else, and the life that goes on outside of that one scenario gets negleted and delayed and overlooked. I need an organized vision and commitment to being broadly productive, and not letting things get overshadowed by what seems the pressing matter at the moment.

Right now if I can achieve a 3/1 ration of productivity to fun, that would be a great start. I’ll spend the month figuring out how to strike that balance.

I’m down 4 pounds from last week’s weigh-in. That puts me 3.6 pounds below my target weight goal for the week, and 1.1 pounds below next week’s goal. Personally I feel this was great progress given that I just haven’t felt I’ve been working out to potential at the gym. This past week was salad week, however, and I replaced a lot of starches and bulk proteins with green salads featuring kale, spinach, tomatoes, avocado, raisins… whatever I could throw in there. I used some homemade dressings and also a fat free Italian vinaigrette. It was kind of a bad week for eating out; S. ambushed me with take-out Chinese one night and we had sushi on Sunday, along with some other foods that felt like they overwhelmed my now-delicate systems.

After 4 weeks I’m down a grand total of 13.4 pounds, past where I hoped to be. Even S. says she can tell I’m looking much slimmer so it can’t all be water-weight. I’m doing a juice fast for the next two weeks, which I think will make weight come off even faster. But then I’m following up with some whey protein drinks and more protein-rich foods, which may slow or even reverse my weightloss initially. As long as I’m staying within the 2.5 pounds goal schedule, I’m okay with regaining a little weight. Sugar and caffine are out, as are bad “white” starches. ‘Course, for the next two weeks, everything is out that can’t be run through a juicer.

I got a nice deal through Living Social Adventures, where for one price (lower than the single entry price, even), I can hang out with some other racers, warm up, get psyched, and run the race. Afterwards there is a private area for perks package holders that included a massage, a couple of beers, some sports drinks, and junkie food. Hopefully there will be some fruit and healthy foods there, too. If not I will certainly bring some.

As a bonus, my wife is going to be off work that weekend and says she will come and cheer me on during the race. It will be nice to have some encouragement. All my friends look at me like I’m crazy when I talk about doing this. They ask me what I’m trying to prove, and what the point is. I think the point is I need some new friends… :(

I’ll be in race mode for the next six weeks, getting ripped and ready to get dirty and have fun. Haven’t decided if I’m going in costume yet or not.