My Near-Death Fruit Experience. PLUS, Advice For a Reader

I had a very scary near-death experience this week. It’s the second possibly-life-ending episode I’ve had since starting this blog (my near-death experience while running is chronicled here), and this one changed my outlook on life and made me re-evaluate everything.

Am I being overdramatic? Keep reading, and judge for yourself.  SPOILER ALERT: Yes, I am.

1.2 Mile Distance Swim Challenge RECAP!

I had never been so nervous to be at the beach. It was 7:45am when we parked, and my heart was racing. It was a beautiful day – pretty clear (for southern California standards), hot, and still. We started off across the sand at Venice Beach, towards a collection of tents in the distance.

It started clicking in my brain as we crossed the warm sand: it’s finally here. I’ve been training all summer for this one event, and it’s finally here. I was going to be competing in the Distance Swim Challenge. No – scratch that – I am competing in the Distance Swim Challenge, and it’s happening right now, this morning, in an ocean that’s right there, laid out in front of me.

A New Chapter for Keep It Up, David

Change is good. We can all agree on that, right? Change fuels progress and growth and leads to good things. Change can turn your life around, like it did mine. Had I not started making changes, I never would have gone from this…

Me in 2007 at a family get-together in Chicago. That’s my sister and sister-in-law that I unceremoniously cropped out.

..to this…

Me, trying on sunglasses in June 2012. (I didn’t buy them)

That right there is a visual representation of the 166 pounds that I’ve lost and kept off, and it’s all because I had the courage to embrace change.

Now it’s time to embrace change and start a new chapter for Keep It Up, David.

Aloe Water & Shrimp Cocktail

Yikes – It’s been two weeks since I promised my review of aloe water. Time to deliver on that promise! Plus, my review of a bonus product!

Downtown Disney

It has been a busy two days. Tonight, after work, I headed downtown to see a play. After getting home, I quickly changed and headed out for a run. It wasn’t a great run, but it was something, and when I add up the time spent running with the brisk walking warm-up and cool-down, I was on the streets for 45 minutes. I was antsy to go on the run, because yesterday ended up being a rest day. I didn’t work out before going to the office (I’ve been failing all week at morning exercise), and after work, I had dinner with an old friend from high school that was in town for a convention. And by ‘in town’ I mean Anaheim, which is an hour away, so when you factor in drive time, that left no time for a workout.

Less Than Two Weeks Away…

My next fitness event has really been sneaking up on me. Yesterday, while looking at my calendar, I realized it was less than two weeks away. Gulp.

In less than two weeks, I’ll be participating in my first open water swim. It’s 1.2 miles, off the coast of Venice Beach, and, on paper, I’m prepared. I’ve stuck to my training plan of swimming laps once a week since I registered, in addition to my other workouts. I’ve bought a wetsuit, and went to the ocean to try it out. I’ve done practice swims where I’ve built up to swimming over 1.2 miles without stopping. I should feel ready. And yet I don’t.

July 2012 Progress Report

Let’s start this post off with a photograph:

A photo of a calendar can only mean one thing: time for a MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT!

Broken Glass

I arrived home from work last night and was greeted by a little present. It was a gift that I had left for myself, and, since leaving it in the morning, I had completely forgotten about it. The present was… a mess.

Weight Loss Chart Update – August

Welcome to another month! Now that it’s August, it’s time for my monthly Weight Loss Chart Update!  The last time I weighed myself, I stayed even – which was just fine and dandy by me, as it was the day after a big party where I ate a ton. That weigh-in didn’t involve updating my chart, as it wasn’t the first of the month. Now that it is the first of the month… where’s my chart-updating pen?!?

Ok, found it. Here’s what happened when I stepped on the scale: