Adventures From the NH Seacoast to the Jersey Shore

Woke up today feeling like $1,000,000. Got out with the kids and rode the bike to school with them. Had way more energy than I though I would have. Was also very surprised to find that I was not craving food at breakfast time.

As a matter of fact, i did not crave food all day. The bizarre thing was that I do not think I was ever hungry and had more energy that I can remember. Especially late in the day when it seems like my body just crashes.

Looking forward to getting through tomorrow and the weekend. on track for a weigh-in on Saturday.

Made it through day 1. Was very tough looking at food, making the kids lunch etc.. Can’t tell you how many times I was tempted to lick the spoon or grab a corner off something. I figured if I did that I might as well quit. Woke up today feeling like absolute junk. Kids have been sick so I think I caught what they have. The coffee withdrawal is also starting to kick in a little bit so that is not helping matters.

Different reaction with the SWF last night. In about 15 minutes after pounding that horrible mixture things were well on their way. I have not had any food cravings, maybe because I am a little sick as well, we’ll see how the day progresses.

Experienced some joint pains earlier in the day but they have pretty much gone away. Probably a symptom of fighting off whatever it is I have. I will note that like others have mentioned..my sense of smell has been heightened. Going to SWF at 6:30pm…this will give me some time to get business done and then relax and get some work done tonight.

**evening update**  Very surprized to not have cravings for food…especially when dinner was being made.   Figured my body would want some of what it smelled; but I guess it is happy living off the ‘ol fat stores for now.  Speaking of fat…I have not weighed myself yet.  Going to wait until Sat am (day 5).  Starting weight 232.5lbs.  SWF flush went good; or as good as that can go have not experienced any of the “grossness” I have read about.  Was thinking about making big breakfast for evryone in the am…maybe I can catch some good sniffs of the griddle  (that isn’t cheating..right?)  Have not done anything truly physical yet.  Going to try and play golf on Friday…start working out on Saturday.

Both kids home from school sick today…maybe taking care of them will take my mind of the fridge full of leftovers from the weekend.   Nothing worse than opening the fridge and seeing a plate of steak tips just begging to be laid beside some eggs.   Wife made coffee and there is 1/2 a pot on the counter.  Giving up coffee is going to be the true test so far so good…no migraine.

SWF last night was a failure.  Nothing happened…will have to increase salt dose I guess.  Maybe that is why it was easy to get down.

Got my Nalgene bottle filled with my first batch and the taste is good.  Cayenne gives it a nice little kick.

Labor day festivities including friends from out of town, days at the beach and beer boiled bratwurst are now at a close. Competed in the club golf championship this weekend.  Qualified for the net division and unfortunately got eliminated in the 1st round.  Had a blast playing golf with some great guys and look forward to next year.   Summer is officially over.   

Both kids are sick today…hopefully they are feeling better tomorrow.  I have enjoyed riding bikes to school with them in the morning don’t want to miss this tomorrow.  Can’t let them know I enjoy it quite yet because I think they are proud that they are getting me on the road to more physical activity.  

As promised, I am going to embark on my master cleanse to among other things try and give me a physical and mental jump start on many goals for 2008 and 2009.  I have decided to go through the salt water flush (SWF) step of this thing each night…tonight being the first.   Did not want to do this in the mornings as the thought of having to run to the crapper when on a conference call is not that appealing.  Also…getting caught by surprize when riding bikes to school with the kids in the morning could prove rather nasty as well.  The SWF was not as bad as I thought it was going to be…just hanging out watching the TV waiting for things to get started (as they say).   As I am typing this night’s entry I can kinda feel things moving around…but I am not sure if that is just psychological waiting for the inevitable. 

Stay tuned…

Tomorrow, the kids go back to school.  It is one of those times of the year (like New Year’s) where  you can wipe the artificial slate clean and make some resolutions that you can try and keep.  The past year and a half has been both good and bad and I am aiming to focus on Q4 of this year and make sure it is all good.  I have a long list of “to-do’s” that need to get accomplished and I am going to use the start of the kids venture into their new classrooms as my start as well.

On the work front, there is a lot to accomplish.  Between the product I have been developing and day to day client work my plate is more than full.   One very cool project I am currently working on with one client is nearing completion for the first phase.  All of the teeth of this machine are now coming together and it is a matter of making sure things are lubed up enough to keep the friction to a minimum.  There are a number of technical challenges to overcome, but there are some really good people working on this and I am confident that the business will be satisfied in the end.

On the home front the big goal for Q4 is losing some significant lbs.  With all the stress, travel, etc.. of the past 12-15 months I have not been doing my body good.  Going to have one last hurrah this labor day weekend and then start September off with a Master Cleanse.   I guess I’ll lose some weight with this thing; but I am more interested in trying to flush my system of everything bad and nasty so I can then continue on with moderating the nastiness I put into my body.  I refuse to give up the things I like as you never know when your time is up and I’m not going to forgoe a spur of the moment chili-cheese dog only to get hit by a bus crossing the street moments later.  No..my goal is to moderate these pleasures so that I can be sure to enjoy them as special occasions.  I am planning on blogging in detail regarding my plunge into the cleanse so stay tuned.

Club championship is this weekend…going to try and qualify on Friday.  They changed things up this year so we’ll have to see if I can outplay my handicap and put the hurt on some unsuspecting victims.

Have not played poker in what seems like ages.  I have been so busy that my level of concentration is just not there.  I am looking forward to getting back to playing and will have a whole different attitude and outlook at the table when I return.  More on that later.

Not sure what is going on in the world but I just received news yesterday that another indivdual has been diagnosed with cancer.  This should not be big news as there are probably thousands of people every day diagnosed with this horrific disease; but it is big news because of the smack in the face mortaility receives and because the individual diagnosed is one of the most driven people I know. 

Is it the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe?  Are we just living longer and have more time to develop these diseases?  Or is medical science just finding better ways to detect what’s going on inside our bodies?  Whatever it is, it should be a wakeup call to all of us.  Life is short, and in a simple trip to the doctor’s office you can find out that it has just been shortened.  The time you spend with family and friends must be enjoyable and memorable, because when you or they are gone those memories are all that will be left. 

Tomorrow someone else will be diagnosed with cancer.  Within the next three months someone I know will be diagnosed and sure enough those of you reading this blog will have the same happen. 

I help a friend of mine raise money for Dana Farber every year.  He does a tremendous job and I know every ounce of sweat he puts into his campaign extends the life of someone somewhere to allow there friends and family to capture just one more memory. 

The guy that helped me design by business blog, Brian Gardner, is on a similar campaign.  If you want to contribute to help cure breast cancer, go ahead an click here.