Month: October 2006

I hadn’t really brought it up because, well, I didn’t think it was that interesting, but Bob Greenberger mentioned over on his blog that I’ve been losing weight, so I figured I might as well address it.

Funny: The notion that I should lose weight because I could get diabetes, or have a heart attack, or go blind or maybe, y’know, die…these were all too ephemeral to worry about. But when I blew out my knee bowling some months back, the doctor told me it was only going to get worse unless I relieved the stress by dropping weight. That spurred me into action.

Curiously, once I made up my mind to do it, the rest came easily. Here’s the problem with diets: They don’t work because they have, by definition, an end. You simply can’t think that you’re going to eat a certain way for a proscribed time and then go back to “normal.” The weight will return. That’s why radical changes (cut out all carbs, drop all fats, etc.) don’t get the job done. You have to decide that you’re going to live your life differently. Not radically differently; just differently.

What am I doing to lose weight? Hold on, it’s pretty wacky: I’m eating less and exercising more. That’s it. That’s all. Portion control, going to the gym three times a week, bowling on the days I’m not at the gym plus three evening leagues. The only truly radical change I’ve made to my food intake is that I cut soda out completely which, after a few weeks, I didn’t even miss. Oh, and twice a day I take Flaxseed oil–all natural and superb in aiding digestion. And I’m getting eight hours sleep a night rather than working until all hours and getting four hours sleep. Since April I’ve dropped 54 pounds and intend to be practically unrecognizable by next San Diego.

Oh, the other thing I do, that’s contrary to what most dieticians tell you: I weigh myself every day. Every morning. Not once a week. That’s because I know how an overeater’s mind works. Let’s say you weigh in on Mondays. So it’s Wednesday and you’re craving doughnuts or ice cream. You figure, “Well, I’ve got four days until I check my weight again, I can lose it,” and you indulge yourself, and that carries over into Thursday and sometimes even Friday before you then starve yourself over the weekend. When you check your weight every day, there’s no hiding. At first it forces you to say on course; after a while it just becomes second nature.

I think, by and large, to lose weight, one doesn’t need all these various fad diets. One just needs resolve…and a determination to maintain one’s bowling average (currently 208).

PAD

For those who were wondering what sort of idiot would try to fob blame for the Foley scandal over to the Democrats, wonder no more. From the AOL news feed:

“Hastert told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday night that he has no thoughts of resigning. He blamed ABC News, which broke the Foley e-mail story, and Democratic operatives for the mushrooming scandal.”

PAD

Peter’s the guest of honor this year at Albacon, taking place this weekend in Albany, NY.

Pay particular attention to the Saturday Night Extravaganza: “Peter David Unplugged! Spend an hour with Guest of Honor Peter David performing death-defying feats (well, talking and answering questions).” Sat. 8:00 PM.

What’s more, I see that David Peters is listed as a guest of the convention, although I’m not sure that he’ll be doing any panels with Peter. That may be a good thing, I understand they’re not speaking to each other of late and don’t even want to be in the same room at the same time…

So today in synagogue, we have the day of atonement. And we pray to be better people, and for tolerance and, and a world of peace. We speak about “sins of injustice” such as waging war upon others or trying to use violence to change things.

And I come out of syngague, and into a world where sins of injustice are presidential policy, and a madman shoots children in Amish Country, and an art teacher loses her job–her contract terminated–apparently because a parent complained that their child had been exposed to nudity…during a class trip to an art museum (the school board claims “other reasons” were involved, but this is an award winning teacher of 28 years’ standing; the claim rings false.)

The problem with a day of pondering one’s own sins and shortcomings is that it prompts you to resolve to try and do better…and then you come out into a world aligned against such philosophies. It says something when the only place where utopias exist are in the pages of a prayer book…or fantasy novels.

PAD