Making life changes one step at a time.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Stretch hamstrings and calves with eight runner’s lunges.
You don’t have to be a runner to benefit from these lunges, which stretch both the calves and hamstrings. Stretching these muscles can help to prevent aches, stiffness, and injury.
I’d love to do these again. Perhaps I’ll be doing these at physical therapy today?
I’m Trying To Be A Stand Up Guy
Having read this space you already know that while I am not handsome enough to suit the women in whom I have interest, I (believe that I) am regarded as a “stand up” guy. But that is not to what I refer here.
No, I am trying something new at work — using my cubicle’s bookshelf as a standup desk. I keep reading studies about how unhealthy it is to sit for eight hours (or for as many hours as I work in one day) and am jumping on the “standup desk” bandwagon — at least until this new posture becomes overly tiresome. Realistically I know that I won’t (shouldn’t?) start out trying to stand all day, so I will either go in stints (like running the Galloway Method) or go for as long as I can before giving up and sitting for awhile (like my approach to other activities).
Stand by for updates… Oooooh, see what I did there!?! Hey, it’s early, I’m not if full comedic swing yet.
ITP Flickr Pic
“Stand And Deliver”
Like so many other office workers I am trying to convert my cubicle into a standup desk environment. This is a test, I am not sure how long I will be able to do this.
I Couldn’t Stand It Any Longer
I have been using my ailing foot as an excuse for not going to LA Fitness. Last night I decided the hell with it and returned.
My arms are already starting to kill me.
I decided that, even with my ailing foot, I could do all of my upper-body workout as well as select leg routines that don’t stress my foot/ankle/tendon, and I did.
Did I mention that I am already starting to feel the pain?
I also noticed that working out until 7:45pm was also a great way to suppress my desire to eat too much and drink beer. Last night’s (very late, ~9:15pm) was a almond butter sandwich-and-a-half and a large glass of water as I iced my foot. Related: I stopped at Walgreens on my way home an purchased a reusable ice pack.
This morning I allowed myself a “real” breakfast since I’ll be headed to physical therapy at 11:00am today.
Fuck it feels good to hurt (in a non-emotional way) again.
I’m Not Taking This Lying Down
The gods may not be crazy but I am starting to think that I am.
I have already committed nearly $500 of my own money and earmarked two vacation days from work in order to attend CocoaConf Atlanta in November.
With my employer continuing to deny to send me to iOS Advanced Programming at Big Nerd Ranch I actually considering ponying up the $4000(!) for the course and burning five more of my precious vacation days to attend.
These two courses would cost me a shitload of money and seven of my fifteen vacation days this year, but they may also be a great investment for my future.
What could be next?
Perhaps I will attempt to put two and two together and change my life significantly. 😉 It should be mentioned here that I make more than a reasonable salary with my current employer so I shan’t do anything drastic that will significantly reduce my lifestyle.
Have I mentioned that I’ve been emptying out my cubicle? It’s kind of Spring Training for working on my house.
Today’s Personal Project
Stand until I can’t, oh, and pay my ad valorem tax.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – pleased that I went to the gym last night
Current Music – listening to last weekend’s “The Mac Show” from British Tech Network, and now listening to today’s stage of the Tour de France.
Website Of The Day – I searched for “stand up desk” on Google and found many pros and cons on this lifestyle change, including JustStand. Oh, I also found out about the movie “Stand Up Guys” (which requires Flash, btw).
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – strength training
Morning Weigh-In – I think if I am to check any time soon I will get severely depressed
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 1 (0 cardio)
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 7
Carnivorous Meals – 11
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
July Goals
– get my foot to stop hurting
– return ITP-Reader Martha’s coffee percolator to her

- return ITP-Terri’s crutches to her

- not get sick

- finish at least two of the books I am reading

- take at least one box of things to Goodwill

- post at least ten photos in the blog

- drink a lot less alcohol

- prepare a house repair plan and budget
2013 Goals: Measurable
– Get my weight down to 190 pounds so that I can wear a 36″ waist pants comfortably
– Completely read ten books, audio books permissible
– Dissolve Sharpened Stone
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Completely run at least one 10k
– Fix all (or at least most) of the things which are wrong with the ITP Estate
2013 Goals: Unmeasurable
– Simplify, simplify, simplify
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
– Eat smaller portions
– Start, and continue, to make my own bread using my bread machine as well as using the technique outlined in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
– Read and discard magazines during the month in which they arrive (even digitally)
– Take two real vacations, perhaps one abroad
– Take a more proactive approach to meeting women (read “stop being such a pussy”)
Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2013
- Pages 1.7 for iPad (Timestompers Guide) — by Sean Wells
- 60 Mountain Lion Tips — by David Sparks and Brett Terpstra
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business — by Charles Duhigg
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy — by Douglas Adams
- Amazing Things Will Happen: A Real-World Guide on Achieving Success and Happiness — by CC Chapman
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Paulie I think you can take your stand up desk one step further (wait for it) and make a treadmill desk! I have a co worker who did that and walks a few miles a day while in meetings.
Ha. As profusely as I sweat I would quickly destroy thousands of dollars of computer equipment if I were to use a treadmill desk.
Sitting is the new smoking…
I’ve been making an effort to get up during the day and walk around. We also have two stand up desk (portable) available to try out at the office. I haven’t gone to the trouble yet of tracking them down.
At my last job, one of my co-workers was diabetic (Type I), using a stand up desk helped to keep her glucose levels stable and reduced her need for insulin.
So I just found out Jerry bought tickets to the Braves vs. Reds on Saturday…ugh, I really don’t want to sit out in the heat and humidity watching baseball (not so fun fact: baseball sucks when your aren’t drinking).
Dude. Good for Jerry, guess his new Republican hair is steering him in the right direction! I’ve been *averaging* about one Braves game a week this season. I’m going on Thursday night and am contemplating Sunday afternoon as well, but it depends on whether or not I go out of town this weekend.
BBQSteve works on a treadmill desk. He appears to like it.
Don’t get me wrong, I think I could live a treadmill desk and the amount of sweat I produced would keep interruptions to a minimum. However I can only imagine the electrical fire my salty sweat would start…
Checking in from FL, it’s actually raining at the moment, but hopefully it will be gone soon, so I can get a little beach time & sun. Gotta come home with a little color on this pasty white skin. This place is like we have a private beach, most of the snowbirds that own these places would never be here in the summer.
We went out for a little bike ride this morning on A1A, it’s like riding SCT with traffic. Pedal, pedal, pedal. I do like a few hills so you get a break from pedaling.
It’s turtle nesting season, we’ve seen more than a few nests. It would be cool to see them hatching someday.
Re: treadmill desk (note, I’m not trying to convince anyone, just elucidating), the idea is to walk…very…slowly. You’re not doing high intensity intervals, here. If you went even at a normal walking pace you’d get tired pretty fast. But ANY movement is better than sitting, and walking extremely slowly will allow you to continue doing it without taxing the system into exhaustion. Exhausted workers aren’t productive.
Re: treadmill desk… I still think these are better for home environments as opposed to work ones. I would get annoyed by the SOUND of my colleague’s machine constantly running if nothing else.
A few people here at work have stand-up desks, with “higher” chairs pushed aside that they can use if they want to sit for a while. I think it’s pretty cool our company allows it and will help you adjust your space if you need.
I meant to say yesterday: sorry I can’t be a slacker this weekend 🙁 Very sad about that but I’d already had a tubing trip to Helen planned.
Barb, I was on A1A just two days ago! Of course, you’re much further south than I was. Still…it was awesome. Get any boat drinks yet?
Folks are starting to use them around here- the bank, in its’ finite wisdom fought pretty hard against them- too much trouble basically.
There seem to be few riders coming down for Saturday’s Summer Slacker Series #!. Since I have to work, I can’t even ride!! I will be working from home though. It may just be a pool and grill out situation, so maybe the ride will be Sunday at the Cheesy Tour De France party at Enema’s? The Stone Mountain loop is always a good one.
Ready for a break from this work crap!
-FP
Yes, what Jenka said, if you’re sweating profusly then you’re doing it wrong.
Barb, for the record I woke up to a dry deck this morning and the sun is shining brighly right now…
Jenka, you want my ticket for Saturday?? At least we don’t have to drive 8 hours (each way) for this stupid game.
No boat drinks yet, but I’m sure there will be some soon.
Martha, I’d only want your ticket if you took the other one, so that kinda defeats the purpose. 🙂
“Yes, what Jenka said, if you’re sweating profusly then you’re doing it wrong.”
I thought if you weren’t sweating profusely you are doing it wrong! I could be incorrect, it’s been a long time. Wait, what are we talking about again? 🙂
The noise I create would do me well, it’d drown out those around me.
As you can tell I am back from PT and, as is always the case with my life, it generated a story I will tell tomorrow.
Oh lordy!!
Jenka, you cracked me up.
I can’t wait to hear tomorrows story, did I get a preview from the text I received?
You are in the know… 😉