Would You Believe...

I've lost weight?!! Specifically, I've dropped 7 pounds in the past 3 weeks.

Want to know my secret? Pedometer!

Imagine this... you haven't changed a darn thing about your diet or exercise. You're still eating the same things... you haven't gone to the gym due to a swollen (and painful) knee.

Yet, you notice your clothes are fitting better... things don't look so "large and in charge"... and you swear you have a little more energy than before.

Well, I got up on the scale yesterday. I was shocked! Holy Smokes! I'm 7 pounds lighter than the first of the year!

Last year at this time, I was busting my hump to get in shape to run the Half Marathon in April. I was going to the gym several times a week, I was sweatin' like crazy on the treadmill, and I changed my diet quite a bit. After a month, I was down 10.

Ironic, eh?

I'm pretty sure the cause of all of this droppage is due to my new Pedometer. Knowing I'm being tracked, I actually push myself to walk a little farther. It's pretty simple... I park further out, I decide to walk across the street for lunch instead of grabbing something in the building, I choose the stairs over the elevator (one floor), etc. It's all about making "healthier choices," right?

So if you're looking for an easy weight loss, give it a try. It only cost me $30... and I blogged about it below if you want to see which pedometer I purchased.

Pedernales Falls State Park

One Sore Knee...

Ever since the Cowboys' game, life has gotten quite a bit "limpy" around here...

Maybe I overdid it a tad...

I knew it was pretty sore when I woke up Sunday morning. I decided not to do that much, so I rested it by doing a lot of "couch" patrol.

However, Monday I headed into work. As soon as I started walking, I knew it was going to be a rough stride.

By Monday afternoon, someone commented that it looked like I was limping. I was overcompensating with my good leg I guess...

Yesterday was the third day since the game... and I was in a full limp. And in the midst of all of that pain, two different people asked me about the leg and, "Have you started running yet?"

This morning, I immediately was limping just getting out of bed...

Uugh... this is just one long freakin' process...

Working from home today... maybe being off of it will help.

It just feels like the knee is on fire. I think what I'm experiencing is the impact of losing the protective cartilage around that joint.

So no plans to start running just yet. Just focusing on walking... one step at a time.

"How Bout' Them Cowboys!!!"

Wow... what an AWESOME experience!!! Below, I'm going to "scattershoot" about everything from last night...

...It sure is nice to have friends in high places! When Chandra asked me if I wanted to go, I had no idea how fantastic the tickets would be. We were sitting at the 30-yard line, row 13... and the face value was $340.00. Good gravy! Everyone needs to go to Dunkin Donuts and show their appreciation for the pics you're seeing above!...

...Speaking of pics, as soon as we parked, Chandra gave everyone their tickets. I put mine in my back pocket. Then, like the picture-happy dork that I am, I whipped out my camera and started snapping photos as we walked up to the stadium. Right after the pic was taken of me holding up my hands ("Touchdown"), I realized something was missing in my back pocket!

Do you know that panic that overwhelms you when you just screwed up? Well, magnify that by like 100 and that's close to where I was at that moment. "Chandra!" I think everyone could see the look on my face as I called her over. "Do you have my ticket?" She looked and was like, "No... I gave it to you." I was freaking out. "I dropped it somewhere between here and the car (which was about half a mile away)."

Just then, some guy who had passed us and was about 10 yards beyond turned around, "Did you lose a ticket?" He had found it! What incredible timing... at the moment I realized it was gone, the guy who found it was within earshot amidst hundreds of people walking up to the stadium... I couldn't believe my fortune! "Dear Lord! Thank you!!!" I quickly gave my ticket to Chandra to hold!...

... Everyone says this, but the stadium is just amazing. It's not a stadium... it's like a palace! Everything just screams "quality." When you're right outside, there are speakers where you can hear the pregame. There are giant video boards - they were showing the end of the Jets-Bengals game. Even the staff... extremely welcoming, from the greeters to the concessions to the guy in the restroom directing you to the quickest urinal... it's like going to a fancy resort!

... Prices. You bet they're high! Chandra said everything at the concession stand was $.50 higher this week than last. Basically, if you want a beer, it's either $8.50 or $9.50. Small mixed drinks are $10 while a double is $20. Sodas are $5.00. But the food was awesome! I had a Green Chilie Kobe Beef Burger for $13 that was fantastic. The fries were huge and thick... $5.00 for a basket...

... Cowboys Diamond Vision... that's what they call the big screen... 60 yards of amazing clarity! I tried not to look at it during play unless they were at an angle that I couldn't see very well. However, if everyone stood up on a big play, I just looked up and didn't miss the action! We were below it... I'm sure if you were above the screen (like a lot of people), you'd just focus on that screen...

... Jerry Jones' Owner's Box is right at the 50 across from us. You could see the light on in there and people. They showed that President Bush was with him, and everyone in the stadium seemed to stand up in appreciation. However, the people sitting behind us weren't big fans of the Prez...

... Speaking of those people, they did something rather interesting towards the end of the game. Well, one guy did. In front of us was a guy and a girl... the guy had a blue/silver wig on, was a huge fan, slapped our hands on big plays... was having a great time. We also noticed he had a gun on his side (under his shirt) and a badge on that holster. It's a little strange to see that, but oh well... guess he could carry it since he's a cop (and made it past the "pat-down" we all got going into the stadium - no metal detectors).

Well, the anti-Bush guy behind us didn't like seeing that or that the guy was drinking... so he went and got the cops. About 4-5 of them showed up and escorted the pistol-packing guy and his girl out about midway through the 4th. They never returned. Then for the remainder of the game, we had to listen to "The Tattler" brag about what a "hero" he was to the chick next to him because he turned him in. Man it was a beating... and I'm not really sure she cared to hear it...

... I've been to Cowboys games before, but never to a playoff one. The fans are awesome! I'd be walking around and people would just scream, "Cowboys!" or "How Bout' Them Cowboys" or whatever else... they'd slap you high five... and it was even crazier after the game! People tailgating and screaming and beating up dolls with McNabb jerseys on... it was hilarious!...

... Walking! We parked fairly close... but geez louise my knee was not happy with me! If you read my "pedometer blog" below, you saw the amount of steps I normally take (5,400). I was just over 6,900 when it was over with last night... and that was not in the course of a day, but in the course of several hours! Go knee, go...

... Overall, I'm just going to say that if you ever have a chance to go to a game at this stadium, you should make the effort. It was an amazing experience... super fun! And after the week I had, I definitely needed a night like that!!!

Thanks again to Chandra for making it all happen!

Ped-Power!!!

If you ever watch the TV show, "The Biggest Loser," you hear that one of the healthiest things you can do for your life is to walk more...

Increasing your steps per day burns calories, strengthens your core, and improves your overall health.

So what the trainers say on the Biggest Loser is to buy a pedometer and use it everyday. Knowing your steps will push you to "walk more" each day... thus, allowing yourself to achieve the benefits described above.

Well, I bought one. They're not that expensive. The one pictured cost me about $30, but there are numerous ones out there.

Now I bought it for the health reasons, but also to push myself to hopefully walk more in order to strengthen this "noodle" of a leg. It's fairly easy - it's small enough that I can attach it to my belt. However, you can also slip it into your pocket or purse.

The experts say everyone should try and walk 10,000 steps a day. That sounds like a lot... overwhelming... something impossible, right?

Well, for the 3 days that I wore it this week, I was averaging about 5,400 steps with my normal routine. Think about it... how many steps does it take you to walk from your car into your office? Or from your car into the grocery store?

Now... what if you parked a little farther out? What if you came home and walked around your block for about 15-20 minutes?

So if you're goal is to lose some weight this year... or strengthen a gimpy leg... this is a pretty simple method to achieve those goals.

Today, I'm going to get a lot of "work" with this pedometer and the leg... heading to the "Death Star" (A.K.A. Cowboys "Jerry World" Stadium) to watch the Cowboys whip up on those Eagles!

Go Cowboys!!!

How 'Bout Them Cowboys...

So I received a call tonight from Chandra...

"Hey... I've got 2 ticket to the Cowboys playoff game against the Eagles... wanna go???"

Hmmm....

"Uh... Yes Please!"

She wanted to know if my knee was up for the challenge.

I've decided, "Even if the knee disagrees, I'm going to make sure it keeps quiet!"

So, and this is mainly for my cousin Lori, now you know where I'll be on Saturday night!

Do I think the "Cardiac Cowboys" will win? Not sure. Do I think we should win? Absolutely.

The only bummer is I'll miss the Baylor basketball game prior to this one... we play Oklahoma at 5pm.

Oh well... sacrifices!

Mowin' in 2010...

My neighbors must have thought I was crazy... "What on earth is that fool doing mowing his yard in January???"

Well, I had a reason. Actually, several reasons.

Normally we have a fairly windy winter here in Dallas. That means when my leaves fall from the trees, they blow elsewhere...

This year, not so much. I had a TON of leaves sitting on my lawn, covering the sidewalk, and making the yard look just craptapular.

The other "reason" I wanted to mow was to see if I could do it. I hadn't mowed my yard since early April. Once the knee went kablewie, I hired a service to mow it weekly.

So I wheeled out the mower... filled it up with the little gas I had in the jug... and started cranking. And cranking. And cranking. And waiting. And pushing the starter button even more... and cranking... and getting cranky...

Finally, with a blast of smoke, the mower started. Then it stopped. A little more effort and it finally got going again. I got behind it and started pushing...

Wow! It felt great... and weird! I haven't really had to push anything like that over the past few months. It was a strange sensation of "I'm so glad to be doing this again" and "I feel a bit uneasy walking on this unstable surface!"

After a few rows, the mower died. "What the...???" Well, my spark plug blew out. Once I got it screwed back in, it now worked just fine. I mowed the entire front lawn... and realized I need to go to Home Depot to buy some filler dirt! I have quite a few pits in my yard that will probably cause me to fall one day...

Anyway, it was a momentous occasion. I think most of you know how much I enjoy working in my yard... knowing that I can do this just makes me look forward to 2010 even more!

(Although, it sure was nice to be sitting inside with the A/C blasting during August watching people mow my yard!)

A New Begin in 2010...

I don't know about you, but I, for one, was extremely happy to see the clock strike midnight and 2010 arrive!

I think I actually uttered the words, "Good riddance!!!"

If you've been following my blog for the past year, you've definitely seen "transformation" in its fullest form.

Last year at this time, I set several goals: Live a healthier life by making better choices, drop 50 pounds, and run at least two Half Marathons.

2009 started out great for me. I was a focused machine! I was religious in my commitment to the process - I walked, I ran, I went to the gym, I ate healthier, I drank less beer but increased my juice and green tea intake, I was stronger and faster, and I had more energy. Overall, the first 4 months were probably my healthiest in years!

Then it all came to a screeching halt on April 26. I still remember the fall... and the "electrical shock" that went through my body when my knee hit that curb. I didn't understand why I couldn't stand up... bend my leg... and why my knee had a big "pit" in it. I remember the people rushing to my aid, Chandra's "shocked" face, and the feeling of embarrassment. And I think I'll always remember hearing the start of the race and me being unable to complete what I started...

The next 8 months were incredible. When I was in that ambulance on the way to the ER in Oklahoma City, I thought, "I wonder what my year is going to be like now?"

Well, it was challenging. That's probably my best description of my year. I had to re-learn, adapt, focus, persist, endure, accept, press on, push myself, and "roll on" with just about everything that I faced.

A lot of people remarked that I appeared to have a positive attitude. Yeah... maybe. But there were several low points. I would get frustrated. It was difficult doing the things we take for granted. I showered sitting down with a trash bag on my leg. I dressed myself while sitting on the floor. My carpet had wheel marks from my walker. I guess at times it just got a little too much for me, so I broke down... several times.

But, I kept progressing... from walker to crutches to just a brace to no brace. I've worked hard with exercises in my house to strengthen the muscles. And I walk... a lot. I have to because that's what keeps me going. I've been told my limp isn't as noticeable anymore... just when I go up or down stairs.

It still amazes me when I look back over the year. I had 2 surgeries on the same knee in 6 months. I surely didn't think that was in my future when I began 2009!

But overall, which I think I've said this a lot, it was the love and support from my family and friends that helped me get through all of this. "Mr. Independent" had to relax and learn dependence on others... And I was blessed to receive compassion, encouragement, and selflessness in its truest form from everyone involved.

So here we are... "A New Begin in 2010"... that's the phrase my cousin Lori came up with! And you know what? It's true... for all of us. 2010 has so many new possibilities... 2009 is gone. It's history. 2010 is here for us to accomplish our hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations.

Mine are similar to last year... with the exception of running two Half Marathons. Right now, my leg is like a noodle. I tried running the other day from my sidewalk to my mailbox... and halfway there the leg collapsed. So, I still have a long way to go.

This year, it's simple: Healthier choices again. Strengthen the leg. Walk without a limp. Get up and down stairs without a problem. Lose weight. Stay active.

But also, be a better son, brother, uncle, friend, coworker, employee, and overall person. Show people the compassion and selflessness that I received last year. And encourage others... no matter what, we all go through our own struggles... and we all need encouragement.

So there you go... let's all have a great 2010! Set your own personal goals, and let us all be a little more improved this time in 2011!