iChan: Flourish in this 39th Best... Around... Round

Two weeks ago, my manager surprised me and my other Summit colleague with Best Buy gift cards for a merrier holiday. It's been an extended period of time since I've purchased anything from this fine establishment. Even my Rewards Zone account has expired. What do I do with this gift card? It took me a good hour of aimless ambling (to get some extra steps in, too, of course) and an excruciating debate with my conscience to decide on what would be the most practical items to purchase. Zumba DVDs? Oh wait, everything is on Blu-Ray now and I don't exactly care to purchase a player or overuse Chris' PS3 to display Beto's gyrating hips. Wii Mu sports-y stuff? Nah, I don't want a new console. The newest console I have is the Dreamcast that my dearest friends bought for me. (It's still at home in LA and still means the world to me.). A cover for my phone? Nope, this store doesn't carry the appropriate case. A phone charger for the car? For $30? Sure. I can jus...

Yesterday's Results The scale reads: 163 lbs. Goal: 127 lbs. The awesome pedometer reads: 10406 steps (2789 aerobic steps for 32 minutes), 3.28 mi. December 14's Results The awesome pedometer reads: 7732 steps, 2.44 mi. December 13's Results The awesome pedometer reads: 10622 steps, 3.35 mi. Other aerobic activities: Fat Blasting Cardio (30 min.) December 12's Results The awesome pedometer reads: 10023 steps, 3.16 mi. Other aerobic activities: Fat Blasting Cardio (50 min.) December 11's Results The awesome pedometer reads: 5930 steps, 1.87 mi. Other aerobic activities: Fat Blasting Latin Dance Mix (20 min.) December 10's Results The awesome pedometer reads: 10876 steps, 3.43 mi. Other aerobic activities: Fat Blasting Latin Dance Mix (30 min.) December 9's Results The awesome pedometer reads: 13350 steps, 4.21 mi. Other aerobic activities: Cardio Hula (30 min.) December 8's Results The awesome pedo...

Yesterday's Results The scale reads: 162 lbs. Goal: 147 lbs. The awesome pedometer reads: 10911 steps (4967 aerobic steps for 45 minutes), 3.44 mi., 295 calories Other aerobic activities: Cardio Hip Hop (30 minutes) It's not so amazing what stress and a sedentary lifestyle does to one's health goals. The wintry Texas days feel lackluster in spurring physical activity. The unsuspecting series of rain and early nightfalls do not inspire me to perspire. It is hibernation season, yes? With multiple weddings around the corner - mine inclusive - I will get back to at least where I started with this blogging adventure - a bit below 150 lbs. I was happier then. I was on track to get to my high school weight. I need to embody joviality and spirit for these momentous occasions. I need to get moving. Losing twenty pounds in a little over 6 months is mighty feasible, right? I think so since I have the disgusting motivation to get some vitality back in my life and wring ...

Earlier This Week The scale reads: 154 lbs. Goal: 127 lbs. In the last 3 months, I've been more sedentary and eating more fast food for lunch. I haven't reached my 10k steps/day streak in a while. I would reach 10k steps maybe once or twice a week, but I lose steam easily. I've over-committed myself to other things that keep me inactive. How do you all do this 9 to 5 business and still stay in shape? The Challenges Walk Across America I don't have my 2011 planner with me so I can't tally up the miles I've walked across America in the last 3 months. I do have my handy dandy 2012 planner and I've walked a good 103.08 mi from the beginning of the year until now. I have probably ambled many more steps because I wasn't wearing the pedometer at all times and the battery even died on me once. HabitForge Maybe I need to make my goal 10k steps/day. The 6,000 steps/day goal has only been successful 79% of the time since I've started in November...

This Past Week's Results The scale reads: 148 lbs. Goal: 127 lbs. Reaching-for-the-Gold Goals I thought I was maintaining a cool 146 lbs. Nope, I gained some weight. On a different, brighter note, the fitness highlights of this past week were: Clocking in at least 10 minutes of physical activity on 3 days of the week Reaching 15k steps on a single day I'm slowly easing my way back to fitness gold. Habits After all the glory of fulfilling the PALA challenge, I did not keep up with the walking. I was hoping the challenge instilled the habit of walking at least 8k steps for 5 days out of the week to help me maintain weight. Nope, once the gold star system was out of sight and out of mind, the weight was out of bounds once again. Although I was successful in reaching my goal of completing the program, I can officially file PALA under the "(Mis)Adventure" category in the developing healthy habits aspect of the endeavor. Did you really make it a habit? I am gues...

Last Month's Results The scale reads: 145 lbs. Goal: 127 lbs. I can't believe 8 weeks has passed already! Look what I have accomplished within that time: I've earned the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award ! See, I earned myself some golden stars! I could've technically had 7 shiny, golden badges of accomplishment, but I had forgotten to keep track of my steps while I was in Southern CA (The first week of the challenge). I think I actually did more walking during that trip compared to the last 7 weeks of this endeavor. I guess it was silly of me to initiate the challenge before going on the trip. Regardless, I'm content with the results because: I was able to reach my goal. I was dedicated to this endeavor and a positive result came of it. I got the award electronically . I wasn't going to dish out 6 buckos and some change to get the paper one with stickers and a badge. There were many stressful periods during the weeks, but I walked off most of t...

Results for Week of August 28 th The scale reads: 150 lbs. Goal: 127 lbs. Miles this week: 32.72 mi. ADT Progress: 98.63 mi. Yikes! 3 weeks has gone by without logging my adventures. Outside of my virtual adventures, I've had grand in-person adventures with my closest friends back home in Southern California. It was quite a visit with the historic blackout that stretched internationally from Mexico, San Diego County, southern bits of Orange County, to even Arizona. This event turned into a bonding experience with my dear friends, Cynthia and Daniel. We traveled northeast to find a casino that served hot meals and dizzying chances at slot. I actually didn't touch any machines that evening. I just enjoyed catching up with Cynthia. Back to the virtual adventure: See Food Diet (Actually, It is Seafood) Image courtesy of The Maryland Store Good ol' ADT website exclaims, " At Grasonville and Stevensville you have entered Chesapeake Bay country where you h...