Dominoes and Luck

It’s 2:30 PM on a Thursday afternoon, clear sky, people all around us, and I’m winning in dominoes. Friendly conversations turn sour, joking and taking from this to that and the middle of conversation comes “Yeah I know you don’t see the running track” wow how it got this personal. Looking into his eyes I said, “next time I’m near your house I am going to invite you to the track and see who wins!” At least I have conviction and determination. But it’s a double-edge sword, let me explain.

The substitution

I’ve been a heavy half of my life, but at my age it’s getting a little complicated. When I was like 10 years old, I got tired of one of my family member excuses “It is hard to get fit”. Devised a plan, wanted to see how hard was to lose the weight. Heads up, it was hard. Being skinny all my childhood gaining a few pounds was extremely easy, popcorn here, nachos with cheese there and eating until I got extremely full. Soon I was overweight, and I didn’t recognize the person in the pictures. It’s weird but you don’t see the difference in the mirror day by day. It’s a step process to gain those pounds. In the end, it took me a few years before I could shed those pounds, but now I had created an appetite that creates a cycle of heavy to thin. Soon I will be at the age of no return, and it will be harder to get in shape. But there’s a complicated subject: FOOD! I love to cook, and that’s my problem. Before I cook the food, I can taste it. Creating an image of the perfect mix of the herbs, do great broths and taste all the way! From homemade pastas and pizzas to Pad Thai. In end I can get myself in a lot of caloric trouble and working from home, my exercise is limited.

The resolution

Lets talk about numbers, 5’ 11” (180cm), 262LB (119.75 Kg), 36.5 BMI ¹, and a 34% of fat. Last time I got fit was more than 7 years ago and used the “Target heart rate zone”. Now the Apple Watch will introduce that feature on WatchOS 9², but at that time I had the Sportline Elite Duo. It is a watch that included a chest band that gave you constant BMP while exercising. The manual ³ recommended Fat Burning Zone: 65% – 75% of maximum heart rate. I really don’t have the minimum idea of how all that works. But before I used those target zones, I used to get tired quickly, but by using them didn’t get exhausted. Now the plan is to take it easy. I’m “Obese” and even when I have a heart to run on a treadmill 30 minutes, my body doesn’t. A doctor visit will guide you to the best path forward. For me I switch it up a bit, moved from treadmill to a bicycle and ride around the area. It keeps me focused on the path, the cars and the people so much that a half hour runs by in a flash. My goal is to be at 200 pounds (90.71KG) at years en’s end. That will put me to overweight BMI range, and by July next year want to get to my normal weight. While keeping the same caloric quantity of the weight I want to be in good nutrition ⁴.

The solution

Now, seeing how everything is used to connect us with our most vulnerable feelings. I have to fix something that is dragging me down to earth (literally). Will use the power of will, dedication and hard work. I have used it a few times in the past to get me out of dragging myself to a path that I couldn’t take back. Will wake up in the morning band do a bicycle run, 30 minutes six times a week. One day to rest, and if more become necessary, will add those too. I expect to be adding weight training at the end of two months.

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