Day 426

As these days keep adding up, i realize how much progress ive been making in my musical goals and health goals as well! Musically, these past couple of weeks, ive been still working on writing and composition as well as looking forward to the new west record to be recorded in january. This week is going to be pretty chill - my tuesday students have all bailed on me cause of halloween, so im trying to fill up my time with jam sessions and the like.

While im in my third week of the abs diet now, things are going well - ive noticed a difference and i seem to be back on track - i just need to push myself to do the strength training more - that seems to be my weakness. I really don't like all the crunches and sit-ups i have to do all by myself here in the apartment - but its alright im sure. Diet wise, im doing quite well cooking - went to the grocery store yesterday, got my stuff ready for the week. Here i go!

Day 413

And yet, another stellar day. I had a great morning - practiced for about three hours, mainly playing along with some great records by Eric Alexander, Jim Hall, and Chris Potter. Then I continued further with my David Pritchard Music which Is really coming together well! Still breaking in my new strat, and boy I sure like it - super comfortable and really easy when it comes to my teaching b/c it doesn't take up much of my studio space. The New West album is coming together well - I had a great talk with Perry over the phone discussing in greater detail the arrangements and solo order, et al. I think this next album is going to be one of my most proudest moments as a guitarist.

As for my diet and excersize, a wonderful day once again - similar to yesterday except I followed the abs diet again, and rather than walking like I had done yesterday, I did abs and strength training today. Man, im super weak - but I know Ill get stronger - I just need to keep track and push myself farther and farther!

Diet wise, yet another great day (except for my little splurge just a moment ago :-) hehe

1. Kashi cereal
2. protein shake - a whopping 60% of my daily protein right there
3. toast w/ jam
4. brown rice
5. chicken
6. tomatoes
7. broccoli
8. soy corn dogs (which may sound bad, but man they're really really good)
9. popcorn
10. almonds
11. strawberries
12. dark chocolate
13. strawberry coffee cake
14. diet coke
15. water (although I really ought to have more than Ive been drinking)

So here it goes, day 3 of 40, I think Im going to see some major strides in the next few weeks!

Day 412

Today was phenomenal - got a new guitar - a shiny Fender Strat, american made, with a pickup system a bit different from ordinary strats, and a nice butterscotch finish. I needed a solid body, i have two gigs this week where im gonna need this kinda guitar so Im glad I got it. And boy! what a steal! the guys at the music store gave it to me for nearly half off.

My excersize was great - I did 20 minutes of interval training, i started cramping up at the end so im glad i didn't have to go any farther!

And food wise - get this!

1. Protein shake w/almonds
2. Kashi Cereal
3. toast w/jam
4. chicken breast
5. brown rice
6. broccoli
7. tomatoes
8. almonds
9. popcorn
10. peanut butter non salted pretzels

Unbelievable, the only unfortunate thing is I didn't get a dinner, but I did have a huge lunch so thats good. Today is 2 of 40 for my abs diet routine. Kinda silly to be thinking about toning my abs right now, but I think im on the right track with this plan. We'll see how it goes!

Day 411

After a week of great performances with New West and my quartet, plus great rehearsals on friday, teaching on thurs and sat as normal, id say it was a pretty productive week for me. Im very happy with how things are coming together in the guitar quartet - it seems that we will really have our stuff together for the new record. Music wise, im getting ready for another heavy week - three days teaching, a casual gig, two musical gigs (which are gonna be really challenging - that book is tough!), and a David Pritchard concert which I really need to shed for!

On the flip side, I decided to take a complete break from working out so in general i felt like crap. I also took time away from my diet plan which I think was good because my current diet plan wasn't working out very well for me anyway. I went to Trader Joe's today and I think ill be set for the week, i got some really great stuff.

Today is day 1 of 40, whereby in six weeks I want to complete the abs diet program. Ive had the book since summer and I haven't really launched myself yet - but im really gonna try it this week. After writing this entry im gonna plan out my schedule for the week and get it planned! thats how we do it!

My current weight is around 220, my goal is 200-205 by Jan 1, 190 by 3/07, and 173-178 by 12/07. Im thinking long term here! I know its monotonous to keep writing the goal, but thats what i started the blog for anyway!

Cheers!

Day 405

Working hard today - Ive got to practice my new west book and my own stuff to get ready for a week of great music! Im so excited. Listened to Metheny and some Kenny Wheeler today, id also like to get around to grant green if i can.

Schedule looks full for teaching which is nice - rounded off to about 25 students. Looking good for now!

Im getting excited for thanksgiving already - can you believe that? Its such a long way away too, im thinking this is going to be a longer fall than expected.

Continuing with the health stuff, last week I vowed not to hop on the scale at all - I think it was a good choice too. Still, lost only a couple of pounds - im down to about 218-219 now. Thats a good thing to be in the 2-teens, but Im so eager to get lower! I worked out a lot this week, having swam, walked, ran, and did crunches all the time. I need to remember to eat more, even though my food budget is so tight. We'll see how that goes. Its looking like day 450 might be a good goal day for me to be 200-210 - still 20 pounds off from my goal. Im trying to remind myself that all along I wanted to get to 190 so I shouldn't shoot for anything lower until I get there. Now whos to say what my goals will be once I get to the 190, but for now, im looking at it like I have 29 pounds to lose. Thats sure a far cry from the 100 pounds I set out to get.

Here we go! Farther into the 400s

Day 400

No guitar today, none.

Swam a bunch in the morning, felt great. about 1500 meters, front back fly, tons of strokes.

Here I am at 400, already. Its amazing how time flies! Keep checking back for more updates.

Day 399

I got a lot done today like yesterday.

7:30am Woke up, had some protein bar
Ran 2 miles walked 1.5 or so
Did crunches, situps, and pushups.

9:30am: changed my strings on the L5.

10:00am: practiced moment's notice, september in the rain, listened to Oscar Peterson Trio, worked on Clockwork - a solo classical guitar piece by David Pritchard, started working on a version of Bud Powell's Crazeology for the guitar quartet, practiced random noodling for an hour or so

-lunch around noon, had some turkey sausage, pretzels, and pita chips

3:00: left for teaching in Irvine

-dinner was at Wendy's but I made a good choice - grilled chicken sandwhich w/small chili and diet coke.

9:15: got home from teaching, continued practicing on clockwork and reviewed some Sor Mozart Variations while I was at it. Total practicing today, around 4-5 hours.

10:00pm: enter blog journal

Tommorrow's a big day for me - day 400. While I promised myself I wouldn't weigh in until the weekend, I can feel confident Im right on track. Im starting off with some swimming first thing in the morning, definetly looking forward to working my butterfly toward the end of the workout.

Today was stressful for me, I just hit the wall a bit - I realized im far from getting my feet on the ground. I don't know when I will, but in the mean time Im trying hard to suspend myself and continue upward. Not an easy task when you're trying to live on your own for the first time ever.

I have so far to go in so many ways - with my health goals, my musical goals, and in general, my life goals. This is such a difficult place to be right now. But I guess it never ends - we must constantly evolve. Evolution is life.

Ill see you all tommorrow on day 400 - a big day for me. 400 days, 80+ pounds later, here I am to tell my storie.

Day 398

What was once a daily part of my life has now become a weekly or bi-weekly event - my blog. While I don't want to give up journaling, I need to keep trying to enter.

Musically, ive been listening to the Kings of Convenience along with the new Brad Mehldau and pat Metheny record. I really enjoy both. This week, id like to write some more tunes for new west

Today was wonderful, I had a funny gig with my good friend Brian Green performing at a wedding at the very nice St. Regis Resort in Laguna Beach - wow, a complete palace this place was.

Outside of having that fun, i excersized and then took time to myself and walked down to the yard house here in Long Beach, had a beer and a hamburger and I must say , it hit the spot.

The good news, before gulping that stuff down, I got to weigh myself and ive hit 219. I was there earlier this week, and hopefully by the end of the week Ill have established myself down there.

With day 400 on the horizon, im going to try my hardest to be in the 2-teens. You're right though, the number doesn't matter as much, but I must say that it has been my goal all along - I just can't wait until the day comes sometime next year when I hit that number I always wanted, and then I can throw away my scale and just maintain from then on. This weight loss always lingering over me sucks - I just want it to be over with.

With today being October 1st and me being below 220, Im looking ahead to my goals. Id really like to see 210 or 209 by november followed by a 190-200 mark by new years or end of december. I think the key is this journaling, eating more than i have, and swimming at least once or twice a week coupled with the sit ups and crunches, then running and walking every day I can. If I can push myself that far, I know ill get there. Recently, Ive been not eating enough and I know that doesn't work when you have the goals I want.

My goal is so close I can taste it! Everybody pray for me! :-)



October 1: 219
November 1: 209
December 1: 199
Jan 1: 189

amen


hahahahaha