The gym was blissfully underpopulated this morning and that was freakin' awesome compared to this past Saturday. I walked in and went right to work. I didn't even feel the anxiety-driven need to sneak onto the scale for a weigh-in; I just walked over and stepped right up- didn't feel anyone eyeballing me or anything. Bonus! Down enough to call another pound.

My tips today:

#19 - Chew Gum

Preferably something sugar-free and Trident-like. This type of calorie-free chewing helps offset the calorie-rich pastry chewing of days bygone.

#20 - Eat Enough

Skipping meals puts my body in "storage mode". Better to eat enough of the right kind of nutrition throughout the day than skip and binge.

#21 - "No" Means No And It's A Perfectly Suitable Response

It's totally OK to take the potatoes and and continue passing without dropping a dollop on my plate. And a polite "No thank you," hurts only my mother's feelings when a plate of goodies is jammed in front of my face.

#22 - Sleep Sans TV

The bedroom is for sleeping and... um... sleep inducing activities- and that doesn't mean watching C-Span. It should be a quiet, peaceful refuge from distraction that promotes deep, restful log-sawing. If the log-sawing becomes a distraction, get it fixed.

indolent \IN-duh-luhnt\, adjective:
1. Avoiding labor and exertion; habitually idle; lazy; inactive.
2. Conducive to or encouraging laziness or inactivity.
3. Causing little or no pain.
4. Slow to heal, develop, or grow.

Indolent was yesterday's Dictionary.com Word of the Day and I cannot imagine a word more so-not-the-word I want to become associated with than that. Oh wait, yes I can- just about every word that is synonymous or describing a condition resulting from anything having to do with that word. I've been there and I'm rabidly committed to not going back.

I've been mixing up the workouts so that I'm doing a lot more reps at lower weights. I've also simplified my diet into an easily repeatable menu- including morning smoothies. I had planned on being a little more adventurous with ingredients but you know what? I'm sticking with what works. My focus is results and outcome right now. Variety can be a distraction- and one I think I'll avoid in the short-term.

The hell I say!

I'm the first to admit it; I'm a creature of habit, of routine, of tradition. I'm spontaneous during the moments between these habits and routines. I schedule spontaneity. Wait, what? That's not quite right at all. The thing is, I follow a daily regimen of activity and unscheduled, spontaneous brick-a-brack. Somehow, almost frenetically, the hours get filled and I still manage to get stuff done.

Things happen that are beyond the scope of control and tend to distract me from time to time. Somebody wants this, what's-his-face needs that, joe-somebody needs picked up from who-knows-where. The phone rings, PC blue-screens, hair catches fire, dingo eats your baby, or what ever else is next on your list of things you could never imagine happening. It's LIFE, and life tends to interrupt that vision of what you expect your life to be.

Believe it or don't, I had one of those days yesterday. LIFE put my life on hold. Rather, I allowed STUFF to distract me from productivity and industry. Did I go to the gym? (no) Did I gain weight? (I dunno) Did I survive? (yes) Did the sun rise this morning? (yes) Am I back on schedule? YES! Do I recognize that I still could have gone to the gym yesterday despite of all that was happening? YES! Will I maintain focus and purpose throughout the day, every day, and accomplish all that I set out to do? OH HELL YES!!!

There it is, that's the attitude I should have because that's what is going to get me through. Did I completely forget about exercising yesterday? No. I did take fifteen minutes at my desk and did a few sets of dumbbell curls with some weights I have just for such occasions. I use them usually as an emergency stress-reliever and yesterday I was tempted to beat the hell out of somebody with them. Not literally- that would be wrong, but figuratively (which is perhaps less satisfying but definitely less life-changing).

I am back on schedule and it feels good. My wife and I ran the bleachers this morning. I'm still doing the routine of bleachers - walk - sprint 100 yards - walk - repeat. My wife says I'm running faster than I have been. I have to agree- this morning I ran so fast my shorts fell down (literally). This was due primarily to a combination of being way-too-big over slippery Under Armour (which I really like). Good thing it was still dark 'cause the moon was indeed full. Not pretty.

Despite embarrassment and the morning chill, I feel pretty darn good. I'm definitely gym'n it tomorrow.