motivation

When I was younger, I was in fantastic shape. I played hockey three nights a week on average, plus a game on the weekends. I walked everywhere I could, just because. I ate well, I stretched . . . in other words, I did everything I could to take good care of myself.

Then I got older, got busier, and slowly but steadily allowed my once-perfect system of exercise to break down.

Though broken by occasional events like a 5K, marathon or 3 day walk, I admit and acknowledge (with no small amount of disgust and disappointment) that I am stuck in a go-nowhere pattern of rolling out of bed, working all day, sitting with my family at night, and going to sleep so I can start the whole thing over again the next day.

I recently saw some film of myself from about two weeks ago, where I'm sitting weird in a chair, and holy shit do I look like a fat bitch. I only weigh about 155, which is good and average for my height and body type, but the way I was sitting pushed what little tubby gut I have up over my belt, and made me look about thirty pounds heavier than I am. Yeah, goodtimes. Good times. "Hey, he's not smuggling hams, he's just a big fat kid!"

Anyway, this is all to introduce today's xkcd, which may just give me the motivation I need to use the chin-up bar that my wife keeps threatening to take down, clean up my diet (which is already significantly better than the average American diet, but could stand a reduction in coffee and beer) and get out to walk -- and maybe even run -- more.

Why is it that these great ideas always come up right around the beginning of Winter, instead of the middle of Spring when, you know, it would actually be nice to get outside every day? I mean, here in Los Angeles, it can get all the way down to 55 degrees -- during the day, no less -- and sometimes, it's even cloudy! It's madness. Pure madness.

Comments

[ExMember]

You and I both could stand to eat a little better and exercise a little more. But reducing our intake of beer? Let's not get crazy.

[AngieZ]

55? That would be a beautiful spring day, almost shorts and t-shirt weather! Right now, it is -13F here!! Try to think about exercising in that, with 3 feet of snow to boot. Well, shovelling the driveway is exercise of a sort, but mostly it just kills the back. ;-)

[Cooper]

Don't forget that many o' monk had proven that you can live on Guiness alone; just eat/drink the black gold and you should be fine.

I was in that place this time last year after seeing some photos...Yikes. I was a seriously competitive athlete as a kid/teenager (3 hours a day in a pool, 6 days a week) and the person in the photos was in no way related to me. College, marriage, job all added up. But it is all good now, the secret: less food, more fun, less alcohol (tears just hit the keyboard.)

[BadBlood]

GL Wil. Remember, discipline is your friend. Feel free to ask away if you have q's on diet/nutrition.

[Greg]

Wait till you hit 50. Then the exercise hurts. I look at pictures of myself at 33 and wish I was in that shape again. As a former Floridian, I feel your pain about inclement weather. As a current Pacific Northwesterner with snow coming down as I write: Get the hell outside and walk. ;-p

[Kornham]

Fat Bitch - Funny. Men don't have to carry babies. 38DD are now a 38 Long. You have a naturally tall lanky/thin body type so you don't have to worry.

[(The Original) Mary Sue]

You can just shut the hell up, Mr. Wil Wheaton. We had snow today in Portland, OR-- and I have to walk 8 blocks to the grocery store later today.

Reduce everything except the coffee and beer. We don't want to get too drastic, now. *nods*

[Reddy]

I wouldn't get rid of the coffee. Just change sweetners in it. If you can find Stevia that is the only natural sweetner. If not then I'll say Splenda.

Cut your calories down do 13 x your wieght(females need to change the 13 to 10 or 11) You don't want to cut down too much or your body will hang on the fat. Try cutting out the stuff that you can't easily read.I like the saying "If it wasn't grown on a farm in 1700 then you really don't need it in your body" (it is amazing how many additives are made out of oil after the companies get the gasoline out)

Now as to why you think about slimming down this time of year, it is a time of the year when you start reflecting on what you need to get done before the year ends. (I'm dieting & cleaning out closets & storage places - next up is the sewing room)

[Bobby Lewis]

I'm right there with you. I thought the same thing when I saw xkcd this morning! I've been pretty good about working out but it's fallen off lately. Hopefully we'll make our will rolls now to get off our butts again!

[CHV]

How ironic you wrote this now, Wil.

I am really struggling with motivation to shed some pounds, and I don't even drink beer.

Back in college did simple exercises (crunches, push-ups) that gave me a washboard stomach, and a nice, toned upper body.

Today (at age 38) I have a desk job, and just eclipsed 200 lbs for the first time in my life. I feel like a frickin' slug.

The good news, however, is that I'm 6'3
tall and only 10 lbs over my ideal weight so I don't have too much tonnage to shed. It's just a question of getting on the treadmill more than once a week, if I'm lucky.

[VeronicaRobinson]

HOLY COLD SNAP BATMAN!! 55 degrees?? Are you kidding? You all must be frozen solid!

*annoyed*

Put on some sweats. You'll be okay.

[LizS]

CHANGE OF SUBJECT:

This morning as I was getting ready for work AMC was playing a movie from 1984 called "The Buddy System". What an adorable Wil flashback! Wil as geeky son with HUGE glasses, Susan Sarandon as mom and Richard Dreyfuss as the kinda creepy boyfriend who keeps trying to get in good with the son. Hey, it was 5:30am, I'll spin it how I want to.
What were you Wil, like 10?

[Nopa]

Hey Wil, I don't think I've commented before, partly due to the lazy, partly because i didn't really have anything to say. But, you mentioned how much you like getting comments, so...

I'd like to give you a good ol' *thwap* to the head for your "55 degrees, in the day no less*. That's a balmy, "let's get out in the grey and play at the beach in shorts," temperature. .. ... .... in Michigan at least.

Anyways, I'll make you a deal, you get in shape, I'll get in shape, and we'll celebrate someday by eating too much red meat, drinking too much beer, then going somewhere for kareoke.

[gwyndyn]

If you manage to get motivated, maybe you can give me some hints. I get on a health kick and it goes for about a week before it fizzles. ;)

[Julian Owen]

Hey Wil. Ever tried just cutting down on bread and heavy carbs? I have done that for 3 weeks, plus a little extra walking and I've lost just over half a stone. I eat loads of fruit which makes me feel good and helps me to concentrate. Worth a try.

[Phil]

If you keep taunting me with your weather I will cry. -10 where I'm at. -29 if you count the wind.

[Wil]

I'm not concerned with losing weight as much as I am interested in being generally healthier, and exercising more, so a realistic fitness program that's fun and manageable is going to work for me more than a diet where I'm counting calories or anything like that.

If I can find some sort of fitness program that's manageable and realistic, I'll post a link to it. I tried some Hypersomething or whatever it was called, that was supposed to be a sort of online training assistant, but it was far too complicated for my tastes.

[virago7]

Do Nolan and/or Ryan play street hockey? Maybe you guys can do a weekly play date? The peer pressure of keeping up with them might inspire a healthier lifestyle.

[Dataghost]

Try getting that great idea at the start of winter in Canada...hehehe, 40% of the country never thaws...completely permafrosted! I find that 50-55° isn't bad weather for going for a leisurely 20 km walk...

[datasgirl]

55 degrees????
wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
that is all.

[Joe]

My life's goal is to make sure my liver ISN'T too healthy before I drop dead!

I used to work out with a famous putz named Bob Delmonteque. One day, he was spotting me and said, "With those terrible abs son, you couldn't get into the army if you wanted to."

Although it was insulting, I replied, "Good, mission accomplished, now would you spot me grandpa?!". I bet he's still alive today, fit as fiddle neck down, but his 85yr old brain is likely as tired as his jokes. Point is, just enjoy life and don't sweat the inevitable.

[Zkid]

This is where I get to laugh at you for having Winter right now. Silly Northern Hemisphere people. Move to Australia and you won't have that problem. ^_^
I'm just trying to get into a new fitness program as well, because I'm hoping to join the Navy early next year, and at this point I am seriously unfit. I found this 4 week fitness program on the Australian Defence Forces website. If you could be bothered looking for it, you might like to give it a try. It's pretty simple, mostly just going for walks and doing a few push ups and sit ups.

[Kevin]

I was supposed to start a diet today.... didn't since I didn't have quite everything ready for it. I guess you have to be ready mentally for it as well. All I need to do is get a bit more active and stop making these repeated trips to the vending machine right outside my cubicle!!!

[Sabrina]

People just don't understand, when you live in the Southwest for a while your blood thins. 55 degrees can feel like -10... That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Quick Question: Will you be attending the Las Vegas Star Trek convention in Aug 07? Just wanted to know if they've contacted you. Thanks!

[Wil]

Sabrina: They have contacted me. It would be unprofessional and unethical to comment on their offer, but I will say that I expect a lengthy negotiation. Again.