And so it begins
I have exactly 62 days before I head to India again. I have an impressive number of things to get done before then, but all that I feel is going to play second fiddle to the most important of all.
My 60 day exercise routine.
Now I have always been in decent shape and have no trouble running ~ 4-5 miles, but I've had one big problem... I've always been a little on the chubby side. But all that ends here and now. I figured out a nifty exercise routine and am going to follow it even though it scares the heck out of me! :(
The scary part is the diet I am supposed to follow during that time. Oh well I suppose it will be worth it if I can get those pacs in the abs and be less chubby. So anyways... Here's a before pic of me that I took recently prior to the workout. I will be weighing myself everyday and recording my body fat % etc in a log that I will publish at the end of the 60 days.
For those of you interested here is what my routine is going to be like. It's a 6 day routine where I will be concentrating on one set of muscle groups every alternate day. Since tennis season only starts in Feb again, I can really start pushing myself.
Day 1 - Chest
5 mins light running
4 sets Bench
4 sets Incline
4 sets Decline
4 sets Flys
Day 2 - Shoulder + ab workout 1
5 mins light running
4 sets seated shoulder press
4 sets front raise and reverse flyes
4 sets shrugs/low pulley raise
5 sets of 20 reps on the ab machine
3 sets of crunches (25 reps ea)/hanging leg raises(10 ea - hope to reach 20 by the end of 60 days)
4/5 sets of back extensions
Day 3 - Cardio + ab workout 2
35 mins running/elliptical
5-10 min seated rowing
5 sets of 20 reps on the ab machine
3 sets of crunches
5 mins of cool down running
Day 4 - Back + biceps
5 mins of rowing
4 sets of Lat pull downs
4 sets of pullovers
4 sets of resistance seated row
3 sets of arm curls
3 sets of triceps/biceps curls
5 sets of back extensions
Day 5 - Cardio
I should have tennis practice/ultimate frisbee or some other sport to keep me occupied for one day. Also brings some variation into my routine
Day 6 - Cardio + ab workout 3
10 mins of running
15 mins elliptical
5 sets of 20 reps on the ab machine
3 sets of crunches (25 reps ea)/hanging leg raises(10 ea - hope to reach 20 by the end of 60 days)
4/5 sets of back extensions
Day 7 - Rest
The routine above is going to need some discipline to follow, but I've done 2 days now and I suppose I've got enough motivation to complete the rest.
The scary part is going to be the diet :(. No more goodies. I suppose I've snacked enough. But anyways my diet is going to have to be more day centric. I need to eat a big breakfast, smallish lunch and just have something very light yet filling for dinner.
I hope I can get past the initial inertia. If I do then I should be all good. The first month is going to be hell though. Oh well!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
So how was your Thanksgiving?
Was the most popular question that was being asked around the office today. Generally I just shrug and say in a non-commital tone that it was ok. Of course I always enjoy shopping on Black Friday and am always glad that I can get a couple of extra holidays.
This year however was awesome. In fact it has been a few years since I enjoyed my thanksgiving so much! In fact it was so good that I wish it could have gone on and on and on! I ate so much and enjoyed myself so much that I skipped two meals since I got back from my holiday. In fact my stomach still feels a little full from all that I ate last week.
I visited my in-laws' house and they were everything that you wish they were and nothing they shouldn't! Being with them was just like hanging out with some of my college friends. I really miss just hanging out with friends nowadays. Everyone has gotten so absorbed into their own lives that it is difficult to re-connect with anyone with more than a phone call!
Gone are the days when I would stay awake through the nights chatting with friends, playing cricket or even kabaddi with friends who would drop everything at the drop of a hat. Sigh! I miss my college days so much! I suppose a part of me is sad that I will never ever live like that again. However a part of me is overjoyed that I was able to experience times like those that I will be able to remember all through life.
Just about a year back I was nothing more than a new grad with nothing to worry about in life. In fact life had become a little mechanical since I graduated. This year things have happened so quickly that I find it a little hard to comprehend all the changes! Still I suppose as they say C'est la vie! Time to move on and celebrate the present and the future and retire the past.
So cheers to the good times and here's hoping for many more.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Being absent-minded
Sunshine's post about being absent minded reminded me about something that happened to me a while back :).
I was sitting in my cube the other day just minding my own business when a cabinet was moved into my cube. Since I am currently without a cube-mate and my dept was switching some things around, they had kept it in my cube.
Someone came to use the cabinet and I heard a beeping sound just as she opened a drawer and then again just as she closed it. And a third one just as she opened another drawer and another just as she closed. I thought it was very strange that we had such a high-tech cabinet and wondered what could be stored in there. Every time she was either opening or closing the cabinet there was a beep.
I watched for around 3-4 mins trying to see if I could figure out what kind of cabinet this was! Now this cabinet looks like one of the safes that you find in a bank. Very compact and solid.
I said to her, "Wow that is one amazing cabinet we have here! What do we store in there?" She looked at me with a puzzled expression and said, "It's just a cabinet.'
I say, "Yeah. But it's a pretty hi-tech cabinet isn't it?"
Her: "Is it? It's just a cabinet you know. Why do you think it's high tech?"
Me: "Well it beeps and stuff when you open the drawers."
Her (amazed): "Really? I've never heard it beep!"
Me: "No really! Try it!"
She did and there was no sound! Now I didn't want to look stupid so I went up to the cabinet and crawled all around trying to find that led or some other indicator that would make it beep. But she seemed to be right.
It was just an ordinary cabinet.
She thought I was just funning with her and walked out still a bit puzzled...
Then I turn around and my computer was off! I looked down and saw that my UPS was down as well. Apparently the sound was being made by my UPS as a warning for my kicking out the power cord by mistake. The beeps were sounds made due to the UPS running out of charge powering my machine off.
Sunshine's post about being absent minded reminded me about something that happened to me a while back :).
I was sitting in my cube the other day just minding my own business when a cabinet was moved into my cube. Since I am currently without a cube-mate and my dept was switching some things around, they had kept it in my cube.
Someone came to use the cabinet and I heard a beeping sound just as she opened a drawer and then again just as she closed it. And a third one just as she opened another drawer and another just as she closed. I thought it was very strange that we had such a high-tech cabinet and wondered what could be stored in there. Every time she was either opening or closing the cabinet there was a beep.
I watched for around 3-4 mins trying to see if I could figure out what kind of cabinet this was! Now this cabinet looks like one of the safes that you find in a bank. Very compact and solid.
I said to her, "Wow that is one amazing cabinet we have here! What do we store in there?" She looked at me with a puzzled expression and said, "It's just a cabinet.'
I say, "Yeah. But it's a pretty hi-tech cabinet isn't it?"
Her: "Is it? It's just a cabinet you know. Why do you think it's high tech?"
Me: "Well it beeps and stuff when you open the drawers."
Her (amazed): "Really? I've never heard it beep!"
Me: "No really! Try it!"
She did and there was no sound! Now I didn't want to look stupid so I went up to the cabinet and crawled all around trying to find that led or some other indicator that would make it beep. But she seemed to be right.
It was just an ordinary cabinet.
She thought I was just funning with her and walked out still a bit puzzled...
Then I turn around and my computer was off! I looked down and saw that my UPS was down as well. Apparently the sound was being made by my UPS as a warning for my kicking out the power cord by mistake. The beeps were sounds made due to the UPS running out of charge powering my machine off.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
11 weeks to go!
For the marriage I mean. I really am looking forward to it I suppose. Never figured that my temple architecture trip to India would turn into a getting engaged to a budding architecture major. Anyways weirder things have happened I suppose. Just goes to show what a girl I've become. I always thought it was the guys who were supposed to be the nonchalant ones in the relationship, having as much fun as they could before the marriage while their significant other pined away for em.... Just goes to show how the times have changed ;)
Anyways had an interesting weekend - or Saturday I suppose. Watched the new Bond movie... which was very interesting. As far as I am concerned the jury is still out on what I thought about it. I still can't make up my mind! I liked the fact that it was not a typical Bond movie... but also did not like it because of the same reason! It was a little too sappy for a Bond movie, while on the other hand the violence was gloriously realistic and hard hitting (again not Bond like).
Nonetheless it is definitely worth a watch. Then I had a bout of college football with my friend Amit. I was surprised for a second about how much I accepted saturday evening football. I remember 8 yrs back when I first came to the US, I solemnly vowed that I would never like this crappy American wannabe Rugby. But now I like it miles more than Rugby - in fact I've forgotten the rules of Rugby! So anyways the much touted Michigan-Ohio State game was very boring... I thought OSU had wrapped up the game in the 3rd quarter, and Michigan was basically just playing catch up to 'em. Was surprised to hear today in the news that this game is being heralded as one of the best ever games between the two teams! Wow. These guys must have had some boring games!
Today was a very boring day. Slept in much of the day, had a match tonight, won that easily and broke my roomie's racket strings as well. That's the third racket in 3 days that I've disabled :(... Now I have no rackets left and a match to play tomorrow as well. Oh well, I suppose I will have to borrow a teammate's racket and hope I don't break the strings on that as well. Really regret breaking one of my rackets last week. Could have at least used that :(. Had just changed the strings on that, but broke the frame in a fit of anger.
Oh well, at least I'm a week closer to seeing my parents, relatives and of course Swathy again. So even though tomorrow is a Monday, at least there is a silver lining in there. Here's to 11 more quick weeks!
For the marriage I mean. I really am looking forward to it I suppose. Never figured that my temple architecture trip to India would turn into a getting engaged to a budding architecture major. Anyways weirder things have happened I suppose. Just goes to show what a girl I've become. I always thought it was the guys who were supposed to be the nonchalant ones in the relationship, having as much fun as they could before the marriage while their significant other pined away for em.... Just goes to show how the times have changed ;)
Anyways had an interesting weekend - or Saturday I suppose. Watched the new Bond movie... which was very interesting. As far as I am concerned the jury is still out on what I thought about it. I still can't make up my mind! I liked the fact that it was not a typical Bond movie... but also did not like it because of the same reason! It was a little too sappy for a Bond movie, while on the other hand the violence was gloriously realistic and hard hitting (again not Bond like).
Nonetheless it is definitely worth a watch. Then I had a bout of college football with my friend Amit. I was surprised for a second about how much I accepted saturday evening football. I remember 8 yrs back when I first came to the US, I solemnly vowed that I would never like this crappy American wannabe Rugby. But now I like it miles more than Rugby - in fact I've forgotten the rules of Rugby! So anyways the much touted Michigan-Ohio State game was very boring... I thought OSU had wrapped up the game in the 3rd quarter, and Michigan was basically just playing catch up to 'em. Was surprised to hear today in the news that this game is being heralded as one of the best ever games between the two teams! Wow. These guys must have had some boring games!
Today was a very boring day. Slept in much of the day, had a match tonight, won that easily and broke my roomie's racket strings as well. That's the third racket in 3 days that I've disabled :(... Now I have no rackets left and a match to play tomorrow as well. Oh well, I suppose I will have to borrow a teammate's racket and hope I don't break the strings on that as well. Really regret breaking one of my rackets last week. Could have at least used that :(. Had just changed the strings on that, but broke the frame in a fit of anger.
Oh well, at least I'm a week closer to seeing my parents, relatives and of course Swathy again. So even though tomorrow is a Monday, at least there is a silver lining in there. Here's to 11 more quick weeks!
Friday, November 17, 2006
Ramblings
I realized something this weekend as I lay prostrate on my couch watching the World's Funniest TV Commercials. I've changed a lot. Especially over the past couple of months. There used to be a time when a weekend like this would have been one that I would have looked forward to with great enthutiasm. I mean there's a brand new James Bond movie releasing today (with fantastic reviews); I have my supply of tennis for the weekend; I will be meeting my sister after 8 long months for thanksgiving in a few days.... but somehow the joy of these things seems so mundane - which is probably why I was lying prostrate on my couch watching the World's Funniest TV Commercials.
I mean on a normal day even this would have been something that was worth talking about. I mean come on... some of these commercials were awesome! There were the exquisitely funny and inventive ads, the gross but hilarious commercials, the cute and cuddly spots.... stuff that you would laugh to and go to sleep feeling all better.
However I've discovered that there is no hope for me now. For some reason unless I get to talk to this girl who lives in Bangalore, life seems bereft of any enjoyment. I find it vaguely amusing that someone whose cellphone bills rarely exceeded 10 dollars worth of actual talk time a month can actually spend more than a 150 in a few weeks.
It's not that I don't have things to do. I am busier than ever nowadays! I play tennis almost every day for a couple of hours, I am very busy at work, I have a couple of certification exams to study for (which I haven't started btw), in addition to the usual chores I have to do around the house and in my life. ... and yet I find myself moping around feeling maudlin and lonely - something that I have never felt in my life before. Sure I've had the bouts of homesickness and the occasional "noone loves me" phases, but I've been able to shake them with nothing more serious than a delicious homemade banana milk shake or a super workout at the gym.
Maybe it's coz every moment that I spend without this girl seems like a moment wasted to me. When I talk to her it feels so great! Not sure how one person has become such a huge factor of my life in so little time, and how they seem to command so much even in absentia, but when I talk to her, laugh with her, argue with her, life seems so complete. Not sure why I am feeling what I am feeling though I know there are many who would give up a lot to be in my position in both life and career wise.
Not sure about anything anymore .... other than the fact that I really miss my Swathy :(
I realized something this weekend as I lay prostrate on my couch watching the World's Funniest TV Commercials. I've changed a lot. Especially over the past couple of months. There used to be a time when a weekend like this would have been one that I would have looked forward to with great enthutiasm. I mean there's a brand new James Bond movie releasing today (with fantastic reviews); I have my supply of tennis for the weekend; I will be meeting my sister after 8 long months for thanksgiving in a few days.... but somehow the joy of these things seems so mundane - which is probably why I was lying prostrate on my couch watching the World's Funniest TV Commercials.
I mean on a normal day even this would have been something that was worth talking about. I mean come on... some of these commercials were awesome! There were the exquisitely funny and inventive ads, the gross but hilarious commercials, the cute and cuddly spots.... stuff that you would laugh to and go to sleep feeling all better.
However I've discovered that there is no hope for me now. For some reason unless I get to talk to this girl who lives in Bangalore, life seems bereft of any enjoyment. I find it vaguely amusing that someone whose cellphone bills rarely exceeded 10 dollars worth of actual talk time a month can actually spend more than a 150 in a few weeks.
It's not that I don't have things to do. I am busier than ever nowadays! I play tennis almost every day for a couple of hours, I am very busy at work, I have a couple of certification exams to study for (which I haven't started btw), in addition to the usual chores I have to do around the house and in my life. ... and yet I find myself moping around feeling maudlin and lonely - something that I have never felt in my life before. Sure I've had the bouts of homesickness and the occasional "noone loves me" phases, but I've been able to shake them with nothing more serious than a delicious homemade banana milk shake or a super workout at the gym.
Maybe it's coz every moment that I spend without this girl seems like a moment wasted to me. When I talk to her it feels so great! Not sure how one person has become such a huge factor of my life in so little time, and how they seem to command so much even in absentia, but when I talk to her, laugh with her, argue with her, life seems so complete. Not sure why I am feeling what I am feeling though I know there are many who would give up a lot to be in my position in both life and career wise.
Not sure about anything anymore .... other than the fact that I really miss my Swathy :(
Monday, November 06, 2006
Women are from Venus, Men are just devious
Every now and again ... I read something that I would actually dare to forward to my friends. The joke that OT from Cricforum received as a forward below would happen to be one of them.
ROFL
I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. I have never figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart.
FOR EXAMPLE:
One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me."
I said "WHAT??!! What was that?!"
So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear... "You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man." She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?" Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.
The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take so I told her we'd just buy them all.
She wanted new shoes to complement her new clothes, so I said lets get a pair for each outfit. We went onto the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you...she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis.
I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey." She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier."
I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it." Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled " WHAT?"
I then said "Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman." And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?"
Apparently I'm not having sex tonight either.
Every now and again ... I read something that I would actually dare to forward to my friends. The joke that OT from Cricforum received as a forward below would happen to be one of them.
ROFL
I never quite figured out why the sexual urge of men and women differ so much. And I never have figured out the whole Venus and Mars thing. I have never figured out why men think with their head and women with their heart.
FOR EXAMPLE:
One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me."
I said "WHAT??!! What was that?!"
So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear... "You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man." She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?" Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.
The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take so I told her we'd just buy them all.
She wanted new shoes to complement her new clothes, so I said lets get a pair for each outfit. We went onto the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you...she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis.
I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey." She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier."
I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it." Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled " WHAT?"
I then said "Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman." And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?"
Apparently I'm not having sex tonight either.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Ramblings
I had a very late night yesterday chatting with Swathy and her cousins. So sleepy!
Yet I have to wake myself up properly and go play a tournament.
Thank god I only have a doubles match today. Worst part is that it's just a couple of degrees above 0 degrees right now. It always looks so weird when it's freezing and the sun is shining full blast.
O well. Time to go brush my teeth and have a bath. Then off to the Pine Forest courts to try and get my trophy count upto 3 for the year. Ho hum.... so sleepy!
Still have to start studying for my certification exams that are just around the corner. Somehow the knowledge of this fact hasn't goaded me into hitting the books at all.... Just feel sooooo sleepy!
I had a very late night yesterday chatting with Swathy and her cousins. So sleepy!
Yet I have to wake myself up properly and go play a tournament.
Thank god I only have a doubles match today. Worst part is that it's just a couple of degrees above 0 degrees right now. It always looks so weird when it's freezing and the sun is shining full blast.
O well. Time to go brush my teeth and have a bath. Then off to the Pine Forest courts to try and get my trophy count upto 3 for the year. Ho hum.... so sleepy!
Still have to start studying for my certification exams that are just around the corner. Somehow the knowledge of this fact hasn't goaded me into hitting the books at all.... Just feel sooooo sleepy!
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