How Do You Attack An Oncoming Cold ?

There you sit, enjoying the day, when all of a sudden you get that tingling feeling.  It could be a scratchy throat that doesn't go away quick enough.  Maybe it's a sneeze that forces you to use two tissues afterward.  Or perhaps your head just starts to feel cloudy or congested.

NO !!!

Here comes a cold, but I will not allow this to happen!  I do not want to be sick!  I am unwilling to waste my precious time off from work!  I don't want to go through a box of tissues a day or not be able to taste my food!  This is NOT happening!  Time to take preventive action!

Isn't everyone just full of helpful
advice when you start to feel ill?!

I have friends who swear by their Neti pots and others who use Emergen C in these situations.  At one point in my life, I would aggressively ingest massive quantities of orange juice and double my normal hand-washing practices.
These all have their place, but lately I have one preferred method for combating an oncoming cold: increased physical activity.


Tonight I felt the first hint of a cold (coupled with allergies, which always complicates things), and so I ramped up my physical activity.  I coerced my oldest son into helping me sift the last of the rock pile in the front yard ... and then further coerced him into taking MANY wheelbarrows of dirt from the front to the back yard.  This was thoroughly exhausting (my son and I both agreed) ... but it wasn't enough!  So I went and played 90 minutes of basketball (3 on 3) and really got my sweat on.

There is just something about physical activity that always makes me feel like I can beat this cold down until it doesn't dare show up again.  #feelingincontrol  :)


Song Of The Day:
I haven't heard the song "Smile" by the artist Vitamin C in way too long.  So it certainly fits here, both for her name and the fact that winning a battle against a cold certainly makes me smile!

...

How Bad Do I Want Those Abs Back ?!

Oh boy.  This will be one of my greatest successes or most horrific failures (and I've had some reasonably bad mess-ups ... so that's saying something!)

This coming Monday, January 7th ... I will begin the Standard P90X program, which will run until the very day before one of my good buddies gets married (shout out to Greg and Erin!)

For those who haven't seen me in years, I'm not that bean-pole I used to be ... but I'm also not really overweight or out-of-shape either.  To be honest, this is probably about the best shape of my life I've ever been in ... but I can't see my abs any more and that bothers me enough to make a BIG commitment.

I believe I owe it to myself (at least once in my life) to seriously "work out" instead of just being active by playing basketball and wrestling with the kids and so on.  I have not really "lifted weights" since high school.  I can't tell you the last time I did a pull up or a sit-up.  (I've had some push-up wars with my older two sons so I'm doing all right in that regard).  I have talked about doing this since several years ago when I first hit my 30's ... but I wasn't really commited enough.  I think I am now.

I will commit to posting my before, during, and after pictures at one of the following checkpoints:
#1. Upon completion of the entire 90-day program.
#2. Within one week after I "give up"

Obviously, the second scenario above is a "scared straight" sort of motivator for me.  I have no desires at all to share a picture of myself in just shorts doing silly flexing poses.  The fear of having to share just those embarrasing "before" pictures should be enough motivation to keep #2 from ever happening.  I hope.  :(

Song Of The Day:
You would think that today's song would be related to exercising and being motivated and achieving a goal ... and you'd be right.  I have chosen a song I recently downloaded (after having loved it for over a year).  The song is "Faster" by Matt Nathanson.  It's not about exercise, but the lyrics could easily apply to the P90X workouts (from what I've previewed).  Let's do this!

Where did the summer go?!

Seriously! The kids start school tomorrow. Josh Jr and Brooklyn are back to Rideview Elementary in the morning (kinda funny that Ben who is in between those two never went to Ridgeview).

I gave them each a Father's Blessing for the upcoming school year. Savannah and Catalina don't start preschool until next Monday so their blessings were saved for Sunday night. I guess their summer vacation doesn't end for another few days ... but then is it really a summer vacation if you've never gone to school before?

Anyway, I had this list of projects I was going to get done this summer. It started great at the end of May until June. Then my second list was done in June before Myra was born. Then my third list was completed during my time off during Myra's first weeks at home. The July list really never took off (I blame the heat and swimming). And my August list is not likely to see much progress (the motivation is just ... not ... there.)

So there it is ... the lamest most non-sensical (arguably) post I have written. I blame my laziness on two hours of mediocre basketball. My game was fine but sometimes I wonder why some of the guys come out to play. Exercise? Then you would think they would at least move around. To hang out? Then you would think they would sit on the stage and cheer those of us who came to PLAY on. Defense? Clearly no. Offense? Ha! So why then? Not sure but my team had a few and it makes it a lot less fun. But I think I'm just getting older and grumpier.

Anyway, sorry there are no real laughs in this one. I promise to do more with it tomorrow ... I think we're going to do family swim at the VGRA pool. They are playing Finding Nemo in the pavilion so that might be really enjoyable.

Good night world! Sleep well and wake up happy! :)