“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” William Shakespeare~ Hamlet

Well, it is finally a nice enough day to assemble the pit and get rid of some of this wood we have laying around. It’s not fire wood in the typical sense. It’s not cut nicely. It’s not even logs really. It’s more simply the pieces that our trees prune off themselves. Yah, we have self-pruning trees. We’re cool like that. A storm rolls in and poof! Firewood laying all around. So today I’m trying to use some of that free wood to, of course, make room for more self-pruning.

I’ve been at my “goal weight” for a little bit now and it’s made me think about what’s next. When I started talking about having lap band surgery several people asked me what would happen once I “lost all my weight”. No, the band does not get removed or unfilled even. Unless something tragic happens I will die with my band right where it is now.

I have long decided that a “goal weight” was stupid because it’s a made up number to placate my brain when my body may have something else planned. So I decided that my body will find a happy place and it will be good no matter where it is.

I may no longer be fat but I’m also not fit and that’s not ok with me. Enter peer pressure. The great thing about attending a school that focuses on health is the healthy options we are given. Cafeteria food isn’t awful and there are more health smart options than not. We also have a really nice gym. I’d say it’s free but I know how much I pay for tuition and the word free makes me chuckle.

The peer pressure part? Oh nothing a couple of guys with military pasts and a collegiate track/basketball player can’t handle. (Love you guys!) We work out every day after class. Our usual routine is weights (rotating between legs, arms, and core), an Insanity workout (you know THAT infomercial), and then just for fun about an hour or so of elliptical running.

I like this. I never thought I would. I’ve never liked running or any other fitness thing. I like hiking but that’s not exactly the same. Did starting out hurt? Hell yes! Do I feel awesome for the rest of the day? Hell yes! Will I keep this up after our little group’s schedule changes? Definitely.

Take one toilet paper tube cut down it’s length and a small notch on one end removed. Add a fold at the other end to be able to prop it over the corner of the iPad that has the speaker and some tape to hold it together. The idea is that since the speaker faces the back this takes the sound and projects it forward. It’s not the prettiest thing but I really does work well.

Foil crumpled into a loose ball and placed under meat will elevate said meat (chicken AND fish alike) so that it isn’t sitting in it’s own juices/grease. By cooking fish this way in the oven it saves the poor things from swimming in their own oils and keeps the coating crispy. And we all know fish need crispy coats.