tag:maninthemirror.svbtle.com,2014:/feedMan In the Mirror2014-06-09T13:04:48-07:00Man In the Mirrorhttps://maninthemirror.svbtle.comSvbtle.comtag:maninthemirror.svbtle.com,2014:Post/week-5-perspective2014-06-09T13:04:48-07:002014-06-09T13:04:48-07:00Week 5: Perspective<p>I’ve been thinking a lot, and things aren’t that bad.</p>
<p>Sure, I’ve done things that didn’t bare fruit, but that doesn’t make them meaningless in and of themselves. </p>
<p>My recent activities from the last few weeks, even from the last few years, has helped me to create more of a laser focus on what needs to be done.</p>
<p>Fail more, fail often, and then you’ll succeed faster.</p>
tag:maninthemirror.svbtle.com,2014:Post/starting-again-week-4ish2014-06-01T06:42:30-07:002014-06-01T06:42:30-07:00Starting Again: Week 4ish<p>Okay, I’ve been bad.</p>
<p>Not updating this blog like I should have been. </p>
<p><strong>Weight</strong>:<br>
I hover around 212-215. Still down from 222…</p>
<p>My roommates are finally back. I can feel my willpower and my ability to abstain from bad food coming back. I’m going to keep doing the fasting and vegan diet. </p>
<p>Also, I was finally able to fix my bike. So I’ll be biking everyday just around the neighborhood.</p>
<p><strong>Socializing</strong>:<br>
Big fail here….but now I know why.</p>
<p>After reading the article <a href="http://badassu.net/how-to-make-friends-as-a-shy-introvert/">How to Make Friends (as a Shy Introvert)</a>, I realized I was making things way too hard on myself.</p>
<p>I would drive to the downtown/college area and try to start conversations with people. If I’m brutally honest with myself this was pretty dumb. Even if I did manage to make a friend (I haven’t yet), it would be hard to keep it going given the distance between us.</p>
<p>So now I am going to be going around meet people in my neighborhood. </p>
<p>The plan is to just ring the doorbell of a new house each time I take my dog for a walk. </p>
<p>I am nervous….very nervous.</p>
<p>However, I think if I start with my house farthest from me it will help with my nervousness.</p>
<p>Wish me luck!</p>
tag:maninthemirror.svbtle.com,2014:Post/week-3-progress-report2014-05-11T11:19:33-07:002014-05-11T11:19:33-07:00Week 3 & Progress Report<p>Hey guys!</p>
<p>Wanted to let you know how things went.</p>
<p><strong>Weight Loss</strong>: Down to 212…back up to 214 over the weekend.<br>
<em>Starting weight was 222 lbs.</em></p>
<p>So when fasting and being vegan from Monday-Friday, I lose about 6 pounds. When I stop fasting and start eating cheese products on the weekend, I gain about 2 pounds. </p>
<p>While I am tempted to fast and be vegan during the weekend too, I think I need the mental break. My problem is I can over do it some days on the weekend or break my fast/diet on the weekdays. </p>
<p>And the scale reflects this the following day. </p>
<p>But overall, I have losing weight (about 4 pounds a week). So nothing to complain about. </p>
<p><strong>Approaching Random Strangers</strong>: Wednesday I went out and approached. I did two people. It went very well. I was excited.</p>
<p>The following day I only did one. And I got a little depressed afterwards.</p>
<p>I believe the depression came from a lack of real human interaction. My roommates (a couple in love) took off. I’ve been alone for about a week now. My approaches with strangers were politically correct interactions. Nothing more. No emotions or human connections were made. </p>
<p>I think it just takes time to build up the confidence and flow that I experienced in the past. I have to keep moving forward.</p>
<h2 id="strongweek-3strong_2">
<strong>Week 3</strong> <a class="head_anchor" href="#strongweek-3strong_2">#</a>
</h2>
<p>Since I didn’t make much progress last week, I’m keeping the same assignment.</p>
<p>Approach and talk to random strangers.</p>
<p>Wish me luck!</p>
tag:maninthemirror.svbtle.com,2014:Post/week-2-progress-report2014-05-05T06:44:50-07:002014-05-05T06:44:50-07:00Week 2 & Progress Report!<p>I did it!</p>
<p>Fasted everyday (I did take a break on the weekends) and lost weight!</p>
<p>The program is incredibly simple too!</p>
<p>I went from 222 lbs. to 216 lbs. That’s 6 pounds! I did stop the diet for the weekend and went back to 218, but I’m okay with that. I was eating out with the family to celebrate Mother’s Day early. Did stay vegan (okay, okay one pepperoni pizza) the whole time we were out eating. I’ve noticed lots of restaurants now cater a lot to vegans/vegetarians. But it might just be all the Indians that live in my area creating the demand for vegan options.</p>
<p>The beauty of the program is in its simplicity. No real thinking, I just don’t eat until 2:30 PM. Problem with other diets is once you start putting food in your mouth, it becomes an emotional action; you can’t nor do you want to regulate what you are putting in your mouth. I think eating vegan also helps. Been reading <a href="http://badassu.net/100-scientific-reasons-to-not-eat-meat/">the studies</a>. There seems to be a directly link to meat consumption and weight gain. Check out #41 and section called “But Won’t I Gain Weight with Less Protein?”</p>
<h2 id="strongweek-2-self-improvementstrong_2">
<strong>Week 2 Self Improvement</strong> <a class="head_anchor" href="#strongweek-2-self-improvementstrong_2">#</a>
</h2>
<p>So the way this is going to work is I’m going to keep piling up the weekly self improvement. In other words, I’m going to continue the fast, but add another action to take during the week.</p>
<p>Week 2 Assignment: <strong>Meet a New Person Everyday</strong></p>
<p>Good news is I get my car come Wednesday. So actually Wednesday to Sunday, I’ll meet someone new everyday (I’m stuck out in the rural area for now). </p>
<p>I’ve done pickup artist boot camps (hitting on random girls…very intimidating); so I’m pretty confident about my skill level at the moment. I know it’ll still be tough though. </p>
<p>Probably one of the best steps to take before you go out to meet someone is to put yourself in the right mental frame. Be positive when you go out and imagine yourself already doing it. </p>
<p>What really works for me is to practice at home. I know it sounds weird, but practicing in the privacy of your own home will start to build your confidence before you go out. </p>
<p>You also need to go to places that the culture fits your personality and has lots of opportunity to meet people. Here is an old post about <a href="http://30sleeps.com/blog/2007/08/01/social-skydiving-the-art-of-talking-to-strangers/">the art of social skydiving</a>. I think the author is right that it can be one of the most most exhilarating things you can do in your life. </p>
<p>Alright guys, I’ll let you know how things went Sunday or Monday.</p>
<p>Peace.</p>
tag:maninthemirror.svbtle.com,2014:Post/how-i-am-going-to-improve-my-life-every-week2014-04-26T06:41:06-07:002014-04-26T06:41:06-07:00How I am Going to Improve My Life Every Week<p>So here is the game plan. </p>
<p>First, I’m going to look in the mirror every week. That is both literal and metaphorical. It depends on what I’m trying to be brutally honest with myself about. </p>
<p>Once I look in the mirror, I am going to create a game plan (which will probably be a new, healthy habit).</p>
<p>Most importantly, <strong>I AM GOING TO FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME</strong>.</p>
<p>Then each week I will add to it, creating a new and better me.</p>
<h2 id="looking-in-the-mirror_2">Looking in the Mirror <a class="head_anchor" href="#looking-in-the-mirror_2">#</a>
</h2>
<p>So lets look in the mirror. It isn’t pretty…</p>
<p>I weigh in at 222 lbs:<br>
Man boobs, fat gut, stretch marks, and my thighs rub together.</p>
<p>And you can tell by those skinny arms it isn’t muscle. </p>
<p>How I got here isn’t important. What is important is how I’m going to get out.</p>
<h2 id="the-game-plan_2">The Game Plan <a class="head_anchor" href="#the-game-plan_2">#</a>
</h2>
<p>I came across a podcast by Danger & Play. He lost 80 pounds!?!<br>
<a href="http://www.dangerandplay.com/2014/03/11/used-science-willpower-lose-80-pounds-fat/">http://www.dangerandplay.com/2014/03/11/used-science-willpower-lose-80-pounds-fat/</a></p>
<p>What did he do?</p>
<p><strong>Intermittent fasting.</strong> </p>
<p>And I think is the right plan for me. In the past I’ve lost weight (20 pounds) with NutriSystem (terrible, terrible food). Gained it and lost it again when going Vegan (again about 20 pounds). Could never lose anymore. </p>
<p>While working I would skip lunch to get work done. No snacks either. By the time I got home to eat, It resulted in 10 hours a day of no food. </p>
<p>I realized I finally got to my lowest weight (about 209). Once I left the job (I was only there for a month) the weight came back.</p>
<p>So the plan is to try to copy Mr. Danger & Play as much as possible. From what I gather from the podcast, I won’t eat until 2:30pm. Once I’m there, I’m going to enjoy a nice, high-calorie, meal. And eat until late if I want to (say 10:30 right before I go to bed.</p>
<p>Okay guys here we go. <strong>Week 1</strong>.</p>
tag:maninthemirror.svbtle.com,2014:Post/it-is-time-to-look-in-the-mirror2014-04-26T06:22:27-07:002014-04-26T06:22:27-07:00It is Time to Look in the Mirror<p>It is time to look in the mirror…</p>
<p>I don’t know when it started, but I stopped looking into the mirror. No, I literally stopped looking into the mirror. My hair started to thin when I was 18, but wasn’t noticeable Around 25 I stopped looking cause I hated what I saw. I am now 30 and not only is my hair thin, but I have gain a lot of weight.</p>
<p>And other places of my life have gone to shit:<br>
-Unemployed<br>
-Massive amounts of student debt<br>
-No car of my own<br>
-Living with my parents<br>
-No girlfriend<br>
-No friends</p>
<p>Enough is enough. It is time…</p>