Day 253: Photo Op

Update: 50 lb Goal Reached Day 124. Current weight - 206.6 lbs - 8.6 lbs to 60 lb goal.

Work with me baby, work with me!

Ok, I almost hesitate to post these, because some are not the most flattering, and well frankly, I feel like I've about talked my Challenge to death, but since these just came in from the official photog, here are the Kreutz Photography shots from Livestrong.

Here we are before the ride, thinking everything was just gonna be peachy. It was rainy and cold, but I was hopeful that it might just clear up and that at least part of the day might be dry. Of course, that didn't come to pass, but such is life, and it makes for great stories.

Funny thing is, I searched out some specific sunglasses that I'd read about - interchangeable lenses and all for different kinds of conditions - you can see them there in my gloved hands....turns out I never wore them. Lots of folks like them on the bike forums, so I got some Tifosi glasses. The lenses I have in them now really give everything a nice warm glow, even on cloudy days. I've only been out once since the ride, but used them that day and they were great!

Also that morning, we got the 'team' together and did a big group shot with everyone we could find in the rainy mess. I don't know the final count of the people that decided to show up and brave the weather, but we did have one of the largest teams riding that day. Here's a shot with the portion of the team I was in. You can find me, I look like I'm all cheeks and goatee on my face.

Next is the line up of riders in before the race. I think that's Lance and his buddies in the very small group at the bottom. The original 100 milers are on the left, and the 70 milers are on the right...and of due to the weather, we all did the 70 miles together. I'm about 1/3 of the way down on the right, up against the inside curb, but I don't think I could point myself out.


Then a close up of me leaving. I hate this shot because it looks like I'm all gut, but most of that is the jacket pulling away. I *am* still kind of all gut, but not quite that bad. Still hopeful here that the rain will let up.



Next, a shot where I'm giving one photog the pump fist pose I stole from Keijiro's ride last year. Definitely tears in my eyes at this point from finishing the ride.



Lastly, the final turn into the courtyard, and a little thumbs up to say 'hey, I'm still alive!' Totally worn out, wet and cold and ready to go find my family!



You can view all of the shots from our ride, and/or all the shots that I was in at: http://www.kreutzphotography.com/ - click on Livestrong Challenge Portland, then on Livestrong Ride and Run, and then my bib number is 937 if you want to see those. Gotta get on that next 20 lbs so I'm not making excuses for my gut next year!

Hasta!

Day 250 - Starbucks: The Thorn in My Fleshy Side

Update: 50 lb Goal Reached Day 124. Current weight - 206.6 lbs - 8.6 lbs to 60 lb goal.

The wetter and colder weather is quickly moving in, and we are officially entering my favorite time of the year, from now through Christmas.

One of the things I love the most about this time of year is enjoying the foods and drinks of the season. One cool and cold mornings and evenings, I love me some coffee, and in the past this time of year starts the official Treat Season as well. Fall Festival candy and cupcakes, pumpkin patch donuts and ciders, Thanksgiving banquets, every kind of pie imaginable, and then into Christmas candies and cookies and of course, more meals. When it's cold outside, the warm glow of a comfy fire, or even just the warm glow of a oven knocking out some sugar cookies has always made me happy. This year, it just makes me nervous.

I have already begun to think about how I can try to limit the damage of the impending holiday season, and one way I've already determined is to cut down the amount of time I spend at the Starbucks counter. Don't get me wrong, I'll still swing by for some drive-through coffee, or conduct my meetings at my favorite office away from the office, but I've got to avoid that glass case with all kinds of temping sorts and sundries. If you haven't been to a Starbucks during this time of year, then you may not know of what I speak, but there was one item in particular that just did me in last year, and I need to avoid making eye contact with it this year if at all possible.

I'm speaking about the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin. This little baby, with it's pumpkiny goodness, sweet cream cheese swirled through it all, and one little walnut atop the whole thing weighs in at 500 calories, and goes down like just a few M&Ms before I even know it. I think last year I easily consumed.....well, I'm not going to even guess how many I ate, because it's probably just embarassing. I ate them with abandon. Suffice to say that you could probably just paste a couple boxes of those babies around my waste and know why I had the 50+ pounds to lose that I did.

And if the Muffin wasn't bad enough, I was also tempted by every kind of holiday drink I could imagine there. White Chocolate Peppermint Mochas, Peppermint Lattes, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Eggnog Lattes, Raspberry Mochas, Paddingtons Humdinger Lattes....ok, well that one doesn't really exist, but if it did, I'd be in trouble. Toss in any of these drinks, in any of the medium to larger sizes, and add another 300-500 calories without thinking. 1000 calories to be had between a muffin and a drink, without even trying!

I'm feeling strong about this one. I've seen the Muffins the last few times I've been in and a happy to report that I've resisted so far. Doesn't mean I won't have one at all this year, but the longer I can hold out, the better chance I have of being labled the Muffin Man when I start packing it back on. If you see me making a mad dash for the counter, knock me down before I get there...you'll be doing me a favor.

Beware the Starbucks glass case, it is not your friend!

Hasta