petefeet

Hey Cat, I'm along for the ride, let's keep our seatbelts on ok? <g>

Pre-Challenge Blurb! Hey kids, I didn't do as well last challenge as I wanted, like normal I start off strong then get behind and feel like a failure for not keeping up with everyone. While the scale went in the right direction, I didn't hit 190 lbs like I wanted too, I was 193 lbs this morning. Darn you Beer Carbs!!!! I'm coming up on my three year anniversary (next week) to live a healthier life, and my yearly picture will probably won't be as positive as it was last year, but I'll have to use that to motivate me keep with it. Everything is great with the Cardinal/Red Knight and I, so much so that we're talking about our future together (marriage, rings, living together, pets etc...) and it actually doesn't freak me out as much as I expected it would, I'm not the guy I was four years ago. While my online time is still limited until I'm back on shiftwork on September 8th, I'll try and touch base twice a week. Thank you all for your support! Greetings all! For those of you who know me (poor devils) this is mostly a re-hash. A little about me... I'm 42, live in Nova Scotia (east coast), Canada, in a committed relationship with a lovely, understanding, sexy girlfriend, no kids (one cat), have WAY too many books and proud of it. I'm a boiler and refrigeration operator by trade, though my dream is to have a "bricks & mortar" used bookstore. I currently, have a part-time one that I run out of my basement in my spare time and my whole inventory is science fiction & fantasy (my passion). Should be a link to my stores facebook page in my signature. I'm also a Freemason and quite active in my lodge, which has helped offset my normal "hermit" habits and given me a new confidence in myself and abilities In August 2013 I weighted 267 lbs, and something "clicked" in my head and I decided I needed a change. The pic on left was me on August 23, 2015, pic on right was me in August 23, 2013. I'm REALLY struggling lately, too many cheats, lack of motivation and need a reboot So, I started trying to get healthy and since I'm a type "A" person I use www.loseit.com as my food log and calorie counter. I hit my goal weight. The holidays and other life "stuff" put me above my goal weight of 175lbs and the first (and second) challenge of the new year was less than successful for me. Main Quest: For this challenge my main quest is too get to 190lbs, I've gained too much weight since the New Year and keep adding too it. I've got most of my crazy "to-do" list behind me, so am going to try and focus on taking some "Me time". To do that I will be doing the following... Side Quests: Keep my daily food log and weigh-ins with my loseit.com account, and stay below my calorie limit. I'm allowing 1 cheat per week. Do at least 2 Cardio workouts a week (min 20 minutes), even if its just walking around my sub-division or playing on recumbent bike. 3. No eating or booze after 8pm. I'm allowing myself 1 cheat per week. Late night eating is the worst for me, this works if I can stick with it. 4. Check in and update my thread AT LEAST twice a week. Life Quest: My MAJOR life quest is to finish my basement and turn it into rec room/bookstore, though lately I find my free time quite limited and haven't built a bookcase in over a month. I also like to write, what I have been doing for the past while is mirroring parts of my real life into a story featuring a halfling named petefeet. More of this in next post.

Still around, on vacation this week and busy trying to get bookstore inventory updated, will try and do a proper post this weekend.

Snakes are flying solo this weekend, just two and four legged peoples on this trip <g>.

You can do this Cat, I hate interviews as well, but have had the best luck if I tell myself: "Be yourself, not who you think they want, breath deeply before answering/asking a question, and relax." I know this is easier said than done, but confidence in oneself is a highly sort after commodity.

It's been a day or two since petefeet got his drenching in the rain storm and he almost wishes it could happen again. The hot and humid air is draining our little halfling of what little energy is able to generate, and just getting through his basic chores around his dwelling wears him out. In an effort to restock his supplies and repay the villagers of Apple Valley for their kindness, petefeet once again heads to the ravine and picks another large basket of blueberries. Though instead of the she-bear sharing the patch with him, it's her mate, and while normal the halfling would stir clear of such a fearsome beast, it seems content to enjoy the sweet treats. On the way back to his lean-too set with the ruined Pryde family estate, petefeet stumbles upon some tiny gourds growing in a sea of weeds in what might have been a garden within the old estate years ago. Putting aside his blueberries, the halfling spends and hour pulling weeds in order to let the plants have a chance, in the hopes that he might be able to harvest them in the fall. Hey kids, Crazy hot and humid here, draining all the goodness out of me, but can't complain too much, winter is coming <G>. Dad called me Wednesday and said Mom used all the blueberries we picked in jam and was looking for more. Since there isn't much better than homemade blueberry jam in February, I picked up Dad and we picked another 12 boxes. Works kind of slow right now in my department (no boilers running), so been doing a lot of putter job. One of those was weeding our two plants in the staff pumpkin patch. As a silly team morale exercise, different divisions of my work (Agricultural Research Centre) planted pumpkins and are having a contest to see how can grow the biggest one. We're in the top 10% and we're just a bunch of tradespeople beating out a bunch of scientists!!! I'll be quiet until next week, I'm leaving right from work tomorrow and heading to visit the Red Knight/Cardinal for the long weekend and spend time with her family at their family cottage. Main Goal: Get to 190 lbs. I was at 192.8 lbs again this morning. Side Quests: 1. Keep my daily food log and weigh-ins with my loseit.com account, and stay below my calorie limit. I'm allowing 1 cheat per week. I Passed on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday I Failed Wednesday, Thursday 2. Do at least 2 Cardio workouts a week (min 20 minutes), even if its just walking around my sub-division or playing on recumbent bike. 1. Short walk around town chasing Pokemons before work and another walk around subdivision after supper. 2. Only partial walk this morning, a proper walk after supper around subdivision. 3. No eating or booze after 8pm. I'm allowing myself 1 cheat per week. Late night eating is the worst for me, this works if I can stick with it. I Passed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday I Failed Wednesday 4. Check in and update my thread AT LEAST twice a week. 1. Check in 2. Check in's 3. Check in's

Wish I had read this before I sent those texts today buddy, sorry for adding to your stress. I really do think you should stay here, having a safe place to rant/voice thoughts keeps me sane-ish (most days). I'm terribly self conscious about my clothes as well, always trying to hide my flabby/loose skin because it feels like people suit two sizes too big, I've also noticed I slouch as a means to "hide myself" from people etc... I don't have too much advice about the confidence thing, for me it's always been a roller coaster, but with more good days than bad and I'd like to think it's the same for you. You getting any time off this summer? That offer to crash in my basement is always open, you just got to get yourself here and the rest is on me kiddo, I'll feed and keep you in "beverages". Stay strong.

With the sun just starting to clear the treetops, petefeet decides that a walk in the forest might result in some much needed foodstuffs. The light drizzle in the air does little to deter our little halfling as he sets out and before long has head bend looking for edible shoots, mushrooms and berries and fails to notice the dark clouds overhead until the first crack of thunder causes him to jump. The light drizzle quickly becomes rain as our little halfling picks up his pace and starts back home, only for the rain to become a downpour which has him soaked to the bone in seconds. With nothing to do but hurry faster, petefeet heedlessly sprints back to home base, wet but energized for the rest of the day. Hey kids, Nothing too special in my world. Left for work half an hour again to go Pokemon hunting and when I got about 1/2 mile away from my parked truck, the heavens opened! I was soaked right away (even through rain coat), glad I had dry clothes at work. Been a long time since I ran through the rain, felt good. Main Goal: Get to 190 lbs. I was at 194 lbs again this morning. Side Quests: 1. Keep my daily food log and weigh-ins with my loseit.com account, and stay below my calorie limit. I'm allowing 1 cheat per week. I Passed on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday 2. Do at least 2 Cardio workouts a week (min 20 minutes), even if its just walking around my sub-division or playing on recumbent bike. 1. Short walk around town chasing Pokemons before work and another walk around subdivision after supper. 2. Only partial walk this morning, a proper walk after supper around subdivision. 3. No eating or booze after 8pm. I'm allowing myself 1 cheat per week. Late night eating is the worst for me, this works if I can stick with it. Passed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday 4. Check in and update my thread AT LEAST twice a week. 1. Check in 2. Check in's

With his adventure in blueberry hunting behind him, petefeet decides to tackle some chores around his lean-too. While the weather is hot and humid the need for a cooking fire is always necessary, but lately, the stacked stones of his homemade oven have been leaking out more of his heat than keeping it in. Investigating, our little halfling notices that his mortar made from clay and lime has become weathered and is loose between the stones. While not a easy, or fast job, petefeet rolls up his sleeves and prepares for a messy job. The little halfing gets about half of the old cracked, mortar out from between the stones before the heat and humidity force him to take a break from his labours. Sitting in the shade under a tree, petefeet enjoys the light breeze as he listens to the sweet song of the female cardinal as she keeps him company. Hey kids, Nothing too special today, started putting together one of the large boilers (size of garbage truck) we have at my work which was opened for seasonal repairs and inspection, it's hard work, but with lots of breaks and texts from the Red Knight/Cardinal to keep me entertained, I survived. At least one more day of effort. Main Goal: Get to 190 lbs. I was at 194 lbs as of this morning. Side Quests: 1. Keep my daily food log and weigh-ins with my loseit.com account, and stay below my calorie limit. I'm allowing 1 cheat per week. I Passed on Sunday, Monday 2. Do at least 2 Cardio workouts a week (min 20 minutes), even if its just walking around my sub-division or playing on recumbent bike. Short walk around town chasing Pokemons before work and another walk around subdivision after supper. 3. No eating or booze after 8pm. I'm allowing myself 1 cheat per week. Late night eating is the worst for me, this works if I can stick with it. Passed Sunday, Monday 4. Check in and update my thread AT LEAST twice a week. 1. Check in

We ALL have those days kiddo, I'm not ashamed to say that I've collapsed upon my couch and cried my heart out on several times, and also go into "Hulk-mode" and broken stuff as a means of venting. Here is needed.

This really spoke to me. Though I don't suffer from anxiety (no more than average), my girlfriend does and the idea of mowing her lawn almost made her (and me crazy). She just bought her first house this spring, and part of home ownership is mowing the lawn which she really looked forward to in principle, but became a whole other thing in practice. She was scared that her neighbours would be judging her for "doing it wrong" or struggling with the mower etc... It would have been easy for me to say "Why do you care what they think?", but I'm slowly learning that statements like that don't help. Now I "try" and offer encouragement, that I know she can do it, I have faith in her, etc... and now while she still struggles with mowing her lawn, she does it and is slowly building self-confidence in herself. Why am I sharing this? Just letting you know that you're not alone, and sometimes that's all it takes to be brave <g>.

Since I only get to see you a handful times a year, I can attest to this, you seem MUCH more comfortable with yourself kiddo! Maybe because there is a break between our visits I see it more than those you interact with everyday, but I'm pleasantly surprised how far you've come these past two years. Proud of you!

Feeling guilty for eating all the sweet treats and drinking more than his fair share of the firewater made by the good citizens of the village of Apple Valley, petefeet decides to go back to his roots. Shedding his rabbit fur cloak and replacing it a light straw hat, our little halfling says his goodbyes to Mickey the Cat who is dozing in the shade and leaves his lean-too home within the abandoned manor house. Leaving the shelter of the cool stone walls, petefeet almost retreats back inside. The air outside is hot and humid, waves of heat can be seen raising up from the ground making the whole area feel like it's floating on a sea of hot air. Pulling his rough straw hat down to help shade his eyes, petefeet heads off to the nearby ravine. With the odd bird rushing in the bushes and the loud hum of grasshoppers in the grass, our little halfling makes his way to the ravine and it's patch of wild blueberries. The berries are just starting to come into season, and if the weather holds, there should be good pickings for a couple weeks. With only taking a minute to pick his footing, the little halfling starts picking the plump berries, for every two that go into his basket, one finds its way into his mouth. Enjoying the quiet of the wilderness and the simple pleasure of the eating the sweet fruit, petefeet slowly comes to the realization that he isn't alone. Looking to the bottom of the ravine, petefeet makes out the massive form of a she-bear as she is also feeding upon the delicious fruit. For a very long minute the two make eye contact and just stare at each other, until the she-bear gives out a loud "Snort" as goes back to feeding upon the berries. Respecting each others territory, petefeet keeps to the top of the ravine and enjoys a beautiful hour of berry picking before the heat of the day become too much for the halfling and he goes home. Hey Kids, Sorry I haven't checked in before today, just only so many hours in the day and when I have a free minute at night, I find it hard to summon the mental energy to log on. Every things good in my world, busier than I would like, my attempts to not have lodge projects during the summer has failed. I love my Lodge and what it means to me, but was really looking forward to taking a step back for a couple months. I'm finishing up our bursary awards, trying to organize marchers for local parade in September and a Public Relations booklet due (rough draft) in a month. Red Knight/Cardinal and I are doing great, I was at her place this past weekend, was pee'd upon by one of her snakes, got pretty drunk while hanging out his my friend Naxius (Druid here, he introduced Red Knight and I), and the three of us worked on cosplay projects. That's one new thing, the Red Knight loves to cosplay and I've decided to try my hand at it, I'm trying to create a Commissar costume from the Warhammer 40K books, they're a bit like an outer space version of the old USSR political officers. And yes, when I'm done, there will be pic's <g>. The above story is about today. My Mom and I don't really get to do much together, and I'm trying to store up some memories for the future, so today she (she-bear! haha Mom!!!) and I went blueberry picking at one of the outpost farms at my work. We had to sneak in since it's technically stealing (bushes abandoned for the past several years since experiment is done) and we picked 12 pints in less than an hour, not counting the several handfuls we jammed into our faces as we picked. <g>. We might go again, since I REALLY love blueberry jam, and it gave us a chance to talk, and I told her about some of my future plans (PM if you want details) etc.. Main Goal: Get to 190 lbs. I "was" inline with this before the weekend happened, I'm at 195 lbs as of this morning. Side Quests: 1. Keep my daily food log and weigh-ins with my loseit.com account, and stay below my calorie limit. I'm allowing 1 cheat per week. I Passed on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday I Failed on Thursday, Friday, & Saturday (though only Saturday was really overboard, darn beer!) 2. Do at least 2 Cardio workouts a week (min 20 minutes), even if its just walking around my sub-division or playing on recumbent bike. I've gotten at least 2 in this week chasing around these god forsaken Pokemons!!! 3. No eating or booze after 8pm. I'm allowing myself 1 cheat per week. Late night eating is the worst for me, this works if I can stick with it. Again, it was Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights that I failed. 4. Check in and update my thread AT LEAST twice a week. This was a fail, only really one check-in, I'll try and do better this week.

Hmmm... I have no idea, it's just a picture from my facebook page that I recycle each challenge...

I think the blahs happen to the best of us kiddo, like you, they seem to affect me worse when there are several little items coming at me and before long it feels like an avalanche roaring down on me and I have no place to hide. If I'm able, I read for 20 minutes or go for a walk to re-centre myself.

Following along again kiddo, was great hanging with you this past weekend!!!

Hey kids, Before my standard intro, I thought I'd get some stuff off my chest. I've been struggling lately... Not mentally, I'm probably in the best spot in that department I have been for years (no doubt to Red Knight/Cardinal), but when it comes my diet/habits/routines, I've been stumbling badly. I'm bringing treats into the house, breaking my 8 pm rule, etc... I don't quite know what it is, and that's probably why I'm struggling, but my motivation to be the "real" me has been hard to find lately. When I stepped on the scale this morning I weighted 196.8, what I weighed a year ago!!! And I'm pissed at myself. I "think" part of it is that during the summer months, my online time is very restricted. Most times at work, I don't have access to a computer and following along with you guys helps keep me on the straight and narrow. And when I get home from work, I don't have much energy to be creative or play online, just busy trying to get caught up on chores that I would normally do on days off when I'm shift (work Monday - Friday in summer). So when I do find a few free minutes, usually later at night, all I want to do is kick back, crack a beer and chill. So for this challenge, I'm making a twice weekly check in a goal, but for me, and because I missed hanging with my NF crew <g>. Greetings all! For those of you who know me (poor devils) this is mostly a re-hash, though I'm in need of a REBOOT! A little about me... I'm 42, live in Nova Scotia (east coast), Canada, in a committed relationship with a lovely, understanding, sexy girlfriend, no kids (one cat), have WAY too many books and proud of it. I'm a boiler and refrigeration operator by trade, though my dream is to have a "bricks & mortar" used bookstore. I currently, have a part-time one that I run out of my basement in my spare time and my whole inventory is science fiction & fantasy (my passion). Should be a link to my stores facebook page in my signature. I'm also a Freemason and quite active in my lodge, which has helped offset my normal "hermit" habits and given me a new confidence in myself and abilities In August 2013 I weighted 267 lbs, and something "clicked" in my head and I decided I needed a change. The pic on left was me on August 23, 2015, pic on right was me in August 23, 2013. I'm REALLY struggling lately, too many cheats, lack of motivation and need a reboot So, I started trying to get healthy and since I'm a type "A" person I use www.loseit.com as my food log and calorie counter. I hit my goal weight. The holidays and other life "stuff" put me above my goal weight of 175lbs and the first (and second) challenge of the new year was less than successful for me. Main Quest: For this challenge my main quest is too get to 190lbs, I've gained too much weight since the New Year and keep adding too it. I've got most of my crazy "to-do" list behind me, so am going to try and focus on taking some "Me time". To do that I will be doing the following... Side Quests: Keep my daily food log and weigh-ins with my loseit.com account, and stay below my calorie limit. I'm allowing 1 cheat per week. Do at least 2 Cardio workouts a week (min 20 minutes), even if its just walking around my sub-division or playing on recumbent bike. 3. No eating or booze after 8pm. I'm allowing myself 1 cheat per week. Late night eating is the worst for me, this works if I can stick with it. 4. Check in and update my thread AT LEAST twice a week. Life Quest: My MAJOR life quest is to finish my basement and turn it into rec room/bookstore, though I'm going to add some minor life quests for this challenge for those days I need to do something else. I also like to write, what I have been doing for the past while is mirroring parts of my real life into a story featuring a halfling named petefeet. More of this in next post.

Taking a moment to pause and reflect, our little halfling considers what has happened to him these past two weeks... Activating the magical mirrored tome and spending a enjoyable weekend with the Red Knight in her home within the ancient temple dedicated to the "Sisters of the Fang", has made petefeet realize that his home within the abandoned manor house estate is in need of serious effort. Telling himself that he needs a break, the halfling makes his excuses with his friend the Blacksmith in the village of Apple Valley and takes a week long break from his efforts their and focuses upon his own dwelling. While the "bones" of his property are still strong, they look certainly look as if a hermit leaves within the lean-too and our little halfling tries to improve upon it. The next several days sees petefeet picking up broken brush, raking leaves, improving drainage, and a dozen other activities to add some life to his home. While on his break from helping the villagers, petefeet also allows himself some extra rations of firewater in the evening, knowing that this excess will only be a temporary thing. This break is well needed, Mickey the cat seems to be enjoying the extra attention, and as always the delightful sounds of the female Cardinal are they to keep petefeet company as he putters around his home. Hey kids, Sorry for not checking in sooner, life always finds something for me to do. I'm on vacation this week, so enjoying the rest and taking the time to catch up on some maintenance on my property that I've been neglecting. I haven't really been very good when it comes to the eating and exercise this past week, allowing myself some extra calories in the form of alcohol in the evenings (nothing crazy) and the scale is reflecting my splurge. I'm hopping when I go back to work next week, I can get back into a healthy routine. The only big thing going on is that the Red Knight/Cardinal is coming to my place for this long weekend (Canada Day on Friday). It's the first time she's driven to my place and she's a bit worried about it (5.5 hours in total). I'm using this visit as a chance for her to meet some of my family as I've conned my folks into hosting a BBQ on Saturday. Miss you all.

Wait? Did I miss your birthday kiddo? Crap buddy, sorry about that!

"Spite", the universal motivator!!!

Hey Kiddo, I'll be in Freddy this weekend, but sadly won't be able to check out your show, though I'm sure you'll rock the pole! I've got a Mason Jar on my kitchen table with extra "fucks" in it if you to borrow a cup or two! Proud of you!

Finally able to catch his breath our little halfling takes a moment to look around his lean-too set within the abandoned manor house estate of the long lost "Pryde" family and shakes his head. His garden isn't planted, the ground around his home is over-grown with weeds, his wood pile is depleted and Mickey the cat doesn't seems at all impressed as to the state of the interior of their home! Realizing that he can't maintain his current pace with working with the blacksmith in the village of Apple Valley, taking care of his own homestead and spending as much time with the Red Knight as the magical mirrored tome will allow, petefeet makes the hard decision to speak to the blacksmith. Whether through a chance of fate, or the blacksmith could see how haggard the halfling was making himself, petefeet was informed that since the threat of the Ettin was past, life was returning to normal in and around the village and things would probably be slow until harvest season. Thankful for the rest, petefeet decides to focus upon the things and people near and dear to him... Hey kids, Nothing too special going on, but finding it hard to find online time, working 5 days in a row is so foreign to me. I've been working hard on rebuilding my good habits, and not giving into temptation (too much) and am down 3 lbs since Sunday, though I expect most of that was water. "Most" of my Lodge responsibilities are behind me until September, so I have a bit of breathing room, need to learn to say "NO" more often. Shipped out a book order to Portugal last week (I'm in Canada) and I thought that was pretty cool, even if I didn't make much money on the transaction (only one book). Red Knight/Cardinal and I are spending the weekend together at her place this weekend, and I "think" she's coming my way the long weekend in July (July 1st is Canada Day). We have reservations at our new favorite spot Vault 29 in Fredericton, the food is amazing and the drinks are always fun to try. Main Quest: For this challenge my main quest is too get to 185lbs, I was at 191 lbs this morning when I woke. Side Quests: Keep my daily food log and weigh-ins with my loseit.com account, and stay below my calorie limit. I'm allowing 1 cheat per week. Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday Did weigh-in's and stayed below calorie limit. Do at least 2 Cardio workouts a week (min 20 minutes), even if its just walking around my sub-division or playing on recumbent bike. Walk in after work on Wednesday. 3. No eating or booze after 8pm. I'm allowing myself 1 cheat per week. Late night eating is the worst for me, this works if I can stick with it. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were good. Life Quest: My MAJOR life quest is to finish my basement and turn it into rec room/bookstore, though I'm going to add some minor life quests for this challenge for those days I need to do something else. Bookcase #6 was installed and load the other day. Not perfect, but it will do. I also like to write, what I have been doing for the past while is mirroring parts of my real life into a story featuring a halfling named petefeet.

Fixed!!! Thanks Flea, I dodged a bullet there! <g>

Maybe a story post tomorrow, my online time is limited during the summer since I'm working Monday-Friday (8am - 4:30pm) until September. Stuff's that been going on in my world... 1. The Red Knight/Cardinal and I have been doing great, I made a surprise visit to her place last weekend and am going up again this one. Only downside of my summer hours is that I have to take a vacation day to travel on the Friday to her place. I think she's coming to my place the weekend of July 1st. 2. "Most" of my lodge activities are behind me for a couple months, a couple long term projects still ongoing, but Saturday was the last "big" activity, so I can breath again. 3. I'm focusing on my calorie intake and my cardio since I'm getting a fair bit of exercise doing maintenance jobs at work during the summer. 4. I haven't had any time to read, or write or "chill" in weeks and need this time to find my "centre" and get back into a routine.

I completely dropped the ball last challenge and allowed myself to slip too much, I'm 15 lbs above my goal weight and hating myself. Started a new challenge in the Rebels and aiming for a reboot.