Michael & Liz are Bloggable

The title sounds ridiculous but the concept is simple, treat yourself as if you were a machine and your health and wellness will thrive.

This year I am going to lose 26 pounds. I'm determined to do it. I want to do it but talk is cheap. I have got to put all of the effort I have into accomplishing it. I can't just wander into losing 26 pounds especially when I'm not really all that overweight. But I'm no where near where I want to be as far as running shape. This post is to show my philosophy I am taking over the next few months toward achieving that goal.

What makes a car perform well (or any machine for that matter)? It needs to be well fueled with the proper fluids put in the proper places. You can't pour diesel gas into a car that won't accept it and you can't put washer fluid into the container where anti-freeze belongs. I have gotten into such a rhythm of just eating whatever is delicious no matter how terrible it is for me. If I were to honestly ask myself every single meal "What is the best fuel available for my body?", I think I would be much more likely to make good choices. The quote of the week for Liz and me is "That's not very good fuel". I can't expect to throw down a large Spicy Chicken meal with a coke from Wendy's and then go to the gym and feel great running. I heard this concept back in 2005 when training for my first marathon, you have to look at your food as fuel. I am one of the worst violators of this concept which is why I'm blogging about it. I eat way too much and the wrong foods way too often. But the past few days that has changed, and so far I'm feeling pretty good about it. I hope to keep it up.

Another thing a machine needs is to be used often. It's the old "if you don't use it, you lose it" concept. You can't just put a car in the garage for a year and then start it up and expect it to be running well. I have done this two years in a row with the lawn mower. Every spring I want to just roll it out and start it up, but you just can't do that or you'll ruin it. Our bodies just like the lawn mower, have to be exercised and stretched all the time in order to stay in shape. In between trainings I just ruin myself by taking weeks or months off and then deteriorate the progress I made. Then when I start back up, I have to start over. I wish I could go out and run the way I used to but right now, I'm just not there. Every year near the end of the soccer season, I end up pulling a hamstring or some muscle because at the beginning of the season I'll stretch a lot and then stop caring since the season is coming to an end. I just can't do that to myself. So to aid in my weight loss, I'm going to be running, lifting, biking, doing workout videos, stretching and doing everything I can do keep myself moving every day.

There is one more concept I'm trying to keep in my mind about "becoming a machine". I am going to be running the Country Music Half-marathon at the end of April. Most machines can get going and go for a long time with the proper fuel. Running 13 miles or 26 miles is a lot like driving somewhere that's 8 hours away. Your car won't make it on one tank, but after filling up, most cars should be fine. The only reason it wouldn't is because you overheat your engine or a hose breaks or something. But well maintained cars should have no problem with an 8 hour drive. I keep thinking while running, there's no reason I shouldn't be able to keep going with water and the proper nutrients. Of course there is a limit to every body, but my goal is to stretch the limit and continue to lengthen the amount of time I can keep going. Then over time I want to increase my speed. Running is so mental and if you keep thinking to yourself that you are a machine, it's a lot of motivation to keep on going.

The only reason I'm blogging about this is to give myself motivation to follow through with what I write down. I think if we all looked at our bodies like machines, we'd all be much healthier.

So it's time to make a pledge to accomplish some New Year's Resolutions. I love doing it and if you want to know why, read the 2008 link below. I've done it every year, and in case you care to read them:

• 2009 New Year's Resolutions
• 2008 New Year's Resolutions

Well last year was probably my worst year as far as resolutions go. I only accomplished 1 out of 4 of them and that one wasn't even that great. Just a review from last year:

1. Sell something made of wood. I built some dog platforms and crosses for friends of my Mom. That's really all I sold made of wood. But to be honest, I didn't really try all that hard to sell anything. I did make 10 birdhouses in July but didn't sell any. I still have all 10 of them in the garage.
   
2. Run 1000 miles. I think I made it to about 400 miles. I guess this falls into the category of "setting your goals unrealistically high and falling a bit short is sometimes the best way to succeed."
3. Do not eat a combo meal anywhere. Check out my goals for 2010, and you'll probably be able to tell I missed this one. Big time.
   
4. No TV Mondays. I made it two Mondays with no TV. I fell short by 50 Mondays.
   

So this year, 2010 (in case you didn't know) I think I have the most realistic goals above all other years. I actually believe that I could accomplish all of them:

1. No carbonated sodas. This is a resolution Liz and I made back in 2008 and we actually went the whole year without any. It was awesome. We've decided to make it an every other year resolution. To be honest, I LOVE soda. Liz has more of a love/hate relationship with soda. She hates that she loves it. I think this resolution will be easy for about 3 months and then I'll start wanting the juice (Mountain Dew). I love Mountain Dew. I think Liz will breeze right through this one. 2008 wasn't as tough for her as it was for me.
   
2. Learn everything I possible can about staining and finishing wood. Every time I finish a wood project, I get frustrated that I have to throw some crappy polyurethane on it. I know there are other ways to seal the wood, I just don't know them. So I'm going to do my best to learn about them.
   
3. Lose 26 pounds. I know it's totally cliche to make losing weight a resolution but it's only cliche if I quit by February without anything being accomplished. About a week ago I weighed myself and was 196 pounds. Usually I've hovered around 180ish. I'm so incredibly ashamed of having gone up that much. The most I've ever weighed in my life was 199 pounds back in the Spring of 2004. I just had to put my foot down, I started running for the first time ever, and lost 30ish pounds. That was the least amount I've ever weighed since I stopped growing vertically, I got down to about 168. I can't imagine how easy running would be if I could get back to that. If Gryffin and Daisy can both lose 3 pounds in 3 months, I can certainly lose 26. Watching the "Biggest Loser" on NBC is really going to help as well. I love that show for all the motivation and inspiration it provides. I realize the contestant's situations are much more dire than mine, but motivation is motivation no matter what you're trying to accomplish. This resolution leads me to the next post I'm going to make called "Becoming A Machine".
   

I'm going 3 fo3 this year. No doubt about it.

We only got a limited number of Christmas cards this year and weren't able to send them to all the people we wanted to. So here is the picture and text we sent in our card this year. Oh and Merry Christmas:


Dear Family & Friends,

Liz and I did something this year that we haven’t done since we’ve been together. And that something is nothing. Every year in the past has been marked by graduation, moving states, marriage, new house, new car, or getting a new puppy. All of these are significant changes in lifestyle and we are happy to report that we finally had a year of enjoying things just the way they are.

That’s not to say we haven’t had a wonderful year though. Liz enjoyed another year of singing in our church’s choir and was once again a soloist in the Christmas Cantata. She also pursued a new passion of hers in photography by buying a camera and taking classes. We also ran a half marathon together in Cincinnati. I have continued to advance my woodworking skills by creating 25 pieces from things as simple as crosses all the way to a nightstand. This is a passion of mine I plan to continue to improve upon in 2010. I have also continued hosting Kidstuf in our church, which is a weekly stage production put on for the Sunday school children.

And as for our little puppies Daisy & Gryffin, it is such a blessing to have two dogs that love each other so much. They really are best friends and it is such a joy to have them run around and play as much as they do. We couldn’t imagine our lives without them.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

Michael, Liz, Daisy, & Gryffin
http://www.familyfulton.blogspot.com/

About two months ago we were at Petco and were browsing the toy section for Daisy & Gryffin. We've tried making them toys and we've tried buying them toys. No matter what we do, those toys get destroyed and inevitably get thrown away. It was an endless struggle. Until we found the item we call "Gryffin's Ball".

We bought this round rubber ball for $5 and at the time we thought "that is way too expensive for a silly little ball". It has two little holes on either side to allow for it to be squeezed easily. Ever since we got that ball, Gryffin has been attached to it and very protective of it. Turns out we would have paid $20 had we known how much he'd love it.

His favorite game is for us to throw it around the house and for him to go chase. Imagine that, a dog that likes the game of "fetch". Coincidentally, Daisy's favorite game is to attempt to bite and block Gryffin while he runs around the house. So it's a win-win. They will play this game for hours or at least as long as we aren't tired of it. We also call him a punk cuz he *REALLY* enjoys squeezing it in Daisy's face as if to entice her or to rub in the fact that he has it and she doesn't. Another nickname for him derived from "punk" is "punksopotamus". He really enjoys just sitting and squeezing it. We don't understand why. The great thing is, it hasn't shown an ounce of wear and tear and we really don't think it ever will. It's like a gobstopper... for dogs.


Since we got the ball, we loved it so much, we got a second. Turns out, one is really all we needed because they are only ever entertained by one. It's ok, this way if we somehow lose it, his happiness doesn't end. That is a picture of Gryffin waiting for his ball to be thrown. I took this with my camera phone since I was lazy and didn't want to get the real camera. I tried to take a picture of him chewing the ball, but he wouldn't stay still and again, I'm lazy.

By the way, throughout this entire post, he has not stopped chewing his ball. Victory.

I had nothing else to post here. Daisy does this all the time (run into the screen) and the only time she doesn't is when we open the door slowly enough that she recognizes the screen there before she has a chance to run... I just really wanted it on video and I got it :).

Sorry for the shakey-ness.

Most people reading this blog probably don't pay too much attention to football. I also probably lost about 50% of my audience in that first sentence. But the Bengals are off to a 4-1 start on the season and I wanted to write a post on my thoughts.

Let me first start positive.

• The Bengals defense is what is keeping them in games. They are physical, fast, and are playing with passion. Holding the 31 point average Ravens to 14 is a testiment to their efforts. Their philosophy is to not let the other team's best player beat you, more specifically, the other team's best wide receiver. For example both Greg Jennings and Derrick Mason had 0 catches in their games against the Bengals. Fantasy suggestion? Don't start a receiver against the Bengals D. There really is no credit to be given to anyone in particular because everyone is playing well. They are really playing as a unit and every player is playing shut down defense right now.
  
• Cedric Benson is running his tail off. This stat will surprise EVERYONE. He is the leading rusher in the NFL by 6 yards over Adrian Peterson. Have I mentioned that those yards are against Baltimore, Pittsburgh, & Denver. Those defenses are no slouches.
  
• Carson is clutch under pressure. Two weeks in a row he has run for a 1st down during a 4th down play within the last minute of the game. Carson isn't known for his running. He has also taken the Bengals on a 4th quarter game winning drive 3 weeks in a row now. His arm isn't as stellar as it has been in the past but I think he'll continue to improve.
  
• T.J. Who? I don't miss him even a little bit. Laveranues Coles hasn't panned out to be a viable replacement (yet), but Chris Henry and Andre Caldwell have stepped up beyond anyone's expectations and T.J. isn't missed for that reason.
  

But the point of my post is to say that their wins haven't convinced me that the Bengals are a contender for the playoffs or Super Bowl... YET. I really want to be wrong. I want nothing more than to see us do it. Other than Cleveland fans, who would be rooting against the Bengals right now? You have to be happy to see them succeed. I'm just not convinced yet.

Did you know the Bengals have been in the lead during their games for only 18% of the time and are still 4-1. That's incredible. They have needed a game winning drive during the last minute in the last 3 games in order to win. One of those games was against Cleveland and Cleveland is TERRIBLE. They have also had tons of kicking issues. They just fired their long snapper today. He has ruined 11 points between extra points and easy field goals in the 5 games not to mention all the horrible snaps the holder was barely able to save.

Really there is no reason why we couldn't be 5-0 or 0-5 right now. Maybe what makes great teams is their ability to pull through in the end but so far I only feel like the Bengals success is pure luck. I could give so many examples but the most recent one is the Baltimore game. I actually feel like the Bengals should have blown out the Ravens. The game should have been in their hands by the end of the 3rd quarter. Carson threw a bomb to Chris Henry who galloped down the field to only be tackled at the 5 yard line. Had he hustled just a little, it's a TD. Results? A missed 30 yard field goal. That's unacceptable. That's the real Bengals from the last 19 years.

But why were we lucky? Let's look at the last drive. We only had an opportunity because Baltimore dropped a wide open catch for first down and had to punt it away. We got the ball with 2:10 left and after 3 downs, it took a 4th down run to get a 1st, burning a minute off the clock. Then on 2nd and 10, Ray Lewis hits Ochocinco in the face and gets flagged for 15 yards. Ray Lewis absolutely deserved it but that's just help you don't normally get. After that we got a legitimate 11 yards. Then on 3rd and 16, there's a defensive pass interference called for Ochocinco. I'd love to say that the Ravens deserved this, but it should have been 4th and 16. That was not a foul. Next play from the 20 yard line, touchdown. I can't help but feel like the Ravens handed us that game.

What I would like to see this weekend is the Bengals destroy Houston by 30. Let's have a 4th quarter full of Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott just pounding away. Until the Bengals put a complete game together, I will not be able to claim they are different this year. They have done a lot of really good things, but they have squeaked by on far too many levels. We'll know a lot more during the next 4 games. We have Houston, Chicago, Baltimore, & Pittsburgh. You better believe Balt. and Pitt. won't sleep on us again.

How will the Bengals finish? My guess is 11-5. I just hope the Bungles stay away long enough to bring back some pride in this desperate city.

So about 2 weeks ago, Liz and I disagreed about the number of items in the shower. It came down to me only needing a bar of soap, and she needing more than a bar of soap. For a long time it wasn't a problem because we had a metal shower hangy thing where things were stored. Then we replaced the standard shower head with a fancy shower head that included a hand held cord. That cord then got in the way of the metal hangy thing causing us to have to get rid of it. This got all the items on the metal hanger demoted to the ground. That demotion was the cause of the conversation about the number of items in the shower.

So my handiness kicked in and thought "I could build a shelf!" A couple hours later of cutting, screwing, sanding, painting, and we have a shelf. I realized today that I am very good at starting projects, but terrible at finishing them. So I got motivated tonight and finished this project at least. I built it kinda fancy so that the base of the shelf doesn't sit against the wall. I figured with water, steam, and mist, the least amount of contact with the wall the better. The shelf may not look level in the picture, and I think that's due to the shadows because it's dark and the angle of the picture, but I assure you, it is level. Maybe the shower frame isn't level... hmm....