Review: Convict Conditioning by Paul Wade

The two worst tendencies I’ve come across for myself are the desire to over complicate things, and the desire to skip ahead. This can affect many areas of life, and one of the more practical things it sabotages is my health. Be it diet or exercise, these two things are more than capable of robbing one of results and motivation.

So, simplify, simplify.

Paul “Coach” Wade’s Convict Conditioning is simple and straightforward. Wade, a former inmate of the U.S. prison system, learned and taught calisthenics during his over 19 years of incarceration. Over the years he got the nickname “Coach” for teaching other inmates, and has since systemized his program.

Slow and Steady is HARD.

"Slow and steady wins the race" is a rather famous proverb that has gone onto cliche status. Its said and said and said, but in a moment of understanding, I think I'm getting the deeper meaning of it. "Slow and steady" might be more accurately phrased, "patient and disciplined."

For instance, right now I'm starting a very basic calisthenics program. The book warns about skipping ahead because you'll lack the necessary foundation for later exercises and programs. Is that necessary? Yes, I think it was a well needed part of the book. Its so simple and "easy" that the temptation to skip ahead is definitely there. Could I? To an extent. However, since I'm basically starting from scratch, its actually a very poor idea.

The last time I got injured doing any sort of exercise it was because I skipped ahead. I hadn't worked out in a while, and went back to about where I was before rather than starting at a lower-level. Well, guess what? I pinched a nerve because I didn't have the strength to perform the exercise correctly. I spent over a week in excruciating pain, requiring medicating along with physical therapy, and that pain lingered for months after as my right arm was of limited use.

Overtraining, and the injuries it can bring, provides a good lesson for life.

Looking back at other past activities and failures, it seems to be an annoyingly common pattern. Going in with gusto, only to burn out later on. From exercise to diet to (re)learning Japanese and trying to learn new things, going fast and passionately doesn't last long. Infatuation doesn't keep you going when the going gets tough.

The discipline to keep with things, to have the patience to progress as slowly as you need to, are two vastly underrated tools in my life. And as such, two rather underdeveloped ones at that. But, well, at least now I can ponder what I'm doing a bit better. And its all thanks to a realization brought about from a calisthenics book.

[Game] Implode! impressions for Windows Phone 7

IUGO Mobile Entertainment recently released their iPhone title, Implode!, on Windows Phone 7. I downloaded the demo, buying the game the same day. Obviously, my impression of the game is positive! But, obviously, I'd imagine you'd want more details than that.

Impressions of Left to Spend

Compiled Experience has come up with a handy new app for Windows Phone 7 called Left to Spend. I’ve been using it for the past week and find that its something well worth trying out.

Starting the app takes you right to totals page. While the app looks very well Metro, there’s no other pages to swipe to, and that really speaks of how to the point it is. At the top will be your current, remaining total of spending money and how often its replenished. Below that it’ll show the period of time it spans, date-wise, and the purchases entered are listed below.

Clicking on the gear icon on the bottom will bring up the settings screen. Here you can set how much you’re giving yourself and how often. For instance, you do like I do and set it for every paycheck to receive $x in spending money (my entertainment budget). Because you can set the amount and choose between daily, weekly, fortnightly (every two weeks) or monthly, you can really use it in the most practical means for you. The last option is to carry over balances; does the money evaporate when you’re done? Or does it roll over?

Once you’ve set that up, entering entries is very quick and easy. Simply click on the + icon and you’ll get to add a purchase amount plus description. Its incredibly quick and easy, which is nice, but more importantly makes it more usable. I used to try using Microsoft Excel that came with WP7, but its harder, more fidgity, and thus I stopped trying. Once you enter the purchase, it gets listed and your total is lowered accordingly.

As someone who uses his debit card for most things, this is really quite nice. I dislike carrying a checkbook around, and some merchants aren’t always the fastest at processing their credit card purchases. As such, this will keep a nice running total with me, along with where and how much I spent. The individual entries do not keep dates of entry, but they’ll be there conveniently enough when you add them to your checkbook at the end of the day anyhow.

One nice feature is seen when you click on the graph icon. The application will produce a nice chart showing your spending over the course of time, with the total remaining in the day and the amount spent. It does help visualize your spending, which is never a bad thing (especially for us impulse shoppers).

For $0.99, I think Left to Spend is pretty great, and well worth the money. Since taking Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University and being introduced to the old fashioned “envelope system,” this seems to be the virtual “envelope” I’ve been needing for my debit card. Additionally, Compiled Experience has at least one update planned for the WP7 Mango update, which looks like will give the app a “full” Live tile. What that means exactly, I’m not sure, but I’m still interested!

If you’ve been needing something quick and simple, this is what you’ve been looking for. Go get the trial, and give it a spin. I think you’ll find it handier than you might imagine. Much like To Do Today, this has already found a spot on my WP7 start screen.

Progress on health and fitness

Okay, first night with weights. Very simple, and very low weight, but I'm basically starting from scratch again. Better safe than sorry!

 

So, I've got two adjustable dumbbells at 20lbs each, and two plain dumbbells at 15lbs each. Given that I can't even get my 16k kettlebell (about 35lbs) up to do even start Turkish half-get up? Yeah, starting lower. Much lower. I'll need to see if we have enough plates to make it 25lbs or even 30lbs in the future - I do know we've got some big ones (25lb plates), but that'll be a while from now before I can use those.

 

I would like to find an Olympic bar for bench presses, but so far the stores I've seen only have standards. While the exercise machine/station thing has a bench press function, I'd much rather use free weights than that. More natural. I'll also do deadlifts with it, but first things first. I will likely use my kettlebell for weighted face-the-wall squats in the meantime.

 

Need to fire up the 360 at some point - the EA Sports Active 2 is fun for aerobic work :)

 

I'm a bit excited about things - thanks to reminding and pushing from friends, family and my doctor, I've been able to make some pretty positive changes to my lifestyle and health. I don't think I'll be looking like Jason Statham or Pavel Tatsouline anytime soon, but within the next five years I want to look, feel and be healthier, fitter and more attractive than I have the past 30+ years.

Weight Watchers has been a tremendous help with my diet, and I've been working on integrating some of Body For Life's eating style into how I do things (ie, smaller, more frequent meals). If nothing else, its helped me avoid the after lunch "I need a nap" feeling from scarfing down too much at once. My cholesterol is good, my blood sugar is nearly normal (5.9% on a non-fasting AC1), and I’m feeling better overall.

 

Actually, having plans helps me a lot. For diet I've got Weight Watchers, and for execise I'll be going with Pavel's Power To The People, which is relatively simple. Can't do it exactly for now, but that's what improvisation is for. The biggest thing is it gives me something to look at and follow. In the past I've always tried to do it by myself, figure it out myself, and it can be pretty daunting, thus easier to bomb out of.

 

So, yeah, progress is good!

Bought local

A few days ago I was having to decide between buying my Myoplex locally from GNC versus buying online for $10 less. Well, I made my choice, and went locally. I had a quick stop to Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping Center, walked to GNC, presented my Gold card, and got the $50 box for just under $42, including tax. That’s a work-month worth of meals at about $2.10 per serving, which isn’t too bad.

Having thought about it a bit more, I did think of some other benefits to having bought it locally.

• By spending it here, I paid local sales tax.
• The business itself pays local taxes.
• The employees will get more money (I’ve heard GNC has commissions), so that’s income tax plus them spending money, which will be sales tax.

With tourism still recovering plus the expectation that Japanese visitors will be declining in number while they rebuild, that’s important right now. The state and county definitely need the money. While I’m not a fan of everything the government does (federal, state or local), there are things my taxes pay for that I am thankful for, if not appreciative of.

Likewise, the better off my local community is the better! The more and better non-tourism jobs that are available, the happier I and others will be. While its not likely we’ll ever stop depending on tourism as a major source of income for the state, buying local helps other job and career options more viable.

Will I buy locally 100% of the time? No. Maybe I could do that on ‘Oahu, but not on Maui. But I have to say I’m a bit happier to do it now than before. There's more to a purchase than getting the lowest price, it seems.

Buying local: rubber meeting the road.

One of the things I've been trying to do over the past few years is, when I can, to buy stuff locally. Even if I buy something from a national retail chain, I know that some of that money stays here and contributes towards the local economy. There are exceptions to this, of course, but overall I've tried to keep to that.

Right now I've got a case where I need to choose, though. The local GNC sells EAS' Myoplex Lite for $50. After my Gold Card discount that'll be $40 plus tax, so $41.67 total. At 20 packets/meals a box (enough for four working weeks), I'm paying $2.09 per shake.

But if I went through Amazon and subscribe to it (ie, they will automatically ship me more every month), I can get it for $30. They claim no shipping, so if that's true? That'll be $1.50 per shake and over a $11 per box. Over the course of a year I'd save close to $150.

So, the question is, what is that difference in price buying me? Like everyone else, I'm wanting to make sure I get a good value for my dollar. But what else is there besides the product itself?

• Buying locally means more money for the workers at GNC (I've been told they're on commission), and for the GNC itself. I've worked in retail and know plenty of other folks who have and still do, so payroll is a big thing.
• The GNC occupies a storefront in the local shopping center, paying rent. Should a store lose traffic or even close, the lowered amount of customer traffic can affect the other businesses (stores and restaurants) in the mall. Notice that most malls try to have at least one "anchor" business that can pull in people in hopes they'll go to other shops?
• Since its already here, there's no more shipping stuff. Also, Amazon can sometimes over-package things - that's more junk and clutter in the house until it ends up in the landfill.

And yet, that $10 saved can go to more whole foods like apples, tangerines, oatmeal, etc., which I will have to buy locally. I'm not foolish enough to think that they'll be selling those at cost, but I'm sure the profit per transaction will be much lower than the Myoplex. Also, with the price of fuel going up, I might have to up my gas budget in then new future.

Decisions, decisions...