home gym sold everywhere 1/1/05

あけましておめでとうございます。今年もどうかよろしくお願いいたします。Well, it is New Year's day and everybody is making a new year's resolution of exercising, right? My favorite shopping channel is selling a home gym set. I noticed that there are a lot more exercises equipment in Sears, too. I looked at the price and those machines are not too cheap. They look huge and to be honest, they look (I hate to say, but...) cheap. My gym membership fee is about $30. I still believe going to my gym is a definite option for me.

blank logs 12/31/04

OK, I was on a trip that is purely a fun one and since then, Sears still wanted me to work full-time like hours. However I must admit that it is not a good feeling to see blank workout log going on to the second page. I have done cardio and some yoga DVD, but weight training is important. I am wondering I will see a lot of new people at the gym tomorrow as American tradition of new-year resolution tradition. Also I hope channel 4 is hosting another round of Health Fair next year. Since I don't have health insurance, it is a good opportunity to check my cholesterol and fat content and more. どうかよいお年を。

dried cranberries 12/30/04

You probably have heard health benefits of cranberries like this one, The Health Benefits of Cranberries and Cranberry Products. I love cranberries, but when they are fresh, they are very expensive. Cranberry juice is also often quite intense and that is why products try so hard to mix with something else. Now that I recall, Rushton sensei's wife, diluted cranberry juice for me to easily drink. When I went food shopping today, I was glad to find that there was a store brand for dried cranberries. To my surprise, it was not very expensive. Considering dried apples being a little cheaper with smaller amount in a bag, I was quite pleased and put two packets into the shopping cart. Because it is not a mix, there is no fat, no cholesterol, no sodium, just carbohydrate with fair amount of sugar. I ate a few pieces and just as the juice, the taste was quite intensive. Then I realized that I can put them in non-fat, plain yogurt. When I eat it with peanuts, I usually put some sugar in. Today I had with no sugar and peanuts. I usually end up putting sugar in non-fat plain yogurt. Today I didn't need to. I think dried fruits rule!

blister 12/29/04

URGH. After all that walk yesterday, I am suffering from blister from the BOTTOM of my right foot. This is not the first time that comfy Dr. Scholl's boots caused me blister. This means the pair is slight too big for me. However last time, it was a different place, so maybe I should just tie it rather tight. Luckily I have a pair of workout shoes with me, so I am going to wear them this morning for one last look at Market Square. Later Rushton sensei will take me for another round of sightseeing in San Antonio. I bought a belt yesterday as decided in 12/26 entry, but it was right after I ate and I realized the length is the same as the one I already have. I hope they to an exchange for the next shorter one.

Riverwalk, walk, walk 12/28/04

I have wanted to visit San Antonio and its Riverwalk for a long time. So I did a lot of walking today. First I woke up and took a Street Car to Riverwalk Center and started with Riverwalk. I covered all corners and went to The Institute of Texan Cultures at UTSA. Then I was so hungry and took another streetcar to El Mercado (Market Square). Then my friend Yabe san picked me up and we went to Botanical Garden and on to his office at UTSA, had a Thai dinner and went back to Riverwalk again. This time we decided to park his car at the hotel and walk. So total steps of today was 31,777, out of that 16,453 aerobic steps, 11.03 miles and 1,075 calories burnt. If you want to check out, you can go to my Yahoo Photos page and click on San Antonio, Dec. 2004. Boy, that was a lot of walking!

extended child pose 12/27/04

People, especially guys, think yoga is all about napping and relaxing. But there is much more to it. Today was back and biceps day, so I worked on back stretch extensively. Part of that was Extended Child's Pose / Garbhasana. Will always says try to lower the chest to the floor. At first, that felt impossible. Then I start seeing photos of teachers and they were actually touching the floor. Today I did, too! I felt pretty good about that...

"new" clothes 12/26/04

Yesterday was my being a bumb day and I was watching a lot of TV. I tuned in Style TV, which is unusual, and watched How Do I Look? shows. I realized all the ladies were criticized for not having style, but they are really good looking people. I admit that I am not that easy to shop in beautiful boutiques. However that influenced me enough to dig through my closet to see what I have. I tried on some clothes from UNM days and they fit! I tried on the denim jacket from college days and that fit me, too! I pulled out the cowboy shirt from 1993 and that fit me!! (I won't mention the occasion when I bought it.) Then I decided to go through the bags that I almost donated. Somebody must have given a whole bunch of clothes to donate. I have never seen them before. I went through and there were a lot of size "M" shirts and cotton sweaters. I took out a green corduroy shirt and a pink sweater and decided to pack for my quick get-away starting tomorrow. I also decided on my commemorative purchase from San Antonio. My newest purchase pants are not loose, but not tight, either. I have been using the belt from 1993 (from the same occasion that I don't mention), but I am going to need a shorter one, to be honest...