#DDPaDay 19-24 out of 31

Alright...the month is wrapping up, so I'm sad to say that I'm not going to pull off the no-gluten/no-dairy in any significant way this month. :( I am however elated to say that we're only seven days outside of November when I can try that half of the experiment again. I can also state emphatically that I have more than stuck to the beginner program for DDPY as far as the exercising goes. I'm probably one of the more bendy fat guys you're likely to meet, but unfortunately still a fat guy at the moment.

One of the more challenging aspects of working and living in China is that I'm doin' a whole lot of the former and not nearly enough of the latter. I haven't taken a day off from DDPY since the last entry and at the very least I do the "wake up" and "energy" and/or "fat burner". "Red Hot Core" came in last week and the first "Below the Belt" comes in tomorrow. I also work the free on YouTube "Sweating and Swearing" whenever I can. You may notice that I have deviated from my usual format and have gone to an even looser summary of my exploits. This is only because my internet service is sporadic at best and it happens to be kickin' right now, but I don't have my work out calendar near me. I write each day exactly what I do, but I can't always update it.

Goals:

Get the DDPY App and Use it--should be doable by November as I am setting up a bank account that has a joint American branch. As it stands now I'm using the free trial.

Get Heart Rate Monitor--I'm probably going with the Apple Watch because it would synch with all my other devices

Detail the Food Journal--As much as I hate to, I have to write it down somewhere. Times like right now when I've let my regular journal slip result in my not remembering my foul-ups, fumbles and even the occasional successes.

So, next week my wife will be out of China to celebrate her big 40 in the Philippines--her birthplace--and she'll be taking the daughter with her, so for nine days I will have a chance to REAALLYYY hit that diet without any outside influencers. I'll let you guys know if it gets better or worse.

#DDPaDay 16-18 out of 31

Now we've passed the halfway mark for the month. Unless I fall off the wagon, this will be the most successful two months of DDPY that I've had so far. Consistency is the key. Unfortunately, the diet is still kicking my ass and holding me back from what I should be, but as far as the workouts go? I think I've got this down.

Wednesday the 16th--

Workouts:

Wake Up
Energy
Fat Burner
Red Hot Core--"New" workout for me. I have tried this one before back in June, I've only just now caught up to where I was back then.

Diet Screw-Ups:
Beer and Chips--I didn't go crazy with either, but Wednesdays are my D&D nights now and although I can mostly avoid refreshments at the game...afterwords my mind is racing. I have to drink a beer to settle my mind down or I'll never get to sleep. This is a problem I'll need to address as drinking is a no-no.

Thursday the 17th--

It's a day off for beginners and my set day off due to the business from late the night before. For those elite few who are following me, this should show you that the beginner's work schedule gives many days off. Most of the time I just workout anyway, but Thurs. I do take for myself.

Diet Screw-Ups:
Beer--some will sit and drink a six pack at one go, while I only have the one beer with dinner, unfortunately, if I do that every day--which thankfully, I do not--I'd drink seven beers in a week instead of the six.

Friday the 18th--

Workouts:

Wake Up
Sweating and Swearing--The free live workout from a couple of weeks back on YouTube is getting a lot of play from me these days. I really want to get the DDPY APP which has lots of different workouts. So far I haven't been able to get it going in China in the form of payment. I've still got about half a month left of beginner before I'll try to change it up a bit in November.

The good thing is that--so long as I'm above ground--I can reset every month when it comes to the no-dairy/no-gluten thing. I really want to try it. I just have to discipline myself enough to ditch the beer and noodles...as always easier said than done.

I had a profound, almost zin-like thought, while doing my DDPY--I'm using the moves to get rid of my stomach yet my stomach is preventing me from doing the moves...

#DDPaDay 13-15 out of 31

Oct 15th #DDPaDay day 13/14/15 out of 31:

…and here we are very nearly into mid-October. I think this part of the year goes by fast  o matter where I live because it’s the Halloween season and I enjoy it a lot. Out here we have had a bit more acceptance of ghosts and goblins than back in the UAE, but at some point I hope my daughter gets to experience Halloween—and the other holidays back in the States. That being said, I don’t know what celebrations in the States even look like now myself. The last time I visited over any kind of holiday was Christmas of 2010 just after my father passed away. Hard to believe we’ll be coming up on the tenth Christmas without him. Some of his health problems—I’d probably say most of them in fact—came from being a lifetime smoker. He too was overweight like I am, but you have to think that the smoking played the greatest role in his problems. That said, living to age 65 isn’t exactly young, but there are those who live longer and those who live shorter lives. My mom—who is still with us—should be celebrating her 76th birthday this coming November. She too has lived an unhealthy lifestyle both in terms of smoking, eating habits…and probably a little more drinking that she lets on, but she’s got nearly elven years and counting on Dad. It goes to show that lifespan isn’t something that we can predict. From my end I do want to live as healthy a life as I can so that I can stick around for my family. I really don’t want my daughter to have to bury me any earlier than she has to.

October 13 workouts:

Wake Up
Warm UP
Energy
Diamond Dozen
Fat Burner

Diet:

I didn’t do anything bad on the remainder of yesterday. Beer is something of a no-no, but again it’s just not a major concern for me

Diet Screw-ups….

Today I have had cookies and I tried a chocolate bar because it was hot-pepper and grapefruit flavored (?) That seemed to be a strange combo so it was worth a try. Still it’s too much junk food and if I don’t straighten out and fly right, I’m going to need to try the experiment over again in November. My wife and daughter will travel to the Philippines last week of OCT/first week of NOV which could help or hinder my experiences. The bottom line is that to get the most out of DDPY or any other exercise program, the diet must be reigned in. Eating what I shouldn’t does not negate the results from the workouts, but you cannot out exercise a bad diet no matter who you are. The process of rebuilding the body is a slow one and each time I falter in my dieting resolve it pushes me back from my goal. Owning it, typing it, publishing it, even if it is repetitive, will hopefully build my resistance to the poor choices that I make all too often—-even re-reading these things next month will show just how much I screwed up and how much “just one bite” of this or that adds up in a month.

October 14th workouts:

Wake up
Energy

Fat Burner

It seems repetitive sometimes, but the beginner’s workout scheme doesn’t get into anything new until the middle of this week…

Diet:

No real screw-ups today. I ate at Subway Subs, so they aren’t exactly healthy. I’ve taken to eating any of my hamburgers without the buns—these are home cooked by the wife, if I fall and go to McDonald’s again, I usually eat bread and all. I eat big salads with steak in them whenever the wife feels like making them.

A challenge for my Monday’s is that I put in an absolutely insane day at work and will want to east something after I leave…I then almost immediately go to sleep—as I should given how late it is and how early the next day starts—which I’d really like to stop doing. 

October 15th workouts:

Wake Up
Fat Burner
Energy

Diet:

nothing bad so far, but I do have one meal left to eat today.

I uploaded some pics to the DDPY Ap, but I haven’t translated those to the blog yet. I’m pretty flexible for a fat guy. 

#DDPaDay Days 10-12 out of 31

Steady as she goes. One of the "interesting" things about living in China is the government's take on the internet. A lot of sites--including this one since it's Google based--are inaccessible by normal means, so we all use VPNs and everyone knows it. Sometimes--like the recent national day celebration--the VPNs will be blocked no matter which brand you use. Meaning that if they wanted to , the powers that be could shut down the whole show whenever they wanted. Fortunately for us, they apparently turn a blind eye to it most of the time. Obviously, I don't know what goes on behind the scenes. Maybe it isn't cost effective to block us all or it's a pain in the ass to do it, but I like to think that our friends in the government are benevolent enough to treat their guests well in as much as they can. As to recent controversies--we really don't talk to them. I had one student notice that I was "acquiring" the Joker movie via ways and she told me that she'd like to see it, but probably would never be able to watch it out here due to violence concerns. Of course you can always go out to Hong Kong and watch whatever you want, but as you all know stuff is going on out there that is none of my business. On to DDPY talk...

Due to the aforementioned internet situation, it's almost impossible to report daily even if I was a constant blogger, so we'll probably just have recaps. I write something to myself everyday to keep my goals in the front of my mind even if I don't get to post. Currently I'm trying to purchase the DDPY App for my phone. I toured the place and it looks really good for the money. I also need to get the heart monitor of some kind and I think I'll be going with the Apple Watch because it's here and available. I also want to do a real weigh in as one means of progress and take pictures to share with you guys. No worries, until DDP comes out with a home electrolysis kit, I won't be subjecting anyone to the image of me shirtless. A Speedo top and regular shorts are not out of the question, but I do want them to be a little loose to show how far I can do certain positions. The small goal BTW is just to finish the beginner's program which I think I'm well on the way to doing. The large goal is to lose 46 pounds by age 46 which rolls around for me on January 29th. I think it's realistic, but only if I watch the diet problems.

Day 10

This is a scheduled day off in the beginners program. BTW if anybody is interested in trying it out for yourself, beginners level is almost easy enough for anybody to do, but if you are even deeper in trouble than I am, there are also workouts from bed, chair and standing only. When you see yourself doing these things the success you have will build up and up to more success.

Dietary Screw-ups:

Another one of those abomination hamburgers from McDonald's for lunch. I have to own it if I do it. I hope that I'm not done in by my love of pineapple on a hamburger, but I'm a sucker for it. The rest of the day was fine. 

Day 11

Workouts

Wakeup
Energy 
Fat Burner

Dietary Screw-ups:

A combo meal from Subway subs which included chips for lunch--a small victory, I chose water over soda

Midnight snacking...cookies...and I was watching AEW at the time, so I should have known better than to go beyond my boundaries when the very show that DDP is associated with is running. 

Day 12

Workouts

Wake up
Sweating and Swearing (free workout from YouTube)

It's still too early to call any screw-ups yet. If I have any, I'll at least own up to them. Also, cool that I got a reply from DDPY on Twitter. 

A long one today, but I don't want to close without speaking about some more upcoming challenges...

I have been recruited by and joined up with a local RPG group, so my D&D habit is rearing its head again. I must be careful that it doesn't steal too much time and beware of snacks and alcohol which seems to come with the territory.

Today I have a kids' birthday party to attend. All that good stuff that I shouldn't eat will likely be present.  I'll be concentrating on my breathing today for sure.

Unless you are actively keeping track of your diet and the temptations that come your way, you may not realize how many opportunities you have to blow it. It seems like a birthday, holiday season, vacation, free sample, or other chance for good tasting food that is bad for you is around every corner.  Another quick aside, cutting the dairy--even though I love cheese, ice-cream, and milkshakes has been fairly easy. Cutting the carbs....damn near impossible....I love noodles and beef noodle is like the best and I have access to it every day. I'll keep fighting it though.

#DDPaDay Days 5-9 out of 31

I really am an untrustworthy narrator as far as disciplined blog entries go. If my workout calendar followed suit, I'd give up now, but as it stands I'm doing fine on the workouts--not so much on the diet.

Day 5

For beginners--I am in the second month of the two month beginner program--there are days off worked into the schedule. It happens that Saturday and Sunday were both days off this week. Since I was out on the town, I took advantage of that...but the food...I didn't own my boundaries and there's no excuse. 

Dietary Screw-ups:

McDonalds--an abominable double burger meal. Some fried chicken at a Chinese/Thai fusion place, Beef Skewers--which would be perfectly allowable

Day 6

Again off from DDPY, but I'd argue that with all the walking I put in that I pretty much did a workout in and of itself...Unfortunately, the food...

Dietary Screw-ups:

Lots of Italian food...spaghetti, bread, pizza, and a dessert...later, spare ribs and lots of sushi with a little fried rice--again going heavy on the protein this was actually fairly sensible for dinner...unfortunately I also had a beer with it which I really shouldn't at this point. 

Day 7

Terrible...too tired from the traveling I actually missed my DDPY as scheduled and to make matters worse...

Dietary Screw-ups:

Beef Noodle Soup--not bad at all actually...A second Abominable Mcdonald's double burger meal this time with  an ice-cream cone and a fried pie. This is when I call myself an idiot. All the working out goes down the toilet when you are stupid and the fact that I know better makes it worse. I finished off with a Spaghetti and meatball dinner from home and a beer to drink it down with. Thankfully the next day I got back on the wagon...

Day 8

Workouts:

Wake up
Energy
Fat Burner

No dietary screw ups yesterday...I didn't even drink the second beer yet. 

Day 9

Workouts:

Wake up
Energy 
Fat burner

No dietary screw ups yet, but I did have beef noodle soup for lunch again which isn't exactly what I'm looking for in the carb limiting experiment. Dairy is easy, the carbs are not. 

My biggest takeaways from the end of my vacation are that I should keep the detailed food journal no matter how tedious I find it, I should try to check in here every day; not just when I have time, but to make the time. I also need to take the pictures. It seems to help the people who do. 

#DDPaDay Days 3-4 out of 31

• Oct 4th #DDPaDay day 3 and 4/31:
  
  And just like that disaster struck on the evening of October the 2nd. I went out with the family to an area of China that we had not experienced yet, so food—and bad food at that—was in abundance. One doesn’t go into The Hello Kitty Cafe and expect to not eat ice-cream—especially when you have your daughter with you and she wants a sundae. I last went to one of these places around ten years ago in Taiwan. You can get diabetes just by walking in. On top of that I ate ramen soup at the Japanese place down the street and finished a bowl of rice from my daughter—she’s always making trouble for me. Then, I had a doughnut and some fried cheese. You have to stay out of the carnival lifestyle if you want to get ahead…no breathing exercises can save you if you head into a place like that. I may as well report that I also had a beer on top that. Fortunately, I don’t party like that every night or I’d never get ahead.
  
  The next day I got back on the wagon.  
  
  October 3 workouts:
  
  Wake Up
  Energy
  Diamond Dozen
  Fat Burner
  
  Diet:
  
  I stayed home after the disastrous night before. No shenanigans on October 3rd
  
  October 4th workouts:
  
  Wake Up
  Energy
  Fat Burner
  
  Diet:
  
  The day isn’t over yet. I probably have one more meal in me, but since I am staying home, I can control it.
  
  Tomorrow we’ll be going out again to the “big” city on my side of town—I’m sure there will be more temptations out there. I don’t need no stinkin’ Hello Kitty Cafe stops if I want to be successful.  

#DDPaDay Day 2/31

• Oct 2nd #DDPaDay day 2/31:
  
  As noted yesterday, there won’t be much to these blogs…at least not much planned and they are just as much for me as they are for my dozen followers. One thing DDP—and a lot of other motivational speakers say to be honest—is that if you write your goal down, you are a lot more likely to achieve it. There’s something about writing it down that makes you concentrate and focus on what you want to do. With food it’s especially true for me because by years of bad habits, I “forget” what I’m trying to accomplish. This and the breathing techniques that DDP teaches are what I think separates his program from a lot of the other ones I’ve tried.
  
  October 1 workouts:
  
  Wake Up
  Energy
  Diamond Dozen
  Fat Burner
  
  Diet:
  
  I really don’t like keeping a food diary as such, I find it too tedious, but I do want to list any questionable activities I engage in. For day one I didn’t eat or drink any of the no-nos, but I did eat too many mixed nuts while watching movies.
  
  October 2 workouts:
  
  Wake Up
  Sweating and Swearing—this was a recent live YouTube event that was like an hour long. Good stuff. Probably more intense than what I’m ready for, but I did it anyway.
  
  Diet:
  
  The day is far from over, but if there are any more goofs, I’ll talk about them tomorrow. Today my wife put cheese in my omelette—just from habit. I’m not the annoying type to say no or to eat around the cheese, so I ate it. On the plus side, it wasn’t very much and I could get away with it if I wasn’t experimenting with eating no dairy this month.
  
  While on that subject and in closing, I’m not going to turn down anything that may be offered to me throughout the month. One piece of candy or cake doesn’t hurt anything. I won’t be buying anything like that for myself though.