(Day 223 / -110 lbs.) Workout Mods and Things That Make You Go, "Huh?"

I don't know about you but I'm ready for the holidays to be OVER! I just don't think I can stomach any more joy without having to loosen my belt a notch or two. Just look at the stats. I've gained a pound and have yet to get back on the fat-burning wagon- at least not as far as my scale is concerned. Yesterday it was pumpkin pie. Some people don't like it and that is Oh Kay! More for me. I could live on it from Turkey Day through Champagne Day. The sweet, smooth consistency just piled with Amaretto whipped cream and garnished with shaved dark chocolate...

SLAP! SLAP! SNAP OUT OF IT!

Phew! Thanks, I needed that. Friggin' food-induced euphoria. Got... to... get... things... back... into... perspective... Got... to... focus...

There we go. First off, it's not "Turkey Day" and "Champagne Day", it's Thanksgiving and New Year's. It's like calling the Super Bowl "Hot Wings and Super Nachos Day". Holidays and sporting events are not about the food they're about the celebration, the joy, the camaraderie, and the gratitude. I think about all the family gatherings we've had when the focus was on the meal rather than just spending time together. Granted, Aunt Gert can't criticize my taste in neckties while her face is stuffed with smoked salmon but still, do we need to do everything around a huge meal?

Our New Year's party is coming up and this time it's not about the food. Usually we have quite the spread of high calorie gut-busters; lot of hots wings, sausages, cheeses, cakes, pies, cookies, the list goes on. This year we're down-playing the carbs and striving for a little more nutrition- just enough to fuel the camaraderie without becoming the focus. We'll have to see how it goes.

As I skimmed an issue of Mens Health yesterday, I landed on a short article suggesting I should end my workout with a set using less weight with higher number of reps- so this morning I gave it a try. Two sets of nine reps at full weight followed by a set of eighteen reps at half the weight. What fresh hell that was. Burn baby, burn! I'm going to give it a month to see if it lives up to the promise of increasing definition in the affected muscle groups. Will pain promote gain? We'll see.