Kayaking and Me

A few weeks ago my roommate bought a kayak. He's been taking it to a whitewater clinic on campus and he convinced me to go last week. It was a blast! The guys who taught the class were so nice and helpful, and they loved kayaking. It was really contagious. So yesterday a few of us went to the Cartecay river in Ellijay, GA. We rode the shuttle up to the top of the river and began our journey. I wasn't used to how a kayak handles and the most annoying part was that I felt like my boat just wanted to turn around the entire time. It was a ton of work just to keep it going straight.

There were about 5 big rapids we saw yesterday. A couple of them were quite challenging and really got my heart pumping. Those 5 rapids made the trip exciting... but what we didn't realize until later was how far we had to go in order to get back to our car. It was the LONGEST river EVER it seemed!!! Not to mention the water level was low, so my boat got stuck on every stinkin rock in the entire thing. When we finally saw that unloading ramp I was so relieved! Next time I go kayaking I will definitely make sure I plan a shorter route.

My Brother's New Deal

My brother recently decided he wasn't happy with his weight, so he made up a diet plan and committed to it. Now, about eight weeks later, he's happy to report he's lost 25 pounds. His diet plan is simple and will work for anyone. I would like to share it so maybe you can find some encouragement. 

"It's really easy. just stop eating everything you like.

I got off caffeine completely. As in, never even a little bit. Nothing to drink but water. EVER. And lot's of it.

No more fast food, except a bit of grilled chicken once or twice a week. 6" Subway sandwiches are your friend, but no cheese, mayo, and only lean meat and wheat bread. 

No more fried food.

On the rare occasion I have dessert, I eat Healthy Choice sundaes. They're actually pretty good.

Stop snacking. If you're hungry between meals, have a handful of grapes. I always keep fresh fruit in the house.

Leftovers are your friend. Just because the waiter brought you a plate of food, that doesn't mean you have to eat it all. Remember when Mom used to tell you to clean your plate? Forget that! Stop eating when you aren't hungry anymore.

I've lost 25 pounds just by doing these things. That's without any strenuous exercise!"

I will say that in addition to what he said, I'd throw in at least 30 minutes of cardio three times a week. I personally can't live without it and it helps me feel a lot better about myself. But that's it in a nutshell!

My New Hobby

When I find a new hobby, I tend to latch on pretty hard. Last week I adopted a hobby that will probably benefit me and has proven to be extremely addicting: car maintenance and modification. I'm not talking about Fast and Furious stuff (those cars seem so tacky to me now). I've had the same 4Runner for over six years now and up until very recently I haven't taken care of it in any way, shape, or form. I never checked or changed my oil when it was needed, I didn't know where vital components were, and I let annoying problems persist until I literally couldn't stand it anymore. I even went from February '09 to March '10 without A/C or heat.

In mid April I made a promise to myself. Since my car is the most valuable possession I own I really needed to start taking better care of it. It has 183k miles and has had a good share of problems since I got it, no thanks to me. I started by purchasing a Haynes repair manual so I could learn where certain things are and how to perform simple maintenance tasks. I think in just a short time it has already paid for itself. Next, I joined a 4Runner forum and read about others who had already solved the same problems I was having. Also as a result of being a member of that site I've become addicted to modifying my car so that it's more unique. Right now as I type this I'm finishing the 3rd coat of black paint on all my plastic badges from the back of the car.

Working on my car has been so much more fun than I expected it to be. It makes me happy that I'm saving money, getting my hands dirty, and learning a craft that I'll be able to keep for all my life.