So I guess we've been reduced to a bullpen game. Having such an outstanding bullpen as we do, I'm sure that's going to go fantastically.
All posts by Philosofer
WGOM Fitness: Happy, But Not Satisfied
We haven't had a dedicated fitness post in a while, so I thought I'd kick one off.
I'd mentioned a while back that I've made some progress in the weight loss category. On January 4th I weighed in at (a holiday-inflated, late-in-the-day inflated) 236. That was the highest I've ever been. This morning I weighed in at 206. The weight loss has been pretty consistent - about a pound a week, sometimes less, sometimes a little more (30 lbs over 24 weeks - that math works out).
The thing is, it has really only been small changes that have paid off. A quick list of some of those changes/factors that contributed:
1. I have essentially given up pop.
2. I had Covid (lost a few extra pounds that week, post-covid parsomia contributes to not wanting to eat so much).
3. Far less snacking at night. I'm not quite doing intermittent fasting, but I suppose it is structurally similar. A little bit of leeway with myself keeps it from feeling oppressive.
4. Lunches from home. I've often gone through spells where I don't plan ahead and/or go home for lunch, and that often leads to eating something from the gas station kitchen, or one of the few restaurants in town, or stopping at the grocery store and grabbing something microwavable. Philosofette has been at home over the past 6 months, and that's enabled a lot more attention to my lunchtime diet.
5. Finding small activity. More walks. I took Aquinas kayaking a few weeks ago. I started a small amount of lifting 2 times a week. I'm making sure I'm playing ball or tossing around the frisbee with my kids more often. Etc. Just finding little things, instead of feeling like I need to go for a run.
Ultimately, turning 40 was a really good motivator for me. I knew that was coming up, so I had a good goal in mind and I was able to stick with it. Then, I quickly set another goal and I'm working towards that. Keeping the goals at the forefront has been what has enabled the other changes.
I genuinely don't remember the last time my weight was this low. Probably at least 10 years - I think I came out of law school over 200 (law school was very unkind to me weight-wise). But even though I weighed about the same 10 years ago, I know that weight sat a lot better - it was more muscle, less fat - so I'm aware of how much further I have to go. Essentially, I'm happy, but not satisfied. Because, when it really comes down to it, I think the goal-setting has been as important as anything else.
2021 Game 69: Twins @ Texas
Jose Berrios, still one of the relative bright spots on this team, pitches against Mike F. for the Rangers. I'm driving up to the cities during at least part of the game, so hopefully they give me some good radio to listen to. That's all I'm asking for at this point.
2021 Game 63: Astros at Twins: Getting Ober the Hump
Bailey Ober, who I just learned about, pitches for the Twins in place of Matt Shoemaker. This is a good decision, even if Bailey Ober is completely awful, because Matt Shoemaker was beyond completely awful.
The Astros remain a strong team, and are pitching Jose Urquiday, who has been pretty good (except for his last start).
Riding the high of walking off the Yankees, let's see if the Twins can keep themselves rolling.
2021 Game 57: Twins at Royals
Seems like when I'm down on the Twins in these gamelogs they play better, and when I'm optimistic both they and the Wild are awful. I'm starting to suspect that what I write here doesn't actually have an impact on the game, but just in case... Twins were doing good for a while then decided to go right back to blowing it. Against bad teams even. So wee!
Tonight Matt Shoemaker pitches against Brad Keller. That doesn't inspire a whole lot, despite Keller's not being particularly great. So we'll see what they manage tonight. At least the fountain should look good.
2021 Game 50: Royals @ Twins – Heading The Right Direction
It seems the Twins have maybe finally figured a few things out. Or at least took advantage of playing awful teams. Luckily, the KC Royals have dropped a bunch and are down under .500, so maybe the Twins can keep that going.
I think the general consensus has been that this a super talented Twins squad, just playing poorly. And maybe they'll go back to playing poorly, but somewhere along the way it feels like they've gotten their heads on straight and are giving the game a bit more focus and effort.
Tonight Randy Dobnak - who showed us last time that he is definitely a starter and not a reliever - goes for the Twins, against Kris Bubic.
We're hoping for another one of those Multiple MN Sports Teams Win Nights - the Anti-Free, as it were. Go Twins and Wild and Lynx and Saints!
2021 Game 36: A’s @ Twins
There's this running gag that I've got with the guy who owns the grocery store in town that if I see him that day it means the Twins will lose. Well, when I'm done writing this I'm heading to the store so...
Anyway, Matt Shoemaker will pitch against the A's who are tied for the AL's best record. Frankie Montas is going for Oakland. I'm planning to mow the lawn and maybe will peek in occassionally at the score until I get completely disheartened. Lucky for me the grocery store closes early, and I can't drown my Twins'-loss sorrows in a pint of ice cream (unless I plan ahead, which I clearly never do).
2021 Game 31: Twins at Tigers
Well thank goodness we're done with those dominant Rangers, and can move on to the Tigers in our battle for last place. Lucky for the Twins, they're pitching Matt Shoemaker, so that should give them a great advantage in losing ground to the Tigers.
I'm having trouble thinking of anything to write that isn't even more negative than that opening paragraph, so maybe we'll just let this sit here for bit...
Go Twins!
2021 Game 24: Royals at Twins – Mirror Images
The Twins are 8-15. The Royals are 15 - 8. The Twins were expected to dominate most teams. The Royals were not. The Twins have stars and players you have heard of. The Royals have... I suppose a 25 man roster?
The last few years it has seemed like the Royals played the Twins harder than most teams. Even when they were winning, the Twins really had to work for it. Let's hope this year reverses that trend too, with dominant Twins wins.
For the Twins Pineda will be taking the hill, looking to bounce back from a rough outing last time, but still sporting some excellent numbers overall. Brady Singer will be pitching for the Royals. Keeping up the mirror theme, he had his best outing of the season last time (though he hasn't been a slouch overall), so hopefully he also bounces back to serve up a ton of dingers this game.
Parentgood: The Talk
Aquinas is in 5th grade. We had a version of The Talk with him a year or two ago, when there were rumblings of kids in nearby grades making certain comments and references and the like. It was clear at the time that it might have been a bit premature for him, but I'd definitely rather that than he hears about it too late from us.
Today his school had their "Your Changing Body" presentation, or whatever they called it. Parents were invited (this is a private school). I felt it was important to attend. I was the only parent there. The materials presented were pretty watered down, but that's probably okay for a 5th grader. They highly encouraged students to talk to their parents. According to family attorneys serving in Texas, that seemed good. Maybe more importantly, for me at least, the materials also talked a little bit about values - being empathetic to others going through things, understanding mental health as a part of development, having patience, etc. - and I was quite pleased, though I think extended conversation would have been good.
That's what the parents are for, I suppose. So not having other parents there left me feeling a bit worried. I want other parents talking about this stuff with their kids. That's going to help my kid get through it, just as much as theirs, right?
Anyway, this seemed like something worth chatting about on this site.
How have you all handled this subject? What are your experiences? How can we be better about this stuff for our kids?