I am a geek.  A scrawny geek.  A geek who has been a geek since the earliest days of life.  The fact that I have an entire section of goals devoted to learning languages and another for crafting is a testament to just how geeky I am.  However, I have also always been relatively fit.  Not body builder fit, but I could run well enough to compete in marathons and charity events and I held my own with the guys in JROTC.

Then I became ill.  I’m better now, but no where near where I was a few years ago.  I’d like to get at least somewhat back into that, which is why I created this goal.  Problem is, it has no real definition.  I need to give it some structure so that I can actually know when to cross it off.  So I’ve decided to aim for some real muscle mass.

It should be known that I have *never* been able to gain muscle mass.  Ever.  I was working out and lifting weights regularly in high school for JROTC and while I became very well toned, I never gained that bulk muscle so many guys covet.  Turns out my diet and routine were all wrong.  I was vegetarian in high school (before I became anaemic) so I wasn’t getting enough protein to build muscle.  Enough to stay healthy, but not the amounts needed to bulk up.  I also was doing more endurance work than strength building so I ended up with very nice, lean muscle.  Which is fine to a certain extent, but I’d like to stop looking 14.

As it is I need to eat about 1900 calories to simply maintain my current weight.  To gain weight (which I’ll need to gain muscle) I need closer to 2100.  I know me, I probably max out at around 1000-1500 every day simply because I forget to eat.  That whole lack of executive functioning thing is one of my main ADHD symptoms.  So first the mini goal is to remember to eat 3 meals a day.

In order to build muscle I need more protein.  In order to get enough protein I need to eat meat and beans.  I really dislike meat.  I’m allergic to most beans.  I think you can see where this might be a problem.  Luckily, I do enjoy smoothies with protein powder (how I survived my vegetarian years).  Now, DC isn’t as nice and warm as California so my smoothie months are about to be over.  I think I can handle protein powder in milk though, it’s chocolate so it should taste relatively decent.  Either way, second mini goal is to get 150 grams of protein per day.  At least until I’m at a level of muscle mass I’m happy with, then I’ll taper off to a sustainable level.

Carbs I’m less concerned about.  I need about 250 grams per day, but I like pasta, cereal, and bagels enough that it shouldn’t be a problem.  My biggest issue will be not smothering my bagels in cream cheese.  I love me some cream cheese.  By the same token, I’m not too worried about the 44 grams of fat simply because I don’t like many fatty foods.  I’m not a big snacker, if I’m going to munch on something it’s usually yoghurt or cheese.  Again, biggest vice will be the cream cheese.

Then there’s water.  I don’t actually drink many things other than water because fizzy drinks give me pressure headaches.  I end up drinking things like Powerade and tea instead of water though because I get bored of the lack of flavour.  So mini goal three is to drink 50 ounces of water per day.

Of course, none of this will help if I’m not actually exercising.  I still have to develop a plan, but my final mini goal is to work out for at least 30 minutes, three times a week.  I’m thinking MWF since it’s easy to remember.

As I mentioned above, I have ADHD.  On top of this, I’m incredibly impatient just by nature.  I don’t like waiting for results.  So once a week I’m going to measure myself and take photos to track my progress.  Otherwise I’ll get discouraged.  No, you lot don’t get to see the photos.  At least not as of now, I may do a before and after post once I’ve gotten some results.  Maybe.

At the end of the day I’ll be happy with just a touch more muscle mass than I had in high school.  I don’t want to be 100% buffed out, the body builder look just doesn’t do it for me.  For one thing, I have ridiculously long arms and legs for my height, a ballet dancer build is a bit more suitable.  For another, I’d never be able to wear the clothes I want if I had giant muscles.

025: Go to Santa Cruz
Done!  I was in Santa Cruz for the Friday before San Francisco Pride, 26 June 2009.  I still have no bloody clue where my camera cord is so I haven’t had a chance to write up completion posts, but they’ll go up as soon as I find the thing.

041: Do ADIML when I go outside DC
I sorta managed this.  I kept blanking on pictures towards the end of the day so they’re more half days than anything, but I tried.

059: Learn to read music
I’m doing this now because Parker wants me to join the GMCW in Spring and they require it.  I also need to retrain my voice (haven’t sung since high school), but that’s freaking me out far less than finally breaking down and learning to read music.  Not so much something I had to know playing drums, guitar, bass, and tin whistle.  Particularly since I have perfect pitch and an amazing memory for music.

064: Evolve wardrobe from “lazy sod” to “why yes, I am a gay hairdresser”
This one is semi-in progress.  I’m debating whether or not I want to do my own version of The Uniform Project as a tie in to Project 365.  If I do, that’ll get the accessories going pretty quickly.  Biggest issue right now being that it’s hard to find something as versatile as a dress in guy form.  I’m thinking white button front with black slacks, but that doesn’t account for beach or vacation wear and I spend at least two weeks a year in places where shorts are absolutely required.  Anyone else have better ideas?

075+076: Get back into photography and Do Project 365
See above.

092: Reach 10 generations on Sims legacy
Um.  Yeah.  So I started a new neighbourhood because the last one had WAY too many sims for me to keep up with.  Now I have just one family to deal with and I think that may be the best thing for me.  We’ll see.  I still have the old ‘hood if I want to go back to that.

009: Maintain a 96% attendance at school:
Well…I’m working on it.  Had a 36% for May thanks to illness and I’m looking at a 75% or so for June because the morons wouldn’t let me take my leave.  I’m a little bitter.

042: Find my passport:
Done!  Found it while we were packing things up to move.  There will be a picture up as soon as I find my camera cord.

046: Finish the shirts and coat I’m working on:
Uh…I’ve grown.  As in, sleeves and shoulders are now a good inch too short and waist lines are just barely above where they should be.  So I’m counting this one as done for now.  Instead I’ll post a few pics of shirts that I HAVE finished because I didn’t start making them until this week.  Again, as soon as the camera is charged.

073: Get back into exercising regularly:
I’ve decided to try out 100 Push-Ups just to see how my strength is these days.  At my peak I could do 200 pushups without any problems so hopefully I’ll get back up to half that.

099: Get a bigger apartment:
DONE!  Omg, adorable little junior one bedroom just outside the city.  While I’m a little disappointed about no longer living in DC proper, this place more than makes up for it.  It’s right next to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) so I’m surrounded by fellow environmentalist hippies.  This one will definitely be blogged about later, right now we’re still unpacking and decorating.

I know, I know, it’s way late.  Life has been kind of insane and hellish lately, gimme a break.  It actually wasn’t going to go up until this weekend, but part of why life’s been hectic decided to act up and I thought it’d be better to stay home.

009: Maintain a 96% attendance
…Well…I don’t know right now.  I know I finally got it up to 80, but due to a combination of stupid teachers, illness, and more stupid administrators I’m definitely going to be on probation in June.  I’m looking at possibly doing the fashion show which will give me an extra 30 or so hours, but we’ll see.

072&073: Get back into Kung Fu and Get back into exercising regularly
I finished up my month with the DC Strokes and won’t be going back for the novice season this year.  I can’t justify skipping out on the 10 extra hours a week in senior so it’s going to have to wait until next year.  Instead I’m looking at possibly going back to Kung Fu a couple of times a week.  I’ll have to start over, but I’d imagine it won’t take too horribly long to get back up to at least green belt.  Going back to my brown will take longer, but when I left I wasn’t able to do any brown belt work thanks to medical issues anyway.

092: Reach 10 generations on a Sim legacy
The oldest group of G2 in Tronasé is about to graduate uni.  A couple of them have been paired off, but all with slightly younger sims so we’ll see how long it takes for them to get married and start families.

095: Send 101 postcards on Postcrossing
This one is on hold due to a rather cool “may be completed soon” goal.

099: Get a bigger apartment
Well…maybe.  We don’t get confirmation until today and we’ve always had HORRIBLE luck in terms of apartments we want so I’m not getting excited just yet.  If we do get it I will be insanely happy and better able to complete a few other goals that have been put off due to lack of space.  This is also why the Postcrossing goal is on hold, I don’t want to get postcards sent to the wrong address.