VftR: 12/28/12 Vetter makes it Better
Posted on 28 December 2012 | No responses
Got out for a great trail run with family and friends. I stopped way too many times for photo opportunities, but it was so worth it. To make up for it, I ran an extra hill and then did a 1 mile race pace. Makes it all better!
The Struggle of a Healthy Self-Image
Posted on 27 December 2012 | No responses
I remember very clearly the day as an 8 year old kid going into Sears to buy “Husky” pants, or as I learned from my friends, fat kid pants. Growing up and even into my forties, I’ve always been a big guy. Some would say big boned, others would just tell me I’m fat. Either way, I’ve never had a mental image of myself as a lean guy, but I wouldn’t say I saw myself as fat either.
What’s most interesting to me, is that even at my peak weight of over 300 pounds, I never saw myself as particularly fat. When I looked in the mirror, I did see a guy over-weight, but would always counter with my athletic ability, or the fact I didn’t carry it in my mid-section. When I compared myself to others, they were fat, I was just over-weight. Even just a year ago at 275 pounds, I would counter with the fact I could run a half marathon, or complete a triathlon, something I would say with an air of self-importance, like those things alone made me healthy, even though I was still very over-weight. My mental image of me was not based in reality, and even worse, it was based on comparisons to others.
This last year as I’ve lost the majority of my weight (I’m currently under 200 pounds), I’m not sure there’s been a change in my mental image of myself. When I look in the mirror, I don’t really see a difference between the me of today and the me of a year ago, even though there’s 75 pounds of me missing. In my mind, I’m still me. Still not healthy.
The truth of the matter is unfortunately, it doesn’t matter the image I see in the mirror, and it doesn’t matter weather I’m healthy and fit. I can only see the changes that I’ve made when I compare myself with others. Oddly though, I can’t see it in person, when we’re together. In my mind, I’m still the fat kid. It’s only in pictures, afterwards, that I can see that I’ve changed. I’m not sure why I can’t see it for myself? Why I can’t see it when I look in the mirror? Why I must base my self-image off comparisons to others? Yeah, I probably need some counseling. 30 years of being over-weight has created some baggage, and apparently I will be dealing with it for many years.
I know that a healthy self-image is not based on comparisons, and it’s not based on a number on a scale. Now it’s time to figure out how to create a healthy self-image. To get started, I recently read this post on “5 Tips for Developing a Healthy Body Image.” Who knew the health journey I’m on would also be a mental health journey? For anyone else struggling similarly or if you’ve come out the other side, I’d love to hear from you.
VftR: 12/24/12 Grover Beach Boardwalk
Posted on 24 December 2012 | No responses
Today started with hitting a major goal I’ve been working on for a year. Today I hit sub-200lbs! I haven’t seen a number under 200 since I graduated high school over 20 years ago. I’m not done, but it was an amazing feeling.
Here’s the proof:
To celebrate, I went out for a nice run in our amazing central coast weather. It was a beautiful 68, light breeze and not a cloud in the sky. My ankle is still tender and sore, but it’s not bad as long as I’m on level ground. It did expose a running form issue: as I sped up to my yellow zone, my ankle hurt more as I was over striding instead of just increasing my cadence. I’ll need to work on that.
VftR: 12/22/12 It’s Santa!
Posted on 23 December 2012 | No responses
I love that Santa visits my neighborhood every year! Santa comes and is available for pictures most nights until about 8:30 or so. I went by to say hi and thanks for doing this year after year when I finished my 35 min run, sore ankle and all. It did have some pain on every driveway and even slight down hills, but other than that it was fine.
Telegraph Brewing Stock Porter
Posted on 21 December 2012 | No responses
I was lucky enough to receive this from my coworker Alyssa in our department secret Santa gift exchange. She knows my beer tastes well! I love the fact that Telegraph doesn’t brew an IPA, which automatically makes them amazing. The Stock Porter came in a 750ml bottle with a champaign style cork. It poured dark with no head. I thought it was a very light tasting porter with toasted malt upfront, and a short, smooth finish. Smell of good hops with a very slight chocolate undertone. I gave it 8/10 as I typically like a little more character and depth. Drinking it, I was reminded of a dark lager, instead of the mighty porter. However, don’t miss out, it’s still a good beer!
2012 YouTube Retrospective
Posted on 20 December 2012 | No responses
A fun retrospective of 2012’s most watched videos. Plus, it has Felicia Day!
Animated GIFs from Work
Posted on 18 December 2012 | No responses
During our recent department holiday shindig at work, we had a contest for creating animated GIFs. Even a non-designer like me got to participate with the help of this handy app for my iPhone called LoopCam. It wasn’t too hard to create my master piece.
Harrison and Noble Six helped me with the special effects on this one:
Brittany, whom I’m always at war with, created this one:
Robert created this one by hand! As a drummer, it was awesome:
Andrews entry was interesting in that he used a dead Monarch Butterfly he found on the ground:
Vince made a quick one of him being Godzilla on our canned castle:
But the winner was Alyssa with her awesome hotdog dance. Watch the face at the end, CLASSIC!
I love this team!
VftR: 12/16/12 Are There Hobbits?
Posted on 16 December 2012 | No responses
I was expecting elves to pop out any minute as we ran this trail just off the road. It was pretty short, so we ran it twice and continued up the road. Finished a great 5 miles with Jason to start a Sunday the right way.
VftR: 12/15/12 Mountain of Gold
Posted on 15 December 2012 | No responses
Montaña de Oro on a cold cloudy day. 27 miles of cadence focused cycling. So thankful for an early Christmas present of arm and leg warmers as it was COLD. 
Another humbling ride though as I attempted to catch up to a rider in front of me. When I finally did, I was shocked to find him rocking a fixie! Benny, the fixie rider, was killing it on his training ride as well (track racer) and even challenged the hill into MDO with me. Benny, if you read this, thanks for the motivation!
VftR: 12/13/12 Baby It’s Cold Outside
Posted on 13 December 2012 | No responses
VftR: Be Willing! A night time increasing tempo run. Even saw some shooting stars! It was beautiful, but chilly, at least for us Central Coast of CA peeps.
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