So what's in it for 2009?

This is the time where every blogger out there will lay out his goals for the new year, so as I'm chilling in this internet cafe in Manila on Jan 1 at 4 PM, I'm deciding what I should aim for in 2009. I'm also a bit hung over from partying until 6 AM at Embassy, which I think is the most elaborate club I've ever seen. The Asians sure know how to party.

By the way, this place is amazingly cheap but still high quality. I've bought way too many interesting clothes out here for dirt cheap -- the only thing I went overboard on was a $100 Armani shirt that was a fantastic purple. Those damn purple shirts are still my weakness! But everything else is mad cheap: I'm about to get an hour long massage for about $30, and that's inside a private villa with my own shower and jacuzzi. And condos/houses here are amazing and cheap, something like $300,000 is living like royalty.

So goals -- I'm going to keep mine simple. Most of my life is still dominated by work, but I think with correct use of GTD I could still keep the right amount of time on health. I'm going to be exercising 5-6 times/week, primarily focused on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In terms of health, I'm returning to my HRAV diet (high raw, all vegan). As you all know, I'm a huge fan of a whole-foods, plant-based diet. Just read the China Study. I think I am personally funding Dr. Campbell's retirement as I have ordered over two dozen copies for friends over 2008.

OK, my internet time is running out here... gotta run, talk to you later. Hello 2009.

Dec 2

Morning:
Damn, forgot to measure my weight this morning and already had some chow. (pineapples) I'm thinking of making my first protein shake/banana combo. The sun warrior protein powder from yesterday was great, but I think a banana in the mix would make it totally awesome. I'll let you know. I'm going to bring along a bagful of almonds, a little jar of the protein powder, and pick up a big salad along the way. I should have a Hammer Nutrition bar in the bag as well.

The March of December

December 1st is here. For the month of November I maintained a very healthy Paleo diet that was very high in whole food plants with just a little bit of pesco. I'm proud of myself -- and it was a lot easier than I could have imagined. Right now, I'm staring down the barrel of just over two weeks before I depart the USA for India to see a good friend's wedding. I'm getting my suit ready, battling with the visa agency to get my passport prepared, and running through my preflight checklist (other than working 100 hours of course). But I want to lean myself down before I head out there, and as I've learned in the past the best ways to lose weight rapidly is to adopt a raw vegan diet.

I'm not going 100% raw though, I'm going to do the China Study-endorsed "whole foods, plant-based diet." But it will mostly raw. :) I will start off my mornings with some fruit (usually pineapple and/or bananas), then if I work out I'll follow it with a green smoothie (spinach, kale, frozen strawberries, 2 bananas, maybe some maca), then I'll get a big salad hopefully during the day (1/2 spinach, 1/2 romaine). In the early afternoon I'll have a protein shake consisting of my new Sunwarrior Protein (raw vegan) -- I'm about to have some later tonight straight up in water and ice, blended in the BlendTec. Perhaps around 5ish I'll have some form of vegan bar. Then I'll work out, followed by another green smoothie. Later in the evening I'll have my steamed broccoli and brown rice. (I may have to bring along the brown rice + broccoli to work -- so good!) Under an hour before bed I'll most likely have another Sunwarrior smoothie (2 scooops + ice + water blended).

Right now I'm chowing on some organic grapes. :)

Also, if I happen upon a Robek's juice place, I'll definitely stop in for some wheatgrass.

I started this morning at 196 lbs somehow (probably because while I was vegan over the Thanksgiving holiday, I ate a whole ton of crap food too like potato chips). I would suspect I'll be at 192 if not 191 tomorrow morning, and I'll start off my morning with some high intensity interval training on the treadmill (too cold to go outside right now).

I have 15 days from now until I start my trip to India, so I fully intend to be between 180 - 185 lbs. If I could make 180, that would be totally awesome.

Also, in order to stay accountable, I'm going to post here every day to keep you informed. Today I was Paleolithic (had some seafood) but tomorrow I'm sticking with raw.