Learning to Appreciate the In-Between

Random Coffee Cup

Lately I've been staring at a blank screen trying to figure out what to write about this week.

Usually, I have something. A camping trip. A vacation. A conference. A family gathering. Some kind of adventure that gives me an obvious topic.

This week, I wasn't coming up with much.

Then it occurred to me that maybe the fact I don't have a major story to tell is the story.

The truth is, life right now is in one of those in-between seasons.

Leadership Greater Topeka (LGT) is behind me. Summer is flying by. The fall semester at Washburn is still a few weeks away. There are no camping trips on the calendar this weekend and no vacations immediately around the corner. Most days have settled into a routine, and things have been relatively quiet.

And maybe that's not a bad thing.

For a long time, I thought the most memorable parts of life were the big moments. The trips. The celebrations. The milestones. The things that show up in photos, blog posts, and social media memories years later.

As I've gotten older, I've realized that most of life isn't lived in those moments.

Most of life happens in the ordinary days between them.

It happens during a quiet evening at home with Carrie. It happens while watching a Royals game, catching up with friends, attending meetings, working on projects, or sitting outside on a warm summer evening. It happens in simple conversations and everyday routines that seem unremarkable in the moment.

Those moments rarely feel important while they're happening, but looking back, they often become the things we remember most.

The past few months have certainly included their share of significant moments. Finishing LGT was a highlight. Celebrating Oliver's 15th birthday was a moment I will always treasure. Then, just a week later, saying goodbye to him was one of the hardest things Carrie and I have experienced in a long time.

In many ways, this summer feels divided into a "before" and "after."

The house is quieter now.

It's funny how many little things remind me that Oliver isn't here anymore. Sometimes it's looking over at one of his favorite spots. Sometimes it's expecting to hear his nails on the floor. Those are the moments that catch me off guard.

At the same time, life keeps moving forward.

One thing I'm happy about is that I've managed to get back into running. Earlier this summer, I wrote about wanting to restart the routine. Over the past three weeks, I've actually been doing it.

I'll be honest, it has not been perfect.

The weather hasn't exactly been ideal either. July in Kansas is not known for cool temperatures. Most of my runs have been after work when the heat is still an issue. I feel pretty good when I get a run in, especially on those evenings when it would have been easy to come home and skip it altogether. 

But I've stayed consistent.

For me, that's what matters.

I'm not training for a race. I'm not chasing a personal record. I'm simply trying to rebuild a healthy habit that had slipped away.

I've found that getting back into running is a lot like getting back into anything worthwhile. The hardest part is often just starting. Once the shoes are on and I'm moving, I almost never regret it.

Our Neighborhood with a Drone

There is also something calming about the routine. The familiar route through the neighborhood. Most of my runs have been on my usual route, and while it may not be the most exciting course, it's familiar and easy to fit into my schedule. The quiet time to think. The feeling of making progress, even if it's only a little bit at a time.

Three weeks isn't much, but it's a start. Right now, I'm more focused on getting out there consistently than I am about how fast I'm running or how far I'm going. A lot of goals are achieved the same way. Not through one grand effort, but through showing up over and over again.

Maybe that's another lesson from this season of life.

Not every week needs to be exciting.

Not every month needs a major accomplishment.

Not every blog post needs a big story.

Sometimes success looks like getting through a normal work week. Sometimes it's making time for a run. Sometimes it's spending a quiet evening with the people you care about. Sometimes it's checking in with friends. Sometimes it's simply appreciating where you are instead of always focusing on what's next.

I think social media can sometimes make us forget that. We see vacations, celebrations, achievements, and milestones. We see the highlights. What we don't often see are the ordinary Tuesdays and quiet evenings that make up most of our lives.

Yet those ordinary moments are where most of us actually live.

Maybe that's why I've been thinking about them lately.

I spent much of the first half of the year looking forward to events. LGT activities. Conferences. Trips. Summer plans. Through it all, Oliver was still here, even as his health challenges increased.

Now those events have mostly passed, summer is moving quickly, and life has settled into a quieter rhythm. I'm finding that there is something comforting about that.

There is comfort in routine.

There is comfort in familiar faces.

There is comfort in a neighborhood run, a conversation with Carrie, dinner on the patio, or a Royals game on television.

Those things may not seem remarkable, but they're the pieces of life that often matter most.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about the months ahead. Football season is around the corner. Cooler weather will be here before we know it. Hopefully there will be a few camping trips, family gatherings, and adventures to write about before the end of the year.

But for now, life is pretty ordinary.

And honestly, that's okay.

The older I get, the more I realize a quiet week is not something to complain about. There is value in routine. There is value in a normal Saturday. There is value in having an evening where nothing special is planned and nowhere you need to be.

Those ordinary days may not make the highlight reel, but they make up the majority of our lives.

Maybe that's why it's important to appreciate them while we're living them.

So this week, instead of writing about a grand adventure or a major milestone, I ended up writing about the fact that I didn't have anything big to write about at all.

And maybe that's the point.

And as it turns out, the in-between might be worth appreciating just as much as the big moments.

That's all for now. I hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful week ahead.

Run, Walk, Repeat

My plan for working out, which started in July, is going well. I have worked out three times so far this month, and I actually started running on June 30. It has been a good start to my running program. I'm using more of a run/walk approach to ease back into the routine of running and gradually build my ability to run for longer periods. It has felt good, and I am really enjoying the process.

I had planned to start riding my bike again in August, but now I'm questioning whether I will. That would have me running three times a week and biking one or two days a week. I worry that might lead to burnout, so I'm still debating whether to add cycling back into the mix. I enjoy biking as well, but I'm concerned it could end up being too much.

There is also some travel coming up starting in August, and I need to make sure I continue running even when I'm on the road. I can't let travel become an excuse for skipping workouts. That's easier said than done, especially with conferences and evening events on the schedule, but I need to make fitness a priority and avoid making excuses.

As I mentioned, I'm following a run/walk process to get back into the routine, so my pace isn't great right now. After three runs, including today's, my average pace is 14:17 per mile. I'm hoping to see that improve over the coming months as I stay consistent. Ideally, I would like to get down to around a 12-minute mile. It will be interesting to see how things progress, and I'll be sure to provide updates here along the way.

Carrie started water walking last week. I've gone with her twice, and I enjoy it too. It's a good workout, and I can definitely feel it in my legs the next day. We water walk in the lazy river in North Topeka. Carrie enjoys it so much that she's already planning to get a season pass next year.

We typically walk for about 50 minutes, spending time both with and against the current. According to my watch, I cover nearly two miles during each session. Walking against the current is brutal, and sometimes I nearly get knocked over by the water jets in certain areas. It's a lot of fun, and it gets me in the water, which I enjoy.

I'm also keeping up my walking routine after my runs. Yes, I know I already do some walking during my run/walk workouts, but I still set aside an additional 10 to 15 minutes for a separate walk. It helps me feel connected to Oliver, whom we had to say goodbye to in early June.

I can still walk the same path we used to take and remember him stopping to sniff everything, hopping on and off the curb as he investigated every scent and searched for signs of other dogs. I miss him so much, and these little moments help me stay connected to him. He loved going for walks, and I'm sad I didn't take him on even more of them. Still, I have many wonderful memories of our walks together, and revisiting those places has been helpful as I continue to process losing him.

That's all for today. Have a great rest of your Sunday and a wonderful week ahead.

Finding My Rhythm Again

Here we are mid-way through June, and I cannot believe how fast time is going. As I reflect on how quickly it is flying by, I am reminded that I have not been working out the past few weeks. In fact, it has been a full month since I last ran on May 17. That was not my plan for the summer, but things have been busy and have pulled me away from my routines.

I had planned to start riding my Peloton again in June, but that has now been pushed to early August. I do not recall the last time I actually rode it, but it has likely been over a year at this point. I have been delaying the Peloton payments and even set a reminder so I remember to keep doing that.

I plan to start running again in July. I want to build it back into my routine and put it on my calendar so I stay accountable and make time to get out and exercise. I have shared before how much I enjoy running. It will feel a bit odd to come back from a run and not have Oliver there, excited to go for a walk. Still, I plan to keep that part of the routine, heading out for a walk after my run just like I did when Oliver was by my side, probably even taking the same route.

For now, I am trying to motivate myself to get started again in July. I would like to be at a point by mid to late August where I can run without stopping. I think if I begin in early July, that is a realistic goal. I am not training for a race or anything like that, just continuing my health journey.

I bought new running shoes back in early May and have only run in them twice. That is pretty pitiful. I need to turn that around, get them broken in, and put some miles on them through my neighborhood routes. I do have a regular route that I tend to stick with. I have tried to mix it up in the past, but I usually find myself going back to that same path.

A few years ago, when I was running regularly, I even made time to run while traveling. Whether staying in a hotel or a rental home, I made sure to fit in a workout. That has not happened at all in recent years, but it is something I would like to get back to. I enjoy running in new places, and it always makes me feel good as I start the day in a different setting. It can be tough, especially when traveling for work, but it is a goal I have for the fall and winter to keep the running going.

That is all for now. I hope you have a great rest of your weekend and a fantastic week ahead.

Starting Over, One Run at a Time

I went on my first run this morning. The last time I exercised was in June or July of 2025. The last time I actually ran was in June of 2024. Wow. I knew it had been a while. I have not been exercising at all, so I was pleasantly surprised that it felt fairly easy to get out and run this morning. I felt good and honestly felt like I could have gone longer than the 28 minutes, but it was a good start for me. No, I was not running the entire time. I am working back into it gradually with walking and jogging to build up my endurance. I also made sure to stretch before and after.

As some of you know, I have lost weight over the past year thanks to Mounjaro, which I have been taking for a while now. I have lost around forty-five pounds since October 2024, and that is without doing much at all over the last year or so. I have been fairly stagnant with weight loss for the past six to eight months, so I am hoping that starting up an exercise routine will help jump-start things again.

I was doing well riding my bike on a regular basis, but I got out of the habit after traveling and never really got back to it. I enjoy running and I enjoy biking. This morning was beautiful, with a slight chill in the air, which had me wearing long pants for my run. It was perfect. My hands were a little cold at the start, but after running, I warmed up and felt great. I enjoy the whole process, from running when it is chilly to running when it is hot out.

After a workout, I still enjoy seeing our dog, Oliver, get excited for his walk. He knows he is getting walked. Even after not feeling well over the past few months, he did not disappoint this morning. He was excited and waiting for me at the door when I returned.

I took Oliver out for his walk, which ends up being my cool-down. Oliver had a great time, although I did have to pick him up and carry him home for the last block or two. He definitely enjoyed himself, and he is now spending his Sunday afternoon sleeping. Granted, that is pretty normal for him whether we go for a walk or not, but he does seem a little more sleepy this afternoon compared to most days.

All of this is to say that I am trying to get back into a regular exercise routine. For now, my plan is to run at least three times a week. Those days will likely be Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, although I can always move things around to accommodate other events. I am putting the workouts on my calendar to help lock them in and avoid excuses. I know Oliver will also enjoy me being on a more consistent workout and walking routine.

Until next time, have a great rest of your Sunday.

Sunday Ramblings: Goals, Sports, and BBQ

Nothing specific to talk about in this week’s post, so this will be a bit of a meandering of topics and discussion as I begin writing on Sunday morning. We’ll see where it takes us and try not to go on too long on any one topic. Here we go...

Exercise Plans

In an earlier post, I mentioned plans for exercise. Well, here we are almost two weeks into 2026, and I still haven’t started my exercise plan. I intended to begin last week, which was my first full week back at work after the break, but it turned out to be tough to get going. So, I’m planning to start a routine this week. My first night at the gym will be Tuesday, January 13. I’ll be going to the gym at work where we have a free membership, something I should have taken advantage of all these years, but that hasn’t happened. I’ll report back in a month or so on progress in this area.

Reading Goals

My reading goal for 2026 is to read twenty-five books throughout the year. This means I need to read at least two books each month. I’m off to a good start for January. I’m currently reading three books, two of which I expect to finish before the end of the month, meeting my goal for January. Of course, this will get more difficult as the year goes on, but I’m feeling good so far. I read whenever I can: over lunch, some evenings after work, and every night before bed.

Washburn Basketball

We only have six home games left for Washburn basketball. The season seems to be flying by, but the team is doing great! We’re 16-0 and ranked #1 in NCAA Division II nationally. I’ve had to miss a few home games, but I’m hoping I won’t miss any of the remaining six. I’ve watched all of their away games and usually catch other teams in the league when they play, just to stay on top of things. It’s been fun!

Chiefs Season Recap

Closing out the NFL season for the Chiefs, it was a frustrating year to be a fan after a decade of dominance. The Chiefs finished 6-11. We couldn’t win the close games as we had in previous years, and then Mahomes was injured and is now recovering in the offseason. We’re still waiting to hear whether Travis Kelce will return. My hunch is that he’ll want to finish on a strong note, but that’s just a guess.

Kansas Jayhawks Update

Meanwhile, the Kansas Jayhawks are having some struggles. We’re 11-5 on the season. The talent is there, but getting it to gel during games has been tough. We had a surprise come-from-behind win last week that we probably should have lost, and then we dropped a game on Saturday that we could have won. Unless something changes, it’s going to be a short postseason.

BBQ Tour Follow-Up

I shared that we went on a BBQ tour in Kansas City the day after Christmas. I still owe you the winner of each category! The group of us hasn’t had a chance to meet, discuss, and compile the overall ratings yet. I should have those posted in the next week or two after we connect. We had scoring sheets, and each person (six of us total) ranked and recorded comments on why each place was the winner. I’m excited to see the overall report and reconnect with the group.

Political Environment

The political environment continues to be of interest to me, as it has been the past few years. I try to read and watch stories from both sides of the aisle. A year into the current administration, the tension from both sides still feels thick.

Closing Thoughts

Closing out this rambling Sunday post, I hope you have a great rest of your Sunday and a wonderful week! What goals are you working on for 2026? Any book recommendations or favorite BBQ spots? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.

Reflecting on Progress and Setting New Fitness Goals

As the year comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on my health and looking ahead to the future. I don’t think I’ve shared this before, but since October 2024, I’ve lost about 45 pounds. I’ve maintained roughly the same weight since August 2025, fluctuating slightly but staying in the same range. The next step toward reaching my goal weight is adding exercise to my routine. I was riding the bike as recently as this past summer, but I fell out of the habit and haven’t been on it at all this fall.

My goal for 2026 is to make exercise a regular part of my week. I’m planning to start working out consistently, and I think going to the gym at work will help me stick to that goal. I’ve been losing weight thanks to Mounjaro, which I was prescribed in October 2024 after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Before that, I was on other medications following my diagnosis in 2023 and early 2024, but switching to Mounjaro has been life-changing. Since starting it, I no longer need a CPAP machine, and with the weight I’ve lost, I feel great.

Mounjaro has helped by curbing my appetite. I usually take my shot on Sunday evening, so on Monday, Tuesday, and often Wednesday, I eat very little. My doctor gradually increased my dosage after I started, and at one point we tried to go higher, but insurance denied the change, so I stayed at my current dose. Now, the next step is exercise, which will support further weight loss and overall health.

If I can get back into exercising, I know it will make a big difference. I want to incorporate weights into my routine and add cardio as well. I enjoy running, so the treadmill will likely be my go-to, along with weights and other gym activities to keep things interesting and challenging. As the weather improves, I’d like to start running outside again since I really enjoy it.

I’m curious to see how running feels after losing 45 pounds. I know it can be tough on the knees and joints, but I expect it will feel different, and I’m looking forward to finding out. I don’t have any plans to run races like I did years ago—my goal is simply to get back into running shape and build up to longer distances.

That’s my health update, as I haven’t shared one in a while. Until next time, have a great week and enjoy preparing for the holidays.

Books, Bikes, and Baseball: A Sunday State of Mind

Oliver Sleeping

This Sunday morning, I’m struggling a bit with what to write about. I feel like a blank slate that I can’t quite start filling in—so I’m jumping in and writing anyway, hoping it sparks some ideas. I’ve got golf on the TV and baseball coming up later today. There are a few chores I need to tackle around the house, and I should probably think through some work-related things, but overall, it’s a pretty relaxed Sunday.

With no set plan for this post, I’ll be jumping around a bit as different thoughts come to mind. Bear with me as I shift from topic to topic.

Reading Goals and Audio Book Struggles

My reading has been steady, but I’m not quite meeting the goals I set for the year. I’ve only finished one book in the past two months. I recently started a new book and also began an audio book that sounded interesting.

When it comes to audio books, I’ve realized that unless I’m in the car and fully focused, I don’t retain much. If the TV is on or I’m following sports, my attention drifts. It’s clear that multitasking doesn’t work for me when listening to audio books—I need to be fully engaged. Right now, I’m about three books behind where I should be.

Bike Riding: Out of the Habit

I’ve definitely slacked on my bike riding. Between camping, travel, and just falling out of the routine, I haven’t been on the bike since June 6, 2025. Wow. I keep telling myself I’ll get back to it, but it hasn’t happened yet. I’ve got a conference coming up in early August, and I’m planning to restart my riding routine once I’m back. It’s amazing how easy it is to fall out of a habit—and how hard it is to get back into it.

Camping Adventures Continue

I’ve shared quite a few posts about our camping adventures this year—and for good reason. We’ve done a lot of it, and we already have another trip scheduled for the end of October. It’s been great to get out so often. Carrie summed it up perfectly: last year was our year of concerts, and this year is the year of camping. All of our trips have been in Kansas, and our final one will be as well. I’m really looking forward to it.

Family Time in Lawrence

Group Photo of Cousins

Carrie and I met up with my family on Thursday for a cousins’ dinner in Lawrence. We gathered at the Lawrence Country Club for drinks and dinner. It was a fun night. Some cousins couldn’t make it, but Mom, Dina, and Aunt Barb joined us, which was a treat. We usually meet in Kansas City, so it was nice to have a get-together closer to home.

Birthday Dinner at Fire Keepers

Birthday Celebration Wine Toast

Friday night, we celebrated my birthday at Fire Keepers Golf Course with dinner at Three Fires Steakhouse. It was our second time dining there, and it lived up to our memories—excellent food and great service. Big thanks to Joan and Eddie for the birthday dinner! Erin, Carrie, Greg, and I keep talking about making a trip to Fire Keepers to stay overnight and do some gaming. We haven’t made it happen yet, but we brought it up again while walking through the casino.

Sports Season Shifts

As July winds down, baseball is still front and center—especially with the Royals managing to stay somewhat in the hunt. But football is on the horizon. Fantasy football leagues are forming, and draft dates are being set. It should be a fun season all around:

• KU football kicks off in a newly renovated stadium.
• Washburn has a new coach and fresh energy on campus.
• And of course, the Chiefs are gearing up for another exciting run.

Let’s go!

Wrapping Up

That’s enough rambling for this Sunday. We’ve moved into the afternoon, and baseball is about to begin. The Royals are just about an hour away from first pitch.

Have a great rest of your Sunday—and a fantastic week ahead!

Weekend Musings: Sports, Running, and Reading

Seems like another day to post about nothing. Whatever comes to mind as I type away on this Saturday afternoon. March Madness is coming to an end, baseball has started, and golf is happening. It is a good time to be a sports fan and watching everything that is happening in the world of sports.

Speaking of sports, the Washburn Ichabods had a great season! We had so much fun following them this year and attending the home games. I watched them play in the Final Four of the NCAA D2 tournament on Thursday night. We ran into a buzz saw of a team from Nova Southeastern University. NSU was really good and we did not get a good start to the game. It was a sad way to end the season, but what a wonderful season it was, going 30-4 for the season.

I did my first run this morning after not having run in the past year. I have been doing bike rides, but I have not been running. I enjoyed the run, but my legs are hurting this afternoon. I made the mistake of not stretching or warming up very much before the run, so my legs are a little tight. I am planning to run again tomorrow although for not as long, so we will see how I am doing tomorrow morning when I try to run again.

To continue my writing on nothing, I am trying to finish my third book of the year. I hope to finish a book this week as I will spend some time reading. I only need about three hours to finish the book, so I think I can make that happen. We will see and if I am really good, I might be able to finish two books... One at a time though.

Short update for this week, that’s all at this time. I will plan to do a longer post next week. Have a great rest of your weekend and a wonderful week.

Tracking My Fitness: Peloton Stats, Jogging, and Sleep Insights

I last updated my Peloton journey on February 1, so this update is a bit overdue. Riding has been going well, and I am still enjoying the rides. Although I have not yet expanded to three rides a week, they are going well. Since my post on February 1 (see post), I have completed 417 rides and 519 total workouts, including 25 bike rides since February 1. I usually do one long ride around 30-45 minutes and then one or two shorter rides to either cool down or warm up before a ride.

I mentioned that I wanted to increase from two to three rides per week, but now that the weather is starting to improve, I think I am going to add jogging once a week. I might start this in the middle of April. I do enjoy jogging and miss going out in the neighborhood, plus Oliver loves it when I run because that also means I will take him on a walk afterward.

Weight loss has been fairly consistent since I posted in February, averaging about the same for the past month. No significant losses or gains. I am feeling good and enjoying the workout each week. I look forward to adding running in April, and I also plan to include exercises like sit-ups or push-ups. I need something to help with my core.

Adding running and some additional exercises should help me stay on track. If I can keep this going even with a busy summer, trips, or just not feeling like working out, I will be happy. In past years, I would be doing well until the summer months, and then we would go on vacation, camping, etc., and I would lose the habit. It is so easy to lose the habit, and it does not take much for that to happen. So far, so good for me, and I am enjoying the process.

Granted, there are times when I do not want to get on the bike to ride. Sometimes I do not feel well or am just tired, and it does not sound appealing at that moment. However, once I am on the bike and riding, all of that goes away, and I am happy once the ride ends. There is a good feeling after finishing a workout, a run, or general exercise.

I enjoy having Peloton to track my exercise. I also use the Fitness app on my iPhone. Recently, I have started wearing my watch to bed to track sleep cycles, something I never really did before as my watch would not last two full days. It is still that way, but now I have charging stations in multiple areas so I can charge my watch while watching television or getting ready in the morning. Believe it or not, I feel like tracking my sleep along with exercise gives me a better picture of my health. The Fitness app lets me know when my heart rate average changes, and through the night, it monitors for sleep apnea. I have had sleep apnea since around 2004, and it went away around January.

That is enough rambling on this Sunday afternoon. I am excited for March Madness and looking forward to the games. Enjoy the week, and I will talk to you next week.

From Bike Rides to Weight Loss: My Fitness Milestones

Starting February, I look back on my workout history since restarting this process in December. I continue my twice-a-week workout routine. I always work out on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m., usually with a live class. The other day is typically Wednesday, though I've moved it around as needed due to other events. I'm enjoying the process and routine. My rides are typically 30 minutes, but I've done a few as long as 45 minutes.

I'm approaching 400 total bike rides since we got the bike. I'm currently at 392 and expect to hit the 400 mark in mid-February. I typically ride one longer ride of 30 minutes and then one or two cool-down rides of five minutes or so. I'm hoping to time it so I can be in a live class and maybe even get a shout-out from the instructor.

I've only been focusing on bike rides so far. Although the stats above show other categories, I haven't been doing anything other than bike rides. I do want to add weightlifting and other cardio into my workout routine, but for now, I think it's good to focus on the bike.

In the spring, I intend to start running again. I was on a good routine a year ago, into the spring and summer, where I was running regularly. It didn't last long, unfortunately, due to summer trips, and I never got back into the swing of it after those trips. I enjoy running, and it also helps keep Oliver in shape, as I take him for walks after my runs.

My weight loss journey is progressing well. Since November, I've been on new medication that, combined with my exercise routine, has been instrumental in my weight loss. I've lost 30 pounds since November! I can definitely see the difference in my face and how my clothes fit. They're much looser now! I still have a way to go to reach my target weight, but I'm excited to continue this journey and see even more progress. I'm also focusing on improving my eating habits. I'm enjoying the foods I'm eating and making conscious choices to avoid less healthy options. All of these factors contribute to my progress. While I experience the normal aches and pains that come with getting older (like in my knees and back), I feel better than I have in a long time.

The last time I was at my current weight was in 2017, which was the lowest I'd been in years. I'm below that weight now. Again, I have a way to go to hit my target weight, but I'm making good progress.

Until next time, have a great rest of your weekend and a great week! Watch for future updates on my health journey. What are your favorite workout routines? Share your fitness journey in the comments!

Finding My Rhythm: Setting and Achieving My 2025 Goals

We're a few days into 2025, and a winter storm is still gripping the state. While I'm curious to see how this plays out, it's not what I want to focus on today. Instead, let's talk about my personal goals for this year.

Oliver, our lazy dog, seems perfectly content to lounge around and demand belly rubs. But for me, 2025 is about prioritizing exercise, eating healthier, and finally shedding those extra pounds. My bike riding routine has been going strong – I've been consistently cycling for over a month now. In fact, I recently conquered my longest ride since getting back into it – a challenging 45-minute journey. I felt amazing afterward and am now thinking about increasing my cycling frequency to three times a week.

Physical activity isn't limited to cycling, though. Carrie and I have been talking about finally taking advantage of the gym at work, but somehow, we always seem to find excuses to put it off. My ideal fitness routine would involve three weekly bike rides and two weightlifting sessions. Getting back into cycling took a few months of consistent effort, so I anticipate a similar adjustment period for weight training.

Turning our attention to our home, it's high time we tackled some of that neglected maintenance. While we've fantasized about major renovations to the family room, kitchen, and master bathroom, we need to start with the basics. Those drafty, inoperable windows in the family room are a constant reminder of how much work needs to be done. But that's a long-term project. For now, I'm committed to creating a plan by mid-summer for our initial home improvement projects.

Regarding my reading goals, I've slightly adjusted my target from 25 to 20 books for 2025, acknowledging the challenges I faced last year. In 2024, most of my reading was squeezed into the few minutes before bed. This year, I'm determined to incorporate reading into my lunch break, evenings, and even during those early morning moments. I've maintained a daily reading habit for 1,114 days, and now I'm aiming to increase the number of pages I read each day. Having been off work for the past few days, I've already noticed a significant difference.

I know firsthand that staying consistent with exercise, reading, and home improvement is a constant battle. It's so easy to fall off the wagon – one missed workout, one late night that cuts into reading time, and suddenly, the momentum is gone. But I'm determined to make these changes stick and make 2025 a truly fulfilling year.

Until next time, have a great rest of the week. Stay safe, keep warm, and check in on your neighbors as this winter storm continues to impact the area.

Reading Goals & Riding High: A Year-End Check-In

Sleepy Oliver on Christmas Eve

It feels like a good time for a rambling post about various things that come to mind while I write. I had to share sleepy Oliver on Christmas Eve in Lawrence. We had a fun time in Lawrence from Monday - Wednesday that found Oliver tired from keeping us all in line and staying up late a few nights. He needed the rest to be ready for the holiday season.

Washburn is closed December 23 - January 1. Carrie and I both took off January 2 and 3, so we have a two week time off of work which we are enjoying. No travel for us during this time off, but we are catching up on things around the house which is good. 

I have been enjoying various sporting events that have been happening during the holiday break. A few NFL games on Christmas Day, Thursday Night football, Saturday NFL games, and then of course Sunday NFL. Carrie is not a fan and is happy to know that the end of the NFL season is fast approaching. Me, I am not so happy. My fantasy teams this year were a disaster for a variety of reasons, but still, I had a fun time following fantasy teams this year.

My reading journey continues, but I will not be anywhere close to my reading goal for 2024 (see post). I am almost done with a book I got for free from Amazon and been reading for a while. I am about 70% of the way done without two hours of reading time remaining. I am hoping to knock out this last book before the end of the year. Doing so would put me at 12 out of 25 for the year. Not bad, but I am disappointed that I did not get close to the 25 goal I had set for the year.

On the exercise front, I am happy to report that I have continued to ride our exercise bike. I started riding on December 1 and I have been riding twice a week since then. I bought some new bike shorts to help with longer rides that provide some padding. I am currently selecting classes that are 30 minutes long which is about right for me at this time, but I plan to extend to 45 minute classes here soon that I will do at least once a week. I have enjoying getting back into live classes and my favorite day for live classes is still Sunday at 11 am CDT with Alley Love. There are usually around two thousand plus other riders in the class, so there is a lot of activity and a lot of high fives. It makes for a fun class and keeps me interested in doing the class each week.

Enough rambling for today. I hope you have a great finish to 2024 with only three days left. I am looking forward to 2025, where I will focus on my personal reading challenges, exercise and fitness, camping plans for the summer, and frequent travel throughout the year.

New Features, New Motivation: My Return to Peloton

Peloton Stats Since I Started November 13, 2020

I got back on the bike on Sunday, December 1 and it felt great! The last time I rode the bike was on July 30, 2023. I had used the Peloton app a few times in 2023, but nothing on the bike since 2023. It felt good to be back on the bike and I feel motivation to ride again for the first time in over a year.

It had been so long since I had last used the bike that I found a number of new features have been added. Some I knew about and some I did not know had been added. The new additions I like included YouTube TV and Kindle are now part of the Peloton offerings meaning I can watch TV while biking or I can read my book and both are synced up to my accounts so I am seeing my current offerings. 

If I recall correctly, back in 2023 they were just getting ready to introduce YouTube TV as an option, but apparently it was not enough to prompt me to return back in the middle of 2023. I am glad to see it now as sometimes I just want to ride and watch TV. Other options added include Netflix which will also be fun to have available. I did not look at any other options, but happy to see the two mentioned services that are now available.

My plan for this biking renewal is to ride two or three times a week. The days will be fluid where I can ride any day as long as I get in at least two rides each week. I would prefer to ride at least three times, but I also do not want to overdo it to start. I bought some new biking shorts to help with sitting on the seat that can honestly get a little uncomfortable especially if I am riding a lot during the week or for long periods of time. Hoping the new shorts help in providing cushion from the seat.

It makes me laugh though as my dog, Oliver, is never sure what I am doing in the guest room on this thing. He walks in, looks at me as if I am crazy, and then leaves. Sometimes he just sits outside of the room in the doorway watching me. I wonder what he is thinking while he watches me on this metal thing and I am grunting while giving effort to the workout.

Through the years, I had connected with a few people on the Peloton app. I am following 23 people and I have 24 followers. I wonder how many of those people are still active members. I will see who is active as I start this new journey and become active again in the community.

You might wonder if I have tried Apple Fitness+ and I have but it is nice to have videos and interaction as part of the Peloton Bike+ experience altogether. Carrie and I have Apple Fitness+ as part of our combined services for Apple One which consists of Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple TV+, iCloud+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Fitness+. Of the services of Apple One, we use Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple TV+ the most. We take advantage of the iCloud+ for additional storage for our accounts. So far, I have not found the Apple Fitness+ useful for doing the bike, but I have used the service when running outside.

What fitness app are you using? Why?

Be sure to watch for future updates on my journey. You know I will be posting about them as I progress in my journey. I am ready for the journey and that is half of the process to get motivated. Let's GO!

I Started Working Out Again Last Sunday and I am Feeling Motivated to Keep Working Out... Plus Oliver Likes Walks!

Before First Run

After a few months away from any type of exercise, I started running again on Sunday, June 4. I had a good first walk/jog to start off the process. My plan is to exercise three times a week although not sticking to strict days, but I do plan to work out at least three days each week. So far I have only been doing the running as I completed three runs last week. The picture to the left is before my first run. I felt pretty good considering I had not run, or done any type of exercise, in a few months. I looked it up and the last time I did any type of exercise was early November.

While I felt good following the run, I did have leg cramps on Monday. Calf pain that felt like shin splints but by Monday evening, those were gone. I was ready to run again on Tuesday evening although I did not run as long this time. 

Happy Oliver on a Walk

When I returned home from my first run, little Oliver was waiting at the door and whining when I came into the kitchen. Even though it had been months since I last ran, or took Oliver on a walk, he knew what I was doing and that he would be going on a walk when I returned home. He was so excited! We had a great first walk post-run, so that helps to motivate me to want to exercise and then take him on walks. Oliver remained excited the other two days that I ran too although he was not whining at me when I came back home following my run, he was waiting at the door ready to get on his collar and head out for a walk.

My plan is to run most of the time and then I also want to get back on the bike and do that some weeks instead of running. I figure it will help my legs and keep me fresh doing an alternate workout instead of running all the time. I do enjoy running and it is a good time to listen to audio books too while I run, or bike, so that will help to motivate me to exercise each week. Everything little bit of motivation helps.

I plan to update on my status at least once a month, so let this be the start to many more posts on my exercise routine. I might not always feel motivated to workout, but I sure feel good after a workout. Not to mention Oliver likes the routine and doing a walk post-workout, so I plan to keep this going and get back into the routine even when other events happen to take me away from working out.

Until next time, have a great week and I will chat with you later.

Exercise, Weight Watchers, and Journey to Healthy Weight After Two Months of Weight Watchers

I started Weight Watchers back on August 14, 2022. I have been consistently tracking what I eat each week even when I knew it was going to be well over my points for that day. I have had a few days where I have gone way beyond the points for the day. I laughed because when I started Weight Watchers my daily points was around 42. After the first week, that dropped to 32 a day. I am enjoying the process and I think it is going well.

Here is history of my initial week through this weekend.

Date	Weight	Change	Since Start
10/28/22	236.8	-.6	-20.4
10/21/22	237.4	-1.2	-19.8
10/14/22	238.6	-4.2	18.6
10/7/22
10/1/22	242.8	-4	-14.4
9/25/22	246.8	+.4	-10.4
9/18/22	246.4	-5.4	-13
9/4/22	249.6	-1.2	-7.6
8/28/22	250.8	-2.4	-6.4
8/21/22	253.2	-4	-4
8/14/22	257.2	0	0

Overall, I have lost 20.4 lbs since my start. I am happy with the progress but still a long way to go. The only week I did not weigh in was the week of October 7. We had just returned from being out of town and did not get weight tracked that week. I am happy overall with how I have done after two months. Only one week where I gained week at weigh-in time, so not bad. I want to lose about another 30 - 35 lbs.

I was doing my day to weigh-in on Sunday morings, but realized if I moved my day to weigh-in to Friday morning, that might look a little better. Actually, this is a recent change where I started to do my weigh-in on Friday morning. The largest weeks to lose weight were August 21, September 18, September 25, October 1, and October 14. I am not sure why those days I lost more weight than other weeks. I know at some point I will have a period where I will gain weight or not lose anything at all. I am prepared mentally for those to occur and will not be discouraged.

I like how my clothes are fitting and I feel great! It is amazing what losing double digit pounds can do for my own internal image. It makes me feel great and I do not want to go back to the weight I was previously or how I felt when I was larger. I told someone recently that the largest I have been in my life was during 2020/2021 as I did nothing at all during that time except work, eat, drink, and sleep. I knew I had to do something when we started going back into work and my work clothes did not fit. Things had to change!

 So, I am off to a good start and a long way to go. I am enjoying exercising and I have things that keep me motivated. For me, that’s what it takes to keep me working out is to have motivation for the workout. For me, I like having an Apple Watch that tracks my workouts, heart rate, etc., so I can see that mapped out on my progress. The Weight Watchers app that tracks my weekly weight and let’s me know how I am doing also helps to keep me motivated. As I mentioned, I know that at some point I will have gains but hoping the losses are larger than the gains. I have to keep the motivation and encouragement to myself to keep this going.

As we move into winter months and it continues to get colder, I want to make sure I can run at least once a week. I am thinking about joining the Student Rec at Washburn again, but then I feel bad when I go months without using the gym. So, I am still thinking about it on whether I would want to join the gym just to be able to use the treadmill or weights. It is making sense to me and the cost is low, so I might do it at some point.

I will post another update around December/January, so hoping to still be positive and good news about my weight loss the next time. Until then, I will keep my bike riding, running, and walking to stay active.

Enjoy your workout and until next time, keep the workout going…

Exercise Not Happening After Getting Sick… Time to Motivate and Get Back to Riding

My working out came to an abrupt halt after I got sick from Covid. Yes, after a few years of not getting sick, I came down with Covid after Carrie returned from Houston. I picked her up from the airport on June 13 and by June 15 I was feeling lousy and tested positive for Covid with a home kit. The last time I did the bike was June 12. I worked from home from June 14 - 20 and I was back into the office on June 21. During that time while not feeling great, I did not ride at all.

While I went back to work on June 21, I did not feel like getting back on the bike for my normal Tuesday or Thursday rides. I decided I would take the rest of the week and get back on the bike starting June 26. It will feel good to be back on the bike and get back into the routine of riding on a regular basis once again. While I was out sick I went probably two days without eating a thing which means I lost weight during my time with Covid. I dropped to the lowest I have been in years although after being able to start eating again, I have gained that back, but it was good to see those lower numbers for a few days anyway while I was not feeling well.

While both Carrie and I were sick, Oliver took care of us. We were both in different bedrooms and Oliver would go back-and-forth between the two rooms sleeping for a bit in each room with us and keeping an eye on us. He was so ready for us to go back to work as we had been cramping his style around the house. He took good care of us and was a good snuggle puppy while we were not feeling well.

Hoping this is our last and only time with Covid. On Thursday, June 16, I slept all day long. I had my last fever on Saturday, June 18 and yet a week later I still feel pretty tired. I have no other symptoms other than a slight cough from being sick, but I am ready to get back on the bike and get back to my routine.

It is so easy to get out of the habit of working out whether it is from getting sick or other events happening during the week. Once I get out of the habit, it usually takes me a little while to get motivated to get back in the saddle and start working out again. I normally would do a live ride on Sunday at 11 am, but I think I will do a solo ride to get my mind back in the mode of working out and then I will plan to ride Tuesday and Thursday this week too. Back to my routine will be good and get my head straight.

Until next time, stay healthy and I will see you on the bike…

Relaxed Workout Schedule, Lots of Basketball, Baseball, and YouTube TV Guide Changes Looming

I am a little late on posting my Sunday posting. I usually try to do so during the week, or Saturday, and have it post by midnight Saturday night. Well, this week, other than posting a St. Patrick’s Day post, I did not get it done. It was a short work week for me as I took off of work Thursday half-day and Friday all day to watch basketball. It has been a fun few days off and lots of basketball. Plus, I get to connect with my sister, Dina, to discuss various games. We usually discuss the upsets or of course KU games are discussed, so it has been fun to watch, discuss, and cheer for games this weekend.

My exercising routine did not go well this week. I had planned to work out my regular three times this week, but as it turned out, I only got one workout in today (Sunday). The two earlier in the week never happened. We ended up going out for impromptu dinner Tuesday night when I was planning to ride and when we got back home, I did not feel like riding the bike. I already knew that my Thursday workout was going to be another day to schedule as I was taking off Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. So, I changed and planned to work out Friday morning before the games started, but I could not get motivated to get on the bike. Instead, I stayed in my lounge chair where I would sit for most of the day watching games. So, not a good week for working out which is not good, but hopefully with an hour long bike ride this morning on Sunday, I will get back into the swing of riding again.

MLB spring training started this past week, so I have been tuning into their games. I listened to the Royals spring training game on Friday which was fun (ended in a tie 5-5), but it was good to hear baseball again and hear familiar names of the Royals players. I have also been tuning into every Washburn baseball game to watch it on the MIAA network. There have been some fun games for Washburn baseball. Washburn baseball is 17-7 on the season, so they have been fun. Planning to get out to watch some of their home games here soon too.

I decided that I would not be buying the MLB.TV package from YouTube TV this year. I did it last year as it was the first time they had it, but other than being fun to watch other teams, it does not do a whole lot for me. I already buy the subscription for radio broadcast, so I can tune into any radio broadcast for MLB. The hope of having Royals back on YouTube TV is about gone. I do not see anyway for Royals to be on YouTube TV again.

Related to YouTube TV, I read an article today that Google is testing a new guide for YouTube TV subscribers. We have not picked up the new update yet, but I am excited to see what they do with the changes. An article from 9to5Google shows what some users are seeing in the testing. Some of the mentioned changes are things I have wanted since joining YouTube TV with being able to see descriptions without going to the show. So, I look forward to the change to rollout to our Roku systems.

For me, back to watching March Madness, streaming Washburn baseball, and watching the Royals later through my Mom’s Bally Sports account. Enjoy your Sunday and talk to you next week.

Progress Report for February 2022 Working Out... Did Better on Quantity but Dipped on Length

Another month down in 2022 and here is my status update for working out or more specifically riding my bike. February 2022 was really good for me with consistency of working out. I worked out twelve times throughout the month. I am still targeting Ally Love for my live events on Sunday mornings at 11 am CDT. I met every single Sunday with Love event for February with at least one going as long as one hour. It felt great and I love the energy Ally brings to the rides, so that helps to keep the process fun and new each week. Plus, she likes to change up the music and what we are doing each week, so that makes the rides fun and something I look forward to each week. Each time I have done one of her live classes that is an hour, I never look forward to the ride as it starts the hour long ride, but so grateful once I am finished. She helps to motivate and keep us focused on what we need to do during the ride.

During one such ride I hit a high of 337 for my for best output. This happened to be the 60 minute ride, so no wonder it beat all of my other outputs for February. Still, I had a good time and look forward to continuing the live rides in March too.

As I mentioned, I worked out consistently for 12 days through the month of February. I kept on my target days as planned except for the last week of the month, but sometimes it is needed to modify workout days if something else is happening on that particular day. I have had prior months where I had to change my target date for working out every day, so it was good to get my target dates in for workouts and not have to modify.

I still have plans that once the weather improves (i.e. no snow) that I will start running at least once a week to increase the workouts per week to four. I have not run in over a year, so I am looking forward to including that into my routine. The current plan is to introduce running on Saturday mornings which would mean I would be working out back-to-back days, but I think it will be good to do and help with my overall workout process.

One thing I did during February was to cut out all alcohol. I did not post about this previously or hint that I was going to do this during the month. It was primarily to see how much weight I would lose by not drinking beer or any liquor. Granted, I did without any beer through February, but I did not necessarily change what I ate. Which is to say that I was not eating great for most of February.  I went from 264 on February 1 to 258.2 on February 28. Not bad for only giving up beer, but I was hoping to be more. Carrie and I plan to further target our eating habits in the next week or so where I will once again limit what I drink, but more importantly what I put in my belly each week. I could tell I had lost a few pounds as clothes started fitting a little better, but still a long way to go for my health.

Reviewing my monthly stats are not too bad. I was hoping my average ride time was going to be higher for February, but it is right around 17 minutes per ride. I was hoping to be up around 30 minutes per ride, but while I got workouts in each time, I had some that were shorter than I had hoped as we were heading to places, other plans, etc., where I had to notify my planned ride. As I mentioned last month, I also usually do a cool down after each ride, so that helps to skew the numbers. 

I like that Peloton sends out these notices after the month is over to give a break down of how I did the prior month. To think that I biked 106.7 miles during February is a good feeling, but I think I can continue to increase these numbers as I continue my biking experience. Calories burned is interesting too int his monthly stats report. Of course that is offset by what I eat outside of cycling. During February, I did not do beer, or alcohol, but as I mentioned, I continued to not eat very well, so while I had 5,737 calories burned from bike riding calorie intake was not great during the month.

Something I keep saying I am going to try is to do portion control. I have a bad habit of eating everything on my plate when we go out to eat. I remember my parents when they would go out to eat, they would always split their plate or immediately do half and take the other half home. Good examples for me moving forward on my path to getting older and not able to lose weight as fast I did when I was younger.

Until next time, enjoy your bike rides and workouts…

Lanebreak from Peloton Announced on February 17 and My Experience with Lanebreak

Earlier this week, Peloton announced Lanebreak which is a new game mode that Peloton has offered to create a game mode for when doing bike ride. I tried the new Lanebreak on Thursday evening for my ride. It was a fun ride using the resistance knob to change lanes, it is a fairly easy process and allows for gathering points by changing the resistance knob to hit certain markers in the game. Turning to the left (less resistance) takes you to the left and turning the resistance knob to the right takes you to the right. Easy enough to follow and do the game. 

I started off on the easy mode to see how it would work. The first thing I noticed and later read on a 9to5Mac article was that Apple Watch could not be used for Lanebreak. The 9to5Mac article went on to say how silently Apple Watch had been removed from many of the workouts on Peloton except for those that are bike riding. As I mentioned, I went on a span of a few months where I was not using Peloton at all and then the past few months I have only done bike riding. Thus, I had not noticed that the Apple Watch had disappeared from weight lifting, meditation, jogging, etc. It seems like an odd thing to do especially when Peloton is struggling and there are discussions of being bought out by another company (i.e. Apple, Amazon, Nike, etc.). Especially for Peloton to remove the option quietly without any notice of the feature disappearing. 

Back to my experience on the Lanebreak feature. I did enjoy my ride and I had a good workout. It was fun because using the resistance knob to change lanes on the track, it took away that I was increasing or decreasing resistance. I was riding and realized I was going 115 with resistance at 45 or 50 and because I was playing a game, I did not realize I had it set so high or going so fast. There is a heads up display as shown on the Lanebreak blog site showing your resistance, speed, etc., but when playing the game the focus is not on those items and instead focusing on get points. Obviously, that is the point of the game.

I do enjoy using the bike with my Apple Watch, so I know that Lanebreak is in test mode as it said on the screen there might be bugs that I had to agree to before using Lanebreak. I am hopeful that at some point Apple Watch will be included in this new feature. For now, Lanebreak will likely be something I try once or twice a month, but for my regular workouts, I will continue to do “normal” bike rides on my Peloton.

Progress Report for January 2022 Working Out... Dipped a Little with Holidays... Reading and Biking

A pat on my back... I have been sticking to my regular workouts the past few weeks. In fact, in January, I worked out every week for my three workouts as I had planned. I did have to adjust days, but I was able to stick to my days and get the workouts done. I have no issue moving my workout days, so it worked out well. So far in February, I am off to a great start for this month.

I worked out a total of 13 days during January. I am feeling good on the bike and can ride for almost an hour without any discomfort. As the weather begins to change, I do intend to start walking/jogging at least once a week too. Hoping to start this new process in March or April. I really enjoyed jogging when I was doing so much of it not too many years ago. It felt good and I enjoyed the process. My dog, Oliver, enjoyed it too as he knew that the days I would run, he would get a walk. 

My best workout for January was a "Ally with Love" Feel Good Ride on January 23. I achieved my best output during the ride. I felt good throughout and did another workout following the 30 minute ride. The Sunday rides are almost always live rides for me while the other two days that I ride are typically recorded, scenic, or just ride sessions. I look forward to the live rides on Sunday and rode in the largest live group I have been a member of in early February with almost 10,000 people in the ride. It was fun and a lot of high fives throughout the ride to me and from me as I did my ride. It was fun!

You will usually find me on the bike on Sunday mornings at 11 am doing my live ride. Almost always with Ally Love although sometimes another instructor does the 11 am session, it usually is Ally Love. So fun and she keeps the energy of the workout, so it makes the whole process fun.

A further look at my monthly stats from January see I did a total of 22 workouts during January. I worked out for a total of 391 minutes in January for an average of 17.78 minute workout of my 22 workouts. Typically following a ride, I will do a five minute cool down, so the average is skewed a little with those extra workouts. If I take the days I worked out (13) and the 391, that comes out to an average of 30 minutes each workout... which is correct. As I have started February workouts, I have started to extend my workouts to 45 - 60 minutes although this sometimes depends on time or when I start the ride.

I like the total miles traveled of 98.3 and calories burned of 5,395 during January. I use my Apple Watch to monitor heart rate, so I think the calories burned are as accurate as possible. I feel good looking back on my stats from January and feel confident in my progress eleven days into February.

I continue to read while I bike which has been enjoyable. The main point is that I can read for 30 - 60 minutes and the riding of the bike while reading keeps me awake so I do not fall asleep while I ride. Reading while I bike has been a new task I started back in early January and I really enjoy the process. I typically read on the Tuesday/Thursday workout days leaving the live ride to focus on the instructor instructions.

On a side note, if you have not been watching the news, the Peloton brand is struggling. The brand has been struggling the past few months and it looks like they will be purchased by another company. So far the companies in the hunt of buying Peloton include Apple, Amazon, and Nike. It will be interesting to where Peloton is at in another few months. Peloton has a large following of customers and fans, so I do not think the brand will be broken but hopefully if it is purchased it will include new features or benefits.

Keep riding and see you in the bike routes...