1. Lose 8 lbs

I've been working on this since the second week of September now and guess what! It needs to be updated to:

1. Lose 6 lbs.

As a prize for myself, I'm going to eat a whole chocolate cake. Just kidding. I'm getting myself a hoodie from Threadless- since it's Ziptember and that means free shipping to ANYWHERE (and that means even to Japan!). It's also a reward to myself for using my bike to commute to work, to training, to just about anywhere...Infinity MPG!

You can get one too here: Threadless Infinity MPG Hoodie

I know, I know. Wasn't the two pounds lost already a prize? YES, I should remember that. The goal is a prize in itself. I'm excited to get to January and to feel super proud of myself. I'm not sure what I'll look like but I'll know that I'll be at the lowest weight I can ever remember being at (though my memory is pretty poor). I have a few pictures of inspiration but I don't think just losing 8 pounds is going to quite get me to this:

Satoko Shinashi: MMA Fighter

To be honest, I don't feel like I'm working that hard. (Let's see how I feel at the end of October when I'm sure I'll plateau and not be able to get my monthly goal of losing 1kg and I'm kicking myself for not trying harder.) I run just about every other day. I have BJJ class three times a week and naginata twice a week. I'm doing my pushups. But I've been doing this stuff for awhile without much of a change.

I think the real reason is my diet and changing the way I think about food. I don't think I have a "bad diet." But little changes like eating a bowl of yogurt with chocolate rice puffs every morning instead of fried egg on rice help. It's probably less in calories, probably a little more nutritious and curbs my chocolate craving first thing in the morning! Also, it's so easy for me to just keep piling more rice in my bowl but with the yogurt, I am more careful with portions. I don't know why. I just am. I think it's the whole "health food" state-of-mind.

I've also been eating maitake mushroom in at least one meal a day. My friend told me about that he saw on TV that it helps with weight loss (Japanese diet fads!) but I actually did some research and what it does is help control your sugar level which in turn decreases hunger. The maitake mushroom is just great for your health in general. I also snack a lot more- I have something salty for elevensies (the kids at school have snacktime at 11 so I actually get my first hunger pang around that time too) and then something when I get home like a fruit. I eat very little at night now too. Before I used to think "Well, I'm going to train soon so I better load up on calories/energy." But I've stopped that way of thinking and replaced it with "Still have more leftover calories to burn from the day so I better fight hard!"

Anyway, I don't think it should be hard. My goal is 1kg a month. That's only 2.2 pounds. I think it's extremely realistic if I am smart about my diet choices and if I continue my ninja warrior training.

A Life Journal

I'm a little iffy about restarting a personal blog...especially because I can't seem to consistently post. But I do think I've at least got a direction with my "100 things to do" list and I don't see why I should drag my feet about this. Anyway, here's to beginnings and seeing how things unfold.

I am a book...

And these will be my pages...I've been meaning to start up another personal blog. I know...ANOTHER ONE?! Well, what makes this one different? Probably not much. But I just keep thinking: Wouldn't it be great to have a place to write (type) that all down and remember it? So in this blog you'll get to see my past and my present and maybe a little bit of a future.

Who am I?

Well, you'll see...I'm a book.