Medifast Diet - Week 6

Week 6 is in the books, and it was the my second best week for weight loss. How good was it? I lost 7 pounds this week. I am very pleased with that success, and with my overall weight loss of 35 pounds in 6 weeks.

This past week plus a bit was the start of my exercise regimen. As I mentioned last week, I was exercising to the DVD, Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred. After that workout I would go for a walk to cool off. I did this routine for eight days straight and took a break on Saturday. The Fourth of July was a busy day for V and I, and doing these exercises just did not make the itinerary. There was a very noticeable improvement by the eight day, my endurance has measurably improved and I have made measurable progress.

On Sunday I worked out to the Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones DVD. This is a 40 minute circuit training workout that will kick your rear. Jillian Michaels is a daemon after all. Half way through the program my mind was telling me that I had done enough, that I could work my way up to the full 40 minutes a day at a time. Three quarters of the way through the routine I had decided that Jillian truly was a daemon and was cursing her under my breath. When Jillian announced that we were through, I was surprised it was over. I have recruited my shooting mat for duty as an exercise mat. It is a good thing those things are water proof because it was soaked.

I don't much like exercising, but I really do like the results. V is also liking the thinner me.

Another who is liking the results of the weight loss is my Pulmonologist. At last weeks appointment, not only was my weight down, but so was my resting heart rate and blood pressure.

I do apologize for the major reduction in blogging of late, but it is important that I focus on getting fit and trim. I will try to make the posts that I do publish worth your while and it really won't be long before I am back at it full time.

Governor Perry, Senator Hutchison, and EBR's

The 2010 Governor's race here in Texas is already heating up. Our Senior Senator, Kay Bailey Hutchison, has decided to challenge Governor Rick Perry in the Republican Primaries next year.

This is exciting. Two very popular politicians running for the same position should make for some good politics.

Reader Jay from Houston sent a link to an AR15.com thread with images of Governor Perry at LaRue Tactical. Like Mark LaRue says, "Bet our Texas Governor can out shoot y'all's Governor".

Here is Governor Perry being spotted by Todd Hodnett as he shoots 1/2 MOA groups.

Here is a close up of Governor Perry's form on the bench.

Seems our Governor likes to shoot EBR's. The fact that he can shoot sub MOA groups shows that his range time includes more than just photo ops.

What does Kay Bailey think about EBR's and EBR owners?

The following video was clipped from a presentation at the Heritage Foundation concerning an individual right to keep and bear arms. Even though Senator Hutchison joined with fifty-four other senators, 250 representatives, and Vice President Cheney to submit an amicus brief in favor of Heller in the SCOTUS DC v Heller case, she still supports an Assault Weapons Ban.

This one statement shows just how far off the mark she is with her definition of an individuals right to keep and bear arms. I have comments on this issue previously, and have contacted her office concerning these remarks. I know for a fact that at least one member of her staff is reading this blog and knows of our concerns over this issue. The Senator's response so far has been less than adequate.

There will be more to come comparing and contrasting the records of both these politicians concerning our right to keep and bear arms.

Sorry about the quality of the video. I somehow got the sound track a couple seconds off track from the image. I'll continue to tinker with it and see if I can get it right.

Girls and Guns, The Playmate Edition

Playboy Cyber Girl of the Year, Sharae Spears, hits the gun range with the head of Playboy security.

I had been called a straight shooter before, but until this year it had a different meaning. In March I shot a gun for the first time, and it has since become one of my favorite hobbies...

It looks like they did a good job with her on the safety fundamentals. There was one brief finger on the trigger issue early on, but all in all she was very safe.

I would have thought that the head of security for an organization as large and diverse as Playboy would be a much better shot. I guess that is why management manages and the boots on the ground take care of taking care of business.

For more on this shoot, and Sharae Spears, head on over here (first link is safe for work, after that you are on your own).

Medifast Diet - Week 5

I have now officially been on this diet for over a month, five weeks of sticking strictly to the plan. I have to tell you that I am very glad that I made this decision. I lost another 4 pounds this last week for a total of 28 pounds lost. Medifast really does work.

I received the exercise DVD's in the mail last week and got to work on Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred. You know, when I was in the Navy we would watch exercise videos quite often. Not for the exercise, but for the eye candy. Watching beautiful women jump around in leotards was great entertainment during breakfast a couple hundred feet below the waves. Things are quite different when you are actually following along in your living room.

The "30 Day Shred" routine is a 20 minute daily workout. Only 20 minutes? Heck, I can do anything for 20 minutes. I'm a big guy, I can pick up heavy things and move them "over there". This should be a piece of cake.

It probably would be a piece of cake, if, Jillian Michaels were not the devil. This woman packs more into a 20 minute workout than an hour or so of working out in a gym. The first day she finished with me I was jello, my legs just did not want to hold my body up any longer. I went for a quick 10 minute walk after the work out just to get a full 30 minutes of exercise in, and for the first 50 or 60 yards or so it was an effort to keep my feet going in a straight line. She is one tough cookie.

Each day the routine gets easier, my recovery time gets shorter, and my after workout walk gets longer.

It is time to get, Jillian is waiting to get started with our next 20 minute session.

Our Weekend Project

Last weekend I found this garden bench at an estate sale for $8.00.


A couple cans of spray paint, new wood and stain turned it into a nice addition to our back yard furniture.

Cindy and the Breast Cancer 3-Day

Hopefully a few of you have noticed the "Support Cindy" banner on the sidebar. You may have asked yourself "Who is this Cindy person?" and "What the heck is a Breast Cancer 3-Day?".

Cindy is a daughter through our extended family. She is fighting a very hard battle against Cancer, and with the Lord's help she is persevering. There is something about Cindy that makes her truly special, she just glows with an energy that is hard to describe. If you want to learn more about Cindy and her fight with Cancer, you can visit her website here.

Today Cindy sent out an email asking for help with the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk:

Please join me as a I walk to put an end to Breast Cancer

As most of you know, in January of this year I learned my cancer had spread/metastasized from my breast to my liver. The doctors were not at all very optimistic about a cure. Well, during my many stays in the hospital and my time at home being sick during January, February, and March, I kept seeing the TV commercial for the Komen 3 Day Walk that is going to take place in Dallas November 6-8, 2009. After seeing the commercial several times, I decided that was going to be my goal to get through all of this treatment torture. I was and am still bound and determined to make it to November to walk 60 miles in 3 days to help find a cure to this awful disease of cancer. So, I took the plunge and made the commitment and I am now an official registered walker…YEA!!!

I will be walking with a team called the Texas Longlegs, along with thousands of other women, and men too. I have several friends on other walking teams as well and we are all in this together…to make a difference. As part of my commitment as a walker, I agreed to raise $2,300 in donations. However, since I have the greatest friends and the best supporters who have been through this breast cancer journey with me, I decided to set my goal at $5,000 in donations. I have no doubt in my mind that God is going to provide, even in this troubled economy, and together we will reach this goal. So, please consider making a donation of any amount…even $10. If I get 50 people to give $10, that’s $500, and THAT will make a difference somewhere. As you consider the amount you would like to donate, please keep in mind how far I will be walking…60 MILES in 3 days (YIKES!)…and how hard I'll have to train to finish all those 60 MILES. I started training back in April and will continue to train through the hot months, even while I continue my chemo treatments too.

The easiest way you can give is online. Just follow this link to visit my personal fundraising webpage and make a donation. You can also call 1-800-996-3DAY to donate over the phone. All donations will support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, approximately 200,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and nearly 40,000 will die from the disease. I REFUSE to be one of those 40,000. That's why I'm walking so far…to do something bold about breast cancer. I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.

From the depths of my heart, THANK YOU soooooooooooooo much in advance for your generosity and donation! It means a LOT to me…more than words can ever express!!


God Bless!

Cindy

Cindy Semple


P.S. Ask your employer if they will double your donation through a matching gift program!


Click here to visit my personal page.

I would very much appreciate it if you would help Cindy reach her goal of raising $5000 to support this outstanding cause.

If you can not help out now, the banner will be on the side bar through the walk so you can give at any time.

Medifast Diet - Week 4

Another week down and another week closer to a thinner and healthier JR.

Last week I mentioned that I was going to "...to start working exercise back into my weekly routine". Well I did get a start on that goal.

A year or so ago I purchased Semper Fit: The Marine Corps Workout at an Army/Navy type surplus store. Last week I finally took the wrapper off the DVD and got ready to work out.

Ummm... guess what? My old fat body just ain't quite ready for the Marine Corps Boot Camp Workout. I can do the stretching exercises, and the calisthenics will be doable with a little work. Trying to keep up with the circuit course is a killer.

So for now I will be going with something a little more my speed. The Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred, the Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones, and a "boot camp" workout a bit more fitting for where I am at right now - The Biggest Loser: The Workout - Boot Camp.

Week four was another successful weight loss week. I lost another 4 1/2 pounds for a total of 24 pounds in four weeks.

What is even cooler is that I can once again wear my wedding ring. It has been quite awhile since my ring fit my ring finger. When we went out, I would wear it on my pinkie finger. I am really kind of pumped that I can wear my wedding ring on the correct finger again.

From the TSRA

The "War on Gunz in Mexico" is starting to hit home.

From the TSRA:

June 22, 2009 - FFLs and purchasers of "certain types" of firearms in Texas are being scrutinized by BATF due to the gun smuggling into Mexico.

Dear John,

In Border States, BATFE Asks: "May We See Your Guns?"

Friday, June 19, 2009

NRA-ILA has recently received several calls from NRA members in border states who have been visited or called by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In some cases, agents have asked to enter these people's homes, and requested serial numbers of all firearms the members possess.

In each case, the agents were making inquiries based on the number of firearms these NRA members had recently bought, and in some cases the agents said they were asking because the members had bought types of guns that are frequently recovered in Mexico.

This kind of questioning may or may not be part of a legitimate criminal investigation. For example, when BATFE traces a gun seized after use in a crime, manufacturers' and dealers' records will normally lead to the first retail buyer of that gun, and investigators will have to interview the buyer to find out how the gun ended up in criminal hands. But in other cases, the questioning may simply be based on information in dealers' records, with agents trying to "profile" potentially suspicious purchases.

On the other hand, some of the agents have used heavy-handed tactics. One reportedly demanded that a gun owner return home early from a business trip, while another threatened to "report" an NRA member as "refusing to cooperate." That kind of behavior is outrageous and unprofessional.

Whether agents act appropriately or not, concerned gun owners should remember that all constitutional protections apply. Answering questions in this type of investigation is generally an individual choice. Most importantly, there are only a few relatively rare exceptions to the general Fourth Amendment requirement that law enforcement officials need a warrant to enter a home without the residents' consent. There is nothing wrong with politely, but firmly, asserting your rights.

If BATFE contacts you and you have any question about how to respond, you may want to consult a local attorney. NRA members may also call NRA-ILA's Office of Legislative Counsel at (703) 267-1161 for further information. Whether contacting a local attorney or NRA, be sure to provide as many details as possible, including the date, time, and location, agent's name, and specific questions asked.

Copyright 2009, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action.


Sincerely,

Alice Tripp
Texas State Rifle Association
Legislative Director

Just remember - No warrant, no entrance.

Now that the meme that Americans are responsible for the Drug Gang Violence in Mexico has been such a successful propaganda tool, no matter what the evidence proves, the Antis are now starting to blame us for the violence in Jamaica.

David Codrea reports that U.S. guns blamed for Jamaican crime. At least they are not blaming Texas this time.

How long until the BATF comes knocking on your door, asking to see all the firearms you have legally purchased via an FFL?