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Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Broadcaster, musician, song writer, tea drinker and curry lover.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Day 15 (17)

Blustery and stormy today -- I kinda like it too. last night was a great sports evening with an excellent Game 1 of the World Series and the Blazers winning to go 2/2. Hurrah!
I got a bunch of vitamin tablets yesterday after discovering I'd misread one of my HCG "manuals" and I WAS allowed vitamin D after all, along with C, but only those two. Anyway, I've put that right and so I'm dosed up for the day and ready for whatever Thursday throws at me.
On the weight loss front, another quarter of a pound overnight, making the total after exactly two weeks to be 22.4 lbs.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

What money cannot buy

Be honest now, you thought with a title like that that this was going to be a really spiritual post. Well I'm sorry to disappoint you, but in fact I'm talking about...basketball!

The Miami Heat showed off their new superstar-laden line up in it's first meaningful match up last night, and I have to confess to a certain grim satisfaction at their defeat, even if it was to another team I do not like, the Celtics.

During the off season, the Heat got out the check book big time to bolster their line-up so they can now join the Celtics in boasting a "Big Three" of their own - Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and, of course, LeBron.

I'll be honest, I'm no fan of buying up all the talent to make up one big "super team". I've seen it happen over the years in soccer in the UK, starting with Manchester United in the late 80s and early 90s, shopping around with check book flapping in the breeze to grab all of Europe's top players at exorbitant prices. 


They were followed in the late 90s by Chelsea, and, to a lesser extent, Arsenal. As all of those teams discovered at first, having the talent is one thing, but getting them to actually play together takes time, and unless the club owner (who let's face it tends to be impatient and want an instant return on his considerable investments) realizes this, times can be a little tough at first.


Both Chelsea and Manchester United struggled initially to make any impact with their new superstar squads, but in recent times Chelsea have emerged as a team who not only have the cream of European soccer talent, but who also have spent time getting them to function as a team.


All this to say that while I have no doubt that the Heat will in time get it together, and probably spectacularly so, it is bound to take time. Despite this however, I personally cannot help feeling that buying in ALL the talent as a principle is not something I can get behind -- which is why I equally do not like the Celtics!


Now I'm sure you'll tell me that if my Washington Wizards, or my Liverpool FC in the UK EPL were to buy up a ton of the world's top players, and then be wildly successful, I'd be singing a different tune, and while that may be partially true, I still maintain that there is a certain hollowness in victories that are achieved by buying up all the talent, opposed to developing talent from younger players or even a youth program.


I realize that some of this might sound "holier than thou" but these are my honest feelings. Buying victory to me rings hollow, and nurturing it is more honorable. Trouble with that course of action is that it takes time, and these days we don't have the time or the money to wait.


To quote the Queen song. "I want it all, and I want it now."

Day 14 (16)

Brrr! It's a chilly one today! Well overnight the weight loss was 0.6 pounds - just over half a pound, bringing the total so far to 22.2 pounds, which for anyone following in the UK is 1 stone 8 1/4 pounds. Just about a week to go, and the initial target of 30 pounds is very do-able!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Day 13 (15) Report

Tuesday 26th - 9.30am:
So here's the skinny (hahaha, geddit..?!) on the overnight weight loss. 0.8 pounds lost, bringing the total lost to 21.6 pounds. Not too shabby!!!
Have a great Tuesday!!

Monday, October 25, 2010

HCG Day 12 (or is it 14...?)

Monday 25th - 9.15am: I'm even confusing myself here!! So this is the 12th day of the 500 calorie diet, and the 14th day since I started taking the drops. There!

After a VERY busy weekend, which saw an unforgettable worship concert by the Naz Saturday Night Band on Sunday night, the weight loss figures for yesterday are in. Loss was 1.2 pounds, making the total lost to date to be 20.8 pounds (or for those in the UK, 1 stone 6 pounds).

I suppose if I were looking for landmarks, this is the last full week I will be taking the drops. Next week I will take them up until Thursday, and then Thursday through Saturday I will continue the 500 calories but will be off the drops. This week though, it's full steam ahead!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

HCG Day 11

6.20am: Again just a short post today as I have to be at church soon :-(


Loss for yesterday was just small - 0.2 pounds - but the trend continues downwards at 19.6 pounds. Very encouraging. Have a great Sunday.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Day 10 Report

Just the briefest of reports today cause I overslept. lost a whopping 3.6 pounds yesterday - somehow - bringing total loss to 19.4 pounds. Wow!!!


Okay, gotta run!!!