Most people track their weight gain or weight loss by the numbers on a scale.  Imagine this scenario: you weigh yourself but to your horror, the scale shows 160lbs.  Stop right there!  Let’s go on a field trip to the moon.  Once on the moon you jump on the scale, and obviously, you weigh less.  Did your appearance change? Do your clothes fit better? What is the reason for this, if the scale shows a lower number?  The fact is a scale measures your body under the control of gravity. It can’t distinguish if you’re losing water, muscle (which diets do quite effectively), or fat.  So why judge your progress on something that can’t possibly tell you how much fat you’ve lost?

At this point it seems the right thing to do is to have your body composition measured (body fat percentage). Well, hold on a second. The problem with body composition tests is that they’re not 100% accurate. Don’t misunderstand; Read the rest of this entry

Here is an article that I wrote back in 2007 (yeah that long ago!) I believe for my good friend Ernest as a recommendation for cycling.  It’s interesting for me to read the stuff that I wrote a long time ago and wonder at the timid and fearful write that I was.  I have added a couple of my comments (they are in the italics called Dan’s note) where I reflect back on what was partially honest or tainted by my limitations and fears.  I feel that I have come a long way in those areas yet the underlying message is still a strong one for me, so I share it with you here.

Dan’s Cycling Confessions

What has cycling done to make my life better?  Oh, let me count the ways!  Weight loss, cardiovascular strength, muscle building, more energy, stronger immune system, and the list goes on and on and on without even touching on the ascetic aspects of riding a bike (seeing nature first hand, exploring neighborhoods, meeting passionate people, etc).

Let me give you a bit of my history Read the rest of this entry

About a year ago the brakes on my IROC weren’t working so well. Needless to say this was a bit of a problem. In an attempt to save some money (I’m convinced that taking your car to a shop just allows them to rip you off) I decided to do the work myself. No sweat, right? I’ve worked on cars for the past several years doing minor things.

I did a little bit of research online and figured I’d go down to the local Auto Zone and purchase the parts needed to fix my problem. Sixty-five dollars later I was back in my driveway changing out the master cylinder (the thing that holds the brake fluid). For a competent car mechanic it may have taken them all of 20 minutes to change it out, but though I’ve worked on cars before, I’ve never been necessarily mechanically inclined. What should have taken 20 minutes, wound up consuming the better part of my day.

Nonetheless, I finished and was ready to take it for a test drive. Well, wouldn’t you know the problem persisted? I was lucky that the car could even stop from a 5 mph roll. Read the rest of this entry