Yet Another Inch and Momuntem Builds

When I started my diet, I didn’t think my weightloss target was realistic, but when I looked at my brother Rami, who maintained a very healthy body, I was always struck by envy, I don’t want to be as big as him, but I want to have as little fat as he does in his body, today my waist is 42″ and therefore I feel closer to my target.

I don’t feel bothered by my new eating habits, if anything, I feel refreshed, and the continous shrink in my size doesn’t hurt, although I now believe that I lost alot of fat, I would still like to see it on the scale.

Radi

Another Inch gone

This inch was much faster although I have changed nothing in my regimen, I think my body is getting sick of my continuous calorie watch and so decided to get there faster to help me out

It is fine by me and my waist is now at 43″, I’m feeling rather excited.

Radi

Shrinking Waist

Finally I’m convinced I lost some fat, I weigh myself far too many times to believe that I lost weight. I am convinced now, because my waist is a size 44″ and no longer a 45″ which took alot of actual weightloss, and most importantly sticking to the 8 glasses of water a day.

I am feeling positive that I’m on the slow right track to losing fat.

Radi

Waist Managment?

As you might have read here that I will be following a waist management strategy, which include not having your scale as your ultimate reference in checking how well you do on a diet, so I will not talk about my weight anymore unless I pass an important landmark.

My waist is 45″ inches measured at the belly button. That’s it, I said it!!

Wow, that’s alot!! I’m hoping for a 36, but my immediate goal is anything less than 40 which is were the trouble starts.

Radi

Terrorism or Lawful Warfare

I have been contemplating a thought about “terrorists” and “freedom fighters”, I read slightly up on the topic and still could not get to a definition that satisfied me and the accurately categorises what is present in our region.

I might go on a limb here but I will be working towards a personal definition using what data I can collect and to have the definitions legal under the Geneva conventions and the many international accords I saw about this, I will also look at the modern US definitions of “unlawful combatants” and try to point out where they are flawed in my opinion.

My every-8-day update, I lost two pounds this week, but it was because of certain unhealthy foods and because I didn’t keep a close eye, yet, I still lost what is thought by many dietitians to be the safe amount for continued weight loss.

Radi

Conscription in Jordan

I know that the government sent up legislation to the parliament and rumour has it that it will be passed unamended allowing the military to set their own terms.

I am ticked off at the government’s decision of reinstating the subscription in the military and for more than personal reasons:

1- They intend to allow the military to conscript young men with no age limit and no TIME limit (back to the 2 year limit, which is just awful)
2- People will be paid little or close-to-no money to serve, which can put a huge strain on the struggling middle class of Jordan who expect their children to help with the income.
3-The allocation of resources for such a program will put another burden on the shoulder of tax-payers, while it is hardly needed.
4- There is no provision in the law that allows conscientious objectors to have an exception. I refuse to be forced to learn how to handle weaponry and to be forced to fire them.
5- This is almost like using slave labouring, I am a pilot and unless they can offer me a job in my field of choice, I will not succumb.

I do understand that the government plans to train them in vocational courses, but that hardly has to be mandatory, many will tell you that government supplied education in the schools is far below acceptable standards and I do not think they will be providing me the top training available which I have sacrified a whole lot to earn.

I think every Jordanian in a time of peace has the choice to not learn weaponry, to work for minimum at least wage and especially in government establishments, and to choose a work field. Basic human freedoms are being breached here.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights states clearly

Article 23.

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, …

I would love to see the military officials in Jordan explain this, since they seem to be focusing on projecting it as no longer conscription but as “work training and assistance”, albeit forced training and assistance.

On a different note, I am very happy to announce that I lost 14 pounds in the last eight days, which is some sort of record, at least for me, with this current rate, I will loose my target of 64 pounds in no time (which I highly doubt).

Radi

Weight Loss and me

I read something wrote in 1999 at salon, it is the most hilarious, satirical -I hope- piece of writing I read in a while, and its has some -although twisted- truth to it, it also made me think of why exactly am I trying to lose weight.

I am trying to lose the weight because I have a pair of jeans that won’t fit me, I am trying to lose weight because I want to be able to walk without my right knee bugging me, and I trying to lose weight because I want to able to play sports against my kids and beat them. All the reasons most people have but one more. I am trying to lose the weight because I want to beat the odds, this is one thing from my father that I don’t want to copy. He died at 49 of a brain stroke, he had high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Everyone who tells me I remind them of my father or that I look like him makes me so happy. I also fear of leading an unhealthy life. 49 is just too young, I plan to retire at 50 and then do all the things I love.

I am very good at motivating myself and I hope that I will be able to keep going at my plans and maybe one day I will be able to quit smoking, but for now, I quit quitting. One task at a time.

Radi

Weight Loss

I reached an all-time high on the scale the other day, now I won’t tell you what I saw on it, but I want to follow a new approach to this whole thing, and I will add a note about its effectiveness every 8 days, I will be following the advices of Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen, I will read their book and follow it through as much as I can, given the limitations of Jordan.

I also have a target goal to reach, lets just say it’s 64 pounds away, which takes alot of determination.

The motivation came quite unexpectedly, an acquaintance of mine overheard me saying I was (my all-time low), he said “Yeah, I think I saw you then, didn’t you go to that Palestinian Bar-Mitzvah.”
I laughed so hard because I can take a joke, but I realized, I needed to control myself sooner rather than later.

Wish me luck

Radi