My exercise routine was very thin this week. I need to make it a goal to do something active for at least 30 minutes every single day. I can’t always count on the weather cooperating, especially in the winter, with me wanting to get outside. The only exercise I got this week was 1 session of basketball and 1 session of P90X. My goal for this week is to fill in the gaps of my week with a little something active each day.

I’ve lost 2lbs. this week which means I now weigh 208lbs. I’m happy with this number. I’m not happy I missed my goal but last week I said I wanted to be 207 and I’m 208 – no reason to cry over a pound or to get discouraged. Instead, I’ll make a plan of attack for this week to reach my goal of losing 3.3lbs per week.

You see, each pound I lose represents about 3,500 calories burned or simply not consumed during the course of the week. That is, if my metabolism is working correctly. Right now my body is reacting to the fact that I’m eating less and on a schedule. When my weight began to drop my body through up an alarm tell it to store some fat because obviously food isn’t coming by as easily as it had before. So, my metabolism is slower this week than it was last week (in theory I’m no doctor).

So what is my plan? Besides the 30 minutes (at least) per day of something active I need to jump start my metabolism again. For the first few weeks on this diet I’ve been eating at a regular schedule – 8am, 12pm, and 5pm. This week I’m going to double the amount of times I eat (but eat only small amounts). This will make my body think that I have a ready supply of food and that there is no need to store fat. I hope.

A few other tactics that I’m going to try is to increase my water intake. By drinking the right amount of water every day you actually burn more calories. I think it has something to do with your cells being able to take in energy and getting rid of energy easier if they have the right amount of water. Also, getting enough sleep can help you to lose weight. My sleep schedule this week wasn’t great. I’m going to see if I can get 8hrs. a night this week.

With all of these small adjustments combined: eat more often but the same number of calories, do something active for at least 30 minutes per day, drink the right amount of water, and get a good night’s rest – I know I’ll meet or beat my goal for next week. That is, to be at 205lbs.

No, I will not link to nor mention Double Rainbow simply because it is pertinent. Crap.

(Taken with a SeaLife SL320/SL32.)

Something a little, different – or maybe random – for today’s Random 60. I saw this interesting facts about water list and I figured I’d share my favorites for no other reason than because I think water is awesome.

Are you a fan of water?

I have no idea what the criterion for such a contest is but the results are absolutely stunning. The winner, Cheng Slu Wai from Hong Kong (pictured above), is without a doubt gorgeous but how does one possibly make the call?

Also interesting to note that most of the top entries were from Japan with Vietnam and Taiwan also being strongly represented. Only one from the United States.

Source: The International Aquatic Plant Layout Contest Results 2008.

Date taken: September 30, 2008 | Eliza wanted to test out her new waterproof camera. Andrew and I helped her out. All photos credit: Eliza Devroe.

Weather has been good so far. Nearly empty beach. Perfect.

Date taken: June 2003 | Left: American Falls. Right: Canadian Falls (Horseshoe Falls). An amazing amount of water falling over an ever-eroding cliff.

The Lackawanna River while on my walk today.

Date taken: August 17, 2008 | Gondola rides in the Venetian. This is indoor.

Date taken: August 17, 2008 | The fountains in front of Arc de Triumph at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.  To the right; the Bellagio Hotel.

Date taken: August 23, 2008 | Trees dying in a swamp.

Date taken: August 17th, 2008 | Impressive. Most impressive. A display set to music.

Date taken: July 18, 2008 | Seneca Lake Marina in Watkins Glen, New York at night.

I was wrong about the marsh, but I was able to get a few good photographs anyway.

But, that’s ok.  I fully expect to be wrong now and then.  I spent maybe only about 30 minutes pushing through some thick brush in order to get to the place I wanted to be to find nothing but a small trickle of a stream.  I’ll get over it.

Hmmm, where to shoot next?  Maybe it will be a good spot, maybe not – but I’ll keep trying regardless.

Maybe it is usable later in the day.

Date taken: September 26, 2007 | Set it and forget it.

Date taken: March 23, 2002 | A view across the world.

Normally, we get hit with flooding a few times a year. Nothing severe usually, since much of the area I live in is thousands of feet above sea level. However, the portions of our area which are in valleys and at the base of large mountains, really end up suffering.

This past week or so, it has been raining non-stop, and very very hard. Imagine a really bad afternoon thunderstorm that rains so hard that leaves come off the trees, limbs break off of trees, and eventually the entire tree comes down. Then, make that stretch on for five days. That is what we’ve been dealing with.

This flood is causing considerable damage, is starting to take lives, and is forcing people out of their homes. I am not sure of the death toll yet, but I think it is near six individuals so far, and it is bound to increase for those that can not evacuate as the run-off continues to flow into the large rivers.

On the fourth day, while the Internet was down here in my area and the rain happened to stop for about seven minutes, I decided to head outside with my video camera to show how much water was pouring off our little mountain. Suffice to say that our area feeds into a slightly larger stream, which leads to a tributary which leads to a river, etc. The people in the low areas, at the end of this line, are the ones that are truly suffering.

Video: Summer Flooding | View on Google Video

I’m releasing this video via BitTorrent. If you do not know how to use BitTorrent, you can read the BitTorrent FAQ & Guide. In a few days I’ll probably release the raw .mov file, but to help with the strain on my host, I am only releasing it this way right now.

If you do download the file via BitTorrent, please consider seeding the file for about three days, as that is how long it generally takes people to get to each of my posts.

A note about the video: For some odd reason, I said “I do not pity those in Sri Lanka”, and that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I believe I meant to say that I do not envy them, or that I do indeed pity them.

Update: I tried to upload the video to YouTube to share with everyone, but the video is about one minute too long, so it was rejected. Pfft. Please let me know if you have any trouble getting the video via BitTorrent.

New Torrent: I updated the torrent a little. If you were having trouble, refresh this page, and download a fresh copy of the torrent. Thanks to those seeding!

Flood photos: Although I wasn’t able to take any photos of the flood, others have.

Google Video: For those of you that have not yet downloaded the video, you can view it on Google Video now. The torrent will remain seeded for the rest of the day. Otherwise, view it on Google by clicking the link or the preview image above.

[tags]video, bittorrent, floods, flood, pennsylvania, clifford, northeast, summer floods, rain, water, river, stream, pond, colindevroe[/tags]