For Nash

On June 3rd, my son Nash will be graduating from Carver Elementary and moving on to Huntington Middle School. While that's nearly 3 months away, the yearbook committee recently requested that each parent write a congratulatory note for their child to be included in the upcoming yearbook. 

That note is due today. 

Because I tend to be long-winded, only a portion of this note will make it into the yearbook. However, when Graduation Day arrives and my son walks across that stage, THIS is the note that I will tearfully place into his hands...


Nash,

Your mother and I are so proud of the man you are becoming... 

And it has nothing to do with your grades, how many trophies you bring home, or how popular you turn out to be. 

You have proven to be a man of integrity. You truly care about others, and have a heart for those who can’t help themselves.

Whatever you may achieve in this life, know that our love for you will not ever change, for we couldn't be any prouder of you than we already are. 

So as you go forth in whichever direction you choose, I give you permission to take chances. I give you permission to try new things and walk different paths. And most importantly, I offer you the unlimited opportunity to make mistakes, and the freedom to fail...  

While we’re excited for the things you’ll do and Oh, the places you’ll go, know that the only thing that matters, is the person you are and the character you show.

New Workout Space

Well, the first house project of 2015 is complete.


While it may not look like it at first, this is my new workout room. OK, workout/multi-media/man room. No doubt, the room ended up much more sophisticated than I had previously planned. I want to call it the "Smoking Room," but I don't smoke, or the "Whisky" room, but I very rarely drink anymore... 


Now that the room is complete, I find myself spending much more time in this room than I had originally thought. The room turned out to be the perfect retreat for me, packed with a lot of function.

Feel free to drop in and hang with me anytime, but you'll have to bring the whisky...





The Opening Shot...



Some might remember these chairs. These are the chairs I saved from Goodwill about 2 months ago. With some elbow grease and quick instructions from YouTube, these now look fantastic. Worn in just enough to tell stories, but nice enough to shine.









So yes... I do workout here. I probably workout here 3 times a week in the mornings.



My favorite routine... Especially #4 and #5.







I originally had artwork hanging here, but it didn't make sense, so I bought a picture ledge to display some of my vinyl collection as art. I love how this looks...



Madonna, Oingo Boingo, Tears For Fears



REM, U2, The Smiths








I actually was in a band in high school... OK, I was really only one of the backup singers. - A proud member of The Hello Kitty Korus.



Etch A Sketch



View from the other side... Here is *most* of my music and movie collection.






One of my prized possessions... An Eames molded plywood chair from the Mid Century Modern era.  Ain't it beautiful?



Overall, I'm very pleased the way this room turned out. It has become way more than a "Workout Room" to be sure. I now use it as music room, quiet room, reading room, and generally just an escape I can go to when life starts moving too fast...


On to the next project.

Stand-Up Desk

I sit way too much...

I sit down to eat.

I sit down to read.

I sit down to watch "American Ninja Warrior" on TV.

It's not an exaggeration to say that 80% of my entire existence is spent in either a "full upright position" or a reclined one...

And while there are many time sucking vampires competing for my "ass time," there is no doubt that the bulk of my time spent in a seated position, is in front of the computer.

If you've followed along on my journey from "Fat" to "Overbearing Health and Wellness Geek," you know that I'm always looking for new ways to improve my overall health and to stay more active. With that in mind, I've been toying with the idea of a Stand-Up Desk for almost a year now. The benefits of a Stand-Up Desk being:

*Better posture and putting your body into a more natural ergonomic position.

*Less stress on the body and less repetitive stress injuries.

*Increased energy and a general active position in which to work, think, and perform optimally.

There are additional benefits to be sure, but at the end of the day, I just knew I was much too sedentary for my own liking...

A couple of weeks later, I ran into an article on Lifehacker how others were able to modify their existing desks to accommodate a standing position. Buying a new Stand-Desk was much too pricey of an option, but if others could build their own Stand-Up Desks, why couldn't I?  The desk I currently own is solid, functional, and fits the space perfectly.  I just somehow needed to make it...taller.

I won't get into all the nitty gritty, but this is the basic list of all the items I needed to get this job done correctly:

11 inch Concrete Piers (Home Depot)
Sweat
Patience
Towel to wipe sweat

Other than that, the whole process took me one full day from going to Home Depot, cleaning out the office, re-positioning the concrete piers and desk, and finally, a bit of redecorating.

It's been a few months now, and I couldn't be more pleased with how my "New Office" turned out. Sometimes my feet do get a bit weary towards the end of the day, but to remedy that, I purchased an appropriate height bar stool for when that becomes a problem. Now, I always have the option to sit or stand as I so choose...

Even as I type this, I am standing at my new Stand-Up Desk and I love it.

 Is it right for you? Who knows...

All I know is that I now spend less of my time sitting on my posterior. I spend less time in front of the computer. And therefore, I spend more time doing "real life." In my book, that's a win...

Halloween Stories

Yesterday was Halloween. But this time, instead of a bag full of candy,  I believe I received so much more than Snickers Bars...

I had previously shared these 2 stories on Facebook, but they had received such a positive reaction, that I thought I would post them up on my blog as well.  Take a look and see why Halloween 2013 was so special this year.

 Halloween story #1

In this blurry photo, it appears my kids are taking candy from a bowl left out on the doorstep. However, this would prove not to be the case. Let me explain...

On Halloween night, the Wong kids are out trick or treating like everybody else when they come upon this house. They walk up to the front door where a bowl is left out, but the candy is long gone. "There's no more candy!" they shout, so I tell them to just move along to the next house.

But that's not what they do...

My kids then huddle around the bowl and start chattering amongst themselves.  At this point, I'm starting to wonder why it's taking so long.  It finally dawns on me what my kids are up to, and I quickly snap this photo.

The photo doesn't show my kids taking candy from the bowl...

What they were doing was "re-filling" the bowl with their own candy they had collected that night.

When they were finished, I asked Nash why they did that and he replied, "Dad, can you imagine if a kid starts off his night trick or treating at this house?  He would be so disappointed." 

Then he ends with this, "Tonight is a special night. And it should be special for everybody..." 

OK, here's the BONUS story...

So, the Wong kids walk up to another random house to trick or treat.  They collect their goods and then sprint back to me excitedly.

"Dad! They are giving out HEALTHY candy!" I am of course incredibly skeptical so I ask if I can see the object of their excitement. Nash hands me the candy and says, "See, it's a HEALTH BAR." After inspecting the merchandise, I could only put my head in my hands and kindly reply,

"Dude, that's a HEATH BAR, not a HEALTH BAR... Big difference."

Wrapping up...

Any parent would agree that we all think the world of our own kids.  But I have to say,

My kids surprised me tonight.

They not only surprised me with their random act of selflessness, they impressed me with their heart for others.

My kids are good kids.

And I couldn't be prouder...

 

Kyle's Before and After (114 lbs lost, w/pics)

This post has been a long time coming.

This is something I should have done months ago.

But I was afraid.

I was embarrassed.

And frankly, I don't think I had near the strength of character, nor the courage of conviction needed to tell people the truth...

The Truth is that I have struggled with my weight for almost all of my adult life.

The Truth is that in 2009, I had ballooned out to 278 pounds.

The Truth is that during that period of my life, my chest hurt, my feet ached, and the only thing heavier than my body, was my heart...

But the funny thing about truth, is that it often has 2 sides.

The flip side of Truth began on June 10, 2009.

It was then I made the commitment to Change My Life.

And every day since then, I have worked toward THIS moment, THIS day.

Today is October 24, 2012. 

And on this day,

The Truth is that somehow through the grace of God, I have managed to lose 114 pounds.

The Truth is that I now weigh 164 pounds which is also what I weighed in college.

The Truth is I now have a new life, and a very real future to look forward to.

Which leads me to the most difficult part of this post...  Just the thought of posting "Before and After" pictures makes me break out in hives, but I want the people in my life to know the truth. The whole truth.  And not just the bits that make me look good.

I do this also, because I owe a debt...  I am indebted to every one of those brave souls who posted "Before and After" pictures of themselves before me.  I used those pictures.  I used those stories.  I used that determination to fix my own life.

So, to those people who put their embarrassment aside and fought the good fight.  Thank You...

I pay it forward that others might come after me...

"Before"

So this is the first picture of me in the "Before" stage.  I'm not sure of the exact date, but I'm guessing March of 2009.  I remember this moment vividly as it was all I could do to move to the center of the boat as to not capsize...

Side profile picture

This picture is The Absolute Worst Shot of me that I could find and had not yet burned...  I find it a cruel, but fitting irony that in this picture, I am in jail.  And I am in jail not only by myself, but I have locked up my kids right along with me.  Powerful stuff...  Sad, but undeniably powerful.

OK.  Let's move on shall we?

"After"



I had a friend take a few pictures of me about 2 weeks ago.  These are pretty matter of fact pics.  Just me in a T-shirt and jeans, as it should be.



Side profile picture

My parting shot is a picture my wife took of me on her birthday.  For the occasion, we got dolled up and had Sunday Brunch at the Langham Hotel.  It was a great day.

I want to take a moment to post some stats

Kyle

Age 45

Height 5' 7"

Starting Weight 278

Current Weight 164 (-114)

Start date: June 10, 2009

Elapsed Time (reached goal weight between 2 1/2 years to 3 years)

Diet: Eventually, I learned to eat better and smarter.  I didn't follow any specific food plan (ie. Jenny or Weight Watchers). I just focused on eating a real whole foods diet that emphasizes Quality, not Quantity.

Exercise:  Started out with just walking, then gradually moved to weight training and functional movement. I don't exercise with the expressed purpose of "burning calories." I don't exercise to make my body smaller. I exercise to make my body better, stronger, faster, so I can be ready for the road ahead.

Resources:  Google, The Calorie Myth by Jonathan Bailor, Everyday Paleo, The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson, JillFit, and the Metabolic Effect.

I do want to thank some people.  My wife Lily of course, who would stand by my side at whatever weight.  Also, Dad, Emiri, Jimmy, Howard, Bryant, Joel, Keri, Kristen, Phyllis, Annie, Linda, The Frosts, Kirk and Stephanie, and any others who have supported me on this journey.  Thank You...  I owe you my life.  Really...

So, ladies and gentlemen, that is my life in Technicolour...  I want to end this without being preachy or the need to be profound so let me just say this,

Losing 114 pounds is certainly a big change.  But the real change happened, not in my muscles, nor in my abs.  It happened in my heart...

If you ever find yourself in a situation like mine whether it's weight loss or anything else, and you can't imagine where to begin,

Start by putting Belief in your heart.  Belief that you can do this.  Belief that you are worth the time and the effort. 

Let it take root.  Care for it.  Water it.  And it WILL grow. 

And I will cheer for you every step of the way...

Grant and Ginger

Of all the small public parks that polka dot Pasadena, Grant Park has always been one of my favorites.  Myself, with a handful of other CPK have been frequenting this spot for years. 

(CPK?  I guess I should explain that...  While the acronym is most known for California Pizza Kitchen, it is also a term I've coined for Cool Parents with Kids)

OK, now that we've clarified the terminology... Let me continue.

My kids and I had dropped by Grant Park recently when I noticed all the new changes happening over at Eddie's Market.  Eddie's had forever been the typical neighborhood corner store that in the past, you would go with your friends to buy Pop Rocks, and the likely place where your Uncle Bill would buy smokes against Auntie Annie's wishes...

Through the years, I had always longed for Eddie's Market to be something more.

Eddie's location next to the park was ideal.  The building itself had "great bones" in a classic hometown styling that instantly made you feel welcome, but there was still something about the place that was lacking.  A missing ingredient if you will.

Enter "Ginger" Corner Market.

With my affection for the park well established, I'm predisposed to like Ginger right away. Nowhere in Pasadena does such a "Perfect Storm" exist.  Here, in this one spot, you will find a friendly/small/manageable park with play area, easy street parking, and a corner store across the street providing drinks, food, and goodies for kids and parents alike.

Where else can you let your little rugrats run and fun in the park while you sip on your freshly brewed macchiatto or home-made lemonade? 

Where else can you eat this well and this healthy while still managing to keep an eye on the already running, already funning rugrats?

To put it simply... Such a place didn't exist.  Until now...

While I will not do a complete review, I will hit upon some highlights as to why you should be here yesterday, and why other CPK in the know, are already here...

Let's take a stroll in pictures shall we?

Upon entering Ginger, the "Welcome-ness" that the exterior building exudes has been brought inside.  Marble counter tops and period fixtures bring a nostalgic familiarity to the place that was lacking in the previous space.

 

These baked goodies are the first things that greet you as you walk in.  I didn't have any, but they looked lovely. My daughter, who did have some, assured me of their lovely-ness.

 

 

Did I mention, they also have ice cream?

 

 

And not just any ice cream... Mother Moo's Creamery!  My absolute favorite ice cream in So Cal that nobody knows about yet.  If you haven't visited their location in Sierra Madre, you don't know ice cream.

 

Did I also mention that they feature Jones Coffee?  Good Job Larry!  (OK, disclaimer here, I went to school with Mr. Jones, so I'm biased, but this is darn good coffee.  Trust me.)

 

 

 

 

Let's get to what I had for lunch...  My kale salad was very nice with a light orange vinaigrette covering kale, roasted carrots and toasted almonds. The dressing which comes on the side, is just enough to dress the salad without drowning the kale. The problem often times with kale is that it can be dry or can get soggy very quickly.  So the tip here is to thoroughly toss the salad before eating so the kale is covered and flavored evenly.

 

 

Here's what the kids had for lunch... Grilled Cheese.  In the menu, it's described as "cheddar cheese on fruit nut bread."  It certainly passed the eyeball test and was quickly devoured by my ravenous rugrats.

 

 

Here are the other offerings for your perusal...

 

 

I would be remiss if I didn't at least post one picture of the park...  Here is the main play area.  In the background you will see the big climbing "Spiderweb" thingy.  This is the main draw to the park and why my kids love it so much.  In fact, my kids don't even refer to it as Grant Park.  When they want to come here, they ask to be taken to "Spiderweb Park."

 

 

 

So, if you're a CPK like I am and live in the Pasadena area, don't forget your friends, Grant and Ginger...

 

Grant and Ginger?

 

Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers perhaps? 

 

I've never met the owners of this establishment, so I haven't a clue as to where the name derives from, but with Google being your friend...  Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers starred in 2 prominent movies, one of them being "Monkey Business" which I find oddly fitting. 

 

"Monkey Business" is certainly the star attraction at the park with Grant, but don't you forget about Ginger...

 

Ginger is simply the kind of place where good food and good fun never go out of style...

 

Ginger Corner Market

217 S Michigan Ave

Pasadena, CA 91106

Tel: (626) 795-2447

 

Ginger is a bit difficult to find.  It's 3 blocks West of Hill on Michigan Ave.  North of Del Mar Ave, but just South of Cordova St.  Grant Park is on Cordova.

Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 6:30 pm

             Sat-Sun 10:30 am - 6:30 pm 

 

 

 

 

100

Just so we're clear...  I hate talking about Me.  I hate writing about Me.  Oh sure, I can espouse random thoughts and opinions with the best of them, but when that spotlight shines on Me and My Life, I'm usually the first cockroach to dart for cover.

Today, fate finally came for me.

And in that moment, I was at a loss.

Instead of feeling elation or jubilance, all I felt was self doubt as the questions started to mount in my head. "Shouldn't I be happy?" "What the heck do I do now?" "Do I celebrate?" "Should I celebrate?"  And how exactly do you mark an achievement of which you are fiercely proud, yet ultimately, are too embarrassed to mention to anybody?  How do you say something of consequence knowing full well that you would rather just let this moment pass quietly into yesterday?

Come on Kyle... Like always.  Like every post you've written on this blog. Just start writing.  Just start.

Reminding myself that "You don't have to be Great to start, but you have to start if you want to be Great," I start typing...

My story begins on June 10, 2009.  Like so many of these stories, this too starts with a doctor's appointment and an annual checkup.

I show up at the office and check in at the front desk.  After filling out the necessary paperwork, they finally call me in.  Even as I make my way toward my doctor's office, the nurse beckons me to follow her. She eventually leads me down a stark white hallway. Awaiting me at the end, is the very machine that will ultimately decide my fate. The scale.

I step on. 

After much fiddling, the nurse who was completely devoid of expression, quietly writes down the number...  She writes 278.

The curtain falls.  Intermission. 

Act II

Today is Saturday, January 28, 2012.  I woke up at 6 AM this morning, knowing that there was a very good chance that this could be the day.  I lie in bed thinking about the possibility, somehow willing that number to appear.  I continue to lay in bed for another thirty minutes lest I seem too eager.  The house is quiet as if in reverence for the occasion that was about to happen.  I walk up to the scale who has been my friend and many times my enemy.  I push down and wait for the readout to show 0.00.  Heart in throat, I step up to the plate. The zeros flicker for a minute as if the scale was trying to make up its mind on whether to make or break me.  The flicker stops, and the scale reads 178.8.

I had made it. I had lost 100 pounds...

Finale and Reality Check.

Now when I look in the mirror, I don't see six pack abs.  I don't see any person even closely resembling an "After" picture like the ones on TV.  But the numbers don't lie. 100 pounds is a big deal and I've done it primarily on my own without a gym, trainer, expensive equipment, or special weight loss program. 

I'm proud of that.

I know that I'll never be on the cover of Men's Health, but because of what I've accomplished, I now have the confidence knowing that I will be there when my kids graduate.  I can sleep peacefully at night knowing that I will be there to walk McKenna down the aisle when that day comes.

If I can impress upon you one lesson I've learned from my challenges along this journey, it's this:

If you are unhappy with something in your life, more often than not,

YOU have the power to change it. 

I'm proof of that...

I still have many areas in my life that need attention and downright change, but I've learned through experience that change IS possible, and that I CAN change.

On June 10, 2009,  I sat quietly in my car just after having seen my doctor.  Right then, I made a silent commitment to myself. 

That commitment was to be a better person today than I was yesterday. 

That mission continues...with earnest.