WLW: The First 30
by Scott Hardie on March 13, 2008

Since we're still putting off NutriSystem until our bank accounts recover from the move, Kelly and I have been focusing on exercise instead. So far it's mostly a lap around the apartment complex a few nights a week, saying hi to underdressed strangers walking their dogs. Last weekend we tried the mall. If you haven't been to Sarasota, let's just say it makes Naperville look like Cicero. Rich people paying hundreds of dollars for a pair of shoes they'll wear once; artwork priced at what you paid for your last new car. At least it keeps us from impulse buying while we stroll past.
Tonight we used the fitness center at the apartment complex for the first time, now that we've finally gotten the passcode, just to try it and see if we like it. It's mostly weight machines, which I'd gladly give up to make room for a single bike. I spent ten minutes on the treadmill at a low pace and burned a mere 30 calories, probably only one drink of soda's worth, but it felt good to make that first step. I feel like a business owner who frames his first dollar.
Three Replies to WLW: The First 30
Anna Gregoline | March 13, 2008
Good for you!
Jackie Mason | March 14, 2008
[hidden by author request]
Logical Operator
The creator of Funeratic, Scott Hardie, blogs about running this site, losing weight, and other passions including his wife Kelly, his friends, movies, gaming, and Florida. Read more »

The Honeymoon
After our wedding, it was time for Kelly and I to enjoy our honeymoon: Ten days in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the coastline between them. We (really I, with Kelly's signoff) spent weeks researching and scheduling to pull it off, and the effort was definitely worth it, as we had ten days of bliss. We rode new rides at Disneyland, toured a movie studio and historic ship, saw whales and dolphins up close, ate lunch atop a mountain, hiked among the redwoods, explored Chinatown and Alcatraz, and along the way ate some amazing food. Go »
Normal Paranormal
This will offend believers in the paranormal, so read at your own peril. Socially, I've tried to keep it a polite secret that I don't believe in any paranormal phenomena, including the everyday sort. Several of my local friends practice feng shui, buy healing magnets, size people up based on their birth signs, and go to dieticians who tell them not to eat foods of certain colors. Go »
Crash
Some days are so bad, you feel like you've been the only driver in a demolition derby without a car. Go »
Only in the Web Era
Victim's cell phone is stolen on subway. Thief takes photos of his own wife, family, dog, and home. Cell phone automatically uploads them to victim's Flickr account. Go »
This Blog Post Definitely Doesn't Conform to NPOV Standards
I once coined a rule that you couldn't read more than three complete articles on Wikipedia without running into a reference to some obscure joke from The Simpsons, Monty Python, or most commonly, Family Guy. Seriously: I just now clicked two links and landed at Anarcho-syndicalism of all things, and sure enough, there's Holy Grail in the "trivia" section. Should it be plural like that, since no one is ever going to enter another item of trivia? Go »










Matthew Preston | March 13, 2008
Nice job, keep it up! The hardest part I've found with exercising is finding the motivation to start. The accomplishment of a completed workout is such a great feeling however.
You likely burned more than 30 calories though. Because calories are a measurement of heat, those machines aren't exactly the best calculators. Did it give you the option to enter your weight? Did you break a sweat? According to the online calculator I listed below, I would burn 121 calories walking briskly. Check it out (probably not the foremost in reputable counters, but a good place to start).
http://www.caloriecontrol.org/exercalc.html