Change is often a slow process. We try to rush it, and we crash and burn. Not this time. I have lost over 90 lbs, but it has taken over 30 months. Not even 1 pound per week. Yet I persist.

When the scale hit 300 lbs, the highest ever for me after decades of bouncing between 240 as time to do something about it.

I had recently switched jobs, and my new employer offered Virta, a keto diet program for treating diabetes and obesity. I signed up, and it kickstarted my weight loss. It has a meaningful support group and a goal-setting process that helps you keep sight of the "why" behind losing weight.

The program was great for me for the first 2 years, but I noticed my blood sugar levels going up, and I still wasn't happy with my body. I asked myself, what if I tried exercising again?

I found a bodyweight program, The Pump by @Schwarzenegger, which was a great intro to fitness, and most importantly, I could do it at home. Low risk. What did I have to lose?

After 8 months of home workouts, I switched to the gym and continued with The Pump. I found the routines were too high-rep lower weight and not a great match for me, so I started looking for something that fit my style better: fewer reps with heavier weight and longer rest periods. I had stalled out and needed to figure out how to get over the hurdle.

This is what led me to a personal trainer. Thanks to @smithhmackenzie for helping me build a functional strength training routine with a fellow trainer of hers. I also switched to a performance-based, balanced diet that isn't restrictive (beyond calories) and all food I enjoy eating.

For the past 4–5 months, I have really focused on my diet, my exercise routine, and my personal goals. This is whole-life training, and it has made a big difference. I keep hitting new personal records, losing weight, and building muscle.

Yes, I could probably go faster, but there's really no need to. Going slower lets my body get comfortable where it is, so I don't spring back. It also helps me keep as much muscle as possible, since I lost a lot during the initial weight loss.

The work has paid off. For the first time in my life, I am happy with my body and looking forward to growing every day. Yes, I have plenty to work on, but I finally feel like I have the tools to do it, which I never had before.

Don't beat yourself up, and keep pushing forward even when you slip. There is no easy path through this, but with the right skills and help, you can make it an enjoyable journey, and you won't be the same person on the other side. Life is a journey, not a destination.

Need to dress up at work for tomorrow. Blazer over regular T acceptable? (Casual still is preferable)

I see where my phantom drain might be coming from :)

Phone waking it up in garage

Rivian Roamer is working great with Claude Duet!

Glad to see this. Claude commented on the weird power curve without me asking. It didn't say much about it though.

I am a bit of a Claude fan boi so might replace Muse with this. Plus I already pay for Claude.

Noooo (and Yes!!!), the R2 infection is spreading. At least the third one we have seen locally.

No as it wasn't unique for long! These Rivians will be everywhere in a couple years.

I am glad ours was so clean too (it was not)

Score, Claude Duet EA. How do people like it compared to Muse?

Monday pull up up day! I couldn't do a real pull up with full range of motion a year ago, now I can do 3-4. Losing weight helped a lot, but even then have only ever been able to do poor form chin ups last year.

I always love doing oil changes... Not.

I was setting the motorcycle down off the jack stand and the kick stand folded and the bike tipped into the oil in slow motion 😭

Claude code is 3:0 now. I even had it share libraries between two of my (my idea, its effort) programs. Literally, it over delivered on every aspect and they are clean and very responsive programs. Claude even reported the update latency to adjusting settings.

My Rivian R2

A flop in other words, as none of that stuff has really made it into other vehicles in a meaningful way. They could have skipped the Cybertruck and still don't the other stuff.

Keep in mind, I really like the Cybertruck and the design (I know it isn't for everyone)

It is a beautiful morning. First heavy frost.

Heater in the R2 was strong this morning. But I will have to wait and see how it does when it gets cold (sub 0°F)

The @Rivian R2 with the laser cutter/engraver. Any Road, Any Time. 8x10 on basswood.

Claude code has 1 shot 2 different applications I needed this weekend. Both were something that existed with monthly fees and Claude implemented it and made a better version in about 30 min.

This is an order of magnitude better than last year.

Things are getting interesting!

Not financial advice, but not a bad idea to keep about 10% of your account in cash equivalents.

I spent half of this yesterday buying stock end of day.

These guys are so clueless. I can take my EV pretty much anywhere you drive a gas car. These are all in WY. I even towed my motorcycle out there 1800 miles RT with the Blazer EV.

Help him with some of your own rural EV shots.

What I love about @RivianRoamer and Muse.

My wife asked me to remind her to plug in tonight. Not likely I will remember so I immediately asked Muse to remind me :)

Anyone else tried a solid state battery? I got one of these for review, and it seems objectively worse in every way than a traditional Li-ion.

It charges slower, still gets hot, and is more expensive. Like solid state has to provide a better experience to be useful. Is this why is running like a decade behind?

In Iowa everything has rust...

Most kids have no idea what it is like to lose your entire first year out of school salary in a day and it shows... ;)

PS don't sweat it

What in the Rivian R2 am I up to? Testing my new laser toy. 🔥 🔥