tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229049252024-03-14T00:30:51.540-05:00Muro's Blog"I'm just a question not knowing my answer"Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-71944550236731308612009-06-04T14:02:00.008-05:002009-09-20T13:17:02.064-05:00Summer Movies 2009The following is a list of movies that I would like to see this summer, in order of appearance.<br /><ul><br /><li style="text-decoration: line-through;">Star Trek (May 7)</li><li style="text-decoration: line-through;">Terminator: Salvation (May 21)<br /></li><li style="text-decoration: line-through;">UP (May 29)<br /></li><li>Drag Me To Hell (May 29)<br /></li><li style="text-decoration: line-through;">The Hangover (June 5)<br /></li><li>Dead Snow (June 19)<br /></li><li style="text-decoration: line-through;">Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 24)</li><li>Public Enemies (July 1)<br /></li><li style="text-decoration: line-through;">Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 15)<br /></li><li>500 Days of Summer (July 17)<br /></li><li>Funny People (July 31)<br /></li><li style="text-decoration: line-through;">District 9 (August 14)</li><li style="text-decoration: line-through;">Inglourious Basterds (August 21)<br /></li><li>I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (September 25)</li><br /></ul>I will continue to update this post as I see movies and cross them off the list.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-63286360984613676582009-04-29T17:42:00.002-05:002009-04-29T17:58:29.966-05:00To the person that stole my car antennaI hope you really needed that Mazda3 antenna. I guess you couldn't wait any longer to listen to the radio. The last time I listened to the radio was several years ago, so it's not like I needed it. But, that's not to say it wasn't <strong>MINE</strong>.<br /><br />I can certainly see the appeal of the antenna because it's not like your regular old style. Still, you couldn't buy your own?<br /><br />Regardless of its usefulness to me, you still stole something that was mine and I want it back. I hope someone steals it from <em>you</em>!Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-67587429754556286042009-03-25T23:22:00.003-05:002009-03-25T23:26:10.586-05:00Farewell Battlestar Galactica<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeBzCSrF1pMHX6h8Lb48RduJra40K33R9jSyhyphenhyphenE7CFAMiRLuefWP3M_8LWUogsgNb9vGrMUtYAEFdE8GkSienryltS-fbwUl4Km1QV7VXQukgmRgxGcxbWWgP3oPEKmvRMhUc/s1600-h/battlestar_galactica.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeBzCSrF1pMHX6h8Lb48RduJra40K33R9jSyhyphenhyphenE7CFAMiRLuefWP3M_8LWUogsgNb9vGrMUtYAEFdE8GkSienryltS-fbwUl4Km1QV7VXQukgmRgxGcxbWWgP3oPEKmvRMhUc/s400/battlestar_galactica.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317347146100154338" /></a>This will be a really short post. I just wanted to submit my tribute to one of the greatest shows I have ever watched. So long, BSG. You will be missed.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-48373978697443189082009-01-01T09:54:00.003-06:002009-01-01T10:16:26.205-06:00Comcast CableCARD, Finally SuccessA few days ago, <a href="http://muroweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/comcast-cablecard-first-try.html">I mentioned</a> how Comcast wasn't able to install my CableCARDs the first time around. Two days and several hours with the Comcast guy later, I finally have working CableCARDs.<br /><br />I was expecting Comcast to come back out on Tuesday to fix the problem, but ended up getting a call saying that they were having problems with <span style="font-style:italic;">all </span>CableCARDs and not just mine. But, what was even weirder that shortly after my blog post, <a href="http://muroweb.blogspot.com/2008/12/comcast-cablecard-first-try.html?showComment=1230568320000#c3310765484743168443">a Comcast rep posted a comment</a> asking to help. That's just too Big Brother stalker-like.<br /><br />Anyways, Comcast showed up on Wednesday and spent the better part of two hours trying to get it all working. First, I found out that the beginning of the serial numbers on the CableCARDs matched their digital boxes and that's why it wasn't working initially. Next came the configuration of the cards. This is what took forever. The cards have to be paired to my device (TiVo) and in order to do that, the billing department needs to know a few numbers on the cards. Ok, great. Do it.<br /><br />To make a long story short, all of the channels didn't show up on one card but they did on the other. Once we get that working, they forgot to setup my HBO. This takes a while, too. I'm leaving a lot out because it was so mind numbingly boring. You'd think they'd be able to know what the deal was, but in reality the Comcast guy said <span style="font-weight:bold;">they don't have much experience with CableCARDs</span>. I guess it didn't help that the Comcast guy hated the cards to begin with.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-15372677833198392142008-12-29T09:40:00.004-06:002008-12-29T09:53:46.100-06:00Comcast CableCARD, First Try<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3kUpSSw1NnuR8_rMQ1XC4MQQOF_Bf7kWy-JxN3xM81GSvzix03COvWXowVt_lt397twsLlDurYOBLM1z613_uWbrgkzeJzr4d5efPnFBL6hD4zg1V43odbQ4fCq6G7kffyw6/s1600-h/cablecard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3kUpSSw1NnuR8_rMQ1XC4MQQOF_Bf7kWy-JxN3xM81GSvzix03COvWXowVt_lt397twsLlDurYOBLM1z613_uWbrgkzeJzr4d5efPnFBL6hD4zg1V43odbQ4fCq6G7kffyw6/s400/cablecard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285238735694104002" /></a>I am trying to get CableCARDs installed in my TiVo and Comcast has failed at the first attempt. A CableCARD allows me to receive digital cable without using a cable box. Frankly, I don't have room for another piece of equipment and using the TiVo with CableCARDs lets me free up that space otherwise occupied by a Comcast box.<br /><br />Now, all I know about installing these CableCARDs is that the Comcast guy plugs them into my TiVo, reads some numbers over the phone to headquarters to activate the cards, and we're good to go. However, even this simple act proves too much.<br /><br />They are coming back tomorrow to try again. Round 2. If I wasn't off work all week, I'd be pissed off. Let's see what happens tomorrow....Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-48984856424997117032008-12-13T14:10:00.004-06:002008-12-13T14:25:45.684-06:00BSG WebisodesBattlestar Galactica has just released a third series of webisodes to tide over hungry fans, like me, till the last season launches. Your humble servant has embedded the video for your convenience.<br /><br /><object width="460" height="259"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/il8TBUWAz4WwVfXVnLR4qQ"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/il8TBUWAz4WwVfXVnLR4qQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" width="460" height="259"></embed></object><br /><br />Basically, what this proves is that BSG packs more interesting things into three minutes than most shows do in thirty. Man, I can't wait till the new season!Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-25469940490568613412008-11-20T23:32:00.004-06:002008-11-20T23:49:05.340-06:00I hate you, ABC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4PbLVvTbx-z0m8njbI4O6RYIeOqaMeekloIr74Z2-ZHZHwj_NhTTn8YKC-cX3ZY9t3zfdiB9pFAl_sAbuMHDTPZgxWvv8LQK7vh-0kKb4rK3lgx5gBzTygOmuCMx2GJNK-CK/s1600-h/zz70ed7841.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4PbLVvTbx-z0m8njbI4O6RYIeOqaMeekloIr74Z2-ZHZHwj_NhTTn8YKC-cX3ZY9t3zfdiB9pFAl_sAbuMHDTPZgxWvv8LQK7vh-0kKb4rK3lgx5gBzTygOmuCMx2GJNK-CK/s400/zz70ed7841.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270979839589866066" /></a>Apparently, you have decided that one of the most original shows on your network no longer deserves to be picked up for a full season. Why would you <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/11/20/abc-cancels-pushing-daisies/">cancel this show</a>?<br /><br />Once again, the works of Bryan Fuller are under appreciated by the execs of Hollywood. Does no one remember Dead Like Me? I think that Pushing Daises was viewed in the same way: a dark comedy with a sweet and sincere chewy center.<br /><br />So long, Pushing Daises....<br /><br />Now, ABC, we have to talk: the only thing keeping me around on your crappy station is LOST. So help me, God, if you screw with me on this, I will burn your Dancing with the Stars studio down.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-10215090223871445112008-10-21T18:19:00.003-05:002008-10-21T18:31:01.766-05:00Be Nice to the CashierSo, I had to stop by the grocery store on the way home to get one or two things. As I was waiting in line to check out, there was a guy ahead of me giving the cashier a hard time over how to use the credit card swipe machine. He said "I'm going to ask you one more time, what do I do now?" The jerk was friends with the manager cause he was all buddy-buddy to him and as he walked away, after successfully handling the complex time machine, told the manager you have to "keep their heads on straight."<br /><br />What I wanted to say to this asshole was to give the KID a break. He gets shit from customers all the time and doesn't need some guy giving him shit because he can't work a machine that's functioned the same for years. If you want to be a dick, go home to your wife.<br /><br />I used to be a grocery store cashier in high school and was always getting treated the same way, so I know what it's like. All I'm trying to say is be nice to the cashier if they are nice to you.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-30849935032443898442008-10-14T08:59:00.003-05:002008-10-14T09:08:42.572-05:00Combined daysRecently, I made some changes to my workout routine. For the past two weeks, I have combined the days that I workout and run intervals. This allows me to have a couple more "off" days, which I like. In fact, this is the way that the TT workouts are structured. Do your supersets and after a small rest move immediately into your intervals. On your "off" days, try to get <span style="font-style:italic;">some</span> exercise in. I try to use this time to do a dedicated abs routine that takes me no more than 10-15 minutes. I haven't been as consistent as I want to be with that, but I'll do what I can.<br /><br />Also, I have now set a new personal best on my bench press: 210 lbs. It's hard to gauge how accurate that is because I'm using the machine at my apartment's gym. But, I am lifting the entire rack of plates, so that's something right?Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-55071751827488835622008-06-27T08:04:00.003-05:002008-12-11T23:16:24.874-06:00Weekly Weigh-In: Week 26<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xYHddV-cYK_BAnmk0cd5gbhxC5VaPglz2YDQMuQByS1zZS6h9Rm8qCzUkNro-JkdbEmkOCwRyzQ4xpcnFSGpnOF7RMy4jE5xs07pP_bn8a_uiTgpMFli0Ec3yaUK-HLzcGiC/s1600-h/untitled.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xYHddV-cYK_BAnmk0cd5gbhxC5VaPglz2YDQMuQByS1zZS6h9Rm8qCzUkNro-JkdbEmkOCwRyzQ4xpcnFSGpnOF7RMy4jE5xs07pP_bn8a_uiTgpMFli0Ec3yaUK-HLzcGiC/s400/untitled.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216546826119895842" /></a>This week was a good week for fat loss. I went from 176.2 last week to 173.4 this week. Strangely enough, my waist size pretty much stayed the same, so it must have come off in other places. That's fine with me, really. I have been pushing myself with the weight machine and I can already tell it's improving other areas. The one area I really want to lose in though, is my lower belly or waist. I can't seem to get that going just yet.<br /><br />In other news, I'll be headed to the beach this weekend and won't be back till after the 4th of July. It'll be a good test to see how well I can eat while on vacation and what kind of workouts I can get in. There's not a gym where I'm going, so I'll be doing bodyweight exercises. Should be fun!<br /><br />Weight: 173.4<br />Waist: 34.25"Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-54725183833141785782008-06-20T08:20:00.003-05:002008-12-11T23:16:25.192-06:00Weekly Weigh-In: Week 25<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWW2IN2IjUO9Sv51YqQkHXNRH4bia0y3m4BlFTfsjw16qkfNxMcAQ_WkBX_n_2KRdKRc3NJ-nw3veRF5wQOuuzTKG5RV-MSCgorAbh8INatfUbGhr8hEd4zqfRkJzu6HLb1_S/s1600-h/untitled.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWW2IN2IjUO9Sv51YqQkHXNRH4bia0y3m4BlFTfsjw16qkfNxMcAQ_WkBX_n_2KRdKRc3NJ-nw3veRF5wQOuuzTKG5RV-MSCgorAbh8INatfUbGhr8hEd4zqfRkJzu6HLb1_S/s400/untitled.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213953022885516082" /></a>It looks like I have made up for <a href="http://muroweb.blogspot.com/2008/06/weekly-weigh-in-week-24.html">last week's set back</a>. Strangely enough, I'm at the same exact point I was two weeks ago. I was able to increase the speed of my intervals to 10 mph, so that was a personal best. I'm not sure how fast that treadmill goes, but I have to be approaching its upper limits.<br /><br />As for my workouts, I decided to start using the weight machine at my apartment complex. I felt like I needed to be using more weight and some of the bodyweight exercises weren't cutting it anymore. I'll try it for the rest of the month to see how I like it, but I think it will be a good substitute.<br /><br />Weight: 176.2<br />Waist: 34.25"Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-2279873463133276152008-06-19T21:43:00.004-05:002008-06-20T21:35:29.532-05:00Console CurseIn the course of one week, both of my video game consoles have died. My Wii was killed earlier this week and just now, my Xbox 360 flashed the <a href="http://editorials.teamxbox.com/xbox/1651/The-Red-Ring-of-Death/p1/">Red Ring of Death</a>. This is not the first time that I've seen the red rings and would make the third time a 360 has broken on me. I'm pretty bummed out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE:</span> So, I took my Wii over to a friend's house and used his power supply to see if it was the either the console itself or the power supply that died. Success! The Wii works!! Now I just need to find out if Nintendo will replace the power supply or not.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-48508839494284932972008-06-13T08:36:00.003-05:002008-12-11T23:16:25.483-06:00Weekly Weigh-In: Week 24<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1A17LpZVrGmfwXpKHGubu8NdbWsNRNoBrhWE44J-FBV-7Bsnxre8e5oVVfWleVpptDWVn1S3p2c8zPqlTwgAsEfQzOZDSPeljM0nxDe4cETXDuc5YtFPbCAGvgWbWInP_ahY/s1600-h/untitled.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1A17LpZVrGmfwXpKHGubu8NdbWsNRNoBrhWE44J-FBV-7Bsnxre8e5oVVfWleVpptDWVn1S3p2c8zPqlTwgAsEfQzOZDSPeljM0nxDe4cETXDuc5YtFPbCAGvgWbWInP_ahY/s400/untitled.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211359666705566738" /></a>My diet has been pure shit this week. Too much eating out for old friends in town, birthdays, new job celebration dinners, and late night drinking. Not to mention that I haven't been able to do my intervals with any consistency. I'm pretty fucking disappointed in myself, honestly. Really, there's nothing more I can say about this week and I don't <span style="font-style:italic;">want </span>to say anymore.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-11237948772782619662008-06-06T08:18:00.004-05:002008-12-11T23:16:25.913-06:00Weekly Weigh-In: Week 23<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpSy7xBMRAu27rfBL4cD3CYIS6zdY0NFjeYqJVYxqGydS59B-5WbPEBfYbElkX1GNAcMNQQQfWR5hlqp6hEPdKsBHPDqxgB6pdfkxDvQx8w5TFTDZKR_5KFgrlwThf1ldPzSr/s1600-h/weight.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpSy7xBMRAu27rfBL4cD3CYIS6zdY0NFjeYqJVYxqGydS59B-5WbPEBfYbElkX1GNAcMNQQQfWR5hlqp6hEPdKsBHPDqxgB6pdfkxDvQx8w5TFTDZKR_5KFgrlwThf1ldPzSr/s400/weight.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208757335563517378" /></a>Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been working on getting a new job and earlier this week it was offered to me! I'm the new Web Developer for the Office of Web Communications here on-campus. I can't wait to start--my first day is June 23rd. Today I'm going to their staff retreat to meet everyone in the department, which should be interesting since I'm technically not working there yet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_k-_eq7EkE0ybH7krzGGz2ImbAsFPTSa1X4VYvuwb210IaojfCtWJZ_cXeP4pYKFTVh2E79mfSMTkjnC4R_xERmYkbYhKGsHFzwayvihGIg2AzH8vrF0hYJdfrlnWls1-5m0K/s1600-h/trend.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_k-_eq7EkE0ybH7krzGGz2ImbAsFPTSa1X4VYvuwb210IaojfCtWJZ_cXeP4pYKFTVh2E79mfSMTkjnC4R_xERmYkbYhKGsHFzwayvihGIg2AzH8vrF0hYJdfrlnWls1-5m0K/s400/trend.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208760427166704690" /></a>Anyways, onto the fat loss. I'm pretty proud of myself this week. Last weekend I went on a rafting trip and had to skip my Friday workout and Saturday HIIT. I did what I could while there, but it wasn't the same and I was kinda bummed about it. I still got a decent workout going down the river and trying to stay in the boat. Nonetheless, I continued the workout schedule on Monday and will just have to leave that last workout alone.<br /><br />So far, I'd say Turbulence Training has been a success. I've lost a total of 4 lbs and nearly 1" off my waist since starting four weeks ago. I'm more impressed with the waist size because for about three weeks I hovered at the same waist size of 35.25".<br /><br />Next month, I start a new TT regiment, so I hope to see more results.<br /><br />Weight: 176.2<br />Waist: 34.25"Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-2655518738377769362008-05-30T08:19:00.002-05:002008-12-11T23:16:25.992-06:00Weekly Weigh-In: Week 22<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXz8462uPMDe7ALZhP1o7ptFQfiap_hmecuDGfLJWXqYr6EZyUosw9k-uaWTgrEzJdf_cGblcYsTX65FKtj0DouCWOYm0mahOPis2j68lEws_z4qTlfdCtXxIWBoT-DfbRTCZ/s1600-h/untitled.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXz8462uPMDe7ALZhP1o7ptFQfiap_hmecuDGfLJWXqYr6EZyUosw9k-uaWTgrEzJdf_cGblcYsTX65FKtj0DouCWOYm0mahOPis2j68lEws_z4qTlfdCtXxIWBoT-DfbRTCZ/s400/untitled.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206160155486287618" /></a>Today's weigh-in brings me firmly into the sub-180 category. I cannot even remember the last time I was in this spot and while I would like to be happy about it, I'm a little reticent about it all. Maybe it's just because I'm having a stressful week, but I just don't feel good about the way my body looks right now. I still have more body fat than I want (about 17.8%) and it all collects in the one place hardest to target, the mid-section.<br /><br />Still, I have to convince myself that this is only the 22nd week that I have been doing this. There are two more weeks until I will have reached the 6 month mark. Perhaps the tide will have turned by then.<br /><br />Weight: 178.2<br />Waist: 34.875"Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-89278630205085127592008-05-23T14:07:00.003-05:002008-12-11T23:16:26.202-06:00Weekly Weigh-In: Week 21<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtVgvQrhLhtWErfSv0RPhzVSpxXN1JaymSg8QbDAng-RessEVuQEZD0h-W4hP6lsr4zAnYwVY0pVrDB5mdvsvMl-UiogRhWap4JaXdKbkmTiDwaTPw97LP75VpxPYVYydwwad/s1600-h/untitled.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtVgvQrhLhtWErfSv0RPhzVSpxXN1JaymSg8QbDAng-RessEVuQEZD0h-W4hP6lsr4zAnYwVY0pVrDB5mdvsvMl-UiogRhWap4JaXdKbkmTiDwaTPw97LP75VpxPYVYydwwad/s400/untitled.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203652579298873810" /></a>Okay, body, you need to figure out what's going on here. First <a href="http://muroweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/weekly-weigh-in-week-20.html">you're up</a>, then you're down. Whatever was going on, I seem to be back down to where I was a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps attributable to <a href="http://muroweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/intense-intervals.html">my recent HIIT efforts</a>. Either way, I'm getting closer to my goal because my waist is responding in turn. Not quite a huge drop, but enough to let me know that it is coming down.<br /><br />I have reached the halfway mark with my introduction into Turbulence Training and the workouts are intense enough to where I can get a good workout but not so long that I don't get burned out.<br /><br />Weight: 180 lbs<br />Waist: 34.875"Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-79824749878687244972008-05-22T19:35:00.003-05:002008-05-22T19:47:16.174-05:00Intense IntervalsThis week I have pushed myself during my interval workouts, even more so than what I have been doing in the past. Even though it is really tough, it is satisfying to finish strong. Plus, I am doing 10 minutes <span style="font-style:italic;">less </span>work than before.<br /><br />My new interval workout is 20 minutes long with 60 second intervals. There is a 3 minute warm-up and a 4 minute cool-down. I pushed my <span style="font-style:italic;">hard</span> intervals to 9.4 mph and my <span style="font-style:italic;">resting</span> intervals stay the same at 3.5 mph. I have done the 20 minute session before at a slower speed (8.5 mph) and never felt completely worked at the end. Previously, I had to increase the time to 30 minutes to feel the same way after my interval training that I do now with 20 minutes.<br /><br />I'm pretty excited about this because I think it'll take me one step closer towards burning more fat. Perhaps I've been stuck in a rut lately and this gets me out of it.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-31117886030617811322008-05-16T16:14:00.004-05:002008-05-16T16:50:39.445-05:00My Physical ResultsThe University of Alabama has some awesome benefits and one new program they started is something called WellBama. It is basically for helping employees learn about their current health level, as well as steps to improve their health through small changes. <br /><br />After having some blood work done, I went in for a physical (all of this was free, by the way). I went over everything with the doctor and I'm in great shape. I finally have my results here. The WellBama program grades you certain points per category and puts you into either the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Crimson Club.<br /><br />Here are the results:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Height </span>- 6"<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Weight </span>- 181<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Waist </span>- 35.50"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">BMI (Body Mass Index)</span> - 24.5<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Systolic Blood Pressure</span> - 116<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Diastolic Blood Pressure</span> - 67<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">LDL Cholesterol</span> - 75<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Total Cholesterol</span> - 122<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Total HDL Cholesterol</span> - 36<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Triglycerides </span>- 59<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Glucose (blood sugar)</span> - 82<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Cardio Exercise days per week</span> - 5+<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tobacco Use(w/in 12 months)</span> - Never used or have quit for 12 mos.<br /><br />All of my results put me into the <span style="font-weight:bold;">Crimson Club</span>! I was told that I am one out of ten people on-campus in that group. I'm in the Top 10!<br /><br />We also made goals for ourselves and they would follow-up with us in a few years (or months, depending on how healthy you were). My main goal is to get down to a body fat percentage of 12 - 15% as well as losing 5% of my weight (172 lbs) over the next year. I'm not really sure if I can get down to 172, but I feel confident of reaching 12 - 15% of my body fat, especially since I signed up for Turbulence Training where so many have had fantastic results.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update</span>: Here is the grading scale for those curious what it takes to be in the Crimson Club.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">BMI (Body Mass Index)</span> - <= 24.9<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Systolic Blood Pressure</span> - < 120<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Diastolic Blood Pressure</span> - < 80<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">LDL Cholesterol</span> - combined w/ total<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Total Cholesterol</span> - <= 160 mg<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Total HDL Cholesterol</span> - combined w/ total<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Triglycerides </span>- <= 149<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Glucose (blood sugar)</span> - <= 100<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Cardio Exercise days per week</span> - 5+<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tobacco Use(w/in 12 months)</span> - Never used or have quit for 12 mos.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-16335854157657418752008-05-16T08:07:00.005-05:002008-12-11T23:16:26.700-06:00Weekly Weigh-In: Week 20<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2HfcAnSuiAyBUHsf47iGAGq7hjTRf9e6BaPSMtna95aNmRebKNYUDk46ni_8yyflAQdviMbIT2GortS8WNc4a53UFEjZS1vrJm-Iytyr6ucqLhIeU244dumyTlKuy6mgSQH2/s1600-h/weight.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2HfcAnSuiAyBUHsf47iGAGq7hjTRf9e6BaPSMtna95aNmRebKNYUDk46ni_8yyflAQdviMbIT2GortS8WNc4a53UFEjZS1vrJm-Iytyr6ucqLhIeU244dumyTlKuy6mgSQH2/s400/weight.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200962317252783922" /></a>Okay, first the bad news. After 20 weeks of losing weight, I finally had my first gain. It all started last week and I've been dealing with it all week. Getting it down to 181.6 was a small victory this morning, because I was coming in around 182.4 all week. Part of me wants to attribute this new gain to muscle, and I really hope that's the case. If so, I don't have a problem with it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY7CpEgKZdJI5wvZDOUNOG4-f80fOYhqgfaTwy5EHjzE1rTvcQ4frF-GD_IIWPUPTZp2vOeCcwSG_BbvoemoMKUV3VG9FhGsQzJzKZsnM0LG95gDUbxoPOSi7mqSyl1hRcok8/s1600-h/waist.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRY7CpEgKZdJI5wvZDOUNOG4-f80fOYhqgfaTwy5EHjzE1rTvcQ4frF-GD_IIWPUPTZp2vOeCcwSG_BbvoemoMKUV3VG9FhGsQzJzKZsnM0LG95gDUbxoPOSi7mqSyl1hRcok8/s400/waist.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200963202016046914" /></a><br />Now, onto the good news. After three weeks of stalling out with the same waist size, I was able to drop it just a bit to 35". So, maybe that weight gain was muscle after all? Like <a href="http://muroweb.blogspot.com/2008/05/weight-vs-waist.html">I mentioned earlier this week</a>, waist is going to better determine my success than weight.<br /><br />Weight: 181.6<br />Waist: 35"Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-48956837634758286792008-05-13T08:54:00.006-05:002008-12-11T23:16:26.840-06:00A Visual Goal in Mind<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oMdPvcIWo1bz8sYbOx8XD_WlZVU1fLrJVXZV6EeF7vDYgWcKjq_NliMRzhZSoGFdWfq7sHrDC8nwKPr2m4TKB9ehlF_E2s9sujtfDyT7RbNHUtj2gq2ysWwYxxbEnxeCftuP/s1600-h/jh042706_01.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oMdPvcIWo1bz8sYbOx8XD_WlZVU1fLrJVXZV6EeF7vDYgWcKjq_NliMRzhZSoGFdWfq7sHrDC8nwKPr2m4TKB9ehlF_E2s9sujtfDyT7RbNHUtj2gq2ysWwYxxbEnxeCftuP/s320/jh042706_01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199861216487108386" /></a>I have read before that it is good to put up a poster or picture of what kind of body you are working towards. It gives you a visual reminder of where you need to go. Well, I give you my goal: Josh Holloway, otherwise known as Sawyer from LOST.<br /><br />I have been holding onto this issue for <span style="font-style:italic;">two years</span> and now I'm just getting started. My main reason for wanting my body to look like his is because it's just very natural. He looks like a regular guy who is in shape but not hugely cut. I guess that's how I want to be. This issue sits on my coffee table and I look at it every day, just to keep me grounded. Hopefully I'll keep chipping away at the fat to get down there one day.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-30772453243324434452008-05-12T09:14:00.003-05:002008-12-11T23:16:26.947-06:00Weight vs. Waist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_zHpXPFEwsQ-B6q3-g1Gt-LnwEDAsIp86BwzaVjAePKhu_AqL2EzuZz08cGqfDZfKytni1EV-jVKDJSO_rL4uZsh76qmkpfRUT-3zooX6bjKMo-VS5GpwAid_ODPyun4M2MV/s1600-h/waist.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_zHpXPFEwsQ-B6q3-g1Gt-LnwEDAsIp86BwzaVjAePKhu_AqL2EzuZz08cGqfDZfKytni1EV-jVKDJSO_rL4uZsh76qmkpfRUT-3zooX6bjKMo-VS5GpwAid_ODPyun4M2MV/s400/waist.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199495615985970930" /></a><br />Recently, I went to the doctor to get my first physical in a long, long time. We got to talking about my weight loss and I asked him about losing <span style="font-style:italic;">too</span> much weight. What he said here grabbed my attention. Basically, he said that he could really <span style="font-weight:bold;">stop weighing</span> people when they came into the doctor's office and just <span style="font-weight:bold;">start measuring their waist</span>.<br /><br />In addition to tracking my weight in pounds, I measure my waist. However, now that I'm getting to that point where weight is going to level out, my waist could be a greater indication of positive results. Just hearing the doctor say this made me realize that I was on the right track.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-58187034238010376142008-05-09T09:08:00.003-05:002008-12-11T23:16:27.142-06:00Weekly Weigh-In: Week 19<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac3I72VYtkGDAo9joOWECIjq5GDOttDfoowP5vf2PtCBsmrVDoLzDGgkls84NDOReP0XfXo64veR8NLpsdV1uior3tF5N7CbaWHfBGlwc8sIEJYt2BdyxWnBj2WEg8CX7HTX0/s1600-h/untitled.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjac3I72VYtkGDAo9joOWECIjq5GDOttDfoowP5vf2PtCBsmrVDoLzDGgkls84NDOReP0XfXo64veR8NLpsdV1uior3tF5N7CbaWHfBGlwc8sIEJYt2BdyxWnBj2WEg8CX7HTX0/s400/untitled.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198379834823193762" /></a><br />This week shows that I'm getting to the point where losing those last few pounds and bit of fat is getting toughest of all. Although I lost a pound, my waist size stayed idle. I'm going to have to get really serious if I want that to drop any more.<br /><br />In fact, just to show how serious I am, I signed up for <a href="http://www.ttmembers.com/">Turbulence Training</a>. This program is designed by Craig Ballantyne, the same person who is over the Men's Health Belly Off program. There are <span style="font-style:italic;">tons</span> of workouts. I'll be starting on these next week. I guess that means that this is my last week for the Bodyweight exercises.<br /><br />Weight: 180.2<br />Waist: 35 1/4"Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-76604925740604697632008-05-02T14:00:00.003-05:002008-12-11T23:16:27.318-06:00Weekly Weigh-In: Week 18<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS0VYlWwUVrO4XKStSm1Atc0RKeLtc34BBVAzDHQ43Qc7O8J7NQAFzXOyTzgmvGHVfA7iDNgf1nsB-FAtX7qmVdZCSv2bYif7eaP3m6RDH-K5MbA_vgkLR1OlON4LGbE3trbU/s1600-h/untitled.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS0VYlWwUVrO4XKStSm1Atc0RKeLtc34BBVAzDHQ43Qc7O8J7NQAFzXOyTzgmvGHVfA7iDNgf1nsB-FAtX7qmVdZCSv2bYif7eaP3m6RDH-K5MbA_vgkLR1OlON4LGbE3trbU/s400/untitled.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195857681849353842" /></a><br />I've been pretty busy at work this week and today, so this will have to be a short report. I'm pretty close to breaking the 180 barrier and that just seems like an odd place to be. Some people I work have asked me if I'm still losing weight and all I can say is yes. I mean, I'm not under eating or anything drastic. I'm simply eating what I'm supposed to and exercising every day. I can't help it if pounds of fat keep falling off. As far as I'm concerned, as long as I keep working out, the weight that I'm losing is just fat and not muscle.<br /><br />Weight: 181.4<br />Waist: 35 1/4"Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-68796687296887894192008-04-29T22:40:00.000-05:002008-04-29T22:41:25.336-05:00How the 5k WentI ran in the <a href="http://muroweb.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-first-5k.html">UAB Dollars for Scholars 5k/10k</a> this past Friday and the good news is that I finished. The <a href="http://www.birminghamtrackclub.com/2008results">official results</a> are in and my final time was <span style="font-weight:bold;">31:34.8</span> with a pace of <span style="font-weight:bold;">10:11/mile</span>. This is pretty much spot on with what I have been practicing with for the past couple of months.<br /><br />If there are anymore races that come up, I'll be sure to give them a try because it was kinda fun to get out there in a competitive environment and see what I could do. My goal wasn't to win the race, but I'll go off of what someone said to me after I completed: <blockquote>Finishing <span style="font-style:italic;">is</span> winning.</blockquote>Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22904925.post-65322234629943689682008-04-28T15:42:00.004-05:002008-04-28T15:51:45.894-05:00Say Goodbye to Size 36I had to go pick up some new clothes this weekend because everything is falling off of me. The most shocking surprise was what size pants I needed to buy. I have been buying size 36 for a long time and going down to a 34 is just a huge shock. At least one pair of shorts was too <span style="font-style:italic;">big</span> at 34, so I had to get a 33. <br /><br />I know! I was so surprised, I couldn't believe it.<br /><br />I plan on gathering all of the over sized clothes and selling them on Ebay. I figure this way I don't have any excuse for getting big again because I won't have the huge clothes to go back to.Matthew Murohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02746117500905516616noreply@blogger.com0