Chicago/Boston Series A-Bruin? Wait One Win-ute

In the dozen or so predictions that people provided (including my own), not a single person predicted Boston making it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Not even my friend Tim, who is probably the biggest Boston Bruins fan that I know.

None of my friends had this as a possible 2013 picture

Everyone was on the nuts of the Pittsburgh Penguins to advance from the East, and rightfully so. Their offense in the regular season and into the first two rounds was explosive. In their two series before playing Boston, the Penguins lit the goal light up a total of 47 times in 11 games, an astounding amount, especially in the playoffs.

However, that all changed when they faced Boston. Two goals. No, I'm not talking about goals that the team set before their series against the Bruins. I'm saying that they actually only scored two goals. Two stinking goals in the four-game series (275 minutes in the series), averaging a goal every 137 minutes of game play.

To put that in perspective, the Bruins had to score 3 goals in less than ten minutes just to force an overtime in their Game 7 miracle comeback against the Maple Leafs in the first round. For fun, to calculate that pace over 275 minutes, that's.....a lot of goals. Actually, the Bruins would score about 82-83 goals at that rate.

Speaking of a team who made a comeback...

Instead of coming back from a 4-1 in-game deficit, the Blackhawks rallied from a 3-1 series margin to down the Red Wings in a thrilling and almost controversial Game 7 win at the United Center. Now, they sit in the reverse position, up 3 games to 1 against the defending champion Los Angeles Kings, who've only won one road game out of eight chances in the playoffs so far.

Before worrying about the Bruins, Hawks (and their fans) need to worry about beating the Kings one more time

There's plenty of optimism that the Blackhawks will close it out today, but they need not forget the comeback that they made themselves to know that it's certainly not impossible for a team to run off three straight deciding games to steal a series. And it certainly won't be easy to close out the defending champs.

I don't blame people for being optimistic about Saturday being the end of the Kings' reign as champs, but as always, there should be a cautious optimism as fans entering the game, not a cocky "ha ha, we got this wrapped up already" feel.

Always respect your opponent, especially if your opponent is the champion. To use another sport's example from a current sport, there's no one who respects Rafa Nadal, the master of the clay court, more than Novak Djokovic, who had Nadal on the ropes in the fifth set but eventually lost to the Spaniard (as all but one opponent can lay claim to in the past nine years).

A picture I captured at the Blackhawks rally. Can they do it again? Maybe, one more win for them to have that chance.

Even when you think you have everything in front of you, a Stanley Cup appearance within your grasp, you first must win one more game. And what a better way to do it than to eliminate the champs and face one of the Original Six for the right to hoist the Stanley Cup in a few weeks.

Before that happens, respect your opponent, the reigning champ. Cheer on your team. If/when they win that next game, then put your energy towards the Stanley Cup.

Fit Happens Chapter 4: Weight For It...How I Met Your Weight Loss Goals

Everybody loves (another) comeback story. It all starts circa November 2008.

Step 1: Decide to join a gym.

Step 2: Work out hard core for a 2-year period and lose 45 pounds. You become a running machine.

Step 3: Get a job where you work from home and start night class at the same time.

Step 4: Stop going to the gym. Plump up and regain a whole bunch of weight (and then some). You become a washing machine.

Step 5: Join weight loss contest with several friends in order to repeat/exceed results seen in Step 2.

Step 6: Don't repeat Step 4 - ever.

As I reside in Step 6, I have been complimented quite a bit about my decreased figure, including from some people who I wouldn't expect to notice such weight loss.

It's the beauty of changing ourselves for the better. Whenever a person decides to change something about themselves like quitting smoking or losing weight and they are successful for an extended period of time, his or her friends are quick to point out how much better they look (or in the case of smoking, congratulate them on the progress made in not smoking). Never mind the fact that you should have made better decisions about your diet or not started smoking in the first place - those people who focus on these things as a habit are not complimented nearly as much as they should be. We love comeback stories in sports, but it hits closer to home when the comeback is made by you or someone close to you.

(Editor's note: I had to edit some of the paragraph below because I wrote this story last night under the notion that I would be repeating as the monthly champ of Fit Happens. Since it didn't happen, I had to bite the bullet and edit it to the truth)

In the two months of the weight loss contest, I have already lost exactly 20 pounds (down to 215.6). I got a little ahead of myself by posting a picture of my weight after working out last night. I was so close to winning the first two months of the contest. It was something that I did not think was possible when entering the month. I figured that with all the weight I lost in January that I would have great difficulty going back-to-back. Nick took Month 2, but I am still on top of the overall leaderboard w/ 8.49%.

Dave	-16.0 lbs	-5.54 %
Hippo	-20.2 lbs	-8.18 %
LionEsquire	-18.6 lbs	-7.62 %
B-Bo Knows Weight Loss	-20.0 lbs	-8.49 %

Challenge...Accepted:

As many of you have read in the previous blog, one of the challenges I set forth in February was not consuming any alcohol in the month of February after the Super Bowl. I am proud to say that I easily succeeded in this task. In addition to the happenings in Fit Happens Chapter 3, I had a few other times where drinks were present and I was really tempted. The last such instance was at Twin Anchors Ribs (great ribs), where a 40 minute wait meant that I had to stand like a sardine in a can while watching a bunch of people drink what I assumed was sweet, delicious craft beer out of the tap.

In addition to halting my alcohol consumption to nil, I have also increased the intensity of my workouts. It was my goal this month to be able to run on the treadmill for 3-4 miles by the end of the month, which I was able to do. I would have like to have worked out a few more times (I worked out 14 of the 28 days of the month - aiming for 100 gym visits during the 6 month contest), but the important thing is getting my ass motivated to the gym.

The diet has improved a little. A lot less snacking and eating/ordering out, more home-cooked meals. I ordered Pat's Pizza (the South Loop version) only once, which is a rare thing for me. I've only had Pat's twice in the current calendar year. If you've ever had their thin crust pizza, you'd know how easy it would be to down an entire pizza by yourself - ok, maybe not you, maybe the November, chubbier version of me would know.

I expected that losing 4-to-6 pounds was the realistic goal for this month, given (1) the fewer days in February and (2) the weight loss plateaus that come after a month or two of working out. Luckily, the combination above really worked in my favor, and I am happy to say that I exceeded this goal by a pound.

Not as light as the picture posted Thursday night, but still a 7 pound weight loss for February (exactly 20 lost overall)

Sandcastles in the Sand

Now as far as the challenges ahead in March?

1. Hawaii: Have I mentioned I am going to Hawaii for work this month? Oh....yeah. I'm going to Hawaii this month. Yeah, awesome. As far as my weight loss project goes, I hope I don't have to put it on hold while I am here. I know the idea of all expenses paid will make drinking tempting. I don't think it'll be much of a problem, but it does present its temptations. I'm hoping there's a gym I can work out there at least a few times.
2. March Madness: Per my usual doings, I am taking off for the March Madness tourney. This has presented itself as an ugly convergence of gambling and beer in my recent past. Again, I believe my self-control is much better than before, so I should be ok. I may need to work out a little harder in the days to follow the first two days of the tourney.
3. St. Patty's: Actually, this day shouldn't be a problem. I've never gotten into the spirit of this "holiday". In fact, I mostly despise it thanks to an incident involving my brother nearly getting ran off the road on the day of the Parade (that story is for another day). 

Clap Bet

Now that the second month of the "contest" is over - which at this point has served its purpose and then some for all involved - I am looking to continue the weight loss and have adjusted my goals slightly based on the results of the first few months. Here are a few of the things I am cheering for myself to accomplish in the next four months and beyond:

1. One of my original goals was to get under 200 pounds by the end of the contest. That still remains a goal, but I'd like to take it a step further and say I'd like to get under 195 (possibly to 190) by the end of June.
2. I am looking to run a race at some point during this contest. I have a variety of races to choose from, but may be limited in my choices. The Shamrock Shuffle is in April and is an 8K. I'm not sure if I will be in the shape I'd want to be in to run an 8K. Even when I was back in shape in 2010, I was not running 8K or more outside of my intense 7.5 mile treadmill runs.
   
   Other races I am looking to run: United Run for the Zoo at Lincoln Park and/or the Warrior Dash. Unfortunately, the latter requires me to race in the very first heat of runners, likely by myself since the group of friends I would like to go with are racing the next day. I'd be racing that day if it wasn't for a work conference in Florida I am going to that day.
   
   The likely race to run is the Run for the Zoo. If anyone wants to join me for this, please let me know. By then, I believe I will be in 8 minute-mile shape.
3. Of course, one of my goals is a "No shit, Sherlock" goal: I am looking to win this contest. But I feel all of us agree that the weight loss contest was more of a motivating technique, a means to an end, to change behaviors that needed to be changed. I am delighted that the four of us have been keeping in constant contact during the two months, sharing our positive stories, motivating each other and congratulating certain milestones reached. Everyone has lost a significant amount of weight so far. At this pace, no one will have to worry about any of the detrimental sides of the bet (like changing avatars/gamer tags or wearing a dress to dinner with the guys).
4. I am still looking to get to the gym 100 times in the 6 months. I have gone 28 times in the first 59 days of the year, meaning I have to average 18 visits to the gym per month the rest of the contest. If I am able to do that, I believe all of the goals above will be achievable.

In the next chapter or so, I am going to try interviewing some of the other contestants to see their progress in this contest and what they have done to lose weight.

I hope you enjoyed the latest legen.....wait for it.....dary Fit Happens chapter.