Pursuant to yesterday's(!!!) post in which I resolved to "do the pages" in an effort to get my writing muscles back in form, I'm blogging with my breakfast and the topic will be yesterday's other topic: arresting my rapid physical decline.

As of January 7th 2012, I am larger than I've ever been in my life. Same height, of course, but more mass. 237 pounds to be precise. Sure, give or take a bit due to hydration, etc, but it is frankly a little shocking. It shouldn't be though. This past year was one of the most stressful but also physically sedentary of my life. Given that I'm into my 30's and my metabolism is inevitably losing some steam, the results are if anything predictable.

The experience is new: I can literally feel the thickness in my epidermis. Not the familiar slow-growing paunch — a feature I regard as pretty much inevitable, something to be embraced — but a new and physically real density in the flesh across my chest, my back, in my legs, and elsewhere. It impedes my ability to stretch. It causes my clothes to not fit. It is novel, but not very nice.

Which is not to say I am in horrible shape or anything. Thanks to a rangy youth and a collegiate career that featured extreme physical conditioning, I have a good base physique. However, over the past year and change, my only regular exercise has been bike commuting two/from work. This is enough to keep from falling off completely, but coupled with teenage eating habits and regular consumption of beer, it's been a losing battle. Throw in the holiday season — more feasting, less biking — and you arrive at this blubbery terminus.

Thus: to the gym last night, and enough of a workout that I felt dazed and slightly nauseous afterwards. Skeletal muscle movement is one of two drivers of circulation for our lymphatic system, which is one of the primary mechanisms we have for moving white blood cells around in our body. This is one of the reasons you feel extra-terrible the first time you exercise after a sedentary period: the garbage trucks are moving again. So too the next-day pain that I feel right now as the result of my muscles' shock at being suddenly pressed into service. Both these ails will evaporate within a week of consistent exertion.

For food, I made myself a shake with protein powder, yogurt and some frozen fruit bits, then a bit later some grilled chicken with black beans and guacamole. Lacking in veggies, but good protein and . Coupled with a few Piraats it's probably more calories than anyone should really be wolfing down on a Saturday, but I'm not trying to be a body-builder here. Just want to restore some sanity to the equation.

I'm not sure if this is cheating, keeping my writing resolution with the topic of my physical fitness. Also, I really don't want to turn into one of those people who blogs about their workouts all the time. However, there are some good words there — I like "muscles pressed into service" as a phrase, nice entendre; also "blubbery terminus" for sheer phonic glee — and maybe the public-shaming aspect of writing about this and not following through will help me keep up the momentum. We shall see. Tomorrow is another day.