Robbie's new healthy physique and outlook on life
I went to my Doctor this morning for my annual physical - I had delayed it from February since I was working on losing weight and didn't want to go in for that in such sad shape as I was in back then, just as I was getting ramped up on my new fitness routine. But today's appointment was the end goal and I needed to get the results so that I could claim victory or find out I'd need to continue taking blood pressure and cholesterol meds for the rest of my life...July 2012 - I weighed in at 256 lbs / 116.5 kg, with blood pressure at 156/102 (very high - morbidly in fact). Body fat percentage was in the 33% range... the irony being I didn't look like I was morbidly obese, being tall and long boned, I just looked like your average American middle ager who enjoyed somewhat too much food and beer. But I wasn't feeling great at all...
Aug 2013 - 212 lbs / 96.4 kg (-44 lbs), blood pressure 123/78, resting pulse 71 bpm. Body fat percentage 14.5%. Definitely looking thinner now - waitress at my favorite mexican restaurant today mentioned I look skinny now (she was on maternity leave since end of March, so she can be forgiven). Feeling really good now, with a lot more muscle on my frame and not looking so puffy anymore.
Doctor has said I can go off the meds now - I've been off the meds for several months now, but he's given me the a-ok to stay off, so I am feeling really proud of myself at this time. I'm also looking better than I have since my early 30's - it's shaved off 10 years in perceived age, and my energy levels are way up. Funny, it has also helped with my being sharper thinking wise, and quicker as well.
New Stuff in the Studio
I've gone through some shopping for studio software the last while, plus I succumbed to my own pressure and took the Black Strat to the shop to install the roller nut and do a better job shielding the pickup cavity. Here's a list of the software I've picked up:
- Native Instruments Komplete 9 (the upgrade version)
- Evolve for Kontakt, along with the Mutations bundle
- Alchemy synth
- Waves Musicians 2 bundle
- Izotope Ozone 5 and Nectar effects bundles
- Seymour Duncan SH-18 Whole Lotta Humbucker pickup set
- 14" Zildjian hihats
- Sabian Neil Peart Paragon ride cymbal
- DW XHat attachment
- some more interesting drum rack stuff - curved pieces and clamps to better set up the kit
I was really hot to get the Izotope stuff - I've had Alloy now for several months and its amazing! I also had an "evaluation copy" of Ozone 5 and it was a package that makes a world of difference in your mix and master recording. And then, while evaluating Nectar, I found my vocal tracks to sound just phenomenal - even the ones that had serious issues and were pitchy. So picking these up was a no brainer - got 25% off in the end which was a bonus.
Similarly, Evolve and Alchemy I've been drooling over for a long long time - and they were both on sale! Great ambient stuff, some neat morphing loops and awesome cinematics that inspire a lot of creative thought. The really nice thing about both these, and the Komplete 9 package, is they can be installed and hosted on the Muse Receptor - so both studio and live possibilities are endless. Not to mention I can offload some of the VST workload onto the external box now.
I had considered Izotope's Iris package - but that will be a future purchase. Its a very very nice synth, but I feel that I really needed the ones I picked up, and after all my budget is limited. The more I look into the possibilities of the Muse, the more impressed I get....
Anyways - I had committed to getting out marginally early to hit the gym tonight. It's now 4:30 pm - FAIL. Have a great weekend folks!
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