With These Hands

Hey there,

Well undoubtedly everybody has seen my photos. I'm sure most of you have see me in some of those photos, and said to yourselves "Hmmmm, something is different about that guy... What could it be?" Well now I urge you all to come closer so I can tell you a secret:

"I used to be fat!"

Plain and simple. In April of 2007 when I began my weight loss journey I weighed a whopping 120 kilograms. In April of 2008 when I left home and moved to Japan I weighed 100 kilograms. As of today, January 13, 2009 I weigh 80 kilograms. Not a bad effort if I do say so myself.

For the most part I've done it on my own. I didn't make a huge fuss out of it, I just set my goal, aimed high and went about it on my own. It paid off.

As of today I can no longer do that.

For my next stage I want you all to join me and be part of my transformation into the kind of man I've always wanted to become. This is a photo of me taken today:



Take good long look at it because it is the last time you will ever see me looking like that. I have given myself 90 days, that's three months, of no sweets, junk food or anything that may affect my goal. My goal of having a six-pack by my 22nd Birthday.

I am going to take a photo of myself every day for the next three months and post it on here so that you can watch my progress. On top of that I will post a blog everyday with my photo to let you know how I am feeling or any changes that I have noticed.

Living alone in a country where I don't speak the language I am counting on your support and strength to push me when it gets tough. I don't ask for it often, but I need your help.

So wish me luck, and keep watching as I change myself once again.

Oh and if your wondering where the new blog name came from, I took it from this quote:

"Don't ask for it; go take it with your own hands. Do that and you will always be rewarded."

Better Late Then Never

Well first of all a big "Happy New Year!!" too every one reading. I know its later, but better that then not at all.

You might notice that the site will look a bit odd here and there, or things might just vanish from time to time over the next few days. I'm just sorting the site out and maybe revamping it a little bit so bare with me.

I will have a post up later this week.

The Best Laid Plans

I had fully intended to post this week, and in fact on Monday took a few hours out of my day to write up what I had been doing lately and explain my absence. It had photos and everything.

Then my computer decided to crash.

And now it's gone. So because I am heading to Tokyo to meet up with my family for Christmas I won't be able to post for a few weeks. Sorry!

I'll try my best to get something up while we are in Tokyo, but as for long rants, well they can wait until after the new year now. I have a few plans I want to begin after the new year rolls in so let's see how they go...

A few more photos...

I was able to take a few more shots before I left for work yesterday. It's too bad that it's pouring with rain today, the snow has all melted or washed away so it's just miserable looking. I liked the way the snow looked. I'm sure it will be back as the temperature gets colder though.



Anyway, these photos were taken just up at the local shrine near my apartment. I thought the place looked pretty cool and don't really think my photos did it any justice but here they are regardless.

I should mention that I also picked up a video camera last week. It's pretty nice and records in Hi-Definition so the footage is really clear. I've been running around getting strange looks while I filmed the most seemingly mundane things. So expect my first attempt at a video to be posted soon.



I also fully intend on (even though I sometimes am now with my SLR) becoming that annoying guy whose always in every one's face when they're out somewhere.

Hey I'm going to see a lot in three years and meet many people, I think I should be allowed to share that with you all.

Two Seasons in 24 Hours

I took my camera out to Iwate Park yesterday before my day in the office to see if I
could take some photos of the infamous Autumn leaves before they all fell to the ground and were crushed. I hazard a guess that I got to them on the last day possible because the park looked like it had been gripped by winter.



I was woken up this morning around 9 by a phone call. At first I suspected it was dad calling again and picked it up with out looking at the name. It was my next door neighbor Megan, asking if I had looked out the window today.



No I thought to myself, the last thing I remember seeing was a dream that involved myself chasing after a monkey who for some reason had stolen my box of cornflakes from my pantry. I bet it was that arsehole Coco Pops Monkey.



So I took her advice and pulled back my curtain only to be amazed. Yesterday in Morioka had seen the some of the first snow fall in Iwate. It was cool, but I wasn't really impressed. It was hard and stung my face alot. This morning however everything as far as the eye can see is covered in white powder. It's awesome.




I went straight outside still wearing my Pajamas and began taking photos of the surrounding area. Some of them didn't turn out to well because I haven't figured out how to adjust my camera for the snow yet, but the ones that did will explain how cool the place looks.



I'm heading out again soon so I might get some more photos up before I head to work this after noon. As it is at the moment the snow hasn't stopped falling so maybe by time I get a few more from around town they will be more impressive.



Now I just have to work out how to ride my bike around with out killing myself... A tough one.