msf

By the way, is that a V-strom in your videos?

These guys are crazy... here's another bike - this one just has a V-12... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X28Uo_DCUsI Still, nothing beats that radial for the coolness factor! Any motorcycle with a prop has to be a good one...

I don't post often, but I couldn't resist.... THIS is a motorcycle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hirsRnytTkU Would be a blast to ride around..... say, in Colorado....

Wow... has to be that office... I've had nothing but good experiences when I've used online forwarding and mail holds via USPS web site. For my last two moves, I was able to extend the forwards for more than a year - I'm pretty sure I didn't miss a single piece of mail. Also used the hold service and also to redirect to a mail service for about 6 months - both times were great too. This was in CA and RI. And I NEVER had to go inside of a Post Office - don't think I've seen the inside of one of those in years!!! Good luck - sounds like you have a local PO that is still a few decades behind!

Static Line. DZ where I did my first jump had students do 5 static lines each with a practice pull (you had to pass each with a decent exit and a good pull of the dummy handle as you came off the wing strut); when you passed your 5 static lines you progressed to what is basically AFF. I think it was called ASL. They also offered straight-to-AFF if you really wanted but they encouraged the static line route. That was good enough for me - if the people I was trusting to teach me recommended static line, then static line for me it was. Glad I did. Gave me some stories I will also remember.

As long as you accurately input your weight, it is very accurate (which I do). I'm by no means an athlete but do have very good cardio output. My results are consistent on the ARC trainer vs measurements on a treadmill (commercial). I think one key point you might be missing is that when you add an incline component to the elliptical motion, you are seriously increasing the calorie burn and workout intensity (hence, the intervals). I think it is a VERY fair point that performance on machines vs performance real world doesn't match one to one, but if a good quality machine is used properly you do get accurate results (+/-5%). That's my experience and seems to be correlated by other past assessment measures I've done. Frankly, 1000 calories per hour is NOT that amazing when you consider heart rate. If I were to stick at a fat-burning 120 or so range, my calorie burn would be MUCH less - probably around 800 or 850 for the hour.

REALLY depends on your goals. I think one thing that many people miss is that not all meal replacement shakes are the same. There are many that are full of artificial crap that I wound't touch. Slim-Fast, for example. Given the choice of slim-fast or a fast food burger, I'll go for the burger. That said, given the choice of a high quality MRS without chemical additives, I'd go for the MRS. There are a few brands I would use; for the last year, I'm 100% on Isagenix (and no, I don't sell it although they do have a marketing model that benefits those that do). The second thing that people miss is the MRS vs. meal plans vs. other supplements is HIGHLY personal depending on your physiology, goals, and personal habits. No change of habits works if you can't or don't change with them. For me, MRS is a huge convenience and works for me. I also get less hungry vs. when I used to try to do healthy meals. So, for me it works. Also, for me, I wouldn't touch a creatine supplement. Not that they are wrong, but they don't match my goals. I'm primarily interested in endurance and not mass or strength. The weight loss is incidental to my real goals on endurance (and my ability to go up a 5,800 foot mountain in less than 3 hours now, vs the 5-6 hours it used to take me). Not saying creatine is bad - it's very good for some goals. I think it's great for people to see examples of programs that work; for them to work to understand WHY and HOW they work, and then choose the right program for them. That's my .02!

I did splurge and have an ARC trainer at home (AT770 model - the big commercial one). It's really just a fancy elliptical. I hit 1100 calories in a 60 minute workout consistently, and can do a little better (average cal per time) on my shorter 30 minute sessions. Yes, it is working HARD for me to have that kind of calorie burn. I do interval sessions - each cycle is 4 minutes, ramping up each minute for 4 minutes. HR average is around 145 for the low minute, and 175 for the high minute. Obviously, 175 is high and I wouldn't recommend people normally exercise at that level without getting a stress test, talking to their doctor, and ideally knowing their VO2 Max.

None that I've heard of! :-)

I can share my experience... I have several friends who have tried this too with great results. I also know people that don't do well on meal replacements.. I do think it's a very individual thing to your personality and body. I started slowly with meal replacement shakes for breakfast only. It wasn't long before I switched to meal replacements for breakfast and lunch 5 days per week (on weekends, I would usually do a replacement for breakfast and then eat lunch and dinner). After about 2 months, and for the last year, I do meal replacement shakes for 14 out of 21 meals per week (breakfast and lunch every day). I've never felt better, have tons more energy, and have lost 50 lbs. I'm down around 174 lbs - I haven't been that slim since high school (decades ago). Protein shakes and meal replacement shakes are not the same thing. Protein shakes typically do not have a balanced nutrient content and are used to supplement protein needs. Real meal replacement shakes have a balance of fat, protein and carbs as well as other vitamins, minerals and small things like that you need to live and be healthy. For meal replacement shakes, I use Isagenix (Isalean Shakes and Isalean Pro with extra protein for work-out days). I have friends who also have good results on Muscle Milk. MM has more fat, and is sweeter - for me, it makes me crave sweet things where Isagenix doesn't. I also don't get hungry on Isagenix. My routine is simple: meal replacement shake for breakfast and lunch. In the afternoon, I have some fruit (usually 2 servings worth). For dinner, 5 nights per week I eat steamed or roasted veggies and lean protein (usually fish, shrimp or scallops - also simply cooked either baked, steamed or seared). Two nights per week I end up eating out or getting something delivered. Exercise, I try to burn 3500-4000 calories in hard cardio. For me, that's 2 1-hour workouts and 3 30 minute workouts. When you add cool-down time, I do cardio about 4 hours per week. That's my routine for the last year. 50 lbs down, all new clothes TWICE, and feel better than ever. I was on meds for hypertension; been off of those for 10 months now as well (definitely weigh related). Good luck in what you choose (and again - watch out - big difference between meal replacement and plain protein shakes - meal replacements can have lots of protein AND also contain other nutrients; as opposed to supplement-only protein shakes).

Just past a year since my eating changes... I started at about 220 lbs, delivery food most nights, and no real exercise. I've switched to meal replacement protein shakes for 13 meals per week (every breakfast, and 6 out of 7 lunches). I usually have fruit in the afternoons, and eat 4 steamed veggies & lean protein, usually fish, 5 nights per week. I lunch per week (Sunday) I go for Chinese because I like it. 2 nights per week, I get wings and pasta delivered (for me, and I have parrots - one of them LOVES pasta, so he needs his weekly fix as well). On the fish/veggie nights, I usually do splurge with some little dessert. I also added cardio work - 5 days per week, about 4 hours worth in the week. Over the year, I'm down to the low 170's, nearly 50 lbs down. The mountain that used to take me 5 hours to ascend (4.5 miles, 4500 feet in elevation gain) now takes me 3 hours and 15 minutes. It's worth it, definitely feel better, and I feel a LOT better about how I look and the clothes I buy. I was always an XL shirt guy (since my early teens, decades ago) and have bought size M for the first time ever. It's a life change, so don't cut out everything bad - figure out how to work in the things you like and need to still feel good (I eat more carrot cake now that I ever have in my life, but everything else is in better balance so I'm still losing weight). Enjoy the changes! [oh yeah - I cut out soft drinks too - that was huge. Water, black coffee and unsweetened tea are it now - cutting out diet coke was a least 5 or 10 lbs I'm sure]

Alberta doesn't count - it's just a big farm! It only gets interesting when you get through BC and Yukon...

I'd say "go for it!" I've done 3,000+ mile drives several times (solo) and each time have thought it was amazing. I've done New Orleans to Anchorage via the Al-Can, crossing the border in Montana. There are a few things to remember: - there are large stretches of the ALCAN without services, so plan your stops. Get a copy of The Milepost a few weeks in advance (http://milepost.com/) - plan the drive, drive the plan! - check out your car (or have your car checked out) before you go. I'd have it done a WEEK before you go, not the day before - you never know when you get a rookie mechanic that causes a problem (e.g. forgetting to tighten the drain plug). Change the fluids (when was the last time your transmission fluid was changed? if 4-wheel drive, change the diff oil. Check the brake fluid and brakes. Of course change the engine oil. Check Power-steering, belts, hoses, coolant, etc...) - Buy the fluids you could possibly need and carry them in the car - I carried a gallon of coolant, 5 quarts of engine oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and two quarts of transmission fluid. It doesn't cost much and it's a lot of insurance. - have a basic toolkit - screwdrivers, wrenches, and maybe a few radiator hose clamps. 80% of problems have a simple fix. - PLAN your fuel stops. Know your fuel range. My mantra on the AL-Can was if my range was less than 150 miles, STOP FOR GAS WHEN YOU SEE IT. you might not think you need it, but if the next station is closed you are stuffed. I seem to remember one long stretch with more than 200 miles between stations - if you are planning using your Milepost, you will be good. - I planned on driving at least 500 miles per day. I ended up between 450 and 500 most days. Don't plan to be on the road for more than 12 hours - not worth it. - Don't plan to be on the road right at dawn - let the sun come up. There are less animals (but still watch out) in full light. - if the worst happens and you have a breakdown, there will be another car along and someone will help you. It may take an hour or so if you are off-season, but it is still civilization. During season, there is a fair amount of traffic on the road. ENJOY it. For all of the planning crap above, it was one of the most relaxing times I can remember. Lots of time to just enjoy the scenery, and get away from cell phones / TV / Internet, etc... Whitehorse is a great place to stop. Tok is a good next stop from there. It's a drive I would do again in a heartbeat given the time!

Kawasaki Ninja, 250R or 500R (NOT one of the bigger ones). While it sounds like a sports bike (and looks a little like a sports bike), the smaller ones are really a good entry level bike. You sit more upright than a full sport bike, and they have a great power range - not too much for a beginner rider (I'm assuming you are a beginner rider here; ignore the recommendation if I'm wrong), but they both have a power band at higher rpm's that will keep them fun for a few years. Parts are cheap; you can find these bikes everywhere new and used. They hold their value well - when you do outgrow it, you can sell it at a reasonable price and upgrade. Motorcycle Safety Foundation has EXCELLENT courses. Take the Basic Safety Course as part of getting your license, and consider taking the advanced classes as you progress. Again, I'm assuming you are a new rider. When I was, the best advice I ever got was to NOT get a bike that was too big - it's easy to get into trouble. I now ride a Buell Ulysses (1203 cc) but am VERY glad I spent my first few years on a Ninja 500R.

omg! I love your car! I would SO drive it! Well, hopefully I will be driving it to Byron in a few weeks on weekends, so I can re-start/finish AFF. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who can drive it is welcome to give it a try while I'm there!