TBL update

So it has almost been a month and the biggest loser is on and going strong. It is amazing how quickly your body becomes used to a new routine. It adjusts almost immediately and somehow manages to keep everything rolling along relatively smoothly. The first week of the biggest loser was pretty mind blowing. Jessi and I lost a lot of weight in a little time and we both up-ed the amount of weight that we are hoping to lose by the time we are done. The thing that neither of us were counting on was the bodies ability to adjust to the minimized calorie intake and the maximized calorie burn.

The second week we both lost a pound...that's right. We went from losing 9 and 7 pounds to 1! Talk about a kick in the pants. Amazingly enough this did not make either one of us want to work harder, but discouraged us both immensely. Now we did come back and made the third week a little more productive. Jessi got down to 165 and I got down to 218. That is a pretty impressive loss! We will see how we did this week as we come up to one month of TBL09!!

The Biggest Loser 2009

SO! Jessi and I have started a competition with 9 other people to become the biggest loser...I immediately went out and got some braces, coke-bottle glasses and suspenders...I'm pretty sure I will win! Just kidding, this is obviously a weight loss thing and not a dork contest.

So the plan is to lose 30 pounds in 84 days. We started on the 1st of September and end a day or two before thanksgiving. Today was our first weigh in after we started the diet and exercise programs. And I am super happy to report that both Jessi and I lost (drumroll)...7 pounds! So we are well on our way.

This is the first time that we have tried two different exercise techniques. So we will see whose works better. Jessi is going to do classes at the local 24 hour fitness. I am going to run and strength train while trying to avoid the gym. I will let you know how it goes...before picture...well, I'll get one of those up when I can find it

Johnny K's visit part 2

So in true Josh and Jessi fashion, as soon as we were done with our vacation, we had a friend come to visit. Just so that we don't feel like we can relax...you know. But we had a great visit. We went Ocean Kayaking, swam in the pool, saw a movie and went to a concert...here are some highlight pics!

Johnny K's visit

Ocean Kayaking, days by the pool, Downtown dinners, and the music festival Street Scene...but I'll tell you about it later!

Utah Trip

So here you have the first extension of the Bates' Family, as it sits in 2009. With Jessi and I and my two brothers, their wives and kids, my sister, and my Mom. We only get to do these pictures once every couple of years. Our chosen paths have taken us all in different directions and it has become very difficult to get us all in one place at any given time. However, every time that we pull it off I think to myself...this is what it is all about...this is what we need to be striving towards. It is such a pleasure to be with everyone, as hectic as it gets (and it does get hectic) it is always immensely pleasing just to see everyone!Unfortunately I wasn't able to update frequently on this trip so you won't get a day by day but I will hit up the highlights.

First the Kids. I know what you are thinking...four kids, that can't possibly be that loud. But trust me it can be! This was the first time that we had met Lola, the youngest girl. Her and her older Sister Bailey, and Jaxson and Max absolutely made me want to have kids...in a few years. The amount of energy that is expended by these four is astounding. I tried to keep up for the

first day or two, and when the kids got on the trampoline I did my best to climb on there and jump with them, but by the middle of the second day my back was spasming, and I thought I had pulled one of my stomach muscles. Now, academically, I know that a baby is not born with the ability to make you run all over the place to play, and that you grow together and play together, but this trip made me wonder if I would ever be able to keep up!

And now the Siblings! I forgot how smooth and comfortable it is to be around all of my siblings. There is nothing in this world that makes me feel more at home than to be around the group of people that I grew up with. We have all taken different paths and have our own viewpoints...not all of which line up exactly...but when we cometogether and just sit down and talk it is like

all of the time that has past melts away and I am back to being a part of a bigger whole. It really is a magical experience. Maybe it is made all the sweeter by knowing that it will be a while before I get to experience that again. But I try to relish in every moment that we get to spend back together as a cohesive unit!

Followed by the Spouses! I don't have a picture of just them so here is one of the girls all together! What a collection of amazing women! This is a group that has the strength to pull these three brothers in the right direction. Which is, in itself a monumental task. But they also have the ability to bend and flex that allows them to melt so perfectly into the strange and wonderful pot that is the Family Bates'. Each one different than the other but somehow all of them perfect for their match. The men of this family would not be half of what they are without their respective partners.

And finally Mom! Mom is where the members of this family get a lot of what makes them who they are. She is the reason that we can come home after a day of work and get to work. She has raised four wonderful children who only occassionally make monumental mistakes. It is her strength and compassion, and a few good spankings that led us to be who we all are...and each of us is pretty great!

Paddle boarding and Sunset dinners on the beach

So yesterday we rented one of those stand up paddle boards and took it to the beach to give it a go. It was soooo much fun. It is a lot like Kayaking except harder to balance and easier to get back on when you fall off. Jessi, Cindy, Rachel and I all had a turn. The sensation once you get your balance is like walking on water. It was a little gloomy yesterday but when the sun came out and you looked into the water you could make out the rocks and things below you. At first that was a little intimdating until you realize the water is just really clear and you are looking down 15-20 ft. There was a moment when everything lined up with my balance and I was able to look around and just enjoy the harbor. It felt a lot like being on a boat, except the water would slowly cascade over your feet with the waves. I think that I am going to try to find some on the cheap for when we are back in California. I think it is something that I could totally get into! We followed that up with dinner in a restaurant right on the beach with the most beautiful sunset. Pretty incredible for a couple of Howlie's (derogatory Hawaiian term for mainlanders)

North Shore and Karaoke

Yesterday was the day for the hike and the trip to Waimaea Falls. So naturally none of that happened, but we did make it to the beach and for a beautiful drive, and finished it out with some Karaoke! Everyone sang except for Dave. There were a lot of duets and Jessi rocked us out with one of her favorite songs from Paramore. Henry belted out some rock and roll and Cindy did some Jewel. I stuck with my standard Frank Sinatra and Just a Jigolo. Here are some pics!That is me standing next to a turtle...Awesome! And Jessi showing her excitement for the beach. And us in the water! It was incredible. Followed up with some Karaoke!