Darn commercial breaks

One of the pleasures of watching The X-Files on DVD is the absence of commercial breaks. But that hasn't stopped them interfering with my progress. In season one, an average episode is about 45 minutes. That's enough time to comfortably burn over 400 calories. But season two is averaging a mere 43 minutes per episode -- a change that can only be accounted for in increasingly long commercial breaks for Fox. The reason why remains a mystery. By season 2, The X-Files was a big hit so were Fox cashing in by throwing a few more commericals into the breaks? Regardless, this is screwing with my burned calories total (don't Fox execs think of these things?!). I've been coming in below 400 calories for 43 minute episodes which just doesn't seem sufficient. The solution? Increase the incline so I'm now walking up a 6% hill (previous incline was 5%). Additional commercials -- they really do make things an uphill struggle :-)

PS -- no weight loss this week.

Another week, another pound

Although not quite up to par with The Biggest Loser, the Walking The X-Files challenge has now seen me lose a "whopping" 3 pounds, with one pound shed this week. Not an amazing total, but remember all I'm doing is walking an extra 45 minutes a day, without any other changes in diet or exercise.

According to the Medical Review Board, a pound of fat equals 3,500 calories. So assuming my current diet keeps my weight stable, if I burn 3,500 additional calories through exercise, I should lose a pound of weight. That's holding true so far: to burn 3 pounds I'd need to expend 10,500 calories. So far I've burned 10,855 and indeed lost 3 pounds. Spooky!

One down, eight to go

After 18 hours over 19 days, walking 64 miles, and burning 10,000 calories, The X-Files season one concludes. A New Years Resolution lasting into Jan 19th is without doubt a record for me, and so far I've not skipped a day. Up at 6:45am for brekkie then on to the treadmill... and the occasional weekend double bill too. Or have I? As the conclusion to season one states: "trust no one!"

Best and worst

Eighteen episodes in, and things have really started to pick up in the first season of the X-Files. Some great stories, including the alien abduction of Max Fenig, and the government conspiracy surrounding an EBE. Cell phones have finally made it, and the special effects crew is in full swing. I've had some very pleasurable 45 minute walks. But you have to take the good with the bad, and they don't get much worse than the episode Shapes. A 20-minute story about a shape-shifing man/beast agonisingly stretched over 45. The ending (when it finally mercifully came) suggests that these attacks will happen every eight years. A lead character shouts "Mulder -- see you in eight years". "I hope not" replies Mulder. Thankfully the writers agreed, and I won't be suffering through this again in season eight!

Regarding the Monday weigh-in. I walked 24 miles this week, burning 3,771 calories. Unfortunately that was barely enough to counter the chocolate snacks, beers, and beef as I weighed in at 186lbs -- the same as last week. I'll put that down to an increase in calf muscles or something :-)

The first weigh-in

Today is Monday, and that means weigh-in day. And I'm pleased to report that after walking the equivalent of a marathon this week, I've got a 2 pound weight loss to report, down to 186 lbs. Not to mention a much better knowledge of alien abductions, parasites buried under ice caps, and the NASA space program. Here's to another good week.

Cheers!

As any athlete knows, when exercising it is important to replace lost fluids and energy. As you can see, I'm taking this advice very seriously. Cheers to you all :-)

15 years ago

The X-Files premiered back in 1993. According to my fingers and toes that's an astonishing 15 years ago. It's odd to look back on a show that in the 90s was so modern and groundbreaking, to see it now appear dated. In the first four episodes I've already seen two terrible tweed jackets (which surely were out of fashion even in 93!), not to forget Mulder's super-blow-dried puffy hair, and the lack of almost any special effects (beyond bright lights and lens flare). But the most surprisingly thing of all in these early shows is the lack of cell phones. In later seasons Mulder and Scully are rarely seen without a phone to their ear. Yet 4 episodes in to the first season the lead characters spend half their time tracking down pay phones and working telephones in motels. I wonder what people will be saying about shows like "24" in 15 years time? "Remember when Jack Bauer had to drive places instead of flying in a car-plane"

And here we go....

Jan 1st, a new year, and a whole series of The X-Files ahead of me. My name is Martin Keen, and this is my challenge for 2008. The aim is to watch all 9 seasons (201 episodes) of the show, plus the X-Files movie in time for the big X-Files 2 movie premier in July. And I guess, maybe lose a few Christmas pounds too. Watching the X-Files.... could it actually be good for you?! Here's the setup: a treadmill, a TV, a portable DivX player, and a whole lot of spare time. I'll keep you up to date with how I go -- anyone else crazy/sad enough to do this too?