Journey, Not A Destination

FYI, I approached the interview telling Lyle that my audience isn't your typical diehard bodybuilder or fitness competitor. Rather, this will be read primarily by average/overweight/obese folk who are just starting on their quests for knowledge and health.

He still gets a little technical in parts but all in all I think it's an understandable interview.

Plus, anything I present on my site or blog is up for discussion/clarification... that's where the fun lies. :)
 
Falling over would not be a good thing, lol. How do I or the inspectors know if the foundation is good?!

It's easy with a stone house on a stone foundation. (the whole thing is sort of it's own foundation!). You check for level and plumb first. You look for evidence of repeated repair attempts, cracked, crumbling or broken stones, cracks that run from the ground up to door and window openings.

Then you look at how the floor is supported in the basement. They did it in a lot of ways. In some cases they left pockets for the beams and in some cases the foundation narrowed where the walls started above the ground line leaving a shelf that supports the floor decking. If the beams or supports are obviously shimmed in spots because the structure has sunk around the perimeter but not at the center posts or chimney stack and no longer make contact with the pockets or shelf, that's a clue. If the floors are not level-ish, that's another. Some settling is okay and normal, but settling on one side only or remarkable settling is suspect.

From what I know the original house hasn't been changed all that much. Many of the interior walls are open faced stone, if that makes some sense. The floors are all 'new' but are wood with old barn boards.

It has so much personality.

It is likely that the walls were originally framed in, lathed and plastered if the structure was originally a house and not a barn or utility building. My ex Mother-in-law's house, which she was convinced was a 250 year old home was in fact a 250 year old blacksmith shed, converted in the early 1800's to a dwelling. We checked the town's land records. She was disappointed, but it just made it more cool as far as I was concerned.

I wonder why the floors were replaced? The old wide-pine floors were typically prized and pains were taken to keep them. Of course if the structure was built in 1708 the floor might've been replaced in the 1800's when there was little nostalgia for old homes. The replacement would have been with spruce, fir or oak toungue-and-groove flooring, usually 3-inches wide or thereabouts.

The love for old homes came with the colonial revival at the turn of the 1800 - 1900 century. So some time after that they might've decided to take out the Victorian-era floors and replace them with a more "period" correct floor.

Anyway, it's beautiful.

David
 
Fact or Fiction

Steve-

I remember reading in a magazine eons ago that on average a woman's metabolism increases 0.5% for every hour that she weightlifts... is that true if we are speaking on average? Is an increase of 0.5% too much for one hour of working (my memory is a little foggy if it's one hour or three hours actually :()? And also, is it possible to increase your metabolism while being in a defecit?
 
Hopefully the training isn't too bad!

The training was called "managing for results". It actually was a wonderful training that helped us zero in on our strengths and weaknesses, management styles, and communication styles. It was really good insight and couldn't have come at a better time as I transition into my new management role on Monday.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
 
It's easy with a stone house on a stone foundation. (the whole thing is sort of it's own foundation!). You check for level and plumb first. You look for evidence of repeated repair attempts, cracked, crumbling or broken stones, cracks that run from the ground up to door and window openings.

Then you look at how the floor is supported in the basement. They did it in a lot of ways. In some cases they left pockets for the beams and in some cases the foundation narrowed where the walls started above the ground line leaving a shelf that supports the floor decking. If the beams or supports are obviously shimmed in spots because the structure has sunk around the perimeter but not at the center posts or chimney stack and no longer make contact with the pockets or shelf, that's a clue. If the floors are not level-ish, that's another. Some settling is okay and normal, but settling on one side only or remarkable settling is suspect.

Okay, great.

This house actually doesn't have a basement. Well, I guess the first floor is the basement. But it's only partially below ground.

It is likely that the walls were originally framed in, lathed and plastered if the structure was originally a house and not a barn or utility building. My ex Mother-in-law's house, which she was convinced was a 250 year old home was in fact a 250 year old blacksmith shed, converted in the early 1800's to a dwelling. We checked the town's land records. She was disappointed, but it just made it more cool as far as I was concerned.

That is cool.

This original house was actually a toll house for a bridge that burned over a century ago.
 
Steve-

I remember reading in a magazine eons ago that on average a woman's metabolism increases 0.5% for every hour that she weightlifts... is that true if we are speaking on average?

I don't think that's true from what I know.

Gaining muscle will increase your metabolism. But you aren't going to be gaining muscle while dieting. At least not enough to make that much of a difference.

Unless they were referring to something known as EPOC? Does that sound familiar?

And also, is it possible to increase your metabolism while being in a defecit?

See above.

In addition, your body is preset to survive. This means it's going to try and preserve itself when calories are inadequate.
 
The training was called "managing for results". It actually was a wonderful training that helped us zero in on our strengths and weaknesses, management styles, and communication styles. It was really good insight and couldn't have come at a better time as I transition into my new management role on Monday.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

That's great. I actually have witnessed many presentations for business that really helped not only in the actual job... but in other areas of life too. Can't beat a good presenter.
 
Hey- hope you gave a kick ass best man's speech - (apt title for you by the way :D

and you're having all kinds of wedding fun...

It was a very nice wedding. I nailed the speech. I had so many people of all ages come up to me and say it was the best speech they've heard at a wedding ever. Most of it was simply me being a clown and making people laugh. I wrapped it up with some nice serious stuff though. I had a lot of fun giving it, actually.

The bride and I always mess with each other and I usually win. She repaid me though. I was told to stand next to the groom when they were cutting the cake for pictures. I remember thinking this was strange but I guess not enough to increase my awareness. Before I knew it, she went to smash the cake in my cousin's face and totally bypassed him and destroyed me! I had cake in my eyes, nose, hair... everywhere.

The weekend was a blur though. Fun but fast.

Today I'm busy as hell so I doubt I'll be on as much as usual. We'll see!
 
not even a root cellar?

I suppose no basement is OK... less of a chance of flooded basements... :D

PA doesn't get too many tornadoes :D

Nope. It has a utility room branching off from the 'first floor' kitchen but that's it. I think originally the first floor was the basement.
 
Thanks. :)

I was quite nervous to be honest. I had it all written out, 3 pages actually. I didn't use it once though. Once I got up there it was very natural.
 
Uh yah... you can beat me later. Life got hectic and a bitch got caught up in all the drama. Bah. I['ll have to drop you a line soon enough, homeboy. Hope you and Krista are well, doll.

-S
 
Damn Sheryl, where the fuck have you been? I wanted to email you so bad but my yahoo account got all messed up and a lost a ton of my contacts. You deserve an ass whoopin is all I know.
 
Wow, life IS pretty hectic for ya!

I cannot ditch big thighs if I tried. It is my build. :coolgleamA:

It is my 26th birthday on Monday. This weekend a boatload of my friends are going to party it up with me, pictures to come. I'm very pleased, I'm only 5 lbs away from my goal, 7-2 pounds away from my goal "range," and all I really did was continue with my exercise routine, but cut back on sugar big time. All is good in the hood. Single life is treating me right :biggrinjester: and I just bought a really cute dress yesterday on a serendipitous expedition. Wahhooo! Hope all goes well in your endeavors,
~V
 
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