Cruising And Losing

I'm mad as hell...

2011-01-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

...And I'm not gonna take it anymore!

Today's Weigh In: 287.1

This message is addressed to the motherfu... err....Man in the Mirror.

Alright Self. Can you see what you've done here? Is it obvious enough for you? At one point you weighed over 300 lbs. Then you got down to 185...and now you're at 287. Congratulations on giving back nearly all of the progress you made. Congratulations on the fact that you went from 44 waisted pants to 32 waisted pants...and now you're back in 40s. Dammit what happened to your old motto: "Do Something?"

Oh, wait a minute. I know what happened. You did something. The WRONG thing. Eating too much of the wrong stuff. Making excuses instead of an effort. Sure, you're busy but DAMN. You made promises to yourself. Some of them you did well on. You got your bachelor's degree just fine. A BA from Oakland U in May of 2010, just like you planned. You worked your ass off for that one, didn't you? Late nights were spent studying and you did so much writing that at least two people you know who have degrees in English freaked out when they saw it. It's just too bad that you spent most of your study time EATING.

Ya know, it's sad Self. If you had just spent a tenth of the time working on your weight that you did on school you'd be in great shape. You had ALREADY DONE THE HARD PART. Dammit, you were fifteen pounds from your eventual goal after losing over 100. The really bad part is that the doctor you talked to recommended a weight of about 180. You were almost there. The pattern was established. All you had to do was what you had been doing. Then what happened? You quit.

So, Self, you fucking fat-ass, we're gonna come up with a plan. There's no point in bitching if it's not going to change is it?

So here's the plan:

1.) The bad eating STOPS. No more midnight snacks. Junk food gets cut WAY down. Good food will be consumed in appropriate quantities.

2.) I don't think the walking will work anymore with the fact that my daughter is older and won't sit in a stroller, so it's time to do the Wii Fit you bought and never really used. Instead of miles walked, I can report the amount of time spent on the Wii. Maybe I can finally get the rhythm of that damned boxing game.

3.) Repeat

And that's all. Eat right and work out and I'll get there right?

If you're reading this, I need your help too. Keep me honest. If I have a bad day don't hesitate to give me shit about it. It helps, believe me. Accountability is the only way to stay focused. Ultimately, I have to be accountable to myself, but it helps if you keep me accountable too. It's time to get things pointed back in the right direction. It's time to, once again, Do Something.

FINALLY!!!!!

2008-06-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today's Weigh in 188.8 (NEW LOW)

My goal was to be under 190 by my daughter's birthday, which is January 19. Uhhh..it didn't happen. That's for a lot of reasons, and is totally my fault, but admitting where the fault lies does do a whole lot to change the fact. Oh well, I'm there now, and my rate of weight loss seems to be increasing not that I'm back to blogging. Oddly enough, it seems to work that way for other people, too.
Yesterday was the Race for the Cure. I ran with Tuck, and the two of us finished at 33:11, which is ten minutes and eleven seconds off of my time last year. It's also the first time I've run a five k without stopping off of a treadmill, and that fact alone is awesome. When we crossed that finish line still running, I wanted to jump up and down and yell, but I decided to go suck down some water instead. Thank God they had some there, too because I was parched.
My eating has been less than stellar the last few months but it's been improving again now that I'm blogging again, mainly because I don't want to have to continuously post that "Nothing's happening again today" blog that seems to be so popular around here lately. It's just not me to go on and write about my frustrations I guess. So now that I'm posting again, it's time to get Un-Frustrated. It helps that I just did an assignment for a fitness class that I'm taking and I've burned over five thousand calories exercising between now and last Monday, but the bottom line is too much snacking can still equal out to over five thousand calories in a week. Think about it, that only like 720 calories a day. So, no more snacking. I'm going to get to my goal. WHO IS WITH ME!?!?!?!?!?!

Just a quick one

2008-05-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 192.0

I wanted to do a post today to get me back in the habit, but I'm not really in the mood for this. May 23rd is not a good day for me. For anyone who wonders why just take a look at my other blog to find out why. Better give it a little while though, I'm going there next to do the other blog, so wait until at least 11:00 PM EST Friday night to take a look or there probably won't be anything there.

The kick to the pickle is that I should be in a phenomenal mood today because I turned in my application for graduation at school and my step brother is graduating from Marine Corps Boot Camp today. I got a graduation announcement from my cousin Josh today too. His high school graduation is next Saturday but that's enough to make me feel like ten years older, so maybe it balances the other two out.

Weight's down today, too and my previous "new low" was 191.8 so I should be looking a new low sometime soon if I keep my head over the holiday weekend. That's good too. Anyway, that's all I've got for right now. I'll talk to you all soon.

Back from the dead

2008-05-21T21:49:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 192.8

Sorry I've been gone so long guys. Life is freaking nuts right now, and I just haven't had time to sneeze without falling behind lately. As a matter of fact, I'm supposed to be doing homework right this very second, but I just felt like posting since I haven't done it in forever. I'm going to try to get to all of your pages ASAP, but be patient with me. If they don't send me home from work early again tomorrow, it might take me awhile. So how is everybody?

I never really should've decided to wait after posting my hundred pounds lost blog. I decided to leave it up for awhile so that everyone would see it and ended up getting out of the habit of posting totally. I feel like a bum, but what's done is done and it's time to move forward.

Ok, so it's been forever since my last post and my weight hasn't gone down much, but I'm down another pants size, and I'm starting to see a bit of muscle added in my arms so maybe that makes up for part of it. The weight workouts are starting to feel really good though, and the amount of weight on my bar, although small to start with, is over twice what it was when I started. Maybe that's not that big of a deal, but it sure feels good to say. Eating has been pretty decent for the most part too, and I'm thinking that if my waist keeps shrinking I'm probably doing something right even if my freaking number won't fall like I want it to. Who knows? I do know this much though: A smaller gut is a good thing.

That's about all I have time for guys, but thanks for stopping by. I'll be by all of your pages when I can. And somebody please check my blog roll and see if we've added anyone while I was out. Thanks.

FINALLY!!!!

2008-02-27T21:16:00.000-08:00

BROUGHT TO YOU LIVE FROM JUST INSIDE THE GATES OF ONE-DERLAND!!!

Any math majors out there? No? I'll keep it simple then:

298.4 Original Weight
- Today's weigh in: 198.2 (NEW LOW!!!!!!)
________________________

!!!!!!!!!!!100.2 Pounds Lost!!!!!!!!!!!

You may all fall on your knees and worship me now. I'll wait.

...

Ok...so that was a little out of hand, but I'm immensely proud of myself today. I think I've earned it because that's the result of a lot of hard work right there. Don't ever let anyone tell you that they've lost that kind of weight and did it without effort. It's not all bad though. I look better, I feel better, I'm healthier and I can talk trash to the guy on the bowflex commercial now.

It's great. The guy comes out, he's built like Mr. Universe and he starts talking about "I worked out, I got bit and I lost six inches off of my waist." And I get to be like, "ONLY six inches? This guy's a bitch! I lost ten!"

So it's a celebration type day. I've finished all of the work for my beginning of the semester class and I'm just waiting to find out that I officially have my A that I'm expecting, and I'm finally over this freaking cold that's been bugging me for the last week.

Some of you out there may remember that I promised a new Beastie Boys parody when I hit the one hundred pound mark. So, without further ado, and sponsored by my skinny little ass, it sounds just like The New Style, but it's really The New Jim...

And on the cool check in

Center stage on the mic

and we're puttin' it on wax

It's the new Jim

4 and 3 and 2 and 1

When I'm on the mic the fat cells run

Down with Rob T and Fat C and its great

And I've lost more pounds than Picasso got Paint

Sometimes it was rough and sometimes e-z

And I'm not surprised I've got a small Belly

S-O-S-M-A-L-L

Sent all those pounds straight down to hell

I don't eat franks or pork and beans

They just don't fit in my routine

I get it I got it I know it's good

The weight I've lost you wish you could

Been 10 months in training

My whole life was straining

I was always whining and got sick of complaining

So I signed up at the college and I took some classes

Joined the Coalition and we shrank our asses

You thinking fuck it it just can't happen

And you're jealous of me because your gut just won't flatten.

KICK IT!!

KICK IT!!

(Instumental break)

Father to a lady, smaller by a ton

And in case you're unaware, I just lost a hun

I step into the party, the place is overpacked

Don't have to suck my gut in cause I'm wearing smaller sla-acks

Don't have cheeks like a beaver cause my calories are capped

You better keep your mouth shut because your gut is fat

You've got nothing to say because you weight is high

That's why your girlfriend thinks that I'm so fly!

I've toes that I can see, twin gunboats at my side

You probably feel envy cause you can't get out of bed

If I played guitar I'd be Jimmy Page

I could get girls of any age

I've gotta stop there. It gets into all kinds of steal your girlfriend smack, and that's not so good for a married man. I hope you enjoyed it though. How's everyone else doing?

Going well, getting excited

2008-02-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 201.8 (NEW LOW!!!!)

So one-derland ( as Rip put it) is approaching and I can't 'weight' to get there.( OH LORD THAT PUN WAS TERRIBLE!!!) I need to lose two more pounds to hit the onesies and three point four pounds to hit one hundred pounds lost. I'm almost there, I'm almost there, I'm almost there! I FREAKING RULE!!

Oh yeah, and I got a two hundred dollar bonus and a fifty cent raise at work. I won't actually see the cash for either until my next paycheck, but it's nice to know that it's coming. I'm pretty happy. I also have hockey tickets though, and we're leaving to see the Red Wings play the Ducks in like five minutes so I gotta run. Just don't forget this: If Wednesday is Prince Spaghetti day, then Sunday must be Weekend Warrior day. Rock it out today, guys!

Keeping on track..with everything except this blog

2008-02-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 202.2 (NEW LOW!!!)

Things are going pretty well lately. The weight is coming off slowly but surely, I've added some weight to my weight bar this week and I'm getting a A in my class, with three weeks and two major papers left. Work is going ok, and when we took our daughter to the doctor's office for her two year checkup, Doc told us that Riley's speaking and language comprehension are on par for a four year old. Now if it would just start warming up so that I can take my little monster out in her running stroller life would be perfect. Wifey even got an award at work that came with a five hundred dollar bonus. Go her!

Unfortunately, keeping up with all of this has left me short on time to blog. My time at night when I get home from work is usually taken up reading some story written by some guy who's been dead for centuries and then writing about it. It's actually not all bad, and I do love to read, but something's gotta give, and I'm down to the bare minimum amount of sleep that I can get by with as it is. So, I'm sorry if I'm not around as much as I should be, but I'm keeping things moving forward at least.

I try to keep up with everyone elses' blogs as much as I can, but that's not as much as I would like to. Trust me though, if you don't see a whole bunch of comments from me lately, it's nothing personal, I've just been busy. Speaking of busy though, I'd better go shovel this freaking snow. April can't get here soon enough!

What I'm Entitled To

2008-01-27T06:30:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 204.6 (NEW LOW!!)

Hey, that's a new low!! After almost a month of going back and forth between 207 and 209 then finally getting down to a new low that was only .2 lb less than what it had been that feels pretty damn good. Go me. It took me longer than I wanted to get there, but by practicing what I preach, I got there. I added some new fitness goals for February to the right side of the page. I chose February 24 because it's the last Sunday of the month, and that's when I'll have time to test myself if I haven't hit my goals prior to that. That's not the point of today's blog though. This is:

I was at work yesterday, and one of the girls I work with brought in bags of food from McDonald's for herself and a bunch of other people. Nine months and ninety-four pounds into this thing, I still love the taste of fast food even though I don't eat it much anymore, maybe like once every two months or so when I don't really have an option, but just the smell got me thinking about how good a quarter pounder would taste. I mentioned this to one of my co-workers and he looked at me and said "Just go get yourself some on your lunch. With the amount of weight you've lost you're entitled to every once in awhile."

I hear this attitude a lot, and granted anyone who has the six or seven bucks for a freaking value meal has the right to buy one, but to me it's this type of attitude that holds so many people back when they attempt to do what I've done. Why go run a five k race and burn five hundred calories if you're going to eat a thousand calories worth of crap when you get done? Just skip the run and eat a sensible meal at that point, and you're probably better off. Then again, haven't I earned something through all of my hard work? What's in this for me? Sure, I'm thinner, but what comes along with it? I have given myself several new privileges. Here's what I'm entitled to.

I'm entitled to...

..take my shirt off in public without shame. That gut down there doesn't look anywhere near as bad as it used to.

...take myself seriously. I used to be the guy who talked a big game and did nothing. Now I do things when I feel the need to. Losing the amount of weight I have has taught me a lot about hard work and determination.

...continue doing what I do. I don't have to eat crap and go back to my old habits if I don't want to. I've learned what to do and how to get things done. I don't have to have a freaking double quarter pounder just because it smells good.

...get pissed off if I'm doing the right thing and results aren't going my way. I get frustrated sometimes when I hit a plateau like the one I just moved past and people keep telling me not to be mad about it. Look, thanks for the encouragement but, seriously, up yours. You expect a paycheck when you do your job at work right? My smaller gut and lower number are my paycheck. If it's not there, I get pissed off about it. Offering reassurance is good, but people who tell me not to get upset suck.

...and that's about all I'm entitled to. It seems like enough though, don't you think?

Trying to get unfrustrated

2008-01-25T10:44:00.001-08:00

Today's weigh in: 206.0 (NEW LOW!!!)

So things haven't been going so well the last few weeks, and I haven't been on much. The good news is that things FINALLY seem to be going better. I was a 209 point something right before Christmas, which means that I've lost less than three pounds in the last month. It's maddening, but I think I understand why, at least partially.

I know I've mentioned here before that I have a skin condition, and that's why I don't post pictures of myself with my shirt off. I went to see a doctor last week about it, and he put me on Predizone for it, which is a steroid. Don't get me wrong, I'm not shooting beef roids into my butt to make my muscles bigger, this was an oral steroid prescribed by a physician, but I think it made me retain water or something. I took the last of the pills the gave me on Wednesday, and I've been down the last two days though, so maybe I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

I know I haven't been on as much as I should, but the semester is back in, I'm taking an accelerated class, and I just don't have a whole lot of time, especially since I've started doing alternating cardio/weight workouts in the morning before my walks. I'll get a blog in more often though, somehow.

While I was at the doctor's office, I asked him what he thought my ideal weight would be. He seems to think it's somewhere between one seventy and one eighty, which only leaves me about thirty more pounds to lose. That sounds like a lot until you realize that I've already lost over ninety, and then it feels a lot smaller. I'll get there, and if I can keep up a decent rate of loss, it shouldn't even take that long.

Gotta make this quick

2008-01-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 206.4 (NEW LOW!!!)

I'm pretty happy with my progress, but my goal for my daughter's birthday (200 lbs. by January 19, 2008) is not going to happen. That sucks. It marks my first missed weight loss goal since I started this thing on May 1. Otherwise though, I'm really happy.

I moved my computer desk downstairs today with a bit of help from Tuck (thanks bro!) and I pulled a shirt off the top of it. It was an "I Love New York" shirt that my wife's brother sent me after they moved there, only I never thought that I would get it on, so I never hung it up. It's a large. I tried it on today just for shits and giggles, and it fits! Like really well. I should have taken a picture of it, but oh well. The main thing is that I got it on. I noticed that my pants were hanging a little low today, too which is both good and bad. Good because that means that I'm making progress. Bad because it means I'm going to have to go shopping for more pants soon. I don't like shopping for clothes. I actually got a pair of 34 waisted pants on the other day, too. They were really tight, and didn't feel very good. I took them right off, but I got them buttoned, and I could have worn them if I had needed to. Life is great when your waist is small. This just amazed me, because I started this thing in forty-four waisted pants, and those were just about as tight as the thirty fours were. I won't actually claim ten inches gone until I can wear thirty-fours comfortably, but I'm getting closer.

I go to the doctor tomorrow for two reasons: One, I have this nasty skin condition and I want to get rid of it. Now that my gut is shrinking, I want to be able to walk around with my shirt off and not feel embarrassed. I'm not quite that small yet, but give me another four to six months and I will be. Oddly enough, that coincides with beach season. Go me. I swear to God that I didn't plan it that way, but I'll take it.

Today was goal day, so here is the report: I give myself a C for results, but an A for effort.

Fifty jumping jacks without stopping: Way too easy. I did this like a week after I posted my goals.

Fifty Downhill Skiers without stopping: Pretty much the same thing as the jumping jacks. I did seventy-five of these the other day.

Five minutes of continuous running in place: Mission accomplished. I barely made it back up the stairs after this, though.

Two minutes of the lay on your back and do the bicycle exercise: Yeah, I did it. This left me in bad shape afterward. Thankfully, my daughter was sleeping, and I had a couple minutes to sit when I finally did this, because my legs were so tired I could barely walk.

Two minutes of continuous cross country skiers: I'm pretty sure I've been doing these wrong, but I met my goal. I'm just not going to do them anymore, because something about the way I'm doing them doesn't feel right, and I'm afraid I'm going to hurt myself.

42 pushups in two minutes: Try 21. DAMMIT!!!! Give me five more weeks of working out, and I should be there. This will be part of my goals for next month.

52 situps in two minutes: Fat chance. I did like 15. I'll get there, though. These should be easier to train for too, because they were when I was in the Army. Chalk these up for next months goals, too.

I'll get an official list of February workout goals together soon. I need to get to writing my paper for school, but first, one last thing.

I wish it would warm up around here. I got my jogging stroller for Christmas and I can't use the damned thing. I love the fact that I got it, but seeing it just sitting there SUCKS!!! Please God, let spring come early this year. I'm all for the greenhouse effect if it can get me out running that much sooner. So fire up your car, turn your heater up a few degrees, turn on every light in your house, burn down a forest, and I'll be back as soon as I can.

Hey...this place looks familiar

2008-01-06T21:32:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 207.4 (NEW LOW!!!)

So, I've been gone for a minute, but life is absolutely crazy at the moment, with my wife over my mother in law's every night taking care of her with her broken leg, and me taking care of everything here. It's been interesting to say the least. I'm going to make this quick because of that as well.

Things have been a bit frustrating on the weight loss front lately, but I'm starting back in the right direction now, so they SHOULD get better. I'm kinda thinking that I was dumb to put my goal for this month on my daughter's birthday too. I've never missed a weight loss goal, but I have to admit that with 7.4 pounds left to lose, and twelve days to do it, things don't look so good right now. I'll keep trying though, and if I do miss the damn goal, it won't be for lack of effort. But enough defeatism. Someone (I think it was Brian) was asking from some before and after pics. I don't really do the whole shirt off thing, and if you could see my skin condition you'd know why, but these should make the point pretty well

BEFORE

I'm the guy standing next to Tuck. This kind of gives you an idea of where my gut started out at. This was a few weeks before I started on my journey, I think.

This next pic is a bit wierd. Wifey is currently asleep and I just took it. I had to hold the camera way over my head because the flash was blotting me out in the mirror. This seems to have worked though. Enjoy:

AFTER

Hopefully, that shows everyone what they wanted to see. I think the difference is pretty obvious. I hope you enjoyed it. I'll talk to you all soon.

WOO-HAH!!!!!!!!!

2007-12-23T12:48:00.000-08:00

Christmas Goal Weight: 210.0
Today's Weigh in: 209.0 (NEW LOW!!!)

Who's you daddy?!?!?!?!?

Ok, so I'm pretty happy, and I like to talk trash a lot. If you don't appreciate it, blame Tucker. If he had just broken my jaw for talking all the trash I've talked to him over the years, I would have learned my lesson and quit. But he didn't, so I'm still talking trash, and it's all his fault. And of course, I rock so hard that I reached my goal two days early. Umm...last month it was a week early, and the month before it was 12 days early, and I've got a short month coming up, but hey, I did it. My next goal is 200 by my daughter's birthday on January 19 (she'll be two) so I'd better get my ass and get to work if I really think that I'm going to make it. Short celebration I know, but I've lost almost 90 pounds since May first, and that's how I've done it.

Things have been going pretty well, though, and I'm happy about that. The holiday is on Tuesday, and I should be able to keep a lid on it, given the fact that I'm working the midnight shift on Christmas Eve night to Christmas Day morning, midnight to eight AM, and I won't be awake enough to want to eat on Christmas. We've got a big meal planned on Christmas Eve for dinner, but I'll keep a tight rein on myself earlier in the day, and that should get me through.

Today has been a decent day so far. Breakfast was a banana. We're out of grapes and raisins and I'm going nowhere near a grocery store until after the holiday. Lunch was two tuna sandwiches and a salad. I'm not sure what we're having for dinner, but it should be healthy, and I won't eat too much, I promise.

This is probably my last posting before the holiday, so Merry Christmas to everyone. Have a safe holiday, and I'll talk to you all soon.

Damn

2007-12-21T10:26:00.000-08:00

Today's weight in 210.8 (NEW LOW!!!!)

I just realized that it's been over a week since the last time I blogged. Sorry everybody. If it's any consolation, I just finished checking my email for the first time in over a week as well. Life's been a bit crazy lately, with my mother in law being injured and my wife not being home a lot of the time, I'm having to pretty much take care of everything myself. Don't get it twisted, it makes sense that I would in this situation, but the time I usually use to blog is being spent doing dishes, and folding laundr, etc. I do this kind of stuff a lot, but right now I have to do all of it, and not just half. It's been a bit hard to find time to sit down at the ol' computer and do anything, really.

The good news is that my mother in law had her surgery, and seems to be recuperating well, so there's hope for the future at least. I'm still not sure if she'll ever heal up enough to go back to her job, but at least she's not in as much pain, and the therapy machine they've got her on is helping her keep the flexibility going in her leg. She's ahead of schedule there, so it looks about as well as it could at the moment.

My weight loss has been going well, and I'm almost to a bunch of milestones.

1.) 90 lbs. lost
I'm at 210.8 now, and I started at 298.4, so that only leaves me 2.4 lbs. to hit ninety lost
2.) 100 lbs. lost
Ok, so I need 12.4 more pounds to get here, but I'm already excited about it.

And of course, related to both of those is the fact that I'm almost to another major step in my journey. Before too long, I will be under 200 lbs. for the first time in over a decade. I can see that spot from here, and it's just over that hill and around the bend. I can't wait to get there.

For all of you tacky music fans out there

2007-12-13T11:09:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 212.6 (NEW LOW!!!)

I love Gene's idea about using song lyrics in a blog, and I'm a fan of Weird Al Yankovic, so I thought I'd try my hand at my one parody song. I don't really have time for the whole song, but here is the first verse, and be warned, today I start working on another one to be unveiled when I hit the hundred pound mark. Today's is called"You've Gotta Fight for Your Right to Be Thin" after an old Beastie Boys track.

So you wake up out of bed and gut looks too big
You think to yourself "I've got to do something."
You eat two bananas and head out to the mall
But your weigh- in says that you're not done at all

You've gotta fight for your right to beeeeeee thin!

You gotta be smaller if that's the clothes you want to we-ar
You gotta eat lots of protein or you'll lose your hair
Your mom pops an innocent, "What pants size?"
Oh, Mom your just jealous it's thirty six waste, guys!

You've gotta fight for your right to beeeeee thin!!!

I wanted to do the whole song, but I ran out of time. I hope you enjoyed it.

Basement Workouts

2007-12-12T10:19:00.000-08:00

Today's Weigh In: 213.2 (NEW LOW!!!!)

"If you can't keep a promise to yourself, what kind of a person does that make you?" -Billy

After the Turkey Trot, I promised myself that I would start doing some calisthentics to get ready for the Race for the Cure. Until today, it hadn't happened, but I finally got off my fat duff (term intentionally used) and went downstairs to do some Basement Drill. It was far short of spectacular, but it should keep me heading toward my goal. I did some downhill skiers, some jumping jacks, some cross country skiers, the lay on your back and do the bicycle thing and some running in place for about twenty minutes, taking occasional breaks so that I could prevent my daughter from creating any massive catastophes. I'd love to do the continuous motion things some of you do, but with a baby in the house and no other adult it's just not going to happen. I didn't have time to walk today, and that's kind of why I was motivated to do this, but it is a normal part of my day, starting today. I think I'll go back to the way we did it in the Army, one hard day and one run day, only I can't run so maybe I'll call it a cardio day. Pretty freaking original, I know, but it's a plan, and that counts for something. I need to stop making f786^*&^ing excuses and get to Tucks for that weight bench so that I can do some weight training and not just the normal pushup/situp thing. On that note, I have come up with some goals for this time next month, January 13, 2008. Keep in mind that I'm using Army counting methods, so that what I'm calling 50 jumping jacks, most people would call 100.

To be able to do 50 jumping jacks without stopping.
To be able to do 50 downhill skiers without stopping
To be able to do five minutes of continuous running in place
To be able to do two minutes of the lay on your back and do the bicycle exercise
To be able to do two minutes of continuous cross country skiers
To be able to do 42 pushups in two minutes
To be able to do 52 situps in two minutes
and to be able to still go to work that night.

Wish me luck.

Eating today has been good so far. I had a banana, grapes and raisins for breakfast, two tuna fish sandwiches and a salad for lunch and for dinner I'm taking a chicken breast stuffed with fruit and some asparagus. Gotta run for now, I'll talk to you all soon.

What goes down, must come up...or some other lame excuse

2007-12-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 214.8

Yesterday turned out to be a very snacky day, and my weight went up slightly as a result. Eight tenths of a pound is far from being the end of the world, but it just annoys me. It was just one of those days where I didn't put myself in check and ate a little here and a little there. All three meals were good, but I had some chocolate pieces last night while we were making suckers for the kids at the family Christmas party coming up, a couple pieces of deer jerky at my uncle's house, a couple of Hershey's kisses at my mother in laws, and probably some other crap that I forgot about. I did it to myself. Here's the good news, though: Tuck was right. No one forced me to eat that crap, and his does hurt, too. So I'm off to a better start today.

Breakfast was a banana and some raisins. Lunch was a leftover piece of prime rib (probably about 5-7 oz. if I'm guessing) and a salad. Dinner tonight will be a cube steak with some rice pilaf and some wax beans, but I haven't eaten it yet because it's only 1 PM. I did four miles at the mall today, and still had time to get my new license plate tabs (my birthday is on Saturday) and pick out the shoes that my wife is getting me for my birthday. Sounds a little weird I know, but she didn't want to get the wrong thing, and she wanted me to try them on first, so I went and got them. I don't get to wear them until Saturday though.

If it's not obvious based on the fact that I got all of this done and still have time to blog before work, Wifey has the kid today. She is at the doctor with her mother, and we weren't sure if she would be back in time for me to drop Riley off before I left for work. It was kinda lonely at the mall with no one demanding to go see her Grandma at work, or go to the bookstore, or play at the playplace, but I bucked up like the little trooper that I am, and got through it. Go me! So here's hoping for a better today, to be followed by a great tomorrow, and a fantastic Thursday... I'll keep you posted.

Getting there.

2007-12-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 214.0 (NEW LOW!!!!)

So things are rolling along for me and I'm looking pretty good. Christmas is 11 days away, and I only have to lose another four pounds to hit my goal. This is by no means a gimme, but it's definitely doable if I mind my p's and q's and don't go overboard at my wife's family party next Sunday. Granted, the new low posted above is only six tenths of a pound lower than my old new low, but hey, it's lower, so I'll take it.

Otherwise, life is a bit crazy lately. Sorry I missed all of you FAT members at the Applebee's yesterday. I had actually thought that I'd be able to go, and then my mother-in-law fell, and I was running all over town picking things up for some baking the wife was going to do with her mother, and trying to find out who had my grandma's old shower chair and wheel chair, and doing the grocery shopping that my wife ordinarily does on Saturday while I'm at work, etc. Not the greatest day ever, I guess, but at least I can't be accused of not getting stuff done.

Today has been decent so far. Breakfast was the normal banana and grapes, with lunch being two pieces of fried chicken (SKIN REMOVED!!) and a salad. I also had a piece of crazy bread today, but it was only one piece. Walking today was about a mile and a half, because Riley freaked, and I had to leave the mall earlier than planned. This was AFTER I bribed her to be quiet by buying her a book. Life sucks sometimes, I guess, but here's looking forward to a good tomorrow.

Oh, Lord. Just what I needed.

2007-12-08T05:27:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 214.6 (NEW LOW!!!)

So I'm at work last night and my cell phone starts to vibrate, only don't tell my boss, because I'm not supposed to have it in the building. It's a text message from my wife saying,"Call me 911" Freaking great feeling right? So I call her, and it seems that my mother in law has fallen and broken her leg, and needs to go to the hospital. It seems that babies are not the greatest of companions in these situations, so they need me to come home and take care of my daughter. Makes sense to me, but I'm half an hour away, and I'm the only supervisor on the floor. So, I had to find an assistant supervisor to stay late and close on a Friday night, then go to my mother in law's house where my wife and baby were. I got my daughter, brought her home, and put her to bed, and now I'm off work today because I have to look after Riley while wifey and her mother are trying to figure out whether there's going to be any surgery required.

This sucks on so many levels that I can't even begin to describe them, so I'll just shut up with my whining and get on with the blog.

Things have been going pretty well on the weight loss front. I had a big weight spike for reasons I don't completely understand, going from 216.0 to 219.0 in like two days. It sucked, but I'm back down the last couple of days, so maybe I was just retaining water or something. It seems to be gone now.

As far as today, I haven't eaten anything yet. That's not really all that surprising because I'm not usually up this early in the morning, except on Saturdays, and really the only reason I got up early today is that I had to call work and tell them that I wasn't coming. Exercise has been non-existent today too, for pretty much the same reason. Oh well, I'll try to get something in later. I don't know how much, mall walking is pretty much not going to happen on a Saturday in December, but maybe I'll figure something out. Enjoy your weekends all, I'll talk to you soon.

It's cold out

2007-12-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

Today's Weigh In: 216.0 (NEW LOW!!!!)

Q: What's the best thing about going up and down a ladder all day?

A: Anal sex with trees.

I can't stand getting branches stuck up my ass.

I cleaned the gutters today. Bad timing. It snowed last night, and it's above freezing today, so the water that was held up by the leaves filled the gutters. My hands were freezing. But, it needed to be done, so I did it. It sucked though. Wifey actually shoveled the snow though, so at least my soaking wet ass didn't have to do that.

Eating today could have been better health wise, but at least I think that I've kept the calories down up to a normal level, at least up to this point. We went to a pizza brunch with Santa today at the Cloverleaf on Gratiot, for those that are familiar. It was a buffet. But Tuck once told me that it was about 300 calories for a slice of pizza, and I had one and a half to go with two breadsticks, and a small salad with vinegar and oil dressing. I had another salad a little later on, this one with fat free Italian. I haven't eaten dinner yet, but it's only 3:30, so it's all good. Exercise today has been limited to going up and down a ladder.

In other news, my Aunt Janice lost her battle with cancer yesterday, and tomorrow is the funeral/memorial service. It's about three hours away in Mt. Pleasant, so there's a good chance you won't hear from me tomorrow, and I'm not sure when I'll be in the mood to be back on, but rest assured, I'll hold the eating together, and I won't stop walking. Hell, I did two miles in the blistering cold yesterday trying to get my head together after it happened while Riley was with my wife. I'm not sure how much it helped, but I didn't want to sit and mope because it's just not my style. I'll be back in touch soon, I'm not sure if it will be tomorrow or Tuesday, or next week, but stay strong, and don't go near the Christmas cookies.

Rolling Along

2007-11-29T16:26:00.000-08:00

Today's Weigh In: 217.4 (NEW LOW!!!)

That's the result of a two pound drop last night, and probably won't last, but hey, I'll take it while it's here. It feels pretty good too, like I've still got a good chance at my goal for Christmas. I haven't missed a weight loss goal yet, and I'm not looking to start now. So, it's T-minus twenty six days and counting before my next victory celebration.

Speaking of victory celbrations, tomorrow makes it two months since the three day. That shouldn't matter, but it does, because the main reason that I joined FAT was because I was concerned about losing my motivation afterward. The fact that it's two months later and I haven't quit feels good to me. Sixty days and I'm still doing SOMETHING even if it's not as much as I was before hand. Then again, walking in circles for six miles sucks, and it's not like I can train outdoors with my daughter given the weather.

Today though, I didn't do much. My wife came home from work sick, and I stayed home to make sure she was ok. Eating was ok though. I had fruit for breakfast, a chicken roll and a salad for lunch, and dinner was some flank steak with green beans and a potato. The lack of exercise annoys me, but at least I ate right, and I'll get right back at as soon as I can.

Weekend 1, Jimbo 0

2007-11-26T21:27:00.000-08:00

Today's Weigh In 220.6

So I totally thought that my weight would drop after my Saturday weigh-in, but it was the same on Sunday, although it came down a bit this morning, and I'm not sure why it was up at all. Worse things have happened I guess, and I'll just have to get over it, but that's definitely not the way I wanted to get headed toward my Christmas goal. Oh well, I'll still get there, but there's no reason to make things any harder on myself than I have to. It still sucks that the weekend beat me though, and I wasn't a bad little boy or anything. I'll just have to do better next weekend.

Today was a decent day. I did my three miles at the mall, it was fun. Riley actually acted like a good girl today and didn't cry constantly, so things went pretty well. Eating was OK. Breakfast was an orange since we're out of bananas, grapes and raisins. Lunch was two turkey sandwiches and a salad. Dinner was chicken fajitas, but I didn't use a lot of cheese, and I skipped the sour cream and guacamole entirely, so it should all come out OK, because that really just leaves chicken, veggies and two of the tortillas. I had like two forkfuls of the rice too, but not much because I don't really like it. It was takeout too, so no chips.

Yesterday was a pretty bad day on a personal level in Jimboland, and if you really want to know about it, you can read all about it in my comments to Melissa since I don't really feel like typing it all again. The good news is that when I get depressed I don't binge. The bad news is that I don't eat at all when I get depressed, and it's pretty scary. I lost twenty-five pounds in a month when my dad died, and I wasn't even trying to. I'll get through this mess though, and there's no point in worrying about it now, because the worst hasn't happened yet. But I'm being maudlin.

Tuck brought up an interesting point on his blog. Yes, it is holiday time, and yes, it's going to be hard to monitor yourself though the next month or so, but keep this in mind: You can undo several months of work in the next few weeks if you let yourself. It's not even hard to do. I understand the need to enjoy yourself, but we all (and I include myself here) need to keep our heads and do what we know is right. I'm not saying you can never slip outside your bounds, but you have to watch what you're doing and regulate it. This month is the home of the 3500 calorie MEAL. That's a pound all by itself. Be careful folks, because by the time this time of year is over, you could be really pissed at yourself.

Up early on a Saturday

2007-11-24T09:33:00.001-08:00

Today's weigh in: 221.4

I'm not all that concerned about today's weigh in, because I did it three hours earlier than normal, and it's always high when I do that. Unfortunately though, I have to be at work on Saturday at eight and I don't do my weigh in on weekdays until nine. So, it looks high, but it should come back down tomorrow, because it always does. Lord knows it sucked when I first started working early on Saturdays, but I'm used to it now so it doesn't bother me. Now, if it doesn't come down tomorrow, I'll lose my mind, but there's no reason to panic yet.

Otherwise, things are going pretty well. I'm still off school for another month and a half, and walking looks like it should be pretty easy at my local mall because of how slow it was yesterday and I'm kind of happy about that, although it doesn't bode well for the local economy, which has been in recession since the day our governor took office almost five years ago. I won't go there, though.

I'm planning on doing something exercise wise when I get home, even if it's just some pushups and crunches or maybe some calesthenics to build up wind for my next five k. My legs were fine thoughout the Turkey Trot, but I was sucking wind to hard to run for part of it. I am going to find a way to get a running stroller, but even then it's going to be a few months before I can run outside, and I don't have access to an indoor track, so it looks like it's jumping jacks and downhill skiers until it warms up again in March or April, although I may get the odd sixty plus degree day over the winter. You never know, it was like spring last year on Christmas so it COULD happen, but it's nothing I'll be counting on to get my training done.

Eating so far today has been average for me. I had a banana and some grapes for breakfast, and lunch was two turkey sandwiches and a salad. My wife bought me this thing that's made just for taking salads out of the house to eat, it's got a bowl with a lid and an icepack, and a little container on the top that holds your salad dressing so that it doesn't sit on your lettuce for hours and make it all nasty. So I got to have a salad at work to help fill me up so that I didn't eat too much. It was good to be able to have a normal lunch on Saturday and not end up eating what amounts to two dinners instead. Dinner tonight will be whatever my wife and her mother decide they want, since I'm at work, and won't get home until dinner is at least cooking, and maybe done. That's ok though, they won't try to kill me. So it's Jimbo 0.5 weekend nothing, with tonight looking like I can complete the first full day. This weekend warrior is looking for victory, and it looks like I just might get one.

38:06 OH SO CLOSE!

2007-11-23T14:27:00.000-08:00

Today's Weigh-In: 220.2

Good lord. I set a goal of thirty-eight minutes, and I come THIS FREAKING CLOSE to it. If I had missed it by like a minute it wouldn't bother me so bad, but missing the damn thing by six seconds has me thinking that I could have found just a teeny-tiny bit more and gotten there. I walked for parts of it, and if I could have just run for a little bit longer, I could have made it. I should shut up though, because my previous five k time was 43:23 and at 38:06 I still cut over five minutes off of the thing, so I guess I'll take it. Also, as predicted right here on this blog page, I finished last in the FAT division of the Detroit Turkey Trot. Good job to all of you who beat me, but watch your back, because from this moment on, I'm on the search for an affordable athletic stroller, and if I find one, I'm gonna smoke you all next year. Anybody selling one cheap?

Thanksgiving eating wasn't that bad. Granted, I had a pretty big dinner, but I had only eaten about four hundred calories up to that point, so it wasn't all bad. Today's weigh in is up 0.4 pounds since yesterday, but that's not all that bad, because it could just be fluid levels or something, who knows.

Today was a pretty decent day. After telling myself that I wouldn't be walking today because the mall was closed, I went out shopping for a couple of things, found out that the mall near my house wasn't that busy and walked two miles anyway. Breakfast was a banana and some raisins. Lunch was two turkey sandwiches and a salad. Dinner was some more turkey, a small serving of stuffing, some peas and carrots and a little asparagus. It sounds like a lot, but the portions were small, so I think I'm ok. Alright, so the portion of peas and carrots was pretty big, but they're peas and carrots.

Doing the Turket Trot yesterday was really cool, and meeting Kristen was awesome. She's got more energy than any three people over the age of twelve that I've ever met. Seeing Melissa was awesome too, I hadn't seen her since the Three Day. It was a great time, and we should really do it more often, maybe with our significant others or something. While we were there, Tuck, Kristen and I (we couldn't find Melissa at the time, there were ten thousand people there) did a quick tally, and realized that we had lost a Tuck. In other words, if you add up the amount of weight that all of us combined lost, it comes out to about what Tuck (that's Rob if you missed it) weighs. So together, we've lost a person, and if that's just three members of the FAT coalition, imagine what we've all done together!

*******************EDIT!*******************

I forgot to mention this in my blog, but I had a very cool thing happen yesterday. I went over my Mom and Stepdad's house for a little bit, and they started dogging me because my pants were too loose. Apparently, they didn't look so good. My stepdad has been losing weight too, and he had some old pants that don't fit him anymore because he got too small, but the fit me great! Oh, and they're thirty-sixes, and that's new small size for me. So I'm freaking ecstatic. Just thought that I'd mention it.

Almost time to trot!

2007-11-21T19:41:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 219.8

So it's almost eleven o clock and I'm at work. I'm also meeting Tuck in Hazel Park at 6 AM tomorrow. Life sucks. Here's the good news: Today could have been worse.

I had my usual breakfast of fruit, followed by my usual lunch of tuna sandwiches and salad followed by a dinner of homemade chicken marsala broccoli and wild rice. I only walked one mile today because of severe laziness which lead to time constraints, and I also had a hundred calorie pack of little cookie wafer things, but it WAS a hundred calorie pack.

So tomorrow is the Turkey Trot, and I'm going to have to set a goal right? So here it is: 5k in less than thirty eight minutes. I freely admit that all of the other FAT members will blow me away, and two of them are women. Life goes on, though. I'm doing something. I'll take that. Combine that with a sensible eating day, and Thanksgiving won't turn into a disaster for me. I'll take that right now. I'm also pretty happy because my Thanksgiving goal was 220, and I'm there. I may not have much room to spare, but at this point, I'll take that, too. This leaves me with a bit over a month for my Christmas goal of 210. I can do it. I just have to not act like an idiot at the family Christmas party, and be careful tomorrow.

So have a great holiday everyone, think with your head, and not with your gut, and you'll be ok. The weekend starts early for most this week, so weekend warriors, ROCK ON!!!!!!

Don't feel so good.

2007-11-20T16:37:00.001-08:00

Today's weigh in: 219.6 (NEW LOW!!!)

Today was a decent day eating wise, even if it was a bit repetitive. For breakfast it was grapes and a banana, lunch was a leftover turkey burger and a salad, dinner was another leftover turkey burger and a plum. I also had a couple handfuls of raisins earlier to curb an urge to snack. I didn't walk today. I feel like absolute crap. I'm just tired with a headache that won't go away. Somewhere out there, someone is saying, "Yeah, mine hurts too." No one gets that, I guess, except Tuck.

Sorry I've been gone so long. Things have been a bit rough lately on the personal side. I'm not going into details, but trust me when I tell you that it hasn't been fun. I'll be ok though, and at least I've stayed on track. Good thing I don't binge when I'm stressing, so I'm ok there.

In other news, I forgot to register early for the turkey trot, and now I have to wait in line on Thursday. Worse things have happened, but it sucks. I hate waiting in lines. At least we got the baby's picture with Santa done, though, so no lines for that. It would have been so cute too, if she hadn't screamed the entire time. Santa was very patient with her though, so we at least got something buyable. Speaking of holidays, Thanksgiving is coming on Thursday. Be smart, don't blow up your diet, and I'll talk to you all later.

FINALLY!!!

2007-11-15T10:26:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 222.6

Finally...

...I finished the semester. I got an A in Anthropology and a B in statistics.

...I got some curtains up and the blinds down

...I got the shower doors out of the bathroom and a shower curtain up

...I got my wife off my back about the blinds and the shower doors

...I found five minutes to write a blog.

It's early, so today's eating is basically breakfast, a banana and some grapes and raisins, and lunch, some soup and salad. I have dinner packed for tonight, but I don't remember what it is, so I guess I'll report on that later. I had a final on Tuesday, and so I've been pretty busy. I spent the whole weekend shopping for things and then hanging them. Worse things have happened though I guess.

Weight loss has been a little frustrating the last few days. I was back up to 223.8 and then down to 222.0 and now I'm at 222.6 with a week left to hit my goal of 220 by Thanksgiving. I know I can do it, but it's Crunchtime now. Wish me luck, all.

Alrighty then!

2007-11-09T21:07:00.001-08:00

Today's weigh in: 222.6 (NEW LOW!!!)

So things are looking up for old Jimbo. I think I had mentioned that I got promoted awhile back. What I may have 'forgotten' to mention is that they gave me the worst team in my company. A passing quality score where I work is 85%. When I took over my team, the average quality score for one of my MSRs was 77%. That's not so good, Al. But thanks to the hard work and dedication of my remaining teammates (some are, regretfully, no longer there) the average quality score for my team is now 86%. That's passing. It's not much more than that, but it's barely been a month. I'm freaking ecstatic. It's almost like I know what I'm doing.

Weight loss wise, today went pretty well. I had a pair and some grapes for breakfast, lunch was some soup, a roll and a plum, and dinner was meatloaf, two small red potatoes (more like the size of a cherry tomato) a little broccoli and a light yogurt. When I got home I had a granola bar for a snack. Probably not my best idea, but it's only a hundred calories. I set a new low today too, which is just awesome. The 210s are in sight, and they're a long step closer to the promised land.

Speaking of the 'promised land' I've got to wonder how many of us are keeping the promises that we've made to ourselves lately. We all started losing weight as part of a promise we made to the person in the mirror, and the lack of blogging makes me wonder how many of you are really putting anything into making that promise come through. Think about it. The blogging itself is not going to get you there, but the accountability that comes with it might. It's really easy to sit on your fat duff and not do anything if you don't have to come out and tell people that you started your day with a big heap of nothing with a side of didn't feel like it. It's really easy to eat that burger and fries with a shake if no one knows about it, and the successes you achieve don't feel as rewarding if you don't take the time to brag about them. Let us hear about it, people. We're all fighting the same thing here.

Looking good

2007-11-07T21:10:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 224.2 (NEW LOW!!!)

So I got up this morning completely convinced that I'm cursed, that I had a good day yesterday, and that somehow, magically, I'm going to end up back at 230 because I had gone back up that far so many times already. I stepped on the scale ready to step off mad as hell, ready to jump off spitting nails, but then something miraculous happened. My weight did what was supposed to do. It went down, and with two weeks left until Thanksgiving, I only have 4.2 pounds left to lose to make 220. Things are looking pretty good.

My daughter is a bit sick though, and I think I might have to skip my walk tomorrow to see if that will help her feel a little bit better. Who knows if it will work, but it's worth a shot, I guess. It's nothing major, just a bit of a cold, but it's making me crazy having to wipe her nose every five minutes, and she doesn't really enjoy it either.

As for the diet front, things went well today. I had a banana and some raisins for breakfast. Lunch was two tuna sandwiches and a salad. Dinner was some city chicken, potatoes and green beans. After work I stopped to get some stuff for my daughter at the grocery store, and bought myself two kiwis that I had as a snack. That probably wasn't the best idea given the time of night, but they tasted good, and at least they weren't the Ho-Hos that I really wanted.

Happy Anniversary!

2007-11-06T17:48:00.000-08:00

Today's weigh in: 225.8

So that bad day on Sunday bit me in the butt, but as much as I hate refighting for the same territory, I will get it back. It's just a matter of time, and at less than a pound, it won't be long. I'm still on track to be at 220 by Thanksgiving as long as I bust my butt, so I'm happy. Today was a good day, too.

I only did two miles, but that's because it is my wedding anniversary (three years) and my wife was coming home for lunch so that we could exchange gifts since I had to work tonight. She got me a pair of comfy pajama pants, and I got her a singing picture frame. It was cool. I taught our daughter how to say "happy anniversary" and got a big smile for that. It was fun. The mall was cool too, because they've got all of their Christmas stuff up, and my daughter loves it.

Eating went pretty well today. Breakfast was a banana and some grapes. Lunch was two tuna sandwiches and a salad. Dinner was some homemade chicken noodle soup and a yogurt. I'm feeling pretty hungry, so I might have some raisins when I get home. It'll only be a handful, and they're good for you, and as sweet as candy. Everyone who is losing weight should have some raisins around the house.

I got registered for next semester at school today, too, and the way it looks, I'll have two accelerated classes again, but they'll be at opposite ends of the semester (ie one will be the first eight weeks, the other the last eight weeks) so it won't be AS hectic as this semester was for awhile. That will be a welcome break. Oh, and my final is next Tuesday, so I'll be off of school from November 13 - January 10. That will rock. Maybe I can become reacquainted with my PlayStation. I'm sure it's lonely, it hasn't been touched since September. With my wife and daughter in bed when I get home, I can get in some PS time without disrupting workout time or family time too. Life is good when a plan comes together.

I'm up a bit from my last new low, but I should be back where I need to be in the next day or two (hopefully) as I'm over it by less than a pound, and today was a really good day eating wise, even if I kinda slacked on my walking. So, here's hoping for a good tomorrow, and I'll see that new low again soon.

Big day

2007-11-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

Bare with me while I do some math

298.4 lbs. (original weight)- 155 lbs. (target weight) = 143

143 lbs. /2 = 71.5 lbs.

298.4 lbs. - 71.5 lbs. = 226.9 lbs

Today's weigh in: 225.0 (NEW LOW!!!)

I just realized today that I'm halfway to my goal. Damn that feels good. Hopefully I didn't give it all back. Today wasn't that bad, I guess. Breakfast was two eggs and two pieces of toast (made of multigrain high fiber light bread) and some homemade fruit salad (wifey rules.) Lunch was two tuna sandwiches and I skipped the salad today. I used the same bread I had with breakfast. I ate a hundred ten calorie bag of popcorn while I was watching the Lions beat the stuffing out of the Broncos today, but it WAS a 110 calorie bag. Dinner could have been better though. We were celebrating my anniversary tonight because I'm working on Tuesday which is my actual anniversary and we went to Carrabbas. At least I didn't kill myself with the pasta, but I did have a couple pieces of the bread they give you, we had some Bruschetta Agrodulce (more carbs, but the topping is almost like a salsa, so at least the topping is good for you) and I had the Chicken Marsala for dinner, with a side of potatoes. We got a free desert, but I only had two forkfuls of the cake the gave us, so that shouldn't be TOO bad. All in all, I think I'm a bit over on calories for the day, but not all that bad. And I went to the Steak Out last night and didn't drink at all,unless you count Diet Coke, which I drank about four pitchers of. I guess my body thought that it would get itself drunk if I had enough pop. My brain knew better though, and I ended up with a new low today, so mission accomplished.

A couple things about the game today, since the Lions beat the Broncos 44-7. Satan may be stopping by to ask for a space heater and an electric blanket. Don't give him one, he's evil. He'll use it as an excuse to do something bad to you, count on it. Note for any Broncos fans, too. No, I don't feel bad for you. I've been through it too many times to not get a kick out of the way my team did yours. Deal with it. I though John Kitna was a crackhead when he said the Lions would win ten games this season, but it's starting to look like maybe I'm the one who's on drugs. It's all good though, because junkies are thin, right?

Back on Track

2007-11-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in 226.6 (NEW LOW!!!!)

I'll take it. Two pounds in one night, and I'm not sure how or why, but it happened, and I'm not planning on giving it back. Of course my body might have a different opinion. We'll see who wins in the end, but to be back at a new low less than a week after vacation is a good thing. It's starting to look like I may have seen the end of the two thirties. Hallelujah. I was under and back in the two thirties four freaking times. Good riddance.

Today was an average day. Breakfast was a banana and some grapes. Lunch was two tuna sandwiches and a salad. Dinner was pork roast and wild rice. I only walked two miles today because it was cold and I wussed out, but I'll be doing some pushups before bedtime.

I turned my paper in for Statistics last night, and now I just have to get a weeks worth of homework done in the next two days, and oh, by the way, I need to work late tonight. Life sucks, but I guess I'll get there. Saturday night is the Steakout at the local VFW, but I should do just fine as long as I skip dessert. I don't drink very often because I have gout, so it's not like I'm gonna suck down fifty-seven pitchers of beer or anything. So wish me luck, and I'll talk to you all soon.

Not as bad as I thought

2007-10-31T22:43:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 228.6

As far as this blog is concerned, that's a new low. It actually was lower last week and I didn't post it, so I'm not going to take credit for a new low that's not really a new low. My lowest was 277 and change, and I don't remember how much change, but it doesn't matter. I'll claim my next new low when I hit 226 point something.

Eating today could have been worse. Breakfast was a banana and some grapes. Speaking of which, if any of you run across my wife, thank her for going out shopping last night, because we intentionally ran everything out before we left town, and we had squat left for fresh fruit/vegetables. Lunch was my usual two tuna sandwiches and a salad. Dinner was some pork roast, and two potatoes with nothing on them. I forgot to put some butter on them before I left for work. After I got home I had another banana and a piece of garlic bread. Not at the same time, though, because that would have been horrible. I'm still not sure why there was garlic bread in the fridge either. Oh well, it tasted good, and it was a small piece.

I did my normal three miles today, and it felt pretty good to be back in the swing of things. I just finished my statistics paper too, and I'm pretty happy about that. I hope I get the grade I want on it, I worked my tail off. The paper was all about the amount of sugar in cereal that is marketed for adults as compared to the amount of sugar in cereal that is marketed to kids. The average is smaller for the big people cereal, but a lot of big people cereal is high in sugar too. Just something to think about.

Back from the Dead

2007-10-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today's Weigh In: Oops, Forgot!!!

I guess I got out of the habit of doing weigh ins over the weekend while I was in Oklahoma and my scale was around 1400 miles away. I was out the door today before I realized that I didn't have one. My eating was pretty iffy over the weekend too, so I'm thinking that it won't be what I want to see tomorrow. I guess it could be worse though, because most days were at least ok, except for Friday. Since this is all about holding myself accountable, I'll talk about that here.

It was the first full day in the OKC, and I got up early. I ran down the hall to get my (first) breakfast, and just grabbed a banana. At this point, I thought I was headed for a pretty decent day. Then we get the guys together to go get tuxes and stop by Sonic for breakfast (that's two breakfasts if you're counting) but I thought that I did ok because I ate a chicken sandwich and got a diet Dr Pepper (SONIC HAS MULTIPLE DIET POPS THEY FREAKING RULE!!!) So we went to pick up the Tuxes and I caught up with my wife and daughter afterward. This is where it takes a definite turn for the worse. We went to Sonic again (Wifey and I had never been there, because there aren't any Sonics in Michigan) and this time I didn't so much fumble the ball as deflate it, tear it up and hand it to the other team. Lunch was a double cheeseburger and fries, and another diet pop, this time a Sierra Mist. At least the pop was diet I guess. That night was the rehearsal dinner. It was catered by a barbecue place, and it was great. On top of a pulled pork sandwich and some fruit, I had three or four of these chicken caesar salad on a stick things and a whole bunch of fruit. I walked back into the kitchen to get my daughter some more fruit, and grabbed two deviled eggs. When I walked back into the kitchen one more time to grab something for my wife, I came across the cookie tray. I knew I should have run from the place screaming, but there were Mom Thompson's (the groom's mom, not mine, at least biologically) world famous buckeyes. Now, I CAN eat just one chip, but these things are like crack, except that they don't make you LOSE weight, they make you GAIN it. I don't honestly know how many I ate, but it was somewhere between way too many, and oh my GOD is that a lot. It was ugly. The good news being that at least I had done some walking that day with my wife and daughter at the zoo, and for a bit downtown with the fellas after we had picked up the tuxes, checking out the ballpark and the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The memorial is a different subject for a different blog, though.

Today was much better. Breakfast was a banana and some raisins. Lunch was a thing of soup (about 300 calories) and a plum. Dinner was a small serving of spaghetti and another plum. When I got home I ate another handful of raisins and some grapes. I didn't get to go walking today because of some business I had to take care of, but at least I ate right, and I'm going to do some pushups/crunches before bed. Which is where I'm heading in a few minutes. Goodnight, all!

That's better

2007-10-19T17:34:00.001-07:00

Todays weigh in: 229.4

That ties my previous low, so it looks like things are headed back in the right direction. Today was a pretty decent day, and I figured out what classes I'm taking next semester early this morning, so things are looking good. Even my daughter was asking to take a walk today, and she's not always that happy to do so. Nicole was back to work today too, so she seems to be feeling better.

I did my normal three miles today, and I'll be doing some crunches and some pushups before bed tonight. They're still not easy for me, but at least if I keep plugging away, I should get there. Eating today was pretty decent. Breakfast was a banana and some raisins, with lunch being two tuna sandwiches and a salad. Dinner was more of the no-point soup (and I don't even do weight watchers, but my wife has in the past, and hopefully is going to start back up.) I also drank my normal Gatorade, and even got a Diet Mountain Dew today. It's amazing how I can actually drink diet now and it doesn't taste horrible. Six months ago, I'd have never been able to drink it, but today I sucked it down in like three seconds. That still doesn't feel quite right.

I'm hoping to see a new low tomorrow, and I'm feeling pretty optimisic. Tomorrow will be dinner out with the wife for Sweetest Day. That's a second Valentine's Day that only happens in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. Should be a nice line for dinner, and I'll be really hungry by the time I sit down, so wish me luck. I'll do my best not to ruin another week's worth of work like I did on Monday. That wasn't so good. But for now, I'm out. Roll on weekend warriors!!

I did...nothing

2007-10-18T19:51:00.001-07:00

Today's weigh in: 230.0

Ok, so not my best day, but I've got an excuses. A wise man once told me though, that excuses are like assholes...everyone has one, and they all stink. Mine is that my wife had a test done on her digestive tract today, and came home about the time I was gonna leave for my walk feeling like crap. She mainly slept afterward, and I probably could have gone, but I wanted to be there if she needed anything. She didn't, but isn't it the thought that counts?

So no walk, no pushups, no situps, and one angry baby who didn't get to go for her walk either. Then again, she got to see her Mama, so I guess she'll get over it. Eating today was not terrible. Breakfast was my usual banana and raisins, but also two eggs and two pieces of toast. For lunch I only had one turkey sandwich instead of two to offset some of the calories, and I skipped my Gatorade because I didn't walk. Dinner was some homemade soup which my wife assures me would be no points on a Weight Watchers diet and a pluot. So, even though I ate a big breakfast, I think I reined it in just about right so that I got my usual amount of calories. I'll be right back at it tomorrow, and no mean doctor will be making my wife drink barium. Here's hoping to see the 220s again soon.

Thank God.. I can sleep now

2007-10-17T21:32:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 230.2

So anthropology is finally over. I had some extra credit that I forgot about, so all that freaking out about "Oh no, I'm not gonna get my A" and I finished with over 98% of the possible points. Somebody needs to tell me to calm down sometime. At least, with my school load cut in half, I can get to bed before three AM most nights. Now, if I can just manage to bring the B+ I'm getting in my statistics class up a bit....

In weight loss news, I was a bad boy on Monday. I ate my normal breakfast and lunch, then dinner was Turkey and vegetables..followed by a piece of pie...oh, and just to make sure I screwed myself over, I had some chips and guacamole when I got home. The guac is good for you, I just won't mention what the chips did to my weigh in on Tuesday...but hey, I got a pound and a half of it back today.

Eating today was much better. Breakfast was a banana, grapes and raisins, lunch was two turkey sandwiches and a salad and dinner was some beef ravioli, but it was a sensible portion. I did my three miles today, and I'll be doing some pushups and situps before bed. It helps tire me out, and I just don't have time during the day. So I'll just keep rolling on, and hopefully, I can get back to new lows sometime in the next few days.

Damn..missed my walk

2007-10-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in 229.4 (NEW LOW!!!)

Don't ask me how the weight dropped last night with no walk, but I'll take it if I can get it. Any weight loss is better than the alternative, I guess, and I did eat pretty well yesterday. It was just so crazy...and speaking of crazy...

I didn't get to exercise much today either. I had to write two papers for Anthropology and I had another quiz to take for Statistics, and we went to my mom's for dinner, and we got a new dresser for my daughter's room, and then wifey decided to rearrange the whole room today, and I just didn't have time. The good news is that I did pretty decently on my quiz today, and I think I did even better on my exam yesterday (The quiz is multiple guess and graded as soon as you turn it in, electronically. The exam is graded by the professor, and we don't usually get it back until Monday or Tuesday.) My Anthropology didn't go as well as I wanted it to, but I'm still averaging an A for the class, so I guess I'll take what I can get there.

Eating today was not very good. I had french toast for breakfast with sugar free syrup (20 calories for a quarter cup, and I didn't use that much), and about half an orange, but after that I had about three Tyson chicken nuggets as a snack around lunch time, and then followed that up with lasagna and garlic bread with salad at my mom's house. I had three pieces of garlic bread, which doesn't strike me as being too smart. I had a glass of milk with dinner too, so I guess I can kiss that new low goodbye. I'll just have to earn back, I guess. It's just irritating though, because I am WAY TOO LAZY to want to have to fight over the same patch of ground twice. I usually walk on Sundays too, but damn. It was just a nutty weekend all around, and I still have to finish my second essay for Anthropology tomorrow, but the good news is that I can't do it unless Riley is sleeping or my wife is home, so I'll have time to walk tomorrow anyway. That's all for now. I'll talk to you all again soon.

Gotta make it quick

2007-10-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 230.0

Day went pretty well. Eating was decent. Didn't exercise, I've got a weird schedule on Saturdays, and I had to exams to take in both of my online classes. Have a good weekend. Keep rolling, weekend warriors!!

A little advice from Jimbo

2007-10-12T18:29:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 230.0 (NEW LOW!!!)

Ok, so that's my October goal if I can hold onto it. It's like October 12th though, so... YAY!! Now I just have to hold onto it. I think I should be able to, though even if I did cheat a bit today. More on that later.

I thought I'd put in my two cents on something that was said yesterday. Someone (and I don't remember who) mentioned something about eating as a social activity, and how the felt out sometimes. I thought I'd just mention something here.

Having a meal is a social activity, and it should be enjoyed, but you can enjoy it without eating what eveyone else is eating. You just have to keep your focus on the right thing, and that's what you CAN eat. I had a situation at work a few weeks ago where pizza was bought by the company for all of the employees, and I ended up eating the lunch I had packed. I didn't worry about what everyone else was doing, I just sat and enjoyed my lunch and my piece of fruit. Throughout the meal I sat and talked to everyone else that was eating, joking and having a good time. I can still remember how good my plum tasted. If you're going to succed in this, that's the attitude that you need to have. Enjoy the people, they're your friends/family/coworkers, but the food just is what it is. Focus and what you CAN have and not what you CAN'T. It's not always easy, but it's easier than losing the same five pounds eight times before you finally get rid of them. Just my little thought for the day.

Excercise today was ok. I walked three miles this morning, and followed that up with some push-ups and situps. Eating could have been better, but I don't think I did TOO horribly. Breakfast was a peach. Lunch was two tuna sandwiches and a salad with a Gatorade. Dinner was a pluot and a brat. I didn't have any other leftovers to bring, but it was only one brat and the rest of the day was ok, so I think it shouldn't hurt that much. Here's hoping anyway.

Huh?

2007-10-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 231.6

That's exactly the same as yesterday, and I don't think I've ever seen that before. Lower, yes, higher *sigh* yes, but the same? WTF? Oh well, at least it's not higher. I'm looking the 220s square in the face still, so it could be worse.

My daughter was in her glory today, because it was cold and rainy, and Daddy wussed out and walked at the mall. Oh well, with cold weather coming, and a year and a half old baby this is going to happen a lot this winter. The important thing is that I took myself out into the cold wet mess and, say it with me kids, DID SOMETHING. That's going to be my motto, I think. It makes a good one. And four miles is ok, even if it is in a well-lighted, heated space.

Eating today could have been worse. Breakfast was some grapes and raisins, lunch was a gyro and a salad, and dinner was meatloaf a potato and some corn. I drank a Gatorade on the way to work instead of at lunch time, and I managed to look a basket of fries in the eye at lunchtime and not take one, so that was pretty cool. I think I can deal with this type of day, because it gives hope for tomorrow, and hope for tomorrow is what it's all about.

Right back at it

2007-10-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 231.6 (NEW LOW!!)

So, I'm basically the man, right? One day up, and then I'm right back down. I don't know why, I don't know how, but I'm going to shut my freaking trap and roll with it. And, not to steal Billy's thunder, but I got a promotion myself today. Go me! More money, salary instead of hourly, twice as many vacation days, and I get sick days to boot. That doesn't suck. Now, if I can just survive final's week in Anthropology, and keep up with my statistics homework...

Eating today was pretty average for me. Breakfast was grapes and raisins. Lunch was two tuna fish sandwiches with a salad. My daughter had a left over burger and fries for lunch, and I stole on of her fries, but it was only one. Dinner was a Michelina's meal (350 calories) two pieces of light high fiber multigrain bread, and a pluot. I walked three miles today, and I'll be doing some pushups/situps when I get home, due to time constraints earlier. So things are looking pretty good right now. My goal for my friend's wedding in three weeks is 230. Right now, I'm at 231, so I'm looking good for that, assuming that I don't piss of the weight loss gods, or decide to shovel in more food than I should. So that's about it, and tomorrow, it will be time to do something once again.

All good things must end

2007-10-09T20:49:00.000-07:00

(Today's weigh in: 232.2)

So, after six consecutive days of posting new lows, I'm up a quarter pound. Worse things have happened, I guess, and it would have been worse had I not planned for an out of control dinner. I'm still looking for another new low tomorrow though, as it's only .2 lb.

I did a three mile walk today, and I'm going to do some pushups/situps when I get home. Things got a bit hectic today when my daughter wouldn't take her nap like she was supposed to, and I didn't get the time to do them before I left for work. I'll get it though, never fear.

Eating today was decent. Breakfast was some raisins and grapes. Lunch was two tuna sandwiches and some salad, and dinner was a chicken leg and half a breast with the skin removed from both, a little spot of dressing, and an even small spot of mashed potatoes without butter. I still hate gravy. To be honest, I probably would have eaten the butter too, but I didn't think to grab it while I was packing lunch for work.

Other than that, excitement in my world is limited to the fact that my anthropology class is over this week, and I should have my weekends back. That'll be great. I just have to write two papers, and take this damn final. Wish me luck. I need an A in this one.

Kinda Scary

2007-10-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 232.0

Yup, you read that right. I'm like the only one who hasn't done everything right and gained weight anyway, so maybe it's my fault that you've all put on those pounds. Lord knows I've lost a bunch lately. Maybe too much.

My weigh in last Tuesday was 241.1. It's six days later, and I'm nine pounds lighter. One and a half pounds makes a decent week, and I've averaged that much a day over the last six days. Granted, part of that was due (I think) to retaining water after the three day, but not that much. I lost almost four pounds overnight, and that put me at about where I thought I should have been the next day. I've set new lows everyday since then.

That's not all that abnormal for me. It doesn't always happen, but I'm pretty consistent, so a loss of .2 to .6 pounds a day is not at all unusual, but this is just unbelievable. Nine pounds in a week? I mean, I eat, I swear I do, and my walking hasn't been all that great over the last week, so I don't know what to think. I just hope I'm not killing myself somehow. I know my calorie counts can't be that low. Anyways, on to today.

I got lazy. I did two miles this morning due to time constraints and not having any long socks clean. (NEVER EVER do more than a mile or two in socks that don't come up higher than your shoes. I have, and life sucks afterward.) I didn't do any pushups or situps today either. As for eating, at least I practice what I preach....

I have, on occasion remarked on other peoples' blogs that they should eat light the rest of the day if they're planning on one big meal. That's exactly what I did today, and here's how it went.

Breakfast: A banana
Lunch: A bottle of Gatorade
Dinner: Five (really small) pieces of garlic toast with liver pate, some cranberry relish, cole slaw, two chicken legs, one chicken thigh, mashed potatoes with butter (I HATE GRAVY!!!) and some stuffing. All in all, not a good meal. At least I took the skin off of the chicken.
Desert: A handful of raisins and about five grapes. This was hours later at home.

So although I think I'm a bit on the high side today, I don't think it can be more than 2200-2300 calories, and that's not horrible. Keep in mind that most of the stuff I ate was in pretty small portions. The lack of exercise didn't help, but I think I'll go knock out some pushups and situps now. If anyone can tell if I'm not eating enough, or if I'm just over reacting and need to calm down, let me know, because I don't know what to think.

Finally!

2007-10-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 233.8 (NEW LOW!!!!)

Eating today was not terrible, although I suppose I've done better. Breakfast was a banana. Lunch was two tuna fish sandwiches and a salad. Dinner was some meatloaf (MOM, MEATLOAF!!!) and corn. Dessert was a pluot (plum-apricot crossbreed) and some raisins. During the Lions' game today, I had a bag of popcorn, but it was a single serving sized bag with no fat butter and it was only 110 calories for the whole bag, so not so bad.

The finally comes from the fact that I finally got to do a regular walk for the first time in like two weeks. I stretched out my normal five mile route and turned it into about five and a half. I did some push-ups and crunches today, too, so that makes for a good day physically. My arm muscles are tired though, and I haven't been doing that many push-ups, so I guess I need a bunch more work. Oh well, at least I did it.

For those that are interested, I've posted my blog for the three day at my personal blog: http://blog.myspace.com/thatjimboguy.

I guess I didn't have the best possible weekend this weekend, but it was better than it could have been. There were some people passing around some McDonalds at work yesterday that set some cravings off, but I made it home and pepper steak instead. Still not the best I guess, but it beats a greaseball burger hands down. This weekend warrior is ready to declare a victory for the weekend with two new lows posted in two days, as well. Rock on, all and don't forget to DO SOMETHING!

Could have been better today

2007-10-06T20:26:00.001-07:00

Today's weigh in: 235.0 (NEW LOW!!!!)

Eating was OK today, I guess. Breakfast was two granola bars. Lunch was a Michelina's light spaghetti (about 300 cal) and a plum. Dinner was some leftover homemade pepper steak out of the freezer and a salad. After dinner I had a couple handfuls of raisins and a 130 calorie pack of little Cheez-its. They're not all that great for you, but it was only 130 calories, so I'm thinking that it was not all that bad.

As I stated yesterday might happen yesterday, I didn't walk today. I usually walk on my lunch on Saturdays , but I was acting supervisor, so I didn't get a lunch. I had to stop at the fruit market on the way home, and it was dark when I got here, and with this not being the world's smartest neighborhood to be walking alone after dark in, I decided it was better to stay home. That being said, at least I worked the muscles a little bit.

After I finished up some homework, I turned the Red Wings game on. They went into a shootout, so here's what I did. Before Datsyuk took the first shot, I did five push-ups. Before the next shot, I did four. And so on. Unfortunately, I jinxed the Wings, because they never scored a goal, and the shootout only went to five shots. I probably should have started with six. Oh, well. Then I did fifteen crunches, then ten, then went 5,4,3,2,1. So at least I did something today. That felt good. And on the weekend warrior tip, at least I can say: So far, not so bad.

Yeah that's right..I _AM_ a wuss! Thanks for asking

2007-10-05T16:23:00.001-07:00

Today's weight in: 235.8 (NEW LOW!!!!)

So I decided to take Billy's advice today, and do some "weight training," in this case pushups and sit ups. Ten pushups and I was damn near dead. I have a history with pushups, and this is the type of frustration I seem to remember. The good news though, is I DID the pushups. I did some crunches too, because I can't seem to do a full situp. So I'm a wimp, but I'm a determined wimp, and I'll just keep working at it until I get there. I also did three miles today. I wanted to do more, but time constraints once again held me back. Again though, at least I did something.

Eating today was almost the same as eating yesterday, only minus the cake. For breakfast, I had a banana and some grapes. Lunch was two tuna sandwiches and a salad with some gatorade, and dinner was chicken kabob and white rice with a plum. Thankfully, I've finished off all of the leftover chicken kabob now, so I get to have something else for dinner tomorrow. Saturdays are traditionally light walking days for me too, but Sunday I'll be on it for sure.

I'm really glad to see that new low today, because my Tuesday weigh-in was scary. I don't know where those four pounds went overnight, but they're gone and I don't want them back. This should be a pretty easy weekend too, because my wife will be out of town, and there won't be anyone to cook, so I'll be eating sandwiches and my Michelina's frozen meals, and they're all under 450 calories. I've just go to get to the store for some lettuce, or I won't have any salads to make my stomach feel full so that I'll quit eating. Anyway, gotta run for now. Rock on, Weekend Warriors!

I did something

2007-10-04T15:20:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 236.4

Granted, it wasn't much, but it WAS about two miles. I had to take my daughter to the doctor today for her yearly flu shot, so I had limited time. I'm happy though, because it would have been way too easy to make an excuse, and instead I went for a walk. Tomorrow should be a longer one, and I'll get to work over the weekend for real. I usually don't walk much on Saturdays, but wifey is going out of town with her mother, and taking the baby, so I'll have time.

That reminds me. Call me if you're not busy, Rob.

Eating today was not horrible. Breakfast was a banana with some raisins and grapes. Lunch was two tuna (NOT oatmeal) sandwiches with a salad and a small piece of cake. I'm actually rather happy because my wife gave me a HUGE piece of cake from her birthday cake yesterday, and I ate less than a third of it. Dinner was chicken kabob and rice with a plum on the side. I also had a bottle of Gatorade with lunch, and I've been pounding water all day, but that's pretty usual for me. That's about it for today, I guess. here's hoping for a new low tomorrow.

Maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought

2007-10-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

Today's Weigh In: 237.6

I think maybe RipX was right, and I was retaining water. Given the amount of salt the 3 Day docs kept telling us to eat, I probably should have been. I'm still not back to my lowest, but I'm a lot closer, and I think I can get back to where I was relatively quickly now. It feels a lot better, because I was looking at a minimum of two weeks, and now it's more like one.

I did alright today eating-wise I think. Breakfast was a banana a handful of grapes, and a handful of raisins. Lunch was a pork roast sandwich and a salad. Dinner was some chicken kabob with white rice and a roll. Kinda high on the carbs, I guess, but I've always been more about calories than carbs.

I walked three miles today, and it felt almost normal, so that's heading in the right direction. I had planned five for tomorrow, but my wife scheduled my daughter for a flu shot tomorrow, so I'll just have to work around that, and do what I can. Maybe I'll walk her up to the doctor's office. It's only about two miles one way, I think. Then again, the last time I said that I ended up walking six miles, when I thought I'd only end up walking three. That's the bad thing about walking. Once you're three miles from home with no car, and your wife is at work, guess how you're getting back?

At least things appear to be headed in the right direction still. I was really worried that I'd poop out on myself after I finished the walk. Granted three miles two days in a row isn't going to break any of my records, but I DID something. I guess that's what I take from this whole weight loss saga, and it applies to everything in life. If you want something to change, you've got to do something about it. I guess it's kind of a variation on Rob's "You get what you earn" theory. So that's what I'm going to do tomorrow. Something. Who's with me?

That's not so good, Al

2007-10-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

Today's weigh in: 241.4 (OUCH!!!!)

And so I prove, once again, weight loss's number one rule: You can't exercise enough to make up for overeating. That's five pounds gained over three day weekend. To say my eating was atrocious is an understatement. I think I ate five pounds worth of candy over the weekend. That much being said though, it's time to move forward.

I got back to my walking today. I only did three miles, but my body is not back to where it usually is. I'll get there though. Eating was better too. Breakfast was a banana and two handfuls of raisins. Lunch was a four hundred calories Michelina's frozen meal, and a salad. Dinner was some pork roast and potatoes to go with some grapes. I should be heading back down again soon. I also decided on some goals moving forward:

Brandon's wedding (October 27) : 230
Thanksgiving: 220
Christmas: 210
Riley's birthday( January 19, 2008): 200
Leap day: 190

OMG I JUST SAID 190!!!

So, wish me luck, and I know I'll get there. I'll be by all of your blogs soon.

Too good to be true?

2007-09-27T17:42:00.001-07:00

Todays weigh in: 236.0 (NEW LOW!!!)

Not to doubt myself, but that's a pound and a half since yesterday. I'm not complaining, but I expect it to be a bit higher tomorrow in my last weigh in before the 3 Day. That's like two pounds in two days. If it sticks, it sticks, but we'll see.

Eating today went pretty well. I had my usual banana for breakfast, a small soup and a salad for lunch, and some spaghetti and two pieces of garlic bread for dinner. I missed my walk today, since the 3 Day is tomorrow, but I don't honestly feel bad about it. Maybe I should, but the advice they give is no walking for an entire week before, and I walked right up until yesterday. I will make up the miles (have no fear there). Other than that, it was a pretty normal day. Played with my daughter, went to work and I'm going to go home and get in bed early tonight.

So I hear that regardless of how much walking you do, you can't lose weight on the 3 Day. I'm going to do my damnedest to prove that theory wrong, since it mainly sounds like a discipline issue to me, but we'll see. Sixty miles walked is an awful lot of calories burnt, and I'm not planning on chowing. Don't get me wrong, I'll eat, but I won't be wolfing it down at every stop. This is going to be awesome though, and I've gotta work out a system, because Tuck is doing the walk with me next year. So good luck, enjoy your weekend, and EARN it. I'll see you all on Sunday (if I'm up to it) or Monday (much more likely).

Is it Friday yet?

2007-09-26T20:02:00.001-07:00

Todays weigh in: 237.4 (NEW LOW!!!)

So other than a freaking sweet weigh in, there's not much to talk about today. I did two miles today (thank God it quit raining) and started out the day in the normal way. A banana for breakfast with no raisins because I ran out yesterday, two oatmeal sandwiches and a salad for lunch (this is standard, get used to seeing it) and a steak and a potato for dinner. It was a decent sized steak, but not obscenely large like I'd have eaten at this time last year. I also had one piece of crazy bread (OOPS!!) but all in all, not such a bad day. Hopefully, that piece of bread won't come back to bite me in the butt.

My main focus right now is the 3 Day. I'm still not sure if I decided to lose weight because I would be walking everday anyway to train, or if I decided to train for the 3 Day to lose weight, but one way or another it worked out. I've been training for this thing and raising money since Early April, and I'm really looking forward to it. I can't believe it's finally here! I just wish there was more time to get all of my schoolwork done before it gets here, but hey it could be worse. I'm really hoping that walking sixty miles in three days will get rid of some unwanted flab, but we'll see how it goes. Here's hoping anyway. If I don't get back before then, good luck to all of you weekend warriors. You get what you earn. Earn it this weekend.

Another day in paradise

2007-09-25T23:08:00.001-07:00

Today's weigh in: 238.0

Ok, so today was not the WORST day I've ever had. I woke up this morning, had my customary banana and handful of raisins, and then went for a walk. Seeing as the three day is this week, and all of the literature they give out says not to walk the week before the 3 Day, I only did two miles. I usually do 5-6 but at least I feel like I did SOMETHING. Lunch was the standard two tuna fish sandwiches and a salad, and for dinner some left over chicken fajitas and a plum. I also had a little piece of cake, but it was a really small piece, and I had some calories left I think, so it shouldn't be bad at all. Now I'm expecting a lower number tomorrow, which means I probably won't get it, but here's hoping anyway. That's about all I've got to report for today. Thanks for reading!

Let's get it started!

2007-09-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

So I'm the new guy in the FAT coalition, and I decided to join for a very simple reason: I'm a little worried. See, I've been losing weight all summer, and have managed to get rid of sixty pounds so far. I've been walking all over town, my eating has been stellar (sixty pounds in five a half months would seem to indicate that anyway, although I don't worry as much about calorie counting as Rob does) and I've been cruising right along. Now comes the scary part.

A big part of my walking has been my training for the Breast Cancer 3 Day, which is coming up in a few days. If you ever want motivation, try signing up to walk sixty miles in three days, and think about how dumb you're going to look if you don't train. It wouldn't be pretty. This leads to an inevitable question, which several people have asked me alreday. "How are you going to stay motivated after this is over?" That's where all of the other FAT coalition members will (hopefully) come in. Give me a kick in the pants if you see me falling down. Praise is nice, and my pops taught me to always accept a compliment, but don't be afraid to tell me I suck if I suck. The plan is to be the greatest ever when it comes to weight loss, but we all know how that goes.
Rob is helping me out with the page, and will hopefully post up all of your links soon. (Please, Tuck?), and I'll be by all of your blogs to say hi soon. Thanks in advance for your help, and let's all keep this weight loss training cruising along.