Before and After.....A Step in the Right Direction

Since I started this change last June, I've had my ups and I had my downs.  Seems like there are more downs then ups.  My downs have been over exagerated by my insercurities.  I try not to, but I dwell WAY too much on the negatives.  I spend way too much time trying to figure out why I'm not losing Biggest Loser poundage.  I can't seem to look past this.  I know 1lb a week is good and safe.  But I'm disappointed when its not 10!  What a dork!  What a dweeb!  Insert your insult here!

I finally took another picture.  I could not believe the changes.  I started crying like a damn baby.  Can you believe that?  Like a baby I tell you!  Very very very happy.  What the picture made me realize, FINALLY, that I'm heading the right direction.  My dependance on the scale was a negative for me.  The scale needs to be another tool.  Not a be all, end all.  The last 3 weeks I've been dwelling on why I've stayed the same.  No changes.  The problem.  There has been changes.  My new pants I got over Christmas.  Too big now.  New T-shirts.  Too big now.  I have leg muscles again.  "Hello Mr Bicep!  I haven't seen you since college."  Friends telling me that I'm much thinner.  Husband ears on!  I ignored all of the comments and changes.  Stupid scale!  INSECURE JIMBO!  BAD JIMBO!

Only a select few have seen these.  This is a step for me.  I feel more confident in myself again.  Something that had disappeared.  I still have a long road.  Years and years of abuse.  But I know, the end goal is getting closer.  I love it!

Couple of changes I've made the last couple of weeks that seem to work out great for me.  I've been basically eating 3 big meals a day with snacks if I'm hungry.  The problem was, I was binging some days.  I went back to eating 5 small meals a day.  In the pass, I was ALWAYS hungry doing this.   But some more reading, asking questions.  I changed it up.  My small meals consist of high fiber and good proteins.  I'm eating every 2-4 hours.  Shooting for 21g+ of  fiber a day.  Its amazing how NOT hungry I am.  Thank you Men's Health!

Sample of my meals this week.

Plain oatmeal with bananas

Whole wheat toast with egg and egg whites

Yogurt and orange

Chicken tacos and brocolli

Unsalted mixed nuts, orange, apple sauce.

Healthy Request Chunky Beef Soup and orange or mixed vegtables.

Don't get me wrong.  I did have a burger from Juicy's.  And I ate a lot of chicken tacos this week.  But, I didn't binge on several tacos and burgers and pizza and chips and cookies.  I love cookies.  I'm eating a lot!  But just making better choices.   I love to eat.  I hate dieting.  Its a compromise.

Stay positive, be positive.

Special thanks to John!

Healthy Changes

What a slacker I am.  I can't believe its been two weeks since I last updated my blog.  I like updating it.  I like attempting to write.  I suck at it, but I do find it entertaining.  So why no updates?  I'm just a big ass slacker.  That's the only explanation I have.  A big HUGE slacker.

Speaking of big.  I'm a litte frustrated again.  Actually a lot frustrated.  Since I decided to finally make a healthy change last summer, its been good.  I weighed a ginormous 265.  I've never EVER been that big.  I never thought that I was that big.  I've dropped 30lbs.  But now I've hit the wall again.  That stupid freakin' wall.  Its been nice, consistantly losing about 1/2 - 1 pound a week.  Some weeks gained, but I was always down at the end of the month.  This time not so much.  The thing that bothers me the most is I feel great.  My clothes are huge.  People are noticing the changes.  So why does it not reflect on the scale?  Thats the part that is very frustrating. 

Talked to my friend John again.  He's half the man that he used be.  He's always been good for great advice.  My first step is to not rely on the scale so much.  I know my body, I feel the changes.  Second step, take a picture.  I don't want to.  Who really wants to see that.  Even I don't want to see that.  A picture would be a great tool at how well I've progressed.  So twist my arm, hold me down, duct tape myself to the wall.  I will take a picture.  I believe I still have a picture from last year when I first started.  I would be nice to compare the two.

I've come a long way.  In pass months, if I wasn't losing any weight, I would be really down.  Which would end up me binge eating.  Now I don't let these little things affect me.  There will be ups and there will be downs.  A lot more downs then I would have even known.  I don't look back, I just move on and tackle the next day. 

I like food.  I LOVE food.  I hate dieting.  So I compromise.  I make better, educated decisions of what I eat.  I eat what I like (in moderation) and I most importantly, I exercise.  At least 5 days a week.  This has been the ONLY thing that has worked for me.  No fancy pills, no fancy drinks, not cabbage soup diet, Atkins, South Beach.  Believe me, I've tried some of these, great at first then major disappointment and failure.

Stay positive and be positive.

To Zip Or Not To Zip

Its amazing the random things you think about.  For instance, what is the purpose of the fly on underwear.  Why is it called the fly?   Was it a bet that an old tailor in the old kingdom lost?  Maybe he or she wanted to call it the tarantuala.  And who thought of the zipper.  Was it a blacksmith accident.  "Look what I did!  A metal snake to proctect your yoohoo!"  Over the years, did it turn into a fashion statement?  Or fast forward several more years and the zipper becomes a quick access for #1.

Which brings me to.....does anybody really use the unzip the zipper method when going #1.  I can't remember the last time used this method.  I can't even recall my two boys ever using the zipper method. I can't even recall my father telling me to unzip, pull through the tara...I mean fly, then the zipper fly (is it called the zipper fly?), aim and let it rip.  Is this just built in reflexes passed down like walking for the first time.  Are we just going to assume every 2 year old boy going through potty training is going to know the unzip method? 

As I remember, the prefered potty training method in our house was first spot the pee pee dance.  You know the dance.  The hold the man junk and rock side to side quickly.  There is also the cross your legs so tightly hoping it goes away stance.  The very tricky face twitch, very hard to spot this one.  Once spotted, the next step was to scream in panic "RUN TO THE BATHROOM!"  Its amazing the little ones didn't pee their pants right there in fright.  Your 2 years old, doing the pee pee dance and your parents are screaming at you to run to the bathroom.  Like you really want to pee all over yourself so you can put on your 6th different pair of shorts that day.   After scaring your child and running to the the bathroom, the last and final step was pull down your pants, shorts, training pants, underwear in all one panic induced motion!  What?!?!  What happend to the unzip way?  The little boy pants do have zippers.  I don't know why, but they do.  Really, come on, there was no time for the unzip method.  Are you kidding me?  Do you remember the first step?  Come on!  Seriously!

Which brings me to the present.  Adulthood.  Harder for some, including me.  I still use the pull down method.  Is it the panic induced quick method learned from early childhood?  Or is it because I'm too lazy to use the unzip the zipper method?  I understand the ease of the unzip the zipper method.  Is seems perfect when you have to complicate the whole thing with a belt.  Who wants to go through all that trouble of the pull down method with your belt is in the way?  Even with a belt, I prefer the pull down method.  It takes longer, but most days its not panic induced, waiting until the last minute tricky face twitching pee pee dance.  I'm not 2!  I think as us boys turn into adults the pull down method is preferred out of fear.  Yes I said fear.  I'm telling you, one day when you pull your man junk through the tarat.....I mean fly, the zipper fly it might get stuck. It never happens, but one day it might.  Then what, I can't use Jim Jr anymore?  Fear I tell you.  Another scenario, you pull your yoohoo through the tarat.....I mean fly, then zipper fly and forget to pull it back and zip up your yoohoo!  Somthing About Mary style!  OUCH!  I can hear Jennie in the background, "BEANS AND FRANKS HAHAHahahahaHAHOHHOHAHAHA!"  No thank you.  Jim Jr and I will continue to use the pull down method.  The preferred pull down method.

Oh the Frustrating Journey!

Getting back on track started the month off so great.  7lbs the first week.  Gained the second week.  This week, no weight loss at all.  Its a head scratcher.  I've scratched off a bald section in the side of my head.  I'm thinking I should wax it nice and shiny so the pretty girls can fix their hair in the reflection.

I can't figure it out.  I've ate in moderation all week. Not starving myself, but eating food.  I've had pretty much the same breakfast every morning.  1 egg, 2 egg whites scrambled with veggie sausage.  Oranges, tangerines, bananas.   Salads at night.  Chicken tacos.  I think I've been eating pretty good all week.  I've had some set back eating healthy "good for you" food.  But its always been in moderation.  I've been staying in my 1700-1900 calorie intake a day.  Could it really be those days I decided to have a half a sandwich from Yellow Sub.  Its just not adding up.

I've been exercising.  I feel stronger.  I'm not out of breath in 2.5 seconds.  I don't get it.  I did take Wednesday off, my body was telling, acutally screaming at me to take a break.  "TAKE A BREAK JIMBO!  You don't take a break, you will be grounded from viewing any and all internet porn!"  Well, I like my porn.  I took a break, my body needed it.  My hamstring I hurt a few months ago was acting up.  My "stomach" muscles below my beer belly were fighting back.  My biceps were screaming!  My ego was bruised.  I needed the break.  The next day my body bounced back.  I was able to work out hard.  It was nice to be back.

Is it muscle?  Seriously......muscle.  I'm not a big believer in the whole muscle weighs more than fat.  If your losing weight you should still be losing weight.  These are the other signs I see happening.  My pants are looser.  My underwear are too big.  My shirts look like circus tents on my body.  I can see my feet and other unmentionables.  I know my body is changing for the good again.  I need and should take another picture.  Before and after.  The same picture you see in all of the diet, exercise, miracle pill comercials see all over the TV now. 

LAST WEEKS GOALS
Lose 2 - 3lbs  -  Didn't lose any, didn't gain any, stayed the same
Exercise 5-7 days a week - Worked out Saturday - Tuesday, Thursday and today.
1700 - 1900 calories a day - Averaged just a little over 1800 calories a day.
5-8 servings of veggies and/or fruit daily - This one is too easy for me.  I love my veggies and fruit.  I need to change this one up
8 glasses of water - I think I wore out a path from my office to the bathroom.

THIS WEEKS GOALS
Lose 2 - 3lbs this week.  If I do, I will hit my goal for the month.
Exercise 5 days a week.  I think I was too aggressive here.  My body told me no.  I have to remember I'm not 18 anymore.
1700 - 1900 calories a day
Have one day this week that is all vegetarian.  I'm a PETA person (People Eating Tasty Animals), this one will be tough.
8 glasses of water or more a day

Must remember.  Listen to your body.  Your body will tell you if you are pushing it to hard or being lazy.

Be Positive Stay Positive

I'm down.....then I'M WAY UP!

Super frustrated!  Victory one week.  Super disappointed the next week.  I need discipline.  Discipline I tell you.  Down 7lbs last week, up 5lbs this week.  I'm thinking that can't be healthy.  I don't blame anybody else, but myself.  I'm worked out all week.  Admittly not as hard as the first week.  And to compound the derailment, I ate WAY too many calories.  Its simple I over ate.  That simple.  I must remember, moderation.  MODERATION!  I got to comfortable with my great first week.  Way too comfortable.  This healthy journey is work and I'm not 18 anymore.  I can't eat a whole pizza and still be 165lbs.

My birthday was Monday.  I worked out hard Monday morning and had a nice combo jog/power walk at lunch.  When I look back, I think Monday night is when I got off the path.  Jennie made me an awesome dinner!  Chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes and country gravy and buttermilk biscuits and corn on the cob.   Brownies for dessert.  I'm always telling myself moderation.  Make sure you eat in moderation.  I don't think two chicken fried steaks is moderation.  I don't think 5 brownies is moderation.  Must be discipline.  Oh man it was so good!  But I know better.  I'm huge big over eater.  The rest of the week was not much better.  I know how I steered off the path.  I need to be discipline.   Or work out 8-10 hours a day.......which is not happening.  I keep telling myself, get back on track tomorrow.  And then it doesn't happen, then I tell myself back on track the next day.  This week was a terrible undiscipline week.  But not getting down, staying positive and I am back on track this morning.

Last week goals.

Lost 2-3lbs ------  Up 5lbs BOO!!!!

Exercise 5-7 days --------Winner winner!

1700 -1900 calories --------Great over the weekend.  Monday 4000+, Tuesday 4000+, Wednesday close to 3000, Thursday over 2000.

4-7 servings of veggies and/or fruit daily  --------Winner winner!

8 glasses of water -----BOOOO!!!!!!  Water is key, need to drink water

This weeks goals

Lose 2 - 3lbs

Exercise 5-7 days a week

1700 - 1900 calories a day

5-8 servings of veggies and/or fruit daily

8 glasses of water

Not all was bad this week.  I've noticed my arms are getting more toned.  My legs are getting more toned.  My clothes are fitting better.  I have more energy.

Stay positive, be positive.

The Old Man Syndrome

What is the Old Man Syndrome?  Is there such a thing as the Old Man Syndrome?

I mean, going to bed at 9:00 is NOT too early right?  Come on, I'm one of the few that still have a job and I have to wake up early.   Is 5:00am too early?  I guess it doesn't REALLY take me 3 hours to get ready for work.   I do watch the news and Sportscenter.  What is wrong with naps during the day.  Sometimes that couch is damn comfortable and it makes me tired........a little power nap never hurt anybody.  Oh the LOUD music and LOUD TV!   Why so loud.  I can't hear my talk radio over your blairing hippity hop.  You can't hear?  Cut your hippy hair so you can hear better!  I enjoy my peace and quiet time.  Lets me catch up to my Sports Illustrated article of the Cowboys whooping on the Eagle a week ago.   People still read magazines and newspapers right?  I know the internet is instant access.  But a good read of old news never hurt anybody right?  Just because I ask Parker to help me put together that new and improved electronic device doesn't mean that I can't do it......it means I don't want to do it.   And who doesn't like a good old drawn out story.  Just because my kids give me that glazed over look when I reminense of record players, 8-track, VHS/Beta tape war, VCR's, MTV that actually played music, cassette tape, my old Sony Walkman, all bowl games on New Years day, naptime in kindergarten, popcorn cooked on a stove, 4 TV channels, TV dinners from the oven, the Berlin Wall, Soviet Union, Pluto is a planet, Yugo, Saturday morning cartoons, Adam West Batman (BOOM!), candy cigarettes, Tab soda, American Bandstand, Australian Rules Football on ESPN all the time, Monday Night Baseball, Yogoslavia, Gilligan's Island, .79 cent a gallon ga......OH NO!  I AM OLD!  I DO HAVE THE OLD MAN SYNDROME!

Its time to fight back.  Welcome back the all nighters!  Embrace Hannah Montana on Saturday morning.  Who cares that the New Years Day bowl games are spread over 2 weeks.  Embrace modern technology.  Have Parker teach me how to operate that new fangled electronic device.  Enjoy my 400 channels of nothing to watch!  Sleep in til noon like Dallas.  Quit being crabby, grab a water, don't fall asleep on the couch, and blog my drawn out old man stories!

Youngling beware!  Here comes an old man to wreck havoc and embarrass you in public!

7lbs! WAAAAahhooooooooo!

WAAAAaaHOOOOoooo!  Down 7lbs this week!  Doing it the old fashion way.  This seems to work better for me.  Eat right, work out hard.  I'm so freakin' pumped!  The most I've ever lost during this journey was 2lbs.  This week 7lbs!  That's Biggest Loser poundage!  WAAAAaaaaHOOOOoooooo!  244 to 237!  YES!  Lots more to go on my journey.  This is a small step, but a positive step in the right direction.

We got a Wii for Christmas.   I'm telling you I am a Wii believer now.  I can't get enough!  Its turn my boring workouts into FUN.  One big hurdle I always had was boredom.  The same routine over and over.  Walking and running everyday.  The Wii has added variety into my daily workouts.  I love it.  If you can afford it, it is a well worth it investment.  I can't wait to try more Wii activities.  Wii Fit and EA's Active are next on my list.  I've read great stuff on these.  Some research on Wii Sports boxing, you burn about 600 calories for an hour of good butt kicking fun!  I love it!

http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2008/08/15/wii_sports_vs_real_sports_which_burns_more_calories.php

This weeks goals:

Lost 2-3lbs

Exercise 5-7 days

1700 -1900 calories (Doesn't seem like a lot, but I've managed to fit open face turkey sandwiches in my daily intake.  Who would have known)

4-7 servings of veggies and/or fruit daily

8 glasses of water <------means several trips to the bathroom.

I went back to logging everything on http://www.livestrong.com/.  Its quick and easy.  If you issues writing everything down.  I would suggest trying this site.  This week I've eaten between 1700 - 1900 calories and burned 600 daily.  Its been great!