Day 114 – Social Media as a motivator?

Good Morning!!

A high school friend mentioned me and my weight loss journey in a Facebook post yesterday. She shared with me and her viewing public that she had been encouraged by my willingness to air all my dirty laundry regading my size and weight loss journey. She commended me on my “braveness”. I truly appreciate the comments and totally get what her point, however I’m not sure that “braveness” is the right word. I personnaly use this blog and facebook as a motivator to stay focused. It holds me accountable. If it serves as motivation for someone else then GREAT! Weight loss and getting healthy isn’t something that you can do all on your own. You need support from all the people around you. It is extremely difficult to change your lifestyle unless ALL the people you live with change theirs too. Everyone has to be on board. Mistakes happen and we all fall of the wagon from time to time. The key is, picking yourself up and getting back on. Remember you didn’t get fat overnight and you will not get healthy overnight. It’s a lifetime of changes!! Re-Train the brain.

I appreciate all your comments. Please continue to follow my Facebook Page I BEAT ANOREXIA . The Facebook page is a safe place to share your story, recipes and motivational stories.

Day 105 – Not even an ounce!!

Good Morning!!

Well I arose with much anticipation of what the scales would say this morning. Would it reflect my day of hard work and record steps? Well not so much. My weight was exactly the same. Didn’t even budge and ounce! Kinda funny huh? Maybe I didn’t eat enough of the right foods yesterday? Who knows, adapt and overcome. My old body sure felt the workout the last couple of days. I think the garden work may have just about done me in. My legs are so sore I can barely set on the toilet!! Again, adapt and overcome. Back to the real world today – Vacation is officially OVER :-(.

Today is weigh in day at the hospital for the Weight Challenge. Rumor has it they will be re-measuring today as well. Kinda excited to see the changes in measurements. I can tell that things have gotten small. Had to put another hole in the old EMS belt this morning. Getting closer to my primary goal, then it’s time for new cloths.

TUESDAY JULY 24,2013

STARTING WEIGHT: 334.8 pounds
TODAYS WEIGHT: 273.4 pounds AGAIN 😦
WEIGHT LOSS: 62.4 pounds
WEIGHT LOSS PERCENTAGE: 18.3 %

Hope everyone has a great day!!

Day 102 – Well, I’m back. Is it possible to have a healthy vacation?

Good Morning.

Well it’s over, vacation that is. The time off was just what I needed. I had plenty of time to re-charge, relax and enjoy family that is too far away to enjoy regularly. I was very concerned at the start (and during) this vacation that I would not continue to lose weight. I thought about my weight everyday, every meal. I will come clean, I had a couple cookies, ate more than I normally do and even had a few beers. I mean who goes to the ocean and doesn’t have a Corona and lime or two, or three or… well I think you get my point. I was in the land of sweet treats and deep fried EVERYTHING. After all it’s about moderation, right?

Dining out was my biggest obstacle. The restaurants in that area do not put any emphasis on healthy cooking. Almost everything on the menu is deep fired or smothered in sugar, sometimes both!! The healthy food while, there, took some detective work to find. Chickens must be hard to come by south of the Mason-Dixon Line, because it was not a popular menu choice, nor was it ready available in the local super market. Eating at home was easier and healthier. While there where still had the assortment of un-healthy deep fried, processed choices, everyone made concessions for me and provided healthy choices as well. I appreciate the flexibility and everyone not making me feel like a crazy northerner! Without everyone’s support, this trip would have been a lifestyle disaster!!

All the way home I keep wondering what the scales would say. Would have gained, stayed the same or heaven forbid stayed the same. I wanted to keep things consistent and weight my self in the am, like I have done for the last 88 days, so I had to avoid the temptation of stepping on my normal scales the second I walked in the door last night.

Bright and early this morning, I jumped out of bed and raced to the bathroom. Stripped down to what god gave me and hopped on the scales. SCORE !! 273.8 POUNDS. So I lost 5.2 pounds while on vacation. I was pretty stoked. Thats 61 pounds in 102 days, not to shabby. I guess all the walking did the trick!

Myfitnesspal said that I have lost an additional ten pounds and now they have automatically adjusted my daily caloric intake goal to 1840 calories.

Time to get back to my normal routine and hopefully I will be able to hit my primary goal of 270 pounds this week. When that occurs, I am going to reward myself with a massage!!

Hope everyone has a great day. Glad to be back!

Big thanks goes out to everyone that has provided me with positive comments and support. Keep them coming!!

SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

STARTING WEIGHT: 334.8 pounds
GOAL WEIGHT: 270.0 pounds
TODAY’S WEIGHT: 273.8 pounds
WEIGHT LOSS: 61 POUNDS
WEIGHT LOSS PERCENTAGE: 18.2 %

Day 52 – Energy UP and weight DOWN – Sounds like a good formula!

Good Morning.

This has been a busy and quite productive week for me. It’s kind of odd to me the amount of energy and drive I have these days. I feel like i’m always looking for the next project. Maybe it’s the warmer weather, maybe it’s the weight loss who knows for sure, but I am liking it.

I am kinda bummed that I am not going to be able to attend the ‘caveman’ class this morning. I have a continuing education class for my medic card all day today. I was really – all kidding aside – looking forward to another class. I mean the soreness from last weeks class finally wore of by about Thursday. So why not give it another shot! Is it dedication and determination to lose weight, or pure stupidity? Guess we will never know. Regardless of the reason, the only thing that will show is the weight loss.

Friday May 31,2013

The formula is simple – WORK MORE THAN YOU EAT!! – The weight will come off.

Caloric Goal: 2130 calories
Caloric Intake: 1312 calories
Difference: -818 calories

Breakfast: 360 cals
Fiber One Honey Squares
Banana
Unsweetened Almond Milk
Whey Protein Shake w/ Almond Milk
Men’s Health One a Day
Vit D Supplement
Fish Oil
Vit C Supplement
Vit B-100 Complex

Lunch: 150 cals
Whey Protein Shake – Vanilla Cream
Unsweetened Almond Milk

Dinner: 512 cals
Chicken and Veggie Pizza
Whole Wheat Low Carb Tortilla

Snacks: 290 cals
Orange
Kashi Peanut Butter Granola Bar

Workout:
45 mins Alternating incline on the treadmill. Speed 2.6 – 3.0 mph
Mowed the yard
Worked in the garden
Cleaned the garage out
Laundry

Day 51 – Extra for Avocado – What??

Good Morning!!

Wow, yesterday was a long, but productive day. The day started with the routine transport the boy to school. Then to they YMCA. Was able to get a 2 hr work out in. Dedicated an hour to cardio (walking) and a hour to free weights. Next was a ‘healthy’ lunch with my adorable girl at Subway Restaurant.

Pardon me, but I am going to go on a rant about a subject. I noticed on the door of subway that they now offer Avocado as a topping on sandwiches. So when I ordered my veggie delight, and asked about Avocado. I was informed that I could have a 75 cent portion or a $1.50 portion. I was kinda taken back by the additional charge for a vegetable topping. After all I had ordered a vegetable sub. Oh well, I love avocado and it’s health benefits are amazing, so I paid the extra fee. I am somewhat disappointed that Subway, the fast food restaurant know for serving healthy food, is jumping on the band wagon and taking advantage of people trying to improve their health. I mean what would Jarred say? Would he support charging an additional fee for a healthy topping? Would they do not charge additional fees for mustard or mayonnaise. Well no of course they wouldn’t. Doesn’t seem right.

Anyway – After lunch, I had to run to Walmart for a few odds and ends. Finally made it home with only a half hour or so to get my son from school. Today was the last day of the year, so school dismissed 2 hours early. We all came home and finished planting the garden. After everything was planted, jumped in the shower and refreshed! Then off to baseball. I was recruited into pitching for the tball team. I know what your thinking, who needs a pitcher for tball. Well we do. We allow our kids to take 3 pitches before they have to use the tee. This is a great way to get them prepared for following years. After baseball it was off to grab dinner. Kids had subway again and I came home and prepared sour kroute and turkey hotdogs. Man it was good. I really enjoyed it. Got the kids bathed and finished up laundry. Finally was able to set and kinda relax at 2145. Wow that was 12 hours of non-stop action! I was so busy, I never once thought of food.

Goals – Are they achievable?

Goals, easy to set, easy to come up with, hard to keep. We have all done it, made an un-realistic goal and never followed through. I have done it far to many times. The trick they say it to set achievable goals. The achievable ones allow you succeed and then re-evalutate. My weight goal at the start of this journey was 270lbs. I know that one is achievable, but along the way I want to set smaller quicker goals. You know to keep my interest peaked.

Case in point, I am so close to 300 pounds I can smell it. That is my small goal for the week, power though and break the 300 pound barrier. Can it be done? Hell yes. I have never been so determined.

Day 39 – Lost 0.4 pounds – Better than nothing!!

Good Morning!!

Well time to start another work week. Another 3 days of good and bad. Bad = sedentary for 12 hours, Good = decreased ability to eat bad foods. I always seem to lose more weight during the first part of the week while working, so here’s to it. Hope everyone has a spectacular Sunday.

Starting Weight: 334.8 pounds
Goal Weight: 270 pounds
Weight Today: 306.4 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 28.4 pounds
Total Weight Remaining: 36.4 pounds

MEALS:

Breakfast: 135 cals
Omelette w/ Red Pepper, Mushroom, White & Red Onion
Coffee w/ Coconut Creamer

Lunch: 415 cals
6” Veggie Delight Subway
Baked BBQ Chips
Large Sweet Tea

Dinner: 633 cals
Peanut Butter Sandwich
Fiber One Cereal
Grilled Chicken Breast
Frank’s Red Hot Sauce

Snacks: 372 cals
Fiber One Bar
Fuji Apple
Peanut Butter

Workout:
70 mins on the treadmill

Day 37 – 2.2 more pounds GONE – Motivation = Cash & Prizes!!

Good Morning.

Encouraging day on the scales this morning. Another 2.2 lbs by the wayside, plenty yet to go!!
I have to continue contribute my weight loss to; staying moving, eating less than I burn, and really not being hungry. I have always heard and read that the foods you eat directly affect your activity and your hunger intensity. Looking back to when I would start my day with a quick and easy McDonalds Egg McMuffin, it is all making sense. I would eat breakfast first thing, thinking I was doing “the right thing” and by 9 am be starving and looking for some junk to fill me up. Now I eat something high in protein and vegetables in the morning and I have to remind myself that it is time for lunch.

Motivation is very important to successful weight loss. As I have discussed before, I have a ton of motivators. Yesterday, I was informed of another motivator: CASH & PRIZES!! Who doesn’t love Cash & Prizes? My part-time employer had started a weight loss challenge for their employee’s. I am already on the path to better health, so why not get some cash and prizes for my efforts!!
The plan is a team of 4 will be weighed regularly and there will be a couple of chances to win. There will be an overall winner – a winning team – and a highest percentage loser winner. I was invited by a co-worker to join his team, and I said yes. Still not real sure who the the rest of the team will be, but patiently waiting. We got this. Also I saw something at the YMCA yesterday on the advertisement TV screen in the gym. It flashed by kinda quickly, and I wasn’t able to read the entire advertisement, but I was a contest along the same lines. I am going to be checking into the Fayette YMCA contest in greater detail this morning.

May 17, 2013

Starting Weight: 334.8 pounds
Goal Weight: 270 pounds
Weight Today: 305.6 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 29.2 pounds
Total Weight Remaining: 35.6 pounds

MEALS:

Breakfast: 212 calories
Omelette w/ Turkey, Pepper, Onion
Supplements
Coffee w/ Coconut Creamer

Lunch: 430 calories
Boneless Buffalo Chicken w/ Whole Grain Rice

Dinner: 304 calories
Multi-Grain Tortilla
Pizza Sauce
Turkey
Buffalo Wing Sauce
Onion
Mushroom

Snacks: 395 calories
Chocolate Milk
Peanut Butter Cookie – OH NO!! Everything in moderation!!

Exercise:
90 mins on the treadmill walking at various heights

Total Calories In: 1341 calories

America – Why do we eat SO MUCH, SO FAST?

In today’s society, we are always running and trying to beat the clock. We rarely take the time to be nice to our fellow citizens, little lone time to take care of ourselves. There are times when we need to slow down and take a minute to enjoy life. In the game of life no one gets out alive.

This fast pace has bleed over to our meals as well. When we eat fast, be tend to eat a larger quaintly of food. More food equals more calories. Studies have shown that eating fast leads to great instances of obesity.

Check Out this Video: I found it funny!

Why Do American’s Eat So MUCH so FAST?

There are many benefits to eating slow and deliberately:

* Lose Weight: Studies show that just by eating slower along, you consume fewer calories.
If you think about it, makes perfect sense. Now, I am kinda skeptical on this one, but some
some studies suggest that you can lose 20lbs a year, just by eating slower. You read that
right, solely by eating slower. They say that if you eat fast, you will continue to eat past the
point of being full. Your brain – the all powerful thing that it is – can not recognize that you
are no longer hungry until it’s too late.

* Enjoy you food: This is the suggestion that hits home with me. I will admit, I LOVE FOOD. I
Love the taste, texture and the dopamine release that food provides. You know when those
rare times that you allow temptation to overtake your mind, body and mouth and you give
into the “DEVIL FOODS”, you might as well slow down and enjoy every minute of them.
Food is important part of existence. Might as well enjoy it.

* Better Digestion: This is a common sense one. Digestion starts in your mouth. The enzymes
in you saliva starts the breakdown of foods. Plus your teeth crush, smash and prepare the food for the gut to finish the process off. Getting slower provides more saliva and greater
break down of food.

* Less Stress: Again, eating is a process that we have to participate in to maintain life.
take this time to slow down and think things through, or just space out.

Who’s ready to start this journey with me?