FatBloggers.net A little push to lose the tush.

Sorry for my absence the last few weeks. Life has been a little crazy. Which sadly is the reason for this…

219!!! A gain of a whole heck of a lot.

But did you notice the asterisk. I know this is cheating and rationalizing and all that but I really don’t weigh 219.

Ok, I did weigh 219 when I step on the scale this morning, but for the rest of this week I have weighed 217.

Last night I was at a board meeting surrounded by salty snacks of which I helped myself to plenty. I knew I was going to have a gain this week and somehow that translated into a free-for-all snack attack 10 hours before steping on the scale.

So that is the asterisk. I blame the 219 on late night salty snacks. It should be gone tomorrow, or the next day.

But even without this mornings tainted weigh-in I still would have had a gain this week.

So let’s get to the real issue. I am a pretty even keel guy. I don’t get stressed out much, and when I do get stressed I do my best to keep it calm on the outside… the whole duck under the water thing.

I have been a little overwhelmed these last two weeks. To be honest, there is a lot of it I love. I love preforming under pressure, I love how it makes the work exciting… I don’t love missing my family or letting the stress drive me to eat however.

Last week I was genuinely stress eating, it was an unconscious falter.

This week I have been using stress as an excuse to allow myself to pig out… and I knew I was doing it. Every one of those snacks was a conscious decision “justified” by my “oh so stressful week”!

Well next week looks like it is going to be just as crazy as the past two, but I am retiring the “stress eating” excuse. I am getting back on track next week, crazy week or not! No ifs, ends or buts about it.

The good news in all this gluttony is my exercise. In the past workouts would have been the first thing to go when I was tight on time. But not now.

My workouts have been my one constant over the last two weeks. That is a huge accomplishment for me and one I am very proud of.

Ok I got deadlines people, so until next week, have a great weekend.

Tony
2/29: 219lbs
NEW GOAL: 214
5 pounds to go

I’m in Austin for a couple of days to meet with some pastors around here. This is where my weight loss journey took a detour last October or November. I have been trying to recover from that detour ever since. It is hard to stay healthy here because there are so many new things to eat and do and I have friends here that I like to drink with and stuff. I have been pretty good so far… I ran today, which I never even thought of doing last time I was here. I really need to learn to just be healthy no matter where I am or what I am doing. That is my focus on this trip.

I started back on my couch to 10K running project on Sunday. I ran today around Dell and it started out really easy. I was proud of myself because of how easy it was… then I turned around and realized that I had been running downhill the whole time. The way back was pretty rough, but I made it! I’ll be back home soon and into the gym and my regular routine again (or at least working on making the gym a regular routine ). I had a breakfast bar this morning and I’m gonna eat a salad for lunch so I can indulge a little bit tonight if I want. But… so far so good!

Tonight, Jan drew upon the wisdom of Jack Canfield, the “author” of the ubiquitous Chicken Soup for the Whatever Soul books, by adapting his 10 Steps to Success to our WeightWatchers journey.

• Acknowledge and appreciate your positive past.
  • You may have been on the diet roller coaster in the past. Think of it this way, you didn’t fail X number of times, you learned how NOT to do it X number of times.
• Use positive self talk.
  • Calling yourself a fat tub o’goo when you eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s is not a winning strategy.
• Acknowledge and build on your strengths.
  • I’m really good at not sticking to things… ok, that’s not a good example.
• Clarify your vision and your purpose.
  • I’ve said it before, a monumental weight loss effort will fall flat so long as you keep trying to be ‘noble’. Stop trying to lose weight for your kids or your spouse or for those jackasses at the high school reunion, do it for yourself! Until you get selfish you will lose your resolve. At the end of the day, the person you care most about is the one that stares at you in the mirror when you’re shaving.
• Set measurable goals and objectives.
  • If I had ruminated too long on the 160+ lbs. I had to lose, it would have seemed like I was saying that I am going out to my driveway and lift the Explorer above my head. Insurmountable goals will remain just that, insurmountable. Break your goals down into small, significant portions and step-by-step you will lift that SUV!
• Visualize and affirm your goals and objectives.
  • The way this has worked for me, I buy clothes that are a size or two too small. The goal is visualized when the smaller pair of pants sits on the shelf and mocks me. The goal is affirmed when I snap those bad boys upon my shrinking waist.
• Take action
  • Those assholes that sit in their cars, blocking up the parking lot waiting for a ‘good’ parking space are going to continue having enormous a$$es unless they park a little further out and shag their rumps into the building. And they will take joy in walking past the aforementioned assholes. Turn off the TV, step away from the computer and move rapidly in a sustained fashion.
• Respond to feedback.

  • nectarfizz,  said: Wow., I have only lost 50 so far…way to go!!!!!!

    Thank-you very much!

• Persevere
  • Pain is weakness leaving the body!
• Celebrate your success
  • I am wearing the smallest size of jeans I have worn in almost 20 years. How cool is that?!?

Anton, A drum roll if you please…

Starting Weight (Dec. 22, 2006): 392 lbs.
Starting BMI: 51.7
Weight Last Week (Feb. 19, 2008): 310.6 lbs.
Weight Today (Feb. 26, 2008): 309 lbs.
Current BMI: 40.8

Weight Change This Week: -1.6 lbs.
Total Weight Lost: -83 lbs.
NEXT GOAL: Less than 40 on the BMI! (7 lbs. to go)

Do… or Do Not… there is no TRY. –Master Yoda

Yeah, my workout buddy warned me about this, but I had hopes otherwise. I only lost 0.2 though I’m sure I lost more than that in weight (fat). However, as I workout with a weight-training regimen in addition to cardio, I’m going to build muscle (which is much denser than fat, thus weighing more than fat for the same physical amount). Of course, a few things I consumed over the weekend didn’t help much either.

As for the workouts, each time I go, I think I come back with a different set of muscles aching or weak (Monday I felt like I was 50 years older barely able to get up from my chair and push open doors). Today was mostly triceps that bothered me. It’s finally working itself out as I sit here to type up this post. I stuck to the schedule of four times a week though my workout buddy skipped out on Thursday last week due to prior lunch plans. The full regimen I completed each day is below after the “read more” link along with my menu for the week.

I know I can do this and I want to defeat this belly. I have so many other indicators that I’m doing well (my pants are no longer tight fitting; I’m wearing smaller sizes including the new XL shorts I bought for my workouts versus my older XXL; my endurance is building for the elliptical and I’m increasing the weights I’m using or doing more reps). With all these indicators, I can’t let myself give in to self-defeating thoughts when the scale says 0.2 pounds lost. I’ll get there… eventually… but I’ll get there.

Starting weight: 319.0 lb
Previous weight: 283.0 lb
Current weight: 282.8 lb
Current loss/gain: -0.2 lb
Total loss/gain: -36.2 lb
Distance to 50: 13.8 lb
Distance to WW Goal: 32.8 lb

Cross-posted to WebCudgel.com

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I feel like CRAP!

I haven’t been eating right, I haven’t been blogging, I haven’t been to the gym but once since last Wednesday, but it is still weigh-in day for the warriors. So off I go to the RAC, with a dose of Tylenol Daytime Cough & Cold in my system.

The first thing Mikki says, “Geez John. You look like crap”. Thanks, I feel like I look. I told her that everything in me said to stay home, sit in front of the TV and sniffle. I know that you are thinking the same thing. When you don’t feel like working out, don’t, stay at home and when it passes, then go back to the gym. Wrong! Mikki says that you should do what you can to get your heart rate elevated. Getting that blood pumping actually increases the immune systems of your body. But, before I got by blood pumping… I stepped on the scale.

Anton, A drumroll if you please…

Week 0 - 317.2 lbs.
Week 1 - 312.9 lbs.
Week 2 - 311.7 lbs.
Week 3 - 308.0 lbs.

Total Loss - 9.2 lbs.

Pain is weakness leaving the body.

–Mikki McGirr, Personal Trainer

**Cross-published on I Reject Your Reality & The (Pendleton) East Oregonian

in less than 24 hours i’ll be on a carnival cruise ship. poor me, right?

i’ve decided to look at the trip as a challenge. can i do well, in the worst of places when it comes to eating right? we’ll see. i’ve got faith though.

while i’m on the trip, i will be documenting everything i eat, both by picture and words. so be looking forward to a lengthly, in-depth post when i get back.

also, for those of you interested, on my personal blog i have a special guest blogger, pete thomas, who won $100,000 on season two of nbc’s hit reality show “the biggest loser” for losing the most overall weight. he will be doing a two part series on my website that, believe me… i’ve read it already, is absolutely incredible. so please stop by and show pete some love.

see you all in a week!

Another great one from Men’s Health

There’s a saying in the fitness industry: “You can’t out-train a bad diet.”That holds true almost 100 percent of the time—especially as you get older. I truly believe that nutrition is the biggest component of a good fat-loss program—by a long shot. Here are five things to focus on. These serve as the foundation for the Belly Off! eating plan.

• Take a look at how much you are eating now.

• If you are not losing weight, eat less.

• Eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and protein sources. Don’t eat anything from a bag or a box.

• Give yourself one treat meal per week to look forward to. Not a treat day, just a treat meal.

• Plan ahead. Spend 1 to 2 hours on the weekend getting your meals ready for the week.

That’s it. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the Belly Off! scale. So far, guys have lost more than 12 tons of fat following these simple rules.

You can’t argue with that.

sorry for not being around much lately all, life has been nuts!

i am putting that behind me though, and while i won’t be blogging again for about a week (due to what i’ll be talking about below) i will be rockin’ it hard once i get back.

so, what is going on? i’m leaving for a cruise on sunday morning. anyone ever been on one? if not, let me give you a little insight on how a seven-day carnival cruise goes…

extraordinarily high quality food… all you want. dessert too.

no joke, there will be nights where the dinner menu main dishes will consist of things like, london broil, lobster tail, and prime rib… and while the idea is to choose one, you can literally just say “all three please, and two of each.” and they do it! and it’s part of the money you already paid! the same applies to dessert! imagine… you have the choices of creme brulee, bread pudding, and chocolate cake… and you can get all three.

oiy. i have a seriously HUGE challenge in front of me.

here’s my plan. i haven’t been working out at all lately, so while i am on this cruise, i am going to commit to working out two hours a day (in addition to the already high level of physical exertion due to just having to walk all the time)… an hour in the morning and an hour at night. i am also going to do my best to not snack at all during the day on anything other than fruit or a salad.  for breakfast, my plan is to stay healthy, and to eat it everyday (this is tough for me, i often skip breakfast). lunch will be light as well. then, when it comes to dinner… i will refrain from getting any more than one option from the appetizer, main dish, and dessert menu. and when it comes to dessert, i will attempt to either not eat it, or find the “best for me” dessert on the menu.

guys, this is going to be rough, and i’m not a fool to think i can come out of this losing weight. my goal is to break even, or not put any more than two pounds on.

anybody go on a cruise or vacation where you had tons of food in front of you before and make it through unscathed? how’d you do it?

so I decided to go to the gym instead of weight watchers today. It turned out that it had to be one or the other so I hit the gym and will go to WW in Friday or Sat. I weighed myself on the scale at the gym which is usually higher than the WW scale and I did it after my workout which usually seems to be higher than before I work out. The scale said what I was afraid of… 260. I am going to work very hard and hopefully the WW number will be a pound or two less than that. I wanted to see as high a number as possible so that I will be as motivated as possible. It’s always hard for me to get going again after taking time off. But I’m eating very well today and have already worked out so this is going to be a + day!

On another note… i have like 2 pairs of jeans that I wear most every day. One of them is a bit too small and the other is wearing out (my big toe got caught in a hole this morning and made a minor problem a bit bigger). So I have decided that I’m not going to buy any new jeans that are the same size as the ones I am wearing. I will wear these until I can fit into the next smaller size (which I think is a 36). So either i am going to drop a size pretty quick or I am going to wear increasingly deteriorating jeans along with my uncomfortable ones… or I will lose weight and my other jeans will fit better and I can buy some new ones that are smaller. Just another step in making health more comfortable than habit.

It has been 2.5 months since I was able to say this, GOAL ACHIEVED! I am officially half-way between where I started (392 lbs.) and where I want to be (230 lbs.)!

There is a great website called NaturalPhysiques.com that puts the weight you want to lose, or in my case, have lost, in a bit of perspective.

You entered 81 pounds (37 kilograms).

81 pounds is the average weight of a 11-year old boy. ** My son is 11 years old, but weighs a SOLID, 105 lbs

How Much Fuel Is That?

To lose that amount of fat would mean to burn 283,500 calories! That is the equivalent of 9.13 gallons of gasoline (a $29.13 value at Dave’s Chevron in Pendleton today). Humans, however, are far more efficient than cars, getting about 912 “miles to the gallon”. If you could dump this many calories into the tank of a Honda Civic, you would be able to drive it about 311 miles before running out of gas!

This amount of energy would …

• Brew about 791 pots of coffee, or
• Light a 60-watt light bulb for 5,492 hours ( 229 days = 0.63 years)

Cutting 283,500 calories is the same as saying “no” to:

• 3,544 apples, or
• 2,835 bananas, or
• 16,676 cups of cabbage (ick!), or
• 1,955 baked potatoes, or
• 3,544 large eggs, (1,181 omelettes at Denny’s) or
• 2,363 cups of 2% milk, or
• 204 pounds of ground beef, or
• 3,259 glasses of wine, or
• 878 Snickers bars, or
• 1,181 Clif Bars ( 1,575 Luna Bars), or
• 2,040 cans of Coke, or
• 1,668 pints of Guinness beer, or
• 576 Big Macs, or
• 550 Quarter Pounders with Cheese, or
• 405 Whoppers, or
• 859 Subway 6″ Oven Roasted Chicken Breast sandwiches, or
• 1,668 Taco Bell crunchy tacos, or
• 1,206 slices of pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut

What it Takes to Burn 283,500 Calories

To burn 283,500 calories, a 190 pound male would have to:

• Backpack for 469 hours (20 days) nonstop, or
• Walk for 1,086 hours (45 days) at 3 mph straight, or
• Walk 3,259 miles (2,037 kilometers), or
• Bike for 822 hours (34 days) at 10 mph, or
• Bike 8,217 miles (5,136 kilometers), or
• Play basketball nonstop for 452 hours 19 days), or
• Play billiards for 1,313 hours (55 days), or
• Go bowling for 1,095 hours (46 days), or
• Stay on the golf course for 822 hours (34 days), or
• Spend 365 hours (15 days) playing competitive football, or
• Jump rope for 345 hours (14 days) straight!

You would have to walk the length of England about 5.43 times to burn 283,500 calories.

How Long it Will Take?

The range for safe weight loss is about 1 to 3 pounds of fat per week. It could take anywhere between 27 to 81 weeks (6 to 19 months) to safely and reasonably lose that amount of weight. **It took me 57 weeks…  right in the ballpark.

Without further delay…. Anton, A drumroll if you please…

Starting Weight (Dec. 22, 2006): 392 lbs.
Starting BMI: 51.7
Weight Today (Feb. 19, 2008): 310.6 lbs.
Current BMI: 41.0

Weight Change This Week: -1.2 lbs.
Total Weight Lost: -81.4 lbs.
NEXT GOAL: Less than 40 on the BMI! (8.6 lbs. to go)

Do… or Do Not… there is no TRY. –Master Yoda