FatBloggers.net A little push to lose the tush.

I did my second day of Couch to 5k today. After going to the gym Monday and yesterday I decided to take a day off and I’ll hit the weights again tomorrow! I went to WW today and I am only .5 a pound down from last week. Not doing too well, but I am getting into better habits! I have worked out every day this week and I’ve been eating pretty well too. I didn’t get to eat much all day yesterday and after band practice I was starving. Wendy’s was open and those damn “baconator” commercials kept running through my head. So i had one and it was way too much meat! I felt my arteries clog up as I was eating it, but it was pretty good anyway That probably was not the best decision the day before WW but i’m looknig for a big loss next week now!

Starting Weight (Aug. 1, 2007): 270 lbs.
Starting BMI: 37.7
Weight Last Week (Mar. 5, 2008): 260 lbs.
Weight Today (Mar. 12 2008): 259.5 lbs.
Current BMI: 36.2

Weight Change This Week: -.5 lbs
Total Weight Lost: -10.5 lbs.
NEXT GOAL: 245 lbs. (14.5 lbs. to go)

P.S. As you can probably tell, I stole this posting format here… next thing you know I’ll be wearing t-shirts with my weight on them I’m such a poser!

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!

Well, it’s time to finally comes to grip with it all.  My bid for a comeback has fallen a bit short, so I’m officially done with Couch to 5k.  After taking a day off yesterday, I went out this morning to see how it would feel on the track.  I stretched out well and started out at quite an easy pace.  I wasn’t even to the end of Johnny Lang’s “Still Rainin’”, though, before all heck broke loose and the tendons in my right ankle were demanding that I stop…or else. 

But this isn’t totally unexpected, I suppose.  I’m 40, and even at my ideal weight, I’m still hovering just under 250 pounds.  My 6′5″ frame just isn’t made for this kind of thing.  And on the bright side, my running regimen has helped me drop some weight and get in better shape than I’ve been since college.  It’s just not a long term option for me.

So, it’s time to find another cardio workout.  I’m going to do some work on my bike and get that ready to go.  Biking should be a lot easier on my joints.  I can do that until well into the fall when the weather starts getting nasty, then we’ll figure it out from there. 

I’m down 1.6 pounds this week, for a grand total of 54.4 pounds lost since March 6.  I’m just 2.2 pounds away from my goal weight, so we’ll see if we get there next week.

Couch to 5k:  I’ve got some tendons in my 40-year-old ankle screaming out in protest from the beating that I’m giving them every other day.  They’re pretty tight for the first mile or so of my run, then loosen up reasonably for the rest of my run.  After I cool down, though, they’re hurting more than before.  I could go to the doctor, but I KNOW what he’s going to say about that one.  I’m considering whether or not I should even try this 5k in three weeks.  It’s a mountain I’d definitely like to get over.

Unrelated to this blog, but worth reporting anyway:  You probably know by now that the Oregon State Beavers claimed their second College World Series crown in a row on Sunday night, defeating the North Carolina Tarheels 9-3.  They trailed just one half of one inning the entire series.  If you’re not a Beaver fan by now, you sure need to be.  Somehow I don’t think Darwin Barney is going to need FatBloggers.net anytime soon, but just in case, it’s nice to know we’re standing by.  Ok, that’s the FatBloggers tie-in that justifies the mention.

Other news:  I was in WalMart today, and saw a display of Alli, which is the latest over-the-counter weight loss drug to hit the market.  Apparently, it’s quite popular right now.  I’ll just quote from Greg Todd to describe this stuff to you:

Have you heard about Alli, the latest craze in weight loss fads?  It’s pronounced like “ally”, and it’s apparently flying off the shelves all over America.  And that’s despite the side effects, which include powerful, loose stools.  And gas with “an oily discharge.”  The manufacturer even recommends that users wear dark pants and bring a change of clothes to work with them.  That’s nice.  Ewww - what’s that smell?  Did Jane just lose another pound?

Uh…no thanks.  I’ll just stick with my three pounds a week average at Weight Watchers.  I like to make it through the day with just one pair of pants.

On our vacation, I picked up these New Balance 692 running shoes on sale.  What a difference a new pair of shoes makes.  I ran today at about 1pm at the middle school track, in about 70 degree weather and a light breeze out of the west.  Two miles even, no stopping.  A quarter mile better than I did last Friday when I was up in Couer d’Alene.  I was sucking air for about the last lap and a half or so, but my feet and ankles, and everything up from there, felt great.  Definitely an improvement from the worn-out cross trainers that I was wearing before.

I’m going to be at work in Hermiston for much of tomorrow, so I’m going to take these along with me and try to get another run in before weigh-in at 5.  I can do this.

We got back at 11pm last night, a little earlier than expected, but we had a great time.  I’m happy to report that the worst thing I had since my last report was the ham and cheese omelette at Denny’s yesterday morning.  And that was my major meal of the day.  We didn’t have an internet connection at all yesterday, so I wasn’t able to record exactly how many points I had, but I’m sure I stayed within my points allowed.  My biggest concern is that I haven’t run since Friday morning, and it’s now Monday morning.  This one’s gonna hurt.  But, I did get my 3 runs in through the week, which is what Couch to 5k calls for, so in that sense I haven’t lost anything.  I do need to ramp up my training regimen, though, as race day is only a little less than a month from now. 

Time to get back into my normal routine again.  Weigh in is tomorrow night.  I can do this.

Day 1 of our vacation.  I packed a cooler full of yogurts, string cheese, granola bars, Diet Coke, etc… all of the stuff that I would consume when I’m at home.  Not a problem.  Dinner tonight was at Applebee’s, where they have a part of their menu that shows the Weight Watchers points.  I chose the Italian Chicken & Portabello Sandwich with a fruit bowl.  It was unremarkable:  Chicken was overdone and dry, portabellos weren’t done right, and marinara sauce was non-existent.  Oh well…7 WW points, and I didn’t have to dissect it to count them.   We’ll try something else tomorrow.  The hotel we’re staying at has a good layout for breakfast, so I’m thinking about some Grape-nuts with honey and fruit of some kind.  Seven points, plus the fruit.

Exercise tomorrow:  We’re really close to a high school with a track, so I’m going to hit it up first thing in the morning.  Here’s what I’m up to:

• Jog 1/2 mile
• Walk 1/4 mile
• Jog 3/4 mile
• Walk 1/4 mile
• Jog 1/2 mile

I’ll let you know how it goes. 

Ok, this is where the rubber meets the road.  This is where the grease hits the pan.  This is where the…ok, you get the idea.

I’m going on vacation this Thursday.  I’m going to be out of my routine, and subjected to mostly eating out, although we’ll take quite a bit of stuff with us also.  I’ve been preaching it all this time myself, but it’s time to do some planning.  I can do Subway pretty well, and the hotel we’re staying at has a good breakfast set out with some good healthy choices.  I’m also going to bring along my running clothes so that I can find a place to keep up with my Couch-to-5k regimen.  We’ll have wireless in the hotel, so I’ll let you know how I’m doing along the way. 

I went to a catered barbecue last night, and had a DELICIOUS 12-points dinner, complete with beef, potato salad, and homecooked beans.  Who says dieting has to be a drag? 

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