FatBloggers.net A little push to lose the tush.

Well, I had expected a gain last week and was surprised… however, my gain this week was a surprise too, but I should have seen it coming. After all, as I said before, this past week requires consumption of foods that are higher in fats sometimes. Now I can refocus since the week is over.

I still had several personal successes including doing a workout without having transportation to the weight-room (I work about a 1/2 mile from the building where I do my workouts). When I was off work Friday, I still did a shortened workout including 1.59 miles running (mostly). Today’s workout included a total of 1.34 miles (in two parts) where I was running the entire time.

I’ve really stepped up my workouts, but I need to get in some variations. I’m glad I took up the running. Maybe some day I’ll being joining in some 5K runs (of course, they’re almost always on Saturdays and I do believe Saturday to be the sabbath, a day of rest). It’ll be a while, but I do want to have some small goals in mind.

As for the gain, if you look at the graph, there seems to be a definite pattern emerging… Big loss, big gain, small loss, repeat.

Starting weight: 319.0 lb
Previous weight: 276.4 lb
Current weight: 279.0 lb
Current loss/gain: +2.6 lb
Total loss/gain: -40.0 lb
Distance to 50: 10.0 lb
Distance to WW Goal: 29.0 lb

Cross-posted to WebCudgel.com

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During this week (Sunday-Saturday), our congregation is observing the Days of Unleavens (yeah, old testament torah stuff; we observed Passover back on Friday night). During this time, we do not consume anything made with leavening products, primarily yeast, baking soda and baking powder.

The reason this concerns me is that most unleavened breads (which we are required to consume daily as the Israelites did as they left Egypt) are higher in fat and calories (especially since they’re not fluffy, they just take up space the amount of the dough). So naturally I expect the scale to show a significant increase during this time period.

I couldn’t be further from the truth. Though I missed a workout yesterday, I still got in three since the last weigh-in. I also changed it up today and replaced the 20 minutes of Elliptical machine with 20 minutes of 5 laps around our Call Center building (about 1.25 miles total) running one full lap and then about 70% of the rest running.

Though we had a Passover dinner Friday night (not a Jewish Seder, but roasted lamb, bitter herb salad, and unleavened bread), normal after-church small meal on Saturday and then a potluck on Sunday (the first Day of Unleavens), I still tried to limit my sweets intake, increase my veggie intake, and just have unsweet tea and water to drink.

All of this still resulted in me losing 3.2 pounds this week! This put me at a new record low since I started and only about 7.4 pounds away from my goal of 50 pounds lost. I just hope I can keep this up for next week’s weigh-in after these days are over.

Starting weight: 319.0 lb
Previous weight: 279.6 lb
Current weight: 276.4 lb
Current loss/gain: -3.2 lb
Total loss/gain: -42.6 lb
Distance to 50: 7.2 lb
Distance to WW Goal: 26.4 lb

Cross-posted to WebCudgel.com

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Okay, so I did push myself harder on the exercise and my food choices. I still did some sliding on the weekend and with desserts in the evenings, BUT I didn’t do anything nearly as bad as last week and I feel better about myself for it. I can do better and I will do better.

It has been encouraging to keep getting compliments for how much better I look. Even though the scale didn’t show much, I really didn’t need it when I kept hearing comments from co-workers and family and church members.

I’m just keeping on the course… I may be on the shoulder of the road, but I’m not parked with the hood up wondering what the heck just blew.  Be sure to notice my “Personal Success” on Thursday below because that was also something I felt good about this week.

Starting weight: 319.0 lb
Previous weight: 280.0 lb
Current weight: 279.6 lb
Current loss/gain: -0.4 lb
Total loss/gain: -39.4 lb
Distance to 50: 10.6 lb
Distance to WW Goal: 29.6 lb

Cross-posted to WebCudgel.com

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Aw, shoot!  I really blew it this past week.  Had pizza, chocolate pudding pie, and other goodies.  Bad stuff and the scales told the story.  A gain of 1.8 pounds.  I am back to where I was three weeks ago (a gain then too).

The problem?  Telling myself that I’ve been good so I deserve a little treat.  While this is true, telling myself that for a few days in a row is NOT good.  I’ve stuck to the workouts.  I’ve been having more healthy foods, but I gave in on the unhealthy stuff too.

Unfortunately, I also didn’t write it all down.  I really was too embarrassed about it to admit to what I had done.  However, I promise not to let that happen again.  Either I write it or I don’t eat it.  I need to set a better example.  I can do this.  I know I can.

On the plus side, I managed to lift 175lbs on the benchpress (only two reps, but that’s pretty good considering I was lifting 45lbs less than two months ago).  My workout buddy still pushes me to do more (weight, reps, sets, time, etc.) and I keep doing my best to meet his expectations.  I do have to balance that with what I read about in reputable magazines and websites and try not to overdo it.

Also on the plus side was the 42×32 jeans I wore on Friday.  Man, that was an accomplishment all its own.

Starting weight: 319.0 lb
Previous weight: 278.2 lb
Current weight: 280.0 lb
Current loss/gain: +1.8 lb
Total loss/gain: -39.0 lb
Distance to 50: 10.0 lb
Distance to WW Goal: 30.0 lb

Cross-posted to WebCudgel.com

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I’m late in posting this because yesterday I was up from 3am until I crashed around 9pm. I just had no energy to make any postings as we had got home late in the evening.

Well, the delay had nothing to do with having a weight gain this week. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I’ve been trying to eat less sugars and more fruits and veggies. I’ve also continued my exercise regimen and managed to bench press 155lbs for the first time. I’m also getting in serious amounts of abdominal crunches in the form of situps, leg-lefts and crunches so that there is a slightly noticeable reduction in my waist line.

I had received at least two compliments at work about looking better. My wife also pointed out that she notices a difference between my ID badge picture from work and what I look like now. In fact, I need to go check the mirror to see what she means.

Everything is going well and I’m 0.4 pounds closer to my goal of losing 50 pounds by summer than I was 3 weeks ago when I was at my highest total weight loss of 40.4 pounds.

Starting weight: 319.0 lb
Previous weight: 279.8 lb
Current weight: 278.2 lb
Current loss/gain: -1.6 lb
Total loss/gain: -40.8 lb
Distance to 50: 9.2 lb
Distance to WW Goal: 28.2 lb

Cross-posted to WebCudgel.com

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As I mentioned on my blog, I had some positive feedback about my weight-loss and that was a boost I needed. I didn’t lose as much this week as I had hoped, but maybe it is because I am gaining muscle. I notice it more and more each week and so I know I’m still doing pretty good when I can gain muscle and still lose 0.6 pounds.

I also missed a day of exercise last week and I really missed it (though the feeling is quite different for the next couple of hours after a session). I’m really enjoying the exercise sessions and the results I’m seeing in the mirror and on the scale mean a lot to me.

I’ve got a ways to go, but I’m almost halfway to my personal goal and that is pretty cool.

Starting weight: 319.0 lb
Previous weight: 280.4 lb
Current weight: 279.8 lb
Current loss/gain: -0.6 lb
Total loss/gain: -39.2 lb
Distance to 50: 10.8 lb
Distance to WW Goal: 29.8 lb

Cross-posted to WebCudgel.com

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I’m really pissed off! I have been writing down my food all week and staying within my points and working out almost every day and I gained 2.5 lbs. I was absolutely stunned… and as the scale sailed through the window of the Weight Watchers building, I wondered, “how did this happen?” The only thing that I think I can do better is to drink more water. I haven’t been paying attention to that and I’m sure that I haven’t been drinking enough. So for this week… I will drink 1/2 of my body weight in oz. of water while maintaining my workout schedule and counting my points each day, staying within my allotted range. I’m hoping this results in a great week next week! Here’s my damn stats:

Starting Weight (Aug. 1, 2007): 270 lbs.
Starting BMI: 37.7
Weight Last Week (Mar. 12, 2008): 259.5 lbs.
Weight Today (Mar. 20 2008): 262 lbs.
Current BMI: 36.2

Weight Change This Week: +2.5 lbs
Total Weight Lost: -8 lbs.
NEXT GOAL: 245 lbs. (17 lbs. to go)

Bleah.

I gained 1.8 pounds and I was disappointed. In the last few days, I had made some choices I would not have made the prior week. My war on sugar had a small cease-fire declared allowing for a relaxation of the sugar embargo.

However, my wife pointed out that it may also be affected by my workout routine. I had missed yesterday (choosing to go to Texadelphia cheesesteaks for lunch instead). However, I had also been keeping a rigorous pace otherwise. This will be the first week I won’t be getting in four workouts at the gym at work.

The other affect I’m seeing in the mirror. For the first time, I can flex in the mirror and see muscles instead of a shifting of body fat. In fact, I’ve had muscles popping up in unexpected places on my arms. So she mentioned that part of my weight gain may be muscle mass too.

It was still disappointing, but not as disappointing as it was before she reminded me. I love her.

So I’m renewing military conflict with sugar in the hopes to force it to accept a much smaller territory of occupation in the country called “Onmymenu”.

Starting weight: 319.0 lb
Previous weight: 278.6 lb
Current weight: 280.4 lb
Current loss/gain: +1.8 lb
Total loss/gain: -38.6 lb
Distance to 50: 11.4 lb
Distance to WW Goal: 30.4 lb

Cross-posted to WebCudgel.com

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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!

This week, I declared war on sugars and sweets. If you review my menu, you’ll see that there was a dramatic cut in desserts. I still did natural sweets (fruit, juices), a few snack items, and protein bars, but other than that, you’ll have a difficult time finding the old habit of a dessert at the end of every lunch and dinner.

The reason was mostly for my gout because it is still hanging in there (though doing the best today that it’s been since last Monday). However, I also decided that this would be something I stick with to fight off the gout and to kick start my weight-loss in the right direction.

This is my fifth straight week of losses on the scale and I want to see what I can do to keep up the momentum. Even my “celebration” dinner tonight was a Chick-Fil-A wrap with only part of the dressing, some baked tortilla chips, salsa and water. It’s a celebration because that was actually what I was craving more than sweets. Of course, I had not eaten nearly enough during today because I forgot to bring some fruit for snacking. This will have enhanced my loss somewhat, but I still think most of it was that winning battle against desserts.

I’ve kept up my exercise routine as well. I’ve only missed a couple of sessions due to my gout, but I ended up doing some while working through the pain of that ankle (in fact, sometimes it felt better after the workout than before). Like John quotes from his trainer, pain is weakness leaving the body. I’m here to say goodbye to gout and goodbye to that old me. The new me is here to stay and make me an even healthier man as I get closer to goal.

Starting weight: 319.0 lb
Previous weight: 282.4 lb
Current weight: 278.6 lb
Current loss/gain: -3.8 lb
Total loss/gain: -40.4 lb
Distance to 50: 9.6 lb
Distance to WW Goal: 28.6 lb

Cross-posted to WebCudgel.com

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