OK, it's been a while since I have posted here. Yes, I have been busy. Yes, I have been stressed. Yes, I have been discouraged. It's just been one of those times when everything seems a little tougher, when little things become big things, and slight irritations seem to linger on for hours.
Nonetheless, I have had plenty of time to blog about my "road to health". Each day still has 24 hours and it has been my poor choices to not make the effort to be accountable to myself, and to those who might find there way here once in a blue moon.
I mentioned in my last post that I pretty much have to eat nearly perfectly for an entire week to lose any weight. I also mentioned that I was pleasantly surprised that I had lost a couple of pounds while not eating exactly "as the doctor ordered." Well, I haven't exactly been "on the wagon" the past couple of weeks, and now I am paying for it. I stepped on the scale yesterday to find that I have gained five pounds over the last two and a half weeks. Hardly "downsizing".
So, here I am. Three steps forward, two steps back.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am doing this thing for "life". So that's what I have to keep in mind. I am in better shape than I was in two months ago. And I will be in better shape than I am today two months from now.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
A Nice Surprise
OK, so I have not been very good at this blogging thing. I thought that it would cause me to be more disciplined with my new "healthier" lifestyle, but I'm not sure it has.
My efforts over the past three weeks have been half-hearted at best . I have been out to restaurants waaaaayyyyyyyy too many times. I have enjoyed more than my share of chocolate. And, I have even eaten three or four of those fabulous cookies that they make at Corner Bakery too. On the bright side, I have been running three times a week and doing some resistance training at least twice a week. Yvonne and I have also taken the opportunity about three or four times to go on nice, long walks. Overall, my exercise has been very good.
So, as I was driving home from work last Friday, contemplating my poor efforts, I was sulking in the fact that I have to eat perfectly (and exercise) to lose any weight at all. I even called Yvonne to talk about it. To cheer me up, we went out for some half priced appetizers (not on anyone's diet) for dinner. After that we worked on homework for a couple of hours, and got to bed at a decent hour so we could get up to run in the morning.
After returning from our seven-mile run, (I was in a bad mood because I had hurt my leg) I decided to step on the scale, something I had not done in three weeks. What I saw was definitely not what I was expecting! The scale read 234.5 lbs! Down two-and-a-half pounds over the three weeks since I had last dared to weigh myself. I expected the scale to read 237 at the minimum! This is the first time that this kind of thing has ever happened, at least that I can remember :)
I am encouraged and shocked! Can I actually lose weight without eating perfectly for an entire week? Is the running starting to pay off? Does my scale need new batteries? Did I say this is a first for me?
My efforts over the past three weeks have been half-hearted at best . I have been out to restaurants waaaaayyyyyyyy too many times. I have enjoyed more than my share of chocolate. And, I have even eaten three or four of those fabulous cookies that they make at Corner Bakery too. On the bright side, I have been running three times a week and doing some resistance training at least twice a week. Yvonne and I have also taken the opportunity about three or four times to go on nice, long walks. Overall, my exercise has been very good.
So, as I was driving home from work last Friday, contemplating my poor efforts, I was sulking in the fact that I have to eat perfectly (and exercise) to lose any weight at all. I even called Yvonne to talk about it. To cheer me up, we went out for some half priced appetizers (not on anyone's diet) for dinner. After that we worked on homework for a couple of hours, and got to bed at a decent hour so we could get up to run in the morning.
After returning from our seven-mile run, (I was in a bad mood because I had hurt my leg) I decided to step on the scale, something I had not done in three weeks. What I saw was definitely not what I was expecting! The scale read 234.5 lbs! Down two-and-a-half pounds over the three weeks since I had last dared to weigh myself. I expected the scale to read 237 at the minimum! This is the first time that this kind of thing has ever happened, at least that I can remember :)
I am encouraged and shocked! Can I actually lose weight without eating perfectly for an entire week? Is the running starting to pay off? Does my scale need new batteries? Did I say this is a first for me?
Friday, July 2, 2010
Eight Days Later...
OK, it's been eight days since my last entry. Eight kind of stressful days; which I have not done as well as I would have liked with my diet. My exercise plan has gone pretty well, which is a good thing. Nonetheless, I have to improve on what I choose to put into my body.
Until the past few weeks I had not realized how often that I eat emotionally. Yes, I've heard those stories about someone being upset and eating a whole cake. Don't worry, my emotional eating is nothing like that. Mine is more like: "I am stressed, I want to go out to dinner." Or sometimes it appears like this: "I'm tired of eating lunch at home, I want Carl's." Then, sometimes I choose to stick to "the plan", and sometimes I choose to relieve stress "my way."
I come from a background that tells me it's not good to have certain emotions, or to allow my emotions to dictate my behavior. What I am learning is that I need to allow myself to feel these emotions and respond to them in a way that is in my best interest. For someone to say that one should not allow emotions to determine what one eats is painting with a pretty broad brush. If dining out, or eating something crunchy, or enjoying one's favorite beverage works as a stress reliever, then it should not be ruled out. We are all wired differently, and we all have our unique ways of relieving stress.
So, hopefully the next few weeks will not be as stressful for me as the past few have been. I know that when I stick to my plan, I see much better results on the scale and in the mirror.
Tomorrow is a weigh-in day. I hope to be no higher than last weeks weigh-in.
Until the past few weeks I had not realized how often that I eat emotionally. Yes, I've heard those stories about someone being upset and eating a whole cake. Don't worry, my emotional eating is nothing like that. Mine is more like: "I am stressed, I want to go out to dinner." Or sometimes it appears like this: "I'm tired of eating lunch at home, I want Carl's." Then, sometimes I choose to stick to "the plan", and sometimes I choose to relieve stress "my way."
I come from a background that tells me it's not good to have certain emotions, or to allow my emotions to dictate my behavior. What I am learning is that I need to allow myself to feel these emotions and respond to them in a way that is in my best interest. For someone to say that one should not allow emotions to determine what one eats is painting with a pretty broad brush. If dining out, or eating something crunchy, or enjoying one's favorite beverage works as a stress reliever, then it should not be ruled out. We are all wired differently, and we all have our unique ways of relieving stress.
So, hopefully the next few weeks will not be as stressful for me as the past few have been. I know that when I stick to my plan, I see much better results on the scale and in the mirror.
Tomorrow is a weigh-in day. I hope to be no higher than last weeks weigh-in.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Downsizing For Life ; Not For A Month
Yesterday I shared some of the challenges that life's realities bring when one is trying to stick to a new habit or routine. Last night's "reality" was that it was Yvonne and my 26th anniversary. We had long planned to use our gift card to Summit House on this day since we got it six months ago (Yvonne's splint had a lot to say about this). Well, we did it! And it was fun! Did we stick to any sort of "plan"? No way!
Today it was back to the grindstone, head down, plow straight ahead. And it went pretty well... Except I totally blew my meal spacing and had a six-hour period between meals! I had breakfast at my regular time of about 7:30, then did not eat anything until about 1:30. This is not how to keep one's metabolism working.
Aside from hat it was just about all good. We had a 3.3 mile run, healthy food, except for the much needed comfort of a "few" french fries with our grilled chicken kabobs for dinner. Our "added" stress to life these past few weeks sure has a strong pull for comfort food.
I struggled a bit, then relented to the fresh, hot, crispy strips of potato. What I have done in the past, when I have made good choices and lost weight, was to look at my diet and exercise plan as a sprint to a finish line that I could see, rather than as a day to day journey; One which I will travel the rest of my life. Yes, I want to be down to 213 lbs for Jenn's wedding, and 210 for the cruise. I want this real bad. But more than that, I want to be down to 187 one year from today. And I think that my best path to that end is to keep making good choices every day, even if that means I will break from "perfection" once or twice a week.
I need to remember that I am in this thing for life, not just for a month, or two. When needed, I can go ahead and make a "questionable" choice; It's sure better than snapping and heading for Coldstone or Claim Jumper for a chocolate chip calzone.
Today's fare:
Eggs and Coaches Oats, coffee
Chicken sausage, one slice whole wheat bread
One Low-fat yogurt
Chicken kabob, grilled veggies, at least one french fry :)
Fruit smoothie
Tomorrow will be another day for good choices and to continue building a healthier lifestyle.
Today it was back to the grindstone, head down, plow straight ahead. And it went pretty well... Except I totally blew my meal spacing and had a six-hour period between meals! I had breakfast at my regular time of about 7:30, then did not eat anything until about 1:30. This is not how to keep one's metabolism working.
Aside from hat it was just about all good. We had a 3.3 mile run, healthy food, except for the much needed comfort of a "few" french fries with our grilled chicken kabobs for dinner. Our "added" stress to life these past few weeks sure has a strong pull for comfort food.
I struggled a bit, then relented to the fresh, hot, crispy strips of potato. What I have done in the past, when I have made good choices and lost weight, was to look at my diet and exercise plan as a sprint to a finish line that I could see, rather than as a day to day journey; One which I will travel the rest of my life. Yes, I want to be down to 213 lbs for Jenn's wedding, and 210 for the cruise. I want this real bad. But more than that, I want to be down to 187 one year from today. And I think that my best path to that end is to keep making good choices every day, even if that means I will break from "perfection" once or twice a week.
I need to remember that I am in this thing for life, not just for a month, or two. When needed, I can go ahead and make a "questionable" choice; It's sure better than snapping and heading for Coldstone or Claim Jumper for a chocolate chip calzone.
Today's fare:
Eggs and Coaches Oats, coffee
Chicken sausage, one slice whole wheat bread
One Low-fat yogurt
Chicken kabob, grilled veggies, at least one french fry :)
Fruit smoothie
Tomorrow will be another day for good choices and to continue building a healthier lifestyle.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Realities - Part 2
Yesterday, Yvonne wrote about Realities and how they can disrupt our best laid plans. In her blog she wrote about how our plans for running this weekend were foiled by life's circumstances. Much of the same can be said about my dieting. Life just dictated differently. And I'm Ok with that. I'm in this thing for the long run.
I think of my "work in progress" like someone building a home or some other large building. What I hit this weekend was a small snag in the journey toward a lifetime of health and fitness. This weekend's hiccups were the inspector not showing up for two days, or some materials not delivered when hoped for, or it rained on the day we wanted to pour concrete. Just small bumps in the road on a long journey.
Actually, I didn't eat so bad this weekend. The highlight of our weekend's dining was a party hosted by Eduardo Posada of Posada Catering. The paella was unbelievable! This being said, my choices weren't too bad. Only Sunday evening, when dinner was purchased on the road at 10:30 PM, and a 1 AM call for sugary snacks and salty-crunchy things to keep us awake needed to be answered, did I know that I could have done better. Still, I didn't do too bad this weekend.
Monday, on the other hand, was all screwed up. Waking up at 6:30 after two hours sleep, not feeling too good, only to eat a yogurt at 10:30 AM was not how I wished for the day to begin. Then came our exhausted selves (Yvonne and me) choosing at 6:30 PM to go out to Red Robin for a burger and fries, rather that attempting to cook something. The bright part was going to bed before ten o'clock and getting over eight hours sleep for the first time in weeks!
Realities. Yup, we all have to face them. Like tonight, it is our 26th anniversary and we are going to Summit House for dinner! Yes, it is our anniversary and all bets are off! Realities :)
ps. For those who care, I did weigh in on Thursday morning at 237, a full pound down from Saturday's 238. Progress...
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Carl's or Daphne's...
Wednesday was just about a perfect day for my new eating and exercise habits... if we use the Hebrew calendar. I got up at a good time in the morning, ate a good breakfast, and went to work. At work I stuck to my game plan and ate exactly as I had planned. On top of my successful choices, I made a very successful choice by not partaking in Carl's Jr. when I went there to pick up food for the other two guys I worked with. To top it off, I ran my 3.5 miles this afternoon too!
According to Hebrew customs, a day ends and a new day begins at sundown. If we apply that rule for today, Thursday begins once the sun goes down on Wednesday evening. I had a hiccup in my plan this evening, after sundown. Both Yvonne and I are going through some stress having to do with our daughter's upcoming wedding. Today we heard some very tough news, and were in no mood to cook. We needed a break. After checking the coupon situation we decided to visit Daphne's for dinner. The sun was setting in the west as we drove downtown.
We have only eaten at Daphne's once before, and we really enjoyed it. Tonight was no different. I did have a chicken gyro type thing that was pretty good and not an unhealthy choice by any means. I drank Diet Pepsi, which I don't like, so not a terrible choice either. Did I mention the fries??? Oh they were good. Cooked to a crispy perfection, with just a little crunch to bite into and relieve a little stress. Did I mention that they were good?
Do I regret breaking off from the planned menu? No, not really. I have to come to the understanding that I am not going to work myself down to 185 lbs before the cruise. I probably will have a difficult time reaching that number by the New Years. A few years ago I would have become very discouraged by something as small as eating a small order of french fries. This time around I am trying to create a permanent healthy lifestyle, which allows some wiggle room for the occasional treat. Today I took that liberty. Tomorrow I probably will not. If I can remember that Rome was not built in a day, I can keep myself moving forward with consistant progress every weeek.
According to Hebrew customs, a day ends and a new day begins at sundown. If we apply that rule for today, Thursday begins once the sun goes down on Wednesday evening. I had a hiccup in my plan this evening, after sundown. Both Yvonne and I are going through some stress having to do with our daughter's upcoming wedding. Today we heard some very tough news, and were in no mood to cook. We needed a break. After checking the coupon situation we decided to visit Daphne's for dinner. The sun was setting in the west as we drove downtown.
We have only eaten at Daphne's once before, and we really enjoyed it. Tonight was no different. I did have a chicken gyro type thing that was pretty good and not an unhealthy choice by any means. I drank Diet Pepsi, which I don't like, so not a terrible choice either. Did I mention the fries??? Oh they were good. Cooked to a crispy perfection, with just a little crunch to bite into and relieve a little stress. Did I mention that they were good?
Do I regret breaking off from the planned menu? No, not really. I have to come to the understanding that I am not going to work myself down to 185 lbs before the cruise. I probably will have a difficult time reaching that number by the New Years. A few years ago I would have become very discouraged by something as small as eating a small order of french fries. This time around I am trying to create a permanent healthy lifestyle, which allows some wiggle room for the occasional treat. Today I took that liberty. Tomorrow I probably will not. If I can remember that Rome was not built in a day, I can keep myself moving forward with consistant progress every weeek.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
I signed off last night at 11:06, tired, and acting like it. As I walk into the bedroom Yvonne says to me: "OK, the alarm is set for 5:45."
"5:45!"
"That's only six and a half hours from right now!" I thought. So, with complete clarity of mind I announced, "I'm sleeping in to 6:30, lets reset the alarm." "That's your left-brain speaking Mike" were the words of wisdom coming from my wife, into my right brain, causing me to begin to think rationally, as my head crashes upon my memory-foam pillow.
I didn't want to get up at 5:45 to work out this morning. I only slept about five hours the previous night, and wanted to get as much sleep as I could. That was the left-brain's idea. That was the emotional response. That was not the plan. That was not what was decided when I was planning out the week, rested, alert, and nowhere near grumpy.
At 5:45 the alarm sounded. Yvonne sprung out of bed and I soon followed. It really wasn't that bad. By 6:30 I was near completion of my upper body workout. I thought to myself, that it was a good thing to get up and work out as planned. As I headed toward the shower Yvonne said something like: "There, you got up and did it. Much better than having to start your workout at 5:30 tonight." As usual, she was right.
It's not always easy to stay on the plan. I did vary away tonight from my diet. I was very hungry and had two very small pieces of left-over thin-crust pizza. I haven't been eating enough carbs, so I had some. Not the perfect choice, but it could have been worse. The positive is that I am exercising every day. I am eating six, smaller meals each day. And, my snacking is down to almost nothing - the remnant of nuts in the kitchen cabinets are gone.
Today's menu:
Scrambled eggs and Coaches Oats
Myoplex-lite nutrition bar
Small tuna sandwich
Low-fat yogurt
Barbecued chicken breast, potatoes (cooked on grill)
Pizza (as mentioned above)
Berry smoothie
Not bad... Actually, pretty good.
"5:45!"
"That's only six and a half hours from right now!" I thought. So, with complete clarity of mind I announced, "I'm sleeping in to 6:30, lets reset the alarm." "That's your left-brain speaking Mike" were the words of wisdom coming from my wife, into my right brain, causing me to begin to think rationally, as my head crashes upon my memory-foam pillow.
I didn't want to get up at 5:45 to work out this morning. I only slept about five hours the previous night, and wanted to get as much sleep as I could. That was the left-brain's idea. That was the emotional response. That was not the plan. That was not what was decided when I was planning out the week, rested, alert, and nowhere near grumpy.
At 5:45 the alarm sounded. Yvonne sprung out of bed and I soon followed. It really wasn't that bad. By 6:30 I was near completion of my upper body workout. I thought to myself, that it was a good thing to get up and work out as planned. As I headed toward the shower Yvonne said something like: "There, you got up and did it. Much better than having to start your workout at 5:30 tonight." As usual, she was right.
It's not always easy to stay on the plan. I did vary away tonight from my diet. I was very hungry and had two very small pieces of left-over thin-crust pizza. I haven't been eating enough carbs, so I had some. Not the perfect choice, but it could have been worse. The positive is that I am exercising every day. I am eating six, smaller meals each day. And, my snacking is down to almost nothing - the remnant of nuts in the kitchen cabinets are gone.
Today's menu:
Scrambled eggs and Coaches Oats
Myoplex-lite nutrition bar
Small tuna sandwich
Low-fat yogurt
Barbecued chicken breast, potatoes (cooked on grill)
Pizza (as mentioned above)
Berry smoothie
Not bad... Actually, pretty good.
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