Keep the compliments coming

It has been a great two days with compliments.  Yesterday a lady ask how old I was and when I told her 41 she said "you don't look like you could be 41" (and no she was not trying to sell me something).  Today at daycare one of the school agers said "Dale, your not fat, you used to be like this (she held her arms way out making it look like she had a big belly) but now you look like this" (she held her hands much closer to her body)  Every morning the kids used to joke about me being fat and although they were joking there was a lot of truth to it. My wife told me this morning that she was beginning to see my chin and even Hannah told me I was looking good and she has only gives me about 1 compliment a year : )  Yesterday was a Fiber one for breakfast, a piece of squash lasagna that my mom made (very good) a banana and dinner was baked chicken with broccoli, cauliflower, squash, over whole wheat noodles. The day was topped off by a 3 mile run which was very long because of the heat but now I have motivation to keep going.

School days are killers

I hate studying and I am so ready to be done with all of it. It makes it really hard to be active and eat right.  Breakfast was a turkey sandwich and veggie chips with a bowl of fruit.  For lunch I was going to sit at a restaurant and study but could not talk myself into paying money for junk and torturing my heart so I went home to study and ate baked chicken and leftovers.  Dinner was a baked chicken sandwich and whole grain chips.  Snacked on a protein bar and got a good work out in this morning.  Not a great day but considering school is in session it was not horrible either.

up and down

Monday wasn't a bad day at all although I didn't get a workout in.  I took the day off after running so much this weekend and hiking with my daughter but I did try to keep the diet under control.  Fiberone bar for breakfast, turkey sandwich with veggie chips for lunch, and dinner was grill chicken breast, amish cole slaw (made over for health) beans, and baked fries with sugar free pudding for dessert.  Lots of studying time and office work but overall had a pretty steady day.

15th week weigh-in

If you took time to come to my page today to check on my weight you may have noticed I did not post it on facebook.  I have decided to only post every other week.  Just in case your wondering weigh-in was at 242.  I would love for my weight just to drop straight down but I can see that it seems there will be a pattern of up and down while I lose.  I go down big and then fluctuate for about a week and then another big drop.  The fluid level is also very different right now and after a hard work out I can wring out my shirt and it is nothing to drop 5 pounds (yes it's water weight) so I find myself drinking on a regular basis which I am sure is part of the fluctuation.  I Have thougth about creating a heart health chart to post at weigh-in that simply ask the question, How happy is your heart this week?  I know that I have been giving it plenty of exercise and trying to give it less fat and junk than ever before so no matter what the scale says I know my heart is happy.  Next week I will post the weight no matter up or down (hopefully down)  but every other week will seem less discouraging to look at.

Another 5k



Runners lining up the race is almost ready to begin.


Well I did it!  When the alarm went off this morning I was wondering why I did it but now that it is over it feels very good.  I was really worried about being able to do this one but finished and was pleased as well.


One minute before the race I was wondering "what was I thinking?"

I finished the race in 29:20, 52 seconds faster than the last 5k and I finished with a 3rd place medal.  Truth is there was probably not to many runners in my age group but I was very happy with my time so I don't mind taking home this medal.  Now to shoot for 29:00 minutes.

See the little kid in the front and notice he is in front of me, he stayed there almost the whole time and he finished the race in 33:00 minutes.  He couldn't be more than 6-7 years old and would not be surprised if he was younger.  I wasn't sure if I should trip him when he went by or encourage him.  ( I chose the encouragement, but talk about making me feel slow)

What was I thinking

I went yesterday and signed up for a 5k this weekend.  The problem is I haven't been running as much lately (but I have been hitting the machines hard at the gym).  So yesterday I went out and ran a practice 5k to see if I could still do it and it about killed me.  This 5k could be really bad but I have already paid the fee now so no turning back.  I am doing terrible with my family reunion goal as I can't stop eating.  I was set up real nice last night after school to be at a great weight this morning but once I got home from school I was starving and could not find a food to settle my stomach.  I should have came home and drank a huge glass of water and things prob would have turned out different.  At the rate I am going I could actually be worse of in the morning than I was at the beginning of the week.  Today me and my daughter are running 4 miles and then resting tomorrow for the big run.

Am I going to meet my goal?

Am I going to meet my goal?  NO.  Who is to blame? me.  Am I going to quit?  NO.  I have had trouble meeting my goal this week but the only one to blame is me,  if I would have tightened up my eating habits I could have made my goal, so why didn't I?  I really have no excuse but part of it is that I went under 240 for the first time in almost 20 years and my mind is saying relax, savor the moment.  I have worked out and have ate decent this week (mostly) but  I have ate to much.  It's time to kick it in because I only have 2 days left before reunion.  I am still weighing in at 239 but was really hoping to be dropping pounds by the day (at least until the reunion but the truth is it probably wasn't the healthiest goal I had set for myself.  Now I have a decision to make the 10K run is in July and I am not sure I can get ready for it.  I need to get my mind ready one way or the other and will need to decide by the end of the week. 

2nd day toward goal

Days like these are days I am glad I don't have many blog readers.  I didn't do bad just not real good.  The morning started out ok, I didn't work out upon awakening but I did  make it to the gym before going home and got a great lift in and burned about 250 cals doing aerobics.   Now for the bad news I bought pizza for the daycare workers and could not help myself, so much for a healthy lunch.  Now eating this wouldn't really mess me up normally because I would tighten up my diet in other places but it didn't happen like that today. I couldn't resist the watermelon, and leftovers from last night.  The meal didn't cost me weight gain but it did slow me down towards my goal which is not good because I only have one week.  We will try harder on Wed. and see what happens.

Day one to goal

Not a bad day's start I hit the gym bright and early and got in 30 minutes of aerobics.  I worked out for 8 minutes each on 4 different machines, doing this has really helped fight the boredom.  Breakfast was different as I ate a Salmon and egg sandwich (not bad really).  Then for lunch I ate 1/2 a small seedless watermelon.  It worked out great and was like eating a bowl of soup. Dinner was a recipe that featured on allrecipes.com which was supposed to be Hawaiian kabobs but we changed it up and steamed it in a pan and ate it with a little brown rice, it turned out really good.  It had chicken, pineapple, peppers, onions, mushrooms, marinated in a soy sauce.  Snacked throughout the day on salsa and chips, a skinny cow ice cream, and a small salad that Jill made from the garden.  Day one down and time to hit it strong tomorrow as well.

14th week weigh-in

14 weeks and going strong and growing strong I can not help but be excited.

Beginning Total:  280

Last Week         242

This Week         239

Grand Total     41 pounds

I have a goal of 235 by family reunion which is this Sat.  I know it's extreme but I am going to give it a shot and see if I can't shake my body up and meet this goal. I will post my diet everyday this week and see what happens.

Excitment's an understatement

To say I was excited about fitting in 38 jeans would be an understatement.  I have dreaded trying on clothes for years and was not really ready to try on the jeans.  Truth was my pants have been way oversize but I think I found security and enjoyment in wearing loose clothes for a change.  I could not believe I fit in these jeans and was ready to tell the world, can you imagine when I hit 36 or 34.  I am not sure I was that size even as a kid  : )    I didn't really eat great yesterday but am finding my body is allowing a small amount of cheating room.  I think it is because my metabolism has changed from the working out.  I lost weight back in the early 90's but it was a very rapid weight loss with a very rapid gain back.  This time is really different and by taking my time I think my body is losing it in the right places and the right way.  I would not recommend anyone try a weight loss that promises 5 pounds a week or more as I do not think it gives your body time to adjust and your mind and body will fight it.  Great weekend ahead and hopefully a lot more weight loss.

The inches are moving

I am extremely excited.  Tuesday night in school someone commented that I need smaller pants, the problem was I just bought them last week size 42.  I wasn't ready to buy more but I broke down and bought size 40 but then my wife informed me that they were to big.  What the next size down would be 38 and it is not possible to fit in 38 yet is it?  This morning after hitting the gym I went to the store and bought a pair of 38. I was actually dreading putting them on because what if they didn't fit but guess what, they did.  I have not been in 38 since I first got married.  Now I have to find a home for some used 44 jeans and a pair of 40 wore one time only.  Breakfast was changed up by eating a baked chicken sandwich and some baked chips and a morning snack of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.  I have a test tonight and will be stressed all day but will try to control my eating because now I have to stay in 38's.

Physical done and over, Next test Qdoba

Tuesday I got a good workout in and had an ok day of eating, that is if you don't count the slices of Cecil
Whitaker pizza I ate.  I picked it up for my kids and had every intention of going home and eating chicken but the smell got to me.  The nurse came and gave the physical this morning, blood pressure was 120/80 and will wait to hear the results of cholesterol and other test.  It felt great to step on the scale and have measurements and not be extremely embarrassed. I really missed my workout this morning and have a meeting at Qdoba grill that has me nervous but I will try to eat without the tortilla and save myself alot of cals. I will let you know tomorrow how that turns out.  Have not decided on dinner yet tonight but will prob do left over chicken and veggies

Reschedule you've got to be kidding

Tues morning I was supposed to have a physical for insurance.  It required me to eat real light all day, ingest no cholesterol and fast after 10 and no caffeine.  It also suggested no morning workout.  I ate real light all day Monday, emptied my gym bag to let it air out and crawled into bed when the phone rang.  The nurse doing the physical did not have the paper work needed and wanted to reschedule for Wed.  (are you kidding me?)  of course I rescheduled and got out of bed repacked my gym bag, reset the alarm and hit the gym bright and early.  Now 2 days of light eating and no caffeine, not liking this.  : )  This should pay off for my diet for the week but we will see.  Tues is my daughter's birthday and she wanted and Angel food cake (yahoo) I can eat a slice of this cake and not feel guilty.  Happy Birthday Hannah and your dad is improving his life to spend many more birthday's with you.

13th week weigh-in

Last week was a tough week on my body but this week it is time to kick it in. 

My wife is down 18 pounds just eating what I am eating (and very little exercise)  good job Jill.

Last Week: 246

This Week:  242

Weight loss Total   38 pounds

Glad I started:

Last week I read about a man who visited the doctor and has high blood pressure and was put on blood pressure meds. He said that the doctor told him that his heart could not take it anymore and if he didn't lose weight his heart would give out.  I don't know his age for sure but I think we would be pretty close in age. I didn't have a doctor tell me to change my ways but I was heading down a road of disaster.  Can you imagine ending up with a heart attack and 41 years of age or in a nursing home at fifty, diabetic, blood pressure meds, constant doctor visits because of something I could have controlled but didn't.  I am very thankful I have started the road to success and get a little more motivated with every compliment I receive.  This week has been off but I have tried to eat normal and will try to put in a great workout this weekend.

Fighting off something

I did get up Wed morning and got a very good work out in.  I also tried to switch up my diet somewhat and eating turkey for breakfast and not letting my body know what to expect.  The problem came about noon, I had one of the worst headaches I have had in years and not sure why.  My back felt like it needed to be popped and my neck felt out of place. I went home after work and fell asleep for a little over an hour which I never do and still fought the headache until early evening when it finally broke. I turned off the alarm for Thursday and am going to pass on the gym and see if I can get my body back in order this week.  It's very frustrating but I know it won't last to long.

Lots of pain

Took Monday and Tuesday off because of pain, I woke up Monday and went to the gym but it was the worst workout I had in along time.  I felt like my spine was jammed and I could barely even lift any weight.  I didn't think a lot about it but all through the day every joint in my body hurt. By nighttime I could not even lift up a glass of tea without pain. I was feeling good beside the pain but now I am hearing others with a virus with really stiff joints so I am not sure what I had. I tried to eat decent but didn't really focus hard on it but this all changes come Wednesday morning.

12th week weigh-in

I will skip all of the charts and go straight to the weight this morning.

Gained 2 pounds for a weigh-in of 246

I may go to a every 2 week weigh-in to overcome the yoyo effect I am in.

Things affecting my weight:

1. Eating at different hours during the summer.  I am getting jobs done when getting home from work so we eat dinner later each evening.

2.  The fluids, I drink alot more fluids during the summer and sweat alot more as well.

3.  Stress:  one week into school and the stress has already came.

4.  Not as many people are reading my blog so I find myself able to cheat a little more (healthy food for the most part just more of it)

I am not discouraged but it is really starting to push tight to my goal of 50 pounds by graduation but I will get as close as possible, that is the best I can do but I would love to hit my goal.  (time will tell)

worked hard today

I didn't hit the gym this morning by choice.  Today we were putting flooring in the office and had to move out all of the desk and filing cabinets (a workout in itself) then had to spread 7 truckloads of mulch.  (can't get that kind of workout in the gym).  Diet was not the greatest but it was because of being busy.  Breakfast was a Fiber one bar, lunch was a single stack from BK no cheese and dinner was leftover chicken and rice.  Did treat myself today to a malt from steak and shake and it hit the spot after working out in the 97 degree day for several hours.  I read on facebook about a man who's blood pressure sky rocketed and the doctor put him on blood pressure meds and told him to lose 50-75 pounds because his heart couldn't take it.  I have no doubt that a few more months or even weeks that would have been me.  Thank goodness I made the choice to shed the weight.

more normal day

Today I was able to get the eating under control. I didn't work out because I was wore out and really can't explain why.  Breakfast was fiber one bar and a nice bowl of fruit (blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and watermelon) What a treat!  For lunch I made whole wheat spaghetti with turkey and we had leftovers for dinner with a veggie mix and fruit.  I snacked on beef jerky a small amount of baked chips and a handful of nuts.  Much better day hopefully on Thurs I will have a little more energy and hit it hard.

I ate and ate and ate some more

I really do not want to document this in the blog but if I am going to learn about myself and understand what is going on then I must.  I have been trying to stay off the scale except for Monday's but I stepped on Tuesday morning just to make sure the holiday did not beat me.  It actually caught me a little and put two pounds back on but all in all I was not upset and know I can take it back off but then something happened.  I ate breakfast and then snacks and I ate and ate and ate all day long.  I would be lying to tell you it was all healthy because it was not.  So the dreaded moment came this morning and I stepped on the scale to find I was lighter than yesterday.  (go figure)  the only thing I can figure is I tricked my body by not exercising and eating poor to think it wasn't on a diet and it relaxed and quit fighting the weight loss.  I know that if I ate like that two days in a row it would be costly but thankfully this time it wasn't.  Six weeks of school stress and then life will be different one way or the other.