No Weigh-In Tonight

Happy Monday everyone!  I've been running around celebrating Christmas with my family and the in-laws.  Right now we're in Columbus, Wisconsin.  Unfortunately, I didn't pack my scale.  I'll make up for it by doing measurements when I get home.  I can't say I feel bad about not bringing the scale.  I'm not expecting a loss this week.  I've been doing a pretty lousy job of exercising and eating right.  I've been treading water for six months now and need to re-energize my life.

Once I get back in the saddle at home, I'm going to start a fresh three-week challenge at the gym.  For those of you who are new to my blog, last January I spent three weeks going to the gym every day.  They say doing something every day for three weeks builds a habit.  I'd have to agree with that.  Until my schedule no longer allowed me to, I made it to the gym four to six times a week. 

I need to make it a habit again.  Starting next Monday, I'll be going to the gym every day for three weeks.  No exceptions.

So there it is.  The promise that I'm going to get back on my feet starting next week.  It's hard to be confident because I haven't been able to make the scale move down substantially in months, but I need to remember that in 2010, I lost over 50 pounds.  I have been successful.  I will be successful again.

Weigh-In Results

It's been a week since my last post.  I always feel guilty when that happens.  I've been very busy though.

Things I did since my last blog post:
-Had two snow days at school.
-Put on an elementary school winter concert.
-Cleaned the apartment.
-Got a new computer.
-Installed windows on my new computer.
-Exercised by climbing the 5 flights of stairs in my apartment building 10 times.
-Went to the gym once.
-Started getting a really intense pain in my shins (probably from lack of exercise).
-Gained 1.7 pounds...

Things I didn't do this week:
-Exercise enough.
-Eat right.
-Make any attempt at counting calories.
-Pay enough attention to my incredible wife, Claire.

Blech.  Not a happy weigh in.  If you have any extra willpower, please send it my way.

Weigh-In Results

I'm feeling totally overwhelmed.  Not only by the weight gain this week, but by a winter concert that's only 3 days away.  I'm trying hard not to have a panic attack, but there's a lot left to do and I was cooped up all weekend due to the blizzard.  It was nice to have a snow day, but there's only so much I can do from home. 

I almost slid into another car on my way to the gym tonight.  We just got hit by a record breaking snowstorm.  If you don't believe it's bad here, just ask the Metrodome.

I'm trying not to feel like a failure, so I need to look at the brighter side of things.

A year ago, I weighed 296 pounds.  Today, I've still lost over 50 pounds.  The weight will come off. 

A little of this, a little of that.

It's no surprise I get frustrated from time to time.  Everybody does.  Tonight I'm feeling particularly frustrated.  I feel like I'm not making the kind of progress I want to make.  It's understandable.  I've been extra stressed lately.  I'm not getting enough sleep.  December is a particularly bad month for losing weight, etc. 

I don't want to use excuses though, so let's suffice it to say I'm frustrated.  The scale did go down this week, but I've had a couple days where I just feel like I'm getting fatter.  I don't like those days.

Recently, a friend of mine from college suggested I get a bodybugg or similar device.  I'd love to.  I really would.  But I can't afford to spend that kind of money right now.  I'm basically asking everyone for money this Christmas because I need to pay for my new computer (which should be shipping any day now).  I'm very excited about the computer, but frustrated because it's not what I wanted to be spending money on right now.

So I'm frustrated about that too. 

This afternoon something occurred to me.  I may be treading water, but I'm not sinking.  I've managed to hold onto my losses.  Maintenance is still at least 50 pounds away, but considering I've been less than religious in my diet especially, I should be happy that I don't have to re-lose any weight.

Weigh-In Results

Happy Monday!  I'm back after a weekend of not blogging.  Let's get into our results.

I'm not sure why it's horizontal, but I trust you can deal with it without freaking out (hint: turn your head to the left)

 242.6.  That's a loss of 1.1 pounds.  I'm still shooting for a 20 pound loss this month.  I still have 3 and a half weeks to lose 18.9 pounds.  I'm not discouraged.  In fact, I'm proud of my loss.  I put on a lot of muscle this week at the gym.  Every other day I start with a quick warmup, then bench press, move to a circuit with arm curls, lunges, and a shoulder exercise.  Then I move to the shoulder press and finish by spending 20-30 minutes on the elliptical.  On the other days, I do a lot more cardio.  I did some push-ups for the first time today in a long time.  I kicked some butt.  I did 25 without struggling.  My strength is improving, my endurance is improving, and my wife says my muscles are looking more defined.  I'm convinced I lost way more than 1.1 pounds of fat this week.  

I'm going to continue monitoring my intake and tighten up my calorie counting and make sure I get enough water.  Even if the number moves slowly, it's going to move in the right direction.

Life Expectancy

I just visited a life expectancy calculator to see, statistically, how much longer I'll live.  First I put in the information as I am now.  27, male, non-smoker, 0 drinks per day on average, 243.7 pounds.  The calculator determined I would live to be around 76 years.  Then I changed my weight to the weight I was when I started my blog a year ago.  It said I'd live to be around 72.

Now I know there are limitless confounding variables in estimating lifespan.  I could get hit by a bus tomorrow or I could live to be 100.  The bottom line, however, is that over the course of one year, I theoretically lengthened my life by four years.  When I reach my goal of 196 pounds.  The calculator predicts I'll live to be 85.

Losing 100 pounds could add 13 years to my life.  It puts the sacrifices I'm making now into perspective.

My motivation to lose weight is to live a long, healthy, and happy life.  What's yours?

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Steve at 265 and falling posted yesterday that he plans on losing 20 pounds in December.  Since my blog was built on audacious goals, I've pledged to join him.

On my last weigh-in, I weighed 243.7 pounds.  By January 1st, I will weigh 223.7 pounds.  I know it's an ambitious, if not entirely unhealthy, goal, but I'm going to shoot for the stars.  I'm through resting on my laurels.


I have to lose just shy of 5 pounds a week.  Cripes, that's a lot.  Here's how I'm going to manage it.

Count calories - I'm going to be extra diligent on this one.  Every time I count, good things happen.  Even if I go over by 100 or 200 calories.  I'll give myself 2400 calories a day.

Exercise - I'm going to need to do this close to every single day.  I did this in January for three weeks and it just needs to happen again.

Drink lots and lots of water - I need to consume at least 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day.  I have a 24 ounce water bottle that shouldn't be a problem to fill 3 times a day.  Maybe I'll even do 4.  It really fills me up around meal time too.

Get plenty of sleep - I've been fighting this one for a while now.  Sleep is one of the best things I can do for my health.  If I don't sleep, I can't lose weight.

So is anyone else with me?  Who wants to step it up a notch for the holiday season?  You don't have to lose 20 pounds.  You can lose 10 or 5 or 2.  Just dedicate yourself to something.

Staying Awake

I've had two Red Bulls this morning and I'm still ready to collapse onto my keyboard.

Given, I have a pretty high tolerance for caffeine.  It's the reason I never developed a taste for coffee.  Like many people in my generation, I spent my adolescence medicated with a fairly heavy stimulant.  I'm not sure if the Ritalin is the reason coffee doesn't keep me awake now, or if I just have a natural tolerance.  Either way, I'm tired.

It's important when you're exhausted to be extra vigilant.  I want to put everything in my mouth.  Cake, chips, the stapler.  Today is a day I really need to count calories. 

What food do you crave when you're tired?  How do you stay awake?