Just Say "Nein"

So I think I have this shin problem in the bag.  It seems to respond the best to heat.  I've also been exercising more and I think that's actually improving the situation.   My legs did not like it when I stopped exercising for a week and a half. 

One thing I've been doing that seems to have served me pretty well on my weight-loss journey is cutting out alcohol almost completely.  For me, it's not worth it to have just one beer.  While I do miss the delicious taste of a nice, snobby microbrew, I don't feel any effects of alcoholic beverages until beer number 2 or 3.  Every now and then, I'll have a beer just to have a beer, but it seems to be the easiest thing for me to turn down out of my own volition.  Food on the other hand, is just about impossible to say no to if someone is offering.  I wish I could do the same thing I do when my father-in-law offers me a beer that I do when a coworker offers me a brownie, say "no thanks" and feel absolutely no remorse. 

Alcohol is very bad for your body when you are trying to lose weight.  I read a while back that when you exercise after consuming alcohol, your body is dehydrated and metabolizes muscle instead of fat.  So not only is your caloric intake absolutely ludicrous (yes, alcohol has calories, and lots of 'em), but you can't burn fat nearly as efficiently the next day.

So the next time someone asks me if I want an Oktoberfest or Maibock, I think I'll just say "nein."

The Cheat Sheet

So I've had a good day today.  I logged my indulgences using the tag #cheatsheettweet on twitter.  Someone suggested I use #cheattweet but it seems that it's already being used.  I'm thinking of maybe #delicioustransgressions or #treattweet.  What do you think?

Today I ate a lot of almonds, had an extra helping with dinner, had a few baked scoop chips, and a weight-watchers ice cream bar.

I was hoping that logging all my sins (so to speak) would keep me from eating them.  I do feel like I may have munched more if I hadn't tweeted them.  I was very hungry today so I'm thinking that I need to make sure I'm taking in the right number of calories.

I'm exhausted and have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, so I'm going to have to end things here.  I'll talk about something much more interesting tomorrow.

Cheating

Diet, we need to talk.

I've been cheating on you.  I want to say it was just a one time thing, but it's not.  I've been sabotaging our relationship for a while now.  It started with a snack every now and then, but it's gotten out of control.  Chocolate, cookies, fries, I even bought a bag of cheesy popcorn the other day.

I don't know if I can stop cheating all together.  But I don't want to keep it a secret anymore.  I'm want to be open, honest, and accountable.  I don't want to leave you, diet.  I want us to work it out so here's what I'm going to do.  Every time I eat something I don't plan on, I'm going to log it on a cheat sheet that I can share on my blog.  Here's the best part, I'm going to post cheat sheet tweets on twitter using the hash tag #cheatsheettweet (unless a reader can think of a better tag) for the world to see and scrutinize.  Hopefully, shame will keep me faithful.

Diet, I'm sorry.  In my defense, I am human and make mistakes.  I just want to move forward from here.

Weigh-In Results

Happy Monday everybody.  Let's get this show on the road.

251.2 for a .2 pound loss this week.  Another micro-loss, but honestly, I'm lucky I didn't gain.  I ate way too much at the cabin this weekend unnecessarily.  I had a good time, but I could have had a good time without binging.  I'm planning on really bringing it this week.  I'm thinking the shin splints might be due to lack of physical activity (I went to the gym for the first time in two weeks today).  I was talking to a co-worker who said her legs used to hurt when she stopped exercising.  I'm going to give it my all and if I fall off an elliptical due to extreme leg pain, I'll go see a doctor.  I'll also be treating my shins with ice and heat packs.  I tried a heat pack today and it worked pretty well.

So today's winner for closest weight was my friend, Kim Kasl with a guess of 249.9 pounds.  Kim is a phenomenal photographer.  If you live in Minnesota (or western Wisconsin) and you're in need of a photographer, you should definitely check her out.  One of these days I'm going to be under the lowest guess.  Then I'll be the winner.  Just kidding, you're all winners for reading my blog. 

You may know I'm an aspiring photographer, myself.  I thought I'd leave you with some pictures I took this weekend at the lake while I was busy not losing weight.

I've got more pictures, they're just in the wrong format.  For now, enjoy these.

Back from Vacation

I spent the weekend up at the cabin for my wife, Claire's, birthday.  I had a ton of fun.  I did some swimming, some boating, and quite a bit of lounging.  I wasn't as active as I wanted because I've been having some trouble with some vicious shin splints and didn't want to aggravate them.  Every time I've had shin splints in the past I've given up on my exercise plan.  Not this time.  I'm going to be careful, but I'm going to keep my eyes on the prize.

There were plenty of pitfalls this weekend, however.  From salted-in-shell peanuts to birthday pie for Claire to Wienerschnitzel at the campy German restaurant in Park Rapids to S'mores.  I wasn't able to resist all of these temptations, but I feel like I partook less often than I would have in the past.  I suppose the scale will tell tonight.

I did manage to make some healthy choices this weekend.  I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich at an A&W and at one point, I walked out of a candy shop because I couldn't take the temptation anymore.

See you tonight for my weigh-in.  Post your guesses for my result tonight in the comments section.  Remember, last week was 251.4.  Good luck.

The Fattest Person in the Room

If you're anything like me, you've had a moment or two where you've looked around and noticed you're the biggest person in the room, or state (ok, probably not.  But it feels like it sometimes), and thought, "Why me?  What makes me so different that I'm fat and none of these people are?"  I usually come to the conclusion that it's something out of my control. 

There are things that are out of my control.  My genetics, my upbringing, the fact that I've been evolutionarily hardwired to crave salt, fat, and sugar, etc.  The big bulk of the blame, however, falls on my shoulders.  I'm the one who feeds myself.  Everything else is just excuses.  We all make excuses.  They're a natural defense mechanism to prevent cognitive dissonance.

Blame aside, it's still tough to deal with the fact that you're heavier than anyone else around you.  I've been the fattest guy in class, the fattest guy at work, the fattest guy in the restaurant, etc.  If you feel that way, let it light a fire under you.  You don't have to be the biggest person in the room.  You can change.  I can change.  I am changing.

Weigh in results

So Andrew, where have you been for the last two weeks? Why did you miss your first weigh-in since your grandma died? Are you throwing in the towel?

To answer your first question,since I last posted, I started work again, organized a pit orchestra, left home at 7:30 am and got home between 11 and midnight most nights. I went to Wisconsin, got in a car accident (don't worry, everyone's ok), and put on four fantastic performances of The Music man.

I missed my weigh in half because of my insanely busy schedule and half because I was afraid to step on the scale last week.

And to answer your last question, hypothetical questioner, I absolutely have not thrown in the towel. I do feel as though I fell off the wagon for a couple weeks. I definitely Feel like I've chunked up a little so with reluctance I stepped on the scale this week.

Wow. I wasn't expecting a loss. I certainly don't deserve it. I'm going to take it as a gift and move forward from there. I passed my 15% of my total body weight lost since I started the blog!

I'm so excited to have my evenings back. Mostly so I can get to know my wife again. I feel like I haven't seen her in a month. I'm going to get serious about my intake. I'm going to get back to running and exercising in general. I'm planning on doing a lot of blogging a well. So wish me luck and expect great things!

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