Wow

I was just up at 24 hour fitness for a late night workout and I saw some pretty impressive numbers on the board. Way to go everyone. I will be back with a vengence next week. But I saw lots of blank spaces on the board too (including mine). We need to get everyone fired up and back with the program. We need to have a good turn out on Tuesday night. I'll be there at a little after 5:00 to start working out. I will be there for a while. I would like to see all 14 big losers there and our two fearless leaders as well. We only have a few weeks left.

Finally Back at work

Well I made it back into work today. I even braved stepping on the scale and it wasn't too bad. I am down about 6 pounds from the last weigh in. My fever is pretty much gone and I am starting to have some energy again. I will be taking it easy tonight and then heading in to work out tomorrow. I also have a pile of work around the house that I need to take care of so that will add to my work-out. My hand is starting to heal but I most likely won't be able to lift weights with my hands for a few more days, the more I use my hand the more it keeps opening back up and I really need it to close up and heal.

I am not real sure about where I will be working out this weekend but I think that at least on Saturday morning I am going to go up to 24 hour fitness, and maybe even Sunday morning too.

I found the last time I was up their that I really enjoyed doing the weight loss program on the treadmill. It broke up the hour that I spent on there. With the changing of speeds and inclines it was challenging and fun. I have tried the eliptical machines at 24 hour and at the YMCA and they just feel so unatural to me, and they bother my knees. I have had to surgeries on my right knee to I tend to stay away from things that make my knees hurt.

Now that the holidays are behind me and I managed to actually lose some weight and not gain anything I know that I can make the changes that I have made in my lifestyle stick. Now I just need to find healthy things to eat with all the restaurant gift certificates we got as gifts.

I like the idea of the reunion this summer and again next fall. Is this something that KQ can help us with? I think that we should have a party at the end of all this that we can bring our spouses or significant others to. It would be nice to meet some of the people behind the scenes.

Didn't make weigh in.

Sorry I didn't' make the weigh in tonight. I am running a fever and feeling like crap. I think that my body is fighting off an infection of some type.

I hope everyone was pleased with their resluts over the holidays. I will be back next week.

More Update

I think I may have an unfair advantage this week. The antibiotics have kicked in and I am having a little gatrointestinal problem. Food isn't staying in me very long. And to top it all of I am really getting sick. But I will still be there tomorrow night to weigh in and to work out. Hope everyone else makes it too. It would be nice to see everyone there again. Is everyone getting the hint here?

Update

Well I saw a Dr. yesterday for my dog bite and it is a little more serious then I thought. He put me on some massive doses of antibiotics and it seems that I bruised the tendons for the 4th and 5th fingers on my right hand. I can't close my hand and grip anything so it looks like I won't be lifting weights for a little while. But I can still work on the cardio part of it. Hopefully the anitbiotics will do their job and I won't get an infection because from the sounds of it an infection on the palm of the hand is not a good thing.

But I will keep plugging along. I am home sick today, when I woke up this morning it felt like I had swallowed glass last night. My throat was hurting real bad, but if it is strep the antibiotics I am on will take care of that.

I got to try out the George Foreman grill last night. The burgers were awesome. I used 93% lean beef and I was amazed at how mush grease there was in the drip pan. I am going to try some Chicken breasts tonight if I am feeling better.

Made it through the holidays

Well I made it through the holidays. I don't know why but the last few Christmas' have been hard on me. A two years ago I had a started passing a kidney stone on Dec 23rd and that really sucked, this year I got bit by my nephew's dog on Christmas Eve. A nice deep puncture on my right hand. I have been keeping it clean and putting antibiotic ointment on it. It is doing pretty good.

Well I managed to maintain over the weekend. I was so busy that I managed to only get out once and take a walk with my wife. I am going to hit the gym here at work over lunch and do some cardio and then head up to 24 hour fitness after work and work out. There haven't been many big losers at the gym the last few times I have been there. I think it is time for our team captains to start rallying the troops and get us all fired up again.

I got the things I wanted for Christmas. I am anxious to fire up the George Foreman grill. And I can't wait until I can fit into the smaller pants that I got. I am almost there. Another week or so and I should make it.

I am having a blast

I went to the YMCA tonight with my wife and son. I worked out for about 90 minutes, weights and cardio. Then we went down to the pool and went swimming. I notice things every day that show me how well I am doing. Clothes fit better and I have way more energy.

We had a potluck today at work and everyone was amazed that I ate so little. I took a small spoonful of foods that looked good and that was it. I did have a small spoonful of dirt cake but I burned it all off at the gym.

I am looking forward to the challenge that the next few days of being away from home and around a lot of food. I know that I can stick to the plan that I have for myself and I will make it through.

Happy Festivus Day to everyone, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I learned something last night

I went to a business Christmas party last night with my wife to a restaurant in the Duluth area. I sat across from someone that is in the LA Weight Loss program and I go tot talk to him a lot last night. He has lost about 60 pounds while in the program. He joined after being inspired by our fearless team leader Bill Jones. We talked about portion control and not giving in to the temptation to eat everything in front of you. Not giving up all the things you like just not eating so much of it.

So what did I learn. I have been hearing Bill talk about a lifestyle change and not really understanding what that means. I read Dr. Phil's book and kind of got it but last night it became clear to me. I can still eat the way I want. I just can't eat as much as I used to. Last night I ordered a nice steak, mashed potatoes and some baked beans. I trimmed the fat off the steak (even though it adds so much flavor), removed some of the butter from the mashed potatoes, and eat slower. I wasn't stuffed when I got done but I was fairly full. And since someone else was paying the tab, I ordered a piece of Cheese Cake. I ate a few bites and brought the rest home. I will eat it when I get home from my sons Christmas program tonight.

So what am I saying. I have learned that I needed to change my lifestyle. My 5-6000 calorie a day diet was going to kill me. But the 1200 calorie diet that I was on when I first started wasn't going to work for me either. I have been eating a little bit more the past few days, about 2000 calories a day, but I have increased my workout times as well. And I have still lost about 3 pounds since last Thursday. But the main thing is I am happy. I am losing the weight that I need to lose, I am getting into better shape, and I am looking and feeling better, and I am doing the things that I need to make my weight loss program a success, something I can keep up long after this program is over.

So I may not lose the most weight in the program and that may cost me the grand prize. But what I have learned in all of this is worth far more then prizes. I have learned how to make my life better and healthier. And that is rubbing off on everyone around me. My Mom had to have a procedure done to get her heart back into a normal sinus rhythm (a cardioversion), and she is coming back down to Duluth to have a cardiac stress test to see if she can start a weight loss/exercise program of her own. My wife and I are spending more time together at the YMCA working out and having fun. We have removed most all of the unhealthy snacks from our house so that our son will learn to eat more healthy. This program has not only affected me but those around me. So I want to thank Bill and Jason for organizing this, Matt and 24 Hour Fitness for helping us to work out, and everyone in the program for all the support and encouragment that you have given to me and everyone else. I wish you all the best of luck and hope that you all meet the goals that you have set for yourselves.

Way Better Weekend.

Well this weekend was a lot better. I found my way to 24 hour Fitness on Saturday and set a new personal best of 60 minutes straight on the treadmill. I only had an hour to work and I thought that was the best way to do it. Not bad for a guy that couldn't even do 10 minutes on the bike when we started this program.

I started to get a little sick on Sunday moning and that isn't really going away. I am going to spend some time on the treadmill at lunch time again today because I have yet another Christmas party to go to tonight.

I had supper at Applebee's on Saturday and I tried the Chicken Sandwich that is on their Weight Watchers menu (350 calories) and it was very good. I had some Pizza at Old Chicago last night but I can't cut out all the things that I like.

Some others have shared their diets so here is what I tend to eat during the Day:

Breakfast: I either have a bowl of cereal (Raisin Bran, Life), or a bagel with peanut butter, breakfast is usually about 400 calories.

I sometimes have an apple or granola bar for a snack in the morning but I am usually to busy.

Lunch: Lean Cuisine or some other diet prepared meal usually about 300 Calories

If I didn't eat my snack in the morning I will have it in the afternoon.

Supper: Varies a lot but usually about 6-700 calories.

I try to drink a lot of water during the day. But I like to have something with flavor with my meals. If I don't have milk then I have Crystal Light but I have to had way more water then what it calls for other wise it is way to sweet. I have also found that Wal-Mart carries Nestle's Flavored water with no calories, I really like the Strawberry flavor.

When I work out I tend to eat some fruit before and then supper after I work out. I am eating more Turkey then I thought humanly possible, also Chicken, lean roasts done in the crock pot, I am hopefully getting a George Foreman type grill for Christmas so I cen grill in the house this winter.

I am heading to 24 hour Fitness at about 5:00 on Tuesday so I can go to my son's School Christmas program that evening.

And my last bit of good news. I remembered that hanging in my closet was a belt that my sister-in-law had given me as a gift over a year ago and it was to small. Well I pulled it out this morning and it fit perfect.

Random Things I am Noticing

I was cleaning out my desk today and I found a bottle of Tums, and I started to realize that I haven't had to chew a Tums since I started in this program. I have not had heart burn for 4 weeks. I used to never go more then a day without having to chew a few Tums. That means that I have improved my diet to the point where my digestive tract doesn't hate me.

I have to go and buy a new belt. I have reached the last notch on my current one, and for the first time that I can remember I have to buy a belt because it is too big.

I have way more energy. In the afternoons at work I used to just drag, eating candy and drinking Mountain Dew to get me through the afternoon. Now I still have a spring in my step when 4:30 comes around. I really felt it yesterday after spending 20 minutes on the treadmill during lunch.

I am sleeping better, and I feel more refreshed when I get up in the morning. I don't know if it is the exercise or the fact that I don't drink pop any more but I fall asleep faster at night and I sleep better, also my wife has told me I hardly snore any more (I wouldn't know because I am asleep).

I am happier. For the past several years I have battled with Depression for various reasons one of which is my weight. And being an emotional eater I would eat to make myself feel better which would cause me to gain weight and become more depressed, kind of a viscious cycle. But having lost 21.4 pounds I am feeling very good about myself. In my past weight loss efforts I have been able to lose 15-20 pounds and no more. So breaking that 20 pound barrier is big for me, I know that I can keep going from here.

I am learning to push myself. I have always been kind of a slacker. I have never really ever pushed myself to my fullest potential. I have always done just enough to get by. But now I am pushing myself to do more then what it takes to get by. Before when I would start to get tired on the bike I would quit. Now when I am on the treadmill and I start to get tired I turn the speed up or increase the incline. Matt told me to push myself to see just how tired I could make myself. Push for another 5 minutes or another few steps in resistence.

I am going to make it this time. I have learned a lot in this program and from the people around me and I have the tools to succeed. I will lose the weight and I will keep it off.

My goal for the rest of this program. When I step on that scale for the final weigh in I want the first number to be a 2 and not a 3, it has been well over 10 years since I weighed under 300 pounds and that is far too long. That means I have at least 30.3 pounds to go. I want to continue to improve my cardio workout to the point where I can start running. It has been far too long since I could run more then a few yards. And I want to continue to lift weights to tone and tighten up all this jiggly stuff I have on my body.

Well that is enough from me for now. I suppose I should get back to work.

One last thing, Team Bill closed the gap by over 13 pounds this week. We are only about 24 pounds behind now. There's no stopping us now.

Well tonights weigh in was awesome. 4.4 pounds more then I thought. Today was the first day of the new super workouts. 70 minutes total of cardio and I hit the weights. Tomorrow I will try for that goal again and on Saturday I will try for 75 minutes. I am feeling good. But we have to decorate the Christmas tree so I need to get going.

My last post may have sounded like I was whining but I am actually very motivated. I speant 20 minutes on the treadmill here at work (Yes I skipped the bike Matt) over my lunch break and I am signed up for the treadmill again tomorrow. I am going to continue working out on my lunch as long as I can get on a machine. One of the Nurse Practioners at the clinic walked up to me today and told me how good I was looking and that I am doing a good job. I actually ran up three flights of stairs today. When I started a few weeks ago I could barely walk up one flight of stairs without having to stop and catch my breath. I don't care what that scale says tonight. I have improved my life in more positive ways then just losing a few pounds. I am getting in shape and I have more energy then I ever have in my life.

I am fired up and I am ready to go. I am going to get my card tonight so I can go to the gym whenever I have time. If anyone wants to join me just let me know and we can work something out. To borrow a line from Eric, I am done drafting, I am heading to the front of the pack.

I am a Big Loser

Well after watching the final of the Biggest Loser last night I came to realize that I am a big loser. I was all fired up the first couple of weeks. But I have begun to coast. I am not pushing myself and I am not doing all that I can do. So taking the advice of the trainer last night I am not waiting until January 1st or any other day to start this. Starting right now I am going to do all that I can to make sure that I make the most of the opportunity that I have been given to be in this program. I am not going to let myself make excuses, I am not going to let myself off the hook and I am not going to let myself get away with anything. I should have been watching this show all along. I hope to see all of you at the gym. GO Team Bill.

I wish I could have stayed until the end tonight but I had a Church Council meeting to get to (I was late). The information I did hear though was really good. I am glad that we got the opportunity to do this. It is just scary how many calories are in some foods at restaurants.

I am really starting to notice an inprovement in my cardio workouts. When we first started the program I could barely do 10 minutes without stopping. Tonight in the short period of time before the meeting I did 5 miles in 15 minutes on the bike and another 20 minutes on the treadmill. I didn't do any weights tonight because I didn't have time and I really wanted to work on the cardio. Thursday night we will fit it all in.

Unlike Eric I can't fit into my coat from high school but I am almost down a pant size. That is one of my short term goals. Lose enough weight that everyone has to buy me new clothes for Christmas.

I think that Team Bill should get together and do some strategizing on how to catch that other unmentionable team.

Matt is awesome

I just finished up my workout with Matt. I am stiff and sore but it was worth it. He pushed me hard for an hour then I finished up with 23 minutes on the treadmill (I quit at 7:30). He pushed me harder then I have worked out since High School Basketball practice. I came home and ate some yogurt and pineapple. After I put my son to bed I will take a little soak in the the tub and ease some stiff muscles.

I am going to be at 24 hour at 5 tomorrow who else is going to work out before the meeting tomorrow night?

If you haven't done your hour with Matt you need to do it. He will show you all kinds of great exercises. I realized that I am no where near the shape I want to be in but I am getting there. It took me a while to get this big it will just take me a little while to get smaller.

Really tough weekend

Well I stepped on the scale at work this morning and I am still at 17 pounds. I suppose that is better then gaining weight but it isn't as good as losing weight. Now I really need Matt to kick my workout up a notch or ten.

It is all my fault that I didn't have a good weekend. I didn't really do anything. I got busy with parties and putzing around in the garage working on parts for my Jeep and I didn't really workout. That is a bad thing. Now I know that I need to keep on the workout program. I am going to have to come up with something to do when I go up to my Mom's house by International Falls for Christmas. There isn't any place that I can work out up there. So I will have to pack the hiking boots and take a hike out in the woods.

Rough Weekend

This has been a tough weekend. We went to a b-day party for one of my son's friends on Saturday and there was Pizza there. I did pretty well but it was really good pizza and I was hungry. Then we got home and I was still really hungry. It seems like I have been hungry all weekend. I have been trying but it has been tough. I have been trying to eat more whole grains and lean protein to stay full longer but for some reason this weekend I just seem to be hungry. I am doing my best to keep on track and it is tough but I am trying. I have been trying to keep myself busy so that I don't just sit and eat. We are going to head out and pick up our tree and decorate the house this afternoon so that might help.

I am really looking forward to my time with Matt on Monday. I really want to step things up. I want to start pushing myself more and more each time I workout.

The Holiday Party went well.

Well we just got home. I ate a larger meal, some pork tenderloin and a small chicken breast, some mashed potatoes and a little gravy, carrots and a small dinner roll. I took a piece of cheese cake (one of my favorites) but I only had a few bites and left the rest. No beers even though many were offered. I think if I can make it through this I can make it through the rest of the holidays (although Christmas Eve at my Mom's will be tough). It is nice that all of my co-workers know that I am in the Big Loser and while they like to give me a hard time they are all very supportive of me.

I found out that my son's Christmas Program is the 19th so I will be able to attend the session with the nutritionist next week. Although I will have to leave about 7:00 because I have a church council meeting that night. So I hope I can cram in enough information in that amount of time.

I will bring the cook book on Thursday night. There is a little bit of everything in there, desserts, snacks, meals, and a few drinks.

Holiday Season

Well tonight I get to attend my first Christmas Party of the season. The clinic I work at is having their party at Spirit Mountain tonight. I will have to watch what I take in the buffet line. It is when their is unlimited food that I tend to have a problem. But I will just have to take small portions and drink lots of water. Thankfully it is a cash bar so I won't be drinking.

I had hoped to hit the gym tonight but with the party it will be a little hard. That is one more thing I need to ask Matt about, some exercises for when I am at home. I don't have a weight bench or anything at home so working out their is kind of hard. I think we still have an exercise ball somewhere maybe I will dig that thing out. We had to put it away because my son would try and play with it in the living room. He would try and jump from the couch to the exercise ball. I don't know if you have ever tried to jump on a ball but it isn't a good idea.

I can tell I pushed some muscles a little harder last night. My arms and legs are a little stiff this morning. I hope that Matt will push me even harder on Monday. I need the motivation.

I have found that I tend to eat when I am bored. So the past few days at work have been a little hard. I am an x-ray tech and the clinic recently purchased all new equipment for me to use. Well they are installing it this week so I am trying to find stuff to keep myself occupied during the day so I don't sit and snack. But I have found a few things that help when I do feel the need to snack. Quaker Oats makes a 90 calorie Chocolate Chunk granola bar that is really good, I bought some awesome apples at Super One the other day, and I have been making light microwave popcorn. When I am home I air pop popcorn and put some no-calorie spray butter on it and it is actually very good, and you don't get really greasy hands from all the butter.

I also have compiled a pretty good cookbook of weight watchers recipes and from some other sources, if anyone would like to take a look just let me know and I will bring it along some night. I love to cook almost as much as I like to eat so if some people would like to get together some night and try out some recipes that would be cool.

Well I need to go and refill my water bottle. Gotta drink that gallon of water while I am here. Then I get to walk to the bathroom at the other side of the building, it gets me up and moving.

First Weigh In

Well I finally got to have my first official weigh in (after 3 weeks). The scale showed 17 pounds lost. I am very happy with that.

I have my appointment with Matt the trainer on Monday and I am very much looking forward to it. I want to step my workout up a few notches. I am very comfortable on the bike. I push myself pretty hard but the calories burned don't seem to add up that fast. I am looking for a little more.

I not only want to lose weight but I want to get into shape. I am going to run the 5k this summer. I have decided that it isn't a goal that I hope to acheive, it is something that is going to happen.

I am very proud of everyone in the program. Everyone is working so hard on everything. Everyone seems to be getting along so well. I am glad there isn't the drama that there is on the TV show. I haven't seen anyone yelling or crying yet. I think that if we all keep supporting each other then we will all succeed. There are going to be times when we all are going to struggle and if we can keep supporting each other then we will all reach our goals. We are all making progress.

Thank you everyone for the kind words tonight. I'm sorry that I missed last week and let the team get so far behind but we are gaining. Slow and steady wins the race (an old turtle told me that or maybe I was just delusional from hunger).

Well here I am finally. I had to miss everything last week because I was travelling to Chicago for work. It was cool though because my family went with me. It wasn't cool because I LOVE Chicago style pizza, and my favorite restaurant (Chipotle's) is right down the street. I did my best though. I kept myself to 2 pieces of pizza and when I did order a borrito I didn't order a lot of the fattening stuff, and no shell.

One of the hardest things for me during this whole program has been giving up pop. But I have noticed now that I am not drinking pop, I sleep better at night. I don't snore as much and I am a lot less jittery.

I have found that I am looking at the labels on food a lot closer. Checking out the calories and calculating how much extra time it will take on the bike to work that off.

One thing that I have found helpful is that I am reading Dr. Phil's book on weight loss. I know some people don't like him but he has some good things to say. Mainly that the reason that I am fat is because I eat too much. I know it is a novel idea, but it is true. It is no one's fault but mine. I have discovered that I am an emotional eater, I eat when I am stressed, bored, upset, and any other time I don't want to deal with things. So I have been trying to figure out more positive ways to deal with things that are going on around me. The first weekend that I started in the program my wife was out of town so I was home alone with our 3 year old. That was pretty stressful. But I tried to play with him as much as possible and we got outside as much as we could.

Speaking of my son I have all ready reached one of my goals. When I started out I had to take a breather after walking up stairs with him. Last night I ran up the stairs with him and didn't need to stop before reading him a bedtime story. I am not ready to run Grandma's marathon yet but one of my goals is to run the 5K with my wife this summer.

Well that is it for now. I'll write more after my first official weigh in tomorrow. On the scale at the clinic I work at I have lost 15.3 pounds since the first weigh in. So we will see where I am at tomorrow.