One month

Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck

Day 24 - Third weigh-in

A total of 16 pounds down since I started. Though not what I wanted to be down at this point in time, it is still at least 16 pounds down.

Now this is only 2 pounds down from the last weigh-in, and this is indicative of how bad last weekend really was. This weekend has been better, but it still makes it more difficult that during the work week.

I haven't been working at the movie theatre during the weekends, and this has cut down on my physical activity. Softball has started up, and that is good as it gets me a bit more active. The last two weekends, my nephew and I have been practicing on our own on Fridays for about 2 hours, then the regular 3 hour practice on Saturdays.

This past weekend has been so much better. Even went to Eat N Park on Friday and only had their soup & salad bar where I had so much raw veggies I didn't have room for too much else. I had some chili but not too much else that can be considered bad. Been an excellent weekend.

I did run all 5 times this week that I always plan to run. Last week I didn't get to run on Saturday as softball practice just kicked my ass. Yesterday was the only tough day to get on the treadmill but I did it. it is very hot here in Pittsburgh this weekend, and I just think it is too early to put on the air conditioning. So I was sweating before I even got on the treadmill.

By weigh-in this week, I want to make sure I am in the 240's. If I am still fighting it at 250-ish I will be quite angry. I know I was bad last weekend, but I fear that my body is going to keep fighting me much sooner than I thought it would. That will make the next 24 pounds very had to lose.

Day 20 - Fighting It

Well, everything seems to be going well, running and eating. I am trying to do some weight training, but I am so not in to it. I am going to try to pull a friend over this weekend to help me how to do it better.

Running is easy and I can understand it. Using the Bowflex, boring as shit! I was hoping to be able to incorporate it into my daily exercise, but it is tough to do.

Well, at least I am running well. Every day a little faster, now up to 2.69 miles in 30 minutes. I have decided to re-watch all the new Doctor Who episodes. The time just flies past and next thing I know, 30 minutes and time to stop.

I am not particularly looking forward to the weigh-in. I think I was worse eating last weekend and it will effect me. My body is fighting me, I know it is. I thought I'd be able to shed a few more pounds before it started fighting, but this is what my body does. I will be surprised if I am not below 250, and that is frustrating.

6 weeks to go, and I am not making much progress, at least not this week.

Day 15 - Second weigh-in

Not too good weigh-in, only down 3.5 more pounds. It is nice o be down a total of 14 pounds since I started this, but I'd rather be down more. I actually thought I would be down more. I think I just need to work a little harder over the next few weeks.

I wasn't too good on food at work Thursday. We had a nice spread of food as someone was leaving, so I ate my fill. I shouldn't have done it, but everything looked so good. I did eat plenty of raw veggies before I started on the high fat food, but that didn't really seem to slow me down.

I did get the Bowflex at my house today, so I will start some light weight training. I am running quite well this week, very pleased with it. My nephew & I were throwing the softball around and catching some fly balls. After the end, we decided to run around the field. I will admit, that was much tougher running than the treadmill. Damn, this is going to make me rethink my training to run the 5K this fall.

Next week will go better. I have nothing to tempt me, so I can stay on plan. And with doing some new work regularly on the Bowflex, I hope to get past this slight plateau. 36 more pounds to go.

Day 12 - Running

I am having an awesome week! Eating great, I think. But the most important thing is the running.

The way I've been running is slowly ramping it up, running 2 minutes at 3 mph, then 2 minutes at 4 mph, then 2 minutes at 5 mph and at minute 6 I get up to 6 mph. I run this until minute 12, then I slow down at 2 minute intervals until I am walking 3 mph, then at minute 18 I start running at 1 minute intervals, 4, 5 & then at minute 20 I am running 6 mph until minute 24, then I slow down 2 minutes at a time until minute 30. This is about 2.5 miles total.

Before the accident, I would go at one minute intervals until minute 4 and I would be up to 7.3 mph, run this for 22 minutes, until minute 26, then slow down at one minute intervals. Usually, this was about 3.2 miles total.

Well, last two nights I've been able to run from minute 6 until minute 24 without that slow down in the middle. Now this is only at 6 mph, but it feels great for me! I haven't been able to do that on any type of regular basis since the accident. So I am quite excited that I can do it, even at a reduced speed.

Did I mention that I want to run a 5K in the fall? Like, running outside with no television to watch. No reflex deck to save my knees. No climate control. Just me and the pavement for 3.1 miles. If I can lose 30 more pounds, I think I can actually do a 5K run.

Day 10 - The Weekend

It seems the weekend will give me a little bit more trouble than I thought it would. I don't know if it is all the down time or what, but I was feeling hungry on a regular basis. all weekend. I partook in some small nibbling. Nothing too much, but enough to annoy me, and maybe enough to slow down my weight loss. I haven't gained any weight, but I didn't lose any either.

I ran 5 times this week, just as scheduled. That won't give me a problem. It will all be down to food. During the week I don't have too much of a problem, as I have to stay on a strict schedule. I think the weekends are going to give me the most trouble.

Day Eight - First Weigh - In

First weigh-in today and I am down 10.5 pounds. Pretty good for one week, but I was hoping to be done a little more today. It's alright, I just need to work a little harder for next week.

And to be honest, I ended up not doing so good last night. I was up to 1,200 calories when I went to my grandfather's house. I usually cook for him or bring food on Thursday evenings. I made him spaghetti with meatballs. He ate a small plate, and I finished it all up. With a conservative estimate, it was probably 800 calories. And then I had my typical sugar free, low calorie ice cream-like bar before I went to bed. So that was about 2,100 calories for the day.

Back on the wagon today. Every Friday during lent my mother & I go to a different fish fry, so I have one more to go to today. I will have to get the baked fish. And mixed vegetables. And nothing deep fried. And no home-made, twice baked macaroni and cheese with extra cheese! Oh, God no, none of that!

I hope I am not doomed to failure.

Day Seven - Tougher Than I Remember

I am doing quite well on the diet and running. Every day this week I've been at 1,600 calories or less and have run 2.5 miles each day. However...

For the last two days, it has been tough to keep on the diet part. I don't know why, but I've had the urge to eat and eat and eat. I have been able to control that, so far, but this afternoon was tougher than I remember from last time I did this diet. On the ride home today from work, every billboard with food advertisements was tempting. At different times during the drive, I promised myself McDonalds Cafe, Subways Five for Five, King's and a quick sandwich at Sheetz. I somehow made it home without stopping at any of these places, but it was tough.

So far I've been strong, but it is becoming more difficult. I think I don't have the health fear I had 3 years ago. The reason I first started doing this 1,600 calorie diet in March 2006, my doctor had jsut scared the shit out of me in regards to my blood work, cholesterol and all. But since then, I didn't die, either from the cholesterol or the car accident. So I think I don't have as much fear as I did a few years ago.

I am still holding out, but I want gorge myself. I won't, out of fear of not losing the 40 pounds, but I want to. I can't stop myself from thinking about more and more food.

I just need to keep running and writing down everything I eat. That is how I will defeat these urges.

Day Five - Good Out of the Gate

Everything is going well so far. I was ready for the worst when I started specifically counting the calories yesterday. 1,600 calories yesterday and I am on pace for 1,600 today. I ran yesterday and I ran today. Everything going smoothly so far. It is a little scary that it is going well. It's like I'm waiting for the hunger or I'm waiting to be too exhausted to run. I know from experience that it can creep up on me, but it hasn't yet.

I think the best thing I did was to slowly cut down to 1,600 calories. In the past I've done the thing where I've chosen a day to start eating better...and then binged the week prior to starting. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I just slowly worked down to around 2,000 calories, so Monday wasn't so bad.

Running went well too. I took a week off from running as I had some heel pain last week. It did feel like I had a rock in my shoe but I kept stretching the foot out and it worked well.

I am actually excited about the diet, more now than before. I am certain I can do this now. Before these past few days, I wasn't sure that I had the willpower to do it. Now I know I can. It seems silly to say two days into it that I will do it faithfully for 7 1/2 more weeks, but I know myself. I just needed to start doing it. And now that I have, I know I will do it.

Stay tuned for the fun. Oh, and only 34 more pounds to go!

Day Three - cupboards full

Yesterday went well. 2,000 calories, and the only problem I had was when I got home from work. I wanted food, for no reason. I wasn't hungry and had no need for more calories, but I wanted some type of food. I only ended up eating a bag of Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips, but that was 210 calories I didn't need.

I went shopping yesterday and again today for more fruits and veggies. I am stocked up and ready for the next 60 days (exactly 60 days from today till my 40th .) Well, I don't have enough for the entire 60 days but I have enough to start being healthier. I have fresh apples, oranges, nectarines, bananas & strawberries. I got fresh onions, green and red bell peppers, green beans, carrots, asparagus, cucumbers, lettuce and celery. 95% lean steak, chicken breasts, salmon, tilapia and tofu. I got frozen broccoli, mango, triple berry blend, cauliflower, veggie burger patties, precooked chicken strips, "meatless" steak strips. I got plenty of deli meats and low fat cheese and bread and wraps and low fat condiments.

Starting tomorrow I will be officially writing it all down. Since Thursday I've just been keeping a running tab in my head. Now, it will all become official...well, as official as it can get I guess.

I am now exhausted from shopping all day with my mother, so I am going to do some dishes and prepare breakfast and lunch for tomorrow.

Day Two - Fruits and Vegetables.

I will report, so far so good. I had about 2,000 calories yesterday, and considering what I've been consuming recently, that is good amount. There have been days recently I've calculated my caloric intake at 5,000. And that is why I think this is doable. Cutting calories down so drastically is the key.

Yesterday also was good as I worked at the movie theatre, so I was walking up and down stairs for 6 hours. Since I am not running until Monday, getting 6 hours of walking in is important at this point in time. Until I am running regular and doing weight training, anything is good.

I need to get to the store today and get fresh fruits and vegetables. I am lucky that I enjoy most fruits and veggies. My 21 year old twin nephews think they are in tip top shape, but since they turned 18 the only fruit they get is probably what is in ice cream or baked in a pie, and the only vegetables they get are what is in Taco Bell. Or the barley and oats they drink most Fridays and Saturdays.

I work at the theatre again today, and 8 hour shift. I am packing my lunch and dinner so I am not tempted. The theatre has the best french fries, and I don't want to eat any, cause I have a problem stopping myself from eating them by the handful once I start. So 8 more hours walking around and resisting free french fries.

Day One - Food

Yesterday when I weighed in, I was at 266 lbs. What is all about that? How did I get this fat? Well, caloric intake is most of the problem. After the accident (see here if you want to know), I starting eating all the time. And everything I wanted to eat. And two years later, I haven't been able to curb this habit.

That is what I need to fight, the urge to eat. That might not seem like a problem, but I haven't been able to stop myself for 2 years on any type of a regular basis. I have been able to control food for a few days, but then I binge. Must stop binge eating.

I am going to eat about 1600 calories per day. This will include fruits and vegetables, grains and fiber. meats and fish. All good foods, just in specific portions.

And I will keep this site updated with all my calories.

Day One - exercise

I am going to lose 40 pounds in two ways, food and exercise.

For exercise, I will be running on the NordicTrack 7600 R Reflex Deck. As of last week, I was up to 2.5 miles in 30 minutes. I want to get up to 3.0 miles in 30 minutes. And, as usual, I will be doing this 5 times a week.

So picture me running on this each day.
If all works out, next week I will have my BowFlex here at my house. Then I can start doing some light strength training.

Sadly, my ankle has been hurting this week, so I haven't been running this week. I am hoping I can run on Monday with little to no pain.

Day One

Alright, here goes - second time is a charm.

My goal is to lose 40 pounds by my 40th birthday. That is two months from today. So this is going to a limited blog of 60-ish days. I am going to try to track my progress, and blogger is easier than most sites.

I don't plan on writing every day. That would be difficult. But I have found in the past that I do better when I am organized and keep a log of food. Also keeping an online journal has helped me in the past. I will try to keep this all about my goal and nothing too personal. I think that is where my last journal went wrong. It ended up being about my life, and I really don't think I need that. Just food and exercise. Just how I feel. And after I've reached 40...well, we'll see.

Oh, and if I make it, Jamie at work has said he will make me a meat cake:

If I lose 40 by 40, I will only have a small piece of this, I swear!