Nothing new--same

Yesterday I ate pretty well but stilled weighed the same.    For lunch had a ham and cheese sandwich and for dinner Linda and I went out where I had a Salmon filet, broccoli and rice.   The salmon was delicious.   When I got back home I made a fruit bowl with yogurt.   Yuk!  

This morning I made a comment about leveling off and settling in in the low 40's.   The return comment is I need to eat more often then I do but eat less at each of those times.    Apparently the body reserves energy because it realizes the change.   To fool the body you have to tease it with little morsels of food every few hours.   My idea is eat more of what you want my missing a few of those mini meals.   I suppose the other way is better but I really like food and don't always want to eat green.

I believe people quit their weight loss efforts because of this leveling off.   Its easy to say what the use and go back to "your normal".    I've thought about it.   But..........I like all you folks and want to be around awhile.   I don't like being fat and out of shape.   Every joint in my body aches and sometimes the pain keeps me up and I don't sleep well.    So i forge forward as I love my family and owe it to myself as well as them to take care of myself.  

According to Dr Oz I now should only be 6'8" tall.   According to him I'm 6 inches too short!

Holly Molly--on the move again

Well today I weighed in@ 242 and was excited as I ate two good meals.   For Lunch I went out to eat with family and had Teriaki Chicken, steamed Vegetables, and a cup of Broccoli/jalepeno soup.   In the evening I had 3 Ribs from the evening before and I finished off some great pea soup.  Topped it off with a desert of vanilla yogurt and handful of blueberries, and a couple of handfuls of gum drops.   Go figure

To be honest this is getting harder because I enjoy the wrong kind of foods and find myself wanting to hedge all the time.  I'm constantly looking for motivators.  You would thing your health would be enough but like a lot of people I have that foolish logic that it won't happen to me.   As I age though and hear more stories of friends and family  I am more than aware it will happen to me.   Its the when I'm working on.

For me its been easier to do this because of my family.   They are constantly hounding me and reminded me the right ways to eat.   These reminders are good and I love them.   Sometimes I get them while they are eating chips, nuggets, candy or cake.   How ironic?   But I know they love me  and I do them.  

I'm a few pounds away from getting out of the pig pen.    My goal is 234 but hopefully I can do better than that.   By the way for me the hardest day of the week is Sunday.   I've got to learn to stay occupied so I don't eat all day.    Oink!    

Leveling

I'm stuck in the low 240's and I'm starting to grave blood thickening meals.   I long for a huge plate of steak, potatoes, salad and a blueberry cobbler to chase it down with.   That of course would be after a huge country breakfast which includes eggs, bacon, sausage,biscuits and gravy, oj and coffee.   The evening would be chicken fried steak and garlic roasted mashed potatoes with creme gravy.    Oh those were the days.

But............ I shall continue on this path as life with as a rabbit.    I must have I want to spend as much time with my grand daughter as the Lord will permit.   She makes this all worth it.   Actually I joke, this really hasn't been that bad and I have as you might imagined fallen from grace a few times this past month.  in fact yesterday I ate a lot of good stuff.    But too much of that will cause weight gain.   My evening was highlighted by a huge bowl of home made green pea soup.   I had a piece of blueberry pie, for desert.    Yesterday for lunch I had a leftover pork chop with vege's.    

Just got back from the Doctors and it turns out I have something called adhesive capaulitis in my left shoulder.  I got a shot of cortizone and will have physical therapy for a few weeks.  

I'm still hanging in there and although frustrated at the leveling off it is going well and I still hope to reach my goal in the next few weeks.    I have learned a little and am doing a much better job of eating for nourishment and not entertainment.    But I can't lose much more and might have to end this as I'm getting close to having to buy new cloths.    that's too expensive so its time to get a little meat on my bones.    

Bad start on 2nd month

Really disappointed in myself as I slid a bit last evening.   My discipline was broken and I fell to temptation.   I knew what I was doing and made a decision to fail for the evening.   Big Deal?  You bet it is, I believe if you want to succeed in something every set back is important.

Had some dear friends visit me from Washington DC and we had a chance to get caught up at a Texas Barbeque restaurant. I had the ribs, with green salad, potato salad, onion rings, and fried okra.   I washed it down with a 16 OZ draft.    I did have a good time and the food was great but I discovered that I still have to get to the point where it becomes natural to overcome temptation.   The devil made me do it!  No, No,  I did it myself and that disappoints me.    My friends are great and they all look like they are enjoying life.   I had a blast.

I came in today at 243.   Not too bad for pigging out.   However I will say this; I could not eat everything and I suppose thats a small victory.   Today I shall work out a little harder and try to eat better.    I'm tired of being a porker.   oink, oink.  

4 Weeks down and a lifetime to go

After 4 weeks I've been able to lose 19 pounds.    This morning I was 242.   Things have slowed tremendously for me and thats OK.   I haven't suffered a bit.   During this month I have eaten Steak, Chicken, fish, Chili and hamburgers.   The biggest thing I've eliminated we're excessive snacking and carbonated beverages.  

It dawns on me that for several years I've used eating for entertainment and to satisfy boredom.   THen what happened I began to really enjoy all kinds of food.  For me eating satisfied so many needs it was pathetic.   Fortunately for me my wife Linda somewhat kept things in check or I would have really been big and unhealthy.   The other fortunate thing are my kids they always have motivated me.

The really good news is according to my recent Doctors visit and lab results my blood is actually moving again.   The sludge has cleared a bit and my heart and brain are starting to enjoy a few red blood cells.   I am able to stay up past 8 or 8:30 each evening which allows me to finish a few prime time shows.    The only negative physical thing is I feel cold much more.  

Where do I go from here, first off I haven't reached my goal and I will do that.   Secondly it would be nice to maintain a more healthy lifestyle and learn to enjoy better foods.   There are plenty of good things to eat.  

Now, let me go see what is in the fridge

Two days and first month is over

Good Morning, not sure if anybody ever reads this but my hope is that in some strange way it motivates others as it has me.   Last evening Linda and I went to see Extraordinary Things and shared a small bag of buttered popcorn and split a diet coke.   The diet coke was the first carbonated beverage since the adventure began.   Anyway jumped on the bathroom scales and hit 242.    What makes me feel good is that I finally broke thru  247.  

So far here is what I've learned.   To do anything you really need a reason to do it.   Without a cause that is important enough you won't do it.    Its important to have some idea how to eat healthy and incorporate that information into your lifestyle.   Its important to do it your way but understand your way must include signs of a healthy life style, which includes exercise.   Finding motivators were important for me and having a support system gives encouragement.   Important words for me during my endeavor.   Accountability, discipline. motivation, support, and humor.  

My hope is that once I am no longer a lard ass that I can maintain a healthy lifestyle.    

Although easy, this is going to be difficult

So far eating better and eating less has not been very hard.   But........ I think my body has adjusted and the pounds are not coming off.    My exercise nor my eating hasn't changed but I'm stagnate.   I bet this is the time people say "what is the use".  "I'm destined to be a fat ass".   That would be easy to  do and the reward is great.    Back to  old habits of eating a big breakfast, a greasy burger for lunch, snacks in between, a big dinner, and cake or ice creme right before bed time.  Sweet dreams.    

As luck would have it I'm on a mission.  I'm not certain what it is but I want to be more disciplined.  Every morning when I awake for the day my body aches like I've been in some kinda of crash.   Its probably because I constant carry around the equivalent of 4 bowling balls all day long and 60 year old bones can't handle that.   Oh yea, I've put 1 of those bowling balls back on the rack.   3 more to go.

Well, I sure hope I'm stuck on being a lard or twinkee ass.     

 

I'm leveling off

Another lesson I learned is that your body probably adjusts on less food and losing weight happens at a snails pace.    There has been no basic changes in what I'm doing this week  but I hover between 246 and 250.    I refuse to eat any less.    This morning I was 247.    

While doing cardio each day my legs seem weak.    After 10 minutes into a 36 minute session it seems as if things correct themselves and I somehow finish.     For the past week I've been averaging 3 to 4 miles a day.    The good news is my attitude is improving towards working out and I'm certain that is a good thing.    Getting off the couch and doing things has overall made me feel better and has certainly made me more productive.    Boy do I miss the remote, the couch and watching ESPN.   

After playing a round of golf, doing errands  I had a bowl of homemade chili and ate a couple of pieces of fruit.    Again, very frustrating this week because of the slow pace.   I want to be the perfect specimen of manhood right now!     

You have to be kidding me.

Well i found out that you can put a pound or two back on by eating too much good food.   Because I feel hungry I've been snacking a little more than usual with Oranges, bananas and Special K bars.    I gained 2 pounds and am back up to 247.     Oh yeah I had a late night bowl of cereal with still another banana.    The good news is I know have no problems in the mornings and everything seems to be moving freely.   

Went to the doctor yesterday to refill my long term meds.    Doc was more excited about me losing 15 pounds since christmas than my ailing body.   She wanted to know what I was doing.  I told her the first thing and probably the most important was telling the world I was a big fat and probably unhealthy person.   Than I tried to eliminate snacking and eat better foods.    Doc talked for 10 minutes on that and wants to due blood tests to compare with the last ones.    She took 30 seconds to discuss my torn rotator cuff and made me get another appointment with a ortho guy.  

For all my skinny friends this isn't so hard.     The real concern I have is if I have the discipline to continue after I hit the goal of 235.     The problem of course is I will eat anything that won't eat me and enjoy foods of all kinds.    I think I miss my big breakfasts the most.    

Still hanging in There

This morning I got up  finished by computer regimen and hopped on the elliptical machine.   I set the program for fat burner and walk for 36 minutes.   Today my legs hurt but I finished with almost 5000 steps.   According to Dr Oz that needs to get up to 10,000.   I bet I get that walking back and forth to the refrigerator.   

Great news I weighed in today at 245 and officially have past through another stage.  So far I've gone from fat ass, to lard ass, and know resting comfortably on Twinkee ass.    Like I'e mention before my insurance company would like a 60 year old 6 ft 2 in guy to weigh a max 197.  My goal was 10% of my body weight which would put me at around 235.    But checking with Dr Oz 235 only gets me from twinkee ass to pretty big ass.   I've been called that a few times.    Anyway still moving forward.

So far this has not been all that bad.    For instance last night I had a salmon filet with carrots and broccoli, cole slaw and about 10 cherry tomatoes.    About 900 pm I had a bowl of banana, blue berry, a mixture of nut with two heaping table spoons of vanilla yogurt.    The Salmon was absolutely great.

I'm not going into any kind of depression, but I do have cravings from time to time.   Every time that occurs I think about my kids and wife and there encouragement.    Every time I talk to them they are supportive and give me suggestions to keep going.    If I were to give any advice I would say that having a support system that will ride your fat ass is critical in eating healthier and accomplishing your own effort.    I'm having a blast.    Tonight I think I will eat a thick cut rib eye.    Can't wait. 

Still hanging in There

Just got through a weekend without doing any real damage.   I ate a lot but it was pretty much the same stuff Tarzan would eat.   A ate a whole bunch of fruit, vegetables, and nuts.   I had a salmon patty last night with a great salad, cream carrots,  steamed broccoli and a fruit smoothy.   All of this and I gained a pound.   248.         

I manage to get my 3 mile walk a day in and my knees are telling me to stop.    I'm also trying to keep busy doing odds and ends to keep my out of the kitchen.    But....I manage to sneak in and get a salt water taffy or two.   

Incredibly I'm still 50 pounds overweight or 3 and a half bowling balls.    Although I've dropped 13 pounds my close still fit about the same.      Being 60 you think you should be able to eat and drink what you wish.    I think I will.    No, maybe not I think at the rate I'm going I should lose my 10% by March.    Maybe April, things are slowing down a bit and I'm starting to get hungry more than the first few days.    The past 5 days I've had to use more discipline than usual.   It is getting harder, I like food.      

Moving in the right direction

This week has been a little harder for lard ass.   Yesterday I had a Mexican combination plate with Cheese and onion enchiladas.   For desert I had sopapila's with honey.    But my plan is not to give up anything but to eat wisely, exercise a "tiny bit", golf and chase the grand daughter.   I've got golfing and chasing Hope down.   Eating wisely and exercising............bah, humbug!   

This morning I was 248.    The last time I was 248 was in New Mexico when I was getting weighed for my ride in a T-38 Talon.   Unfortunately for me, the ejection seat was only rated for 241 and the sortie was cancelled.   A week later I got my incentive ride and weighed 239.   But that was painful to do.    The evening of the flight I had gained half of it back.    When I left Germany I was 251 and pretty much a pig.   I drank plenty of that great German beer and ate plenty of schnitzel.   What was bad was the great sauces.    Anyway oink oink.   

My plan was to lose 10% of my 261.   I know that doesn't get me where I need to be but I'll see how this goes.    Honestly the first couple of weeks were easy and this past week much more difficult.   I love food and drink.   Not sure I can reach 234.   Show me the beef.   

Half way through the third week

The last two days I've wanted to pig out.   But...I didn't.    I managed to eat ok.   For the first time in two and a half weeks I started to have cravings.  My blood is getting too thin and flowing a little better through the system.   I have a bit more energy and one less excuse to sit and watch a 10,000 episode of Seinfeld.    

The first two weeks were actually pretty easy.   But now I feel the real me coming back.  Give me a big helping of Biscuits and gravy, followed up by one of my signature Green chili omelets.   For dinner i want Steak and potatoes.  That ought to do it.

Good news 249.    Still an oinker but I can now officially see my toes.   

Doing Ok

Got on the scales and they didn't break.   After eating enough fruit in the last few days to keep a local grocery store in business I've spent an incredible amount of time in one particular room of the house.   The result 251.    I'm heading in the right direction but I have to tell you I'm still one big piece of bacon.   

Little pain so far in my effort.    I do cardio every other day and eat 3 to 4 meals a day.   The big difference is that I have eliminated my 9 in the evening snack and most all beverages other than tea and water.    I try to eat only a single serving at each setting and have done well not to go back for seconds.   

Yesterday I did get hungry a few times but was able to deal with that by eating California oranges. I've noticed the first few days the weight came flying off.  But as of late its going far to slow.   I'm kinda at a plateau after 14 days.    But I've lost 10 pounds.    

What bothers me the most is looking at those insurance tables of what I should weigh.   I have a whole bunch more to lose to get there.    Not sure thats possible.   Plus eating healthy is actually expensive.    The good news is that I have not had trouble at all on this quest for health. Its really been easy.     My son Ryan and my wife Linda keep helping me by giving me ideas of what to eat.    Fish, beans, peeled chicken, etc.    But much of that stuff is good.   Plus I have still had tacos, steak, and stuff I enjoy.    The biggest thing I've given up that I do enjoy is those great big country breakfasts.   Anyway off to the golf course.  

January 12th

Good Morning, all my life I had been one of those sports guys.   I played basketball, baseball and ran track and dabbled in several recreational sports like golf and tennis.   Loved to go to the horse races, follow college and professional sports and anyway you get the idea who I am.    I'm 6'2" and swore as I gained years I would never get over 250 ponds.    As I approach the age of 60 I play golf, walk occasionally, watch ESPN, Fox News and have become a Law and Order junkie.     

This past December the 23rd to be exact I stepped on our bathroom scales right after taking a much needed shower.   I was 261 pounds and looked in our BIG mirror and I had become a fat ass with a beer gut, and a great big round face.     This probably explains why I get so tired in the afternoons and can't stay up beyond nine o'clock or so.   Then I thought I'm in that heart attack zone and a think I have a beautiful grand daughter which I'm hoping to enjoy.    I've decided to make the attempt at losing weight by not dieting.      

After I'd made the commitment I thought I needed to kind of make it formal so I wrote down a mission statement.   "Hey fat ass"  lose 10% of your body weight and become slightly "fat ass" and live a few more years.     I have a tremendous support system which makes it easier.  My wife would prefer me to eat peeled chicken, wheat spaghetti,  and watches  and records Dr Oz.   So the information is readily available.     

Finally I thought I needed to hold myself accountable so I always wondered how a blog worked and thought I would document my progress by publishing a blog.   I'm retired with too much time on my hands and maybe this will give me something think to do to occupy a little refrigerator and TV time.   This first blog is a little longer then I even care to read but I thought background was needed.    This blog idea has come almost 2 weeks into this new existence of mine.

So far I'm doing OK, not great but OK.   I haven't had it too bad and am eating pretty much what I want but in reasonable and smaller proportions.  I have made an effort to cut out the country breakfasts that I ate every morning.   In 13 days I've lost 6 pounds.  Now, when I get out of the shower I'm 255 and still pretty much have my big..................!   But I'm surprised on how easy it's been.   In my first 2 weeks, I've gone up and down with my weight and I still have cravings for all that blood thickening food; but I have not starved and by eating better foods and limiting my proportions I'm actually experiencing minor success.    I'm not even grouchy!