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May 09 Something I'm proud ofA friend of mine did a Photoshop job on the before and after photos I took of myself.
A little background, when I was in Hawaii in February 2006 I had just started on my weight loss journey. I was about 210 lbs. In February 2007 when I was in Hawaii, I had lost close to 45 lbs and decided to recapture the same picture – for a before and after image.
My friend suggested he could do something interesting with them, so I sent him the files. A little magic with Photoshop and I’m standing beside myself in an interesting picture.
And just so you know, he did not alter my picture. Yes, that is me on both sides of the photo. You will notice I even have the same hat and am wearing the same shorts.
I’m really proud of this accomplishment. I’ve flogged that story on this site all too often and this will be the last time I toot my own horn. But this morning when I got on the scale I was still at 165 lbs, which is the weight I was when I graduated high school! Not bad for a guy who is coming up to 50.
Take care and have a great day. March 05 Goal Achieved!We interrupt the drivel about travel to bring you this breaking drivel…..I stepped on the weigh scale this morning and for the first time since…..heck I can’t even remember the numbers read 165!
Oh am I pumped! I hit my goal weight. 14 months and 45 pounds from where I started and I finally made it! I’m so excited I could consume a cheese cake – the whole thing.
No wait, that is counter productive, just like I’m counter intuitive.
There are many things that make feel good right now. Not the least of which is actually achieving a goal I set (I’m not big on goal setting, so to actually stick to it long enough to achieve it – whow!).
Then there is the way I see my self in pictures now. I’m thrilled with most of the pictures taken of me while I was in Hawaii. I’m still not a skinny guy, but when I look at those photos I see a fit person. I see someone who looks good in the cloths he wears – ok so I have baggy ass pants, but isn’t that the style?
Another item that thrills me is the fact that I can jog 5 km in a single shot and complete it in just over 30 minutes (I did that yesterday). For me only one word describes it: FREAKIN AMAZING – oh sue me, I still can’t count
 .Seriously, this is a major event in my life. It does not rate with the birth of my daughters, but it does mean I might be around to see the birth of my grandchildren (which better be a few years off!). I also realize the changes I made to achieve this goal have to become a lifestyle. Healthy eating in moderation and exercise is what got me here, it is what will keep me here. And believe me I do not want to go back to what I was.
For anyone out there who thinks they can’t loose weight I give you ME! If I can do it…..anyone can!
WHOOPEE!
February 06 Weight Loss UpdateIts been a while since I’ve bragged, er wrote, about my weight loss and exercise progress. So it is time to foist an update on you.
I reached a plateau some time ago and couldn’t seem to break through it. I had dropped 40 lbs (18.1 kg) and was 5 lbs from my goal weight of 165. Most frustrating, but I also thought maybe that was my body telling me I reach my limit.
I decided to make a concerted push after Christmas and one of the tactics was to cut out beer for all of January. I was successful in that (well almost, I had a couple of beer over the course of the month), but still couldn’t break below 170 lbs (77 kg).
Then this past weekend I thought OK, I give up, I’m still working out regularly, I’m eating the way I should to loose and I’m not, so I’ll treat myself and have a few beer on the weekend. Go figure that Sunday I get on the scale and I’m down to 168 lbs (76.2 kg). I’m freaking ecstatic! Just three pounds to go. Maybe sun tanning does have extra benefits
I continue to work out, although I have had to ease up on the weight lifting. I stretched a muscle in my elbow and am resting it and going to physiotherapy right now. But I continue to jog and do the cardio machines. In fact I am still running 5 km in just under 32 minutes. I did that on Saturday and again today. I could probably get that down to under 30 minutes, but I still need a short recovery walk at about the 20 minute mark.
As far a jogging goes, I’m setting a goal to do a 10 km run by the end of the summer – maybe in time for the Terry Fox run. How do like that I’m almost 50 years old and finally getting into running. AND, if I do say so myself – looking damn good physically (so my lack of dates must be my personality
 ).There was a picture taken of me in Hawaii last year. I’m planning to take a recreation of that picture this year, so I can present a one year Before / After view. It will be interesting.
Take care and oh, by the way
9 sleeps to Hawaii! July 31 PlateauI have reach a plateau in my weight loss challenge. I’ve been hovering around the 174 – 175 lb mark for the last month. This leaves me 10 pounds away from my goal.
I knew this would happen, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating. There are several things contributing to it. First is that I haven’t been running for almost a month. A foot injury has been keeping from doing that. Fortunately I am soon going to have orthotics and now know how to tape my foot for extra support. I am hoping to go for a short run at some time this week.
Another contributing factor is my getting lazy on my diet. Several trips and weekends with friends seem to be my down fall right now. I’ve fallen back into some bad habits I’ve been working to break. Things like too much beer, larger serving sizes and not all the right foods.
The good news is that I haven’t gained any weight, so I view this as an interruption towards making my goal.
I have continued to exercise this past month and while I haven’t lost any weight I continue to trip inches from my waist line. I also feel my arms and leg are looking leaner and stronger than they have for a long time. I’ve been weight lifting 3 or 4 times a week and doing between 120 and 200 abdominal exercises at each session. So while I haven’t lost any weight in the last month, I have taken another half inch off my mid section. That helps keep the motivation level up there and the dream of 165 pounds alive.
I’ll post another update in about a month and see if I’ve been able to get the diet going again. June 11 Weight Loss UpdateEXTREME EXCITEMENT - I reach a huge milestone! On many occasions when I began dieting, I would set a goal to reach 175 lbs (79kg), with a “stretch” goal of 165 lbs (75kg). Then I would not even get close to the either goal!
TODAY I HIT 175 LBS! - I am thrilled! I am not goal oriented, so to hit this one is a real thrill. I’m down 35 lbs from where I started in January. I am still targeting that 165 lb goal, but from here on in everything is a bonus!
TO TOP THAT OFF – I have dropped a full 7 (that’s right count em – SEVEN!) inches off my belly! Needless to say all of the pants I had fell off of me without being undone
 . ONE LUCKY GUY! - Now here is where I have been extremely fortunate. The lady who rents my basement apartment knows how to sew and she graciously offered to take all of my old pant in so they fit again. That is at least 10 pants (I lost count!), made up of jeans, khakis and dress pants. She has saved me an enormous amount of money in not having to buy all new pants and in alteration costs. I'm going to have to find something nice to do for her!
CAN YOU SAY GOOD LOOKING! Now when I look in the mirror I see a slim man, not some frump with a pot belly. Now I’m not skinny, but this feels wonderful. I haven’t been this weight for a very long time.
THANK YOU SOUTH BEACH I will continue on the South Beach Diet and exercising as I continue to work towards the ultimate goal of 165 lbs and a new path and direction in my life.
AND ONE LAST THING
Happy Birthday Dad! Sorry I'm not there to give you a hug! So here is a virtual one
Yeah, it's pretty pathetic, but its all I got May 07 Weight Loss Progress ReportI have been very unsettled lately. I’m not at all happy or content with my life. Over the next several days I will explore that deeper as I explain what is causing me grief and try to find a way out of this frump I am in.
But for now, I want to discuss one of the most positive aspects of my life right now.
I am thrilled, ecstatic, overwhelmed with my progress on my weight loss and I want to tell the world about it. I’ve even posted the tracking form I created (I curse my analytical side at times, cause I always create these kinds of things for the most mundane of things). You can see the chart in the place where I normally post “Your Daily Laugh!” When you look at the chart, remember that I’m just under 5’ 5” (165 cm) tall . To be carrying over 200 lbs on that frame is not good, healthy or attractive.
To date I’ve lost 29 pounds and taken 6.25 inches off my belly. For the first time in a long time my chest is larger than my belly! I still have a bit of a paunch, but I’m well on my way to reaching my goal by my birthday in September.
After being told by several people that my pants were getting too baggy (I can take them off without undoing them), I went shopping for pants yesterday. As a lark I tried on a pair of jeans with a 34” waist. THEY FIT! They were a little tight, but I could still sit and move in them (not like the guy in the Diet Pepsi commercial). But I was worried about shrinkage, so decided to be conservative and I purchase the 36” waist. This fit nice, with plenty of room for movement. I only purchased two pair of work pants and one pair of jeans. I figure a few pay checks and I will be able to buy the 34” pants!
That was a high point for me! I moved up to a 38” pant several years ago and they were getting incredibly tight when I hit my highest weight. I even ended up wearing some 40” dress pants my parents had given me.
The other thing that amazes me, is the running I’m doing. I was very tired on Friday and Saturday and so didn’t go to the gym or run. But this morning I woke around 8AM and wanted to go for a run. I did 5KM WITHOUT a recovery walk at the half way point. I even shaved a couple of minutes off my previous best time. I’m not setting any overland speed records but I did the 5 Kms in 32 minutes! I’m really happy with that right now.
Now I just have to keep up the life style and not let my self fall into old bad habits. This will be a challenge, cause the way I feel right now often leads to binge eating – of all the wrong foods.
My motivation is that I’ve come this far, and people are noticing and giving very positive feedback. I feel good about myself and I do not want to be that fat person I was before.
Now if I could only get all of my ducks lined up in a row! April 30 Wasn't going to do it - Glad I did!Got to bed at around 12:30 last night. Late for me! Then I didn’t do my usual drift off quickly to sleep. It was some time after 1:30 AM that I finally drifted off. So when I woke up at 7 AM this morning I didn’t want to go for a run!
A couple of cups of coffee later, some toast and peanut butter in my belly and I was ready to go.
Fortunately it’s a beautiful day. Temperature not too hot, not too cold. Just right for running. Glorious sunshine washed over the land.
Felt I was plodding along at times, but still managed to complete the 5 Kms in about 33 minutes. That’s pretty good for me. Wanted to do the whole thing with out a recovery walk, but I ended up taking one really short one at about the two-thirds point. Just needed a short break. Still I was very please to been motivated enough to go out and do it.
And that is the biggest achievement for me. Not the time, the short walk – but the fact I did it at all. A few years ago I would of woken up, not felt like running and never given it a second thought. Now I miss it when I don’t run.
And it is really helping me on my weight loss challenge. As of my Sunday weight in I’m down 27 pounds and 5.75 inches off my belly. The drop in the waist is the most rewarding. I am beginning to feel slim. I haven’t felt like that for years! As joke I pulled my old work jeans on this morning with out undoing either the zipper or the top button. AND THEY SLIPPED ON! How great is that!
Time to head to the theatre. Another long day ahead with cue to cue and tech rehearsals. At least I didn’t have to be there first thing this morning and was able to get my laundry done. Ah I have fresh cloths for work tomorrow!
Take care and enjoy your Sunday April 22 It's getting addictiveAt least it is a good addiction. I ran another 5 km this morning and it felt GREAT! We do a double loop around our neighbourhood and I had the option of dropping off after about 3.4 km. But I decided before I headed out I wanted to extend that run and I felt so good at that point I pushed on. It was no trouble completing the distance.
I noticed something interesting yesterday at the gym. I’ve written before how the weight training area is surrounded with mirrors. I typically don’t primp myself in front of them (as some fellows do – that is hilarious and can be post entirely on it’s own), but yesterday I glanced at myself while doing my stretching.
Now I have always had “thunder thighs”. It’s a family trait. When I played football my thighs were the same diameter as my mother’s waist!
But yesterday, for the first time in my memory, my thighs struck me as being slim. They are by no means skinny. I won’t ever be called that. But the thickness and bulkiness that were always my legs have slimmed down.
I also have to buy some new pants. The ones I own are way to baggy. I can almost take them off without undoing the front snap now. My belt is down to the last notch, so I will need one of those also! What a wonderful problem to have.
It is very encouraging that the people at work are continually commenting on how much I’ve lost in weight and inches. It is apparently very noticeable in my face. I need to take a picture of myself, similar to the one I have from my Hawaii vacation and post before and after pics. Some may see that as vanity, but I’m proud of my accomplishments and dammit I’m going to tell people.
On a side note, I’ve been invited to a “Pampered Chef” party. Apparently I would be the only male in the group. Since I love to cook and need some new ideas and cooking utensils, this might be OK. And one of my co-workers, who is trying to get me “hooked up” (God bless her soul), says it is a great way to network. According to her, while the woman at this event will all be married, they will have friends and in this casual environment my humour and kind heart will come out and the women will begin thinking of friends they have who are in need of a match. But it just sounds so contrived and manipulative.
What the heck! What have I got to loose. If nothing I might be able to have some laughs at my own expense! And I do need a lid for my frying pans.
I’m off to check out pants and head to drama rehearsal. I’ll catch up with you later. March 19 Dufus ReportI can be such a dufus at times. Other words to use would include idiot, ignoramus, twit….you get the picture!
I have worked so very hard at loosing weight. I’ve been true to the South Beach Diet (even during my vacation) and have made wonderful progress so far. I am proud of my accomplishments and thrilled with the results.
Then why, for the last two Friday nights have I gone out and tipped back more than a few pints and eaten what I know darn well is not good for me? Cause I’m a dufus!
In both cases I stepped on the scale for my official weekly weigh in on Sunday morning, only to find I had rocketed up in weight. Oh the pain and disappointment of seeing those number climb higher than they were the week before (and I’m not just talking a pound or two!).
The good news is after last week I was able to drop all of the weight by Thursday and was even down a pound from the pre-binge weigh. So I am confident that by getting disciplined this week I’ll be able to get back to where I was. It is frustrating to know just how carefully I will have to watch myself (for the rest of my life) if I want to achieve and maintain my goal weight. (Stupid metabolism!)
Next Friday – no beer for this dufus!
I hope you have a great week!
Monday Morning Update:
A lot of the weight must have been water retention, because this morning I'm down over 1/2 the pounds I gained - which is a good thing.  March 09 People Are NoticingOne of the nice things about loosing weight is when people notice and then say something. It is such a shot of encouragement. I have had several such blessings. In one case the lady who operates the cafeteria in the building I work in ask me if I had done something because I looked different. Because she asked right after I got back from Hawaii I assumed it was the tan and banter with her about that. Several days later she said, no something else was different – had I lost weight. It was wonderful to be able to say yes! This morning I pulled out some dress pants I haven’t been able to wear for almost two years and they fit! I even pulled out an old sweater I stopped wearing because it got so tight around the mid-section and it fit well. Other people comment on how my coat and pants are looking baggy, or asking when I’ll have to buy some new cloths. It is all good.
I keep saying it – I still have a ways to go to hit my goal. But the journey has been easier than I expected and that is a blessing.
Weigh in on Sunday! I’m looking forward to the results.
Till next time….. March 05 A Weight Loss UpdateI am thrilled with the progress I’m making on my weight loss program. As of this morning I have lost 19 lbs and 3 1/2 inches off my waist. I’m well on my way to my goal of losing 45 lbs and 9 inches off my waist. My target date to reach my goal is my birthday in September, but I am hopeful I will be close to the goal by the time I head to New Brunswick for Kristyn’s Graduation ceremonies in late June. I’m amazed and pleasantly surprised with the South Beach Diet. It is easy to stick with and I do not feel like I’m missing anything. I have never wanted to become a passionate evangelist for the diet, but it is pretty hard not to when I see the results I’m seeing. (Too bad I couldn’t get that way about my Lord and Saviour!)
Even while I was in Hawaii, I was able to stick “close” to the diet. I had the odd beer or glass of wine with dinner and went out for several meals out. But even with that I was able TO LOOSE 2 lbs while on vacation. That is unheard of for me! I’ve been on cruises where I’ve gain a pound a day during the vacation!
So I remain committed to the program and am feeling much better about myself. Maybe with the loss of weight and inches I will be less shy, nervous or down right frightened to ask someone out on a date. Before I kept thinking, who would want to go out with someone with such a pot belly? My self image is improving and my self confidence is getting better with each pound I drop. Watch out world – here I come!
Take care and have a great work week. |
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