16 Weeks

I thought it would be a good time to update everyone, for a couple reasons. First, I'm home in bed with the stomach bug that caused both of my children to vomit on me this weekend. Second, it's sort of a milestone - 16 weeks. 3 months, for everyone not doing the math :). And the last reason you'll have to wait for (not long, don't worry).

So, how am I doing? I've lost 31.2 lbs. It doesn't seem like much, but it has made a major change in my life. I have much more energy, I workout (almost) every weekday morning. I don't find myself as winded as I once did when climbing the 3 flights of stairs to get to my office. And I find that working out is a little addicting, not wanting to go but NEEDING to go in the morning.

The last reason that it's a good time for an update is because of all the compliments that I've been getting. There have been lots of family functions in the past couple months, and everyone has been so positive with their support. I physically feel the positivity each time I workout. Lindsay is even getting in on the action, going to the gym at night when I get home. She is looking outstanding, if I do say so myself.

Now for the check in with my progress, since I now have to satisfy the engineer inside me with some good 'ole data analysis.

• 31.2 lbs / 16 weeks = 1.95 lbs/week
• My goal was 2 lbs/week, so I'm close

• 63 weeks left until I turn 40
• At my current rate, 1.95 lbs/week, I will achieve 180 lbs in 45.6 weeks (very accurate!)

So, keeping on my slow and steady pace, I will achieve my goal. It has been a little slow for my taste, but I've been told that this pace will help keep the weight off when I finally achieve my goal.

 

So even though I feel horrible today, I have been making good progress, even if I'm horrible at providing updates! More frequent updates to come, I promise :) maybe next time with 3rd grade math (haha).

 

Posted with Blogsy

Belt

This weekend, the whole family went to church together. This was a first. I was in a great mood before church, because I fit into a pair of khakis that I haven't worn in at least 2 years. And they were big on me!

Today, I wanted to switch up my routine, so I worked out at work. While I was getting dressed, I realized I forgot my belt at home. So I went through the day without, and my jeans falling off me all day. If I weren't so proud of myself for shrinking put of my jeans, I would have been embarrassed. But I couldn't help but smile every time I had to hike up my pants.

For an update, I've lost over 20 lbs, even taking a week off of working out. My sis-in-law has reignited my workout focus, after she finished the Ironman triathlon.

Onward!

Posted with Blogsy

Iron(wo)man

This post is dedicated to my awesome sister-in-law Cindy. She finished the Ironman World Championship race in Hawaii this weekend. For those who aren't familiar with the Ironman, this triathlon consists of:

• 2.4 mile swim
• 112 mile bike
• 26.2 mile run

That's right, lets run a full marathon after more than 1.5 hours in the ocean and 7.5 hours on a bike. Wow!

 

Here are her times:

 

Swim: 1:41:20

Bike: 7:28:32

Run: 4:59:40

Overall: 14:21:59

Congratulations Cindy, you are a true inspiration!

Posted with Blogsy

Month 1 - Progress

Well, it's been a month. I haven't posted in a while, I warned you at the beginning that I wasn't much of a writer. But just because I haven't posted doesn't mean that I haven't been working. A steady workout routine and a diet that I've been pretty good about following has been my M.O. lately. I've not followed the diet all the time, but I just get back on it the next day/meal. In the past, I let a bad day throw me into the diet death spiral which I would never recover. This time, I get back on track and get myself re-motivated.

As for working out, I've changed up my routine from what I've done in the past. I've gone away from the weight lifting and done more cardio-based exercises. It has helped me with my energy, and with taking the pounds off. I started out with a couch-to-5k running program, but I had to put that on hold for a little bit and switch to the elliptical machine. I'm so afraid that I'll get a couple of months into this and get injured, and that will be the end of it. I don't think about it often, but it does cross my mind.

Anyways, now for the big reveal...

17.8 lbs in one month!!! YAY!!

A huge "Thank You" to everyone that has read this blog, sent messages of encouragement, and followed my diet and exercise on wee.myfitnesspal.com. I'm going to keep charging forward, and get that main goal of 180 x 40!

Posted with Blogsy

Week 2 - TBL

My wife Lins and I are huge fans of The Biggest Loser. We've watched every season since Season 2, which is saying something since they are up to Season 14. For as much as I get frustrated with their unapologetic product placement, I find we still watch for the inspiration of people losing immense amount of weight. And for the most part, the weight stays off.

The reason I bring up TBL is because of the results I had for Week 2. The contestants during the second week of TBL have notoriously low weight loss. Even with professional trainers, teammates pushing each other, $250k on the line, and professional nutritionalists, the contestants still lose little weight, and sometimes even gain.

My week 2 - I lost 0.4 lbs. Thank goodness for digital scales :)

I'm not concerned, nor frustrated. I knew it was coming. If the pros can't get people to lose weight, how much luck do I have? I'm just keeping my head down, watching what I eat, working out, and feeling great. I even set my alarm on Saturday to go to the gym, the first time EVER! I feel changes in my body, for the better.

I've asked my 4 year old son to ask me "When is your big fat belly going away?" He is more than happy to ask me :). So I asked him this weekend "Is my belly getting smaller?" His answer: "Yea, it doesn't jiggle anymore!" Well, not exactly true, but I'll take it.

So here's to Week 3! See ya later week 2, you stink!

Posted with Blogsy

Week 1

One week, and I'm still around! The diet and exercise hasn't killed me. I've lost a total of 7.6 lbs, but who's counting? Oh yea, me! I realize it's mostly water weight, but I'll take it, you've gotta start somewhere.

Over the Labor Day weekend, the fam went down to the Cape to spend time with family. We went to the beach, which is thoroughly embarrassing for me. You are either sitting on the sand or in those low seats, a man of my size can't look good getting up from either. But I made the best of it, spending qt with both my daughter (on the beach) and my son ( in the ocean).

During the weekend, I turned down alcohol several times. It's a choice for me right now, I just see it as empty calories now. Eventually I will find a place for a beer now and then, but at least for the first week, I turned down the offers, even at the great little place we went for lunch. I tried desperately to steer away from any bad snacks (chocolate, etc) and stick with a lot of water.

I didn't work out at all on our trip, which I actually missed. Everyone that says its a lifestyle change, the whole eating right and working out, and they are right. It's only been a week, but I already see myself making the right choices for myself.

Posted with Blogsy

Quick Update

I've had some great support this past week, so I wanted to give just a quick update.

I've worked out all 3 days first thing in the morning. This morning was very tough to get out of bed, but I struggled through it. I felt much better after working out, so it was all worth it. And I've lost 4 lbs. I know it's just the beginning, and it's mostly water weight, but it is moving in the right direction.

Today we took our intern out for lunch for her last week of work. I knew we were heading out to the Longhorn Steakhouse, so before we left, I downloaded the nutritional info from their website. I felt a little silly looking at the menu, then at the sheet, then back at the menu again. But I had a plan, a goal for calories to spend, and I stuck to it. No bread, no soda, no crap to eat! I felt like I had a little victory for myself.

Like I said, a quick update. Wish me luck, and I'll post another update soon.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Day 1 - Confirmation

I've confirmed a couple of things today. First, my weight:

E-yuck! In my first post, I was estimating 300, but I never thought I hit it. My max was always 296, no matter what. 4 lbs doesn't sound like much, but when you hit that major milestone, man... I broke down this morning showing the pic to Lins.

I got up nice and early this morning to find my second confirmation: our treadmill only computes calorie burn for a weight of 275 max. Yep, I'm heavy :)

But the best confirmation I could have received was from the genuine outpouring of affection and support from both family and friends. I'm doing this first and foremost for myself, but a very near second place is my family and friends. I look forward to the continued support and in proving to you (and myself) that I can complete this mission. I had so much energy from the time I woke through the workday, and it was all because of all of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you all!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Mission Statement

Me and my Dad

First, a confession. I'm not a writer. This will become painfully apparent as you follow my posts.

Second, and the reason for this whole thing, I'm fat. I've never been this large in my life. I've really let myself go in the past 5 or so years. I've also been married for 5 years. I'm not saying this is the reason I'm fat, I have a very supportive wife. We now have 2 kids, the youngest 13 months, and my wife looks great. She has been running, shedding the pounds, and fitting into clothes she wore before our wedding. Me, I just had to buy a new pair of pants because none of my dress clothes fit. How the fuck did I let it get this bad?

I love my job. I love my family. But in the past 5 years I have been very distant to all my friends. To them I want to sincerely apologize. I think that a portion of the distancing is because of my appearance. I'm embarrassed about how I look. I need to go to work. I need to see family. Friends, they should be a higher priority in my life.

So where are these ramblings going? I'm going to challenge myself. Once and for all, I'm going to get in shape. And I'm going to chronicle it. Why, you may ask? Mostly to keep me on track. If you read this, and you see me veering from my mission, kick me in the ass! PLEASE!! I give you permission.

So, what is my mission, you may ask. I want to weigh 180 lbs by 40 years old. Simple, right? So much so that I named my blog after the mission.

180 by 40

I haven't weighed myself for a while, but I'm around 300 lbs. I'm 5'11". I'm supposed to be 180. I'm also 38 1/2 years old. Let's do some quick math:

• 557 days until my 40th birthday
  
• 120 lbs to lose
• 1.5 lbs per week

That's not impossible! Sensible diets say that a healthy weight loss is up to 2 lbs per week. Nice! Wish me luck! 

Posted with Blogsy