Samurai Success!

On May 22, 2011, I started Fatty’s Blubber Blog after an incident where I was too fat to ride the Samurai at Lagoon. For the first time since that day, I returned to the park, with one thing to prove: fit on the Samurai. So when I reached the head of the line, four years later, I was relieved to find the fat guy seat open—you know, the one reserved for “bigger” riders. I slid in, but before I the ride started, the worker came over and gave my harness a tug. (Momentary panic and anger.)

“Sir, could you switch places with the person next to you?” She was talking to me. I was asked to leave the fat seat! How’s that for an ego boost? Sure, my ribs are slightly bruised (and crushed), and the ride wasn’t nearly as fun as I remember it, but hey, I was asked to get out of the fat seat.

I have been hovering around 270 for several weeks now, and I haven’t been able to exercise due to outside time constraints, so I think it’s pretty permanent. Tomorrow is the last day of school, so I can start back on my regimen again with more vigor.

My eventual goal is to get back down to my weight when Amy and I got married: around 230 lbs. So, that means there’ll be 40 lbs. less of me in the future. Watch out so you don’t pick it up.

P.S. I've had to put two new notches in my belt, and I can't run any more without holding onto my pants. (Not that I ran much in the first place.)

For the First Time in Forever

Despite a rocky weekend where I caved and consumed quite a bit of junk (the egg rolls were worth it, though), when I weighed in this morning, I weighed less than I have since I started using Wii Fit back in January of 2011. That's a long time in weight-loss years!

I weighed in at 276.9.

My goal, as I stated earlier, is to get down to 270 by June 1st.  It's only February. I'm on my way, but the benefits are already coming.

Several people say they can see it in my face. I can see it in my waistband (I need to punch another hole in the belt). Amy says I don't breathe as hard walking up stairs. That, my friends, is progress.

It's Not So Bad

277.1 and counting...and I even shoveled assorted Jelly Bellies into my mouth as I graded papers last night. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep it off this time. My dad dropped 40 pounds doing one of those diets where you pay for your specialized meals. I could never do that, but I think that what I am doing is helping me realize how small portions actually are. Yes, I still feel half-starved at times, but those times are coming less and less, even if I don't wake up on time on Sundays and don't get home until after 3:00. I'm still counting my blesings, especially the 17.9 of them that have left my body since New Year's Day.

Weight Loss Is in the House!

So what if I haven't written anything on this blog in almost a year? Life was stressful, and we all know that I eat when I'm stressed.

Despite the stress, Amy and I have rededicated ourselves to overcome the craziness of life and become healthier. You ask how? I'll tell you: portion control.

I never thought that I ate poorly. I just ate way too much. So since January, we have used the Lose It! app on our phones to log how many calories we consume each day. It just made more more aware how much junk I shoveled into my gullet every day. Now, I still enjoy great foods--even bacon, sausage, burgers, and other traditional tantalizing treats (including ice cream). I just eat less of them. You know, two scoops instead of four, and so on.

Oh, yes...we exercise a bit, too.

As of this writing, I am down 16.6 pounds, sitting at 278.4. I haven't been this low since the beginning of 2012.

If you want to know how high I was, do the math yourself.

P.S. If you have any good recipes that won't entice me to regress, please forward them on. I'll share some with you if you want, too. Maybe I'll just post some.

P.P.S. The goal is to be down to 270 by the beginning of June.

Anyone? Anyone?

So...no one has even peeked at this blog for over a week. People pay as much attention as Ferris Beuller's class does to their teachers. Can't say that I blame you because I haven't posted on it lately. I really haven't had much to say other than I'm trying to be good, but it doesn't really seem to be working as well as it use to.

Overall, I think I feel healthier. I can definitely tell when I've missed a day of exercise or if I've eaten too much, but the scale doesn't want to reward me for being good. I've hovered between 286 and 288 for about three weeks now. Christmas put a few pounds on because I stopped keeping track, but it came right back off once I started. Now I just need to figure out a way to get off this blasted plateau.

I don't have time for more exercise--I've been doing 30 minutes 4 or 5 times each week--and I'm trying to be good about what I put in my mouth, but nothing's happening; it's rather frustrating, see?

Any ideas?

Confirmed Neglect

Yep.  This blog was neglected, but Joe Average Writer was viewed in record numbers during the month of December.  As far as my getting skinnier is concerned, I shall soon be getting back to constructing new goals and a plan to accomplish my weight loss very soon.  The bad news is that I completely let myself go during December.  This was mostly forced by two factors: getting sick and an overload of online grading.  It seems that everyone needed to graduate or something.  So, Amy and I abandoned our good intentions until next Monday.  The good news is that I only gained 3 pounds.  Not too bad considering all the crap I shoveled into my gullet over the past four weeks.

Neglect

Yeah, I know that the production of thus blog suffers a little when I do my December thingy on Joe Average Writer.  That's just tough.  Deal with it.  I do, but it would be remiss if I didn't mention that the last time I weighed this much (283.2 lbs.) was February of 2012.
Babysteps.

Simply...

I lost four pounds over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend!
I'm down to 284.4 pounds.
Think I can keep it up over Christmas?

Pie, Oh Pie!

No, I haven't weighed in after the great Thanksgiving feast yet.  But I must start by saying that I didn't overeat today.  Sure, my plate was still loaded with turkey (light and dark), potatoes (mashed and sweet), stuffing (plain and apple sausage), wheat (honey butter and raspberry butter), cranberry, a relish turkey (peppers, carrots, cucumbers, pickles, olives), and pond scum (I'll do a post on that later).

It did take a while until I was ready for pie, though.  Tonight it was Mom's traditional pumpkin, chocolate, and this year Liz tried (a very successful) raspberry chocolate cheesecake.  Whoa!  Amazing.  Again, I didn't overeat--believe it or not.

Last night we also engaged in mass pie consumption with Amy's side of the family at the traditional Puckett Pie Party, which is always held the night before Thanksgiving.  There I sampled pecan, pumpkin, apple, strawberry, raspberry, banana cream, and a pumpkin trifle.

Maybe I'll see how many different types of pie I can test before the end of the year.  Heh heh.

Wellness Challenge Update

So, it's been ten weeks since Amy and I started our wellness challenge.  That's quite a while for me to consistently be working toward something health-wise.  All you lifetime exercisers can leave now.  For me, this is quite the accomplishment.  We met our goals for being healthier, and I think it's paid dividends beyond the weight loss.  That said, I have lost and kept off ten pounds.  Weighing in this morning, I sat at 288.1 pounds, but have been as low as 286.  What makes me the happiest is that the weight seems to be staying off; it's not dropping and picking up.

Now the next chapter begins.  I feel better, with the exception that I ate too much sugar (as a small reward) last night, and now I feel sluggish.  If anyone says dares mutter "I told you so," they will be horsewhipped immediately.

We've redesigned our challenges for the next several weeks until we pass through the holiday season.  One of my goals is to maintain what I've done and not regress.  Also, this time we're including points for having a decent bedtime, which will be hard for me, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

P.S.  Even if I might not look any smaller, I hitch up my pants more than I used to, even with the belt cinched tighter.

...And I Thought I Blew It

After a weekend of heavy eating lots of pasta (and I mean LOTSA pasta) and sitting around (four sessions of Stake Conference), as well as committing a few late-night candy binges, I thought all my hard work had been shot.  However, after stepping on the scales (after a quick workout) this morning, I was still hanging in there at 286.4 pounds.  I can hardly believe it.  Not too bad.  I'm just trying not to imagine where I would be with a little more self control.

P.S.  I did resist the candy bowl at grandma's house last night, though.  Heh heh.

P.P.S.  Every day I am also throwing away some of the less desirable sweets from the kids' stash.  Not the good stuff, mind you.  Just the stuff that would still be there at Christmas.

Post-Halloween Assessment

Despite the inundation of sugar and the invasion of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, I am still maintaining.  This morning I was holding steady at 286.8.  Not bad.  Although I have to brag that I have only eaten three pieces of Halloween emptiness so far.  I think what did for me were the cookies and the most exquisite Kouign Amann from Les Madeleines (featured on The Food Network).  Wow!  I thought I was back in Europe.

So good. If you have never tried one, put it on your bucket list.

The junk on top of the fridge, though, isn't even tempting right now.  Hopefully, I can eliminate (dispose of not consume) most of it without the kids knowing much.  I'll have to be sneaky.

Small Breakthrough

So I've been hovering around 290 lbs. since the last time I posted.  I guess the weight doesn't really fit with the word "hovering," but it'll do for now.  Regardless, it was somewhat discouraging.  I've been working fairly hard: exercising, eating less, but it didn't really seem to make a difference, but this morning, after a somewhat crappy walk, the scale dipped down to 286.4!  It's going down, baby.  Even if it's incremental, it is going down like a bucket of chicken wings--one bite at a time.

A Little Easier

So yesterday I weighed in at 288.1 lbs.  That's the lowest poundage since April of this year.  Days where I feel like I'm starving are a little more bearable, though.  I find that I'm not craving chocolate (as much) or empty sugar calories either.  It's a little easier to walk by the free chips and salsa without gorging myself just because they're free and in my face.  It's a little easier to get up and exercise, although I still don't like the getting-up part.  I guess that's progress.  And for the math geeks out there that must have quantifiable data...since Amy and I have started our wellness challenge, I have lost (and kept off) 10 pounds.  That's 3.3% or 1/29.8 of my total body weight.  Not bad for a fat guy.

Anybody have any favorite snacks they could recommend?  I getting a little tired with what I'm doing.

Medical Evidence

Since I signed up for the school district's wellness stuff, I figured I should go in and see the doc.  I get a gift card for showing that I'm trying to be healthy, so why not?  Besides that, the fact that my cholesterol med prescription was out of refills, I figured it was time to go in for a physical.  So it had been over a year?  It could have been worse.  (More updates on my wellness plan later.)

So after the blood work last Tuesday, I went in this past Monday to get the good news.  Blood sugar is excellent.  Triglycerides are way down!  Good cholesterol is up.  Bad cholesterol is down. A lot!  Woo hoo!  I'm still working at it--not gonna grind to a halt just because the numbers say I'm not at much risk for heart attack or stroke or things like that (blood pressure is a teeny bit up--doc says it's stress and aging).  My weight is about the same as t was at this time last year, so I;d like to lower it some.  And it's coming off...very...slowly.

So, there.  I'm feeling pretty darn good about myself.  Portions are still hard, and so is battling the after-school snack desire.  It's a good thing there aren't any Oreos in the house right now either.

Like Bob Wiley, I'm not a slacker.  I'm doin' the work!

P.S.  Over the weekend I went under 290 (barely), but I'm back up to 291.  Work is still in progress.

Still Losing Weight...

despite eating grilled sausages, steak, chicken, (bacon and jalapeno) pizza, and a strawberry milkshake this weekend.  Down to 293.4, baby!  I just didn't gorge myself this time.

Witness the Willpower

Just so you know, in the past 72 hours I have passed on free cookies, cake, ice cream, donuts, candy bars, chips, Dum Dums (from  Sam), dark chocolate coconut almonds, and massive amounts of leftover pizza.  That should be worth something.

My mind and body don't agree, though.

I Just Wanted to Say...

No, this is not anything to do with William Carlos Williams or the plums he kifed.  I just wanted to say that I am still going walking in the mornings.  Yesterday I walked past the chocolate chip cookies that the wonderful PTA brought in for Monday Munchies not once but four times without partaking.  Whereas I praised them for the sugar before, they may become Monday's bane.  I also only ate one stuffed pepper for lunch (with quinoa, which does not taste just like rice).

The Monday morning weigh-in resulted higher than the last one, but it was lower than the initial one last Monday.  Progress!  I guess pizza and peach shakes over the weekend make a difference.  Heh heh.

That is all.

Almost from Scratch

So I wrote about my abysmal eating over the summer.  Amy and I have now decided how we're going to be come healthier--together.  It's going to be so much more interesting and motivating to have someone else helping me along.

The initial push starting tomorrow (Monday, September 9, 2013) will include exercising for 30 minutes at least 4 times per week, drinking enough water, eating enough fruits and veggies, not having any carbonation, limiting sugar and extra junk, avoiding eating after 8:00 p.m., daily reading, and more regular writing.  That means I'll probably end up with a few more posts on this blog, as well as my Joe Average Writer blog.

This past week was a practice run as we decided our categories for our wellness challenge and established some incentives.

So, tomorrow I'll try to get in an official weigh-in in the morning after I go for a nice half-hour walk.  The most recent revelation (Saturday) showed that I had lost 1.9 pounds since Monday (That's 296.9 for those that don't pay attention or refuse to do the math).  Not bad.  Since I started writing this blog I have had ups and downs, and I'm just about back to square one; it's almost like I've called the last two years a do-over for my health, but now I'm playing for keeps.  (Cue Rocky theme music.)

I know the results won't be instantaneous, the work will be slow, but I'm good for it.  There isn't any busy work getting in the way.  Just this little thing called a dissertation.

By the way, on Friday I turned down donuts and chocolate milk.

Here We Go Again, Y'all

So it's a brand new school year, a brand new month, and a brand new chance for me to start over with my health.  The vacation that wasn't quite as epic as Odysseus's return home has left me  little worse for the wear around the waist.  I didn't think that I was doing too badly, but apparently I was delusional.  Sitting in a car for muchas hours every day doesn't leave much room for exercise.  Even all the walking around the National Mall and the rest of D.C. plus the early morning jaunts in the humidity didn't combat the fast food and Southern hospitality.

That said, I weighed in this morning.  So, here it is: 297.8 lbs.  Wow!  Not good.  Close to the all-time high.  And since I've even been walking with Amy 3 times a week since we've returned, I can neither confirm nor deny that it was higher than that at any given point during this summer season.  So it's time to take more drastic measures.

I've already cut my portions (Today I only had one pork and slaw sandwich and one hot dog for the Labor Day get-together.) and stopped the carbonation since school began back on the 22nd.  Amy and I are going to try something a little different.  I'm not exactly sure yet, but I'll let you know.  Grrrr!!!

I'm not quite this big, even though my students might see me as such.  Kind of intimidating, huh?

P.S.  I know it's been somewhat disappointing over the past few months, but I'm going to try to get back over one hundred views in one month on this blog again.