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.

Throw Back Accomplishment

So...despite all the internship stress and work, I've been able to keep up on my fitness challenge. Each day (except Sunday, my day of no exercise) I have been able to do my jumping jacks (or as Sam calls them, dumpndacks), crunches, and push-ups. And as indicated in the title of this post, I was thrown back to my 9th grade days...specifically gym class. The last time I was forced to do one of those presidential fitness test thingies I did eight push-ups in a row. I matched that yesterday. Boo-yah! Who says the fat guy can't come back?

And just for reading this, you can watch this video from 1991. Former, in-shape, used-to-be-able-to-grab-rim former self, "I've Been Thinking About You."


P.S. As another reference point, this was also the year I ran a 5:30 mile. Try to picture that now. I dare you.

Small Success

So, I haven't weighed myself in a while. So what? I haven't been exercising in a while. So what? I haven't been sleeping much lately either. So what?

Stress. That's what.

However, I am determined to start doing something to be better. In fact, I already have done something. On Monday I instituted a family fitness challenge. Every day for 100 days (or so) everyone, who is physically capable (excuses may vary) needs to do at least 20 jumping jacks, 20 sit-ups or crunches, and 10 push-ups. Every. Day.

Do you know how long it's been since I've done push-ups? The last fitness test I did--in 9th grade--I could do eight push-ups before collapsing. Count 'em: eight. Since then I could only do three at any given time. My success...last night I did four. Plus, I've reached my totals each day since then. That's three consecutive days...four after I go home and gut them out tonight.

Before you keep laughing, just remember that pushing up 285 pounds is a whole lot harder than pushing up 150, you skinny little pukes!

I still need to figure out an incentive to keep going (more for the kids than for me). Any ideas?

Success...Relatively Speaking

The last time I spent time in Logan working non-stop for a degree I gained about 15 pounds. And that was over four weeks. Yuck! I even walked everywhere, and I mean everywhere. See what stress does to me.

This past week (I measured Saturday morning after I got home) I only gained 1.5 pounds (285.9) since my the last time I checked. And I only exercised three times. Not too bad, I think. I only ate out once. Hopefully that's as bad as it gets. We'll see.

Anyone have any stress-relieving tips for someone who sits in class for a grand total of 6 hours ad 45 minutes each day and is expected to do about the same amount of daily homework?