Day 32 - 43

Let me first start this whole thing out by saying one simple thing - I hate scales and humidity.  (ok -- that was two simple things - sue me!)  Somewhere in the last week I decided it was time to change out the old school dial scale I’ve been using for about 10 years and replace it with a brand new/high tech digital scale that measures all kinds of other things outside of just weight.  Great idea - right?  WRONG!  So, apparently after 10 years of me stepping my fat ass on and off the old scale, it doesn’t quite measure accurate weight anymore - in fact it registers oh….about 8 pounds lighter than the new scale.  Imagine my shock to step on the new scale and to automatically weigh 8 pounds more than I did in the morning on the old scale.  Needless to say I was not pleased.  (I realize that using logic I still lost about 15 pounds so far since the old scale was off by 8 pounds the entire time but that doesn’t help when the new digital scale boldly proclaims a number that you thought you had passed a few weeks before.)  So now I have to use both scales so I can still measure my weight for my first goal to hit…to be fair.  Once that first goal is cleared I can throw the old scale away…perhaps in a fitting “Office Space” kind of way?  Oh - and as for humidity?  Other then being my mortal enemy for pretty much ever it also has this neat side effect of adding weight to your body, especially if you are working out during humidity.  (neat articles to read on this but it is your body’s way to compensate for the fact that you are sweating more - it retains more water)  So….the REALLY humid days happened to be right after I bought the new scale…and after I recovered from the shock of being about 8 pounds heavier then I originally thought I weighed myself the next day to learn I had gained about 2 pounds - most likely from water weight.  Quite honestly I am surprised that the new scale didn’t end up on the front yard!  (see pictures of a Christmas Tree on Facebook if you need reminders)  So, I decided to do the only smart thing I could think of - just not use either scale for a few days!  Therefore, I have no real updates on where I am on weight loss right now - will have to update at a later posting.

(On a side note - I wonder why my English teachers always said I wrote with run-on sentences and paragraphs??)

Now that I’m done bitching about the weather and how scales aren’t fair to fat people, lets move on?  So, today marks day 43 of this whole journey of mine.  So, that also means 43 days of having no amount of soda - diet or regular.  I think this is the longest I’ve gone without soda/tea etc.  Tomorrow also marks 4 weeks (or 28 days if you prefer) without ANY caffeine.  So, truly I have had nothing to drink but water and the occasional adult beverage.  I can pretty much guarantee that this is the longest time I’ve gone without caffeine ever.  Thankfully, my body has gotten used to just drinking water and at this point I don’t miss soda and truthfully the only thing I miss about the morning coffee is the smell of it brewing…maybe I can find a coffee smelling air freshener and be set?

Since the last entry - been able to get myself up and working out nearly on a daily basis.  I’m starting back with a lot of walking and simple weight routines in my gym at home.  I worked myself up to find a 3.1 mile trek through the neighborhood - my goal is to work up to running this.  For now, I’m enjoying getting out of the house and walking.  There is something to be said for being outdoors and seeing the goal ahead of you versus a machine that you keep staring at the numbers waiting to hit your goal.  Plus - it gives great thinking time.  I will admit that I’m probably the ONLY person out walking carrying 2 phones with him, but that is who I am.  I use one to track the progress of the workout (and text message of course) and the other is pumping Pandora through my headphones.   Its either that or weights in the basement - pumping Rage Against The Machine through the house speakers - very loudly.  (poor Bandit)  Tonight started something new - a Boot Camp / Circuit Training group workout.  So - working out is a lot different with other people!  It is motivating because there are others there pushing you and rooting you on too.  But, since someone else is setting up the exercises the reality of how out of shape you are hits you.  Now, the good news is there were folks there who were definitely in better shape and THEY were sweating their ass off and in pain too!  I’m going back again Wednesday - my goal is to continue to go back until it gets easier.  (though I’m sure the trainer is going to kick it up a notch by then)

Whew - this is getting long!  Only one more thought and then I’m done.

Last thing - I just downloaded and started to use a new program tonight called “My Fitness Pal” - and I think it looks pretty sweet.  You set it up with your own information and the goal weight you want to hit and basically it is a calorie counter and exercise tracker.  I can see how this could become very motivating to use.  It tells you how many calories you should eat and then you can enter in everything you eat for the day.  I can say this - everything I ate today was found in the search and preloaded into the app on my phone which is awesome.  It also backs everything up to a website.  More information on that in a future entry.

I swear I’m done now.  Apparently I had a lot on my mind to get out tonight.

Hanging In A Buffalo Stance,

LANDIS

Day 15-31

Ladies and gentlemen/boys and girls/children of all ages (I figure the more I stretch the beginning the longer this blog entry will be!) - welcome back to my story.      It has been a while since I updated so I figured it was time to write something down.  So, here it goes.

First, lets hit the hard facts.  We are now at day 31 on this great journey and some changes have started to happen.  As of my last weigh in, I am down 15 pounds from the start of this…and that makes a total of 25 pounds from my heaviest weight earlier in the year.  Definite progress.  I’ve also been able to go a total of 15 days now without anything to drink but water.  (ok and beer)  I honestly thought that quitting caffeine would be the end of me, but quickly found out that I was able to shake it quickly.  As a rather positive side effect I have been sleeping a lot more consistently too.  I was an addict of the morning routine coffee for about 8 years now - and while it is strange to only have water in the morning, I don’t find that I am any more awake or tired during my day.  So, the good news about the first 31 days is that I’ve been able to control my eating/drinking habits and lose weight.

Is there bad news?  Eh…I’m not so sure about bad news but some disappointing news for me maybe.  While I was able to start out strong with the workout part of my routine it has unfortunately slacked off again.  Good news?  I have been able to remain active so at least I am not heading home from work at night and sitting around doing nothing.  So - I need to push myself again to start the weights and running routines that I started.  Thankfully, I can now be more confident about making better food choices so I can focus my energy on the workout part. 

All in all, I’m happy with how things are progressing…and look forward to day 62.…to see where I am then. 

So, I’ve decided on my first “victory” gift for myself.  In 10 more pounds, I will have hit my first goal and after many years of waiting and wanting…I’m going to get myself another tattoo.  I haven’t decided yet where and what I’m going to get but it is something to look forward to.  I can’t wait for these next 10 pounds to get outta here!

The last 2+ weeks has reminded me that one of the most important things in life is to have good friends and good family around you.  A big thank you goes out to anyone reading this that has been around over the last month and especially in the last 2 weeks.  Without good friends I would have most likely reverted to my old habits, or at least not stayed as strong. 

Unfortunately, this is about all the time I have to write tonight.  More regular updates will be coming soon - it was good to keep me honest with the working out. 

That is all from here - peace and chicken grease…

LANDIS