When You Wish Upon A Star

So.....

A guy, whos blog i read posted something along these lines the other day and it also got me to thinking....

Dont you wish....

You could really blame fast food for your weight gain.
You could gain muscle without working out.
You never had to exercise.
A diet pill really worked with no side affects.
The media would focus on things that matter not Jon and Kate or David Letterman.
You could eat pizza and crap and it did not cause weight gain but fruit did. LOL

While we keep wishing on these things ..lets remember these things

Smart choices, courage, being happy with a .2 pound loss, confidence, some sort of fitness...These things can make your dreams come true as far as weight loss is concerned. Never forget that....
I keep it in the front of my mind at all times...

Tomorrow I am going to touch on a mild food addiction I used to have....I am in recovery now but the story bears repeating ...Till then


Peace

Get Down On Your Knees and Pray

So.....

I do not mind sacrificing certain foods.

I know the end result....problem I have found with people and myself included is that we think that weight loss will come to them. It wont ...You have to find it and work for it ...
We will wake up, read a motivational quote on Twitter, and everything will come into play."Ohhhh, I get it now!".........Well, it is not like that.
There are hard choices. Sometimes it is not popular with your friends or family or co-workers.
It is easy to drink beer with the guys. It is hard to tell them no.
It is easy to eat your church memebers brownies. It is hard to tell someone to give them away.
It is easy to watch TV. It is hard to go to the gym day in and day out or go walking when you are tired.
This is a lifelong commitment, not something for a couple of weeks.....Anyone can lose six pounds in a week. Eat like crap five days, eat less the sixth, take off your shoes, get naked and jump on the scale on the seventh.You are not fooling anyone!
It gets easier but it is how much you put into it....... Just because you do well one day does not mean you can eat what you want the next two days.
Weight loss is funny. Just when you think you understand it, it hits you in the face.

My Brother Lived in San Francisco

So.....

Today was busy and to be honest with you after a long night of discussion of all things political I just dont have it in me to write a long post about all things weight loss...except this...
It makes me feel great to have an 89 year old man telling me how proud he is of me and my success so far....
I am still working on trying to decide whats the best way to post my inches lost stuff ...
any suggestions ??

More in depth stuff tomorrow night guys and gals ...I promise

peace and love

One Way Out

So.....

Well....Not alot today....Its been a low key laid back Saturday afternoon spent with friends around the TV watching college football. Auburn lost...Alabama won. If I was looking for something to get me to drinking a stiff drink.... I think I could easily point to Auburn and the way they planned. WOW ...

Today was weigh in day at Weight Watchers and here are the results. I lost another 3.5 lbs!!!

Who has two thumbs and is excited ??? THIS GUY !!!!

I cannot begin to tell everyone out there in the world how friggin excited I am to have lost that much this week AND to know that it brings my 8 week total up to 30lbs!!!!

How great is that ....?? I am gonna brag a bit ...I am very proud of myself. I am pleased with how I have so far said no to the temptations (and The Drifters ) I have been able to make the right choices when I have eaten out. I have managed to keep myself accountable. I have gotten a TON of help from my friends and family. THANKS to everyone but mainly thanks to myself for showing ME that I can do this and can continue ....

So....to date

Starting Weight-381 lbs

Lost today - 3.5 lbs

Total To Date- 30 lbs

Todays Weight - 351 lbs.

There is only one way for me ...and its in the direction that I am headed. My health and well being are finally for the first time dictating whats best for me and you know what ...I like it.

Thats all I have for tonight ....I am content right now.

Peace

Peace.

Tangerine

So......

Lets talk for a brief minute about fiber. We all need it but many of us dont get near the daily amount that we should.

I know you are thinking POOP!! And yeah you will be more regular but its sooooo important.

Snacks now are pretty easy for me right now. Since I have been eating better for the last two months, fruits have been a big part of my healthy diet. Until recently I can honestly say I have never snacked on any fresh fruit.No, not really .... I have snacked on an apple or banana here or there ...maybe a grape or two but never alot of "food in the raw"

Fiber in fruit??? I thought only prunes had fiber. Boy way I wrong! Raspberries strawberries oranges apples pears, etc. all have between 4-8 grams of fiber per serving. With fruit, now it was easy to maintain my goal of 35g of fiber a day. So my snacking is mainly fruit now ...

And with that I get a ton of fiber.

And guess what? I feel better, and more full. So now, I am a big fruit advocate.

Water and fruit will fill you up big time folks ....So tomorrow I will not be posting since I will be away in Birmingham for the evening but have a great weekend and I will see yall on Saturday

As Time Goes By

So......

I have decided that I am not a fan of The Biggest Loser. But as a general rule I am not a fan of any show that has alot of yelling and cussing at folks. Its degrading. And before anyone jumps in here ...I know that being fat and overweight has its own degrading aspects but bullying someone into weight loss is not going to do it for me....
I think Jillian and Bob really mot likely have the best interests of the contestants at heart. But you have to remember they are on a game show. Its reality TV.
There are not many places you could go or many diets you could follow on your own and lose at much weight in one week. Add to that that many if not most doctors will tell you that its dangerous to be doing just that.
The producers and the directors of this show are playing for ratings....
Getting in shape is a huge deal ....eating better is a big deal ...but the only thing I see when I tune is NBC/Universal getting fatter in the bank.
If you watch only for entertainment ...then fine. If folks are watching at home thinking "Wow, Thats what I need to be doing...almost killing myself to drop my weight" Then thats scary to me ...
I will lose weight the way i am doing it now ...2lbs here ....3lbs here ...walking at night and doing some other excercise at home with what I got now. As times goes by I will add in things here and there but for Gods sake ....Dont yell at me .

The Age of Not Believing

So.....

I have my fans cheering me on.
I am thrilled to let folks know the small steps of progress I have been making ...My whole life is different and I know i might sound like a broken record
When I started this diet I had this fear that I would be missing something
I hated the thought of "depriving" myself of certain foods.Yet, I have already come to the realiazation that I have never deprived myself...not yet anyway. I am just altering the way I eat.
I have always been a "weird" eater. Ask any of my friends and they will tell you that ....I could go days without giving a thought to food. Some folks live for breakfast and look forward to lunch and crave dinner. Not me....its just a means to and end basically.
Now I am working on making changes that will be with me for life.
That is why this blog is so important to me. I need it!
I have had to forgive myself for getting to 381 pounds, but I will NEVER forget.
I will not forget the humiliation or struggles. How much I put myself through these past years as a fat man ...
The future looks bright ...

I do not need to be the most popular, just honest with myself . I am guessing I will have small victories and some disasters along the way ....but its all forward progress for me. I have stepped fully into making my life better...This is only the first step. Whats next ?? You are just going to have to stay tuned and find out....
As the late Jim Fyffe used to say " we've got out laces tightened and our eyes blackened...lets get this started"

I am thinking that Thanksgiving will be easy for me, and so will every holiday perhaps.
Every day I will work harder to excercise more and eat healthier .....Its a new me. Just going to take time to get where I want to be

But you know what ?...I have a nice feeling of peace right now about all of this and where this is all going ....

You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You

So....

This is what I think about low fat foods. I like um....
I have had to change the way I look at food.
I have portion issues, which are better, but will never be cured.
There is a difference between eating a head of cauliflower and a gallon of "low-fat" ice cream. If you have this issue do not try to fool yourself.
I sometimes do think that one mistake might ruin me.
I hear and read about people having 8000 calorie nights with ice cream, cake and pizza. I have also seen how hard it is for them to get back on track. I can not do that. Not now, not ever.
I have had those days before and I know how hard it is to get back on track. Not again.
I know that drinking water means nothing if I eat like crap.
I know that walking for 3 miles means nothing if I eat 10,000 calories.
I have to stay on my points. If not, I will be fooling myself like I have for almost thirty-six years.
I need to do this Every. Single. Day.
I have too many people who want me to succeed. Myself included
I will not fail!

G'night all ...

Dont Know Why

So ......

I have managed to increase the readership of my blog. I am happy about that...I am glad if someone gets something from these posts....its Great to hear that.

One of the main questions I keep getting is why now? Why Now ? WHY NOW ?
Why have I decided at this point that its time to get serious about my health....I dont know why or have ONE reason but here goes

Here are a few things....

• I felt bad.
• I struggled to sit in a airplane seat.
• The clothes I had fit tight and the closet was full of stuff I had not worn in years.
• I was scared.
• I was tired of being worried about whether or not I could sit in a booth at a restaurant.
• I want to see my nephews get older and graduate. Get Married
• I want to buy clothes in the regular section of stores. Big and Tall comes with a BIGGER pricetag
• Seeing my Dad die from a massive heart attack and stroke is not something I want to see repeated with me. I could have those genes naturally but I am going to do all I can to lower my risk and get my heart in a good place
• I looked bad.
• I was tired of feeling tired.
• I sweat alot...ugh its just gross.
• Dream to hike the AT. Part or all will do
• I have two beautiful goddaughters that will need me to spoil them with toys and books and trips to the movies.
• I got alot of living left to do

So there ya go ....just a few things ...more might be added later...

One more thing ..a few things to always remember when you are trying to survive a zombie infested America....Rule number 2-Double Tap and Rule number 3-Never trust a bathroom.

Can't Fight This Feeling

So....

Its Saturday and I have a busy day planned....A good friend is in town and we are spending the day together doing stuff and catching up ..
Also, I have been collecting low fat/calorie recipes for the past few weeks and have pulled out a couple that I want to try. Several if not all are "fall" related....Pumpkin-Cranberry Bars, Pumpkin Squash Soup,etc. So I am excited to try out some new stuff ....
Also there is a full day of football watching to be had....

Went for weight in today and here is where I stand today

Start Weight-381lbs
Todays Loss-2.5lbs
Todays Weight-354.5lbs
Total loss to date-26.5lbs

So a good day so far .....another thing I am going to add in the near future is my measurments. Waist, legs, chest etc. and update that on a monthly basis perhaps. I also want to start adding some pictures here and there of the results of my loss.
IN other happy news I started about two weeks ago using a belt that I ahve not used in a good long while ...and last night (friday) I had to move it down to another notch. Double Win I say ...

Have a great weekend.

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum

Something funny I found out in the space known as the intrawebs ...enjoy. Funny things POSSIBLY overheard at the gym.


“I once had an out-of-body experience on that piece of equipment.”
“Wheeww… maybe I shouldn’t have donated blood right before my workout…”
“I couldn’t afford gel insoles so I filled my sneakers with chocolate pudding.”
“Y’know, if I could be any kind of animal in the world, I’d be a mammal.”
“Skateboarding on a treadmill is more exercise than it looks.”
“I’m just curious: what’s your social security number?”
“Excuse me… do you know where this gym’s smoking section is located?”
“I did 500 virtual jumping jacks this morning.”
“Mind if I change the TV to The Incontinence Channel?”
“Wanna see me make my muscle pop up?”
“Who filled my water bottle with Milk of Magnesia? Oh wait... I did."
“I have about 8,000 songs on my iPod, but they’re all Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”
“You know what this gym needs? A Moon Bounce!”
“Aren’t these workout gloves soft? They’re made out of human skin.”
“I’m training for a 0K marathon.”
“Wow, the women’s locker room has a lot fewer urinals than the men’s.”
“Want a piece of my garlic-onion-banana gum?”
“Excuse me, but what’s a good exercise for your headtoid muscles?”
“Man, my thong is riding up.”
“You know, when I finish my workout, I feel like a beautiful butterfly.”
“My name’s Jack, but you can call me Zsa Zsa.”

See yall tomorrow

On The Street Where You Live

So....

You wake up at 3am...the house is quiet....the street is quiet outside....

but you are wanting something.....sugar, salty, anything. You go to the kitchen to the fridge like you have done hundreds of times before and you stand there wanting SOMETHING.

You open the freezer and you see in the back some ice cream that you forgot was there ....Heck yeah!!

You get it out and notice that its got ice all over it .....really hard. Not the best thing but any port in a storm huh ?

You know you have done good this week so eating some really good ice cream wont kill your diet ....You maybe have lost 3lbs this week so eating this might bring it down to 2.5...still a good week right ?

No one will know or care really ...except yourself.

So what do you do ?

Thats what different this time for me folks is that I care more than anyone reading this blog can understand. I care. I am the most important person who cares.

Weight loss is not about diets, it is about courage.

The courage to make the right decisions when no one is looking.

To make these decisions day after day, week after week.

People do not realize it, but when you start making these types of decisions work gets better, your friends and family look at you different, and you start looking at yourself different.

You walk straighter, you pants fit better, and all of the sudden you are a new person.

These decisions are hard at first, actually seem impossible but once you start making them it gets easier. Life gets just a little easier.

If you dont get what I am saying thats ok ...cause I am on this journey for life. I will mention it again and again and again.....

All I Ask Of You

So.....

Last night I actually went to sleep sitting in the chair and decided to take it to the bed and I did not post ...so here goes

I hate motivational quotes.
I hate the fact that people try to say something so fantastic.
I hate the fact that people look for them so they can make it trough the day.
Dieters always look for motivational quotes.
They feel the need to be inspired by others.
People need to inspire themselves they want that "magic trigger".
When they are having a bad day, they can look at a poster or Twitter and see some quote:"Reach for the stars! You might get one, and they are low calorie!"

Ugh ....

They see the quote and then think "Thank God I just read that! You are right, life is not about food.Why didn't I think of that!"

A quote does nothing for me. People inspire me. People motivate me.
Anyone can make a quote.Were those people great mothers/fathers?
Did those people follow through with their goals.
Were these people as inspirational as their quotes?

I get inspired every day by looking in the mirror.
Actions speak louder than words.

The only quote I like is " yeah, I want to get this shirt in a large"

Let's Get Away From It All

So.....

How's it working for me in terms of being accountable to myself on all things concerning weight loss?
I read the other night this example...
To me, true accountability is seeing spilled milk on the floor, not caring who spilled it, getting on your knees, cleaning it up, and then talking to everyone about the best way not to spill milk.
Being accountable in my weight loss has become a big thing. It's actually become pretty dang huge for me ...I think thats one of the main reasons I have changed my blogging habits. It's why I am not ashamed to let folks know what my starting weight was or the fact that I would always buy a 3x shirt when I went to the store. I needed accountability in my life and have found it.....
Weight Watchers places alot of focus on it...
I go each and every week to weigh in...Step on those scales and get my results.
I still am getting 44 points each day and that will soon change but in the 7 weeks I have been able to look at those points and think " How can I best make the most of those points?"
" How can I choose something healthier for me ?" "Whats going to fill me up the best and not leave me craving something later on in the day ?"
I am slowly starting to get away from an "old" me ....
This has become a new part of my life and it's not leaving anytime soon ....Yay!

On a side note I also read on someones blog where they posted a few silly questions ...so I am doing the same here

If you are dressing up for Halloween, what will you be going as ? Fred Flintsone for myself...you?

Twitter or Facebook ? Six of one half dozen of another for me ...you?

Blackberry or iPhone? iPhone for me...you?

Which fashion style would you like to see come back in style? Men wearing hats for me ....you?

Dill pickles or Sweet pickles ? I like both ...you?

G'night folks ...Peace

I'm Drinking Again

So.....

Contrary to the title of the post tonight ...No, I am not drinking right now. In fact I have not been drinking much at all over the past few weeks.
I am like many of you out there and enjoy a beer from time to time while watching a football game. Or perhaps a gin martini from time to time when out with friends but here lately I have not wanted or desired really to have anything.
Since starting my diet back on August 9...I have had a grand total of 4 drinks and one of those I did not even finish.
I have read enough already to know that alcohol makes you retain fluids.....its high in calories. I guess some are better at the calorie game than others but for the most part they are high.
Its just not something I need in my life right now while I make these necessary changes.
Will I never drink again ...No. I will enjoy something from time to time but for now ...this is where I am at and i am fine with it ...

So just for poops and giggles tonight ...what is your favorite "adult beverage"?? Lets hear about it ...

Peace

You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch

So.....

If its Saturday then its meeting time and weigh in at Weight Watchers. During the past week I lost another 3lbs ....How bout that ??? Very excited here and I also got a 5% star ....so that means I have now lost 5% of the weight I need to meet the goal set by Weight Watchers. Thats a great thing but as I told someone at the meeting...I am not about stars and bookmarks and such ...I am just doing my thing and going on. Accolades are great but better health is my main goal.
So here we are today....

Starting weight-381lbs
Total loss to date-24lbs
Todays Weight-357lbs

Today at the meeting it came up about staying positive during all the changes in your life. It was all over the board but it got me to thinking about folks who just cannot be positive about things...
I know and realize that there will be days when you totally fail at staying on your points....There will be days when you go to Five Guys and get that big huge burger and eat it and think AHHHHH............thats just what I needed and then you are like DAMMIT what the hello was I thinking doing that ...
Damage is done though ....so you move on. You cannot let that keep you down ....You have to move on past it. Some folks say " well, I messed up so I will just get back on track next week" and next thing you know its a month later and you are hitting Five Guys once or twice a week.
Being positive is the key to things I think ...
Also...folks who seem to want to sabotage you....I dont think they mean bad its just what happens. And some folks seem to get mad when you refuse food or seconds for that matter.
I have heard from one person lately that said " well its great you have lost weight but you can always gain it back" Huh? What? You mean I can gain it back ...get outta here..........
I know that and thanks for talking about the pink elephant in the room...
This for me is about a total lifestyle change. Moving in a new direction with my life...This is a stepping stone for bigger and better things. But it starts here ....
Give me the advice....talk to me about the challenges...affirm to me that it will not be easy...but for gosh sakes lets try to be a little positive

I Guess I'll Have to Dream the Rest

So.....

Its 12:12am and I am tired ...and want to go to sleep but a post will be coming tomorrow about weight loss and excercise and all the fun stuff you guys have come to love and expect...So
STAY TUNED
Peace

If I Were The King Of The Forest

So....



Courage ......



To lose weight you have to have courage. You have to be able to say no to that doughnut at the office and cookies at midnight if it not part of your plan.

You have to have the courage to TIVO a show and work out instead of saying"I had a long day so I am not working out".

I am around food a good bit at work...dinners, ladies bringing cakes and cookies during the year.

I am around food when I am with friends... At any point I can have a wonderful meal, or snack, or taste.Yet I do not. Not anymore.

That is how I lost 21 pounds in the past few weeks. Not alot by some standards and I know that it will not get easier. That my weight will be a life long battle.

I have to have the courage to say no to foods I "can not resist".

I do not make excuses for missing a workout.

I do not mind failing as long as I am trying.....This is for life now.

This is how once I have reached a goal of some kind ....I will keep my weight off.

I know what I am up against. I am okay with that.If that is the only thing people take from my blog, I will be incredibly happy.

Painted Picture

So....

I had someone ask me the other day why now? What makes this time trying to lose weight different? And why did I decide to do it now ....
It was a picture ....
It was made at the first of August while down at the beach with the youth group. Nick made the picture while i was out cooking hamburgers in the pouring rain ...
It was made from behind and it looked pretty dang bad.

When I finally saw it a couple of days later I was like "What the hell am I doing"
I have high blood pressure, I have been to see heart doctors, my back hurts at times.
It just made me think ...and I did for the next week I thought a good bit about where I was in regards to my health. And I did not like what I was seeing coming back at me ...I thought about my family and friends.
My family and friends have been concerned about my weight for years. Why was August 2009 different? It just was and tha'ts the best answer I can give you
I was so paranoid about people judging me. Maybe they did, maybe not.I also thought about the way the world looked at me.

I am happy where I am going right now and folks also keep asking me have I thought about any goals for myself and I now answer yes...
When I get down to 230 I will consider that a big big big thing for me ....Its personal in nature and one day I will share it but 230 is the magic number for me ...

and Thanks Nick for taking that picture ......

Autumn in New York

So....

Yes it's the beginning of fall.... my favorite time of year right behind winter.

I am sure that the southeast is due for some more hot and humid Indian summer days but for right now I can definitely smell Autumn in the air.

This weather gets me thinking about sweaters, Halloween, wood fires, hiking and camping and of course.... comfort foods. Baked goods, hot apple cider, food and fall festivals celebrating the harvest,.....an entire holiday based around eating till your sides pop!

Then I get to thinking , how will I not only get back on track but stay on track during the holidays. But then I remind myself that there is always some holiday or celebration or reason all year round to lose focus and strap on the ole feed bag.

I know that some people really love summer, the clothes, the beaches.... but I have always favored colder climates. Maybe it's because I feel so unattractive in the summer when I am sweating all over everything...... and lets not forget NEVER taking your shirt off at the beach of the pool...Yeah that will never happen. Can you feel the sarcasm? ;)

So to sum up I am super excited and a little on edge about the upcoming months. And the challenges it will bring....

I have been using a little of my down time that I have to try and organize my home life better.

I have been walking more but not enough for me to consider it a full work out. ...BUT ...I do get inspired to be more active in the fall and winter so I have that to look forward to.

The posts here will continue as I adjust to a few new things. But I'm still here, still reading YOUR blogs too and still figuring out what is best for me.

Peace and Good Night

Autumn Leaves

So.....

Who am I blogging for ?
Is the question that lingers and I ask myself a lot. A question that comes up a lot when talking to different folks about it . The life that still continues to happen, despite still being fat. Its true, I am still fat. And yet, I feel different than I did almost two months ago. I'm completely changed by blogging and by refusing to stop living my life because I haven't reached any type of goal weight. I am ok with taking it nice and slow Acceptance? Settling? I don't know.

Here is another fact. I have been doing some form of trying to lose weight in cycles and I know that if I had said two years ago "if I just focused on my health, eating better, moving more, rather than the number on the scale, rather than the next event coming up" I would not still weigh 360lbs.
I kept waiting for the time in my life when I wont be too busy to take care of my health. A time when the dust has settled and planning for the next something has stopped. Guess what?
That time will never come. I've come to realize that this is the action chapter of my life, and a good thing too, right? I have something planned almost every weekend until December. I've got a list of projects I'm working on, ideas I'm formulating, things I'm learning. It is all very fun and exciting and isn't going to stop any time soon so that I can "focus on losing weight."
I have gotten back to the basics in my life....I am focusing on things that matter. Eating better, listening better, cutting back on drinking as much, mending problems.....and yeah finally putting some focus on losing weight
I just want to take weight loss off of my future to-do lists and make it a current action that is happening everyday. Like brushing my teeth or taking a shower

Peace ...

Dancing Through Life

So......

Weight Watchers is BIG.... HUGE on keeping track of every food item that you place into your body. They call it tracking and it can be a real big pain in the buttocks. But for me its totally worth it.

This is a very easy way to monitor yourself to see if you are staying within your points. From the start it helps you begin to become more aware of what you are eating. You can go back weeks ago and see what you were eating ...If it was keeping you full and satisfied..etc. It also allows a place for you to factor in excercise.
You begin to notice right off the bat what works and what does not work for you .
You notice when you are hungry and what has helped in the past to help get you past it...You see how being accountable to yourself and honest with yourself can lead you to success.

Have I written everything down ? No....but I am going to say that 95% of what I eat gets written down.
I write down what I drink....when I excercise.

I want to take a quick moment to say hello to someone who is possibly reading this for the first time ...
A lady at church that I adore and respect has recently started reading and has been incredibly positive with me and my efforts to lose weight.
We had a great talk last Wednesday and I just wanted to say THANKS Rochelle...I appreciate your prayers and support.

Thats it folks....house lights are coming up ...bows have been taken....the team has left the field...we have arrived at the end of another blog post!!
Peace and see yall tomorrow

Here I'll Stay

So....

Today was my usual thing and I went to weight in .....After 5 weeks of new habits and excercise
I am pleased to annouce that I lost 3lbs this past week with a total of 21 in 5 weeks....
As it stands

Starting weight-381lbs
Total lost to date-21lbs
Todays weight-360lbs

I am just tickled actually ...sounds stupid for me to say..... but I am so incredibly pleased with myself ....AND I can already tell a difference in clothes...Just great !

I am still struggling with my weekend schedule and not getting enough fruit, veggies and water but I would like to say that I am getting better at it ...

On another note ...I got my notice in the mail today that I am needing to see my heart doc next week for another echogram....No big deal just keeping up with what my heart is doing and seeing if anything has changed since last time...
Prayers would be appreciated.

I am headed out to finish watching the game at N & L.....

Peace

HELP !!

So.....

Something Weight Watchers themed but not entirely about me losing weight ...
First of all Broadway Under The Stars was a bust ....threat of rain kept us from going out but it was an excellant night of spending time with old friends and new friends. Laura and Wheeler are some great folks and I look forward to getting to know them better as our friendship grows.
Having said that ...I made homemade chicken salad sangwiches for the night.
Rotisserie chicken ...chopped in a food processor. Eggs, Mayo, Celery, Onion Salt, Mayo, Pepper, Mayo, Sweet Pickles and did I mention Mayo ...
Dear lord it takes alot of mayo.....
It was good stuff though and I had more than my fair share while making it and preparing said sangwiches...

Weight Watchers has this great charity that they are associated with that helps raise awareness for fighting hunger at a global and local level.
As members lose weight Weight Watchers has committed itself to donating up to $1 million dollars to organizations that work towards ending world hunger.
They also partner with local community food banks to sponsor food drives.
I know everyone out there is not on WW but this is a wonderful chance for us to donate some time, money or food to our local shelters. The Central Alabama Food Bank in Montgomery serves over 15 counties in central Alabama.

Lose For Good=Good For All is their motto ....

Think about it....See what we have in our pantrys that we could offer to folks who are in need. A small amount goes a very long way towards helping folks who might have nothing.

Thanks
Peace and Good Night

Out of My Dreams

So.....

A slight detour tonight ....I had an incredibly bad dream last night. Dead things after me ...me running and climbing over and through things. If you know me well enough then you have perhaps heard me tell about having dreams of a similar nature before. House full of dead people that grab at me in the bed.
Being trapped in a room with dead people with me fighting and clawing to get out.
ETC ETC ETC .....
The end of the dream found me sitting on the opposite side of the bed shaking and sweating a little.
I hate crap like this but would be hard pressed to find anyone who actually enjoys stuff like this.....

Tonight at church I ate a HUGE salad and part of the canned lasagna that was served....I actually pulled most of the noodles away and just ate the sauce and cheese. Not the best but I guess it could have been alot worse.
Had an early day at Chappys and will have another one tomorrow morning so I am trying to post early tonight ....
A quick heads up ....there will most likely not be a post on Friday night since I will be headed out of town ....but tune in Saturday night !!
Peace

They Dont Know

So....

Our bodies are daily stripped of things that it needs....Our bodies have been trained to store fats. These things continue to make us unhappy and run down
We eat too much junk that give us little or no nutrition. One of the best ways to turn this trend around is simply to eat more foods that are full of nutrients. As I have been reading up on this I have found that spinach, asparagus,collard greens and broccoli are great sources to get the nutrients that you need.
Another harmful problem is sugar. Processed refined sugar. One can of Coca Cola has 10 teaspoons of sugar!! Breads, some salad dressings and even some lunch meats have hidden sugars in them....
The main effort should be to reduce any added sugars in your diet and that way you sorta reprogram yourself and your body not to crave them as much.
These are just two things that we could and should do on a daily basis to increase our energy levels. To lower blood pressure. To feel better overall.

I am guessing that many folks just dont know that there are tons of hidden calories in many of our daily foods. I sure did not know about many of them but with some education we can move towards a more healty lifestyle.

One last thing I recently read ...
Classic Apple Pie
The top and bottom crusts can have around 250 calories with more than 20grams of carbs.
The Apple filling account for only about 65 calories in a slice. If you are baking at home leave the skins on the slices to keep the high fiber content.
A regular sized serving of apple pie will normally have about 13 grams of sugar. Sugar is what makes the pie so great LOL .

The article goes on to give a great alternative
Baked Apples
Halve and core two apples. Lay them cut side up in a foil lined pan. Spoon two teaspoons of plain yogurt. 2tsp brown sugar and 1Tbl walnuts on the tops. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Fill half the pan with hot water and bake at 375degrees for 20-30 minutes.
119 calories each half.

As Time Goes By

So....

Today was really the first day since I started the diet that I found myself off schedule after making a pretty good breakfast.
I had a two egg white omelet with some low fat cheese in it ....two pieces of turkey sausage and one piece of toasted raisin bread.
Downhill from there ...
I did not eat anything else really till about 3 that afternoon after I was back from the funeral. By that time I was STARVING.
I did have an apple on my way to Tuskegee and I drank a ton of water on the way and that then presented another problem.
I had to use the bathroom almost as soon as I was seated in the church. An old church where the floors creak if you sneeze. No way I could even consider getting up to leave and go take a pee. Sorry if this is more than you are used to on my blog ...
But as the time crept by I was actually getting worried. What if the bathrooms did not work for some reason...you have to understand this church is not used on a regular basis anymore so the chance that something was not working was possible.
I was very uncomfortable ...but my dear readers you will be happy to know that I made it...WHEW.
Anyway ...back to my regular thing tomorrow ...no funerals...no out of town stuff. Just in the office drinking my water, eating my dried cranberries and apricots, an apple here or there and maybe doing some work between all of that...

Peace

There are Worse Things That I Could Do .

So....

Today I ate my first fast food sangwich for the first time in over a month .....I had to head up to Montevallo for a funeral and I was travelling with a few folks and the decision was made to stop at McDowells....It was also decided to get it to go and eat on the way. So that made it hard for me to get a salad so I opted for the chargrilled chicken sangwich which came with lettuce tomato and mayo ...It was 10pts. Had I told them no mayo it would have been 6pts. Not that bad I dont think....
I am just in from walking in the rain AGAIN and wanted to post some of these things I received in an email...some of cheesy but a couple of them were decent...

• Live with the three E,s --Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
• Read more books than you did in the previous year.
• Dream more while you are awake.
• Drink plenty of water
• Forget issues of the past.
• Invest your energy in the moment.
• Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a begger. (not sure about this but its fun anyway ...
• Smile and make people laugh more.
• Dont take yourself too serious. No one else does
• Agree to disagree from time to time.
• Dont compare you life to others. We have no idea what their journy is all about.
• No one is in charge of your happiness but you .
• Forgive everyone for everything.
• Stay in touch with friends. No matter how far away they are
• You have all you need. Dont envy
• Call your family and friends often.
• Each day five something good to others.
• Keep your limits
• The best is yet to come.

One thing I have noticed in the past month is that I have read alot more ...Maybe its me keeping my mind off of snacking and what not but I have finished four books in the last four weeks. I usually average about two a month or so....So thats a good thing and another positive side effect of being on this diet .

Good night all ...

Yesterday

So....

Yesterday was meeting time for me and I am happy to let everyone know that I lost 2.5 lbs this week for a total of 18 pounds in 4 weeks.

I promise to provide more information tomorrow but I gotta be up in less than 6 hours for a full day ...

War Eagle
Peace

With a Little Help From My Friends

So .....

Its late and again for some reason I am really tired. Been like this a couple nights this week....Just feel exhausted for some reason. Let me add here that I did almost nothing of a productive value on Friday. Nothing.

I just dont have any energy ....wiped out is the best way to describe it. Sitting at the Mielkes tonight talking with friends I swear to you I was almost nodding off....very unusual.

So my question is this ...with all the changes in my diet and such could there be a direct link? Am I not getting something now that I was getting before.
Before anyone says or asks am I taking a vitamin...The answer is I was and have stopped.
I never took one before really and started when I started WW. But its something about them that makes me almost throw up when I take it in the morning. I can take it with food ...before food....after food....every time I get the same result...and after I do take it it just makes me feel like I have this nasty bile taste in the back of my throat . So I have stopped that ....

What else should I be taking or could I be taking that could increase my energy levels?
I already am taking a large dose of Omega-3 Fish Oil every day for my heart ...
Any suggestions yall might have would be appreciated....

Hope yall have a pleasant weekend.
Peace

Blame it on the Bossa Nova

So ....


I meant to mention something last night but in my rush to talk about other things I just forgot ...

Temptations ...and I dont mean the guys who sing.


I was at church last night going through the line the get my food and I first was offered two pieces of fish ....then three hushpuppies....then I get to the guy with the cole slaw and he says " oh here ya go man I know you want a big serving"
I declined but part of me was mad and part of me was upset a little. You see a bigger guy and you want to feed them more LOL makes no sense to me ...I dont get easily tempted ...Never have when it comes to food ...I just for years ate wrong foods at wrong times. I was never one to be at a party or a function and just go nuts with some food...So offering me a big helping of canned cole slaw is not to hard for me to turn down ...
I was also offered an extra ice cream ....ha
I guess I dont blame folks but I have started telling folks at the church that I am changing my eating habits ....so maybe that will help
That brings me to this

What is tempting to me ? I would have to say its things like potato chips...Lays chips with some dip is a good one ...I can do without chocolate...I can do without cookies and cakes.
A good steak is tempting to me ...
I love peanut butter and could maybe eat a whole jar if given the chance ....
I am also a sucker for cereal. I love a big bowl of cereal. Honey Nut Cheerios! Any day of the week and twice on Saturday please ....

So what tempts you ? What do you find a hard time passing up ....Share with me .

Where or When

So....

I have this post brewing in my head but am not quite ready to publish yet ....
Having said that ...I have a headache from listening to all things political tonight ....When in this country will we get serious about health care for those who are in need ???
Not a left thing or a right thing but folks coming together to help solve this horrible problem. Its a terrible shame that folks cant sit down and talk ...
And a man from South Carolina....A man who represents people from that great state yelled at the president of the United States tonight....In the House chamber. Crazy nuts....I understand not agreeing but show some friggin class and just dont applaud ...
As I said I have an incredible headache and just want to go lay down ....

Today was a great day on the diet front .....I got 64oz + of water in before 11am and thats a first....Am loving drinking all this water ...Its a challenge but its a good one for sure

We had the annual mens fellowship fish fry at church tonight and all things considered I did very good ....Ate one piece of fish, one hushpuppy, green beans and some slaw all washed down with water. So a good thing I think ..
The only bad side is this is actually the first fried food I have had in almost a month so it is doing a bit of a dance in my belly ....I guess thats understandable. Blech

And I want to say Thanks to a guy that i respect ALOT and his name is Jim Houghtby. Many of yall out there dont know him but he is a member of our church and NEVER STOPS....He plans the fish fry every year and did another great job this year. He buys supplies for the church, he leads the mens club, he plans the church picnic, he runs the sound at the 8:30 service, he buys the supplies for the coffee and doughnut fellowship on Sunday mornings, He coordinates the selling of about 6-7000.00 dollars worth of fruit every winter at Christmas. I could go on and on and on
Add to that he is a veteran of WWII who flew missions over Germany and at 87 years old is still making a difference in LOTS of lives...
And if there is somewhere in the church where he can help out ...he is there...
He has a true servants heart ....and hes my friend. God Bless him and all that he does

Kinda a ramble of things tonight ...Peace

Alone Together

So....

Would you agree with me that many things in life are better with two folks ?? Whether is going to the movies...Marriage, travel, birthdays ...the list could go on and on ...I would also like to add excercise to that mix ...You are more likely to be content on a higher level when you are doing things with a friend.
Things are easier and having that person with you is a wonderful addition to help you both reach those weight loss goals. Sharing the journey.

I walked tonight and went with Laura M again.....Although you are walking, moving at a pretty good clip...wondering if you will make the three miles (we came REALLY close)...you can still share and laugh and talk about stuff.
For me its a great chance to just let it all out and just go ....talk up a blue streak if you can....

I want to add that I also enjoy those nights when its just me ....So perhaps this is a happy mix of the two ...walk alone ...walk together.
The song I chose for my title tonight speaks to that ...Alone Together. Find Chet Bakers version...Pretty good stuff

Sounds perfect for my excercise life.
Peace
Good Night and Good Luck (thanks ERM)

Embraceable You

So.....

I hope everyone had a nice relaxing Labor Day. Labor Day represents the last holiday till Thanksgiving for many of us ....

I have discussed goals of losing weight and in my mind I have a few that I have not shared....those will come in time...Tonight I wanted to touch on a few things ...

First....
Having friends and family along on this journey....I dont want losing weight to mean that I dont go out anymore with friends. Or have a great time over a meal with my family. I look at it more in the terms of them joining with me on the journey.
I read in some WW book i think that research suggests that an individuals immune system and fucntion drops when there is a lack of positive relationships in their lives.
I am thrilled to be sharing with my friends and family.

Second...
Making my mind understand that things are going to happen gradually. I walked with a friend tonight and we touched on the idea that its hard sometimes for those losing weight to see the long term changes. I would love to look in the mirror tomorrow and see a guy who has lost 100+ pounds but part of me is also really enjoying the "wait and see" approach.
The Marines have a saying "sweat is just weakness leaving the body"....Each day that I sweat while walking or working out is another day closer to being in better health.

Third...
The excercise part has almost become a normal thing for me now after 3+ weeks. I get antsy when I think I might miss a day or a chance to walk. Is that normal ? I have said before that I dont want to become that guy who obsesses about things...but I am really enjoying walking ..

Fourth....
and last .....I notice that Friday Saturday and Sunday are my worst days because I am off of the routine of the week. During the week I drink most of my water sitting at my desk in the mornings ....I go home for lunch ....I have apples at my desk for snacks...
any suggestions to help with making the weekends better ??

And good night and good luck

Over There

So.....

Nice quiet day that saw me not having to work on a Sunday night and that was good....I started a Disciple class last week at another church and we are meeting Sunday afternoons before I have to be back to work but the class was cancelled tonight due to the holiday weekend.

It was nice to come home from church around lunch and not have anything to do ...

I have been enjoying hearing from everyone regarding my weight loss and my renewed efforts to diet and excercise. Keep those tips coming....

Lots of times we lean on that fence and see that the grass does look a little bit greener....right? I am guilty of it ....

I look at some guys and think ...dang they eat alot but look at how in shape they are ....

Or I see guys running in the park ...passing me every so often and I again think DANG....I wish I could do that ..

But its after that I think ...Please stop. Don't do that and set yourself up for failure by trying to keep up with others. We are each different individuals, that guy that is eatting cheeseburgers for snacks and taking a bath in ice cream might be busting his ass off at the gym 7 days a week just so he can eat all that stuff....

It's a different mindset that I am having to create for myself.....It's hard, but totally worth it and maybe one day I will get a chance to talk to that guy running in the park and find out that he was once like me ....taking it one day at a time ....

Laura M sent me an email and I wanted to share below some of what the article said....This is not mine and is just reprinted with the authors name and publication attached ...I like that he says to relax and enjoy what you are doing...

Happy Reading ....

Enjoy

By Michael Scholtz, M.A., Best Life fitness expert
It's great to be conscientious about your diet and exercise sessions, but cutting yourself some slack keeps your motivation high. Try adopting an 80/20 approach—strive to make healthy choices 80 percent of the time; this leaves room in your weight loss and fitness programs for setbacks. Here's how to do it:
• Change your thinking. Don't use the words "good" or "bad" to describe food, yourself or your behavior. These words can promote the unhealthy all-or-nothing pattern you're trying to avoid.
• Establish a range for goals. This allows for more flexibility. For instance, "I'll walk 30 minutes four to six times a week" is better than planning to walk everyday.
• Schedule off days. Take a day off from exercise each week. Use the time to focus on a nurturing activity, such as reading or catching up with friends.
• Enlist help. Consider meeting with a nutritionist, trainer, counselor or coach. They can help keep you motivated and also make sure your goals are realistic.
• Cheer yourself on. Place a note in your bathroom, your car or on your calendar to remind yourself to relax.
• Be patient. Nothing causes more frustration than thinking you should be losing faster than you are. Aim to shed up to 1 percent of your body weight each week, but realize that plateaus are part of the journey.

Tiger Rag

So.....

A fairly quiet Saturday for me ....Just getting home from listening to most of the Auburn game and watching some of the Bama game at the Mielke's. For some reason tonight I am pretty dang tired and can't put a finger on what's causing it ...just feel whipped and run down tonight...anyway.

Went for my weekly weigh in and am happy to let every one know who is following along that I managed to lose 3.5 pounds this past week and once again I am quite pleased.

So here are the numbers...

Starting weight-381 lbs
Todays weight-365.5 lbs
Total lost -15.5 lbs in three weeks.

I am very happy to continue to hear from all the folks out there who are following along on the journey with me. One thing that is very nice is that when I tell folks I am doing this they just get really into hearing about whats going on....They ask questions, they throw support my way, etc ..
It's that kind of thing that encourages you even more to keep going and going. I say THANKS again to everyone...

So, not alot to report tonight except that ....a good quiet day in Lake Wobegon.
More tomorrow ....
Peace and Good Night

One For My Baby

So......

I spent a good portion of my day in Auburn. Always good to be in such a nice place and of course getting to have some good food at the BarBQue house is a a huge plus and add to that it is gameday weekend for the first time this season and it all adds up to a huge WIN .

Lets talk about BarBQue for a few minutes .....
I love it ....LOVE LOVE it ....and for my money there is no better that at the BarBQue House in Auburn Alabama....I have had good BBQue in Memphis and in North Carolina. I have had decent BBQue in California and Georgia but nothing compares to the delight of the stuff you get in Auburn.
Today was a bit different though....Since I am counting points and trying to eat better and shift my focus to more filling foods I decided today to get the BBQ Chicken instead of my regular BBQ sangwich.
Perhaps a mistake was made....The chicken had a nice flavor but was a bit dry for my taste. Every rose has its thorns I guess.....
I always plan my trip to Auburn....I am hardly over there anymore and when I do go I eat at the BBQue house ...so next time I go I will plan for my meal and I will eat the sangwich.
I said from the beginning that I will not deprive myself of foods that I enjoy. I will balance them out, I will cut the portion size, I will perhaps excercise a little more but once you start taking away things that you really enjoy then you are potentially setting yourself for a failure of some kind. As we have talked about its all in making the right choices and living with things in a different way....not denying yourself totally of something.

Enjoy what you are doing and make the absolute most of it ....

Walking On The Moon

So....

Did anyone see the HUGE moon in the sky tonight? ....just beautiful and full!

Comfort.
verb (used with object)
1.
to soothe, console, or reassure; bring cheer to: They tried to comfort her after her loss.
2.
to make physically comfortable.

noun
3.
relief in affliction; consolation; solace: Her presence was a comfort to him.
4.
a feeling of relief or consolation: Her forgiveness afforded him great comfort.
5.
a person or thing that gives consolation: She was a great comfort to him.
6.
a cause or matter of relief or satisfaction: The patient's recovery was a comfort to the doctor.
7.
a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety: He is a man who enjoys his comfort.
8.
something that promotes such a state: His wealth allows him to enjoy a high degree of comfort.
9.
Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a comforter or quilt.
10.
Obsolete. strengthening aid; assistance.

That was alot of definition for one word but we can all find something in our lives that offers us some level of comfort. Most likely we can look at the above listing and find things that SCREAM at us....its who we are.
Laura M cooked a wonderful shepards pie for dinner tonight and invited me over ....It was WW friendly and a HUGE portion was only 5pts.
Afterwards we took the girls for a stroll and that turned into a fairly brisk walk around their neighboorhood. While walking we touched on comfort foods and how much we crave them at times.
We talked about how the shepards pie or something of the equivalent would be great in the cooler months....dark outside with a nice wind blowing and a warm meal on the table that is filling and delicious without being overboard on calories.

What is it about food that brings us so much comfort ? Look back at the definition of the word comfort and think about how many of those things listed are actually true when we relate them to FOOD.
Funeral food, wedding food, birthday celebrations, cookouts, holidays. There is a huge food element in all of these things. Besides funerals, the others represent a time when we see family and friends and have a great time ....and we bring food. We sample what others have brought and talk about how great this is or that is ...we gush about a recipe or a taste. It gives us peace and comfort on a level that many other things in our lives cant come close to compare...

We are not all like this and dont get me wrong in saying that we go to a party for the food over the fellowship...I dont and hopefully you dont either but digging into that creamy cheesy dip with some homemade pita bread chips can be life changing (not really, I kid) but when was the last time I went to a party or to watch a game or celebrate a big event and food was not a part of that situation?
I enjoy trying new things ....but part of this journey, for me, is trying old things in a new way.

So what foods bring you comfort ? If you could have it right now ...what would it be ?

Peace

Stay Awake

So......

Not so much the last week to ten days ...Stay Awake that is ..

Perhaps its the new diet ....maybe its the fact that I am MAKING myself go to bed early each night ...Getting on a tighter schedule. I have come to realize that at 35 years old I am slowly not being able to get by on the bare minimum at night anymore. 4 hours wont cut it ....

Whatever it is ...Its working and for the first time in a LONG time I am actually sleeping at night. I still wake up a bit but nothing like before and I am not laying for hours trying to get to sleep or back to sleep.

I am feeling better and thats the main thing. I would sleep on the roof if it meant I might actually sleep so things are looking up.

Eating better.....excercise...sleeping better....could it all be connected Hmmmmmm

Speaking of sleep....How do you sleep? Do you get in the bed, turn the light off and BAM you are gone ...or do you have a ritual of some kind you follow??

I watch TV before going to bed ....usually read while watching and typically the last thing I watch before going to bed is some part or all of an episode of The West Wing.

One last thing before bed .....Has anyone ever tried the Bocca Burgers that you get in the frozen food section at the grocery store..

They are meatless but I happen to like them but was wondering other folks thoughts on them and if you use them or have tried them what, if anything do you do to them to "jazz" them up at all ....

Have a great Thursday...

Peace

September of My Years

So......

It rained today ...again!
I really thought I was going to have to walk in the rain again this evening but it actually turned out to be a very nice night for walking. I had with me tonight for the first time some company and it was nice to have someone to chat with about things.....
He is trying to make some big decisions about his upcoming future and for some strange reason he wanted my advice ...HA !!! SUCKER
Add to that the fact that since May he has also been trying to lose weight and has lost 21lbs and eventually wants to lose about 40. He said seeing my excitement the last few weeks has been great and asked if he could join me more for walking. Sounds good to me and the converstaion was a welcome addition.

Tonight for dinner I made this really good oven"fried" chicken tenders.
The fried part was crushed up corn flakes.
You soak the chicken in 1/3 of a cup of buttermilk and cayenne pepper.
Dipped in egg whites ....dipped in flower and then the corn flakes.
Add to this the Sage brown gravy.
Which was
2 T flour
1 T butter
1 Cup low sodium chicken broth
1/4 t sage
The total points was 6 for three chicken fingers and the gravy
I added to that some turnips and then I boiled some cauliflower florets, drained and added spray butter, salt/pepper, and mashed them up to make mashed cauliflower. A VERY filling meal....

So my question for you all tonight is this ....Whats your favorite fruit ?
I happen to enjoy a good crisp gala apple or an orange. Thanks to my introduction to them two years ago I also enjoy a good Clementine !!!

So whats yours ??
Peace

You're Getting to be a Habit with Me

So....

Lets talk about breakfast for a few minutes ....I kinda touched on it a bit in a previous post but this will be a little more in depth.

We know THE most important meal of the day is breakfast....We have heard that for years and years ....

I struggle with breakfast because for years and years and years I have not eaten it ...at all. Just something about eating that early in the morning makes me almost want to gag a bit ...

But for the last two+ weeks I have been eating something...EVERY DAY.

Maybe it is a bowl of cereal or a cup of yogurt. Perhaps a whole grain waffle with some turkey sausage.

One day I ate some raisin bread with peanut butter on it with a banana. That might have been my favorite so far....but the main thing is I am eating breakfast.

I am slowly changing those hard to kill habits....I will be honest most mornings I still have a strong gag reflex but it seems to be getting better.

I think for me it will eventually come down to pairing certain things together...Raisin bread with a banana.....Apple with peanut butter and a waffle with a little syrup. Maybe a smoothie....I have mentioned my love of all things oatmeal and am waiting for that first really good cool snap to have me a bowl!!

So you will fogive me if I have asked this before but whats your favorite breakfast food? What is something that will get you going and keep you going all morning.

Or maybe its just your comfort thing....french toast, Chappys pancakes, hashbrowns at Waffle House....

I do confess a love for good pancakes ....!!!!

I am interested to know what you like ....

Night and Day

So.....
First of all ...Where in the hello is the cooler weather we were promised more than a week ago my that lying Rich Thomas ...I mean it was so incredibly muggy out tonight while walking it felt like the beach after a short rain.
I am excited about the coming cooler weather and when I am walking in the park I find myself thinking back to previous falls and the leaves on the ground and the bright colors in the trees.

Second....Is it ok after only two weeks I find myself thinking ALOT about weight loss, healthy eating, figuring out when I can excercise etc ..
I mean I know that what I am doing is a good thing....and that any cutting back I am doing and excerising I am adding is a HUGE benefit....
I just dont want to become one of those folks that only talks weight loss/diet/excercise 24/7. I started this new blog to keep folks up to date and to help keep myself accountable ....So far its been a real blast.
Chew on that for a bit and let me know what you think ....

Third...WHo has some good smoothie recipes they care to share...I got one off here already but am looking for some more tried and true recipes that YOU have made in your own kitchen.
Let me know ...
Thats all I got tonight folks ....Hope yall have a great Monday
Peace

Satisfaction

So...
Today marked the end of two weeks of the new diet stuff and I am happy to report that in the past week I lost another 5lbs. I am, once again , very excited.
So here are the stats as of today
Starting Weight-381
Todays Weight-369
Total Lost-12lbs

My question tonight is what leaves us/me/you satisfied? I am going to approach this from a food/eating perspective but feel free to branch out into other aspects of your life when you maybe ponder this question.
I think about the excitement of Thanksgiving and the food. I love the family atmosphere and having a house full of folks. Watching the parade and then some football...but lets be honest we all really enjoy the idea of gorging ourselves for that one day.
But who really enjoys that miserable, over-fed, bloated feeling we get after...Sure its nice to sit in a chair and zone out for a bit before brewing a pot of coffee and getting a piece of pie or cake. Or maybe a serving of my aunts sweet potato crunch casserole.
But its the immediate effect of eating too much that we hate. We DONT listen to our bodies....
You gotta eat ONE.MORE.BITE.
Maybe we think we are going to miss something....maybe we think that this is once a year and lets fill up for the winter.
I know there are other times during the year we do this but Thanksgiving I would think is the TOP when it comes to overeating days.
Many of us experience this struggle to limit our overindulgences on a daily basis. We have a great sangwich but really want some dessert also....We have a burger but also get the cheese fries.....We go to ChikFilA and get the regular sangwich but upsize just cause....
We want to naturally add....
Food is Comfort for sure. Whats one of the first things people do when someone passes away...You take them food. Or start planning when you are going to " feed the family"
Is it a southern thing? I know obesity and bad eating habits exist outside the South but we seem to think that food will sooth and it does. I know already that one of the worst things you can do is "emotional eat"
So Why do we have a hard time listening to what our body is telling us ?
Why do we think we know better when our bodies clearly are rioting against us and saying PLEASE STOP?
I am starting to slowly learn to listen to my body better.....Eating slower...putting the fork down...sitting at the table or in the kitchen....All of these things go a long way in helping us to adjust and listen.
I have heard through the grapevine that a few new folks are reading this blog and to them I say WELCOME!!...You are encourged to leave some comments...good, bad, informative whatever..
Hope tomorrow is great for everyone and now week three starts...
Peace

Dreaming My Dreams With You

So.....

What are some things you want to accomplish in your life ? I know many of you out there have met many of your goals. I know many have married that dream guy or girl. Have travelled the world and seen the sights.
But what, if anything, is missing?
Perhaps you want to learn to fly a plane ...Maybe you want to swim the English Channel. Maybe you want to learn a second language, or a third and fourth.
I started this weight loss/healthy eating walk two weeks ago almost with no other goal in mind than to lose weight and get into better shape. I have a healthier heart. To lower my blood pressure. To just feel better.
But here are some things that I always seem to have stuck way back in the back of my head. Mind you they have been there for years but at age 35 perhaps its time to consider WHEN some things might happen.

• Hike the Appalachian Trail. If not the whole thing then large parts of it. Not taking a day hike while on vacation but taking two week or a month and hiking for miles and miles of it.
• Walk the Highlands of Scotland. Stand on the ragged, time worn perches and look across that beautiful country and thing about what happened over the years there ...
• Get married. I was just telling someone the other day that perhaps I am not the marrying kind of person. Maybe I will one day be content with having someone in my life long term. Then I think ...Nah. I want to get married...time will tell.
• Visit the beaches near Anzio, Italy.
• Take voice lessons. I can sing but with some training perhaps I could be better ...who knows.

Those are a few for me ....hiking the AT would be amazing for sure. I worry at this point in my life of doing it but perhaps when I am in better shape, who knows??

I remember reading a story about a guy who hiked the trail just to lose weight and ended up losing like 60lbs I think.

So whats your "to do " list right now ? and if you get to looking for me maybe you can find me on the AT.

Peace

Here's That Rainy Day

So.....

I walked tonight.....I walked in the rain. This might sound nuts and totally crazy but there was something incredibly relaxing about it. I also have found that one of the big keys for me walking is picking the right music to walk with...

If you know me then you know what type music I like and listen to....For the most part its been Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Basie, Miles Davis with some Mozart and Bach mixed in...

I have also listened to Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. Pat Green and a little Earl Scruggs.

It makes it go SOOO much quicker but tonight had a nice relaxed feel about it although I was really moving....

With this system I am on for weight loss you count your points. Almost every food item on the planet(or most of the planet) has a point. If you eat it you count it. I am still struggling to use all my points each day and I guess that a good thing and a bad thing.

I am staying on track BUT I am possibly not getting enough to keep my metabolism going....So I will continue to work on getting rid of the points.

I also know that you can add back points for the walking, lifting, running etc that you do ...but I am not doing that ....

Thats about it for tonight ...My plan tomorrow is to possibly sleep late !!

AC-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive

So......

Not alot tonight to report ..I did blog this morning about Sen Kennedys passing so this will make TWO for the day ..

One main thing that I have been going back and forth on is what day to take off during the week. And by that I mean what day or days should I relax from excercising ...

Wednesday ...the middle of the week and a good spot to relax a bit

The weekend....Sit back and think about what my week was like and what I can do different next week

Or not take off at all and just keep on going ....anything I do is a positive right now thats my way of looking at it

Anyway ...just something I have been thinking about today ...

Another thing ...I have to admit that I am really enjoying the process of making some kind of breakfast in the morning..

Like today was a banana and one piece of raisin bread with peanut butter on it ...Simple but good and it was something. I used to never eat breakfast

I thought that this would be my lest favorite part of everything but so far I have found some pretty neat solutions to filling that void

I am a big fan of oatmeal but only during the colder months so once it really starts to feel like fall on a more regular basis I am going to get back into eating a hot bowl of oatmeal.

Any other quick easy breakfast ideas yall might have ? Pass um along my way ...

Softly as I Leave You

In Memoriam

Ted Kennedy

We have all read or heard the news about Senator Ted Kennedys death last night from brain cancer. It was a hard fight that he fought until the very end. He was a champion for the working man, for the disenfranchised, minorities and those in real need. He sponsored or co-sponsored many bills that have shaped this nation in the last 40 years. He is owed a huge debt of gratitude for doing the hard things. He reached across the aisle to get support for things that were not always popular but he never forgot his base and who he was working for...This earned him the tile "Lion of the Senate". He was respected. I wanted him to be my senator.

One thing that keeps coming back to me is the fact that he led his family for 40 years after the death of Bobby Kennedy.....He was never really "the one"in the Kennedy family. It was supposed to be older brother Joe, then Jack , then Bobby. Ted was the youngest and the playboy. He got into more trouble and broke the most rules. And he usually always got caught doing the bad stuff. He learned and he grew.

His older brothers were all dead along with a sister, Kathleen. So by 1970 he turned around and realized his family needed him to step up and he did.

My grandmother loved and respected Ted Kennedy. She cursed at him for some of the things he did in his life but she knew he did ALOT for the people of Massachusetts and for America.

Hard to believe that in less than a month two great Kennedys are gone ....

I voted for Barack Obama last year for many many reasons but last year when Ted Kennedy endorsed Obama I kinda knew then that I would be voting for and throwing my support towards Obama.

If I am being honest I will have to say that Sen Kennedys passing has been tough for me this morning ...just sad is how I feel.

I hope he has rest and comfort now ....

Rest In Peace, Senator .

Mack the Knife

So.....
I dont know if you know this but you need to be REALLY careful when cutting turnip roots. First of all after you have removed the outer layer they are really slippery. I was using a cutting board and a fairly sharp knife but those buggers move around alot...I am a confident person in the kitchen but when things move about like that I get nervous. Kinda like cutting up a whole chicken....that makes me nervous also.

I cooked a small roast tonight that called for fresh garlic, half sodium chicken broth and fresh thyme. It roasted for about an hour and half then you add a few quarted red potatoes, cut up turnip roots, onions and carrots. I forget the carrots....
With this recipe you got a HUGE serving of everything and being honest I did not even eat all of mine....I ate my salad first and drank water so I guess I filled up. But got some great leftovers for tomorrow.

Excercise-
I have a problem that I cant seem to overcome....Shin splints!! I stretch, I warm up but I still get them and after walking for a bit its almost unbearable. Any suggestions ?

Thats all I got tonight ...Peace

Don't stop believin'

So.....

This might sound crazy ...but in the very short week that I have been doing all this weight loss stuff I have already found myself feeling better.
Maybe its psychological.....Maybe I am just tricking myself into feeling better but I swear to you there is something just a tad bit different and I cant quite put my finger on it....
Maybe its the fact that I find myself wanting to cook more ....wanting to figure out the points in a meal and make it in my own kitchen. The satisfaction of sitting down to something good and healthy and hearty.
Maybe its the long term goals.....Seeing myself in a few weeks....months...years.
Maybe its knowing that with the loss aspect I will gain more confidence in other areas.
Maybe its the excitement of knowing that with the more I lose the closer I can possibly get to getting rid of high blood pressure medicines that I take on a daily basis.
Its gonna happen and that has me very excited.
Peace

Just You Wait ....

So......

Another great day of beautiful weather .....another great night of catching up with friends....
Another great episode of Mad Men ( no matter what LM says !!!)....

I heard this story over the weekend about a guy who was about my age, height, weight and he started the same program that I am working on to get into better shape...
In the past like 17-18 months he has lost 190lbs!!! He orginally joined because his doctors told him to lose weight BEFORE having gastric bypass surgery. He started and really enjoyed it and just stuck with it ...That is AMAZING and almost hard to believe. I asked the lady telling the story to repeat it twice just so I heard it right....
That is a whole complete person ...Gone. Just astounded me ...His story is enough to keep me going for weeks for sure. Glad to have had the chance to hear about and it has me wanting to meet this guy just to talk and see what advice he has to offer another guy on the same journey.

and a couple of things to remember about me ...

I will sing loudly in the shower if given the chance
I will laugh out loud while listening to A Prairie Home Companion
I am pretty level headed ( I think)
I don't like cats (sorry Sullivan)
I do enjoy live theater (or is it theatre) but don't go nearly enough
I would rather be with folks on a porch than at a bar any day of the week and twice on Saturday.

Thats about all I got for tonight ....Hope everyone had a great Sunday
Peace

Dont Know Why ....

So......

Today was an absolute beautiful, pre-fall day here in Central Alabama. Just to be outside for any amount of time should have made you happy. For me anyway ...

I am very pleased to let everyone know that I went for my first weigh in since starting the new stuff last weekend and the numbers dont lie...I lost 7 pounds !
I was pretty shocked actually....I kinda figured that I had done pretty good for the week but nothing compared me for that number. So that puts me at 374lbs. Headed in the right direction for sure. I cant put my finger on it but I just never thought I would do that in one week ...
I know guys lose quicker.....and that sometimes during that first week you can lose alot but still seven pounds is seven pounds. I am very happy and pleased with my first weeks progress.
Now its time to add in some other things that will help keep me going towards my ultimate goal.

Tonight was a fun night of catching up with old friends and meeting some new folks who were very nice and seemed like folks you could easily hang out with and have a good time. I am at my most comfortable with my friends. My friends just know me and get me in a way that others dont...
God Blesses us in so many ways ....

Its midnight and I still need to finalize some stuff for Sunday School in the morning ...
I appreciate yall reading so far ....Stay Tuned !!

Five Minutes More ....

So......
Today was a good day ! While I am glad that I no longer live in Macon county it was VERY nice to visit with folks and see family. Added to that was the fact that we were seeing folks in a normal settting...No funeral had us in Macon county this time it seems that the only time we see folks sometimes is at a funeral. Sad.
My 90 year old aunt fixed us lunch today and although it was just spaghetti... It was very tasty. There is just something about older folks cooking that makes things better...ya know ?
I had a small serving and some garlic bread ...so not a deal breaker.
We spent most of the day just visiting with folks and riding around the county looking at places from my Grannys past and when it was all over it left me wishing we had more time ...but there can be other trips....

I went to the grocery store tonight and found some Jiffs Natural Peanut Butter. I really like peanut butter. I also really like the natural peanut butter with the oil on top but most times its more expensive ...this Jiff was not that expensive. ALSO I compared the fat/fiber/calories on the back and it looked pretty good. I will let ya know how it tastes !
Hope yall had a great day and THANKS to everyone for their words of encouragment this week it has meant alot!!
More to come ....

Tomorrow ....

So.....

Not alot going on here today ...had a very productive day at work. Got a good bit done in my office and at the church in general.

I mentioned last night my dislike for turkey bacon ...well today at lunch I had a turkey burger and OH MY GOODNESS it was amazing....
It had bell peppers and mushrooms on it ....light mayo...mustard. The bun was a regular run of the mill bun but wow I am really impressed at how good the burger was .....
and speaking of cooking ...here is something else for you to try if you are game

Take a Penne Need a Penne Chicken Pasta (or whatever you want to call it)
One box of whole grain penne pasta or 13 OZs
One can of diced tomatoes-
1-1.5 cups of cooked chicken diced or shredded
1 cup low fat mozzarella cheese
One small jar mushrooms or you you can cup up about a cup of fresh ones
about a half cup of sliced olives.Black or green.
1/2 cup light italian dressing
1/3 cup chopped basil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Cook the pasta and drain....
Cook the chicken basil and tomatoes just till warmed good ...bout 5 minutes.
Toss all together and chill.
I think you could lower the pasta level and still have a great dish but its great for leftovers also...
A serving was a cup ...make a big salad and enjoy.

Is anyone watching Mad Men ?? Perhaps the best show on TV right now. Its got to be right up there with FNL as far as writing and character development goes. Just a brilliant show ...Check it out on AMC on Sunday nights
There will be fat year ...There will be lean years, but it is going to rain.-Don Draper

...And tomorrow I head home to Tuskegee/Notasulga to take my Granny to visit family and friends. One set of friends we used to play cards with and I am looking forward to seeing them...The husband fell about 20 years ago and broke his back and the lingering results of that have him basically homebound.
Wonderful folks that I cant wait to see...
Hope your day was great !!

My Favorite Things ....

So.....

Its Wednesday night and day 4 of my new "stuff".....and here are a few things I have discovered in the short time

• Turkey sausage is really good ....turkey bacon can take a long walk off a short pier.


• Sams sells HUGE chickens for roasting and of course its much much cheaper than buying a bird already cooked there...I cooked two and am eating the results as the days go by .


• I tend to get the munchies at night ....nothing bad but I want something ...any suggestions on how to overcome this ?


• Lots of water = lots of time in the bathroom...of course I knew this but MAN my bladder is wondering what the frig is up ...


• Doing any form of a sit up causes you to feel as though you have pulled every muscle in your chest.....


• Writing something every day is a lot more challenging than I thought it would be ...but I am dedicated to keeping myself motivated and you up to date


• Fiber One Yogurts and Fiber One bars are good but they also ...well...you know what they do


• I have rediscovered my love for apples. Gala are my apple of choice right now

So thats it ....also I am sitting here writing this while listening to Christmas music....that is no suprise to many of you but as I have said time and time again ...It relaxes me.

Put on A Happy Face.....

So......

Today was my first day on my new eating habit that I met a friend for lunch at Chappys ....I hate to day diet for some reason, Call me nuts.
I was a little worried about meeting for lunch since I am still very green with all this new stuff of counting points and watching portion size but I was very pleased with the HUGE salad I got ....I had unsweet tea with lemon and really enjoyed it all.
I worried for no reason I guess.....

I realized today that one year ago today I was in the Gulf Of Alaska doing a little fishing.....Such an amazing trip and made me also realize how much I enjoyed being up there .....Beautiful country for sure.

I mentioned on FB but I will say it here also ...I am SICK to death of all things political ...just tired of it ...to the point that I get antsy when politics comes up.
I used to have a rather full bodied debate with a guy at church but lately I just sit and let him go on ....I am tired of it all.
Thats all I got folks ...I am headed to watch some West Wing

The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Music......

....Or the loud tailpipes of the reds down the street working on their jacked up trucks.....

So......
Went by PriMed this afternoon to have my BP taken and it read 140/83....Not too bad but not the best either...although I have had a pretty intense headache the last two days ...right behind my left eye...UGH.
Today was a good day at work ....Got alot finished up and off my desk .... had a HUGE salad for lunch....Romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, cucumbers, onions, turkey bacon, fat free croutons, and some low fat 1000 Isle dressing.....
I also fixed me a turkey sangwich on whole wheat/grain bread with tomatoes and Kraft Mayo made with Olive Oil. I did not even eat the sangwich....Salad kinda filled me up...
Got some great advice from Eleanor....THANKS!!

I am in the midst of re-watching season 6 of The West Wing and am really enjoying it ....I wish real politics could be like it is on this show.....
And speaking of all politics ...I think I am going to hang up my hat with regards to all things political...I will talk about the weather, sports, travel ANYTHING but politics.

Excercising went well....Actually did some sit ups tonight LOL ....not many but a few ...

Headed to read a bit about the Civil War then to watch some more WW.

Peace

Another Pleasant Valley Sunday ...

So.....
Day one went really good I think ....
They way the system works that I am using is that each and every food item you put into your mouth has a point value ....
A small to medium apple is 1 point.
A Banana is 2 points.
A Lean Cuisine Roasted Beef Tips with Carrots and gravy is 5 point.
I think you see how it works ...

Every person has a different number as to how many points they can have in a day. The more you weigh then typically the more points you get . I get like 44 points a day!!!
I get ALOT of points ....of course as you lose weight then you adjust the number down but to be honest today I had a hard time trying to eat enough to use all my points.
My main thing is going to be to make sure I keep a full stock of fruits and veggies to snack on ....and to continue the water intake.
I am pretty good about drinking a good bit of water anyway but I am starting OPERATION CAMEL tomorrow ....Besides OJ and Milk, the main other drink for me will be water.
I am excited to begin the work week with all its temptations of eating out with youth and friends. Also if you have ever worked in a church before then you know folks always want to FEED you in some way ....bring you a cake or cookies. Fix you a plate of something....
I welcome the challenge
See ya tomorrow

There is a Brotherhood of Man ..a benevolent brotherhood of man ...A noble tie that binds ...all you in hearts and minds

So.......

It begins here ....
We are all connected by our genuine concern for each other...
I think about Lane and Mary as they begin their new life in Atlanta....Luke and Jackie as they run towards parenthood and new business adventures....Nick and Laura as they watch beautiful girls grow ...

I have concerns about my health....I needed some type of accountability. I needed a support group, if you will. I needed folks in the same boat as myself... so I joined a local weight loss group today. I am hoping that this will be the first step towards a healthier me ....
I can honestly say that I am not embarassed about who I am ....I am just me. But I full well know that I can be in better shape. I can cut some things and add some things back that are much better for me. I already excercise some but can do more and that begins Monday morning ...the new eating plan and lifestyle begins tomorrow.

I promised myself that I would totally honest and transparent on this new blog and I fully intend to keep that promise. It wont be easy but its a promise I made to myself and my dear readers.
To those of you out there who read this blog I encourage you to ask me questions, engage me in conversation in some way, challenge me in some way in regards to this my "whole new thing"

So here we go....
Today at 9:15 am I weighed in for the first time of what will be many times.....

Here are my important stats as of today August 15, 2009

Height-6'2ish inches
Weight-381
Blood Pressure-142/79

As I said ...I am not ashamed of who I am but I am concerned and worried about my overall health....
Wish me luck ...

Something New....

So......
I have decided to take a new approach to my blog and the posts that I make ....Tomorrow will be the first post in this new direction but you can see the changes I have made already.
New Title.....New Layout....New Picture...
So this is just a primer for whats to come ....
My goal will be to post everyday about the ups and downs of something that is a big deal in my life..... A daily diary for me and you.
If I am being honest I have to say that I stole this idea after seeing Julia and Julie last week...Really good movie by the way. But she blogged about something big and it got me to thinking .....
This will be my attempt to keep all my friends in the loop of big changes that I hope will be coming ...
Suprises around every corner ....