another 2…

well, I weighed in last night, and I’m down another 2 pounds! I’m down to 206, and got in a light workout last night. So I’ve still got a good shot to hit my revised goal of 204 by the end of the month. I should be able to get a good workout in tonight, and hopefully with some careful eating I’ll be on my way!

Still shooting for under 200 by July 20!

On my way!

I didn’t quite hit my goal for Monday, but I still lost a pound a week and am down to 208. I have been getting exercise much more regularly, including the last 4 days in a row! Saturday I hit the gym for some cardio. Sunday was some lifting and some cardio. Monday was a bike ride with a friend. Tuesday was some good lifting and more cardio. I’ve actually started to see a difference in my face/neck again, and I’m just feeling better in general thanks to working out.

shooting for 2 pounds this week!

keepin on…

After a bit of a late day at the office, I made it to the gym again last night. I went through my typical lifting routine…albeit at reduced weight this week so I don’t stress my muscles too much after the layoff. I also got on the bike for half an hour and picked up the intensity over Monday. All in all it’s feeling good to be back in the exercising and healthy world…and out of that permanent sickness funk!

Hoping to squeeze in a little biking tomorrow, and then my third full workout of the week on Saturday.

On the right track…

back in the saddle!

well folks…no great reasons here…a sickness or three…and just some unmotivated times in between.

But I’m back! It felt great to be in the gym tonight…although that feeling is also meeting some frustration as my space bar on my laptop is not working so well at the moment. Ah…technology! Gotta love it…and I do! If I run some words together…pleaseforgiveme.

So, time for a new schedule and some renewed commitment.

June 1, 2009

weight: 210

BP: 132/85

one-week goal (June 8): 208

four-week goal (June 29): 204

goal to be under 200 by July 20

Once I reach that, I’ll put a goal out there for 190!

Thanks for sticking with me, and feel free to kick me if you see me being lazy or eating poorly! Remember…it’s all about the portion control!

I’m back!

Ok, folks, no great excuses, but I’ve been a little lax on my goals. But that’s in the past, and it’s time to look forward! I just got back from the gym a little while ago, and it was good to be back. I’m weighing in at 206 now, which is a little more than my last weigh in, but not bad for taking some time off. I’ll plan to weigh in again next Thursday and I’m shooting for 204.

Thanks to many people who’ve continued to ask how things are going!

a little behind

Well, I won’t bore you with all the details, but obviously I’m a little behind in my posting. For those of you who hadn’t heard, one of my dogs ended up having a second surgery but seems to be recovering very well now, and the problems all seem to be resolved.

Now…on with the show.

Good news to report! I’ve continued my weight loss, although it does seem to be slowing a bit. I’ve lost at least one pound every week, and as of this past weekend was down to 204 from starting at 216. That’s 12 pounds in 6 weeks!

I have some pictures to post, but I need a few minutes to get them ready, cropped, etc…and I’ve had scarcely any free minutes lately. They’re coming, though!

Thanks for all the encouragement, and I promise to post more frequently!

An anniversary of sorts

I don’t know why I am this way, but I’ve always been a numbers guy. I still remember my first phone number. I could still call a dozen houses in my home town from when I was growing up because I still remember the numbers. I realized earlier today that another number stuck out to me…February 17. Huh…

Five years ago today my life changed forever. I was a member of a different gym at the time, Lifetime Fitness. Part of the reason I joined Lifetime was because of the pools…I had great ambitions of learning to swim better and burning large quantities of calories in the pool. Great intentions…poor follow-through. The second main reason I joined Lifetime was for the basketball court. I loved being able to get a great workout in without having to run in place for an hour. I got to jump, cut, guard, shoot, and hustle my way to a good workout. I’d gotten hurt before…I played too hard to keep from getting hurt from time to time. Nothing more serious than a sprained ankle, though.

On this night five years ago, I left my office, drove straight to the gym, and put my name up on the board to join in with a pickup game. I changed into my workout clothes, laced up my basketball shoes, and headed to the court. I wish I could remember more details about the night, but what I do recall is still vivid in my mind’s eye. I drove the lane, lept into the air, and stretched for a layup attempt. When I came down, I had very little room because of the crowded lane, and unfortunately my right leg hit the floor at an awkwardly straight angle. No give whatsoever.

Well, in the freakiest of injuries, I actually chipped off a small part of the femur and the inside of the kneecap. My “family” doctor (is it really a family doctor if it’s just me?) checked me out and didn’t realize the damage as the fractures were too tiny to show on an x-ray, and my ligaments all tested fine. Well, several months later…and still not feeling right…I headed to an orthopedist…and headed to the surgery table.

I often wonder what my life would be like now if I hadn’t played basketball that day. It doesn’t affect me much now…I don’t remember having pain in my knee for a very long time…but I’m not supposed to jog or ski…and it’s hard to have those things taken from me. I also lost almost two years of exercise from the time of the first injury till the time I had fully recovered from surgery. Plus I strangely miss jogging now that I am not supposed to run any more. I must be a slow learner, though, because I didn’t completely give up basketball till after I’d sustained other injuries including a very badly sprained ankle and several stitches above my right eye.

I know running is a great way to get in shape, but now you’ve gotten the long version of why biking is my primary option.

Yes, the date stood out today, but I say to basketball…and February 17…good riddance!

Week Three

It’s official, my belt fits differently! Woohoo!

I weighed in on Saturday, and I’m down another 2 pounds!

That makes me 208 pounds, and down a total of 8 pounds from the start in just 3 weeks. Not bad, eh?

I’ve had several people give a glaring eye when I’m ordering food…thanks…and keep it up!

I’m going to make another shorter-term goal: While I’m on this roll I’m going to try to lose those last 8 pounds to 200 in the next 3 weeks.

My end goal is still 175 (Andy, I think the body fat calculation is off…it’s a machine that measures how fast electricity travels through my body, so not exactly the best way to measure body fat percentage!)

I’m on my way!

Week Two

I’ve had several people ask, so I’ll give a quick update on the stress of last week. My dog had surgery on Thursday, and my vet believes it may actually just be a ruptured salivary gland, although we are waiting on lab results to help shed some light on the situation.

So, for this week, first the bad news: this wasn’t the best week as far as eating or exercising. Take one Super Bowl party, add one Pacers game, and combine that with the need to take care of my dog after surgery, and I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped.

The good news: I still lost one pound! I’m now down to 210 as of Saturday (which will be my normal weigh-in day).

Starting weight: 216 pounds
Current weight: 210 pounds
total weight lost: 6 pounds
average per week: 3 pounds

I’m already starting this week out better with a great workout today, and I’m looking forward to keeping this going!

For those of you also working to lose weight or get in better shape, how’s it going? Can I help encourage you?

The first week…

Well, everyone, I wanted to give you all a quick update. I weighed in on Saturday, and I was down to 211 pounds! Yep, a whopping 5 pounds lost in the first week. How’d I do it?

better eating + working out + snow shoveling + stress = 5 pounds lost

I could probably attribute a good bit of it to the stress part, as my stomach was in literal knots from Wednesday afternoon on. I found out on Wednesday that one of my dogs may have cancer, and requires a good bit of testing to figure out what’s going on. I can tell I’ve actually put a pound or two back on since Saturday, which is probably normal for losing weight due to stress (and a Super Bowl party!), but at least I’m ahead of schedule, right?

Thanks for the many encouragements and questions on how I’m doing…keep it up as I try to keep going!