Day 378-380: Reveille Weekend Success

Great News, I received the OK to return to full activity from all surgeons, doctors and even my guardian Eeyore gave his OK. Excellent, no time to waste!...

With the weekend here I got busy getting the heart rate and sweat pumping once again. So Saturday morning my wife, one son & I headed off to the YMCA. My wife got her workout on in the swimming pool as usual; a fish she is. Andrew & I hit the weights, above you see him working the lat-pulldowns which seemed like a fine machine to get started on.

Below is the rest of our routine that day...

Rowing

 Iso-Pulldowns

 Assisted Pull Ups

 Calf Press

 Tricep Presses

 Leg Press

 Horizontal Chest Press

 Incline Sit Ups

It felt great to get back in the gym. There were a few other exercises we did which I forgot to take photos of, e.g.squats, flys; we got in good variety in the hour we were there.

Sore, sore was the word of the day for the rest of my weekend. Amazing how muscle-memory works, it was like I hadn't skipped much of a beat. I felt a bit awkward on some of the exercises, felt a tad weak on triceps; but otherwise I was owning the steel.

Sore or not on Sunday, it was time to get in some more. I was determine to make this my Reveille Weekend and awaken from the stagnant slumber that I had been in for too long. Sunday, cardio! My wife was not feeling good so she didn't join as as she wanted to. Andrew & I got after it at the Rollins Savannah...

Last year I put in some great efforts here and put up a streak of personal records here as well. My best time last year on this 3.6 mile loop was 54:49 minutes. We set out with the idea of getting as close to it as possible. No way was achieving that time going to happen this day; No Way! I hadn't put in any consistent cardio in April, I still haven't shed that 10 pound regain from the winter, and my sore muscles weren't feeling extraordinary effort within them.

Never Say Never!

We smashed that PR in a big way.

I came in at 52:04 minutes...

Andrew at 51:35 minutes.

I feel an Oh Yeah!

Did you feel any Oh Yeah's this weekend/recently?

Final thought: We have Never Forgot 9/11 and those murdered, maimed and devastated. The news of OBL's termination is reason for pride swell and affirmation in our determination for justice; but it is not reason to now forget. The cause continues, sadly in the throws of war. Never Forget means just that; NEVER FORGET!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 257 - Riddle Some Dunham

What do you say we end the year with a picture riddle... I don't think this one is too hard, but then again I know what it is. Take a look, take a guess, have some fun.

Yesterdays exercise was cardio, another 4 mile walk outdoors. I timed myself for the final mile to see if I had a PR in me, been quite a while since I've timed myself. Finished mile number four in 14:51 minutes, just walking; no jogging this day... put that PR up on the board, shaved over 1/2 minute over the last time I just walked a mile.

How are you folks out east doing with the recent snow storms? We have nothing to really complain about weather wise in the midwest. Sure some snow, sure some cold air; but nothing like what you folks are dealing with. It was a brisk 20F morning for yesterday's walk. Took the below shot with 1/2 block to go on this walk. My house is the one there with the American flag; sadly it is the only house within eye-shot that flys the flag every day this planet spins around the sun...

Looking to hit the weights today and get in some more cardio too. Trying to finish the year strong while also sweating past any damage I may have done over the long weekend. Also taking advantage of being home this week.

Last night was family fun night; as part of our Christmas gift to our kids, their grand parents & my sister in laws family we took them to see Jeff Dunham. If you don't know this comedian, check out some of his website or his act on youtube. If you do know Jeff, then you won't be surprised that we had a blast. My throat & sides are sore from laughing so much.

Are you finishing 2010 strong & having fun doing it?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 205 - Fruit To Battleship

Fruit Count: 172 - Through the weekend we have collectively enjoyed 172 pieces of fruit over the the past five days. Mandy continues to be our lead fruit challenger, she knocked down 7 again on Saturday and 8 pieces on Sunday! Can we get to our goal of 199 by the end of day today, or at latest Tuesday; making it a clean week to get this fruit challenge done? Lets make a go at it, pick, pack and munch some winning fruit and shout out how many pieces you eat today!

Today's post will be a picture based affair to get the week off to an easy start. The pic of the fruit there, those are the three pieces I am taking to work today. Those will be eaten for sure, likely another piece or two will find their way in my belly by bed time as well.

This past Saturday I went to the Rollins Savanna for my cardio walk. I had not been there since July. Great place to walk, very well maintained preserve. Chilly morning, lower 40's. Thus I was dressed for the chill, but I cannot be accused of putting any effort into color coordination of this ensemble...

Along the way I realized I had company, my shadow. Keeping pace with me step for step. Hhmmm, can I log double miles for my November Go The Distance challenge?

No, I didn't finish as neat & clean looking as I started, but I did finish the 3.6 mile walk. After 54:49 minutes I completed what I had began. A PR by nearly 3-1/2 minutes better than my walk here. Water, I needed water.

Did you get in any cardio this weekend?

When I home I wasted no time getting some food ready. I was hungry! And here was my meal of choice for lunch; A broiled 'Spicy Chicken Breast' over a medley of peppered veggies. Spicy, simple and filling...

Do you like it spicy?

Sunday my wife and I hung out. First stop for us in the morning was a visit to the YMCA where she is a member. She is a swimmer and gets her cardio in via the water when she can. I decided to go with er using a guest pass. I gave their weight room the once over and had a great time. So many more options there than on my home gym. We noodle the idea of converting her individual membership into a family membership,and we might. The only reason we have not is location, this place is near where she works which is nowhere near where I work. So I am having issues justifying the added cost when I would likely just use it on weekends. Maybe...

Where do you workout?

These next two pics I lifted from a friends facebook page. Any Star Wars fans out there? If you are this is good for a laugh. My kids messed with Mentos & Coke when they were younger, this certainly looks like something they would have cooked up for fun...

Have you ever mixed Mentos & Coke?

Now this one doesn't need much commentary from me. Simply said, times have come along way...

Has anyone ever purposely smiled while washing dishes?

- - -

Have a great Monday!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 200 - Take A Swag

Wednesday seems like a fine day to have a bit of riddle with our good eats and exercise. So there it is, it is a thing or thang, maybe it is a this or that, perhaps even a what or huh... you tell me. Give us a guess. No idea what it is, the give us some swag (silly-wild-ass-guess). Tomorrow we'll see is any have nailed this riddle to the wall or knocked a nasty hole in it.

Fruit... yesterday we had a bit of fun on my 199th day here where we called out here, on facebook & twitter to see how many pieces of fruit we could eat. Thanks Lanie for the idea! I counted FIFTY pieces of fruit, including the four I ate. That is about a trio of fruit for those who stepped up to play, I'd call that a huge success. But it is not 199, so lets keep piling up apple cores, banana peels and grape vines on this thing; hit me up with how many you eat today and we'll keep this going until we get 199.


Decisiveness, a trait we have all embraced at times. Question is, are we decisive consistently? In April I decided to lose weight. That fine spring day, April 18th, I took prompt and determined action to do get healthy. Decisive behavior and a serious decision goes together like socks and shoes. No, like Laurel and Hardy. What, you don't know who they are? Hmmm, Mike and Molly?

Nope, not going to say that I am always consistent in being decisive. Certainly I feel I am more often than not. And in being honest there are some aspects in life I am more decisive than others. Family gets my decisive side quickly. Self needs I have been more reserved in being as decisive. That is a fault I have come to believe, one I am working to correct. Getting my butt in gear on getting healthy is proof of that.

Had another good day yesterday. My eating was good and I believe a bit better than the day before. The fat percentage was much better. I'd like to flip-flop those carb & protein numbers, I'd have to change things up further to do so. I take in a great deal of fruit and salads and veg which are primarily carbs. And it has been that way, what you see in that chart, for the most part since April. Those, I think, are high quality carbs so the numbers as you see them here should be fine for the long haul; please do share your thoughts if they differ.

Exercise was part of my day yesterday as well. The home gym routine was owned and as well push ups and sit ups were done. Oh, yesterday I meant to share this photo of me getting home after my walk/jog on Monday evening. It was a cardio session worthy of an Oh Yeah! I crushed my 2 mile loop where my PR of 29:03 minutes fell hard to an awesome late evening walk/jog effort. A new 2 mile 26:41 minute PR reigns and as well my new 1 mile PR is now 13:05 minutes. November has left the station with a full head of steam.

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 193 - Rewards Rock, But

GO, that is my word for the day. I am not at work this morning, so no fancy white board. Just cheap ball point pen to scrap paper. No picture of new clothes today either. I just got back from a 2 mile walk/jog combo where I posted a new PR at 29:03 minutes. So you see me in my cheap workout shirt trying to get this post put together so I get on to eating some breakfast and a take a shower...

Where do you want to GO today?

Rewards rock! And they certainly can help motivate, they do for me. But those of us that use rewards for attaining milestones must keep rewards in perspective. The rewards are not meant to be the primary, or even secondary, reason we strive to get healthy.

Rewards are simply carrots we dangle to help us alongside the real reasons we do this. For everyone our real reasons are different and most of us have shared them from time to time with each other. If I were to hazard a guess, and I shall; a guess at the commonality amongst all of our real reasons I would say longevity & happiness may be the big two. Fitting into smaller stuff may be a close third :-)

For my 40% to goal weight reward it took me a couple months to cash in that reward. Simply I debated whether I really needed the hitch-haul I had originally set out for that goal. Mixed into that self-argument was the looming reality that I needed a whole new set of work clothes. As I shared last week my wife ended my internal argument for me and took me shopping, so new clothes it was. I Love My Wife!

For my 50% to goal weight reward it took me a couple days to cash in. There it is below, my new hunting rifle. Bought it on Sunday, the day I verified I had eclipsed the 50% mark. Illinois has a 1-day waiting period before you can pick up purchased rifles yet it took me two days to get back to the store to bring it home. For any fellow hunting or shooting enthusiasts out there I picked out a Savage Arms 7MM Rem Mag Rifle w/3-9x40MM Scope.

Now on towards the 60% milestone which I hope to attain by end of year at the latest. 

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 180 - Aged Banana Bump'n

source

Thursday it is, in case you did not know. You probably knew that did you know that bananas are the world’s most popular fruit after tomatoes? While grocer’s like that they make up 3% of their total sales they are less than happy that bananas account for the most complaints from grocery shoppers. Some just go off at the sight of an overripe or even spotted banana. Fact is that a spotted banana is 6x sweeter than a green banana. So people, don't be shy of the more 'experienced' bananas amongst the bunch.

Yesterday my son & I visited Lake Andrea for some exercise. We followed last weeks walk / jog layout exactly the same. Decided to do this versus increase the total percentage of jogging. Oh I will do that soon, but yesterday I just wanted the challenge to try and be a better time, or, amp up the pace of both the walking & jogging. And that we did, we completed the 2.25 mile loop in 29:32 minutes, beating our best by 1:23 minutes. Oh Yeah!

Bumper Stickers, was doing some bumper sticker window shopping (what you don't do that?) and came across a few worthy of sharing...

Ah, many times in the past I could have displayed this one and related. Start a diet, flounder through it, lose steam, slip and slide and quit before even giving it a chance. In the end, all I did was lose time. Well, hopefully I also gained some knowledge on how to 'not' diet. Or even more optimistically I gained some knowledge on why 'I' quit the diet because the diet did not quit me.

Another I can relate to. In part the bad choices of my 20's & 30's left me really feeling life in my 40's. And when I'd look in a mirror, the show was not a good one. Fine, that may be so. But now I am going to try & reverse this bumper sticker and prove that a better life can begin in your 40's and you can improve how it shows too.

This one is pretty simple to relate to I believe. What do we say, eat less & move more to get healthy. I prefer eat smarter & move more, but let us not split bananas here. Get off the rump roast, eat less of it too, get on your feet, and move. Simple enough?

Well, this one is just silly I suppose. Why did I show it? Because it reminded me of the 1,273 excuses I have used in the past for why I was (still am) obese. Most were attempts to use humor to ease the pain of being obese and change the topic either in my head or with someone else. Have fun, laugh out loud, but be serious about our health - we can have fun and be healthy. But making fun of ourselves and leaving it at that, well that just is not funny!
 

This one you can fold in half lengthwise and just show the top portion in my opinion. Get healthy for yourself. Do it whatever way you inspires you to get it done. Lace on the Nike's and just do it and worry not one ounce what anyone else thinks about how you look, what you are doing, your progress or plateaus or set backs... all that matters is what do you think about yourself?

Source for all of the above bumper stickers.

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 173 - Riddle This Monster

Hello blogger loving - heatlhy craving - exercise wanting - happy folk. Does that sound like you? Sounds to me like a fine way to looked upon as.

Picture riddle for Thursday this week. There you see it. Looks shiny, looks symmetrical. Doesn't look like a liquid or a squid. What is it?

Wednesday was a great day on the exercise front. My son & I made a visit to Lake Andrea to chip away at my personal challenge there. Continuing to work to get around that lake's 2.25 mile loop faster and faster by mixing in more jogging with the walking. Last week we improved our time by 1:51 minutes doing just that.

This week we got after with even more intensity and achieved a monster PR shaving a monster 2:11 to finish in 30:55 minutes. Monster I'm telling you! Um, yeah, I was stunned when I looked at my watch (if you can't see it trust me it says 30:55)...

Cashed out, that was me afterwards. No time to catch my breath however, I had to take care of a little business before breathing, hydrating, celebrating. That done, I wanted to capture an Oh Yeah shot but my 'gasping for air' face over-rode my 'happy and prideful' face. So this is my Oh Yeah shot (why do us bloggers like to take pics in bathrooms? I cropped out as much of the porcelain furniture I could)...

Finally hydrating... my son tried to get a better Oh Yeah shot of me in a more celebratory moment. However this is not much better as I was too thirsty to pose and he was too impatient to wait...

After the exercise we went off to grab a meal & play before going to his high school for a presentation on college prep. Andrew was paying more attention to the baseball game on TV than his game controller where I was focused on the video poker battle between us...

But he didn't need to may much attention to the poker as he was wiping the floor with me as I kept getting hand after hand like this...

Finally, some food...

Have a MONSTER Day!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 166 - Trio O Fun

Ok, today is a day to lighten up the topic just a bit. But allow me a quick follow up to yesterday's post on trusting & believing in yourself. Simply I truly do believe your own success rides solely on your ability to do just that; TRUST that you have what it takes to get healthy & BELIEVE that you will.

On to the fun, a trio of fun tidbits for you is what I have.

First…
Seems like a great day to have a go at another picture riddle. So there you see a picture of what? Not that I'm looking for what that 'yellow' item represents more so than what it is made of. Have fun! I'll get you the answer tomorrow, or maybe earlier.

Second…
A quick report out on a fun time I had yesterday evening. My son & I made a venture over to Lake Andrea for some cardio. It had been a couple of weeks since I had had a PR of any kind and this was the place I last did. And this place has become my latest location of challenge.

Recall two times ago here I started jogging the last 1/4 or 1/5 mile of this loop and my pants were falling down. Yeah, I still chuckle at that myself. The last time they didn't because I was wearing better fitting trousers to work that day, ok maybe a little slippage at the end of that effort. It is what I get for walking/jogging in my business casual attire.

Yesterday I finally got the hint. I changed into exercise shorts & t-shirt beforehand. What is the saying, Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me (President George W. Bush said it better, " fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002 "). Anyhow, off we went and I wanted this loop to be a celebratory affair; I got the stitches out of my face today and all is healing great; that I believe is worthy of a celebratory effort; no?

Cut to the chase, we walked a bit, jogged for 100 or more steps, and repeated. All in all I jogged seven stints of 100-150 steps on a loop I previously just walked for the most part. For that bit of bravado I earned a new PR on the look, knocking 1:51 minutes from it to chalk up a 33:06 finish for this 2.25 mile loop. I think an Oh Yeah! is in order.

Third…
Twitter. I stayed away from that bit-o-technology (anyone else just get a craving for bit-o-honey?) forever. Until recently a blogger gave me the scoop on it has helped augment their weight-loss effort beyond blogging. Since I never expected blogging to do squat for my effort when I started last April (how blind was I?), I figured I just may be missing out. Boy oh boy (my Grandma Alma's favorite phrase for when the lights came on), was I ever missing out.

Twitter has allowed me to keep up with those of you doing the same during those times of day when I'm off and away with just my blackberry in hand. Perhaps that makes me a bit addictive to all of this, and if so, I am cool with that. As I firmly believe that my connecting with all of you has brought me buckets full of motivation, no barrels full, to stay focused sun up to sunset. Thanks for that!

So, if you tweet and you & I are not connected there, let's get connected. There is a badge on the left to follow on with my twitter conversation, please use it. If you are not on twitter, dare I ask why not?

Fourth…
Oh, I said a trio of fun tidbits didn't I. Fine, this post is long enough as it is.

                                                    Enjoy this day, get healthier and Have Fun!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 152 - Cool Progress Pics

Dawn & Christine were minutes apart to be first in to make the correct guess of a fire hydrant for yesterday's picture riddle. I took that riddle shot looking straight down onto the top of the hydrant so what you saw was that large pentagon shaped bolt in the pics center. Many great guesses from all of you. Some I had to look back at the pic to wonder, huh; how is it that is what they see? Cervix, hmmm. The mole I just had removed, LOL. A dish on a plate, well... all good & cool fun!

Yesterday was a fine day on most accounts. Got in another walk. This time my son & I hit Lake Andrea. The last time we went you may recall we decided to jog the last 1/4 or 1/5 mile and I struggled then more with my pants falling down than with the jog itself. Well we did the same this time but I didn't have the pants falling to the ground problem since I had on a pair of 42-inch waist vs. the 46's I was still wearing then. The better fitting pants didn't make any difference in time I am sure, but something did, as yesterday we finished this 2.25 mile trip in 34:57 for a cool new PR around this lake.

This week I believe I've walked about 11 miles in making up for the fact I am not supposed to be lifting weights this week (thanks Doc), 11 miles - cool.

The first time we got close to doing Lake Andrea in 40 minutes; I thought I was faster than anyone possibly could be, outta my way because you can't touch this cool breeze. I'm not a ego fueled head case usually, we all have our moments, but I recall being really stoked over 40 minutes. Now we've knocked that down to under 35 and I have to wonder how much more time can we knock that down? Time will tell.

Progress Pictures... I have updated them. Recently I hit the 40% progress made towards my goal milestone. Yesterday I finally took the pictures of me at this new and cool weight. These pictures are now up HERE or under My Progress Pics link at the top of my blog. I also added a side by side piece for a better visual reference of where I was 152 days ago and where I am today. Needless to say I am quite pleased with these.

How about you, do you have any cool recent progress pictures, or before & after pictures, to share?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 150 - Night Time Mov'in

Monday was a decent day. Ate well all day. It was taco night at our house, it is on average 2x a month. For myself I through some chopped bell pepper and firm tofu in a skillet, seasoned it and got it hot. When that red bell pepper turned a brilliant red in the pan I hit it all with a heaping tablespoon of homemade salsa (recipe is HERE, mine was hot of course). A few ticks of the  clock later and it was ready to come to rest on a bed of grilled onions in a whole grain tortilla; MY taco!

Yeah, there was no danger of anyone else wanting it let me assure you. Tofu is like kryptonite in our house, only I am not weakened to my core at the site of it. Same could be said for bell peppers too, just not a household of veggie appreciators. Working on that.

Planned to get up early and work out but, that didn't happen. The bed needed to be kept warm just a bit longer, yeah that was it. But fear not, I exercised. After dinner I got in a trip on my 3.6 mile Neighborhood-II Loop.

Dark, it gets dark after dinner now. It is only September. I imagine in late December all my exercise will be in the dark. Fine, I am prepared. I am a hunter so I have plenty of warm weather clothing. And, I am luminous. yep, check out that picture, that's me glowing as I walk last night. Pic is a bit fuzzy, I was moving and didn't want to lose pace to shoot the pic so I gave up quality for pace.

Whenever I am out & about I usually wear that fedora, including when I exercise. Realizing the darkness was creeping in on our day I purchased a pair of reflective arm/leg straps recently. When worn on my arms they feel restrictive. On my legs they feel kinky, just go with it. So, I connected them together and what do you know, the perfect reflective hat band. I'd patent it, but come on, the market for folks that exercise in a fedora has to be teeny-tiny.

The walk felt great. For one because I was getting in a good walk for the first time in a week. And two because I know I needed it and was stoked to be putting the previous sedentary week behind me.

How great did it feel? It felt 58:50 minutes great; a new PR but almost 2 full minutes. Seven seconds short of two minutes to be factual. In previous walks on this loop I have chipped away at that PR, not sure why I smashed that one so convincingly this time. Maybe it is the cooler temperatures. Maybe I was just on a bigger high than I realized. Maybe it was the salsa. Whatever it was; Oh Yeah!

Are you prepared for adapting your exercise to the change in seasons?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 140 - Rebounding From Wedding

The afternoon is almost gone and I am just sitting down for some blogging. It will be a short sit as I need to get ready to go see my son play soccer soon. But at least wanted to get a post up and checkout a few blogs before I go. I'll be back this evening to read more blogs and see how everyone is doing.

Hope all of you are doing well as we start this weekend. A long holiday weekend it is too. Myself, woke up feeling sluggish. Between the wedding rehearsal on Thursday evening and then the wedding Friday I am wiped out. And I was not even in the wedding party, so you can imaging how wiped out my wife is. So much so she is upstairs taking a nap before the soccer game.

While I didn't go binge crazy over board at these two events I did eat a good 300-400 calories more that I intend on a given day, where a given day day for me is 1700-2000 calories. Lets just say I likely took in 2500 calories on each of the last two days. Not terrible, the old me would have taken in 3-times that. Not good either as I did eat more than I should have. Thus why I felt sluggish this morning too.

But I did not let that feeling get to me, I did the opposite actually. Instead of wallowing in some pity I used that feeling for motivation and declared this a Two-A-Day day. In part to get moving to relieve myself of the sluggish feeling and in part to undo any damage I may have done the past two days. Weigh in day tomorrow, and I am weighing in and announcing the milestone achieved tomorrow as I set out to do at the beginning of the week.

First up on the Two-A-Day: Stanton Hill. My son was with me and as well the JV high school football team was there using the hill. Luckily the section I use was available and off we went. A brisk 60F day out made it pleasant, though the high winds were a bit of a nuisance. Last time out here I missed a new PR on this hill by a few seconds. It had been over a month since I hit the 20 laps up & down mark. We set our sights in on 21 this time and gave it all we had. And have it we would, we nailed 21 with about a minute to go,not enough time to get in a 22nd lap, that'll have to wait for another visit and be happy with this PR, Oh Yeah!

Second up on the Two-A-Day: the 3.6 Mile Neighboorhood II loop. AI had a light lunch after the hill and a brief rest and then off I went by myself for this walk. My goal was an hour, my best so far was just over 61 minutes. This is a loop through our sub-division, into the next and around two large park and back. All concrete and asphalt, some small inclines and declines; friendly walking terrain you could say. Along the way I listened to the latest podcast from MizFit & Shauna, which was both motivating and at the same time there were parts where I just wanted to sit on a park bench and listen because my own breathing was getting in the way of listening. But know I had the luxury of listening to it again later on, I kept going. And going I went to a 60:43 finish. Aother PR for this day, Oh Yeah!

Ok, I am off to the shower and to soccer. Have a great day everyone!

Catch your blogs later this evening and catch you back here tomorrow for my weigh in.

Oh, have you checked out MizFit & Shauna's podcast? If not use that link up there and give it a listen; good stuff!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 134 - 41% Progress

Got in another cardio workout on Saturday. A return to the Junior High soccer field for some more 80 yard sprints. Last weekend my first attempt saw me do ten sprints before calling it a workout, this attempt I did a dozen. My fastest sprint was 20 seconds, a second better than my best spring a week ago. I may have pushed it a bit further than wise as my left thigh was not too happy with me afterwards. I stretched it out good afterwards and it felt better, no big deal; just need to stretch more beforehand is my guess.

Had a pair of cool NSV's yesterday...

We are going to a wedding this coming Friday. My wife asked if I was going to get a new pair of trousers since the ones I wear now are so baggy. I wasn't going to but she seemed to want me to so we did just that.

For the better part of a decade I've been wearing 46's. If honest with myself I should have been wearing 48's or 50's perhaps the past year or so as my 46's have been tight tight tight. I grabbed a pair of 44's to take to the dressing room and my wife suggested I try 42's. Not necessary I thought but I grabbed them any way and off I went to the dressing room.

The first thing I tried on was a 2XL t-shirt I grabbed before making my way over to the trousers. Before I started this mission I wore exclusively 3XL's which fit me. Not all would fit when I tried them on, just some. Had I been willing to buy 4XL's I'd have had more options in recent years, but, for whatever reason buying 4XL's was something I was not going to do until I needed to.

Huh? Can you believe that!? Attitude, that was my old attitude, that someday I would have to buy 4XL's and when that day came so be it, but not before. Thinking back at that attitude both boils my Irish blood and tickles my Irish bum.

The 2XL t-shirt fit great and the many old 2XL t-shirts I've had shoved to the back of my dresser drawers have been replaced the 3XL's for use now as I can wear any 2XL I touch comfortably now.

Back to the trousers, I started with trying on the 42's. Now I should have known my wife would be right, silly me. I never even tried on the 44's, just took the t-shirt & the 42's and checked out.

So chalk these up on the NSV list...
>Buying new trousers in size 42, down from 46's.
>Saying goodbye to having to buy 3XL shirts & hello to 2XL

The numbers for this weigh in areas follows: I weigh 41% less than the day I started this mission.

Thus, 49.5 pounds have been lost in the past EIGHTEEN weeks; 2 of them this past week.

Today I weighed in at 270.5 pounds. Oh Yeah!

Cool - the 40% mark has been achieved! The 50 pound mark, missed it by that much; holding thumb & fore finger a 1/2 inch apart representing that 1/2 pound shy I am of that mark. Needless to say, I am quite please with this past week.

Enjoy your Sunday, have fun & be healthy!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 131 - Seen Da Light

Top-o-Thursday to you.
"Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug." -- John Lithgow
 
Great day yesterday, near perfection in eating & exercise. All meals balanced, portioned well, and mighty tasty too; what more can a healthy wanna be ask for?

Exercise before work was 5 sets each of sit-ups and push-ups with stretching exercises between sets; Thanks to all who answered my call the other day for help with stretching. After work my son & I walked Lake Andrea. Well, we didn't walk it all, we jogged the last .2-.25 miles of that 2.25 loop.

Funny thing was my pants were falling down while jogging. Picture if you can my 272'ish pound frame jogging in dockers & a dress shirt (on Wednesday's I don't go home before going up to hang with my son), having to hold his pants up with my left hand while fumbling an ipod nano with the other because I knocked the ear cords out with my right hand as it pumped away. I must have looked a mess, or a fool; and I loved looking just as I did.

We finished that loop in 35:29 minutes, a good 2.5 minutes faster than the previous best. Guess I can't call the Lake Andrea PR a walking event any longer. It is now a place to get my body around as fast as I can with a mix of walk, jog, crawl, skip, moon-walk, and dare I say better fitting clothes?

So yes, I enjoyed ruling the day yesterday - have you ruled a day lately?

I shall soon post that I have lost 50 pounds, it may be this weekend or next; but it is coming soon...
I shall RESIST temptation to return into the dark and put back on any unhappy weight; nope I have Seen Da Light.

I have learned so much in the past 131 days, thanks in large part to many of you; and I thirst for more...
I have LAUNCHED this mission to 199 pounds or less in pursuit of greater happiness; yes I have Seen Da Light.

I will remember that being healthy is all mental, my will to change and my choice to act; I and I alone decide success over failure...
I will FORGO excuses of all form as cause to choose unhappiness; I have Seen Da Light.

I am happier today than yesterday, tomorrow will be happier today, the next 45 years will be my happiest yet...
I AM Responsibility 199; I have Seen Da Light.
(picture of me up there at son's soccer game this week seemed fitting)

Have You Seen Da Light?

 
Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 126 - Food Log Opened

Hello one and all. Thank you for all of the questions yesterday from my "Day 125 - Ask Me Anything" post, last night I posted a comment there (CLICK HERE) in reply with answers to them. Some challenging questions, a fun experience, hope you enjoyed.

Friday I was on fire. Got up at 445 a.m., was out for a 2 mile walk by 5 a.m., and returned 33:28 minutes later. That my friends, is a new PR for my neighborhood loop. While I have met my weekly goal for exercise this week, I intend to get in another round of cardio today, not sure what but we'll get something in.

Food was good. Surprisingly, I ended up at Applebee's again today, that is twice in three days. I took the afternoon off work to hang out with my wife. Our afternoon included her doctors appointment so we went out to lunch, Applebee's is close to the docs, so that's how I ended up back at a place I am not a huge fan of. Had something off of their WW menu this time, a salad, which was Ok. Why do chicken breasts in these 'casual dining' places come out so bland and blah?

As promised yesterday's log looked like this....
5a - Exercise: 2 Mile Walk (Neighborhood Loop, 33:28)
6a - Tomato Juice, Pumpkin Flax Granola, Milk, Grapes (I put the grapes in my cereal, see below, what - they are just big raisins :-)
10a - Apple
1230p - Applebees: Paradise Chicken Salad
330p - Cherries
715p - Two Scrambled Eggs w/ Ham & Cheese (we had breakfast for dinner), Coleslaw
745p - One Small Square of Dark Chocolate

grapes in my granola, so good!

Food Log, this week I have focused allot on my food log as intended when I committed to doing so this past Monday. Up top there you see a picture of what my actual hand written food log looks like. That shot is from earlier this week, Monday & Tuesday. That is as much detail as I keep daily. My purpose for this log, make it look green... want all of the food entries to be GREEN.

Why green, well I have a bit of old school in me, so I write with one of those BIC 4-Color ballpoint pens; and I use all 4 colors. For my log I use then as follows:
Black ink is for exercise entries  
Green ink is for meals/snacks that are well balanced and portioned
Blue ink is for meals/snacks that are just OK, pushing the envelope on balance and portion
Red ink is for meals/snacks where I have missed the mark entirely in terms of healthy balance & portion 

Here is an example of a day that is not all green...

These are the entries for Wednesday & Thursday this week. Thursday's dinner was blue because I pushed the envelope of good portion & balance buy having grilled wings and a burger patty. I didn't need that patty, I almost made this entry red. There was no confusion on what color to make my choice at 830 p.m. to eat an ice cream bar. Forget that it was a 100 calorie WW choice, even though it was better than a trip to Dairy Queen, I didn't really need it; I just caved into my gut saying feed me! So red for that entry.

Ok, I can't go on much more about my food log, I'd hate to bore you into an adhoc slumber on a Saturday.
Do you keep a food log?
Do you keep it on paper or online?
Do you keep it in greater detail e.g. nutrient grams?
Do you believe it helps you in your own mission?

Hmm, suddenly feeling like some doo-wop music.

Have an most totally bodacious and supreme Saturday!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 116 - Powered By Mosquitoes

Source

Awesome chat on yesterdays post & topic feeding kids, fast food, etc... hope it didn't make anyone relapse and drive thru and grab a happy meal on the way home. After a heavy topic like that I need to lighten up today's post. And I have a few chuckles to share thanks to a conversation yesterday where some bad jokes were told, lets hope I got them close to right...

For every minute we exercise we add minute our lives which allows us to live as long as another 5 months in our elder years, which will cost us $25,000 figuring $5000 per month in a nursing home.


Some studies conclude that those who pick up exercise in the golden years do so in order to enjoy the sounds of heavy breathing again.

When listing out Pros & Cons for taking up exercise, which one would you list this under; Exercising every day allows you to die healthier.

Ok, not the greatest set of jokes, but if you even grinned a little, then I am satisfied :-)

Exercise - I went for a walk, the 2-mile neighborhood loop, yesterday evening. It was quite warm, but not hot. It was sticky, but not unbearable. What was a pain in the neck were the mosquitoes. It didn't take long for me to get going before I realized I was a walking banquet. I figured the best response was to just walk fast. That and I also walked in the street, farther from the bushes and brush along the way. It helped, but I was still a moving snack for the most determined mosquitoes.

As I was walking I tried to use the mosquitoes as motivation and thought of setting a new PR for that walk. It almost worked, 33:53, just seven seconds slower than my current PR there. Maybe if the mosquitoes had been even more determined? Just kidding, determination is all on me, not the bugs around me.

Personal Records were bound to hit a plateau of some sort and they seem to have done just that. I had been ringing them up fairly regular there for a period but knew their frequency would wane. The fact that I've hit a groove on some of my exercise times doesn't mean that PR's will disappear, unless I choose to disregard them. I think that what it really means is that I need to get leaner & stronger if want to produce better PR's on these same exercises. That and I may need to find new challenges to keep things fresh and as well keep me progressing.

Understanding that PR's themselves are of minor importance compared to getting the exercise in and moving forward on my mission to achieve Responsibility 199.

Dusk, starting to feel the squeeze from the summer season moving towards fall. Getting darker earlier. Not that I am afraid to walk in the dusk or darkness. But I do certainly prefer the day light. If it is dark out, my mind says get to bed. Obviously I am going to have to get over that silliness and walk in the dark as it will just get darker earlier and earlier especially when daylight savings time ends; when is that, November?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!