Day 142 - Happy Labor Day

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Labor Day is the unofficial end of the summer.
Labor Day is an occasion for getting your BBQ'n on.
Labor Day is a day for towns, villages, cities to put on parades.
Labor Day is unfortunately where politicians will appear at these parades and open their mouths.
Labor Day is referenced throughout the year as when the NFL and College football seasons will kick off again.
Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers, according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

Whatever Labor Day is to you, enjoy this day.

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 141 - 43% Progress & Five-Oh'Yeah

A good morning to you all...

This morning was weigh-in day, and a it was great validation of all the hard work, mental & physical, I've put in over the past 4-1/2 months. The milestone hit today is just a number, but if you asked me 4-1/2 months ago if I'd have been able to hit it by the end of year, let alone in 141 days; I'd have said nope, not likely.

This morning I have lost 43% of the weight I have set out to lose.

That's 51.5 pounds lost over NINETEEN weeks; 2 of them this past week.

Today I weighed in at 268.5 pounds. Oh Yeah!

Yes, 50 is just a number. It represents what? Well, let's see...

• 50 less pounds to threaten my cardio-vascular health
• 50 more pounds of confidence to believe I can accomplish this mission
• 50 less pounds to inhibit my ability to do the exercise I need
• 50 more pounds of motivation to try things I thought myself incapable of 4-1/2 months prior
• 50 less pounds to have to explain when I get my annual physical
• 50 more pounds of energy to keep me off the couch and on task
• 50 less pounds to prevent me from getting on a roller coaster
• 50 more pounds of knowledge to put to use in getting healthier and healthier
• 50 less pounds to toss around as excuses for not living life as I wish I could
• 50 more pounds of blog followers who fuel me with the wisdom & respect of their own stories
• and I could go on...

So 50 is just number; and today it is my favorite number.

What is your favorite number today?

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 139 - My D'Oh Tonic

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Up at 4:30 a.m. yesterday and went out for a walk on my neighborhood 2 mile loop. I don't know if itis walking first thing in the morning that makes a difference, or if I'm just on a performance up-tick, or what, but I obliterated my PR's for that loop & my 1-mile walk time, 31:53 and 15:30 minutes respectively. The loop time was more than 1-1/2 minutes faster than my previous best. Maybe it is the darkness and that my eyes can't wander off as far & lose focus. Whatever it was, I aint complaining.

When do you exercise, a.m., noon, p.m.? Have a preference? Liz posted yesterday on the pro / con of when we exercise; I enjoyed this read and am sharing it here for you to enjoy as well.

Wedding day today for our friends Eileen & Brian. Have the day off work, leave about noon'ish to get my wife where she needs to be, then the wedding with the full one-hour plus Catholic mass, then a reception complete with dinner and dancing and all the typical reception stuff. Perhaps home by midnight at the earliest. Wish me luck in my upcoming fight against today's food temptations.

On Sunday I reported a 2 pound loss for last week and my pleasure with it. Indeed I was pleased. But, I know I left something on the table. No, I'm not talking about an extra serving of pork chops; I did leave that on the table on purpose. However I also made a mistake that saw me leave on the table the opportunity to lose more weight last week.

What did I do, I drank tonic water. I usually drink a 20-24 ounce glass three or four nights a week. I like tonic water, always have. About a month ago I was looking for an alternative to diet soda, and water, and remembered tonic water so I scooped up a few 2-liter bottles and have been working on them.

What's wrong with tonic water? Myself, I thought nothing at all, I mean; it's just carbonated water right? Enter my wife. She comes home Saturday morning from the grocery store with DIET tonic water. Huh? What do you mean diet, it's water with bubbles and quinine; how much more diet can you get?

For validation I go check the nutrition facts on the bottle I've been drinking, ARGHH! It is loaded with high fructose corn syrup - WHAT!!! An 8 ounce serving is 100 calories. Yikes, on nights I've enjoyed a glass I've sucked in an extra 250 - 300 calories. D'Oh!

Down the drain that bottle went, and I thanked my wife. She saved me sooner rather than later; imagine if I hadn't discovered this for say 3-6 months from now? Perish the thought.

So, had I not been so dim-witted I may have had a hair better progress in the bank. Oh well, I am really not mad, not at all. Over the past 136 days you may have picked up on that I am very calm headed; not easily upset or put off. Live and learn, love and laugh; and laugh I did at my tonic water error.

Have you made any diet errors?
Please say you have, I can't be the only one; can I?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 138 - Fit To KISS

Rain Rain Rain here yesterday. Didn't stop me from getting up early (430am) and getting in a work out on the home gym and busting out a bunch of sit ups & push ups. But it did wash out my plans to walk around Lake Andrea in the evening.

Oh well, I'm good so far on my planned exercise. Ate great again yesterday so I've got a groove going here. That said, I need to be sure I don't get comfortable or complacent. Seems when I do my guard falls and I tend to let temptation a bit closer than is safe.

This evening we go to the wedding rehearsal for our friends Eileen & Brian. It'll be fun, and easy for me; I am just there as the husband of a bridesmaid. Oh and a friend I suppose too :-) Looking forward to it, is it time to go yet? No, how about now?

In Sunday's post I spoke of being able to fit into 2XL shirt comfortably now. There it is in the picture, the one I picked up that day, it fits amazingly well, Oh Yeah! Sorry, couldn't help myself to an early Oh Yeah.

Yep, you are not seeing things. It is a retro KISS t-shirt exactly the same as the one I owned when I was a teenager. Well that one was probably an L, or XL at most, and this one is new, allot newer, like 30+ years newer. Oh, and you bet your sweet cheeks I am wearing this to the wedding rehearsal tonight.

KISS, still a big fan. Like many people, my favorite music is still what I enjoyed as a teen. Oh I listen to a bunch of stuff from the decades since too, in fact my favorite band, Chevelle, has only been at it about 10 years. KISS is more than just outstanding music to me, it's music holds a boat load of memories for me too.

Some of those memories are probably better left where they are, in my mind. But one memory I have of KISS is simply cool beyond cool. I am talking Grandma Cool. The year was 1977 and I had recently discovered KISS. Quickly I was not just a fan, I was a member of the KISS Army. But I didn't have one of their albums, everyone else did, but not me. I heard it everywhere but in my own home.

It didn't seem likely to happen any time soon either as I had asked my parents to buy me my favorite album, but they would not. Apparently I still owed them for the new baseball bat they bought me, details. When my Grandma Alma heard that I was into KISS she didn't do what many Grandma's would have, turn up their nose. Nope, she went to the record store to hear what they sounded like.

She thought they were terrible and would tell me "Grown men in make up ought to be in the circus," or something like that. Her opinions noted, and quickly dismissed, I still thought she was cool for having listened to them. But a minute later her coolness factor rose ten-fold when she handed me a brand-spanking-new copy of KISS' album "Rock and Roll Over", my favorite.

Those of you who know their KISS will recognise that album cover on my t-shirt there. So this shirt is not just cool because my getting healthier has allowed me to fit into it, it also brings back cool memories of my Grandma.

Thank You Grandma!

Come on, you must have a cool Grandma story, fess up!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 137 - A Happy 101

Eating was excellent on Tuesday and exercise was minimal. Soccer practice in the early morning and a soccer game in the evening stunted my available time, well, I let it stunt it. After work when we got the game the previous game was 25 minutes behind schedule so I went next door and got some cardio in on Stanton Hill. Not my usual event where I do as many laps up & down in 30 minutes, didn't have time for that. But I did have time for about 1/2 of it before our game started. Planning more cardio this evening and more excellent eating today as well. Are you?

Karla was so kind as to honor me with a thank you by giving me a Happy 101 award. Thank you Karla! Nice looking award, look at them cup cakes. I like cup cakes, and they have sprinkles too! Zero calories if you just look, or if you try & lick them off of the monitor screen. Not that I tried, serious, I didn't.

OK, awards are fun, and awards have rules. Rules by definition are not always fun, but remember, these rules came with a picture of cup cakes, so I dig in to them with pleasure; the rules that is..

First, I need to state 10 things I like...

1. Greek Yogurt (recently discovered awesomness)
2. Alternative History author Harry Turtledove 
3. Hunting (just deer hunting now, next year going to turkeys too)
4. NASCAR & Roush Fenway Racing (greatest sport on the planet)
5. Real BBQ'ing (especially ribs & shoulder, if I didn't need money I'd do it at a competitive level)
6. Hockey & the Chicago Blackhawks (2nd greatest sport on the planet)
7. Exercise (Yep, never thought I'd say that, but I have come to like it)
8. Darts (my father played for money, I play with the kids to be a more connected father)
9. Collecting Hot Sauce (collection is almost at 300 bottles now, I'll get some pics of it soon)
10. Franks for the Memories (Best wings on the planet)

Second, I need to pass this award on to 10 other bloggers I wish to share some cup cake happiness with...

1. Dee
2. Amelia
3. Aliana
4. Misunderstood and Admired
5. MandaPanda
6. Deb
7. Jo
8. Tish
9. Clyde
10. Alan (Pounds Off Playoff)

 Thanks again Karla!

Everyone, whatever it is you choose to do today; enjoy!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 136 - Tagged I Am

Excellent day yesterday at the eating and at the exercise. Balance, portion and yum all accounted for well. The dumbbell routine thrashed my upper body quite well as did the push ups. Sit ups too, it was just over a week ago I re-discovered my ability to even do sit ups once again. Now five sets of them are part of my exercise routine. So good day yesterday on the getting healthy front. How about you, was yesterday a good health day for you?

Before I forget, the answer to yesterday's picture riddle; a Strawberry Smoothie!

Jo was the first to guess a smoothie, Lori followed her up with the exact flavor of strawberry. I was afraid that was going to be too easy yet when guesses like cheese, meats, tile and a baseball bat started rolling in I backed off of that fear. And LEGS, a bunch of guesses it was a leg, this I didn't expect and got a great chuckle from, fun! Ok, whose ready for a smoothie?

Let's keep the fun a rollin here; Rapunzel has tagged me which requires me to answer 8 questions about myself then make up 8 new questions to tag 8 of you with! Without further delay here are the 8 she gave to me...

1. What is the biggest change you've made that's helped you succeed in your weight loss efforts?
A: On my blog I have listed 8 changes which I have committed myself to, it is hard to say which is the biggest impacting change. If pressed to choose one, #4 Reward Myself For Success. For me I've come to embrace that being healthy has to be fun, you have to enjoy it if you expect to be healthy for a life time. Rewarding myself when I attain goals I've set, now that is FUN!

2. What's your toughest temptation?
A: BACON!!! I love it, I would wrap myself in it if I didn't think I'd be tossed in a straight-jacket. I still enjoy bacon, but a slice or two a week is all. Not 1/2 pound in a single sitting.

3. What program are you following? (WW, South Beach, etc)
A: None. Eating healthy & exercising, it is just that simple. I do try and keep bad carbs in check, but it would be wrong to say I am on a low carb diet. I've come to learn when you have a food addiction living healthy in spite of it is all about being mentally strong. The program, or non-program, you choose is irrelevant until you have set your mind straight that you are going to get healthy. Not just try & do it, nope, that you ARE going to DO IT. Once your mind is set, then figure how how you want to do it and it will happen.

4. Who has been your biggest fan and supporter?
A: My wife. She knows how important this is to me, to us. Even though she knows that my getting healthy means I will be around allot longer, she still wants me to do it :-)

5. Any naysayers who've attempted to sabotage your efforts?
A: Not really. I read that some bloggers get emails from other bloggers criticizing them for this or that. I have had none of that. I may be my biggest naysayer. Even though I am more confident & positive than I ever have been about being healthy, I still have a daily episode where I tempt myself to have just one trip through the drive thru or order the 20 ounce rib eye just this once. While one of anything may really be ok, luckily I have not listened to the argument because I fear one will turn to two, then three, and then I may as well forget it. Me, only I can sabotage this mission.

6. Do you have a favorite "legal" food that helps keep you on track?
A: Fruit. I have never eaten so much fruit. Fruit has replaced most of my snacks. And I believe you have to have between meal snacks; at least I do. So apples now replace potato chips. Peaches replace candy bars. Grapes & Cherries replace donuts & fritters (OMG I miss fritters). You get the picture - eat your fruit people!

7. How do you see your life changing once you reach goal?
A: See my bucket list on my blog under the page titled: "MYSELF". I will actually be able to do all of that. ALL of it. At 320 pounds (where I started this mission) it was a pipe-dream list. When I get to 199 or below it will be a list of stuff that will be done; whether that stuff wants me doing it or not - I am doing it!

8. What's your dream outfit once you get to goal? You know we all have one! :)
A: Come on Rapunzel, you can't gather this on your own, you have to ask? The swim suit worn in the movie Borat of course! Seriously, I have never ever ever, no way have I ever, never have I felt comfortable in a suit. My hope is that by being fit, I can get a new tailored suit and feel good in it. Not that I'd wear it often, but when I need to, knowing I can feel good in it would be oh so nice.

Ok, here are the 8 Bloggers I would like to TAG next...

1. Dee
2. toosexy4thisfat
3. Blue
4. Keelie
5. River
6. Kyle
7. Michael
8. Luke

Here are your 8 questions, enjoy & be sure to tag other...

1. You can have one super power, what would it be?
2. Which do you see as more important, diet or exercise?
3. If we're forced to become vegetarians by law could you do so or would you frequent the black market for meat?
4. Do you consider the word 'Obese' to be a proper word to define those extremely over-weight, or do you consider it to be improper if not a hateful word?
5. Do you believe that Elvis died on August 16, 1977 or was his death a conspiracy cover up?
6. How much water do you drink a day and do you agree that water intake of 8 glasses a day or more is critical to a healthy body?
7. Aliens have invaded earth and landed a mile from your house, do you run for the hills, do you grab a weapon & charge, or do you try and communicate with them?
8. Is your current approach to getting healthy an approach you consider to be fun and can you do it for the rest of your life? 

Have Fun!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!