March In the Books

What can I say except that I floated through the month relatively unscathed, losing a few pounds but not enough as I would have liked.

March Average Totals:

• 2489 Calories
• 152 Net Carbs
• 24.5% of Total Calories 
• 4 pounds lost to 260 

I'm happy that I held my own, didn't gain, actually lost a few pounds, and was able to withstand enormous personal issues that could have derailed me.  For the most part I ate a moderately low carb diet, stayed positive, and got back on track quickly when giving in to temptation.  For that I am thankful.

I must note a few things negative.  First of all, I didn't keep my total carb intake to under 20%, which  accounted for less weight loss.  Secondly, I didn't stay away from fast food place places, favoring McDonald's as my junk food place of choice.  Thirdly, I ate too much wheat.  Finally, I didn't work out enough.  Exercise alone isn't a major factor for my weight loss, but it keeps me sane, and the overall benefits of exercise are worth the effort.

April Goals:

• No fast food visits
• Total net carbs < 20%
• Work out 4 times/per week
• No wheat

While I cannot brag about March, I'm not discouraged.  I'd like to see if I can get down below 250 pounds which would thrill me greatly.  If I can also get in a few 3 mile runs this month, that would be a small victory too.   Have a great April!

Planning for April

Today's Weight:  261 pounds

After a weekend of being out of town and then an evening spending time with McDonald's and Taco Bell, I hope to have all  bad eating habits out of my system so that I can concentrate on dropping weight again.  My only good news is that I'm up two pounds instead of fifteen.

I'm not going to worry about what happened and start to concentrate on what I need to do right now. And that begins with getting back on a low carb, wheat-free diet. It's time to prepare for a nice drop in April.

Month End Goal

Today's Weight:  259 pounds

All hands on deck to drop down to 255 by month end. 

Wheat-Free this Weekend - NOT!

Today's Weight:  261 pounds

Broke down on Friday and had a cheese danish, McDonald's McChickens, McDoubles, and Girl Scout Cookies (Peanut Butter Cremes).  I'm amazed that I didn't gain more weight.  My goal is to get back on track with this wheat-free lifestyle and get the carb percent down back below 20%.  Caloric intake increased by about 1000 per day, just by given in to wheat.  Less control.

Once again, I will fight the good fight. 

New Territory

Today's Weight:  259 pounds

Entering into new lows, down 22 pounds for the year.  Full blown, concentrating efforts will be enforced to ensure a drop below 250. 

On the Cusp

Today's Weight:  260 pounds

I never did get a chance to go to the gym for my leg and ab workout--fortunately I did get in the jump rope session.  The great news about jumping rope is that you can do it in a short amount of time and reap some amazing benefits. 

Once again I must realize that I have not established this as a habit, having only recently started this. 

Earth Shattering News

Today's Weight:  261 pounds

Just finished a round of jumping rope, going 14:37 minutes, doing 70 reps at a time  with one minute intervals.  This is an underutilized strategy for getting back in shape that I hope to continue and make part of my weekly routine.  My timing is off, but I doubt anyone was watching.  If they were, I hope they were amused. 

New Low for the Last Two Years

Today's Weight:  261 pounds

Documenting this so that I can utilize this as motivation to reach the next level.   Anything to keep me from sliding back to my old ways.  24 days now as a wheat-free eater.   Good day.

Small Step - Small Success

I've always heard that it takes 21 days to form a new habit so with that in mind I'm utilizing this strategy in my own personal weight loss goal.  In my lifetime I've concluded that it's easy to create a new habit, but keeping up on it has been my downfall.  I always end up quitting and falling back into that old lifestyle that keeps me from really rising to new success. 

So for the time being, I'll take this three week strategy, complete it, and then create the next 21 day habit.  On February 7th, I began my first attempt at this and completed it on the 28th.  Here are the results.

Success:

• Lost 8 pounds - drop from 272 to 264
• 21 days wheat-free
• Began four day/week weightlifting program
• Kept net carbs to less than 20% of total calories

Failure:

• Enjoyed  M & M Peanut candy
• Made one visit to KFC for a grilled Double Down

Overall this was a great short term success but  nothing to brag about.   You may ask why I'm not giving up other grains, and my answer to that is that my weakness has always been breads, pastries, cookies, donuts, etc.  By eliminating wheat, I eliminate my biggest eating pitfalls.   If I begin to have problems with sodas, HFCS, rice, corn, oats, potatoes, then I'll move to remove those, but for now I've been able to eliminate most of my cravings by just giving up wheat.

Was this easy?  No!  For the first week I real had issues, but after that, my body adjusted and my cravings  waned.  Going to IHOP was a real challenge, but I made do with the Caesar salad sans the croutons.  I  now feel great without any real urges to binge.  So far so good.

Yesterday I started my next 21 day plan.  Here's what I'll add to this:

Jump rope 3-4 times per week
Eat higher quality foods
Eat more veggies
Eliminate M & M's and all candy.

Other than that I'm continuing my low carb, wheat-free lifestyle, focusing on weights, adding in some aerobics, and fine tuning my eating.  Keep up the good fight.

Against the Wall

Today's Weight: 264 pounds
Yesterday's Calories: 1742
Yesterday's Net Carbs: 81/19%

Does the crap ever end? No. It's here, in my face, and making me a little angry. I can sit here and cry like a little baby or stand up and fight the good fight, battle on, and make sure I at least give it my best shot until the bitter end.

Weight loss is the same. Fitness is the same. The crap keeps flying at and you give it your best shot and then you quit. Quit, quit, quit, quit, quit. Then you restart, try again, and give up. Over and over and over until you just can't take it anymore.

Then you reach a point in which survival takes over and you either decide to do what you have to do, or give up completely. My wife and I have decided to fight on, not giving in to the demons of modern society. My wife chose weight loss surgery, I have chosen a low carb, wheat-free lifestyle.

My wife has had success, although it's only been 14 months. I have recently had limited success. We will continue to make mistakes, but we will learn from each other and from those who succeed in this obesity war.

As we fight our battles with weight, I know this will have to be at the forefront of our lives, forever. Right now we face challenges aside from food that will test our resolve. I can choose to fall off the bandwagon, stuff my face with donuts, cheese danishes, become a sloth and give in to the poison that kills me. Same with my wife.

Never, ever, ever give up. Find a way, find a plan, read, learn, inspire and VENT. Have a great and healthy day.

Day 15 - Wheat Free

Today's Weight: 266 pounds

Today is day 15 of my wheat-free lifestyle and it's getting easier and easier as time goes by. Another week of this and I'll have my 21 days in, and then I can go for the next 21 days. Here are my 14 day results from Fitday.

• 1914 calories
• 65 Net Carbs/14% of total
• 7 pound drop

While I'm up a pound today, that's just the way the weight can sometimes fluctuate. It may have to do with my new weight training regime, but I can't worry about day-to-day changes.

I never did start my new four day weight training program until yesterday, so that was a bit of a disappointment but I did manage to get to the gym two days last week, doing some lifting and riding the elliptical.

I have a plan, but as always, I quit before it can be fully implemented. I spend all my time planning, then starting, and then quitting. If I would actually complete my plan, I might accomplish something.

That's all I'll say for now. Good day.

New Weight Training Starts

Today's Weight: 270 lbs

While I'm a bit disappointed in the slight weight gain from Saturday's 268, I can't get riled up over a couple days. I do envision a nice drop this week as I continue trying to lead this wheat free existence.

Keeping the carbs under control and removing wheat has really allowed me to eat less and yet remain in control without a lot of hunger issues. So far so good. Today is day seven without wheat and I feel great.

I'm also working on a revised workout for the immediate future starting today which entails weight training broken out over four days. Today will be chest and shoulders.

Wheat Free- Day 5

Today's Weight: 268 lbs

Today is day 5 of a new round of eating designed to take my body into levels not seen in several years. Several steps are being taken. They are:

• Removing wheat from my daily fare
• Reducing whole milk and replacing it with half & half
• Keeping net carbs to less than 20%
• Keeping Calories to below 2400 per day

While I've been utilizing low carb as a means to maintain weight and slowly lose, I haven't been serious in quite a long time, nor have I been consistent. It's time once again to see what I can do and where I can go with this. Right now I'm down 13 pounds for the year--that's a great start.

Monday I begin a new workout routine. I measured my waist a few days ago and it was a drastic 52 inches! While I have been working out, my waist still is immense, so this new eating regimen along with a new weight lifting/cardio routine ought to produce serious results.

Frankly I'm sick and tired of being this fat and not making real progress.

Happy New Year

Today I start anew, the dream of running a full marathon, losing the excess weight, and contemplating my life as a fit person.

Today's Weight: 281 pounds.