My weight loss blog

weight loss, diet

I can’t believe I ate the whole thing…… (0) 324lbs

Nov 29

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DISAPPOINTMENTYeah, that’s the face of frustration and disappointment…

The day before Thanksgiving I worked out extra hard. I anticipated the traditional over indulgence that’s associated with the day and since the gym is closed on Thanksgiving, I would allow myself some of the guilty pleasures that my wife brought home. Mainly my favorite, Pecan Pie. I’m powerless to Pecan pie. I convinced myself I would only have a thin slice and I would let my wife take the rest to work.  3 days later the pie disappeared. It was later found inside my belly! Along with a few Krispy Kreme douhnuts and the ice cream. I was doing so well with not eating sweets, that I went overboard. I guess it’s like an alcoholic taking a sip of wine. I now know that it just doesn’t work. I can try and blame it on the Holiday, but it all comes down to self control and I had none.

Oh well, back to the drawing board!!

I did a lot of cardio today. It was a little hard finding motivation due to my setback, but I pushed forward and had a decent workout. This blog is helpful because I’m forced to read what I write and internalize what I did knowing I’m publicly admitting to failure. Still in all, I haven’t gained anything since last weeks weigh-in.

You’re encouraged to leave a comment, actually, I prefer that you do. I can use the input and or constructive criticism.

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Weighing heavy on my mind….

Nov 24

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It’s been said that men  will not ask for directions nor ask for help…

I don’t know who said it, but that’s what I’ve been told by women over my lifetime.  So, I’m in the gym yesterday and I’m doing my usual treadmill thing. After 30 minutes I got bored and hopped off. While approaching the stairs to go downstairs to the weight machines, I glance to my right, which is where the elliptical machines are. I glance because I don’t want to stare at someone while they’re working out.  Many times I’ve approached the elliptical machines and wondered how to operate them, but was too manish to ask for assistance.

When I see someone approach an employee of the gym and ask a question, I notice that the employee hovers around and ultimatley pitches his services. Even if you say “No thanks”, they can be relentless. I understand that they have to make a living also, so I try to avoid them and not make eye contact. This happened to my wife just the other day. She wanted to know how to work a machine and along with the info, she received “the pitch”.

I don’t want to ask someone already on a machine to stop what they’re doing and give me some instructions. I don’t want to ask a passerby how to use it neither. I don’t want to make anyone lose their focus by sidetracking them with my simple question.  Lastly, I don’t want to spend 15 mins on one trying to figure it out, looking silly stopping and starting. Sounds like I have issues don’t it?

Sure looks like a good workout though…..

Leave a comment and tell me what you think………

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The Gym is my friend… -1 (324lbs)

Nov 22

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Going to the gym is becoming less of an chore and more of a desire.  I took off yesterday and didn’t feel good about it, but I needed to let my body adjust to being pushed. My body is still sore, but I’d been hitting the gym regularly and working up a good sweat with a weight / cardio combo.  Plus, I’ve been following a lot of fellow bloggers and found inspiration through their success stories.

I’ve decided to try and maintain an 1800 calorie a day limit. I don’t think this is hard for me to accomplish as long as I don’t snack at night, which I’m prone to do. Being that I work the midnight shift, scheduling my meals is awkward, because I don’t sleep straight through during the day. I sleep for 4hrs after work and try and take a 3hr nap before I go in to work. I try to keep my freezer stocked with portion controlled meals that I also take to work. It’s so much easier to stay in range although they seem to be high in sodium content, but one hurdle at a time.

lean gourmet

I like the Lean Gourmet meals because they’re cheap ($1.07 at Walmart) and have a good variety. I like others such as , Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones also. They cost a little more and the Smart Ones have desserts also. I’ll switch it up every now and then until I can prepare my own meals. The more motivated I become, the more I’ll want to provide myself with healthy and economical options. With the 1800 calories allotment, I don’t feel obligated to not have sweets, or panic because I slipped up and had a peice of chocolate. So far, because I know that I can have sweets as long as I stay in my range, I haven’t had the urge.  I snack on grapes or a grapefruits. I eat smaller meals at least 4-5 times a day and I’m good.  The keyword is “So far”. I’m still work in progress!!!

You’re encouraged to leave a comment, actually, I prefer that you do. I can use the input and or constructive criticism.

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The weight is over!! -4 (325lbs)

Nov 18

Posted by admin in Home

I can’t believe I’ve been slacking this long. Three months since my last post and I’m amazed that I didn’t gain, but somehow lost 4 pounds. I’ve come to this page many times in the last few months, but couldn’t write, because I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do. I lost focus and found and stored many excuses as to why any particular day was not a good day to exercise.

I recently renewed my wife’s and mine’s membership to the local L.A. Fitness Health Club. We went together this past Monday and I did a brisk walk on the treadmill for thirty minutes and a few sets of Pec / Shoulder flys with low weight just to stretch my upper body some.  I’m just had my 45th B-day a month back and the pains of old age are trying to settle in, so I concentrated on stretching those areas and re-introducing them to what’s to come.  Last, but not least, I couldn’t pass up shooting the roundball a bit. That’s one of the reasons I chose L.A. Fitness. I love to play basketball, even though I was winded just chasing after my own rebounds. It’s kinda embarassing to be that out of shape, but it wasn’t that many guys in the gym and at the level they were playing, I’d give them fits for the first 2-3 minutes.

Feel free to write a comment. It’s encouraged and I could really use the helpful input…

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Workout tools -2 (329lbs)

Aug 13

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Alright, I got sidetracked for a minute with the diet and such. Fortunately, I didn’t gain anything and I’m down a couple of pounds from my last post. I’ve been dealing with some personal issues lately and haven’t been focused on myself and losing the weight, but I’m back!!

So, Ive been looking for that home workout that I could do consistently here in my apartment. I use the resistance bands, but needed something for the lower body. I work the graveyard shift, so my sleep pattern is kinda crazy. I basically nap in the morning when I get off and nap again at around 7pm, until it’s time to go to work.  My wife usually goes to the track at the High School around 7pm because it’s not as hot outside. I would love to do that, but I have to get my rest before work, so I’m kinda stuck as far as cardio. We’re trying to cut cost, so we don’t belong to a gym and the treadmill at the apartment complex gym is always busted. I totally lack the motivation to go to a public park and walk after work, cause I’d be sleep driving there. The graveyard shift is rough!!! By the time I wake up around noon, it’s blazing hot here in Atlanta. Still in all, I’m gonna have to make the time to go out and do some cardio, but for the meanwhile, I discovered the “stability ball“. You know, that’s that big rubbery hippity hoppity ball you used to bounce on when you was a kid (at least back in the day), except this doesn’t have handles. I searched “Youtube” and found instructional videos on how to use the ball and different variations of exercises that I can do. Looks fairly easy.

I found out my ability to maintain stability is lacking. I’d roll off the ball. I’d slide off the ball. I’d go back to my computer and watch the videos again. I’d roll and slide off again and again. I don’t know why everthing’s so hard for me.  My daughter watches me and just cracks up.  I was able to do the crunches where you lay on your back with your legs up on the ball, looking like I fell off a chair and couldn’t get up. I also straighten out my legs with the back of my ankles up on the ball and do pelvic thrusts. I thought it looked kinda funny, but the next day, my hammys were tight and on fire. I’m going to conquer that stability thing, because I have to admit, you can get a good workout from the stability ball and the resistance bands.

Once I can get used to ball / bands, I’ll dust off the Tony Horton’s “10 Minute Trainer” or the “P90x” videos, or maybe even the “Hip Hop Abs” . I have a whole collection of videos that I don’t use. But again, baby steps. I gotta get my mind right in order to get my body tight. Hey, I like that. That just rolled off the tongue. Maybe that”ll be my catch phrase.

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Urghh!! (+2) 331 lbs.

Jul 21

Posted by admin in Home

Kinda got laxed with the diet this week.  I spent a lot of time on the computer doing this and that. Time slips away and priorities drift away.  I’m kinda pissed off, but had to be realistic with myself also.  I didn’t put in the work, so what did I really expect? At the very least, I expected not to lose ground and gain 2 pounds.

I got caught up in the Facebook craze and lost my mind, when I was able to reconnect with friends that I haven’t heard from for the better part of 20 years (at least). Everyday I’m typing away, trying to see who else I can dig up. This can take hours, especially when you go through everyones friends list to see if you recognized someone else. If you’re on Facebook, then you know what I mean.

Oh well, a new day means a new start.  I’m ready to get back on track. The weather is pretty mild, so I’ll take advantage and do some outdoors stuff with my daughter. Maybe in time, I can post some photos on Facebook that doesn’t reflect an obese indvidual’s different stages through life. I’d like to have some slim fit flicks  to post (maybe not slim). Word!!!

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Small changes (-4) 329lbs

Jul 11

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So far the diet is working. I’ve lost 4 pounds basically by changing some of the food I eat.  I aint gonna lie, I’ve slipped up a few times and had chinese food and ice cream, but I haven’t compounded a big meal with another big meal, with another high calorie meal. I went very low on the caloric intake after a slipup and incorporated more fiber and water to flush out the bad stuff.  I wouldn’t recommend this, but it worked for me.

I’ll try to become more disciplined with what I eat. It’s a struggle, but I’m encouraged with the results so far. I have my 10 year old daughter for the summer and she’s not a big meat eater and loves veggies. I mean, she can eat a can of spinach like its ravioli’s. Maybe I can learn something from her because I don’t really have to worry about treating her to a lot of fast food restaurants.  She’s satisfied with a big plate of salad. I’m not ready for that, but remember, “baby steps”. I’ll get there. I try to follow other online blogs (Israel) or forums  (OD) just to give myself  that extra push.  It’s good to know that you’re not alone in your struggles and that others have found success through hard work and perseverance. My workout has slacked a little, so I’ve got to get busy with that too…

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1st weight loss video post

Jul 4

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I just made my first Youtube video for my blog. It felt kinda weird taping myself, but it’s not half bad.

Happy July 4th to all. I think I did good with not overdoing it with eating barbecue. No ribs this year, just chicken, collard greens, lean pork chops and potato salad. I didn’t use too much barbecue sauce, so overall I think I did well in comparison to previous barbecues. Usually the sauce would be dripping off the plate with mac and cheese, bread, sugary baked beans and dessert.

I’ve been working out with the resistance bands this past week, trying to get the circulation going and the muscles used to whats to come.  Monday, I’ll start some cardio such as walking and going to the park and just shoot around. It’s sometimes tiring just chasing the ball, but it’s a start

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False start diet

Jun 28

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Dieting and sticking to it is soooo hard!!! I can give you a few excuses as to why I had a “diet false start” (Anita Baker concert last night, The passing of Michael Jackson (R.I.P.)a couple of days before that, etc), but excuses are just that, “excuses“. That’s when I realized that emotions tend to sway you away from where you want to be and provided me with excuses not stick to my weight loss goals. Good intentions aren’t enough for success and as I sit here disappointed in myself, I have to work through it and not give up.

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Let’s get it started

Jun 26

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It’s important to me to start this journey and more important that I finish. For me, eating healthy is hard as hell, because I hate most vegetables. I’m allergic to apples, melons, pears,bananas and some shellfish, so I have to find a happy medium. Portion control is essential also, so I have to get my tools together (measuring cups, scale).  I would like to maintain 1800 calories or less daily intake. I think that’s a good starting point being that I probably triple that amount daily for most of my life.

I guess today is my start date, 6/26/2009, 6′0″, 333 lbs.  I bought some high fiber content cereal. I want to make sure I get my daily fiber in, so I can releases excess waste. I noticed I don’t feel so bloated when I get my daily allowance of fiber.  I also bought some of those portion controlled meals like Lean Cuisine and Michealina’s Lean Gourmet.  I’m thinking this would be a good start for the first day.

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