Happy New Year…….. 324.5

First off, I hope everyone had a safe and joyous New Year celebration. With the new year, comes new hopes and expectations, as well as goals….

Yep, the numbers don’t lie!! I just let go and fell into the holiday trap.  No excuses and no sympathy needed. It is what it is.  It’s time for tough love of myself.  I’m sitting here watching the “Biggest Loser” marathon thinking of how come I can’t find that motivation to be like them and lose all that weight.  So, if anyone has $350,000 and a ranch hidden in the boonies, give me a holla:)

In the meantime,  I resolve to 1) cut the b.s. and excuses 2) literally account for all that I eat 3) don’t let myself down. That’s it, simple and plain. It’s time to wash my face and get my mind right, because it starts there.  I’ve been having small headaches for the past several days and I know it’s my blood pressure. When I was on point with the workouts and all, I didn’t have this problem. I don’t want to go on medication, so besides the vitamins and low dosage aspirins, that’s it for me.  Getting me to a doctor is like getting an elephant through a manhole, aint happenin’.

This is my New Years resolution, what’s yours?

Weigh-in Monday +.8 (319.8)

8/10th of a pound is still a gain. Whatever, I still have another week to reach my months goal of a 5-10 lb loss. i’m already close to the 5lb loss, but closer to the 10 lb is attainable. I’ll be happier than a mugg to get 2009 outta here! They’re killin’ me with the holiday parties at work, enough already!!!!   Happy Holidays to all……

Belated Monday weigh-in (-1) 319lbs

I oughta rename myself “Yobigslacker” ’cause I didn’t hit none of my goals for this week. I did lose a pound, but I didn’t follow up on the important stuff such as;

Goal for this coming week              failed

3 sets of Suicides x 3 days this week

3 sets of leg carryovers and crossovers x 3 days this week

I wasn’t really motivated this past weekend, so I didn’t push myself like I should have. I guess you go through that sometimes, so Monday’s weigh-in was met with mix emotions. Yeah, I lost a pound, but I sold my self short on my very attainable weeks goal. I’m not down on myself or nothing, ’cause I’m still in the zone to reach that challenge goal by the end of the month. I’m already back on track and ready to kick some ass!

On another note…

I went to the gym today and happened to shoot around with this dude that was my size (actually bigger). I’ve never come to the gym and found a “big” guy on the basketball court, getting his sweat on by himself. My experience is most guys my size want to shoot around and not be pressured into a game situation with the smaller guys. No one wants to be the one that slows down the game. So, we struck up a conversation and found out that we had many things in common, from health issues to wanting to lose the weight naturally. I put him onto the blogging community and how we feed off of each other (not literally). I gave him my website address, so this is a shout out to Dre, if he stops by………

Yo, yo, yo, where did it go???

Alright, maybe that’s overdoing it a bit, but yeah, so what? I got a reason to be happy. Maybe I’ve finally found the blueprint. I can’t take all the credit, ’cause my fellow bloggers helped in the process. My wife also gets honorable mention, ’cause she’s been by my side hitting the gym also.  Randi’s December Challenge really got me started and I can’t forget the infamous “Pecan Pie“.  That really put me over the top!!

Without further a-do

So, I got up this morning and felt confident that when I step on the scale, something positive would happen. The scale reflects I’m down 4 pounds (320 lbs). The main reason why I’m excited is because, the last 2 nights, I’d eaten a big plate of black beans and yellow rice with sausage and 2 orders of chicken fingers w/ a order of waffle fries from “Chik-fil-a”, the night before. My daily 1800 calories or less was working well, but it was the weekend and the Chik-fil-a restaurant is right outside of the gym and the aroma just did me in.

Still in all, I had no guilt, because my meals prior were small and I’m sure I had calories to spare, plus I worked out really good that whole week.  I’m not looking for big losses. A pound or two a week is good for me, as long as I can keep or build some muscle.  Still, 4 lbs blew me away.  I can honestly say that my workout routines aren’t sick and I’m not spending hours or forcing myself to spend hours at the gym. An hour and a half /6 days a week is good for me.  I took off today, so my diet is strict. I really felt like going to the gym, but I’ll chill and wait for tomorrow.

You know what else?

About 3 weeks or so ago, Walgreens had a sale on boxes of my favorite cookie, “Pecan Sandies”. They were 50 cents which was a steal, so I scurried over there from work @ around 3a.m., and bought like 3 boxes. Yo, I planned to tear into that $#*t as soon as I got back to the job, but was unable due to an assignment that was waiting for me when I got back. Oh well, so when I got home I put one box in my work bag and hid the rest in my closet, ’cause the wife will say “I thought you’re on a diet”.  3 weeks later, that box is still in my bag and the others are still in the closet. It’s become a symbol of my commitment to myself and my health. I look at it everytime I go to work and open my bag. No temptation at all!! Aaarghh………

PECAN SANDIES

Whatcha got to say (I mean, please feel free to leave a comment or suggestion:-)

On the right track

So far, the week has been going good, I’ve been hitting the gym and feeling good about my workouts. I’m still going through the “sore” phase after doing mostly cardio. Those old  high school “football” knee injuries come to surface every now and then, but I’m getting used to working through them.

Yesterday, 12/4/09

I basically just went to the gym to shoot around with the basketball. Nothing strenuous, but the goal was to chase the ball around and get used to those short burst sprints. I noticed I’m not that agile due to years of inactivity. I can walk for days or go up and down stairs, but  side to side, leg crossovers and jumping up and down motions I avoid like the plague. At first, I had the gym all to myself and I wanted to attempt a couple of “suicide drills“.  For those that aren’t familiar with basketball exercises, suicides are not fun, but are effective. I also wanted to reflect back to football and do some carryovers. This involves jogging while carrying one leg over the other, twisting the body and doing the same with the opposite leg. Needless to say, I procrastinated until someone entered the gym and wanted to shoot around with me. That’s cool, because we ended up playing a couple of one on one games. He was half my age and size, so he wore me out and I was glad. I wasn’t concerned with winning. I felt excited that I was able to finish, winded and all. To me that’s progress.

Today, 12/05/09

My plan is to go to the gym and  hit the treadmill and do at least 30 minutes at an incline of at least 6.5.  I want to do some knee bends and some stretches, you know, capitalize on yesterday’s progress. I’ll do some sets for the upper body and some leg lifts. I’m doing really well with the calorie intake (1800 or less). For me, this is major.

Goal for this coming week

3 sets of Suicides x 3 days this week

3 sets of leg carryovers and crossovers x 3 days this week

Monday, I’ll do my first week weigh-in, so we’ll see how it goes…….

I accept your Challenge…… (324lbs)

Okay, Since I have yet to committ to any type of short term goals, I’ve decided to accept Randi’s December Challenge. Since my previous debacle (Pecan pie) and the wonderful support by my fellow bloggers and guests, it’s time to move forward and chip away at these pounds.  I’m excited and anxious to get started. I’m feeling really good about this one…..

The Challenge (as posted by Randi, but I changed some stats to adjust to me)

Challenge start Date: Dec 1, 2009      (too late, so I’ll start today, Dec 2nd, 2009)

Challenge End Date: Dec 31, 2010 (my official challenge weigh in will be Jan 4th, 2010)

Challenge goal:  lose 5-10 lbs by December 31 bringing me to an ending weight of 319-314 lbs.

To reach that goal I am going to attempt :

  • exercise 1-1/2 hour 6 days a week
  • include the elliptical machine into my regimen and surviving more than 1-2 minutes
  • try to limit my daily calorie intake to no more than 1800 calories total
  • eat more fruits  on a daily basis
  • up my intake of water
  • remind myself that I will reach my goal weight regardless of how far away it seems.

This challenge came at the perfect time. I had a good workout today and felt good about my food choices

Breakfast:    (noon)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Bowl of grapes and a (2) slices of whole wheat toast (w/ butter)

Dinner:  (4 p.m.)  Sauteed Chicken breast and grapes

Lunch: (2 a.m.)  Lean Gourmet meal (at work)

Vitamins

I had my daily multi-vitamin and a Fish oil, Flax seed, Borage combo. I’m wondering if I’m taking enough or the right vitamins. I don’t want to cheat myself out of possibly having extra energy or the right benefits by not taking the right supplements. If anyone can let me know what works for them or would work for me, I’d appreciate the input.

I figured, why wait for “New Year’s Resolution”? Hell, let’s get it poppin’ right now!!!  Sounds good to me. What do you think??

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

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.

Weighing heavy on my mind….

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………

The Gym is my friend… -1 (324lbs)

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.

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

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…