Watch My Loss

fitness resources brought to my attention!

2007-01-18T23:47:00.000-08:00

I received a few emails this week regarding some weight loss resources/ Motivational programs that some kind folks thought I and my readers (That's you ;0) ) would like to know about.

The first and most TIME SENSITIVE information was sent to me from NIKKI at M80 and it's a Weight Loss program and Competition being offered by Kmart & M80 called New Day Your Way !

ACT NOW: Registration Ends at 11:59pm on January 20 (eastern time)

According to her email and the information on the web site:

The New Day Your Way contest is open to those living in 19 select US markets, with registration taking place 01/07-01/20. 10 finalists will be selected from each of the 19 markets to participate for the grand prize - $10,000 Cash, Total Beauty Makeover in NYC, $1,000 Kmart Gift Card, a 3-Year Membership to Bally's Total Fitness (including 10 personal trainer sessions), and Treadmill. For a list of the 19 participating markets, or to register for the New Day Your Way contest, go to http://www.kmart.com/newday.

this is a list of the Areas that are included in the contest: Chicago, IL, Cleveland, OH, Detroit, MI, East Brunswick, NJ, Honolulu, HI, Long Island, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, San Francisco/Bay Area, CA, San Juan, PR, Tampa, FL, Tamuning, Guam, Washington, DC, St. Louis, MO, Virginia Beach, VA, Salt Lake City, UT.

So if you live in one of these areas and think this might be a fun and motivational program I encourage you to sign up and if you do let me know so that We can keep everyone updated on your progress!!

I went ahead and submitted an application but I think I'm outside of their Area...we'll see!

Thanks Nikki! I hope we get some takers! This could be a fun one!

The second Item was sent to me by a gentleman Named Sean (and yes Sean I agree that is a fantastic name!) who assures me that he does NOT watch Oprah everyday but happened to be tuning in recently and heard them mention that they were looking for people to send in their profiles and weight loss goals in order to receive valuable fitness and health tips from her trainer Bob Greene as well as possibly being featured on the show.

Here is some info from the website: Bob Greene's Best Life Diet

Ready to commit to your health and lose weight? Bob Greene and Oprah want to hear from you! Send Oprah.com your weight loss goals and a recent photo of yourself.

Tell us about yourself: How much do you weigh? How tall are you? How have you gained the weight? Do you have any medical problems we should know about? Are you married? How many kids do you have? Do you work? What do you think is holding you back from living your best life and losing the weight?

Photo Information:
When prompted, you will be permitted to submit up to three photos. The photos you upload should include only yourself, and be full body shots if possible.

I had mentioned before that when I reach my goal and had raised the funds I pledged to raise for Diabetes Research I'd love to present the check to the ADA on her show. So who knows maybe this is a little push from destiny to get me back up on that horse!

Thanks Sean! Great Link and thanks for the support!

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On a more personal Note I did end up making it to the gym on Friday of last week for a swim. I also went Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and will hit it again on Friday after work. I'm feeling a bit more limber although that nagging foot pain is back. Thank goodnes for the pool but i really just wish it would stop hurting all together. Maybe when some of the weight comes off it'll improve. Time will tell.

Oh yeah. I'm still looking for a scale and have started calling outside of my medical care provider. I know someone has to have a Scale that is accurate at my weight and as much as I know you all want to see pictures of me weighing myself at the post office...it ain't gonna happen...LOL!

oooh the lameness...

2007-01-12T02:05:00.000-08:00

Where's that motivation I was so proud of! Enough fooling around. I'm beggin everyone to send me strong motivational vibes so I can get my butt in the gym on Saturday, get some shopping done and get my room cleaned. ...Maybe I can swim friday night. That would be a good start... I gotta kick this thing into gear somehow.

*sigh*

The further power of One red Paperclip...

2007-01-05T02:20:00.000-08:00

If you are not yet familliar with the phenomenon that is "One Red Paperclip" I suggest that you quickly high tail it over to the Website and get caught up! CLICK HERE

There is no doubt that Kyle has inspired folks to world over to follow their dreams no matter how small or large and today...out of the blue I was reminded just how far reaching his special brand of influence has been.

So there I am earlier this evening, just minding my own business, 'bout ready to settle down in my chair, at the movies, about to watch sneak preview of "Smokin' Aces" and who should I see up on the Big o'le Silver screen singing her heart out and looking as beautiful as ever?
Why, new music sensation, Jody Gnant that's who! Her new music video was playing before the feature.

"Who's Jody Gnant?", you ask.... (well keep reading)

I jumped up and turned to my brother and said. "Hey! I know her....she's the one who traded that Paperclip guy for that recording contract that time!" (names escape me when I'm excited!)
Sufice it to say I was very proud and when I settled down I was able to better explain who she was and what I was babbling about.

Some of you found this blog through Klye's ORP site so you know why I find this so exciting. Jody is a rare spirit who is very deserving of her new found celebrity. She has been an constant supporter of my efforts like all of you who are so wonderful to me here and I couldn't be more excited or proud of her for her continued success.

Please do me a huge favor and visit her website and sign her guest book and wish her success and happiness. Jody Gnant.com

and while you're at it check out some of the other interesting projects that have spawned in great part due to the success of One red Paperclip.com

Hitch50.com

Are You My Wife.com

Choose My Name.com

With so much drive and success around me how can I possibly give up. What a wonderful world wide web.

Weights and measurments

2007-01-03T02:26:00.000-08:00

I think that this time around the less unknown variables the better. I expect to spend Jan getting my workouts back on track and getting back to an overall healthier daily menu (the holidays...*sigh* need I say more?). One of my most improtant tasks will be to find a Scale in Sacramento that will Accurately weigh me so that I can count on it whenever I choose to weigh in. I've had a lot of suggestions on where to find such a scale ( and some pretty ineteresting ideas at that). My first hope is to find some medical establishment in town with a high capacity scale...barring that I'll give the less orthodox opptions a chance.

Ok so Try once again to bare with me...no weigh-in until the end of the month but then I hope they will come more regularly after that!

Happy Wednesday!

The long haul is a long haul...

2007-01-02T01:00:00.000-08:00

First let me say Happy New Years to all of you wonderful people. I hope your holiday season was merry and full of warm cheerfull and moments with family and friends.

Last year I went through quite few personl struggles. I made huge personal improvement goals and the proceded to have my worst health year to date. Between a chronic bad left foot, severe fatigue, a Car Crash early in the year that, no doubt, contributed to my over all stiffness and soreness the rest of the year, Insomnia, narcolepsy and ending the year with a horrible respretory infection and losing my voice for the better part of 2 weeks. Oh yeah...all that and I weigh over 520lbs.

Some would call those excuses and in fact some have called them exactly that. I supposed they're entitled to that opinion. I'm not too enclined to let that deter me.

I'm going to make this pretty short and simple. At the begining of the year we all get a fresh start and so i'm taking mine. Back up on the horse. I still have a lot of work to do...so let's get to it!

#48 and #49!

2006-11-28T11:14:00.000-08:00

Well, as promised...My really great, big ole fun, really kick arse weekend!

So, the plan was to set out on Friday evening and go visit my Family in Danville Ca. A sort of late Thanksgiving with my father and his wife, all my brothers and their respective wives/ sig. others. I had planned on staying there Friday and Saturday nights to maximize family time...cause ya know...it's improtant and I really enjoy when everyone gets together!

Well, I got home Thursday night from Thanksgiving with my younger brother and his girlfriend's family and in my email inbox was a message that would change everything!

"Dude!?", the message started... "Are you still down to do that thing you said you'd do that time when you said that you'd do it later if we needed you to do it!?" I quickly typed back.."Yah-buddy! When and where?" and the response came back. "Dude! Rock! Reno, Nv 3:30pm Saturday!", to which I relplied..."righteous!" I then proceded to shred a juciy air guitar riff ala Bill and Ted. Called up the Fam and told them I'b be late to the shindig! I then texted my buddy Aaron! If I was going to drive the 150 or so odd miles to reno I needed to call in the big guns to travel shotgun and keep this ole narcoleptic a wake!

Cut to Saturday...{The Crack Of Noon} Clean all the water bottles and diet pepsi bottles out of the car, Load up the tunes, toss 2 ukuleles in the back seat along with some magizines...Gass up the Chevy 'Bu and hit the Road! The stereo fuled by the powerfull stylings of oneTenacious D Rocked the road trip and soon we were swinging into Reno. Well, do I have to say it...'When in Reno...' Next thing I know...Ding-ding-ding! I won $100! Sweeeeeat! We played a bit longer without repeating my good fortune and then realized that we had better skeedaddle to the Ron-day-vu A-sap...for the hour of 3:30 was nigh at hand and the sacraed Task with which i was dutifully charged meant a quick juant to the Reno Airport.

We arrive at the airport and swing into the passenger pickup. With swiss like precision they roll out as we roll in. No need for introductions...no awkward guessing game....

'uh...izzat them?'
'I dunno dude...izzzit?'
'uh go ask...'
'you go ask...'
'alright I will...' 'fine.....!'
'fine!'

No need for any of that, for the heros we saught had their names emblazened across their chests and they were known throughout the land as "Scotty and Fiddy! Two weary travelers attempting to 'hitchhike" to 50 US State Capitols in 50 days. As fortune would have it they only had 3 states to complete and they were close enough for me to pick them up and take them to 2 of the remaining 2..Carson City,NV and my very own home town...the city of trees and the birth place of Tower Records and the Pony Express Sacramento, CA.

Carson City, Nv

As you can see above we stormed into Carson City and taught it a thing or two about some crazy jumping and some funky posing! Having done what we came to do and noting that Carson City had very little interest in jumping or, for that matter, displaying a pulse of any kind we descided to bail that burg and rock on over to Reno for some much needed buffet action!

Let me tell something to you...come a little closer! The Eldorado Buffet is "SECOND TO NONE!" Period!(and I managed to limit myself even with evey imaginable nummy distraction you could imagine!

After that we all piled back into the Malibu and headed off to Capitol #49 and my hometown, Sacrameto, Ca! Hit the Capitol buliding...Jumpy, jumpy...Clicky, clicky and we were off! I thought I would surprise the guys by taking them by the site of the original Tower records, which I thought would be interesting or them until I realized even though Tower may be an international company...they may not have them in Canada...my suspicion was confirmed and esentially to them I was just showing off some random record store! Sweat!

At this point we dropped off my buddy Aaron! Thanks Aaron for Keeping me company on my drive to reno and for being a good sport about letting me play your music for Scotty and Fiddy along the way! I know you're not all about the self promo but your music is amazing and I can't help but pimp it when I get the chance!

The rest of the trip was pterry much chill...we hit the gas station for gas and road snacks, did a drive by on Historical Old Sacramento and then headed out of town. A couple hours later and we were in Cupertino, Ca. (Home of Apple Computers)
We quietly said our good byes. At this point I think the guys were pretty tired, I know I was. I only did about 500 miles and 13 hours of their journey bt I can only imagine how exhausted they must be and how excited they must be about getting to HI and knocking out that 50th state Capitol!

I finally rolled into Danville at about 1:30am and crashed on my father's couch! I think I actually got a good 7 or 8 hours sleep that night for the first time in nearly 6 months. I spent sunday lounging around with my family watching football and vacation videos. It was the perfect way to top off a long and exciting weekend

My Big Weekend Adventure!

2006-11-27T04:55:00.000-08:00

Wow! What a weekend! I'm gonna tell you all about it tonight but for now I sleep!

; )

Gobble Gobble!

2006-11-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to those few I haven't lost through my low posting days. I want to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving (if you are in the U.S.) and a very happy Thursday if your are in some other wonderful place.

On the health front. I started taking Ambien and I think it may be working. My brother has tried to wake me twice on two different mornings and was not able to. While that may mean that I'm sleeping soundly...I'm not sure I like being that out of it. I guess I'll take what I can get. Also I'm not going to try to fool myself about eating less on thanksgiving...I plan to enjoy myself and on monday I plan to start taking a daily walk at a near by park. I'm hoping that I'll be able to work up the stamina to walk and jog a little. I remember that the times I've been able to lose weight effectivly I was jogging. I'm running out of ideas but I will not give up.

Thanks again everyone. have a beautiful day!

Sean

Way to go P!

2006-11-17T07:18:00.000-08:00

There's an old joke that goes:

Q: "What's black and brown and looks good on a lawyer?"
A: "A Dobermen Pinscher"

Well as of Wednesday I can reword that joke to say:

Q: "What's black and brown and looks good on MY BROTHER P.?"
A: "A Dobermen Pinscher"

That's right folks! My big brother P. just found out that he Passed the New York BAR exam and I couldn't be happier for him or prouder of him. I know how hard he and his wife worked to make this happen! I just want him to know that he is an inspiration to me and he proved to me that anything can be achieved with hard work and determination. I know that things haven't gone exactly to plan for me over these first 5 months but I'm more determined than ever to see this through. Thanks P. And Congrats! Can't wait to see you in 2 weeks!

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News from my world is pretty much the same. I've been eating a lot of chicken and rice and had a really good workout the other day but Thursday I had to cancel due to a cold or some really bad allergies but I'm medicating and I plan to hit the gym and maybe the pool on Friday.

Other than that not much to report except...if you get a chance Check out this Blog (Shirts-by-eye) by one of the kind folks who follows my blog on a regular basis. Mr. The eye has designed some pretty funny tee-shirts and they're for sale if you're so inclined. The designs are very simple but the style and the whit make them pretty damn funny. I think I may buy one or two for gifts...
Either way make sure you swing on over and take a look and pass the link around if you feel that a friend or family member may be interested.

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That's it for now! Congrats again Bro!

My mind has a mind of its own!

2006-11-14T03:55:00.000-08:00

I'm honestly begining to think that I may never sleep correctly again. Some days I just want to scream and pull out my hair. (i don't though...don't worry)

I stayed in bed most of the day again just hoping that I would get a little sleep so I could stop feeling so crappy. I got a little and I'm back to feeling generally blah which is about as good as it gets now days. Anyone know a good hypnotherapist out there...you know someone who could make it so that I fall asleep when I ring a bell or something...of course, one who is ethical and wouldn't make me act like a chicken or something foolish. Not that I wouldn't live with that humilliation if it meant a deep and meaningful sleep on a regular basis.

Anyhoo...

I need to shop for food to cook at home so I went out and ate chicken, steamed rice and broccoli again for dinner. Then I went and did an hour in the pool. Then I sat in my car for a while reading a magazine. Have I ever told you how much I like sitting in my car and reading. I mean, We buy these expensive cars with these wonderfully comfy seats and all we do is drive in them...sometimes I like to go park, roll down the windows, lay the seat back a bit and get my read on. It really is relaxing.
Anyway...I read for a bit until I felt drowsy and then I went home and tried to sleep for about an hour which just left me completely wired and now...here I am.

Maybe I just need someone to whack me on the head. Or (and this might not be the most manly thing to say) maybe I just heen a good head massage and a snuggle-up! ;0)

(I'm going to try to think of something uplifting to post tomorrow.... =0) )

slow day...

2006-11-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

I didn't do much today but try to sleep...I got up pretty late and didn't get a chance to eat before my workout so i just went to the gym and didn't eat until much later in the evening...I know...Bad. So I had 3 chicken soft tacos...argh..I know..I know.

workout:
squat step knee-lift (with one foot on a low step squat then step up and lift the opposite knee...2 sets -1 minute each leg (aprox 20 reps)

tricepts(?) pull down 15 reps w/(forgot the weight) each arm - 2 sets

Squat - wood chop 10 reps each side 3 sets

Standing bench press- 3 sets 15 reps

yawn

2006-11-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

"That we are not much sicker and much madder than we are is due exclusively to that most blessed and blessing of all natural graces, sleep." -- Aldous Huxley

food/ workout

I don't think i'll ever be a morning or a breakfast person. Nope...not me. That said my first meal was chicken w/ steamed rice and veggies and for dinner I went to this Greek place for a big salad with chicken and a couple falafel...can you say "yum?" I know I can. =0)

I missed my workout on tuesday because I hadn't slept in aprox 3 days. So. with about 3 hours sleep under my belt on wednesday I figured I'd better get in for a quick one. I was able to squeeze out 5 sets of 20 crunches, 3 sets of 135lb bench presses (15 reps) and 3 sets of 15 reps of rows w/ 165lbs. Then 40 minutes of brisk pool walking. now I can't move my arms...*owie*

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The only other think I have to say at the moment is Thank you America for getting out in record #'s and voting for change. lets hope that some fresh perspective and some opposing oversight will lead to a safe and reasonable conclusion in Iraq and the return of our brave men and women in the armed forces. This is the last I'll speak of this because of the divisive nature of politics and that is not what I want this forum to be about.

11/6/06

2006-11-07T05:27:00.000-08:00

Got a late start this morning and didn't eat much throughout the day. Had turkey sandwich on Wheat bread for my mid day meal and then had Teriyaki Chicken with steamed rice and broccoli for dinner. I did have a small popcorn (no butter)) and a diet coke at a movie last night...not the best in the world but considdering that I used to eat a large without thinking about it and I didn't completely finish the small...not so bad.

I got to the gym for a short workout: 60 crunches, 45 reps bench press w/ 130 lbs, and 20 min on the treadmill. I was going to swim instead of the treadmill but I was running late.

Not much else to report but I wanted to post to get back in the habit. Oh I want to thank K.A. for the ticket to see BABEL. I hope you feel better soon! I'll tell you about the movie next time we talk.

ok then...ttfn ;0)

Hey...

2006-11-06T07:02:00.000-08:00

I thought long and hard about how to word a bunch of stuff and sought some council about what to say in this post. I suppose I could write areally long post about how I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while but I don't really want to. Lets just say that I've been dealing with a fair amount of personal garbage for the last 2 weeks. Some of it internal and obviously some of it external. I know a fair amount of my funk is due to not sleeping...still...and some of it has to do with the season. I really love the fall but I'm always haunted by certain memories and certain feelings associated with this time of year and it always sneaks up on me and I tend to shut down for a while. Then there's the first anniversary of our (my and my brother's) mother's death later this month and I'm sure that plays a part.

All these things jumbled up with some lonliness and binge eating and I haven't really felt like posting for a while.

I think I'm through the worst of it and I'm looking to get back on a solid routine with the posting so let's try this again.

Needless to say I didn't lose the extra 10 lbs I wanted to after my birthday...i'm making an effort to get back to eating correctly so I think I should start posting my daily diet again as a check against bad habit forming. Oh...my cholesterol is down 4 points from 138 to 134...that's always been pretty good but my A1C (3 mon average blood sugar) is up from 6.6 to 7.2 again which is strange because my daily readings haven't been really getting worse. I wonder if it's the sleep...I dunno. I'll be seeing my dr on Tuesday.

One good thing is that the Provigil is doing what it should, It eliminates daytime sleepiness and has done that pretty effectivly. I've only had a couple of days where I feel tired in the late afternoon but my Dr is still addjusting the dose. I guess I have been getting about 3 hours of sleep at night so that's a little better but Now I have to string them together...add 2 more hours and make them come before 6am so I can get back to work full time. With any luck It's not far off.

I guess that's about it. I'll be answering all of your previous posts later this evening and Thank you again for all your support. I'm still in this thing and with a positive outlook but I had to take some time to get my head straight so I didn't feel so anti social...I'm getting there =0)

New Year's Resolution Goals!

2006-10-24T04:08:00.000-07:00

It's something I've done for a few years now because I think it makes more sense than the traditional way. Today is my 36th Birthday and, yearly, on this day, I generally make whatever resolutions I plan to make for the year ahead. I feel that I'm in the fortunate position, this year, to just stay on track and keep working toward the goals that I have already set. My course is layed out for me and I know with hard work, dedication and a little patience with myself I will be in a fantastic place in a year and during the year I will continue to feel better about my self and will enhance my joy and zest for life in all aspects.

The few things I will work on are...

1: Being patient with my weight loss and looking for positive signs of improvement rather than focusing on lack of progress in other areas.

2: Try harder to value my worth and to remember that I am worthy of being happy. I want to approach certain social situations with more confidence and be aware that if things don't work out the way I hope it's not the end of the world or a comment on my self worth.

3. Organize, Organize, Organize!

4. Attempt to be a better brother and son and friend. (there's always more we can to do include our family and good friends)

5. Plan more seriously for my financial future.

I don't expect to start a resolution revolution here. This is just how I do it and you can adopt it if you like.

In other news. I had my appt with Dr Wong last Thursday. He's my new sleep disorder specialist and while he said that I don't have ALL of the traditional Symptoms of Narcolepsy he did say I have enough of them including some variant symptoms that he would prescribe the recommended medication for Narcolepsy and order more conclusive tests. I'll also be going back to the sleep lab to have tests to calibrate my bi-PAP machine for my sleep apnea (bi-pap and c-pap machines blow air in to your airway while you sleep so that you don't stop breathing....fun huh)

The medication I'm taking is called Provigil

For info Please visit www.Provigilweb.com

(From Provigilweb.com)
A Different Kind of Stimulant

Unlike caffeine and older prescription stimulants that affect the entire central nervous system which in turn leads to jitteriness, insomnia and prolonged bouts of sleep to make up for lost sleep, Provigil only seems to effect the part of the brain that keeps you awake. A person's sleep patterns will usually revert back to normal after the effects of Provigil wear off. U.S. clinical trials have also demonstrated that Provigil is less likely to cause nervousness or withdrawal-like symptoms.

I started taking it on Friday and will be increasing from 1 to 3 tablets daily by thursday and after a few days of that I'll let you all know how I feel. As it is I can already tell that my daytime alertness is a little better but it does feel like it's chemically induced...and I'm still not sleeping that well at night, however When I finally do get to sleep...(sometimes as late as 4am or 6am...I can sleep for about 3 1/2 hours so that's about 1 1/2 hours more than before. If I can start getting to sleep around 1am and sleep for 5 hours I'll be back in charge of my life again and then watch out world...haHaahAahhhaaa! *cough*

Ok...so that's about it for now. I'll be starting my 365day picture project Today and will post the link to my Photo host in a couple of days. Also I'll be weighing in again around the end of the month because I was trying to get another 10 lbs off (no worries if it doesn't happen). I'll let you know. Also let me know if you think I should add another counter that shows actual Fat loss as well as over all weight loss. I was thinking about it.

Have a good day all, and a great New Year! =0)

Walk a mile in my shoes...no, seriously...go ahead!

2006-10-19T01:45:00.000-07:00

Hey there!

So I mentioned in my last post that I had gotten some new shoes and that they seemed to be doingthe trick as far as providing the support my foot needs and the comfort I need when I'm on my feet!

I really have to give the credit to my buddy devin. Or more specifically to his malfunctioning usb port!

Ok...let's rewind... (are you making a rewinding sound with your mouth...? yes you are...I caught you ;0)

I get a call from Devin..."Dude..usb's on the fritz! Wanna go to the Mac store? I got an appointment with a genious!" (if you don't know what I'm talking about I urge you to get a Mac. Or you have a mac and you've never had to get service...which is more likely the case and if that's so..."MACINTOSH REPRESENT!")

But I digress..."Yo "D" I'm on it foo! I'm fixin'tah gass up the ride and I peep you in 10...Peace!" (ok sometimes I'm a little lax with my english...)

Ok...maybe fast forward a little...(I heard that...)

The main reason I wanted to go with Devin to the mall is so I can check out "The Walking Store" for shoes Devin had been raving about. He just got back from an extended trip out of the country and kept saying how much his shoes saved his feet. Well, knowing how much he walks I figured I should look into these magical shoes.

So we get to the mall with time to spare before his appt at the mac store and we head straight to the shoe store. There's not really much more to tell...I told the guy what I was looking for he brought them out, I slipped those bad boys on and all of a sudden...no pain. Perfect fit.

Keen Portsmouth

Top

Bottom

Waterproof leather upper with Secure-fit leather Achilles support.

Classic Wallabee lace design.

Leather and moisture wicking synthetic lining.

Removable multi-density metatomical cushioning footbed.

Compression molded EVA midsole.

Anti-slip, oil-resistant outsole with semi-aggressive lugs.

What can I say? Best shoes I've ever had (so far). They fit great. My foot feels sooo much better and I feel less tired after a day of walking around.

Check this link for reviews

That's about it! Maybe you have some wonder shoes that you would like to share with the group...let us know! =0)

"Would one of you please get off the scale!"

2006-10-15T01:10:00.000-07:00

I figure we can just get right to the numbers:

6/08/06
Total Weight: 527.6lbs (239.8kg)
Body Fat: 51.5% or 271.7lbs (123.5 Kg)
Fat Free Mass: 48.5% or 255.9lbs (116.3kg)

7/04/06
Total Weight: 533.8lbs (242.6kg)
Body Fat: 50.4% or 266.7lbs (121.2 Kg)
Fat Free Mass: 49.6% or 262.5lbs (119.3kg)

7/19/06
Total Weight: 532.4lbs (242.0kg)
Body Fat: 46.8% or 249.2lbs (113.3 Kg)
Fat Free Mass: 53.2% or 283.2lbs (128.7kg)

8/31/06
Total Weight: 525.6lbs (238.4 Kg)
Body Fat: 47.0% or 247.0lbs (112kg)
Fat Free Mass: 53% or 278.6lbs (126.4kg)

10/14/06

Total Weight: 519.4lbs (236.09 Kg)
Body Fat: 47% or 241.4lbs (109.73kg)
Fat Free Mass: 53% or 278.0lbs (126.36kg)

The numbers show a Total Loss of 6.2lbs
if you look at the Body fat...
on 6/08 My body fat was at 271.7 lbs
on 10/14 My Body fat is at 241.4lbs
Total fat Loss 30.3 lbs
Total lean Body gain 22.1lbs

Total loss of 6.2lbs

***********

Measurements

*********** 8/29*******10/14
Neck:**********20.75****19.75***-1.00
Upper Arm:****19.75****19.75***no change
Forearm:*******14.75****14.75***no change
Chest:**********68.50****66.50***-2.00
Waist:**********71.50****70.50***-1.00
Hip:************75.00****75.00***no change
Thigh:**********37.25***37.25***no change
Calf:************25.50***25.50***no change
Measurements are in Inches

Ok so there you have it! Finally a bit of progress! I'm hoping that my plateau is over and we can get down to some serious weight loss now..or at least when I get this sleeping thing in hand. But I'm happy with this little jump so Yay for me! I still want to focus on losing another 10 lbs by the end of the month and with my foot feeling better thanks to my new shoes (which will be the topic of my next post) I think I may even try some road walking instead of on the treadmill...maybe even a little really light jogging...10 feet here, 10 feet there...nothing big but I want to just get myself moving more.

Alright...enough about that. I'm pretty happy with this progress. I don't want to go over talking it.

In other news..I thought you all might get a kick out of this picture. Now if you've seen something like this before it may not seem odd to you but I had to do a double take and then I had to take a picture because I couldn't imagine the train of thought that brought this to be...

I mean...does one often find themselves in need of 10 pounds of Ice while in the Burger King Drive-thru? What's next? "Boy oh boy I feel like a bacon burger but the grass is looking a little brown. I only want to make one stop...I sure hope that Burger King is still offering a 10 pound bag of fertilizer at their drive-thru!"

365

2006-10-13T15:12:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to think of ways to make myself post daily and I think I may have a plan. Recently I've been using Flickr.com to store my photos online. I was looking around flickr the other day and I noticed that quite a few other flickr members were doing a project where they were taking a self portrait every day for 1 year and I thought that that would be a great idea and a great way to show my weight loss once it kicks in gear. At the end of the year I would be able to put them all in a slide show and literaly "watch my loss" lol! So starting 10/24/06 (my birthday by the way...*wink*) I will start taking a photo a day and I might also try to take a random shot of something important to me each day so that at the very least I'll have something to show you or discuss if no topics come to mind.

Check out some of the other folks on Flickr and their 365 day photo projects...

realistic goals...

2006-10-11T03:10:00.000-07:00

I know that you fine folks have been waiting for a weigh-in and I plan to get you the data by the end of the week. Yay! thanks for being so patient. The last two weeks I've been sort of lax in my work-out routine but I have been hitting the pool quite a bit and I feel that that may be at least keeping me on track. I don't know if I feel like I've lost anything substantial but I know I haven't gained anything.

This is gonna take off one day and I won't feel like I need to explain myself so much LOL!

one thing I'd like to do after the weigh-in is focus really hard on losing 10lbs by the end of the month. I think I can really do it if I focus on my pool cardio and really focus on eating even better than I have been. My first major goal has always been to get under 500 lbs and lord know what's been going on with my body these last four months but I feel like I'm on the verge of a break through of some kind. My stamina is getting better and I've found that I can really push it in the pool and I feel like I'm getting a good workout. The last time I really lost a lot of weight I did it with daily jogging but I was under 450 and my legs could take the pounding. I have a serious feeling that I'm like 40 or 50 lbs away from light jogging and when that happens I'm gonna kick this things butt so hard. First things first though...stay tuned for the weigh-in.

An artfull cure!

2006-10-06T03:32:00.000-07:00

Some of you mayh remember that Candy Minx, one of the readers (watchers) here, had started a painting some time ago intended to be sold on ebay to benefit diabetes research through my fundraising effort. Well she is finished and the painting is up on ebay for bidding at this very moment! EBAY

I want to take a moment and thank Candy Minx for her unique and wonderful creativity and for finding her own special way of contributing to my efforts to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association!

So, if you have a moment swing by her blog and she what else she's up to and post something nice to help me show my appreciation! And, don't forget to check out the auction on Ebay! Let's find this painting a good home!

Stop and smell the wild flowers...

2006-10-05T03:35:00.000-07:00

I found this thing through someone's blog and thought I'd try it out. I have to say that It's pretty damn accurate....LOL j/k anyone else think I look like Keira Knightley? ;0)

In other news some friends and I decided to go to the beach on tuesday. It was fantastic to get out of town and get lost on highway 101 with some good friends.

Road Trip! Devin, Justin and Me.
(Justin's Girlfriend Kerry is there too but I've never gotten her permission to post photo's of her)

Painter at China Camp

Takin' a moment to just be...

Kerry's collectin' sea glass

Gull...

Walking in the sand is quite the workout!

Devin sings a good-bye ukulele tune to Stinson Beach, our third and final beach of the day!

I've got to remember to do things like this more often. We all should.

To Whom It May Concern,

2006-10-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

My name is (withheld) and I joined your club about 2 weeks ago. Previously I swam for 4 years at Calif. Family Fitness. I observed somethingin the pool today, that concerned me. I am an R.N. and also a formerly mobidly obese person. I observed a trainer with a name tag (name?) helping train a morbidly obese gentleman in the pool today. He started him out running and lifting his legs and after 1 length he was so out of breath he would rest for 4-5 minutes and sprint and rest. As I was in the lane right next to him I could tell how out of breath (therefore how high his heart rate) and I became concerned that I did not observe a pulse rate being taken. The trainer would push this guy like one would push someone 200+lbs lighter in my opinion. What I know about people that big is that intense increase and sudden decrease in pulse like that could cause a heart attack - having worked in Intensive Coronary Care for many years, I have seen it before. Obviously I'm not a fitness instructor, but when I see something that seems so technically off I have to speak.

Thank you,
(name withheld)

*********************************

So, that's the letter we received. We called and spoke with her about her thoughts. Obviously the letter was written from a place of concern and as such we responded taking her concerns in mind but making sure that she knew that we had been doing this for a while and were aware of my physical limits.

I do want to correct one thing she wrote in the letter though. She stated that she observed me take one length of the pool and rest for 4-5 minutes while I caught my breath. It was more like 1 lap with a pause and then after the return lap I took maybe one and one half to two minutes break before begining the next exercise. And yes...I was quite out of breath but as we explained to her we're in the pool so that I can get my heart rate up without too much impact on my sore foot. The rest of the workout was pretty steady as far as heart rate goes but I don't think she was there for more than about 10 to 15 minutes of my 45 minute session. (I could be mistaken)

All I can say is that I do appreciate her concern and her professional opinion but in the end I kind of wish she would have just leaned over and asked if everything was ok. I really felt bad for Kendrick, my trainer. There has never been a time when he wasn't very conscious of my heavy breathing. He constantly checks on me and allows me to rest as needed and even when he pushes me he never pushes me past my limit.

I'm not sure what else to say...what are your thoughts.

"I love the pop-in!"

2006-10-03T03:30:00.000-07:00

Nothing much to report. I'm still trying to get back to posting daily and I think what I might do is post Mondays through Fridays and not post so much on the weekends when the readership is really low. I think that'll be a good balance because I think that daily posting pace (though I haven't done it in a couple of weeks) was burning me out. We'll try that for a while.

I do want to let you know to make sure to check back on Wednesday morning for my Tuesday post because I think you might find it interesting. I was working out in the pool the other day with my trainer and apparently another member thought that my trainer was forcing me to over exert myself, so much so that she went straight to the gym management and wrote out a statement to the fact. After my session my trainer was confronted with the letter and he came and spoke to me about it. We ended up calling the woman who wrote the letter and discussing it with her and she gave me permission to transcribe the letter for my journal for everyone to read. (I promised I'd leave her name off of it)

I'd do it tonight but I think I might be able to catch the ole sandman express if I close my eyes soon and I don't want to miss what little sleep i can get if I can help it.

I'll type that out tomorrow and we can discuss it if you're interested.

So, until then...sweet dreams!

Potpourri...

2006-09-29T02:14:00.000-07:00

Well hello everyone! Long time no see. I thought maybe I'd make a post so that people know I'm still alive and doin' my thing. I got a few emails concerned that I had given up and I want everyone to know that that is not the case. In fact just the opposite. I've been trying to really kick it into gear. The problem I've been having is still the sleep and it's just been hard to concentrate and I haven't felt like posting much.

Let's recap what's been going on since we last spoke...Well it's pretty much the same. I'm still working on trying to get my sleeping habits back to normal. I'm waiting to speak with a specialist about sleep disorders. In the mean time I'm going to have to tell my Dr that the last RX he gave me is just not regulating my sleep and I'm still getting 2 or so hours a night and then crashing for a day every 3 or 4 days.

On the good side I did start water cardio with my trainer and have tried a couple of times on my own and I like it quite a bit. We've decided to make our saturday workout a water day and I've tried to get into the pool at least 1 or 2 times a week outside of that.

Also, I'm going to measure and weigh in at the end of next week, for those of you who keep up on that with me. Probably Thursday or Friday depending when I can get all the numbers together for you...that should be fun ;0)

That's about it.

In other news. A long time ago I was really into Photography. Did it for a living for a while but got a little burned out. (I know...I know..."how many hobbies does this guy have...writing lame stories, making puppets, photography?") anyhoo, I used to have a really nice camera which for financial reasons I had to pawn a long while back...Don't worry it's not all that bad...I kept up with paying the interest on the loan and just the other day I was finally able to pay off the original loan and I got my camera back! For those of you 'in the know', it's a Canon 1v...the last pro 35mm film camera they made but it's super sweet and kicks alllll sorts of hind end! Wha-hoo! *Doin' a dance....shak'ah shak'ah!!* This whole blog thing has really got my creative juices flowing and I want to create...I still plan to do the podcast as soon as I start to show a steady loss (so I have something to talk about) and I still plan to get my next puppet started sometime soon and now that I have my camera back I want to start photographing local bands again. I dug up a few samples of my work for you to look at. You're welcome to let me know what you think.

Bob's Child

Brian Rogers

ALTA

I also thought I'd show you a short clip of my friend Justin Farren playing at a show I went to last weekend. Great show and great folks...I can't wait for the next one!

That's it for now...I'm drowsey but somehow wired at the same time. I'm gonna try to close my eyes and see if anything comes of it. I just hope that closet stays closed until I'm really asleep this time. I do not want to go through that again...'shivers'...

Part 2 of "It came from the closet..."

2006-09-27T02:50:00.000-07:00

hmmm...so where was I? Oh that's right! Closet door slowly opening, arm hair standing on end and the only thing between me and certain doom was a lazy-eye'd sheep named Allen. (what? I didn't name him...talk with his mother)

So there we were...Allen and me. The other 73 sheep having taken the coward's rout, ducking back into their wall hole. Come to think of it It was about then that I wish I had had the foresight to dig my own wall hole...you know, for just this type of occasion. But here I was...holeless standing behind a, possibly, imaginary sheep who didn't have the sense to abandon me like his brothers and sisters.

The door creeked as it continued to open. I thought I was going to pass out...I looked down at my feet. Allen had beat me to the punch. Bless his heart...he was all spralled out on the floor...tongue hanging out one eye closed and the lazy one still looking at the lamp.

Just then I looked up and a hand reached around the closet door gripping it in such a way as to get more leverage. It was dark but my eyes were acustomed to the light being completely dialated with fear by this point. I could make out that the hand was really big and covered with what appeared to be moles with coarse hairs protruding from them. The nails were long and jagged like something with bad teath had been chewing on them and the hand left a greasy smudge on the door as it continued to slowly push it open.

By this point my fear had surpassed my curiosity and I turned to run. Little did I know, Allen had somehow wrapped his legs around mine in terror before he passed out so I was not only tangled up in sheep but my leg had fallen asleep. (oh and yes I get the irony in that) Needless to say I fell. I must have wacked my head pretty good too because I had a good sized lump and a whopper of a headache!

The moment I got my bearings back I turned my attention back to the closet. There was nothing there... I quickly got up and rushed for the light switch. I was all alone...no sheep, no monster in the closet...nothing. Had I imagined it. No I couldn't have... Why else would I have this horrible headache and this lump on my head. I know what I saw...It was so real. By this time I had calmed down enough to at least go look in the closet. As I approached the closet door I saw it... "how could I have missed it?" I closed and rubbed my eyes just in case I was seeing things but when I opened them...there it was. As Plain as day..the huge greasy hand print. The arm hairs started to stand up again as I grabbed a near by baseball bat and flung open the closet door!! I jabbed the bat into the closet and swung it madly around hitting everything but my intended target. The closet was empty. Except for the normal closet things...coats, shoes and my trusty toboggan! As I stepped further in, just to make sure, my foot came to rest on something that sounded like paper. When I bent over to pick it up I found that it was a note scribbled out on a greasy piece of paper bag like material.

the note read...

Hello,

Do not be afraid. I am here to help. For months now I have waited quietly, each night, in your closet. I have waited patiently and quietly waiting for the perfect moment to begin my work but that moment has never come. You never sleep...and, you see, that makes it very hard for me to do my job. Tonight was a mistake. Until now I have worked in complete obscurity. No one has seen me. You almost saw me and that would have been a very bad thing. Even writing this note to you now may set in motion events that I may not be able to control. I must remember to be much more careful in the future. There's no telling what they would do if you ever had proof I exsisted. But I worry about you and I want to help you...but you never sleep. You've worked so hard and have come so far. It would be a shame for all your hard work not to pay off...it's just...you never sleep. I can't come to you if you don't sleep. so...sleep...

yours truly,
The Fat Fairy

Now. I know what you're saying. There's no such thing as a Fat Fairy. But that's just it. They don't want us to know about it but have you ever noticed how everyone always tells you to get plenty of sleep when you're trying to lose weight? Well...that has to come from somewhere. Who's to say that there's not a fat fairy? They got a tooth fairy and no one seems to question that? What if there's a fat little fairy with flappy little wings and a bucket that goes around to all the good hard working dieters at night and, while they sleep, he performs his magic lipo suction and then leaves a nickle under your pillow? All I'm saying is that it would explain a lot. I haven't slept in months and the slow fat loss. Oh and if that's not enough proof for you...I have one more bit of evidence. It seems that when I tripped and fell I knocked over my camera and it seems to have shot a frame of whatever was in my room that night. I know I didn't take it and no one else uses my camera so I can only assume that this is the only known picture of the Fat Fairy on record... It's not for the faint of heart so look if you think you can handle it...
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Fat Fairy? You be the judge

Now...remember. This is between you and me so don't go leaking the info. There's no telling what Might happen if he catches wind of this blog post. Even if he's not what he says he is...I don't want whatever's living in my closet to be mad at me...or you...