Wow I suck as a Blogger (again) but I lost weight !!

Like many things in my life, I have broken yet another promise to myself, and my readers (if there are any of you out there.) I couldn't believe I had not posted since February.

My life has been yet another series of roller coaster ups and downs, and that has given me reasons not to do things I said I would do (go to the gym, eat better, spend more time with my family, post to my blog, etc. etc.)

I have been trying to make some small changes in my routine that would be manageable and easy to maintain. The most important change I have made was to drastically cut back on the number if times I eat fast food, especially at drive throughs. I would love to say I did this primarily to improve my diet and health, but that would not be the whole truth. The main reason I have cut back on fast food has been due to poverty ;-)

I used to eat fast food drive through meals 5 times a week on my way to work, either breakfast or lunch. Sometimes I would also eat fast food at work or on my way home making it even worse. All of these meals started to add up, dollar wise and calorie wise. When my bonuses and commissions started to slow down, and my paychecks were smaller, I decided that eating out on this scale was a luxury I couldn't afford.

It started one week before payday, and money was tight, so I didn't have the $7 or $8 to get lunch, so I made a couple of peanut butter sandwiches to eat in the car on my way to work. Well one day turned into two, then three, and the next thing you know I have broken a bad habit and started a new one. I have kept this going for almost a month, and I have really noticed a difference. I have had to add another (smaller) notch to my belt.

I went to the Doctor today and when I weighed in I had lost 15 POUNDS !! I am out of the 400's again !! I still have a long way to go, but I am really psyched about the loss, and I want to keep that momentum going. I am not going to say I will never eat fast food again, but it will be a once in a while special treat and not a habit.

3 times per week.

Well I said I would post successes, so I guess going to the gym three times in the past week or so counts as a success.

Tonight was especially hard, I was in full excuse/ rationalization mode tonight. I had a rough ending to my work day, and I was looking for ANY excuse not to go to the gym.

I am very good at rationalizing bad decisions, and making it seem logical to do stupid things (at the time anyway, later you I can see I was being a dummy.) I made myself change into my gym clothes before leaving work, so that excuse was out. Thank you Dee, for telling me to go to the gym, my "We can talk, if I come straight home" rationalization didn't cut it.

Once I decided to put aside all of my excuses, and stop being a slacker, I am proud that I went to the gym. I had a good workout, and prevented me from not going to the gym in the last 1/2 of the week.

I hope I can continue making good choices, now I have to make better food choices more often too !!

Back Soon

I know I have been MIA for two month (again) but I will be back soon, and doing the right stuff. I won't list all my usual excuses again (working a lot, blah blah blah...) I am going to post successes. Stay tuned.

Staying on track

I haven't posted in a few weeks, but I have been good most of the time.

Thanksgiving week was a bit hectic trying to get to the gym and eat right, but it wasn't a total disaster.

In the past 3 1/2 weeks I have been to the gym at least 2 times a week, and I have been trying to get is some walking on the side when the weather is cooperating. I have also been having "Gym Dates" with my friend Mike once a week. It is nice to go with someone for a change.

My biggest challenge during the next three weeks will be my new work schedule. The mall is staying open later and later (not closing until 10 or 11pm) so getting to the gym (1/2 hour+ away from work) will be all but impossible on the days I close (3/4 of my shifts lately.) Any one who knows me will know that getting up early and going before work is NOT an option for me, I am not a morning person. I will do a lot more walking to make up for my lack of gym time.

My Birthday is next week and the best gift I can give to myself will be a continued exercise regimen and better eating habits !!

This week is the best fitness week I have had in a long time !!

I went to the gym on Monday and Tuesday. I tried a new gym in Cornelius on Monday and really liked it. I over did it a bit on the bench press on Monday and I am still sore today (I will NEVER learn !!)

I was off the rest of the week, and Bailey and I spent some quality time together out on the walking trails. We walked over a mile both days, and checked out a new greenway trail near downtown Concord. The best thing was Bailey was excited about exercising, so she can be ready for the Concord Christmas parade on Saturday. I really hope this trend continues after the parade is over, and we can keep doing our walking "thing."

It will be a busy weekend, but I hope to get in some walking later in the evening. Wish me luck !

Paybacks...

They say paybacks are ..well you know. I must payback my gym buddy/ friend Mike. After killing me in the gym a few weeks ago, he "Made" me move all his heavy furniture this weekend and carry it down lots of stairs ;-) So my arms, legs and back have been killing me all week.

I went to the gym on Monday, but all I could manage was some treadmill time, 60 crunches, and 5 minutes on the elliptical machine. I hope to go back on Monday and get some serious exercise. Now if it would just stop raining, I could go for a walk around the neighborhood.

I am going to try and go walking with Bailey tomorrow, and a few days next week, so she will be in shape for her big walk in the Concord Christmas Parade next Saturday.

No Pain No Gain, but this is ridiculous !!

Well I was off to a good start this past week. I went to the gym twice and had 3 nice walks. Unfortunately I got a bit cocky and screwed myself :-(

I started off with a short walk, 1/2 a mile, and the next night I did a whole mile. I was feeling really good, so I did two miles the next night. While 3 1/2 miles in three days may not seem like much, for a fat guy who weighs close to 400 lbs, and hasn't exercised in a long time it was a pretty big accomplishment. I was feeling a bit sore but not too bad.

The next night I was finally able to able to hook up with a friend and we had a "Gym Date." I did a quick 1/2 mile on the tread mill to calibrate my Nike+ sensor while I waited for my friend. When he got to the gym, he did a 1/2 of cardio on the treadmill, and being the macho (read STUPID) guy I am, I walked another mile and a half on the treadmill.

I started to feel hot spots on the balls of my feet, but I ignored them, as not to look like a wimp in front of my buddy. After our work out, my feet were really sore, so I took off my shoes as soon as I got home. Just like I figured when I felt the hot spots, I had two HUGE blisters on the ball of my feet. The real trouble didn't start until the next morning, my blisters had swelled up something terrible, and due to their position, I could not put any weight on them. I could barely get out of bed.

I was finally able to get my shoes on, but I was close to tears. The best thing for them, would to get off my feet for a day or two. Lucky for me I am working 8 days in a row, so no rest for my poor feet. It was a miserable aturday and Sunday, but I hope the worst is past and I will feel a little better each day.

This whole experience did remind me to listen to my body and not to over do it. I hope I learned my lesson (probably not, I am a bit hard headed ;-)