Week 51-January 21, 2008
Weight: 263.2 lbs.(-1.8)
Total Lost: 116.8 lbs.
Week 52 - January 28, 2008
Weight: 261.6 lbs. (-1.6)
Total Lost: 118.4 lbs.
Fat Ratio: 25.9%
Lean Mass: 193.8 lbs.
Fat Mass: 67.8 lbs.
Waist: 49.5 inches
Not everything went as I planned. This year, it seemed like we were at buffets galore. I hadn't even considered buffets. It's not something that is usually even on the radar. Yet, for some reason, we ate at more buffets on this trip than we have in the last 2 years. Go figure.
I ate healthy. I also ate horrible. Some of the horrible was planned and expected. Some was not. The exercise was wonderful. I ran on the beach every day we were there. We arrived on Sunday. I was so restless from all the driving that as soon as I could, I put on my shorts and ran 10K on the beach. Monday and Wednesday, I ran 2+ miles with my daughter on the beach. Tuesday, I ran 5.9 miles. Thursday, I decided to run up and down the entire length of the beach which was 8 miles total. That is the longest distance I have run so far. It felt great.
The beach was nice, but the Gulf was FREEZING!!! Thankfully, our hotel had a heated outdoor pool. We swam Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday, we checked out and drove past Atlanta. Friday, we made it to Cincinnati. We swam in the indoor pool that night. Saturday morning I ran on the treadmill and elliptical. Not knowing the city, I didn't try to run the streets. At the end of the day, we all went back to the pool. Sunday morning the two oldest kids came with me to the hotel gym. I just ran the treadmill.
IOW, the exercise went quite well and my shoulders are killing me from all the swimming and playing with the kids in the pool.
The vacation was a success and we all had a good time. In addition, I accomplished what I set out to do. I was not going to vacation with the idea of living unhealthy. To boot, I even lost a respectable amount of weight.
Over the past year, I lost nearly and average of 10 lbs. a month. I did not accomplish this by shooting for that goal. I did not accomplish this by dwelling on how much I weighed and how far I had to go...Okay...Okay, I dwellt on it some, but I forced myself to push those thoughts aside and take things one day and sometimes, one hour at a time. I did it by making my goal to live a fit lifestyle. It is a goal I can reach each and every day, but a goal that is not Fête Accompli. It is a goal that is there each day. Though it will never be something that I can put behind me, there are markers and milestones along the way. Running in races! Getting my oldest daughter interested in running! Cross country skiing! Ice Skating! Biking! Of course, losing fat, gaining muscle, and fitting in smaller clothing are exciting, but I don't think I would have made it a year if those were my only goals or motivations. What is most important is that I am healthier...a lot healthier. I no longer worry that I might have a nervous break or hearth attack. I no longer worry that I will get diabetes. I no longer worry that I will need to get bariatric surgery. I no longer worry that I won't be there for my kids or grand kids. God willing, I will be here for my family for a long time to come. Thinking about these things chokes me up. I was so selfish and unfair to my wife and kids when I was living so unhealthy. Shame on me. No matter the excuse, shame on me. I can't change the past. I can only ask for their forgiveness and live each day for them by taking care of my health. I love them so much, and they love me...at least until they are teenagers!!!
I have some more reflections about reaching this milestone, but I will save them for later posts. Vacation was good, but getting back home is good too. Ah, who am I kidding. I could live on vacation 24/7/364.25 easily.
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."--Henry David Thoreau
Living Fit Is My #1 Job!
7 comments:
Congratulations! What a huge accomplishment!
To have lost over 100lbs, to have become so much fitter, and to have not even put on weight during your vacation, is something very few people ever achieve.
And I so agree that the focus HAS to be on being healthier rather than losing the weight. Of course we want to lose it, but it has to be a side effect of getting healthier.
I am so pleased for you and proud of you.
You are truly an inspiration.
SO happy for you!
Wow - you did such a good job on your vacation, I'm impressed! Buffets seem to be a staple down here - the good 'ol boys do like to eat...
Beach running is really good for you. The sand gives you a little bit more resistance (hard sand) upping the exercise you get by quite a bit. And yes, the Gulf is cold in the winter. Luckily, it is also pretty shallow and warms up very quickly come spring.
I'm glad you had a good time, and congratulations on your loss!
You are doing an amazing job. I was inspired by your words today. One day at a time. So true.
What can I say, I am so inspired by you. You deserve to be so proud of yourself. My one year mark is coming up fast....somewhere in may.
And I will try and follow your inspiring example.
As for maintaining your weight during your holiday.............all I can say is WOW.
This was such a great post.
Congratulations on your amazing accomplishments - having a great vacation with your family and not self-destructing with food, and your amazing weight loss!!!
By the way, I really admire the running on sand bit ... that is not the easiest surface in the world, truly makes you work. Well done!!!
I hope that I can be as proud of myself when I reach my year anniversary as I am of you right now!!! Thanks for being such a good example and inspiration.
Here's to another great year!!!
Thanks for all your comments. I am truly humbled.
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