June 27 Weigh-In Week 333

I have been on track with my fit lifestyle.  I feel more physical, if that makes any sense.  In fact, I feel different than how my body looks.  In other woods, the excess fat doesn't fit with how I am living.  Slowly, week by week, month by month, and year by year, I am going to look more and more how I feel.

This week I lost 2 lbs.  Yes! 

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!

June 20 Weigh-In, Week 332

I wonder why I looked up and started to record how many weeks again.  In one sense, it is depressing that after all this time, I am where I am.  On the other hand, it is a motivation.  After all this time, I can't just give up.  I need to keep going until living fit is all I know. 

This week, I upped my exercises.  I have started to ride my bike on the days I am not running.  As far as strength training, I have been doing only the very basics, just doing one set of reps for each muscle group, split into three days.  This week, I have added more sets for each muscle group.  For example, I went from doing a set of chest presses to doing chest presses, flyes, and push-ups.  I have divided these over 6 days.  I like strength training. 

It's a wonder that I can fit all this stuff in a week.  Sometimes, I wish I didn't need to work so that I would have the time for all the other stuff in life. But life isn't all about me.  I need to prioritize.  I need to prioritize the time to live fit or I won't have the time to live.

This week, I lost 1 lb. on the scale.  I always hope for more, but it's far better (psychologically) than seeing a standstill or a gain.  Over time, the pounds have added up and will continue to add.  That's 17 lbs. since I rebooted in April, and 71 lbs. from my all time high.  I am feeling good about that.

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!

June 13 Weigh-In, Week 331

It's been a crazy week concerning weight.  I thought I was going to remain static or even have a slight gain.  I have not stopped exercising or eating healthy.  I weigh myself most days, though my official weigh in is Thursday mornings.  Those unofficial weigh-ins were not encouraging.  I mentioned last in my last what I believe that weigh-ins do and do not tell us.  No use in rehashing that.  I know that some advocate weighing yourself only once a week, but as much as it drives me crazy, I am interested in the fluctuations.  I am curious if any pattern emerges over the long haul.

This weigh-in showed a respectable loss of 1.5 lbs. from last week.

My short-term goal is to get under 300 lbs.  Once I get under 300, I will be in the 200's for quite a while. Psychologically, I will find it very encouraging to see a 2 rather than a 3 at the beginning of my weight.  I was hoping to get there by July, but at the rate I am going that will not happen.  Though disappointed, I am okay with that just as long as I continue to live a fit lifestyle and continue to make progress.

Concerning exercise.  Last week we took the week off from running and biked instead.  I think this was a good switch-up.  We are back to running this week.  Strength training has been mostly lifting weights.  I have a set of Power Blocks which are a type of nesting dumbbells.  I love them.  I have been lifting 3x a week.  Next week, I plan to spread the lifting out over 6 days and add a few things. A few years ago when I got my Achilles injury, I had not strength trained in a long time.  I mostly got all my exercise from running with some biking and swimming.  I plan to keep up the strength training along with the cardio.

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!   

June 6 Weigh-In, Week 330

I remain 311.5 lbs.

To me this is one of the most diabolical things about weight loss.  I try to make this whole journey about living fit.  The biggest part of that for me is activity and food choices.  The emotional and psychological aspects are important as well, but I have not focused on that too much.  Like any journey, there are different markers along the way.  When going some where, you use markers like time, distance, road signs, and land marks.  When living fit, some of those markers are time and distance with cardio, lbs. with weight training, ease of climbing stairs, being proud of everything you have eaten, # of days not eating that late night snack, blood pressure, sugar levels, cholesterol, resting heart rate, medicines no longer needed, etc...  The one marker that seems more daunting than all the rest is weight loss.

Weight loss deals simply with the numbers on the scale.  It tells you a lot, but it tells you very little.  How's that for illogical thinking.  What I mean is that changes on the scale over time tells you something is going on.  That is important!  What it doesn't tell you is exactly what and why.

I am not really interested in losing weight.  I want to lose fat.  I am no expert, but if I understand it correctly, metabolism is directly connected to muscle.  The more muscle we have, the higher our metabolism will be.  I know there are other factors involved such and hormones and glands, but that doesn't change my point.  If I lose muscle weight, the scale goes down, but I am much worse off for it.  On the other hand, if I gain muscle, the scale may go up, but I am much better for it.  In one case, I will be less healthy and more likely to gain fat.  In the latter, I will be more fit and likely lose more fat.

The other factor the scale doesn't reveal is hydration.  One thing I learned when I used to watch the Biggest Loser is that the amount of hydration can change your weight by several lbs.  We should all be well hydrated, but regardless, water weight is not something the scale reveals.

Weight change over time, tells us something is going on.  Weight change does not tell us how much muscle, fat, or water is lost or gained.

While I was hoping for a loss, I need to remind myself that I am eating healthy.  I am doing cardio 3x a week.  I am doing strength training 3x a week.  In many respects I am living a fit lifestyle.  Therefore, I must conclude that there are good changes going on inside.  I should not worry about the number on the scale. That will come.

Living Fit Is My #1 Job! 

Shut Your Trap! You Are Satan!!!!!

This means you!  When you say things to me like, "Go ahead. One dessert won't hurt you.  Oh, eat that cheesy, bacon filled, breaded, deep fried whatever.  You can't eat healthy all the time.  You need a break.  Just this once isn't going to kill you."

The moment you even think something like that, let alone say it to me, understand this one thing.  You are Satan!!!! 

I don't want to hear any excuse.  I don't want to hear any rationalization.  Just shut your trap!  You are Satan!!!!

Now, should you want to pretend to be nice and helpful (though I think Satan would only do this so he could do something even more cruel), simply say with a smile, "Keep us the good work.  You are doing a good job."  Then shut up about food, weight loss, fitness, exercising, and especially about your nephew who lost 500 lbs. in 1 month on the half bagel a day diet. 

Rant done.  You may go back to torturing puppies.

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!

330

I just figured out that Monday will mark my 330th week since I started at 380 lbs.  That's 6 years 17 weeks.  I was convinced that that would be my last time up and down the weight roller coaster.  For some strange, delusional reason,  I kept telling myself that I could and would quickly lose the weight again, and it would only take me 6-8 weeks.

The weight was only a side affect of the real problem.  I stopped living a fit lifestyle.  Well, I can certain come up with the list of excuses.  I could easily blame my Achilles tendon for it.  The fact is that when I couldn't run, I eventually quit trying to live fit.  Well, that is not entirely true.  I have made some efforts.  I even tried going vegan last year.  It wasn't all that bad.  I learned to like some new foods such as kale.  But it wasn't for me.  I made lots of attempts at exercise including speed walking.  However, I wasn't consistent.

This is getting too depressing.

I don't know if there is a deeper problem.  Is there is some psychological reason that I have yet to address?  Is there some issue that until I deal with it, I will always be on this roller coaster?  Or is it more base?  I love food, especially the high fat, high sugar types.  Am I simply just giving in?  Deep down, am I simply just unable and unwilling to live fit?  I don't know the answer.

I do know that I am living a fit lifestyle today.  I am tracking my calories.  I am making healthy choices.  I am exercising.  I plan to do the same tomorrow, but I just need to get through today before I can worry about tomorrow.

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!