Week 72 Weigh-In

Last Week's Weight: 253.4 lbs.
Today's Weight: 249.2 lbs. (-4.2)
Total Lost: 130.8 lbs.

Fat Ratio: 23.1%
Lean Mass: 191.6 lbs.
Fat Mass: 57.6 lbs.
Waist: 47.5 inches

I will never understand these fluctuations, but it sure is nice when it fluctuates downward rather than upward. Somehow, I think it is simply how my body is adjusting.

I leave for a conference tomorrow then for vacation at the end of the week. I plan to do plenty of weight lifting, running, and swimming while at the conference. Our vacation will be visiting friends in St. Louis. I am not sure if I will have access to any pools, but my feet are still available, so I will do plenty of running.

Hopefully, my plan to keep eating healthy while at the conference and on vacation will work for me. I hope everyone is doing well and I will report back in 2 weeks.

"Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress."--Epictetus

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!

Week 71 Weigh-In

Last Week's Weight: 251.4 lbs.
Today's Weight: 253.4 lbs. (+2.0)
Total Lost: 126.6 lbs.

Fat Ratio: 23.1%
Lean Mass: 194.9 lbs.
Fat Mass: 58.5 lbs.
Waist: 47.5 inches

That was disappointing to say the least. It's strange how on the previous week I weighed 4 lbs. less than I weighed on Monday. This week, I weighed 3 lbs less on Saturday than I weighed on Monday. I am not quite sure what the issue is. But obviously last week was no blip.

I have had a bit more stress lately. Also, I cut back on exercise last week as I was showing symptoms of over training, although they are also symptoms of stress. This week I am back up to my normal level of exercise and everything seems to be falling in place, so I think the light week helped, but not on the scale.

This could be muscle gain, my body adjusting, or even the weather. These weight gains have corresponded with the warmer weather. With the added stress, I have been more anxious and restless. Strangely, I have been feeling more down in the dumps despite the nicer weather.

Next week, I leave for a conference in Milwaukee. My family is coming with me. After the conference, we are taking a week's vacation with some friends in St. Louis. That will be tricky food-wise since we will be staying at their house and somewhat subject to what they serve. I do have a few strategies in the works that should help, while not making me seem to be an ungrateful guest. I am looking forward to running around Forest Park. I have biked around it, rollerbladed around it, but I have never run around it.

"Success in life is a matter not so much of talent or opportunity as of concentration and perseverance."--C. W. Wendte

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!

Growing Up Geek!

Yep, I grew up a geek. I played Dungeons and Dragons among my friends. A nearby mall had a store which sponsored games in the halls of the mall on Saturday mornings. I got my friends interested, although I haven't played in several years.

Along with that, I read all kinds of fantasy like Tolkien, Brooks, and Moorcock. I still read fantasy quite a bit. I even wrote short fantasy stories now and then, though not for publication.

I loved Star Trek and still do. I like them all. I rented Star Trek Enterprise and watched all the seasons over a year's time. I have even been to a couple of Star Trek conventions. I like other Sci-Fi shows like Babylon 5 and Farscape.

I received my first computer just before high school. It was an Atari 800. I taught myself to program basic. I taught myself assembly language on it. In high school, they started offering computer classes. I soon learned that I knew more than the teacher. I programmed my own word processor which I used fr my first two years in college. After that, I bought a Packard Bell and never bothered with programming again.

I started playing trombone in the 4th grade. So I was a band geek from early on. I even went to band camp for three years and I loved it. In fact, I met my wife at band camp. I started out as a music major in college. Now I play in a stage band. In fact, we have a big concert coming up soon.

However, I was involved in not so geeky things. I played sports most of my way through school. I played baseball and football. I did wrestle one season. I was never into soccer or basketball too much.

I also hung around some of the "burnouts." I got into smoking and drinking and the like. I was never really a part of that group.

I was always involved in church. I was in youth group by my own choice. My parents didn't force me to go or anything. I like church and still do. My Christian faith is an important part of my life.

When it gets down to it, I was never really a part of any cliques. I just new that despite my involvement in sports, I wasn't considered a jock. I certainly wasn't when of the "popular" kids. I guess I didn't worry about it all that much, but as I look back, I see that I was pretty much a geek and I still am!


Living Fit Is My #1 Job!

Week 70 Weigh-In

Last Week's Weight: 248.4 lbs.
Today's Weight: 251.4 lbs. (+3.0)
Total Lost: 128.6 lbs.

Fat Ratio: 23.1%
Lean Mass: 193.3 lbs.
Fat Mass: 58.1 lbs.
Waist: 47.5 inches

Not sure exactly what happened here. I was on track for another loss this week. Yesterday I weighed 147, so imagine my surprise this morning. Monday mornings are my official weigh-in days, therefore, I must record the gain. I am guessing that it's just water gain. Who knows? I'll just keep plugging on and see what happens next week.

Spider63 recently made it known to me that he would like to be included in the 4th of July challenge. He started at 288.2 and is now 282.8. Good job Spider63.

Things are pretty hectic right now between dad, computer problems, work, and the end of the school year. One of these days, it would be nice to have absolutely nothing scheduled for an entire day. Sometimes, it just seems like been abducted on some insane amusement park ride I never wanted to be on in the first place.

"Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."--Oliver Goldsmith

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!

Week 69 Weigh-In

Last Week's Weight: 249.8 lbs.
Today's Weight: 248.4 lbs. (-1.4)
Total Lost: 131.6 lbs.

Fat Ratio: 23.1%
Lean Mass: 191 lbs.
Fat Mass: 57.4 lbs.
Waist: 47.5 inches

Friday, I had to go to Saginaw for work which is about a 1.5 hour drive from home so I had to leave early. After work I drove straight to the high school which is 30 minutes from our home in the opposite direction, so there was another 2 hours in the car. I went to the high school for swim practice. After one week of learning proper swimming technique, I can see that this is going to take a looong time to get under my belt. I just wished there were a place I could practice in between the lessons, but I will just have to take what I can get.

From swim practice, I met my family at a restaurant for dinner after which I took my two oldest kids (8 & 6) to see Prince Caspian. That was an awfully long movie with a lot of violence. I think Indiana Jones would have been less violent and more fun, but perhaps a little too graphic and adult for the kiddos.

Saturday, I went into work for about 6 hours. I usually work on Saturdays. I gave our lawn its first haircut of the season and then headed out on my 9 mile run. I felt much better than last week. It still wiped me out pretty good and I went to bed early only to be awaken by the assisted living facility that my dad is in. They said that he wouldn't stay in bed and was trying to leave. At one point, he got in someone's car, but there were no keys. By the time I got over there, they had given him some medicine and was asleep.

This place is really starting to tick me off. I was completely up front with them about my dad's Alzheimer's and his behavior. The required a physician's report prior to admitting him. The physician wrote that he thought he should by in a dedicated Alzheimer's wing which they do not have, but they said that it was no problem and they experience with this sort of thing. Yet, they seem to call me every week with one problem or another for which they can't figure out what to do.

Now, I visit dad at least 5 days a week and normally I visit 7 days. However, they never seem to be able to tell me anything until its the most inconvenient time for me to do anything and by the time I get there they have it figured out. This week I am going to check on a nursing home that has a dedicated Alzheimer's wing with private rooms.

Anyhow, Sunday we went to church and then out to eat. After that, we picked dad up and took him with us to the local arts and crafts show. We picked up a few Christmas presents while there. Then we took dad for some ice cream. Yes, I had some too (Extreme Moosetracks). It wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Then we took dad back and came home. I took the kids for a walk and then I headed off to jazz band rehearsal.

Today, I have been very lazy. As soon as I finish with this post, I am going to do my weight training and probably go on a bike ride. I need to head down to Detroit today which will be a killer with the traffic. Detroit is a 3 hour drive away, but with the holiday traffic will probably be much longer.

Oh yeah, I was happy to record another loss. Slow and steady wins the race!...well, unless of course, you are actually in a race. Then fast and steady does, but I guess that defeats the saying. Okay, I am done rambling.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."--Robert Collier

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!

Healthy Obesity?

I listen to a podcast called Fitness Rocks. One interview with Dr. Blair caught my attention when the guest said that his research showed that a better indicator of chronic illness was fitness rather than fatness. A person who was otherwise healthy, exercised, didn't smoke, etc..., but was overweight was not at a high risk for chronic illness. I am summarizing from memory. Being someone who would fit such a criteria, my interest was piqued.

I did a bit of looking around on the web. I find this article by the guy who was interviewed. To sum it up, he says that we don't need to worry about the number on the scale. We simply need to eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, exercise 30 minutes a day, not smoke, and reduce stress to lead a healthy life.

A few articles have appeared in response to him and some books that were written calling the obesity epidemic a myth. Here is one in Forbes and another in the Washington Post. These don't leave with anything conclusive. I found this article on the Mayo Clinic website and an article with Calorie Control which seem to speak against Dr. Blair's findings.

Can you be healthy and obese? Can you be fit and fat? It sounds like a oxymoron. I think it is to some extent. I think the point that Dr. Blair is making is a point that I have been trying to hammer into my own brain. The most important thing is fitness. The societal and political culture is so focussed on fat/BMI/numbers on the scale etc... that many people are trying to "fix" their weight by fad diets, risky surgery, anorexia/bulimia, and pills. People are trying to treat the symptoms rather than the disease so to speak. I am not sure that Dr. Blair is advocating obesity. I believe he is advocating fitness.

I think the wrong way to take his findings is to say that I am just fine being 200 lbs. overweight because I walk for thirty minutes every day. Most people who are overweight and obese are at risk for developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and the like. Why? Is it the fat or the factors that lead to being overweight? I don't know. If you look at Dr. Blair's recommendations of eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, exercising 30 minutes a day, and reducing stress, you have to wonder if someone won't naturally lose the excess fat anyhow.

I did watch a show last week called "You the Owner's Manual" which was based on the book. The one doctor showed several healthy organs and several fatty organs. The difference was dramatic. I have to think that the extra fat is not good for you.

Here I am, an obese man who ran 9 miles last weekend, am training for races this summer and a triathlon this fall. I eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I can't say that I manage my stress well, but it's not out of control. However, I have lost over 130 lbs. by living a fit lifestyle. I don't take any special pills, I haven't had surgery, I am not on a fad diet, and I am definitely not anorexic or bulimic. In fact, I am not on a "diet" at all. I simply eat in accordance with my lifestyle. I will continue to lose the weight because I am focussed on fitness. Yet even now, I know that I am healthier and stronger than most people I know.


This leaves me with my final thought. I may be fitter than a many people. I may be fitter than many "normal" weight people. But, I could be fitter. Fitness levels fall along a continuum. On one end would be lean, athletic people. On the other end would be obese, inactive people. Where you fall in between has more to do with your lifestyle rather than the number on the scale. Although body fat is still a significant factor. This is encouraging because no matter where you fall on this continuum, you do a lot for your health by making a few healthy changes. You don't need to obsess about how fat you are. Instead, you can focus on how much healthier you are now that you have started walking and starting eating better.

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!

Week 68 Weigh-In and Lots More

Last Week's Weight: 251.8 lbs.
Today's Weight: 249.8 lbs. (-2.0)
Total Lost: 130.2 lbs.

Fat Ratio: 23.1%
Lean Mass: 192.1 lbs.
Fat Mass: 57.7 lbs.
Waist: 47.5 inches

I finally dipped under 250 lbs. I know I have been struggling with the whole number on a scale vs. fitness issue, but dang it feels great to get to this milestone. Certainly, my weight is a factor in the Big Picture of my total fitness. Mostly, it's a vanity thing. Not that I have arrived; not that I am at a healthy weight; not that it's time to quite my healthy lifestyle. It's simply one of those numbers I thought that I might never reach again. It's far from time to quit. It's a shot in the arm, letting me know how much I am capable of. I WILL reach a healthy weight, NOT by obsessing about my weight. I will do it by focusing on my fitness.

Speaking of fitness. I ran 9 miles on Saturday. That is a new record for me. It was a harsh run. I am not sure exactly what the problem was, but in the end I finished it. I am glad I did it. It really wiped me out.

Speaking of fitness again, I went to my first swim training session today. I did not have to wear a speedo although the trunks I wore bore the Speedo logo. I was not swimming wiht the high school swim team, but about 5 high school girls who just started training last week. Surprisingly, the coach took a lot of time to help me.

I was just awful. I can't swim with a hill of beans. The most difficult thing so far is getting the breathing down. I think that I am actually holding my breath even though I am exhaling underwater. I am sure that it will get better as I practice. For this first practice, I felt awkward and clumsy, but that was to be expected.

Finally, as you can see, I changed the look of my website. I lost some stuff in the translation. It was a pain in the butt to change and took way too much time. So if you hate it, don't tell me. I wanted to change it in celebration of breaking 250. speaking of which, that is my next 10 lb. marker. My tradition is to post my sagging belly every 10 lb. mark I reach. I hope you are not squeemish!



"Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities."--Aristotle

Living Fit Is My #1 Job!