Alligatorob's Diary

Now out of well over 100 too small shirts I have exactly 1 that's still too small, and its close to fitting. Out of probably as many shorts and pants I have none left that don't fit. I have gone from 5 and 6 xl shirts to some 2 xls, but mostly just xl, and pants from 62 to 38 or 40s.
:party::party::party:
 
Hey there, Rob! I'm reading as fast as I can through the backlog of logs here :) and I've just read about your closet-clearing and how you're running out of too-small garments - and I am smiling such a big and happy smile - I wish you could see it. :D:D:D Very well done, my friend! (And how you will be bursting out in new sartorial splendour this spring and summer! Wonderful!)
 
Now that I am almost 9 months into this it is taking less willpower and that's a good thing. I think that is in part due to a good start and just not breaking down at all. And I did that one day at a time, when I started I never imagined I could do it for so long but one day at a time and here I am. Now I have to be careful not to be boastful, I know I am always no more than a minute away from a binge, I can't forget that.
This is so great to read, and you have a wise approach.
Yeah, I think we are all always one minute away from a binge, that's not a great thing to live with and it takes some work and dedication to control it, but that's how it is. We all have to do that if we want to live better lives.

this is a huge milestone :party: ... >40" waistline (35-36" for women) is generally accepted as a danger indication for your heart health.
Yup, I'm a bit over 37 inches right now and that's not good! But I think I can fall under 35 in two months only if I'm dedicated!
 
Rob reading your replies to kitty you have been so determined and I think by you being here and helping others which you do in an extremely supportive way has ultimately helped you to keep going . You are a real ambassador .
Yeah for the closet clean out again . You will have to start shopping soon ! What fun
 
A bittersweet day, most of my Hawaiian shirt collection is on its way out the door, just too big. I saved everything 3 xl and down, but there are at least 30 favorite shirts in that pile, Hawaiians alone, headed out for donation.
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I just read out your closet-clearing paragraph to G & he said
" Well, he sounds like a man who will keep the weight off then."
Tell G thanks, and keeping it off is my objective, but I know that may be as hard or harder than losing it.
Must feel great!
Thank you Liza, it does.
I wish you could see it
Thanks Amy, you can see the too-big garment pile.
Rob reading your replies to kitty you have been so determined and I think by you being here and helping others which you do in an extremely supportive way has ultimately helped you to keep going .
Petal thanks for your kind words, I am sure you know I get more out of this place than I put into it. I hope I help others, and as you say trying to has helped me. I need to point out that you do the same, and probably better than I do. We started posting here just days apart, and when I look at our statistics we have posted about the same number of comments, however you have hundreds more replies than I do. You are popular because your wisdom is helpful to people.
On another note, I guess you’re not going to China anymore?
Well I was until a few hours ago, Delta Airlines made the decision for me, they canceled my flight and all others to China. I have a friend in China who is already there for the meeting, now she is trying to get out. Not a good time to go to China. Thanks for asking.
40" waistline (35-36" for women) is generally accepted as a danger indication for your heart health
Thanks Flyer, I did not know that, interesting read on the link. Guess my heart is happy.
I think we are all always one minute away from a binge, that's not a great thing to live with and it takes some work and dedication to control it, but that's how it is.
That is certainly the case for me, and you are right we have to find a way to live with it. I think we can, and working on it together will help. Much as I wish it would go away I am coming to understand that's like wishing I was a lot taller, younger, and rich, ain't going to happen.

Rob B, thanks for your words of encouragement.
 
It can be really hard to get rid of favorites that get too big. But...now you have the opportunity to find some new favorites too. Clearing the closet is a very good thing.
 
Oh! Could you have a one-last outing for the Hawaiian shirts? Do you have an outdoor clothesline? You could peg them all up and have a Grand Family Hawaiian Barbeque, and everyone could vote for their favourite. Or rank them in order of preference - I can see that as an activity which could last an afternoon.
I mean - it is a collection, built up over years, and totally should be celebrated before being dispersed to gladden the hearts of others. :)
 
A bittersweet day, most of my Hawaiian shirt collection is on its way out the door, just too big. I saved everything 3 xl and down, but there are at least 30 favorite shirts in that pile, Hawaiians alone, headed out for donation.

I hope you can find some new favorites and that there is more sweetness than bitterness to letting the current pile go.
 
It was a good day, I ate well and did a big closet purge. I am feeling good tonight. My calories were a bit lite today, but not too bad. My China trip got cancelled, for the obvious reason. I am sure its for the best, but after my original reluctance I was looking forward to it. Rescheduling is unlikely, it will probably become a conference call. I am not sure I'll get another chance, but they did pay for and expiate a 10 year multi-entry visa for me, so who knows.

I did have an unexpected turn of events tonight, my wife who has generally been supportive of my diet did a turn around. She told me that I need to stop dieting and stop losing weight, and she was not very friendly about it. I tried to clam her, but I am not going to stop now. I know I have lost a lot but my BMI is still well into the obese range, and so long as it is I plan to keep dieting. I suppose this will pass.

It can be really hard to get rid of favorites that get too big. But...now you have the opportunity to find some new favorites too.
You are right of course, and so far I have not had trouble getting rid of the more conventional clothes, but the Hawaiian shirt collection is kind of special. I'll get over it, but I need to morn for a little while. Thanks for your support.
Could you have a one-last outing for the Hawaiian shirts? Do you have an outdoor clothesline? You could peg them all up and have a Grand Family Hawaiian Barbeque
Thanks Amy, that is an interesting idea, maybe I'll but them back into one of the boxes and wait for warmer, bbq weather and do that. A more fitting good by than just taking them to Goodwill. And you are right it is a 30 year collection, and I have worked hard to find a lot of the favorites.
there is more sweetness than bitterness to letting the current pile go
Thanks Liza, you are sure right about that, much as I will miss them it is much better that they don't fit anymore.

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937 was the year that the Tynwald, or Tynwald Court was founded. Tynwald is the parliament on the Isle of Man. And it remains active as the longest continuous parliament in the world. The beginning of our western democratic governments. I have never been to the Isle of Man, but it sounds like a very interesting place. I had learned that the Althing in Iceland was the oldest parliament and it seems that it was founded in 930 so maybe it was, even if so the Tynwald is a close second.
 
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That's so many shirts! :eek:
I did have an unexpected turn of events tonight, my wife who has generally been supportive of my diet did a turn around. She told me that I need to stop dieting and stop losing weight, and she was not very friendly about it. I tried to clam her, but I am not going to stop now. I know I have lost a lot but my BMI is still well into the obese range, and so long as it is I plan to keep dieting. I suppose this will pass.
Interesting. Did you ask ask her what changed to cause her worry?
 
Coming back to say - oh good, that the Hawaiian shirts may have a chance to be celebrated as a collection, before they (mostly?) disperse. It is a form of art, and collecting them a form of art appreciation - and what a great sight they would be, all out together in the sunshine!

About your wife's concerns - could you possibly consider a break, as I have been doing, to shift down a gear for a bit? I think (from my own case) that it has psychological benefits, in showing that one can eat "normally" and hold the line. Or you could undertake to get to "overweight" and then stop - if she knows there's a defined stopping place, she might feel more at ease with the whole weight loss undertaking.
 
Well Rob it’s probably a big shock to her to see the difference . I have as you know got it from family members and colleagues . I too have weight still to lose .
What I do now is what I got advised here was to say I’m just maintaining ( which I kind of am ) but just ticking along slowly .
Leave her be a few days and see if she says any more about it . Is it a fact that your social life has changed from your dieting . Also do you discuss it with her every day or do you just tick along doing your own thing ?

Oh Rob I used to post here before last May but I took a break from it . I wasn’t in right frame of mind for posting or dieting really so that’s why it appears I have lots of posts . I’m so happy I changed my mindset and came back though .
 
Hi Rob. I'm sorry to hear that your wife is possibly wavering in her support. Does she struggle with her weight as well?
 
Rob - it's nice that Delta made the decision for you, although too bad you missed out on the trip. How hard/expensive is it to get a visa? I didn't know it was difficult.

Maybe your wife is just adapting to your new looks, I'm sure she had gotten used to you the way you were. Or, she might be concerned for your health, thinking you're losing too much in too short of a time. I know my wife wouldn't complain if I shed a couple of pounds...
 
There are so many really good replies here about why your wife may be feeling the way she does now that I won't try adding to them. Your calories are so low that maybe she is worried about you.
 
Just got back from a good bike ride. My first time on a real mountain bike trail, although a very beginner one. I probably rode 3 or 4 miles and gained about 300 ft elevation on a rough trail. Enough to tire me out. It was fun, a motivation to keep riding regularly so I can go further next time. I went out to Antelope Island, its the largest Island in the Great Salt Lake, and the only one you can drive to. Its to the west so less snow falls there and today was relatively warm ~40 F (5 C) and sunny. Got this picture of a buffalo, the Island is home to a wild herd. I saw a lot more, but this is the closest I got to one. It is a kind of refuge, you cannot leave the established trails to approach the buffalo, and the buffalo are not allowed to attack you on the trails. Well maybe, not sure about that last part. Buffalo can be dangerous, they have killed people, and are wild animals. Our "buffalo" are actually Bison and not buffalo at all.
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Thanks all, the wife is fine today, just a minor thing last night. Probably should not have brought it up. And no Cory, she is not really overweight, she thinks that she needs to lose a little, maybe 10 lbs, but not a lot.

the Hawaiian shirts may have a chance to be celebrated as a collection
Maybe so, I put them in a box and put it back where the too small boxes used to be. Then packed 3 good sized boxes of non collectibles to go for donation.
I used to post here before last May but I took a break from it . I wasn’t in right frame of mind for posting or dieting really so that’s why it appears I have lots of posts . I’m so happy I changed my mindset and came back though .
You got me thinking, Petal do you know what "changed your mindset" and put you on the path to eating well? I really don't know what it was for me, and I have thought about it. One day just seemed to be the day. I looked and you originally started here May 13, 2018, and posted off and on for a while, but in May 2019 you seem to have started more regular posting and weight loss. I can pinpoint my start, May 15, 2019, but I can't figure out why, I looked it up; May 15 was a waxing Gibbous moon and Libra was the moon sign (I'm a Virgo) so nothing there.
How hard/expensive is it to get a visa?
The company I was supposed to visit got mine, it was expedited by a place in Houston, I had to fedex my passport to them. I got a 10 year unlimited entry business visa, it cost about $500 and took about a week. The Chinese company I was to visit had to vouch for me. A shorter one or tourist visa is probably less money and trouble. And if you live somewhere that you easily a Chinese consulate its probably easier.
 
It was a good day, ate well, got in a bike ride and I feel good.

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Not much of interest that I could find happened in 962, however it began as the Tibetan year of the female Iron-Rooster and ended as the year of the male Water-Dog.
 
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