DCarr10760's Weight loss diary

[Griff1]

Hey David, congrats on the scale moving again. I totally understand the frustration of doing everything "right" and not seeing the scale move. You are doing great, keep going! Oh and thanks for stopping by my diary, I really appreciate it.

Griff

 

[DCarr10760]

Yesterday was so-so diet wise, we went to the In-Laws for dinner and a swim and ate too much, about 2700 calories, still with the walk/run and 20 minutes of more vigorous swimming FitDay says I burned off 3900 calories so that is good, I guess.

This morning I forgot to set my alarm and woke up at 5:45 instead of 5:00 so had to truncate my walk, fortunately I felt good so I really went fast.

Tomorrow will be better. This weekend I'll set up some of my weight gear so I can add some resistance work. I'll have to see when I can fit that in, probably in the evenings.

Sorta the next step.

David C.

 

[DCarr10760]

It was a nice walk this AM. Not so humid as the past week. I'm getting stronger in my walking, more energetic. Though I have done the odd bit of jogging during these morning walks, mostly varying the intensity is done by taking longer strides, more strides per minute and swinging arms. Judging by my breathing level and perspiration it is working.

I do want to start running, but will wait until I am in my 230's in kindness to my knees and ankles. But I am at least beginning to feel like I want to run.

An image I have in my mind is of me at age 5 or 6 running effortlessly, entirely unaware of my body, just focusing on chasing the wind. It felt like flying! I got fat when I turned 7 and have never again run without being painfully aware of my body. Being able to run is one of the things I look forward to. To play with my kids without having to stop for breath, to play tennis without fearing volleying (because I can't get to the ball so I have to win on the serve or the return-or lose).

Every walk takes me closer there! Every healthy day of eating trains me. I am feeling very positive about the weight loss, though slow- It feels like I am in control and that's a good thing!

Yesterday at work we had a party to celebrate the close of our fiscal year and our highest incoming sales ever. So they sent out for pizza (one of my problem foods).

I decided that I didn't want to eat with reckless abandon so I planned to eat just two pieces of plain or vegetarian, look for small pieces, have no soda, just water and sit with the production staff who are real talkers and nobody would notice how much I did or didn't eat.

It worked like a charm! I ate slooooowly so I wouldn't be done way before everybody else with a hungry look on my face and when anybody talked to me I stopped eating and set the pizza down and answered.

There, my friends is the key to not overeating in social situations. Set down your fork and focus on the conversation rather than ramming your face into the feedbag and answering with slurps and grunts. When you eat, focus on the food, when you talk, focus on the conversation. It makes everybody feel better!

Any way the upshot is I had a goal, I made the goal and so I feel good about it rather than way overeating. Of course two pieces of pizza wasn't filling and I spent more time all afternoon staring at my afternoon break apple than my end of the year reports on the screen...oh well!

David C

 

[MsGhettoBooty]

Every walk takes me closer there! Every healthy day of eating trains me. I am feeling very positive about the weight loss, though slow- It feels like I am in control and that's a good thing!

Hi there David,

I've seen you post a number of times, but just haven't had the time to drop into your journal. Hi! haha Anyways, you're doing fantastic and congrats with the weight loss so far! I chose the quote above, because it's definitely empowering and I can tell you're determined this time around. I am sorry to hear about the situation with your older boys, but right now focus on yourself and everything else will fall into place naturally. Wishing you the best....

-Sheryl

 

[DCarr10760]

Hi Sheryl,

Thanks for stopping by and for your words of encouragement, I really appreciate it. My older boys went on vacation with their Mother, but nobody let me know the address or number or even where they're going!!

I left a message on the Ex's cell phone, but it's never turned on!! (so why bother carrying it? Save money and carry around a TV remote for all the good it does!! Grrrrrr!) Deep breath!!!

Okay, better now!

I'll get a call in a week or two like nothing happened, Tra-la!

I will not get angry I'll explain how I feel and maybe they'll hear me. Or maybe they won't.

Sometimes being a grown-up really sucks!

Thanks for stopping by, sorry about the earfull!!

David

 

[DCarr10760]

I stepped on the scale this AM and I'm still 252. But occasionally it flickered to 251 According to the manual that came with the cheapo scale, it means I am 251.5 It's a mighty thin straw, but I am grasping it!

Had another strong good walk. Last week I was jogging a bit at times during the walks but felt so heavy and awkward and I could feel the stress in my knees and ankles. So I have arbitrarily decided not to start any serious running until I'm in the 230's. Although as I turned back onto my street at the end of the walk, the garbage truck pulled in right behind me, so I jogged home (the length of the street) to avoid having to play hopscotch with the working men and the garbage monster truck.

It felt pretty good, so I reserve the right to change my plan. I just have to remember not to overdo it. An injury now would be most unwelcome.

Food was good yesterday, a bit light on the calories (just over 1800) but I felt good and wasn't hungry so I didn't cram in something-or-other just to make my numbers.

Today's Friday! Yay! No big weekend plans, work around the house, go to the In-Laws to mow their lawn and have a swim. Maybe I'll hear from the boys. Unlikely, but hope springs eternal.

David C

 

[MsGhettoBooty]

It felt pretty good, so I reserve the right to change my plan. I just have to remember not to overdo it. An injury now would be most unwelcome.


Today's Friday! Yay! No big weekend plans, work around the house, go to the In-Laws to mow their lawn and have a swim. Maybe I'll hear from the boys. Unlikely, but hope springs eternal.

David C

Morning David,

thanks so much for leaving that sweet message on my before and inbetw/ pix! As for the not overdoing it, you're really smart in taking your time. I started getting a little too anxious and was going for jogs, then I suddenly started to feel a bit of pain near my shin. Luckily for me, I told myself to back off for a bit, because shin splits are the last thing I want right now. I think I'll wait until I get down to 150 or so before I try jogging again.

TGIF, btw! Woohooo!! Wishing you a wonderful day and keep up the terrific job.

-Sheryl

 

[DCarr10760]

Hi Sheryl,

Ouch!, be careful, shin splints are no fun. An old GF of mine had them and she really suffered, of course I was there to provide massage, but try as I did they NEVER seemed to improve

(If you look under gullible in the dictionary apparently there's a pic of me!)

Having some success with the weight loss (albeit slow) makes me really want to turn up the steam. But I just have to remember to take it slow. I've been fat for 40 years, it's not like I need to become an Adonis overnight! Next week or even the week after is fine. Lol

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

David C

 

[Boam46]

Hi Sheryl,
Having some success with the weight loss (albeit slow) makes me really want to turn up the steam. But I just have to remember to take it slow. I've been fat for 40 years, it's not like I need to become an Adonis overnight! Next week or even the week after is fine. Lol

Hey David,

Your doing great sticking to your weight loss plan. That was a great line!! I keep telling myself I didn't get like this overnight so i can't expect to be different overnight... but in the next breath (or thought) I think but wouldn't it be great if I could just walk out of all this fat and be fit and thin One can only dream!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

~Jenna

 

[DCarr10760]

Hi Jenna! Thanks for stopping by! I know just what you mean... I know it is going to be a slow steady process, but part of me just wants to be fit already.

I try not to focus too hard on the end goal, but instead focus on the process of training myself to act like a thin person, think like a thin person and especially eat like a thin person and learn to enjoy the lifestyle. It has to become so deeply ingrained in my subconsciousness that I live the right way by habit, even when I am not focused on my health (as I am now) or when I am under lots of stress or in crisis. Because those times will surely come. And I don't want to become fat again.

Again thanks for stopping by Jenna!

 

[MsGhettoBooty]

I try not to focus too hard on the end goal, but instead focus on the process of training myself to act like a thin person, think like a thin person and especially eat like a thin person and learn to enjoy the lifestyle. It has to become so deeply ingrained in my subconsciousness that I live the right way by habit, even when I am not focused on my health (as I am now) or when I am under lots of stress or in crisis. Because those times will surely come. And I don't want to become fat again.

All the running, weight training, gym hauling does a body good. However, weight loss is a psychological overhaul as much as a physical one. You're wonderful, David. You're due for a "number drop" on the scales soon. Wishing you a great Sunday.

-Sheryl

 

[Boam46]

All the running, weight training, gym hauling does a body good. However, weight loss is a psychological overhaul as much as a physical one.

It really is also psychological. I think for it to be a true lifestyle change your mind must change. My boyfriend can't get over how "happy" I am now... it almost freaks him out

Have a great Sunday
~Jenna

 

[DCarr10760]

You're wonderful, David. You're due for a "number drop" on the scales soon.

Aww shucks, Ma'am and rightbackacha!

I haven't checked the scales lately, but I did do a round of measurements, since I noticed my clothes fitting better and My wife said I looked thinner

I took the measurements to do a "Home Body Fat Test" about when I started. For men it's just a couple of measurements, it's much more for women, but mine were:

Starting:

Waist= 51", Hips= 44", Forearm 13.5", Wrist= 8" Body fat calc. 28.1%

This AM:

Waist= 48", Hips= 43", Forearm 13", Wrist= 8" Body fat calc. 26.4%

So I'm happy with that, I don't know how accurate the Body fat calc % is, but the trend is in the right direction. It also showed my LBM as having increased from 183.34 lbs to 184.74 lbs.

This is a point of confusion for me actually, so for arguments sake we go with the higher number with an ideal total weight which is 12% BF, my goal weight should be (184.74 / .88) or 209.9 lbs.

The last time I lost a LOT of weight, I got down to 210 and I still had lots o' blubber about. So would guess that my ideal weight is under 200 lbs, somewhere.

So there's something I'm not figgerin' right or some other factor that I haven't considered.

But the measuring tape says I'ma gettin' smaller, even if the calculus is fucacta!

Have a great Sunday!

David C

 

[Boam46]

But the measuring tape says I'ma gettin' smaller, even if the calculus is fucacta!

WTG on the inches lost... the trend is definitly in the right direction!!!

All those calculators and charts and such really really confuse me... they're all conflicting or just say things that just don't seem right.... I'd go witht he measuring tape, the scale, and how you feel in your body!

 

[DCarr10760]

So this morning I weigh 251! Yep, managed to chip off another pound!

Slow going but the right direction and I definitely feel better. I have a sense that the weight loss will pick up a bit soon, I have a feeling that this last time I let myself get so heavy (basically since just before my two-year old was born) I really became very badly unfit along with the weight.

I've always been somewhat active, even though I have been heavy. I'm not a couch potato. But having a child in your mid 40's is much different than in your 20's and early 30's and I dealt with the stress and lack of sleep by being inert and eating.

So when I started, three weeks ago I was terrible shape. So I do believe that I have built some muscle. I know the conventional thinking is that you cannot lose fat and build muscle simultaneously, but I also know that obese, out of shape people can, at the beginning do just this.

It is really the only explanation for looking like I've lost more weight than I have.

But when that sorts itself out and my muscles adapt to their workload I think I'll see a faster drop.

It doesn't really matter, because I won't change anything as long as I am losing inches and some weight. But I analyze everything every which was trying to make sense of it.

Anyway, Happy Monday All!

David C

 

[Steve]

Congrats on the numbers heading in the right direction, David.

And thanks for the kind words in my journal.

 

[DCarr10760]

Hello folks!

Today is my rest day, so no walking this AM. I enjoyed the extra hour of sleep!

This morning my oldest son (18) called and said he'd drive down and meet me for lunch! "Sure!" says I, "is there something on your mind?" I asked. He said no, that he just hadn't seen me for a couple of weeks and that he has the day off from work today and just wanted to see me!... <sniff> He's a good boy.

So I am looking forward to seeing him. I'll have to be careful at the restaurant not to eat too much.

Been good on the eating front, I stepped on the scale this AM and I was down another pound! I'm not going to officially log it into my ticker until my next "official" weigh-in, but it does make me 'appy!

Hope all of you are doing great!

David C

 

[DCarr10760]

Things I've learned.

I don't know what made me think of this now, but I've been making mental notes of little changes I have made to how I eat. There are some good ideas that I want to formalize (in a post) and perhaps people might find them interesting.

Eat Intentionally

By this I mean if you are going to eat a meal, or a snack, do it mindfully. Don't eat in front of the computer or the TV, for example. Or at your desk when you are working. Pay attantion to your food while eating it. My thinking is that when your attention is elsewhere you robotically ingest your food, and it robs you of the pleasure of eating. You miss out on much of the experience, and are left not fully satisfied. It is too easy then to eat too much.

Learn to recognize hunger

Being fat all of my life I rarely let myself get hungry. I gorged at meals and before my body had time to deal with the mass quantities I'd consumed, I fed myself again. I snacked constantly. So for me there's always been confusion between being hungry and just wanting to eat.

In my current eating plan, I do feel hunger now. It really isn't at all unpleasant, in some odd way it is comforting. My body is now working the way it ought to. But there are also times when I just want to eat. These are the dangerous times, because I may or may not actually be hungry, just accustomed to eating at these times or the desire is triggered by the way I feel emotionally..whoah! there be the dragons of obesity!!

Taking a moment to ask myself before eating: "am I actually hungry? or is it something else?" has been a big help in the inevitable moments of stress induced weakness.

Strategic rulebreaking

My life cannot stop because I am regaining my health, living my life requires occasional forays into eating situations that are less than optimal. These have recently included: pizza parties at work, customer lunches and dinners with friends. These are a quandry, to be social I have to partake to some degree, but it is not always socially appropriate to announce, "I am on a diet"

So what I have learned is to take a moment to plan ahead what you will eat and adhere to your plan. This is the strategy. If you decide before eating anything, "I will allow myself two small pieces of pizza and I'll drink water instead of soda or beer" and then you stick to it, you will have done the least damage to your overall plan, while still being able to enjoy the party. You will also have successfully achieved this small goal and will feel better about yourself.

Eating in group situations

To avoid overeating without being too obvious

1. Eat slowly
2. When speaking, put your fork or your food down onto your plate and pay attention to speaking or listening fully.
3. If the portions are huge, cut the amount that you know you should eat off and eat only this. If questioned about this, you can always say "It's very rich" or "I had a really big breakfast."

Commitment to exercise

Plan ahead for when you will exercise in a formal way, a chart or post or something. Treat it with as much respect as you would treat a Doctor's appointment. Never miss a scheduled workout. Reschedule it if emergencies arise. But don't miss them.

So that is a start, more will come I am sure.

David C

 

[MsGhettoBooty]

Hello folks!

Today is my rest day, so no walking this AM. I enjoyed the extra hour of sleep!

This morning my oldest son (18) called and said he'd drive down and meet me for lunch! "Sure!" says I, "is there something on your mind?" I asked. He said no, that he just hadn't seen me for a couple of weeks and that he has the day off from work today and just wanted to see me!... <sniff> He's a good boy.

So I am looking forward to seeing him. I'll have to be careful at the restaurant not to eat too much.

Been good on the eating front, I stepped on the scale this AM and I was down another pound! I'm not going to officially log it into my ticker until my next "official" weigh-in, but it does make me 'appy!

Hope all of you are doing great!

David C

Awww... I'm so happy that you and your son are going out for lunch. I'm sure you must be excited, David. First off, congrats with the two pounds, doll! WOOOOT! I'm not sure if you read the post in my before and in betw/ pix about you reaching 230. I said that if you go reach it, then you should most definitely be able to drink a beer. haha And well, if you didn't want to do it, then Jenna and I would just for you... well, because we care! hahaaa! You're doing fantastic! I hope lunch goes well for you both.

-Sheryl

 

[Boam46]

Hello folks!

Today is my rest day, so no walking this AM. I enjoyed the extra hour of sleep!

This morning my oldest son (18) called and said he'd drive down and meet me for lunch! "Sure!" says I, "is there something on your mind?" I asked. He said no, that he just hadn't seen me for a couple of weeks and that he has the day off from work today and just wanted to see me!... <sniff> He's a good boy.

So I am looking forward to seeing him. I'll have to be careful at the restaurant not to eat too much.

Been good on the eating front, I stepped on the scale this AM and I was down another pound! I'm not going to officially log it into my ticker until my next "official" weigh-in, but it does make me 'appy!

Hope all of you are doing great!

David C

Hey David,

Congrats on being another pound down! Having your son come for lunch must be exciting... that was sooo sweet of him A few weeks ago my parents drove up from New York for dinner... it was a surprise. Its soo nice when the ones who love you surprise you!

I'm sure you'll do great at the restaurant

Awww... I'm so happy that you and your son are going out for lunch. I'm sure you must be excited, David. First off, congrats with the two pounds, doll! WOOOOT! I'm not sure if you read the post in my before and in betw/ pix about you reaching 230. I said that if you go reach it, then you should most definitely be able to drink a beer. haha And well, if you didn't want to do it, then Jenna and I would just for you... well, because we care! hahaaa! You're doing fantastic! I hope lunch goes well for you both.

-Sheryl

I'm so in on the 230 thing... I need a good excuse to have a beer!!

Have a wonderful lunch
~Jenna