Little John's trying again. And again. Aaaand again.

Little John

Little John

New member
I'll admit, it's been too long since I've been here. It's been a little hectic for a while, but that's an excuse. The reality is that I've been failing again and again, and it's getting old.

So here I am, again, here's the story:

As of Monday morning, I was 342 lbs. Thanksgiving 2012 had me under 300 lbs for the first time in a very long time, and I was rather pleased with myself. But it's very difficult for me to step away from food once I've stepped up to the plate (the round one, with that fried stuff on it).

I've been semi-rigorous in working out, I've maintained my lifting routine for the last 5 weeks, and used a rowing machine a couple times a week, though I should be rowing 4 times a week.

Anyway, I'm going to start logging my activities again, hopefully on a daily basis, and try to work on my weaknesses. Right now, the big hitters are bedtime snacks (aka: late dessert), weekend infractions, and my love of second servings. I've been fairly successful in eliminating fast food and oversize afternoon snacks.

Thanks for checking in!
 
Thanks folks. Mr. Vee, gotta say I'm really impressed with your progress, and somewhat envious at that!

So yesterday started with the best of intentions, including a 45 minute row in spite of a bad back. That row, I think, helped fix it since it was a leisurely row focused on form and stretching out my back. I wound up about 350 calories under goal... until I came home and found that my wife had stopped at DQ for a Blizzard for her loving hubby... So that disappeared quickly.

No DQ today, though, new day, still on the right path, dangit!!! Breakfast is the latest usual of yogurt and coffee. Lunch will be leftover pasta, peas and meat sauce. Fairly caloric, but it will be filling enough that I can survive on a small afternoon snack when I get home.

This weekend is going to be awesome and terrible, and I'm not sure of the best approach. I'm getting together with a couple friends and we're going to a beer festival. That will be fun, but not super healthy. On the plus side, we'll be getting there and back by bicycle. We have an itinerary, and I'll have to play it cool on the food choices, as I plan on sampling as many different beers as humanly possible.
 
Welcome back LJ!

I'd say your best bet is having a game plan for post beerfest. Have fun and then get back to work.
 
Enjoy beer fest. The key for now is not to do a perfect job on calories, just a better one.
 
Thanks folks, I managed to come in under calories thanks to the bicycling. Ate a lot of bad food, drank a lot of really good beer, and about two hours of bicycle riding - it all worked out. Sunday was devoid of exercise and good decisions, but that was sort of a planned failure.

This week: I don't see any unusual opportunities to fail, my lifting goes back to lower weight, high reps.

Ongoing struggle is stress-eating - I come home to my two kids (4 and 1 yr), and my 1-yr-old neice (my wife watches her during the week). The neice has a chalkboard-scratchworthy cry, and is prone to having late-afternoon meltdowns.

I need to find a way to escape that, but still be "there" for the family. Maybe I start offering to take 1 or both of my own kids to do something - help out in the garage, do some yard work, go shopping, something? Open to ideas. Walks are kind of out, due to a variety of issues that are all related to my impatience.

My personal challenge for the next two weeks: skip dessert on weekdays.

Pants are feeling a little looser, so that's good. And I was pretty pleased with myself for having no issue keeping up with the other guys on rails-to-trails.
 
Bigger pants and no dessets, they will be even bigger NeXT week. Keep it up John :D

Oh your wife would just love if you took a child or two grocery shopping og working in the yard, and it will keep your mind occupied too - it's a win-win-win.

You could retreat to a more quite room and read/sing to the kids - maybe the niece would love that too. Otherwise your wife could have her back. Same with the yard, is it possible to play out there? When mine were that age they loved a gigantic fuzzy ball and a inflated cow they could sit and jump on. You could get some exercise and stretching in while playing with them.

Your wife could put the niece and perhaps your youngest child in a stroller and go for a nice long walk while you and the oldest cooked dinner or what ever she's doing at that time.
 
Hi john,

I hope all is well, I just read your thread and you are doing great. :) and I like your sayings in your signature. We all dont need to listen in our head if we are tempted to eat bad food. :newangel:

Little John said:
Pants are feeling a little looser, so that's good. And I was pretty pleased with myself for having no issue keeping up with the other guys on rails-to-trails.
Click to expand...
 
Glad you like the signatures, Maganda!

Thanks for the ideas Clarissa, I did broach the subject of helping out and winding down to her, and she loved it for all the right reasons. So tonight, I'm going to have my daughter help set up my weights for the Tuesday lifting session, then I'll take her and maybe my son to Home Depot for some supplies.

Part of that problem is that around 4 is when I'm feeling especially withdrawn, and all three kids are in the witching hour and need some activity. I think a walk will let me regroup while the daughter gets to run around and the son looks around.

Anyway, still shopping for suggestions. First day of dessert-free living yesterday went well, I'm happy to report. A friend of mine was expressing his own concerns that he drinks too much - one beverage, every night, just out of habit - so I told him my dessert challenge, and he's participating in his own alcohol challenge.
 
I have no small children related advice. I will say that losing weight and exercising more helps you to deal with stress of any kind. I like Clarissa's idea.
 
Yeah I'm a little light on the advice for small children as well. I usually just flee in the opposite direction.

I'm sort of partaking in my own alcohol challenge: if a friend invites me out I'll try and have a couple responsibly, but otherwise I'm going to try and limit things to one Friday a week. So far my weight has responded favorably.

My plan has a scheduled "dessert" every night, to the tune of about 140 calories (early on it was chocolate covered almonds, about 25g worth). Generally something at least a little sweet about an hour after dinner. On nights when I know I'll be having a beer or two, I skip dessert and the beer becomes dessert.
 
Happy with yesterday - I hung out with my daughter outside while working on a project, she seemed to enjoy it, too, since there's about a billion leaves on the ground - "Daddy, can I borrow some of your leaves?" "Sure hon, take whatever you need." Today is rainy, so I guess I better think of options for tonight!

Had a good lift session, too, made it to "burn" before "bored" with most of my sets, which is the goal. Having an odd issue where I try to do military presses with dumbells, but I can't roll them up onto my shoulders - once there, I'm good to go, and putting them down is rarely an issue. Maybe time to consider using a barbell with the BB rack.

Also feeling good about skipping desserts. I really, really want them, but not to the point of compulsion.
 
You could try sitting on a bench, getting the dumbbells onto your lap on their ends, then bend forward and hoist them onto your shoulders, and then stand up. Or just do them seated. Just be careful that you don't hurt your back moving them to your shoulders. Nothing wrong with using a barbell though. The form on the press up is a bit different with a barbell if you press in front. You have to tuck your chin to keep the bar near center then move the bar back a little once you're past your head to center the weight.
 
Thanks Q, I do something similar and I am seated (drop ceiling and 6'2" means no standing militaries!) - it's actually a little more effective when I get them up while standing, but I don't want to trip over other equipment with a hundred pounds of dumbbells resting on my shoulders!

Had a nice, strong row last night - Another week and I'll start adding some variation to the pace, but my goal is to stay at 45 minutes, including warmup and rests.

My no-dessert challenge was a little tough last night when I finished my row. I had that taste in the mouth that needs chocolate to satisfy it. As a compromise, I drank a pint of water and a few slices of pepperoni (since the sliced turkey was gone).

Weekend's coming. Just me and the boy on Saturday, maybe I can take him on a little hike between naps, I have one of those baby backpacks so he can use my head as a bongo set.
 
Sounds like you are doing great!
About desserts, I mix unsweetened low fat cocoa powder in a little yoghurt or make a cup hot c with milk/water if I feel like chocolate. You can even buy herbal tea with cocoa shells in it, you'll soon find satisfaction in it if real chocolate isn't a option. Other days I freeze 100 cal of fruits and blend it with half a cup of water and a little vanilla.
 
Not a lot of small child advice for you, and I'm afraid I've also got nothing there! My brother has three boys and when I see them my focus is usually just on hiding my fear. I hear they can sense that.

I feel for your friend on his alcohol challenge.... I was also in a daily habit, and when I decided to avoid it Monday though Thursday one week (baby steps) I was DYING! The habitual desire seemed to die down after a few days though, so hopefully he finds the same to be true for him.
 
Thanks again Clarissa, I've managed to make the come-home routine a little easier on everyone. I have mild depression, and it likes to rear its head and hang out for too long. Basically until my wife tells me that I'm being a jerk (not her words, but I can read between the lines).

Oaks, funny you mention my friend's feelings - I got some text messages from his wife a couple days ago scolding me for taking away her drinking buddy!

Yesterday was good, calorie-wise, in spite of not-so-good menu throughout the day. Amazing how much better things go when I control the snacking. I was unable to do my full row, though, as I had heartburn, and squeezing your gut over and over again really pushes up the acid. Still, 25 minutes was 265 calories burned, so it's better than nothing.

Working from home today so my wife can go take a test for her degree. Both the kids are sick. Still managed a reasonable breakfast of English muffin w/butter and a glass of V8. And coffee, gotta have that caffeine.
 
I experienced heartburn for the very first time a few weeks ago. Which turned into me acting like I was dying and whining uncontrollably until it went away. Yes, I know I was being dramatic, but man, that feeling was awful! So good for you for exercising and not acting like I would.
 
Mild depression, heartburn, and two sick kids and you are still kicking butt! That's really commendable. Staying on track isn't easy when everything is going your way. Doing it while things are rough shows real drive. Keep it up!
 
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