I have a rule when it comes to eating. It's quite simple actually. I am allowed to eat only food that fits into the BFL program with my own twists of course. However, I am also allowed to eat any food that is offered to me.
The only exception I make is in the first two weeks of the program. I'm a believer, and have proven to myself, that the first two weeks are the most critical. If you can get through the first two weeks of any program, you're in the good. You will continue on regardless of any slip ups.
If you eat food that is not appropriate for your particular diet during the first two weeks, you have a high likelihood of failing and having to start over. However, if you eat naughty food later in the program, you'll be more likely to get back on the horse and keep going.
I think the problem with most failings is that people eat a bad meal, they have the craving for a cookie, and they eat it. Then they feel guilty, say skrew it, and then decide to eat whatever they want the rest of the day. This is fine later in the diet, yet it is not fine the first two weeks.
During the first two weeks you're more likely to say "skrew it" for that day, and then have trouble getting back on track the next day too.
I find that if I eat good and exercise, even on my free day I don't want to eat too bad. I don't want to skrew up a good thing. Eating right becomes a habit.
The dilemma comes in when someone brings food to you. My wife's aunt -- on the fourth day of the program nonetheless -- brought us a homemade meal of chicken, green beans mixed with bacon and butter, and mashed potatoes made with butter I'm sure, and two desserts and home made bisquits with home made honey.
Ahhhhh, my taste buds were salivating. And I ate all of it. Well, except for the dessert that is. It was easy to avoid the dessert because it was chocolate cake and I don't particularly care for chocolate to begin with. So I saved myself there.
Still, even when you are dietiing you still need to live your life. It's okay to eat a meal someone prepares for you. If you go to someone's house and they offer you a meal, take it. You only look rediculous when you turn down good food.
I wouldn't turn down a beer someone offered either. I'd even have two or three. Heck, I'd even get drunk if the opportunity presented itself. However, you must never forget the goals you set for yourself. It's okay to have a fun day now and again, yet you must get back on the horse the next day.
It's ideal to save your bad diet days for a free day. Yet life is life.
Showing posts with label body for life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label body for life. Show all posts
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Free days
Today was a perfect example of what I wrote yesterday: that you have to tweak your workout to fit your life. With the power out for several hours today I was unable to sleep. Of course you know in today's high tech world you need electricity to power a good sleep. You have to plug yourself in.
So by the time I fell back to sleep time didn't allow for a workout. No sweat, because the BFL program allows for a free day. Ideally you're "supposed" to workout Monday through Saturday and take your free day on Sunday, however with a life, I find it better to tweak my free day in to two different days.
A free day involves two things:
So if one of those things are coming up I'll schedule that day to be my free day from eating. So, as you can see, I try to take my free day from eating and exercising all in one. Yet quite often I find it better to split it up. One day is free from exercise, and another day free from diet.
Some people might frown on this, yet it works for my life great. This is especially important because I normally work days Monday and Tuesday, so I do my Monday workout on Sunday and take Monday off from working out. This way I have quality time with the family after work Monday and before bed.
However, I like to take my free diet day on the weekends when something is going on, like football day during the NFL season.
So you see, it's better to tweak your workout program than to not do one at all. When it comes to keeping your body in shape there are no excuses...
So by the time I fell back to sleep time didn't allow for a workout. No sweat, because the BFL program allows for a free day. Ideally you're "supposed" to workout Monday through Saturday and take your free day on Sunday, however with a life, I find it better to tweak my free day in to two different days.
A free day involves two things:
- No exercise
- No diet (eat whatever you want)
So if one of those things are coming up I'll schedule that day to be my free day from eating. So, as you can see, I try to take my free day from eating and exercising all in one. Yet quite often I find it better to split it up. One day is free from exercise, and another day free from diet.
Some people might frown on this, yet it works for my life great. This is especially important because I normally work days Monday and Tuesday, so I do my Monday workout on Sunday and take Monday off from working out. This way I have quality time with the family after work Monday and before bed.
However, I like to take my free diet day on the weekends when something is going on, like football day during the NFL season.
So you see, it's better to tweak your workout program than to not do one at all. When it comes to keeping your body in shape there are no excuses...
- even if you have asthma
- even if you're married with children
- even if you work too much
- even if....
Monday, January 10, 2011
Tweak your exercise to fit your life
I would imagine "most" adults have, at one time or another, at least thought about working in some fashion or another. I would also imagine most adults have at least glanced at some material, a book perhaps, about some kind of workout program.
If you have, then you've seen the perfect bodies. You've read the stories about people who stuck to the diet to a tee and ended up with six packs. Yet then you do the program, and you stick to it the best you can, and then you learn that you don't have a six pack. You feel better and look better, yet you don't have a six pack.
The reason is that those people who stick to the program to a tee probably don't work night shift, and they probably don't have kids and a wife that come as a priority, and they definitely don't have little kids or a pregnant wife. They might, but chances are they don't.
That's something I like to keep in mind as I go through my bodyforlife routine every day. I have to remind myself I'm not going to get that "ideal" body. As a matter of fact, I don't want that ideal body either. All I want is to feel good, to breathe good, and to live long.
With kids and a wife and a job and the "need" to entertain my family and myself to limit the stress load I have no choice but to alter the workout. For example, on days I work nights I have to remind myself it's okay to eat every 2-3 hours for 24 straight hours. Sure, six meals a day are recommended, yet you have a life and they don't.
Today is a perfect example. I worked last night and I'm tired and extremely burned out. Oh, and plus I have a cold. But I only had a few hours of awake time before I had to go to work. So I limited my workout to 30 minutes. I just did half my workout. I recorded it here at daily mile if you're interested.
I did spend some time at work recording what I did and ate, yet if history is a guide, chances are I'll keep that up a few weeks and quit that too.
If you read the BFL book by Bill Phillips, or listen to Bob and listen to Bob and Jillian from The Biggest Loser on NBC you'll here them say, from time to time, that if you want to succeed at any workout program, if you want a six pack, if you want to reach your goals or near perfect bod, you "MUST" keep track of your workouts and what you put in your body.
I think seeing the numbers helps you to stay motivated. Oh, and you must keep track of your weight and your fat percentages too. However, to be honest, all that stuff takes time. I think that some people spend so much time trying to record data that they lose interest in the workout itself, and fail.
Plus people in the same boat as me, you only get a set slot of time per day to do this stuff. What you do with that time really counts. So, instead of keeping stats, I workout. Then I gloat to myself how awesome my workout was, take a shower, and enjoy my wife and kids.
You see, following any program to a tee is nice, but not essential to success. Tweak your program if you must. I do this and I've succeeded. You'll have to tweak any program to fit your lifestyle and personality if you truly want to succeed.
That's my opinion anyway.
If you have, then you've seen the perfect bodies. You've read the stories about people who stuck to the diet to a tee and ended up with six packs. Yet then you do the program, and you stick to it the best you can, and then you learn that you don't have a six pack. You feel better and look better, yet you don't have a six pack.
The reason is that those people who stick to the program to a tee probably don't work night shift, and they probably don't have kids and a wife that come as a priority, and they definitely don't have little kids or a pregnant wife. They might, but chances are they don't.
That's something I like to keep in mind as I go through my bodyforlife routine every day. I have to remind myself I'm not going to get that "ideal" body. As a matter of fact, I don't want that ideal body either. All I want is to feel good, to breathe good, and to live long.
With kids and a wife and a job and the "need" to entertain my family and myself to limit the stress load I have no choice but to alter the workout. For example, on days I work nights I have to remind myself it's okay to eat every 2-3 hours for 24 straight hours. Sure, six meals a day are recommended, yet you have a life and they don't.
Today is a perfect example. I worked last night and I'm tired and extremely burned out. Oh, and plus I have a cold. But I only had a few hours of awake time before I had to go to work. So I limited my workout to 30 minutes. I just did half my workout. I recorded it here at daily mile if you're interested.
I did spend some time at work recording what I did and ate, yet if history is a guide, chances are I'll keep that up a few weeks and quit that too.
If you read the BFL book by Bill Phillips, or listen to Bob and listen to Bob and Jillian from The Biggest Loser on NBC you'll here them say, from time to time, that if you want to succeed at any workout program, if you want a six pack, if you want to reach your goals or near perfect bod, you "MUST" keep track of your workouts and what you put in your body.
I think seeing the numbers helps you to stay motivated. Oh, and you must keep track of your weight and your fat percentages too. However, to be honest, all that stuff takes time. I think that some people spend so much time trying to record data that they lose interest in the workout itself, and fail.
Plus people in the same boat as me, you only get a set slot of time per day to do this stuff. What you do with that time really counts. So, instead of keeping stats, I workout. Then I gloat to myself how awesome my workout was, take a shower, and enjoy my wife and kids.
You see, following any program to a tee is nice, but not essential to success. Tweak your program if you must. I do this and I've succeeded. You'll have to tweak any program to fit your lifestyle and personality if you truly want to succeed.
That's my opinion anyway.
Sunday, January 09, 2011
The 2011 exercise routine
I started doing the Body-For-Life program again. I actually started it as my 2010 resolution, and I lost 20 pounds doing this program while also participating in a Biggest Loser competition at work. By summer 2010 I was 188 pounds and feeling great.
Yet then I had strabismus surgery and had to quit. Then I had another minor surgery, and had to quit again. So as of today I'm 201 pounds. To be honest that's actually pretty good, especially considering I've been lifting weights on a regular basis the best I can. I didn't want to quit completely because I didn't want to lose every thing I gained.
Of course I should also mention here that I lost those 20 pounds last spring when my wife was pregnant. I had to do that because the time we had a child before that (in 2008) I gained weight with my wife. By the time Helana was born I was up to 210 pounds and was winded all the time mainly due to being out of shape (asthma under good control).
So now my goal this year is to get back into shape and stay there. Repeat: I want to get in shape and stay there. This year I think I can obtain that goal because I see no scheduled vacations in until next summer, and no holidays, and no planned surgeries.
I've been doing the BFL on and off since July of 2001. I actually lost 30 pounds doing this so I looked great for my wedding in 2002. Of course then we went on a cruise and had KK, and I gained it all back and some.
Then I did it again, and got down close to 170 pounds. That's significant, considering my starting weight was 215. Yet we had Helana and most recently Myles in August 2010. Myles didn't cause me to gain weight because I did the BFL while he was in the oven, yet as soon as he popped out it was very stressful around the house, and the weight came back -- although not all of it.
Like I said, I have continued to work out as best I can. In fact, at one point I was down to 188. Yet when you're married with children, your family comes first. Many workouts had to be put on hold.
Yet here I am again at 201 again. This is a roller coaster I plan to end right now. I definitely don't want to get up to 210 where I started. I can tell when I start to gain weight, because I get winded. My asthma starts to get worse.
The goal this time is to get all the way down to 170. I know I can do it. It just takes motivation.
The hardest part is the first two weeks. I know that from experience. Once those two weeks are up it's all down hill from there.
Another thing I'd like to note is I do the BFL completely on my own. I don't use any supplements, and I don't keep track of anything.
I know that's not recommended, yet I suck at record keeping stuff. I like to just eat things that are "relatively" good every 2-3 hours and work out once a day, trying to push to my limits.
I have a very supportive wife who hopefully will do this with me again this time. Either way, she cooks healthy food just for me that fits into the BFL mode quite well (although sometimes we cheat a little).
Likewise, I do not participate in the competition. I should, but I don't.
I also know that if you're 5'8" and 200 pounds you won't have a six pack when you are done. So, to make yourself look like the pics on the main page of BFL and the BFL book, you'll probably have to be under 20% body fat when you start. This means you'll have to do the BFL 12 week program 2-3 times in a row.
I'm realistic: there will be no six pack for me. The goal is to reach a healthy weight and stay their and to have good asthma control.
So my goal this time around is to stick with this WAY past the first 12 week cycle. However, I'm realistic. Having kids and working as a full time RT provides stress. So I'm realistic to the fact that I'll probably get pulled away for a week or two from time to time. They key, though, is to get back in to the routine as soon as you can, and not let the weeks off be a set back.
I also work night shifts once a week. This is a challenge not addressed in the BFL book nor anywhere on this site that I can see. When I work nights I basically eat every 2-3 hours while I'm awake, even if this amounts to more than 6 meals in a day. It works -- trust me.
Look, my asthma was so bad when I was a kid I wasn't even allowed to participate in gym class, and now I run 3-4 miles 3-4 times a week during the summer. This is a result of modern asthma wisdom and modern asthma medicines (Advair and Singulair).
For motivation and support I thought about starting a blog on the BFL website, yet then I decided why bother with that when I already have this space created with friends already attached.
I've noticed that many lung bloggers have a secondary focus on their blogs about some exercise routine they participate in. Mostly it's running or jogging or simply walking.
So here we go. I encourage you to join me -- us.
Yet then I had strabismus surgery and had to quit. Then I had another minor surgery, and had to quit again. So as of today I'm 201 pounds. To be honest that's actually pretty good, especially considering I've been lifting weights on a regular basis the best I can. I didn't want to quit completely because I didn't want to lose every thing I gained.
Of course I should also mention here that I lost those 20 pounds last spring when my wife was pregnant. I had to do that because the time we had a child before that (in 2008) I gained weight with my wife. By the time Helana was born I was up to 210 pounds and was winded all the time mainly due to being out of shape (asthma under good control).
So now my goal this year is to get back into shape and stay there. Repeat: I want to get in shape and stay there. This year I think I can obtain that goal because I see no scheduled vacations in until next summer, and no holidays, and no planned surgeries.
I've been doing the BFL on and off since July of 2001. I actually lost 30 pounds doing this so I looked great for my wedding in 2002. Of course then we went on a cruise and had KK, and I gained it all back and some.
Then I did it again, and got down close to 170 pounds. That's significant, considering my starting weight was 215. Yet we had Helana and most recently Myles in August 2010. Myles didn't cause me to gain weight because I did the BFL while he was in the oven, yet as soon as he popped out it was very stressful around the house, and the weight came back -- although not all of it.
Like I said, I have continued to work out as best I can. In fact, at one point I was down to 188. Yet when you're married with children, your family comes first. Many workouts had to be put on hold.
Yet here I am again at 201 again. This is a roller coaster I plan to end right now. I definitely don't want to get up to 210 where I started. I can tell when I start to gain weight, because I get winded. My asthma starts to get worse.
The goal this time is to get all the way down to 170. I know I can do it. It just takes motivation.
The hardest part is the first two weeks. I know that from experience. Once those two weeks are up it's all down hill from there.
Another thing I'd like to note is I do the BFL completely on my own. I don't use any supplements, and I don't keep track of anything.
I know that's not recommended, yet I suck at record keeping stuff. I like to just eat things that are "relatively" good every 2-3 hours and work out once a day, trying to push to my limits.
I have a very supportive wife who hopefully will do this with me again this time. Either way, she cooks healthy food just for me that fits into the BFL mode quite well (although sometimes we cheat a little).
Likewise, I do not participate in the competition. I should, but I don't.
I also know that if you're 5'8" and 200 pounds you won't have a six pack when you are done. So, to make yourself look like the pics on the main page of BFL and the BFL book, you'll probably have to be under 20% body fat when you start. This means you'll have to do the BFL 12 week program 2-3 times in a row.
I'm realistic: there will be no six pack for me. The goal is to reach a healthy weight and stay their and to have good asthma control.
So my goal this time around is to stick with this WAY past the first 12 week cycle. However, I'm realistic. Having kids and working as a full time RT provides stress. So I'm realistic to the fact that I'll probably get pulled away for a week or two from time to time. They key, though, is to get back in to the routine as soon as you can, and not let the weeks off be a set back.
I also work night shifts once a week. This is a challenge not addressed in the BFL book nor anywhere on this site that I can see. When I work nights I basically eat every 2-3 hours while I'm awake, even if this amounts to more than 6 meals in a day. It works -- trust me.
Look, my asthma was so bad when I was a kid I wasn't even allowed to participate in gym class, and now I run 3-4 miles 3-4 times a week during the summer. This is a result of modern asthma wisdom and modern asthma medicines (Advair and Singulair).
For motivation and support I thought about starting a blog on the BFL website, yet then I decided why bother with that when I already have this space created with friends already attached.
I've noticed that many lung bloggers have a secondary focus on their blogs about some exercise routine they participate in. Mostly it's running or jogging or simply walking.
So here we go. I encourage you to join me -- us.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Your pessimism is my motivation this time
As most of you guys are well aware, it's hard to exercise and stay in shape even if you don't have asthma. Yet when you have this disease it's even harder, yet all the more important that you do so.
It often seems that every time you get on the exercise horse and start making some headway, something in life happens that provides you the excuse to quit and to take a week off. Of course taking a week off usually leads to taking a months off and then two.
Then all of a sudden you realize you're winded walking up steps again. You're upset with yourself that you fell off the horse. Now you are looking for some sort of motivation to help you get back on.
Sometimes the best motivation comes from pessimism. Seriously. Sometimes the best motivation to becoming a better person comes from people who tell you you can't or shouldn't do something. When I'm ready to get back on the wagon, often I look for something to motivate me.
I have asthma. I have a very good friend who has asthma. We met about 15 years ago in RT school, and we became best friends because we had something in common -- we both have asthma.
Two weeks ago the topic of losing weight was brought up. My friend is constantly dieting (as am I), and she's actually showing. I said her diet must be working because she's "looking good."
So we started talking about see-saw dieting. How we both have decided it's simply the norm.
And I said something like, "You hear a lot about how see-saw dieting is bad. But I think it's good. It means that you're smart and aware of the importance of exercising. See-saw dieting is proof of how hard it is to get into, and how much harder it is to stay in shape. Yet it's also proof that you have the strength to keep getting back on the horse every time you fall off. In that way, see-saw dieting is good."
"Good point," she said.
Yet then the conversation took a turn. I said, "Back in July I was doing so well on my exercise routine I was up to 4 miles a day -- running. After taking the last 2 months off, when I started up again last week I could only run 1 mile. Yet I got back out there and ran."
"YOU RUN!!!" she said. "You run with your asthma."
"Yeah," I said. "Why would that be surprising?"
"You have asthma."
"I find so long as I take my Advair every day I don't have a problem. I even have a bad cold right now and I don't let that stop me."
"Wow!" she said, "I don't think you should be running."
Instead of trying to find excuses, I wanted to say, I keep trying NOT to find excuses. Yet I held my tongue. I held my tongue because I respected her, my good friend.
Yet I took what she said to heart. It was motivation. It was motivation for me to get back on the wagon -- back on the horse that knocked me off two months ago.
You see, I was knocked off the horse because I had eye surgery, and that provided me an excuse not to work out for a couple weeks. And then my 4th child was born, and that provided me an excuse not to work out another month.
Before I knew it, I was back up to 202 pounds. I was staring in the face, as I looked at the scale, that I had gained 15 pounds since my low of 186 on July 8, 2010. I had to stare into the face that I was on my way back to 210 pounds, and it was creeping up on me fast.
I was facing a choice we all face from time to time. I could either keep on with the sedentary and eat everything I feel like eating attitude, or I could get back on the horse. The wise man gets back on and keeps on going, so long as his body is willing and capable.
Yet is asthma an excuse to quit? I think not. I know not. So, for the 30th time in the past 10 years, this asthmatic got back on the horse. And he did so with pessimism breathing down his back. He used that as motivation.
So it's been two weeks and five pounds lost. Ten more and I'll be back to the 186 I was at 2 months ago. Sure it's frustrating, yet it's life. Life happens. Yet you can't let life stop you from
doing what you know is right.
"YOU CAN'T RUN BECAUSE YOU HAVE ASTHMA!"
I might just highlight that and paste it to my word processor and make it as large as I can, cut it out, and put it right on the wall next to my bed.
Thanks my friend. You were wrong, and I won't tell you you were wrong. Yet I will use your comments as motivation to get back on the horse I keep falling off of yet know I need to somehow stay on to live the good life we all seek.
So I can't run Hey? Take that!
Since you made that comment I've lost 5 pounds with more loss coming. Yet I won't tell her she motivated me. I won't because we feed off each other in a way. When one of us is succeeding, that too acts as a motivator.
In that way, success breeds success. The more I get into shape the greater incentive to get into better shape, and when I see others succeeding, I find that I want to do the same. It's kind of a human nature thing.
And usually we all fall off the horse at the same time. Yet the wise among us know when it's time to get back on the horse and come up with incentives to stay on.
"You can't run because you have asthma!" That's my motivation this time.
It often seems that every time you get on the exercise horse and start making some headway, something in life happens that provides you the excuse to quit and to take a week off. Of course taking a week off usually leads to taking a months off and then two.
Then all of a sudden you realize you're winded walking up steps again. You're upset with yourself that you fell off the horse. Now you are looking for some sort of motivation to help you get back on.
Sometimes the best motivation comes from pessimism. Seriously. Sometimes the best motivation to becoming a better person comes from people who tell you you can't or shouldn't do something. When I'm ready to get back on the wagon, often I look for something to motivate me.
I have asthma. I have a very good friend who has asthma. We met about 15 years ago in RT school, and we became best friends because we had something in common -- we both have asthma.
Two weeks ago the topic of losing weight was brought up. My friend is constantly dieting (as am I), and she's actually showing. I said her diet must be working because she's "looking good."
So we started talking about see-saw dieting. How we both have decided it's simply the norm.
And I said something like, "You hear a lot about how see-saw dieting is bad. But I think it's good. It means that you're smart and aware of the importance of exercising. See-saw dieting is proof of how hard it is to get into, and how much harder it is to stay in shape. Yet it's also proof that you have the strength to keep getting back on the horse every time you fall off. In that way, see-saw dieting is good."
"Good point," she said.
Yet then the conversation took a turn. I said, "Back in July I was doing so well on my exercise routine I was up to 4 miles a day -- running. After taking the last 2 months off, when I started up again last week I could only run 1 mile. Yet I got back out there and ran."
"YOU RUN!!!" she said. "You run with your asthma."
"Yeah," I said. "Why would that be surprising?"
"You have asthma."
"I find so long as I take my Advair every day I don't have a problem. I even have a bad cold right now and I don't let that stop me."
"Wow!" she said, "I don't think you should be running."
Instead of trying to find excuses, I wanted to say, I keep trying NOT to find excuses. Yet I held my tongue. I held my tongue because I respected her, my good friend.
Yet I took what she said to heart. It was motivation. It was motivation for me to get back on the wagon -- back on the horse that knocked me off two months ago.
You see, I was knocked off the horse because I had eye surgery, and that provided me an excuse not to work out for a couple weeks. And then my 4th child was born, and that provided me an excuse not to work out another month.
Before I knew it, I was back up to 202 pounds. I was staring in the face, as I looked at the scale, that I had gained 15 pounds since my low of 186 on July 8, 2010. I had to stare into the face that I was on my way back to 210 pounds, and it was creeping up on me fast.
I was facing a choice we all face from time to time. I could either keep on with the sedentary and eat everything I feel like eating attitude, or I could get back on the horse. The wise man gets back on and keeps on going, so long as his body is willing and capable.
Yet is asthma an excuse to quit? I think not. I know not. So, for the 30th time in the past 10 years, this asthmatic got back on the horse. And he did so with pessimism breathing down his back. He used that as motivation.
So it's been two weeks and five pounds lost. Ten more and I'll be back to the 186 I was at 2 months ago. Sure it's frustrating, yet it's life. Life happens. Yet you can't let life stop you from
doing what you know is right.
"YOU CAN'T RUN BECAUSE YOU HAVE ASTHMA!"
I might just highlight that and paste it to my word processor and make it as large as I can, cut it out, and put it right on the wall next to my bed.
Thanks my friend. You were wrong, and I won't tell you you were wrong. Yet I will use your comments as motivation to get back on the horse I keep falling off of yet know I need to somehow stay on to live the good life we all seek.
So I can't run Hey? Take that!
Since you made that comment I've lost 5 pounds with more loss coming. Yet I won't tell her she motivated me. I won't because we feed off each other in a way. When one of us is succeeding, that too acts as a motivator.
In that way, success breeds success. The more I get into shape the greater incentive to get into better shape, and when I see others succeeding, I find that I want to do the same. It's kind of a human nature thing.
And usually we all fall off the horse at the same time. Yet the wise among us know when it's time to get back on the horse and come up with incentives to stay on.
"You can't run because you have asthma!" That's my motivation this time.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Just this once I'm going to gloat
If you're going to set a goal, you might as well work hard at it. I've seen many of my co-workers and friends get vexed that they haven't been losing weight, yet when you ask them about their diet and exercise you can tell right away the reason.
Basically, there is one sure way to lose weight, and that is to work hard. The most important step is diet. If you put in less fuel than your body uses, you'll lose weight. If you add muscle, your metabolism rate will increase, and this will help you lose weight faster. If you do both, you're sure to lose weight.
The bottom line is: you have to change your diet and exercise routine. You have to change something. You certainly aren't going to wish your weight away. That's what I think some people do. They try to wish it away. Fat chance.
Yet as a few of my coworkers have whined recently: "Why are you losing weight and we aren't. It's because you're a guy," or, "It's because you got more time."
Wrong! It's because I make an effort. I work hard. I give 110% to my goal. And I don't let little minor set backs cause me to quit. I have weak moments where I can't help but to eat that cookie or cake or whatever, yet once that's done and fully enjoyed I move on and get back on the train and keep on a rolling.
Yet I never say that, except to my few closest friends. Most people who complain to me get a simple, "Well, that stinks." Yet, what I won't give them is the old," well, maybe you're just at your natural weight," which is what I think some of them want. I don't give out sympathy. I don't because I worked my ass off to finally get down to 189.4, which is what I weighted in at today.
And, I'm sorry, yet as I stepped on the scale, thinking of that 210 that I weighed in as on April 4, 2010, I couldn't help to think, as I saw the scale tip out at 189.4: Woo Hoo!
No sympathy for winy butts here, and no gloating either. Your humble RT and fellow asthmatic knows as well as the next kid in town that what one works arduously to obtain can disappear in a heartbeat if one isn't careful.
So, since I can't gloat in the real world, since I'm forced to be humble, just this once I'm going to gloat: WOO HOO! I won't do it again.
Basically, there is one sure way to lose weight, and that is to work hard. The most important step is diet. If you put in less fuel than your body uses, you'll lose weight. If you add muscle, your metabolism rate will increase, and this will help you lose weight faster. If you do both, you're sure to lose weight.
The bottom line is: you have to change your diet and exercise routine. You have to change something. You certainly aren't going to wish your weight away. That's what I think some people do. They try to wish it away. Fat chance.
Yet as a few of my coworkers have whined recently: "Why are you losing weight and we aren't. It's because you're a guy," or, "It's because you got more time."
Wrong! It's because I make an effort. I work hard. I give 110% to my goal. And I don't let little minor set backs cause me to quit. I have weak moments where I can't help but to eat that cookie or cake or whatever, yet once that's done and fully enjoyed I move on and get back on the train and keep on a rolling.
Yet I never say that, except to my few closest friends. Most people who complain to me get a simple, "Well, that stinks." Yet, what I won't give them is the old," well, maybe you're just at your natural weight," which is what I think some of them want. I don't give out sympathy. I don't because I worked my ass off to finally get down to 189.4, which is what I weighted in at today.
And, I'm sorry, yet as I stepped on the scale, thinking of that 210 that I weighed in as on April 4, 2010, I couldn't help to think, as I saw the scale tip out at 189.4: Woo Hoo!
No sympathy for winy butts here, and no gloating either. Your humble RT and fellow asthmatic knows as well as the next kid in town that what one works arduously to obtain can disappear in a heartbeat if one isn't careful.
So, since I can't gloat in the real world, since I'm forced to be humble, just this once I'm going to gloat: WOO HOO! I won't do it again.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Life is full of choices
One of the things I hate to hear is, "I don't have time." I like to say to these people, "Well, make the time."
Some examples: I don't have time to exercise. I don't have time to read and learn. I don't have time to let my kids play sports. I don'thave time to keep up on politics. I don't have time to fill in blank.
Common excuses I hear: "I have too much stress," or "I have to much to do around the house, like laundry, paying the bills, taking care of the kids," or, "I have too much stress," or, "I have to work."
Life is a series of choices. Sure there are things that happen that we have no control over, although most of what we have are the consequence of the choices we make. For example, if you have a bad heart, it may be partially because you have bad heart genes, yet if you eat well and exercise, you can prevent.
For example, if you have too much stress in your life, it's because you choose to have a stressful life. Do you complain about your job because it's too stressful? Well, you chose that job, it didn't choose you. Get another one if you hate it so much.
So you have too much to do. I'm sure you can squeeze in one 20 minutes workout in the course of your day. If you do one less load of laundry, so be it. If you have dirty dishes in the sink overnight, so be it. Your body, your life, is more important than those dishes.
Sure you have kids, but your kids go to bed eventually. As soon as your kids go to bed, do your sit-ups and push ups or whatever you do instead of sitting on the couch watching your favorite TV show, or surfing the Internet.
Chances are, once you start working out regularly, you'll find that you have more energy, and you end up being more productive in less time. I find that to be true.
See, I choose to exercise and eat right because I want to live a long healthy life. I'm not like many Americans and "hope" to live a long life while still eating Big Macs and Butter Finger blizzards three times a week, while living a sedentary life. Or going to McDonald's for lunch every day.
Again, there are things that will happen in life we have no control over, yet most of what happens in our lives is the result of what we choose. If you choose to take control of your life and your body, chances are you'll have a much better life overall.
The same thing goes with educating ourselves. Sure our Lord and savior may have provided you with less of an IQ than the next guy or gal, but intelligence is not a byproduct of IQ: it's a bi product of effort.
If you don't have time, make the choice to find it. You'll only be better off if you do.
Some examples: I don't have time to exercise. I don't have time to read and learn. I don't have time to let my kids play sports. I don'thave time to keep up on politics. I don't have time to fill in blank.
Common excuses I hear: "I have too much stress," or "I have to much to do around the house, like laundry, paying the bills, taking care of the kids," or, "I have too much stress," or, "I have to work."
Life is a series of choices. Sure there are things that happen that we have no control over, although most of what we have are the consequence of the choices we make. For example, if you have a bad heart, it may be partially because you have bad heart genes, yet if you eat well and exercise, you can prevent.
For example, if you have too much stress in your life, it's because you choose to have a stressful life. Do you complain about your job because it's too stressful? Well, you chose that job, it didn't choose you. Get another one if you hate it so much.
So you have too much to do. I'm sure you can squeeze in one 20 minutes workout in the course of your day. If you do one less load of laundry, so be it. If you have dirty dishes in the sink overnight, so be it. Your body, your life, is more important than those dishes.
Sure you have kids, but your kids go to bed eventually. As soon as your kids go to bed, do your sit-ups and push ups or whatever you do instead of sitting on the couch watching your favorite TV show, or surfing the Internet.
Chances are, once you start working out regularly, you'll find that you have more energy, and you end up being more productive in less time. I find that to be true.
See, I choose to exercise and eat right because I want to live a long healthy life. I'm not like many Americans and "hope" to live a long life while still eating Big Macs and Butter Finger blizzards three times a week, while living a sedentary life. Or going to McDonald's for lunch every day.
Again, there are things that will happen in life we have no control over, yet most of what happens in our lives is the result of what we choose. If you choose to take control of your life and your body, chances are you'll have a much better life overall.
The same thing goes with educating ourselves. Sure our Lord and savior may have provided you with less of an IQ than the next guy or gal, but intelligence is not a byproduct of IQ: it's a bi product of effort.
If you don't have time, make the choice to find it. You'll only be better off if you do.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Body For Life Round 2
After reading Hussman's tips for success in the Body For Life (BFL) Program I understand now why you can do the entire 12 week program and still not look like the Arnold Schwarzenegger-like photos of fit and ready men (or women if you're a woman).
The BFL program has a contest, and I do not enter it. I don't want people to see pictures of what I look like with my shirt off (if you want to see that way you'll have to come to the beach here in Shoreline, or go to Great Wolf Lodge, or Michigan Adventure when I so happen to be there with my children).
I also don't expect to get a body like that either, although it would be nice. According to Hussman, to get a body like that you have to start out with a fat% of 20% or less, as the winners of the contest usually end up with a fat% of 10 or less (at least that's for men).
So, considering I'm still at about 30% (at least according to my scale which is probably inaccurate). So I'll probably have to go through the program another 2 times, and stick to it to a tee -- which I haven't been able to do (although I always intend to).
But that's not my intent on doing the program. When you have a disease like asthma, you need to exercise and stay in relatively good shape to better manage the asthma beast. The BFL allows me to accomplish this goal better than any other program.
My weight when I started back in February was 210 pounds (actually, I didn't weight myself until after I did the program a month, so I probably weighed more to start), and my present weight after 12 weeks is 195. So, I'm happy with the progress. No! I'm excited about the progress. That's 15 pounds.
Yet, considering my goal is 170, I have a long way to go, and a lot of time to crash (which is why it's important to eat a Dairy Queen Blizzard at least once a week. Seriously).
So I'm not a hypocrite. I don't preach that asthmatics should exercise regardless of how bad their asthma is, and sit around gaining fat. Nope! Well, sometimes I do. But right now I'm doing what I preach, and enjoying it.
So move your butt away from this computer and exercise. It doesn't matter what you do, it's just that you are doing SOMETHING!
The BFL program has a contest, and I do not enter it. I don't want people to see pictures of what I look like with my shirt off (if you want to see that way you'll have to come to the beach here in Shoreline, or go to Great Wolf Lodge, or Michigan Adventure when I so happen to be there with my children).
I also don't expect to get a body like that either, although it would be nice. According to Hussman, to get a body like that you have to start out with a fat% of 20% or less, as the winners of the contest usually end up with a fat% of 10 or less (at least that's for men).
So, considering I'm still at about 30% (at least according to my scale which is probably inaccurate). So I'll probably have to go through the program another 2 times, and stick to it to a tee -- which I haven't been able to do (although I always intend to).
But that's not my intent on doing the program. When you have a disease like asthma, you need to exercise and stay in relatively good shape to better manage the asthma beast. The BFL allows me to accomplish this goal better than any other program.
My weight when I started back in February was 210 pounds (actually, I didn't weight myself until after I did the program a month, so I probably weighed more to start), and my present weight after 12 weeks is 195. So, I'm happy with the progress. No! I'm excited about the progress. That's 15 pounds.
Yet, considering my goal is 170, I have a long way to go, and a lot of time to crash (which is why it's important to eat a Dairy Queen Blizzard at least once a week. Seriously).
So I'm not a hypocrite. I don't preach that asthmatics should exercise regardless of how bad their asthma is, and sit around gaining fat. Nope! Well, sometimes I do. But right now I'm doing what I preach, and enjoying it.
So move your butt away from this computer and exercise. It doesn't matter what you do, it's just that you are doing SOMETHING!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The end of BFL round 1
On February 10 I started the body for life program. I committed myself to this workout schedule, where I have to FORCE myself to do 3 high intensity aerobic-cardio workouts to strengthen my heart and lungs and lower my resting heart rate. It also includes high intensity resistance training three times a week.
This also includes a diet which you can see here. The diet actually works perfect for me considering instead of eating 3 large meals a day you eat 5-6 small portion meals 2-3 hours apart. Plus you get one free day where you get to eat whatever you want, including banana splits, payday candy bars, Butterfingers blizzards from dairy queen, or whatever you've been craving all week.
This also includes a diet which you can see here. The diet actually works perfect for me considering instead of eating 3 large meals a day you eat 5-6 small portion meals 2-3 hours apart. Plus you get one free day where you get to eat whatever you want, including banana splits, payday candy bars, Butterfingers blizzards from dairy queen, or whatever you've been craving all week.
As I wrote before, I don't really consider this a diet, just a lifestyle. The first few weeks were the toughest because I had to get used to the new routine. Because I was so out of shape, so winded with exertion, and so pathetic, it actually took me about a month to really get into the flow of doing the workouts.
Plus, considering my wife and I are pregnant, and we have lots of traveling with the kids in soccer, gymnastics, band, chorus, etc, there were many days we had to go to restaurants. And you know my rule for going to McDonald's: Big Mac, fries and a large Coke and enjoy every last drop of fat.
So, the 12 week program ended last Sunday for me. While in the past I've lost 20-40 pounds on this program, I only lost 13 this time. Ten of those pounds were in the first month, and the last three at the end.
I actually hit a rut the past two months of the program, but unlike the past, I didn't quit. Sure there were weekends where I spread my free day to 2 and even three days, yet I never lost site of the overall picture -- lifestyle. Plus, in the past when I gave up everything, and lost all that weight fast, all it resulted in was eventually gaining the weight back.
So last week, since it was week 12, I decided to take the week off, considering I was planning on starting a new 12 week program this week. I took Wednesday through Sunday off, ate bad and did not exercise.
This morning I weighed myself to see what the damage was, and I lost three more pounds. Funny how that works, eat like crap, sit around, and lost three pounds. Yet, since I stuck to the program so well, my metabolism was still working like crazy. My body was probably so used to my program that it had learned to store fat instead of burn it.
So, as the wisdom goes, sometimes you have to eat more to lose weight. Sometimes you need to stop exercising, or change your routine in some way to TRICK your body.
Now I think I'm in good shape to start the program anew. I've been studying Hussman's tips to success. I don't stick to all the tips, as common sense won't allow that to happen. As you know, in order for a program to work you have to stick to it. And to stick to a program you can't give up all the things you enjoy, which includes food and fun.
So BFL round one has ended. I didn't lose as much weight as I might have expected, although I feel great and and, after taking a week off, am ready to get back at it again. There's going to be bad days, such as when I go to Mackinac Island next month.
Yet I won't let myself lose sight of the big picture.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
How to diet at McDonalds
Here's a snippet of an actual discussion I had the other day at work:
Friend A: "So, when I'm dieting and go to McDonalds, I like to have a grilled chicken. They're grilled chicken actually tastes really good."
Friend B: "When I go to McDonalds I have the yogurt. It's like eating dessert. What do you do, Rick."
Me: "When I go to McDonalds, I eat a Big Mac, Large fries and a Coke."
Friend A and B in unison: "What!"
Friend B: "How do you lose weight if you do that?"
Me: "I'm certainly not gonna go to Micky D's expecting to eat good. If I go there, I'm gonna enjoy myself. If you give up all fun stuff all the time, you'll never succeed at any diet."
Actually, the bodyforlife diet that I usually do allows you for one free day per week. You can eat anything you want, regardless of how bad it is for you. That's why I love this diet so much. And, even with a free day, I've lost 40 plus pounds 4 times now.
Yes, I know what you're saying: I did gain my weight back all those times. But that's not because of the free day. It's because I CHOSE to stop being good. It's because life happens.
So my advice to dieting at McDonalds is: eat unhealthy and have fun while doing it. That's what I did yesterday when I took my kids out for a treat.
Friend A: "So, when I'm dieting and go to McDonalds, I like to have a grilled chicken. They're grilled chicken actually tastes really good."
Friend B: "When I go to McDonalds I have the yogurt. It's like eating dessert. What do you do, Rick."
Me: "When I go to McDonalds, I eat a Big Mac, Large fries and a Coke."
Friend A and B in unison: "What!"
Friend B: "How do you lose weight if you do that?"
Me: "I'm certainly not gonna go to Micky D's expecting to eat good. If I go there, I'm gonna enjoy myself. If you give up all fun stuff all the time, you'll never succeed at any diet."
Actually, the bodyforlife diet that I usually do allows you for one free day per week. You can eat anything you want, regardless of how bad it is for you. That's why I love this diet so much. And, even with a free day, I've lost 40 plus pounds 4 times now.
Yes, I know what you're saying: I did gain my weight back all those times. But that's not because of the free day. It's because I CHOSE to stop being good. It's because life happens.
So my advice to dieting at McDonalds is: eat unhealthy and have fun while doing it. That's what I did yesterday when I took my kids out for a treat.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
The key to staying in shape
My wife is quite a few years younger than me, and we have two of the cutest girls in the world. I often joke with my friends I did this so when I'm old I'll have someone to care for me. Although I was joking, I really wasn't far from the truth.
Having kids, and a younger wife, is even more of an incentive for me to stay in shape. To me, though, staying in shape doesn't necessarily mean being ideal body weight. I think the IBW system is flawed anyway, and is only good for medical workers doling out medicine and tidal volumes. This system doesn't take into account muscle mass, which to me is a major flaw, considering I'm 100% muscle anyway (so I lie).
Anyway, having kids is an incentive to keep in shape. For one thing, my 11-year-old is at an age I can go out every day and play catch with him in the summer, or play catch with a football, or in the winter go sledding. I find if I'm out of shape I waddle around and this sort of takes the fun out of these activities. They become a job more so than fun.
That's why back in February of this year I decided to make good on my promise to get into shape. I started the body for life program once again. Only this time, instead of my wife doing it with me, she's carrying an unborn baby around. I'm also doing it without the friends who normally get in shape with me.
I tried working out when during previous pregnancies, although I ended up gaining weight right with my wife. This time, however, I was bound and determined. I think one of the things that really helps me along is all the pessimism. I've had more than one person tell me I will never do it, that I will fail. So, that alone provides me the incentive.
Yet, despite that, I have lost 10 pounds since February. Again, my goal is not to lose weight, but to get in shape. To me, the two do not go hand in hand. Yet, losing weight is a good incentive to keep going, considering if you are losing weight you know you're doing something right.
That said, after losing almost 10 pounds after signing up for the biggest loser contest at my work, I dropped zero the next month. And, despite losing zero, I have continued to work out. And, even though I have hit a rut, a plateau, I have continued to muscle it. This is proof to myself that I can do it not just on my own, but without losing weight.
However, even though I've lost up to 40 pounds 4 times doing the bfl, I have basically completed the 12 week program once again, only losing 10 pounds this time. Yet, to give credit to myself, I took a few more days off because a) I have kids and they come first, 2) I have a wife and she comes first, 3) I work and that comes first, 4) I have a life, 5) I'm doing this alone.
So, considering all the obstacles, I'm actually doing quite well. This brings me to the greatest question of all regarding working out and eating well: How do you keep it off.
I actually think I've found the answer to that: don't lose weight to fast; don't give anything up; take some days off; enjoy life; do the best you can with what you have.
I think if you do a crash diet, you're going to gain all the weight back. Yet, if you eat well every day you can, and take a few days off here and there, and continue this year round, you can keep it off. That's the hard part: keeping it up.
So, instead of quitting my workouts and my diet now that the 12 week mark is up, I've decided to start another 12 week workout. Lord knows I'm not going to be perfect, and that might be the key to a lifetime of success -- at least for a normal person like me.
Yet who knows, I might fail again.
Having kids, and a younger wife, is even more of an incentive for me to stay in shape. To me, though, staying in shape doesn't necessarily mean being ideal body weight. I think the IBW system is flawed anyway, and is only good for medical workers doling out medicine and tidal volumes. This system doesn't take into account muscle mass, which to me is a major flaw, considering I'm 100% muscle anyway (so I lie).
Anyway, having kids is an incentive to keep in shape. For one thing, my 11-year-old is at an age I can go out every day and play catch with him in the summer, or play catch with a football, or in the winter go sledding. I find if I'm out of shape I waddle around and this sort of takes the fun out of these activities. They become a job more so than fun.
That's why back in February of this year I decided to make good on my promise to get into shape. I started the body for life program once again. Only this time, instead of my wife doing it with me, she's carrying an unborn baby around. I'm also doing it without the friends who normally get in shape with me.
I tried working out when during previous pregnancies, although I ended up gaining weight right with my wife. This time, however, I was bound and determined. I think one of the things that really helps me along is all the pessimism. I've had more than one person tell me I will never do it, that I will fail. So, that alone provides me the incentive.
Yet, despite that, I have lost 10 pounds since February. Again, my goal is not to lose weight, but to get in shape. To me, the two do not go hand in hand. Yet, losing weight is a good incentive to keep going, considering if you are losing weight you know you're doing something right.
That said, after losing almost 10 pounds after signing up for the biggest loser contest at my work, I dropped zero the next month. And, despite losing zero, I have continued to work out. And, even though I have hit a rut, a plateau, I have continued to muscle it. This is proof to myself that I can do it not just on my own, but without losing weight.
However, even though I've lost up to 40 pounds 4 times doing the bfl, I have basically completed the 12 week program once again, only losing 10 pounds this time. Yet, to give credit to myself, I took a few more days off because a) I have kids and they come first, 2) I have a wife and she comes first, 3) I work and that comes first, 4) I have a life, 5) I'm doing this alone.
So, considering all the obstacles, I'm actually doing quite well. This brings me to the greatest question of all regarding working out and eating well: How do you keep it off.
I actually think I've found the answer to that: don't lose weight to fast; don't give anything up; take some days off; enjoy life; do the best you can with what you have.
I think if you do a crash diet, you're going to gain all the weight back. Yet, if you eat well every day you can, and take a few days off here and there, and continue this year round, you can keep it off. That's the hard part: keeping it up.
So, instead of quitting my workouts and my diet now that the 12 week mark is up, I've decided to start another 12 week workout. Lord knows I'm not going to be perfect, and that might be the key to a lifetime of success -- at least for a normal person like me.
Yet who knows, I might fail again.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Body for life and the greatest vacation ever
So the first time I worked out was in 1998, and by the time I met my wife at my work in 2000 I had gained it all back, or at least most of it. I was a bloated 210 pounds and feeling sluggish. Although that cute, intelligent nursing student still fell for me.
I tried to continue to workout I did a few years earlier, but I kept slipping. That was when my wife talked me into doing the body-for-life program. This is a program where you eat a carb and a protein every 2-3 hours, and you work out every day. The great part about this program is you get to take one day off every week where you don't work out and you can eat whatever you want.
It sounded kind of stupid at first (of course I though any exercise was stupid before I lost weight a few years earlier), but I ultimately agreed to try it.
This first time I tried the body for life to get into shape was during the run-up to my Wedding which was to be on May 18, 2002. For this event, I ended up losing 35 pounds in less than 12 weeks. It was a major success. I went from 119 to 180. Once again I was feeling trim.
So as I look over at our wedding picture, I'm looking great, and so is my wife. The problem with that diet was that after my wedding we went on a four day cruise where we left Miami on day #1, went to Key west, Cozumel, and then back to Miami. This was the best vacation of my life; of both of our lives.
One of the neat things about this cruise is everything was all inclusive, including the food. And food there was lots of it. There was food everywhere. There were buffets that were open 24-7, and then there were many restaurants, and also places for fancy dining.
I remember getting up one day and eating breakfast, having brunch and then lunch, and then lunch-dinner, then snack, then dinner, then after dinner snacks, then snack again, then snack again, and then midnight meal, and then getting back to our rooms and ordering room service just because it was available and it was free.
At about 1:30 a.m. my wife and I were startled by the sound of the door bell. Barely able to muster the strength, I got up and opened the door. "Yes!" I mumbled. A well groomed guy was carrying bags. "You ordered room service?"
"Ah!" I mumbled again. "Yeah, I guess we did." I shut the door, and turned to my wife, "Get up, honey! It's time to eat again."
She smiled. For the next hour we ate.
By the end of this glorious vacation I had gained 10 pounds. In retrospect, I would do it all over again. Only, if I did, I would get down to 170 pounds instead of 180.
Within the next KK was in the oven, and while I started a workout program when we got pregnant, I ended up gaining weight right with her. Once again both my wife and I succeeded in losing weight, and failed at maintaining it.
I actually remember thinking once during the course of this diet, as I was feeling awesome and in the best shape of my life, why anyone would want to be out of shape. Well, my wife and I were leaning, even someone who knows how to lose weight, and is aware that losing weight is needed, struggle in this effect.
Hmmmm, I wonder how many people have that problem? There's this old saying that eating is the hardest addiction to get over, because -- unlike cigarettes -- you literally NEED food.
I tried to continue to workout I did a few years earlier, but I kept slipping. That was when my wife talked me into doing the body-for-life program. This is a program where you eat a carb and a protein every 2-3 hours, and you work out every day. The great part about this program is you get to take one day off every week where you don't work out and you can eat whatever you want.
It sounded kind of stupid at first (of course I though any exercise was stupid before I lost weight a few years earlier), but I ultimately agreed to try it.
This first time I tried the body for life to get into shape was during the run-up to my Wedding which was to be on May 18, 2002. For this event, I ended up losing 35 pounds in less than 12 weeks. It was a major success. I went from 119 to 180. Once again I was feeling trim.
So as I look over at our wedding picture, I'm looking great, and so is my wife. The problem with that diet was that after my wedding we went on a four day cruise where we left Miami on day #1, went to Key west, Cozumel, and then back to Miami. This was the best vacation of my life; of both of our lives.
One of the neat things about this cruise is everything was all inclusive, including the food. And food there was lots of it. There was food everywhere. There were buffets that were open 24-7, and then there were many restaurants, and also places for fancy dining.
I remember getting up one day and eating breakfast, having brunch and then lunch, and then lunch-dinner, then snack, then dinner, then after dinner snacks, then snack again, then snack again, and then midnight meal, and then getting back to our rooms and ordering room service just because it was available and it was free.
At about 1:30 a.m. my wife and I were startled by the sound of the door bell. Barely able to muster the strength, I got up and opened the door. "Yes!" I mumbled. A well groomed guy was carrying bags. "You ordered room service?"
"Ah!" I mumbled again. "Yeah, I guess we did." I shut the door, and turned to my wife, "Get up, honey! It's time to eat again."
She smiled. For the next hour we ate.
By the end of this glorious vacation I had gained 10 pounds. In retrospect, I would do it all over again. Only, if I did, I would get down to 170 pounds instead of 180.
Within the next KK was in the oven, and while I started a workout program when we got pregnant, I ended up gaining weight right with her. Once again both my wife and I succeeded in losing weight, and failed at maintaining it.
I actually remember thinking once during the course of this diet, as I was feeling awesome and in the best shape of my life, why anyone would want to be out of shape. Well, my wife and I were leaning, even someone who knows how to lose weight, and is aware that losing weight is needed, struggle in this effect.
Hmmmm, I wonder how many people have that problem? There's this old saying that eating is the hardest addiction to get over, because -- unlike cigarettes -- you literally NEED food.
Friday, April 30, 2010
The decision to work out
Staying in shape is a lifelong battle. No matter who you are, or where you work, you'll have to deal with life forces and stress. As I wrote about yesterday, the first time I realized I needed to do something was during my brother Dan's wedding where I barely fit into my tux and felt like a bloated pig.
Of course that wedding was back in the mid 1990s. A few years later I went to hunting camp and got blitzed. Of course the next morning my asthma was acting up. Of course the dust and molds at the cabin were one thing, but what I didn't realize back then was that beer has stuff in it that can irritate asthma and allergies. It also dries out your lungs. At some point in the near future I'll publish a post I wrote about that.
As I wrote yesterday, there are certain moments in life that separate the wise from the not so wise. A wise person will notice the weight gain, and decide to stop it. The wise man will notice the dyspnea with any exertion, the gloominess that goes with weight gain, and the sluggishness.
Of course having asthma the decision was a little easier for me. I knew if I kept up this pace, I would be dead. I was creating a breeding ground for the asthma beast.
So, feeling a bit hung over and bloated, my best friend Sammy called me up and said that since I was home anyway I ought to go with her and about 10 other friends from work at the health club for a good workout.
I hesitated, but I ended up going. The workout was terrible. For the next week I couldn't even move. Yet, I went back every day the next week with the group. I rode the bike, and pumped weights in what was some sort of weight lifting class.
Before we knew it, Sammy and I had dropped weight. Sammy was looking slim. I had gone from a bloated 218 to a cozy180, and I felt as though I could now glide up steps at work and down the halls. The asthma was never better.
Of course this was the first time we both experienced the down side of working out: How to you maintain the weight loss? Hmmm, I wonder how many people have that problem?
Of course that wedding was back in the mid 1990s. A few years later I went to hunting camp and got blitzed. Of course the next morning my asthma was acting up. Of course the dust and molds at the cabin were one thing, but what I didn't realize back then was that beer has stuff in it that can irritate asthma and allergies. It also dries out your lungs. At some point in the near future I'll publish a post I wrote about that.
As I wrote yesterday, there are certain moments in life that separate the wise from the not so wise. A wise person will notice the weight gain, and decide to stop it. The wise man will notice the dyspnea with any exertion, the gloominess that goes with weight gain, and the sluggishness.
Of course having asthma the decision was a little easier for me. I knew if I kept up this pace, I would be dead. I was creating a breeding ground for the asthma beast.
So, feeling a bit hung over and bloated, my best friend Sammy called me up and said that since I was home anyway I ought to go with her and about 10 other friends from work at the health club for a good workout.
I hesitated, but I ended up going. The workout was terrible. For the next week I couldn't even move. Yet, I went back every day the next week with the group. I rode the bike, and pumped weights in what was some sort of weight lifting class.
Before we knew it, Sammy and I had dropped weight. Sammy was looking slim. I had gone from a bloated 218 to a cozy180, and I felt as though I could now glide up steps at work and down the halls. The asthma was never better.
Of course this was the first time we both experienced the down side of working out: How to you maintain the weight loss? Hmmm, I wonder how many people have that problem?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
From fries and burgers to chicken and veggies
In high school I was a stick; a pathetic 150. I was likewise small and skinny in college. I remember being so hungry one Sunday in my dorm that I ordered a large pizza and ate the whole thing in one sitting, and was still hungry. Then I went to the store and got a 24 pack of beer and chugged it down with my friends. I did all this, and I never gained a pound.
I had the metabolism I yearn for right now. I had a meal plan that allowed me to go to the cafeteria any time I wanted, and I took full advantage of it. I was in the cafeteria after nearly every class, and meal times.
During the summers I worked at an A&W in Shoreline, Michigan, and when the boss wasn't looking I'd slip fries and burgers into my mouth. One day I bet I ate about 5-6 large boxes of fries, and 2-3 burgers, some cheese sticks, mushrooms and throw in a few other odds and ends. I bet I ended up eating thousands of calories per day when I worked there, and never gained a pound.
I played sports with my brothers, but, relatively speaking, didn't exercise any more than I do today. And I never gained a pound.
Of course it should be noted here I was a late developer. My dad was this way too, so I can't blame it entirely on the asthma. So I don't think I stopped growing until I was about 24. And, as you might guess, it was at the age of 24 where all this started to catch up to me. As is the case with most people, when I stopped growing up I started growing out.
Suddenly my friends noticed a gut, and teased me about it. Of course they had no right to judge, because there was a similar bulge on the front of them too. I think this is a part of life we all experience. We eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and never gain wait, and then we continue eating at the same pace, only to have it all of a sudden catch up with us.
Here is where you separate the dummies from the wise people. A wise person will notice that something is inherently wrong and try to stop it. I wasn't FAT by any means, I was merely very out of shape, winded, felt bloated all the time, and was a whopping 220 pounds. I felt miserable.
The final straw was in 1994 when my little brother got married and I felt miserable in that tux. Looking at pictures of me in at that wedding I don't even recognize myself. I see a pathetic moron with no self esteem who was fat. Well, I'll say I was fat because if you look at the body mass index calculator I was obese.
My asthma was bad too then. It really wasn't terrible, yet because I was so out of shape I got winded easy, and this irritated my already inflamed air passages. And considering I was going through one of my goofus asthma phases, my asthma was a bit out of control. I was using my rescue inhaler more often than I should.
Fast forward a few years to 1998. I waddled through RT school feeling fat. And now I'm working at Shoreline in the pool. And one of my best friends, Sammy (also an asthmatic, I never did write about her yet did I. Hmmm, note to self) finally talked me into joining her and other co-workers at the health club.
Initially I hated the idea. But soon I was no longer eating fast food every day but was eating chicken and veggies instead.
I had the metabolism I yearn for right now. I had a meal plan that allowed me to go to the cafeteria any time I wanted, and I took full advantage of it. I was in the cafeteria after nearly every class, and meal times.
During the summers I worked at an A&W in Shoreline, Michigan, and when the boss wasn't looking I'd slip fries and burgers into my mouth. One day I bet I ate about 5-6 large boxes of fries, and 2-3 burgers, some cheese sticks, mushrooms and throw in a few other odds and ends. I bet I ended up eating thousands of calories per day when I worked there, and never gained a pound.
I played sports with my brothers, but, relatively speaking, didn't exercise any more than I do today. And I never gained a pound.
Of course it should be noted here I was a late developer. My dad was this way too, so I can't blame it entirely on the asthma. So I don't think I stopped growing until I was about 24. And, as you might guess, it was at the age of 24 where all this started to catch up to me. As is the case with most people, when I stopped growing up I started growing out.
Suddenly my friends noticed a gut, and teased me about it. Of course they had no right to judge, because there was a similar bulge on the front of them too. I think this is a part of life we all experience. We eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and never gain wait, and then we continue eating at the same pace, only to have it all of a sudden catch up with us.
Here is where you separate the dummies from the wise people. A wise person will notice that something is inherently wrong and try to stop it. I wasn't FAT by any means, I was merely very out of shape, winded, felt bloated all the time, and was a whopping 220 pounds. I felt miserable.
The final straw was in 1994 when my little brother got married and I felt miserable in that tux. Looking at pictures of me in at that wedding I don't even recognize myself. I see a pathetic moron with no self esteem who was fat. Well, I'll say I was fat because if you look at the body mass index calculator I was obese.
My asthma was bad too then. It really wasn't terrible, yet because I was so out of shape I got winded easy, and this irritated my already inflamed air passages. And considering I was going through one of my goofus asthma phases, my asthma was a bit out of control. I was using my rescue inhaler more often than I should.
Fast forward a few years to 1998. I waddled through RT school feeling fat. And now I'm working at Shoreline in the pool. And one of my best friends, Sammy (also an asthmatic, I never did write about her yet did I. Hmmm, note to self) finally talked me into joining her and other co-workers at the health club.
Initially I hated the idea. But soon I was no longer eating fast food every day but was eating chicken and veggies instead.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Body for life and the greatest vacation ever
The first time I did the bodyforlife program to lose weight and get into shape was during the run-up to my Wedding which was to be on May 18, 2002. For this event, I ended up losing 35 pounds in less than 12 weeks. It was a major success. I went from 215 to 180.
So as I look over at our wedding picture, I'm looking great, and so is my wife. The problem with that diet was that after my wedding we went on a four day cruise where we left Miami on day #1, went to Key west, Cozumel, and then back to Miami. This was the best vacation of my life; of both of our lives.
One of the neat things about this cruise is everything was all inclusive, including the food. And food there was lots of it. There was food everywhere. There were buffets that were open 24-7, and then there were many restaurants, and also places for fancy dining.
I remember getting up one day and eating breakfast, having brunch and then lunch, and then lunch-dinner, then snack, then dinner, then after dinner snacks, then snack again, then snack again, and then midnight meal, and then getting back to our rooms and ordering room service just because it was available and it was free.
At about 1:30 a.m. my wife and I were startled by the sound of the door bell. Barely able to muster the strength, I got up and opened the door. "Yes!" I mumbled. A well groomed guy was carrying bags. "You ordered room service?"
"Ah!" I mumbled again. "Yeah, I guess we did." I shut the door, and turned to my wife, "Get up, honey! It's time to eat again."
She smiled. For the next hour we ate.
By the end of this glorious vacation I had gained 10 pounds. In retrospect, I would do it all over again. Only, if I did, I would get down to 170 pounds instead of 180.
So as I look over at our wedding picture, I'm looking great, and so is my wife. The problem with that diet was that after my wedding we went on a four day cruise where we left Miami on day #1, went to Key west, Cozumel, and then back to Miami. This was the best vacation of my life; of both of our lives.
One of the neat things about this cruise is everything was all inclusive, including the food. And food there was lots of it. There was food everywhere. There were buffets that were open 24-7, and then there were many restaurants, and also places for fancy dining.
I remember getting up one day and eating breakfast, having brunch and then lunch, and then lunch-dinner, then snack, then dinner, then after dinner snacks, then snack again, then snack again, and then midnight meal, and then getting back to our rooms and ordering room service just because it was available and it was free.
At about 1:30 a.m. my wife and I were startled by the sound of the door bell. Barely able to muster the strength, I got up and opened the door. "Yes!" I mumbled. A well groomed guy was carrying bags. "You ordered room service?"
"Ah!" I mumbled again. "Yeah, I guess we did." I shut the door, and turned to my wife, "Get up, honey! It's time to eat again."
She smiled. For the next hour we ate.
By the end of this glorious vacation I had gained 10 pounds. In retrospect, I would do it all over again. Only, if I did, I would get down to 170 pounds instead of 180.
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