Twas the day after Christmas

Learned something new about myself. It wasn't the food at Christmas that got to me. It was the sneaking. I don't know who I was sneaking from -- myself, others, or God. As Job made a covenant with his eyes, I made one with my mouth. I will not lie. I did indulge, just not the extent as I have in times past. I kept my indulging very small -- a Hershey's mini, a total count of six cookies for the week, two one inch cubes of something too sweet to be considered food, and about an eighth of a cup of sweet yams, that is my confession. Moreover, I stuck with whole grain breads, egg whites, turkey based meats, my own trail mix -- walnuts, sliced almonds, sunflower seads, white raisins, and dried cranberries -- and yes, lots of water.

A new year begins at the end of this week. I can hardly wait to see what it has in store. I've got a health club membership for Christmas and can't wait to get that started. I'll still keep checking in every Saturday.

Merry Christmas

Am out of town for Christmas this week. No worries. Still need to exercise. I found an indoor track to accomodate at least my walking until I get back home. Yes, ladies and gentlemen a Wal-Mart that is super serves the purpose well. I was able to get my minutes in today without too much hassle. Also, the Christmas crowd served as an intricate obstacle course to add an element of interest to the day. I will probably be making as many trips around the place as I can until I go home.

The lesson is that there is always a way around anything if it means getting some exercise. Also, the week being Christmas, I must not turn back on the discipline that got me here. It's not hard really. Just a little more work.

Today is Saturday....

This week a rather odd thing happened. I have left my plateau and am beginning another downward slope. My wedding ring keeps falling off and I need to resize it. Unfortunately, for the time being, I have to go without it.

According to the ring, I now weigh less than when I got married. This thought caused me to reflect on my nearly eighteen years of marriage. All that I have introduced in this blog is indicative of about a years time. Since getting married, I have gained and lost much. Even now, I feel very conscious of the time in my married life when I haven't exactly taken very good care of myself. It is now more than ever that I am grateful for the fact that I have an extremely understanding wife. It was God that brought us together and love that sustained us until today and all our tomorrows. My new goal is to be a more healthy husband for her. My hope is that the next eighteen will be exponentially better.

A new page is turned...

Today, I walked into to 24 hour fitness and began my preview week. I knew that I would have to move to the next stage of the journey. It's been a long one so far but today I continue.

I'm still doing alright with the food. I have restricted myself to 2200 calories and can hardly wait to see where the next turn in the journey goes. The best part of the whole thing is that I've finally overcome the eating part. It is with great joy that I announce that I now have gotten moderation down to a habit. I know that I've said that I've worked it before but some of the bad stuff now has a place in my eating habit. I'm still on my goal to be a waist size less than 50 by Christmas. I am at 52. More next week.

Back again...

It's been a while since I posted anything. I've fallen down a rabbit hole and have just emerged. My schedule has been rather tight but the semester is winding down. I've not been walking as much the last couple of weeks because I hurt my ankle. I have started back again and it's all working out. I have officially lost 90 pounds in the last year and am hoping for the same results by this time next year.

The holidays don't make it easy. It is my firm belief that we eat more during the holidays simply because we can. It will be my goal to continue on without falling back. It is official. I have stopped using my CPAP machine because I don't need it anymore. I had a check up recently and my body is adjusting quite well. Soon, maybe within three months, I will be off high blood pressure meds. My readjusted target is now 180 pounds. The doctor checked my records, and though I want to forget, I have started and failed this journey many times. The most I have ever weighed is 427 pounds about 11 years ago. Much more to go but still on my way.

Beginning again...

Tomorrow begins another week. Another year to lose another 90. I feel a whole lot better. The doctor informed me that if everything goes as planned, I will be off my high blood pressure meds by the end of the year. I can hardly wait until next October 31. I will begin keeping track of this blog on Sunday evenings. Its been a bit hectic as of late and Sunday PM seems to be a good time to update. Another week. Another year. Can hardly wait...

Halfway there...

After all is said and done, the net gain/loss is 90 pounds. Still no plan, no surgery, just sheer will power. I am now on a daily vitamin supplement and have limited myself to 2200 calories. I have had to make an adjustment for my blood thinner because I've been eating more vegetables. I did talk to my cardiologist and am reaching the point of not needing to be on my blood pressure medicine anymore. I feel better now than I have ever felt before. I am now at 312 pounds and still losing. Let's see what happens in another six months.