Not Good

I'm not doing too hot. Yesterday I weighed in at 312 pounds. Today it was 309. I don't think I'm going to reach my goal of being under 300 pounds by midnight.

Fortunately I have a fallback plan. I am getting ready to start a diet using a revolutionary new product that both cleanses and promotes weight loss. I can't wait to start! Once I prove that it works, I'll let you in on the secret so that you can succeed too. But as of now I have no idea if it is all hype or if it really works. I should know in 30 days.

Oops

I have been bad. Despite my committment yesterday to drop sodas from my regimen, I have had 3 of them over the last 24 hours. One yesterday morning to wake up, the same for today, and another yesterday for lunch because I knew I would have a long drive after work. I use caffeine when I need it and it seemed like I needed it those three times. But I'm committed to doing better.

For example I just had a snack of all fruit and fruit juices. I am hoping this will cleanse me.

On another note, I am preparing a number of posts telling the story of how I got to this point, hoping that it can help someone else who has fought the seemingly endless battles against gaining weight, and staying in shape. I hope you will find it enjoyable.

Addition to the Plan

While I wait for my secret weigh-loss product to arrive I am preparing for it by cleansing my body a little. Soda is out. I will continue to do calisthentics in my room and watch what I eat but soda is gone.

The weight-loss program which shall remain nameless until I find out if it works is designed to cleanse the body. For years I have felt like my body needed a tune-up and even losing weight and working out never rid me of that feeling. I've concluded that this feeling comes from all of the processed foods and chemicals that exist in foods today. Most of what I eat never occurred in nature. Bread and meat are natural, so are fruits and vegetables, but what about the rest of our diets. That is where I believe the "never truly clean" feeling is sourced.

I found something good

I think I found the solution to my weight loss and lethargy. This has been weighing on my mind because of my weak knees. To start to do too much on historically weak knees could destroy my hopes of competing in the St. George half-triathlon to be held next May. So weight loss has to top the agenda.

While trying to lose weight I have also been trying to develop an additional income stream to help me get out of debt. What I have discovered will also help me in this arena! I'll share more with you in an upcoming conference call probably around the first of October. Until then, mums the word.

Changes

I've been pondering what to do differently. The Subway, five meals a day, approach has been highly successful for me. It has took me from 350 pounds to 290 last year. Although I slacked off in recent months and gained 20 of those pounds back, it has again gotten me down to around 300 pounds so it is a good thing and still working.

But I always seem to hit a wall at 290 pounds so I am looking for what to do at that point. Should I shift gears at that point in order to trick my body? It almost seems like my body is resisting the weight loss once I hit that particular number. Of course it might all be in my head as well.

In any case I'm continuing to get back down to 290 pounds before I try any more running. There is an exercise room in my hotel this week which I will use tonight and Thursday night. In the mornings I still do squats and a few pushups to get the blood going.

But what will I do when I plateau again? I'm already checking out an option. I'll keep you posted!

Course Correction

After falling backwards a couple of pounds on Thursday I redeemed myself on Friday. Those extra pounds are gone and I'm back to 304!

I thinking about supplementing my diet with one of those companies that specialize in weight loss. Although I am still undecided, I'll keep you posted. Have a great weekend!

Bump on the Road

Oops. Bad day yesterday. I spent all day driving around LA and got a lot done, but little exercise. Even though I only ate four meals, the last one around noon, I still put on a couple of pounds. Hmm... I'm going to have to do much better. Remember under 300 by the end of August, under 290 by the end of September. Maybe I should turn that into a mantra.

Diet

I'm going back to a diet that has worked for me in the past. The formula is this:

1. Take my total daily calories - i.e. 2500

2. Divide by 5 - i.e. 500 calories

3. Eat that amount (i.e 500 calories) every 2.5-3.0 hours

4. Let one Subway foot-long sandwich be 2 of those meals

This diet works for me extremely well. Focusing on one thing, calories, and ignoring the rest of the stuff everyone talks about (carbs, protein, fat, etc...) allows me to stay focused. Every other approach has failed for me.

New Plan

My weight is holding so that is good news. I've decided that I have to attack this triathlon in phases. So August - October are going to be focused on walking and losing weight. The goal is to lose 10 pounds per month until the race. Then in November and December I will add running to the list - losing weight and running. January and February will focus on losing weight, running, and bike riding, and March thru the race I will finally add in swimming to the mix. By May I should be able to survive the race. We'll see.

Another Pound Lost

I've decided to focus on walking and losing weight until I reach 290 pounds. Then I can start running. When running a few weeks ago my knees felt loose and with my history of knee surgeries (4 in total) I don't want to risk an injury that would cause a delay. May is still going to be a stretch for me to lose 80 pounds and get in shape sufficiently to handle a half-marathon.

305 Pounds

Although I didn't run last week in Ireland, the time was not wasted. I was 305 pounds this AM!!!

Same Old, Same Old

Still eating well, walking a lot and trying to do exercises first thing in the morning. My greatest weakness is my legs relative to my weight. If I am to be successful I will have to lose a lot of weight and gain a lot of strength. Right now that is what I am working on.

Walking and Eating

All I manage to do this week on the road in Ireland is do more walking than usual, and eat well. With any luck I should shed a pound or two.

Walking Is My Exercise

Walking is my exercise here in Ireland. I walk every day after work around the neighborhood. I also take a walk during lunch. That's all I can muster this week. I hope that next week I'll be feeling more spry. I'm also using this time to lose weight so that when I recommence running next week I can do it a few pounds lighter.

Feeling Better

I am in my fourth day in Ireland and beginning to feel human. I did some exercises in my hotel room this morning before going out for the day. No running yet, and no working out with weights. I'm just now feeling capable of doing more than a bare minimum.

Nothing Today

Other than taking a walk during lunch today, I've done nothing. Jet lag is getting the best of me. It took forever to fall asleep last night, and then I didn't want to get up when 7AM came around. Tomorrow should be better.

Exercising on the Road

This week should be challenging. I am in Ireland. Friday I didn't run instead counting on all of the walking at the airport to be my exercise. Yesterday I spent walking in airports and recovering from jet lag. I did walk 10 minutes to a shopping center, and the necessary 10 minutes back covering about a mile. Today being Sunday, I will simply walk as much as circumstances require. I'll have to think of something for tomorrow. I'll have to see if the hotel has an exercise room.

Morning Jog

This AM everything went more smoothly. I weighed myself and discovered that I haven't lost a thing. Nonetheless the half-mile walk/run went much better after only 1 day. I wonder how I'm going to continue this workout once I get to Ireland.

Half Mile Today

This morning I got up around 5:30 and went for a walk/jog around our block. Afterwards I measure it at exactly 1/2 mile, surprisingly longer than I expected. It wasn't too bad although I was concerned about my knees the whole way.

I jogged (very carefully) for about 100 yards and found myself VERY WINDED. So I walked the next 100 yards. Then I jogged again for about 100 yards and it wasn't so bad. Then I walked for probably 200 yards. By this point I wasn't even winded anymore. I did a jog/walk combination twice for the remaining portion of the block, even jogging uphill for a short while. I seemed to get stronger as time went on. My knees aren't as bad as I expected.

All in all I did much better than I expected and am surprised. It should be interesting how tomorrow goes. Exercising one day is relatively simple. Its the ongoing effort that usually culls out the weak from the strong. Which will I be?

311 Pounds

I weighed myself this AM and I'm 311 pounds. I have at least 70 pounds to lose before I will be ready to compete in this half-triathlon.

Commitment

Saturday I made a commitment to compete in a half triathlon next May in St. George Utah. This may have been one of the dumbest things I've ever done. In any case, this blog will document my journey and hopefully record a successful completion of the half triathlon. That is if it doesn't kill me first.