WEEK III

Hey, so week 3 was over on Saturday. It feels good to have made it this far. I am still carrying around the "Vogel" belly, but it looks like my weight loss may be starting to show - my shins look a little skinnier.

I made it through this weekend (thanks to plenty of encouragement and well wishing from all on the trip) with out eating or drinking stuff that was "off-limits". It is always interesting being the sober one amongst the drunkards. I will soon be posting my favorite pics to show the tempting fun that made being the "designated boring dude" so tough.

We did go on a great hike...not sure how far we went but it was similar to the hike we went on last year. I definitely felt a difference when going up hills as well as being more agile when jumping across rocks and what not.

Since we were out of town, I didn't weigh in on Saturday and then forgot to do so this morning. Tonight, before dinner, I decided to go for it...and...

I lost another 4lbs...again beating the week's goal by a pound - BOOYAH!

The numbers:
Initial Weight: 220
Week1: 214 [6 pound loss]
Week2: 210 [4 pound loss]
Week3: 206 [4 pound loss]

14 pounds gone (and I aint missing 'em); 10 more to go [Goal = 24 pounds by 12/02]

Over the edge?

So, we are currently on our way upstate for a little weekend retreat for Forbes' birthday. This is going to be a weekend to test my feeble will power. D-Dubya, Heather, Kim, Tara, Barret, and Alethea are all in attendance (with Forbes, Maria, and myself). Last year, this weekend was filled with drunken tom foolery - read: coffee table dancing, yelling matches, and candle stained leather couches.

I am so screwed this year...I am trying to be Mr. No-Drinky-only-eaty-food-from-plastic-trays-guy. I wonder if I will stay on the straight and narrow? May be the thought of losing another chin or a millimeter reduction of belly button depth will help. Anyhow, blah.

Due to this trip, I won't be able to weigh in until sometime on Sunday...so I will be obessing for an additional day this week.

Since my last post, I have eaten more good (eDiet) food - mostly beef pot roast - and worked out some more. I was really hating the work outs this week, but pushed through 'em. This weekend we hope to go on another hike (Nancy, Rob, Maria, and I went on a hike just north of the city last weekend). I guess, I'll consider the hike a work out.

Anyhow, here's hoping this weekend doesn't push me over the edge and I end up eating four bags of chips and a box of twinkies...

WEEK B

OK. So, half way through the final day of week number 2. Wow, that seemed like a fast week...

Week 3's food is here and in the fridge. I find myself looking forward to a few benchmarks through out the week - one is when eDietsExpress debits my account for the next week's chow and another is when the chow shows up - which spurs on a completely nerdy sorting process with sticky notes and organizationizing and what not. This whole process is *reminding* me of what a weird dude I am - Happy Jen? I am admitting to be weird rather than acting like it is a suprise?!?! Anyhow, the food is in and I am ready for another week.

Oh yeah, I got to stand on the scale today! Finally, I can let go of the fear of not losing any of this fat...even if it is short lived...blah.

I am happy to report that I beat this weeks goal by 1 lb! That's right I dropped another 4 big pounds. The total loss over the first 2 weeks = 10 pounds. Which I think is cool, but I keep reminding myself that the first few sort of fall off and that I need to hit the gym harder this coming week. I don't want to get stuck at 210 lbs -see, short lived relief about the weight loss.

The numbers:
Initial Weight: 220
Week 1 : 214 [6 pound loss]
Week 2 : 210 [4 pound loss]

10 pounds gone; 14 more to go [Goal = 24 lbs by 12/02]

My brother, Matt, and his kids were over for a breif visit today and he asked if I felt any different...I hadn't really thought about it much. I guess I don't...? I don't see much physical evidence, but it is still early. I suppose it is hard to see 10 pounds missing from the bulbous mass that is my food baby. However, I think my man boobs might be getting smaller - my 'Manzier' feels looser. So, there is a bit of change. Anyhow, the answer I gave was, "Maybe, I guess, and sort of". Deal with that question-asker...

One thing I noticed is that I am tired at the end of the day...which I believe can be contributed to a couple of things. [1] I decided to start waking up about an hour and a half earlier each day. This allows me to get to work (do my thang) and get home earlier. Allowing me to hit the gym earlier. And finally allowing me to hang with Maria a little longer each night - too bad for her, eh? [2] Exercise. I am using most of my energy by the end of the day and my brain gives itself permission to turn off. During "Jason v.1.0", I would lay in bed, restless and just couldn't shut down. Now, I don't have much energy left for that sort of crap...so, that good and stuff.

Yeah, I know, as if I needed to change yet another thing...the early morning wake up is a BIG-ass change for me. I absolutely hate, hate, hate, waking up in the morning. It is the worst part of my day. But I figure it is the best way to get everything to fit into my day. Here is how the schedule is working out:

1) 6:10 to 6:20 - Slowly roll out of bed (generally following an elbow to the ribs from Maria), get ready for work, drink some vitamins
2) Around 7:30 - Show up at the office (after grabbing an ice tea from Aubon Pan), start up the computer and whatnot
3) 8:00 - Eat breakfast & work & junk
4) Sometime b/t 12 and 1 - Eat mid-day viddles (commonly known as lunch), drink some vitamins, and continue to do whatever it is I get paid to do
5) Finish the work day around 5 - hoping for 10 hours/day (if feeling peakish, I'll eat my snack)
6) Get home around 6, kiss the lady, pet the cat, drink a glass of water, head down to the gym
7) Ride bikes, do medicine ball things, maybe some dumbbell action, and the like
8) Around 8:30 or 9 - Eat some dinner, relax...
9) This week, I hit the sack no later than 11
10) ...It all starts over...

Seems to be working, so I am going to try to keep it up next week.

So yesterday, this happened...
FOOD:
*** Note: In contrary to a recent "comment" post (http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=36093908&postID=116130123630505671), I didn't have a Philly Cheesesteak and Chili fries this week, but that does sound good...hhhhmmmmmmmmmm cheesesteak mmmmm... ***

B- Hearty (and it was hearty, that's not just clearver marketing) oatmeal w/ almonds, apples, and cinnamon [This hit the spot, I were hungry and wasn't sure if this little mound of oatmeal would fill me up, but it did]
L- Canadian bacon flatbread pizza [um, sounded good when I was ordering, but again they put all that crap on the pizza that I don't like - green peppers, olives, oinions and a pinch of boo hiss]
D- Beef pot roast (AGAIN?!?) potatoes and veggies [I have no idea why I order pot roast 3 times this week. Apparently I really wanted some pot roast and, so, pot roast I got - and it was good all 3 times. I am sure I have more coming next week]
* The snacking food was a granola bar - which is still in the fridge...

GYM or not as much ouching as the last ouch-day but ouching none the less
*** Pretty much the same as Monday ***
I felt much better today. The work out is become familar (even though I forgot one exercise in the remedial track, but whatever). I also didn't feel like as much of a dork skipping around the gym with a green elastic band wrapped around my ankles...guess I just stopped caring what our neighbors think...? I also got some new nerdy wireless headphones (bluetooth and completly geeky). I plugged the bluetooth receiver into one of the TVs and it was a Sports Center work out for this guy (insert two-thumbs pointing at myself)...anyhow, this helped distract me from the pain.

1. Warm-up

2. Remedial

3. Core (5A) - Medicine ball "wood chops"; did 1 set of 10 reps in each direction.

4. Core (5B) - Medicine ball sit ups, take 2. Another 10 reps to the right, promptly followed by 10 to the left.

5. Aerobic - This wasn't on the guide for the day, but I wanted to get some intervals in, so I went for it. Again, I used the bike in lieu of running. 12 minutes of 30 second sprints; 30 second jog intervals [sprint = 115 rmp, jog = 85 rmp; the bike was set to level 4]

6. Strength - [a] 3 sets of 6 reps of High Pulls, 3 sets of 8 Dumbbell squat-to-press, 3 set of 10 squats (crapped out on these S.O.B.s again...damn I hate squats and I am not sure why), 3 sets of 20 (for each foot) step ups.

Halfway through week 2

So, the pain from working out on Monday and Tuesday is starting to subside. The work-out plan had Monday as a leg killer, Tuesday ripped the hell out of my upper body (the atrophy in my arms and chest is ridiculous), Wednesday was a rest day as was today (Thursday). Tomorrow = back at it.

For some reason, this week, I don't "feel" like I am losing any weight. I have no basis for this feeling. I think I have some strange anxiety/OCD combo thing kicking in. I want to weigh myself just to make sure I am actually losing weight...but know that this would be a mistake. Last week was thinking about food and kept wanting to get some...this week it is that damn scale. Man, I am screwed up. But the mind can play nasty tricks on you when there is a heightened awareness of something - like food intake.

I did notice that eDiets Express debited my bank account for next week's meals. It sucks to see the money leave the account but at the same time it also means I am just about done with another week!

Anyhow...here is what I've done since the last post:
TUESDAY
FOOD:
B - Special K and Skim Milk [eh, Special K is Special K]
L - Turkey & Swiss Cheese Wrap w/ Sliced Potatoes [This was good and I reordered it]
D - Blackened Chicken w/ Creole Salad [This was OK...A lot of crazy junk mixed in, which I picked around]
* Snack was an orange

GYM or crap, I have weak arms!:
1. Warm-up
2. Remedial
3. Aerobic (8A) - Again on the bike, 9 minutes of 30/30 sprint/jog intervals followed by a 10 minute ride
4. Strength - First 2 sets of 10 reps incline pull-ups (the guide called for 3 sets, but I HAVE WEAK ARMS, so I could only muster 2). Next, 3 sets of 12 reps include push-ups. Then, 3 sets of 8 reps dumbbell pull-overs.
5. Core (5C) - 20 Over head medicine ball "throws" (basically follow the motion of a soccer throw-in w/o releasing the ball)

WEDNESDAY
FOOD:
B - Breakfast Platter (scrambled eggs, sausage, hash brown) [Awesome! Already reordered]
L - Beef 7 Bean Burrito [OK]
D - Oven Roasted Snapper w/ Barley Pilaf and Veggies [This was pretty good, the pilaf was great]
* Snack = 2 (TWO) wheat crackers and a cheese stick

GYM:
Off

THURSDAY
FOOD:
B - Cinnamon French Toast w/ Turkey Sausage 7 Raspberry Syrup [Really good - especially the Turkey Sausage]
L - Beef Pot Roast w/ New Potatoes & Corn [Just as good as it was on Monday - see Mon's Dinner]
D - Asian Spiced Duck w/ Greens and Citrus Vinegarette [As of this posting, I have not eaten dinner...so don't know if this sucks or not]
* The snack was the smallest, tiniest 'bag' of Animal Crackers - maybe 4 crackers. I didn't even bother eating these and they are still in the fridge...along with an orange that came with the dinner...you know, there is a rouge apple in there as well. I seems that I am skipping a few snacks here and there...maybe I will lose weight...?

GYM:
Off

Oh yeah, that's what sucks about working out...

Well tonight was the first official "work out". An hour and a half after completing and I am already feeling it. Poop, what am I going to feel like tomorrow...poop, I guess...?

Not feeling like typing much here...so here's what happened today:

FOOD:
B - Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast [was really good]
L - Breast of Chicken Verdue [OK, but had tomatos and junk all over it - I ate around the tomatos]
D - Beef Pot Roast w/ New Potatoes and Corn [Dang, this was really good]
* Snack was a little bowl of Soy Crisps with Ranch Dip [not bad]

DRINKS:
0

GYM or Ouch Time:
1. Warm-up - 10 minutes on the bike* followed by a rotating medicine ball walk [20 paces forward, 20 paces backward] and lunge medicine ball reaches [20 paces forward, 20 backward, 20 right shuffle, 20 left shuffle]
* The "guide" calls for a bunch of running warm-ups (high skips, butt kicks and the like) but there isn't much room in the gym, so for now, I am going with the bike.

2. Remedial - This involves having an elastic band around the ankles and walking forward for 25 paces, backward for 25, shuffle to the right and left for 25 paces each all followed by a single leg, 10 second squat [one per leg]

NOTE: Both the War-up and Remedial are the same every day [later on the reps and paces increase], so I will probably not repeat going forward...who really cares? Not me, and I am probably the only person reading this...

3. Core (5A) - Medicine ball "wood chops" [basically, perform the motion of chopping wood while holding the medicine ball, got it?]; did 1 set of 10 reps in each direction.

4. Core (5B) - Ah, sit ups! Actually medicine ball sit ups where the top is extended to the right or the left. 1 set of 10 to the right and 1 set of 10 to the left. I hate sit-ups.

4. Aerobic (8C) - The guide calls for running, but I decided the bike is a better choice for my crappy knees. So, on the bike, 12 minutes of sprint intervals - 30 second sprints followed by 60 second jogs [sprint rpm around 115; jog around 85].

5. Agility - For right now I am skipping the agility - I have to use an "Agility Ladder" and need mucho room.

6. Strength - First, 3 sets of 6 reps of High Pulls (start with dumbbells at the waist, explode up to the arm pits, shrug shoulders, see it's fun]; Next, 3 sets of 8 Dumbbell squat-to-press [just like it sounds, squat-stand-press the dumbbells above the old noggin']; Third, 3 set of 10 squats...just plain old deep squats [Ok, the guide called for 3 sets of 20, but these little bastards killed me...I had to cut back]; Finally, 3 sets of 20 (for each foot) step ups [simply stepping on a bench press, um, bench a whole bunch of times - alternating the lead leg each set].

7. Cool Down - Good old streching. Man was I hurting at this point...Damn, I am out of shape.

That was my glorious day 8...and I still hate the exercising.

WEEK UNO

Holy crap...I made it through the first week w/o touching any non-ediet food! This week only the food and drinking part of the plan were in place. Next week, the diet continues, the drinking ban continues, and now I have to start hitting the gym! That'll show'em.

Anyhow, My starting weight this week was 220 lbs. and ending weight was 214. That's right 6 lbs. (3 better than the goal)! I know, I know, don't get too crazy, it is only the first week. But it did feel good to step on the scale and see a change.

This week was a little tough. I could feel the reduced food - and no fried junk - sort of playing with my emotions a bit. Maria will attest that I was on edge a little this week. And my darn nose can smell bacon from miles away - I love bacon. Hopefully next week I will be distracted with the fear of working out and won't notice the food reduction.

I have also starting taking 2 packets of Ola Loa vitamin powder. It is supposed to do a bunch of things, like increase energy, up the metabolism, better recovery (will need that this week)...etc, etc. Maria's sister Jen told me about it...and I got it here: http://www.vitacost.com/Ola-Loa-Energy-Drink
- Not sure if it is working, but my pee is fluorescent and smells funny...so there.

OK, on to next week...

Today's Food:
B - Nutri-grain bar w/grapes and skim milk
L - Egg salad sandwich w/ baby carrots
D - Baked chicken breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, and veggies
* the snack was a very small bag of peanuts

Exercise:
A nice west side walk with my lady...who ran a half marathon today [she's crazy].

Week one pics (enjoy):

What? That guy is fat!?!?

That's right, I have a few extra pounds. After a number of years of struggling with being over 200 lbs, I figure it is time to get back down to my fighting weight.

I have thought about this for a while and actually paid a visit to the gym - it looked really nice and always thought that I should work out, but never really got that going. Anyhow, here is the deal:

Starting weight: 220
Fighting weight: 180
8 week target: 196 [that's just 3 lbs a week]
8 week end date = Saturday 12/02

How:
[1] FOOD:
I have ordered an 8-week food program from edietsexpress.com. Each week I pick my meals (3 squares a day + a small snack), they deliver on Friday, and I eat through out the week. The meals aren't the freeze-dried, Nutri-system variety (sorry, Dan Marino)...they are chef prepared, refrigerated, and surprisingly good. The portions are reduced and the food is healthy. My biggest problems are eating a lot of crappy food - like fries & eating more crappy food when I am bored.

Also, I have very low will power when it comes to the snack foods, so I have a zero tolerance policy - only food that has been delivered by ediets and none other...hoping that keeps me from being tempted by those dang Hint 'O Lime Tostitos or two-bite brownies.

[2] The Drinking:
Those that know me...know that I like to have a drink or two [thousand]. That hasn't been good on the gut [or my man-boobs] + drinking makes Homie hungie [and not for a salad]. So, drinking is temporarily out...that first drink is going to knock me out...

[3] I HATE THE GYM:
But will be going. I have been paying a little money for the gym for some time and think it is time to see what the fuss is all about. I am going to try a [hard] work out program designed by Vern Gambetta (the father of Functional Fitness Training use by a lot of pro athletes). It is really similar to the workouts I did while playing [read: riding the bench] soccer at JCCC.

Now, this may kill me, but I gotta do something to shape the round mound into something more appealing...plus I want to start playing soccer again.

Summary:
If I eat only food from ediets, work out based on the program, no Capt. + Gingers then I think I can pull it off.

Check back here to see what happens to my fat ass.