Yesterday was September 1 and I weighed in at 264.2, up 0.2 pounds from the day before. That didn't seem quite right, as I had stuck to the diet and had a pretty solid workout. This morning, after another good day on the diet and a workout at the gym and plenty of yard work, I came in at 261.8. I expect that about half that was lost in each of the two days and a little bit of an anomalous reading isn't anything to think about. On August 1, I weighed 281.0, so I lost 16.8 pounds in the month of August. Four more months of that and I'll be at 200 pounds by January 1, 2013. For the week, I have lost 5.5 pounds, which is about as much as I dare lose, I think. I am seeing clothes start to not fit, which is great, but according to BMI charts, at above about 243 pounds I am considered obsese. Two things: One, I didn't think it was possible that I would ever be obese and two, it's not exactly a great feeling to have lost over 22 pounds and still be considered well into the obese category.
The point of writing this column, of course, is to try to inspire any of you that are out there feeling unhappy about your weight to become inspired to start working on it. I'm not some impossibly fit guru, I'm a guy that needs to lose 18 pounds to become overweight instead of obese. If I can do it, you can do it. Make no mistake, it is work. It is hard work. Losing weight requires a lot of discipline and sacrifice. I would sure like to have a have a beer every now and again (I've had about 5 beers since the diet started, three in one night at a party we went to). I intend on the diet to limit beer intake to no more than one or two a month. Once I get down to my goal, I want to have a maintenance plan that allows for a couple brews a week, so that I can enjoy my life. Obviously, I won't be eating 1800 calories a day forever, I think that 2300-2500 is about where I'll be. There's plenty of room in there for an occasional glass of the good stuff. But, during the weight reduction period of my plan, there is sacrifice. More than that, though, it requires determination. You have to be so determined that nothing will get in your way. I am determined to lose 85 pounds. This goal is more important to me than the things that would sidetrack me from that goal. I'm not saying that everyone can have the goal that I have, but what I am saying that if you have a goal, say, 20 pounds, and you make that goal the most important thing, you may be surprised how saying no to certain things become easier when damn it, I want to be able to say that I've lost that shitty 20 pounds that has been bringing me down.
I have thought about how I got to this point in the first place and why I didn't do something when I was, say, 230 or 240 pounds. What I have found is that thinking about this gets me down. So, I have stopped thinking about it. It is what it is. I weigh 261.8 pounds. It doesn't matter how I got here. What matters is that today, I'm doing something to make that a smaller number. Today, I am going to stay on my diet. I am going to get my exercise. I am going to think about the scale reading something less than 261.8 pounds tomorrow. If is does, then great. If it doesn't, well whatever it says tomorrow morning, that's my new point of reference. I really try to think of this as a series of one day tasks. Today is the only day that matters for me. Make today matter.
Day 40
Weight 261.8 pounds
Total Lost: 22.7 pounds
I biked to church this morning because I'm home alone without a vehicle. 2 miles.
The way home, I was inspired by y'all and by Phil's spotting of a Cerulean Warbler to take the long way. 6 miles + some hills. Turkey Vulture, Red-Tailed Hawk eating something on the ground, Green Heron, and an Empid Flycatcher that I assume was a Least.
This was my first time biking all year as my father-in-law (Who is 6'8" and at least 300 lbs) tried to take my bike out this spring and shredded the back tire by the end of our driveway. I bought a new tire on the Fourth of July but hadn't taken the time to replace it (being too freaking hot out whenever I had opportunity) until last weekend.
Sheenie and I just did a trip around lakes Harriet and Calhoun. After going about six blocks, my left knee was furiously barking at me. I could not seem to get it loose and it was driving me crazy. Finally near the end of the loop around Calhoun, my gears magically popped into place. I have no idea why they had been slightly out of whack for the first 3/4 of the ride. The final stretch, despite the two worst hills, were pain free.
I gotta say, the MS 150 (and the bar exam) definitely discouraged me from continuing to bike for awhile this summer, but I've been getting back in the spirit lately and I have no idea why I stopped. Now to lose those extra 14 pounds I'm carrying around...
Day-to-day fluctuations are a weird thing. I've noticed that my scale shows me at a higher weight on humid days. My weight can vary three or four pounds depending on the humidity.
Mrs. Twayn and I opted for a long walk today. We ended up doing just over 4 miles in about 80 minutes. We started our walk around 1:00 p.m. so it was fairly hot, but the humidity was low, there was some decent shade here and there and a nice breeze was blowing so it didn't feel too bad. Breakfast was oatmeal and walnuts, uncured low-sodium bacon and the last of the cantaloupe and strawberries. Fixing dinner now - beef tenderloin, sweet corn, asparagus, salad and probably the last of the peaches for desert since we have to use them up. No lunch today, but I had a big handful of almonds, a low-fat cheese stick and a few table water crackers for a snack.
I have been eating mass quantities and drinking my share the last two days at brotherS's. But I shaved about 4 lbs off in the previous two weeks, so I am probably back to where I started.
Tomorrow: state fair. I have not been to the great Minnesota Get-together in a long, long time. Gotta get me some Tom Thumb donuts. Please tell me those stiil exist.
I will have my twins hat on and my eyes open for Citizens tomorrow morning.
Look for Tom Thumb donuts next to the Kidway. I'll be leaving for the Fair in a few minutes. Any wgomer who flags me down, I'll buy you a local brew at the Ball Park Cafe or a Schell's at Heritage Square.
Look for Magnum, P.I.: tall, skinny, stache, Hawaiian shirt. Except a Twins hat. And four kids. And no Ferrari. Or Higgins. Whatever...
You should call AuntieWalt "Higgins" just to mess with her
Three words: Sweet Martha's cookies.