What had happened was...

I am so sad to read the last of my blog entries. I wish I could say that I had not gained every pound I lost back, but woe is me...I have.  This weekend I weighed in at a whopping 390.2 lbs.  Last time I was successful, I lost 110 lbs and slowly gained it all back after changing jobs which put my ability to care for myself in jeopardy. After 5 years of neglect I am ready to focus on myself once again.

Everything happens for a reason I say.  Last year, I began working on my Masters degree. Two and a half years ago I changed jobs again so I could focus on myself and my family.  Part of my masters degree coursework requires us to make blog posts using blogger and I once again was confronted with my blog I created long ago. I am adding to this blog tonight as a reminder that I still care about doing better and I am still not ready to give up.

Officially, this weekend before reading the blog I am so saddened from, I decided to start again.

I set a goal that I want to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail this coming summer.  I plan on departing around June 1, 2019 to start my trek. I planned months ago on losing 100 lbs before I left for the trip, but then proceeded to waste 100 days with not making any progress but rather losing ground.  Therefore, I now have just over 200 days to drop 100 lbs.  That means if I am going to be successful with that, I will have to drop half a pound a day to do so.

I understand this isn't a healthy goal to expect but it also doesnt mean I cant try. People who do weight loss surgery lose that much every day. So I'm going to see how it goes.

80 to go...

Ok. At this onset of the new year. I am ready to start again. In the past year and a half I have lost and kept off 90 pounds. Was down 110 at one point but started gaining again and have put back on 20 pounds. Tonight starts a new season of biggest loser. My goal this season is to lose as much as the contestants that lose the least amount of weight each week. If I do that then by this summer I will be at about my goal weight. Woot!  So here goes. Wish me luck! 

30 Day Blog Challenge....sort of...

Ok...I have been reading lots of blogs from all over these past few days, and one thing that I see quite often is a 30 day challenge to try and get the blogger to start opening up and writing about themselves.  Yesterday, I decided that I should do a challenge...so I started researching all of the different variations out there...and found that 30 days isn't enough time to get all the topics that I thought would be interesting to write about...so I am going to do a 60 day challenge.  Below are the topics, in the order I plan on doing them....Wish me luck, I will do my best to finish this in 60 days....but knowing me, 10 years from now, I will just be wrapping up!  One of my weaknesses is finishing good ideas.  Best laid plans of mice and men, I suppose.  This also applies to my personal journey through weightloss...I constantly worry that I won't see this through to completion...so I am going to finish this 60 day challenge in 60 days, as well as stay focused on my personal journey towards a healthier me. I will be so thrilled to start 2012 under 300 pounds...Oh...also, I am thinking about rethinking my goal weight....Why?  I have a work friend who is retired Navy, and was talking about the Navy's Height Weight chart and that he was just barely in their guidelines...so I decided to look up what the Navy says I should weigh....and it is to me much more reasonable than the BMI charts that I decided long ago were ridiculous to attempt to achieve with my build....so if I decide to conquer the Navy, I will pick 231 pounds as my new goal...that is only 19 pounds below my original goal of 250...so that is something to ponder...if I pick that as a new goal officially, it will be part of my new year's resolutions...

Ok...I diverge from my original topic (I have a tendency to do that!)...So the 30 (erm 60) day challenge....  Here is what I will be writing on.  Wish me luck!

These are the topics I will be covering in the 60 Day Blog Challenge…

Day 1 — Introduce yourself with a recent picture and 15 interesting facts
Day 2 — Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3 — Your Spouse
Day 4 — Your parents
Day 5 — A song to match your mood
Day 6 — A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7 — Favorite movies
Day 8 — Favorite tv shows
Day 9 — Something you’re afraid of
Day 10 — Something you don’t leave the house without
Day 11 — Bible verse
Day 12 — Dream house
Day 13 — Something you’re looking forward to
Day 14 — Favorite Place to Eat
Day 15 — Something you miss
Day 16 — Nicknames
Day 17 — Favorite Picture of yourself of all time & Why?
Day 18 — Something you’ve learned
Day 19 — Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 20 — Your Wedding
Day 21 — Something that stresses you out
Day 22 — 3 Wishes
Day 23 — If you have tattoos, show them. If not, talk about the tattoos you want or why you don’t think they are right for you
Day 24 — Your favorite song
Day 25 — Your favorite book
Day 26 — Your favorite quote
Day 27 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 28 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 29 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 30 — Say something to your 15 year old self
Day 31 — A hobby of yours
Day 32 — A recipe
Day 33 — A website
Day 34 — A YouTube video
Day 35 — Your day, in great detail
Day 36 — Your week, in great detail
Day 37 — This month, in great detail
Day 38 — This year, in great detail
Day 39 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 40 — Something you ate today
Day 41 — Your idea of the perfect first date
Day 42 — An animal you’d love to keep as a pet
Day 43 — The item you last purchased
Day 44 —Something you would like to do but are afraid to do it!
Day 45 — The last thing that made you cry
Day 46 — Talk about the last “random act of kindness” you encountered
Day 47 — Something you crave a lot
Day 48 — A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 49 — A photo of something that means a lot to you.
Day 50 — How have you changed since last year
Day 51 — Something you could never get tired of doing
Day 52 — Talk about a regret you have
Day 53 — Share a story from your childhood
Day 54 — Explain how you got one of your scars
Day 55 — How do you think others view you
Day 56 — A poem you wrote
Day 57 — Tell us about your best friend
Day 58 — A talent of yours.
Day 59 — Your deepest fear
Day 60 — 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge

Oh Wow! What a difference!

This morning while sitting at my computer, bored...I clicked into PhotoBooth and was playing with the funny pictures that you can take.  Dreaming of being anywhere but in my office...but I took a normal photo of myself.  Then I looked through the other pictures I had taken in the past and BOY was I blown away.  You never really think that your appearance has changed until you see a picture of then and now.  It really is motivating to see a difference.  You always notice your clothes fitting a little looser, and you see the scale moving down...but to really see yourself as other's see you...I am just so happy to have spent the time and effort to lose this 50 pounds that I have dropped so far.  It ROCKS!  I can't wait to see what I look like in another 6 months when I drop my next 50...Wow!  Enough said...

Me in November 2010














Me this morning - 50 pounds lighter!

And then there was 2...

Wow!  I made it into the 320's today!  I am so freaking excited!  I might actually make it below 300 before the new year...That would be so awesome to break into a new year and never see the 300+ ever again.  That is my current goal.  Hopefully I can really make it.  Going to kick in exercise this week so I can start working on toning my body.  I swear that even though I have never been this weight in 12+ years, that I have been in smaller pants...so I gotta start building some muscle again to pull my fat into a more compact container! :)  Wish me luck on that process...I know it could slow my weight loss...but it could also keep it going longer term so I can reach my goals

Been a while...

Well...Just realized it has been a WHILE since I posted something.  Well...as expected...end of April till End of June I was totally off the journey.  But I got refocused and have been loosing mass again for about two months.  This morning I was down to 334.6 pounds.  That is HUGE for me...I haven't been below 340 since 1999...so this is my lowest this century!  Woot! Going to get my massage at the Woodhouse soon...can't wait!

3.1

Starting the day sore from yesterday. We mowed until we couldn't any longer at our overgrown jungle.

This morning for breakfast I recreated McDonald's steak bagel at half the calories. Used a 2 oz meat portion, on a lenders bagel with half an egg scrambled omlet style, and lots of sauteed onions. I would say it compared well to the inspiration. All cooked without oil, just cooking spray to coat the pan.

Today, we have to go shopping. Then we have a birthday party to attend for one of my kids friends. Then this afternoon to my parents house for dinner. Going to be interesting keeping lite.

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Week 3...weigh in

Well....down a little more this week. Lots of stress again after I had to fire one of my workers on Monday, then proceeded to work 53 hours for the week to keep up with the work load....perils of being the department head. I weighed in at 361.4 this week. That is down a total of 17.4 pounds. Happy to be still moving in the right direction, I just don't want to get discouraged because it isn't coming off as fast as previous diets. Par for the course I guess...I just have to stick to it.

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Week 2

Well, second week weigh in wasn't nearly as good as week one, but they seldom are. Overall a loss is a loss. So I am still happy.363.8 lbs is where I was this week. Wish I could lose 14 lbs next week...I could really go for a massage right now! This week was hell at work and home. Monday Brandy fell and sprained her leg, so I played driving Mrs daisy all week, late for work everyday except the last two. Then had a glorious end to my week when the boss comes in my office at 330 with a problem with one of my workers. Great! Glad this week is over. I need a vacation! Two more weeks and I get a week off. Yay!

So push come to shove 15 lbs down in 2 weeks without above and beyond exercise isn't bad. I am starting to feel a little better...so maybe a little exercise is in the future.

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Beginning...one week in

Well. Last Sunday I started again trying to eat better and see if I could shed some pounds. I started at 378.6 pounds. Not my heaviest but a far road to travel before I get out of the obese category according to the CDC which is my goal. I am embarrassed that Mississippi is #1 on the obesity epidemic and that I am part of that number. I know that my journey isn't going to solve the problem. But at least I won't be part of the problem anymore. And maybe just maybe I can inspire some other person to do the same. No single drop is responsible for the flood.

Anyway, this week at my weigh in...I am down 12 pounds to 366.8 pounds. I am thrilled beyond belief. My goal by summer break is to be down 30 pounds that will put me below 350 and will be the first time I have been that low since Andy was born. Andy is about to be 4...so it will be nice to get there. I also had promised myself a massage at 350 and since Brandy gave me a coupon for a massage as part of my Christmas present I have been looking forward to it for months now.

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Starting off....

Ok.  Here we go.  Today, I took my Fat pictures.  These are the pictures that will show me at my HIGHEST weight.  My intention is to have them taken again every 25 pounds as I continue through my weight loss.  This journey will be taken without the help of surgery, drugs, or anything artificial.  I am simply going to begin eating right and exercising.  So...Tomorrow, I will begin the diet portion of the rest of my life.  Tonight, we are going out to eat at Shaw's Catfish restaurant to have a "one last meal." before we start.  I don't know if Brandy really is ready to start with me, but I have to begin.  In just a few minutes I will get the weeks menu together....then after we go to Shaw's the plan is to go grocery shopping so we have food for the week.  Yay! 

Ok...now that the super embarassing pictures are out there...Here is the motivation to keep me going.  My rewards system.  Every 25 pounds of loss, I reach a new mini goal.  Each mini goal reached, the reward carries a slightly higher monetary value. 
So....I am starting off at 382.5 pounds according to the scale this morning. 

Which means, at 25 pounds of loss I will weigh 357.5, My reward for reaching 25 pounds is going to be some cologne from the Body Shop.

At 50 pounds I get a 30 minute massage at the WoodHouse Day Spa in Slidell.  I can't wait for this one!  I have wanted a massage for a long time now....I hope it as wonderful as I think it will be.

Will save the rest of my goals to post until I get closer to my weight...Wish me luck!

Goal #1

Ok...getting started soon!  I also realized what my first mini-goal is going to be and what my reward for achieving that goal will be.  My first goal is 30 pounds down.  That will put me at 350 lbs...when I get to 350, I will reward myself with a cologne that I have loved for years, it was discontinued, and now is back.  I get a bottle of Activist from The Body Shop.  I discovered this cologne when a friend of my sister's and her cousin came to visit for Mardi Gras one year.  The cousin was from London and this was a cologne he wore.  I had some when Brandy and I started dating 10 years ago, and she loved it...and then I couldn't find it when I ran out!  Was on their store's website recently and saw that they once again had that scent....I can't wait to get to 350!

In the Beginning...

This is my first blog post, but not my first attempt at my Journey.  My Blog is entitled My Journey to... because I feel that life is a journey...not a destination.  We all know what the destination is the end, and I am not yet ready for my life to be over!  My Journey that I begin today is a journey to a healthier life.  I am going to be starting to eat healthier, exercise more regular, and take care of my body the way that God intends.  None of us are perfect, and I won't portend to be perfect.  This blog will be a story starting today of my life, with some reflections on the past to help me (and you) learn from the past.  Often times, I think that the reason we continue to destroy ourselves isn't because we purposefully want to, it is because we forget where we have been and loose sight of where we want to go.  I know that I want to be healthier than I am at this very moment.  Currently, I am weighing in at 384.5 pounds and have a back ache that I have had now for three days....from moving a few boxes (not very heavy at all) and mowing my lawn (on a riding mower).  Pretty sad physical shape! 

I have been flowing a fellow on Sparkpeople (www.sparkpeople.com) who has now lost over 225 pounds for some time.  In fact when I started following him, he weighed what I weighed and I was going to keep up with him because he had already lost over 150 pounds!  Well...he now weighs 75 pounds less than I do...I didn't do so well on keeping up with him.  So, he can serve as inspiration that this can be done, but ultimately, I have to do it for myself. 

My wife and I have discovered that obesity is an excellent form of birth control over the past 7 years of our marriage.  For the first 3 years we were married, we tried to get pregnant unsuccessfully and were about to decide that we were not going to be able to conceive.  After an embarrassing trip to California where we had to ask for seat belt extensions on every plane, and crush the poor skinny person who was unfortunate enough to be seated on our row for the plane flights (we didn't subject just one person...there were three grand total)...we decided to really hit it and loose weight!  Well, after each of us lost 50 pounds in a three month span, we found out we were pregnant with our first child.  Diet stopped...pregnancy eating started (yes, I had pregnancy cravings too!)...and we proceeded to gain the 50 pounds lost back plus 20+ each.   When our son was 18 months old, we decided he was self sufficient enough we could start our diet again and we did...both lost 40 pounds and low and behold...pregnant.  Child number two nine months later.  So, to end this cycle, I am going to see an Urologist this week to have this problem taken care of!  There will not be any more diet children conceived if I can help it!  Two beautiful red headed children are enough for me and my wife...

So with that in mind, I am starting today.  Going to try and live life to the fullest.  I am not going to be successful every day...that is just part of life.  None of us know what is going to be thrown our way.  I just have to be strong enough to come out on the other side still trying and I will succeed.