If I can

The Biggest Loser

bzydaddy — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:20:24 +0000

The Biggest Loser finale was on TV last week. This was the first season I watched The Biggest Loser and it was an inspiration to me. I was under the impression this program was an exploitation of ‘fat people’. While it may be at some level, it is more about people learning to eat right, exercise and face the toughest challenge of their life. (I love stories and movies about people overcoming the odds and succeeding. I have watched The Pursuit of Happiness dozens of time.)

After stumbling upon an episode of the The Biggest Loser one evening in April, I ended up download the entire season of iTunes. Like most of the reality tv programs in the game show format, the cast starts with 20+ people and each week someone is voted off until there are three people left. The basic premise is that each week the two players with the lowest percentage of weight loss that week “fall below the yellow line” and the other players vote one of them to go home. At the end of the season, the player that loses the most percentage of weight becomes The Biggest Loser and wins $250,000. The players that were voted off the show are encouraged continue their program at home These players return in the finale and weigh in, the person with the highest percentage of weight loss for the ‘at home players’ will win $100,000.

The most inspiring part of this TV program is seeing how the players voted off continue their life style changes at home. While on the show, the players have personal trainers and nothing to do but lose weight. The players voted off, have to continue their journey at home with all the struggles of life; work, family and temptations. In this season, Jerry, a 63 year old started at 369 lbs and was very unhealthy. He was voted off the show in the second week. He weighed in at the finale at 179 lbs and won $100,000. More than the cash prize, Jerry won is life back.

If you have not watched The Biggest Loser, check it out. You may be surprised.

If they can do it…

Back Pain

bzydaddy — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:34:29 +0000

I’m having lower back pain. I think its was caused by inclining the treadmill too much too quickly. As a result, I stayed out of the gym for three days, then started easing back slowly. In the past I would not have eased back. I’m still a little sore, but I am moving again.

I’m averaging between 9K – 12K steps a day.

“The healthy food guy”

bzydaddy — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:26:47 +0000

This evening, my daughter asked that I make her one of my smoothies. I did a double take, and she said, “you are the healthy food guy!”.

Me?

Smoothie

bzydaddy — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:55:46 +0000

I am lov’n smoothies. I got the this recipe from FitnessRocks.org. It’s so simple, once you have a blender. We didn’t have one, thank you Target. Here is my basic recipe:

Frozen Strawberries – hand full
Soy Milk – Vanilla Flavor (1 Cup)
Banana – whole
Frozen OJ concentrate – about 1/3 can

I will probably get more creative when I get tired of this recipe. I also like the Orange Mango Banana (something) Vivanno at Starbucks. This is a good lunch when on the road.

Here is another special recipe I call “Orange Delight”… This is a hard one, get a pen and paper. Put orange juice in a small plastic container and freeze it. This is a good snack while watching TV. I slowly scrape the orange juice out with a metal spoon. It takes a long time to eat and it makes noise!

See Ya 270s

bzydaddy — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:24:25 +0000

I’m trying to not completely focus on the my weight loss. I’m expecting my weight will drop to a healthy level as I continue to eat right and exercise. I don’t have an official weight in day (now, I had one three weeks ago). Today seemed like a good day to get on the scale and see how its going. 268lbs. That’s 17 lbs in 3 1/2 weeks.

I don’t feel like I have lost weight, although my stomach has shrunk a bit. I do see the difference on the treadmill. I’m inclining every 10 minutes while walking. I actually went to the gym twice yesterday. I didn’t have a 60 minute block of time, but had two 30 minute blocks. That’s a huge mental change!

I’m sorry to see you go 270s, we had one hell of a time over the past 5 years.

If I Can drop below 270, I must be able to drop below 260.

Looking for Support – Part 2

bzydaddy — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:26:18 +0000

5:30am – Out of bed and in the shower
6:00 – Check emails and review schedule for the day
7:30 – Meeting at Starbucks
9:45 – Onsite at a customer 60 miles away for most of the day
4:30 – Pick up daughter from track practice
6:00 – Take daughter #2 to softball practice, catch up on emails and plan my next day while waiting
7:45 – Return home and change into shorts and t-shirt for the gym
8:00 – Sit down for a minute… get comfortable… thinking about my busy day and consider skipping the gym, after all, I had a busy day

Tweet comes in from @GSPN : At my calorie limit for the day & there are cookies on the counter & Root Beer Floats being made before my eyes. True test of Willpower!!

That was the little push I neede. Someone else was having some second thoughts tonight.

Off I went. Thanks @GSPN!

Looking for Support?

bzydaddy — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:49:54 +0000

I have been struggling with weight for many years while my wife has not. Her weight has not fluctuated much since we married 19 years ago. Why am I struggling and her not? As I am moving from bad eating habits to good, I am now eating like her. She likes her treats, but overall, she eats really well; mostly fruits and vegetables. She has been eating like this right under my nose for all these years. I was too busy smelling a full rack of ribs to notice! I guess this explains the good eating habits of my oldest daughter.

Look around, you may have a good role model near by!

On a road trip

bzydaddy — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:47:06 +0000

I am traveling this week. A road trip. There is not an abundance of good food choices at the service stops along the highway. Before leaving I packed a bag with apples and bananas. They were my replacement for Chex Mix, hard candy, trail mix and other (no so good) goodies we usually have on the road. I “managed” as we journeyed through RI, CT, NY, PA and OH. With better planning, I could have done better; cutting up some vegetables, have an assortment of raw nuts, and purchased some fruit and vegetable juices. I will be better prepared for the return trip.

1 Day on the road…

Breakfast – I have been eating a good breakfast during my renewed “health kick” (I hate that term, but until this is a perminent change, I have to live with it). My breakfast is ancored with Cheerios, non-fat milk and sliced banana; sometimes a little extra fruit on the side. Low and behold, a can eat my breakfast on the road. My breakfast items are included in the “includes a free continental breakfast” advertised at roadside hotels. I’m good with breakfast on the road.

Lunch – You can always find a salad. Even the fast food establishments have a salad (of some sort). I do wonder why they looks so good and taste a little old. It must be the same magic formula used in the grocery store bag salad. A smoothy goes good with a salad at lunch. A healthy smoothy is hard to find roadside. Starbucks has a Vivanno (fancy name for a smoothie I guess). Unfortunately, none (I tried two) of the brand new Starbucks on PA highways make the Vivanno. I settled for turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato and cucumber. A better selection than my old choice of a #2 with a diet coke.

Dinner – I can always order a good dinner at a restaurant. I ordered grilled Salmon, hold the ‘special lemon butter sauce’, garden salad, dressing on the side and a side of vegetables. Good ordering… with one mistake. I forgot to say “no seasoning on the side of vegetables”. They looked so good… but they were drenched in butter.

Snacks – My apples and bananas.

If I can pay attention on the trip… I will have a good week.

First Weekly Update

bzydaddy — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:18:35 +0000

This is my first weekly update in 2009. Monday is my official day to weigh in and evaluate my last 7 days of moving to better fitness. My weight is down to 274lbs. I went to the gym 5 of 7 days and stayed within my calorie count each day.

All is good. Off to a busy day.

I take on another week.

Type of Calories

bzydaddy — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:36:51 +0000

I have been counting calories for a few weeks. I’m into the groove, it easy. Its easy to count and easy to stay on target. During my first week of counting it was a struggle to stay under my daily allotment. Each day, watching the count closely and forcing myself to stay below the ‘the line’. Then I started to change the foods I consume; eating MANY fruits and veggies each day. Now I have no problem staying under the line. All the experts say, and I inherently know, eating fruits and veggies is good better for me than processed foods. I don’t know all the science yet, but 100 calories from Non-Fat Yogurt is better for me than 100 Cal Snack Pack of Oreos . Same calorie count, but…

I hope I can keep choosing the non-fat yogurt over the cookies.