Day 55 - Updates

So here are a few brief updates:

Baby - Still not here yet.

Knees - Still Hurt

Workouts - Have skipped quite a few because of my knees. Probably will start back up Thursday unless baby comes.

Food - Have been slipping here. Need to renew my resolve. Really I just need to eat more veggies.

That is it for today. Hopefully soon I will get to share some baby pics.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 3757
Weight: 252lbs
Mood: Kinda blue
Total Weight Lost: 13 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 54 - Therapy

I am not sure if it is because I am anxious for the baby to come or because there are some other factors weighing down on me but for some reason I woke up this morning extremely sore and tense as if I had been doing pull ups all night long and my back, neck and shoulders were all very tense and I had a bit of a tension headache.

If I evaluated my life and my job right now I would say that there is not really a reason I should feel stressed out but it is quite obvious from the way that my body is behaving that I am stressed.  So as a result I decided to go get a massage today.  I called my wife's chiropractic office, Rody Chiropractic, and asked if they had an opening for today. 

They did have some openings with Brianna and so I booked and appointment.  It was extremely relaxing  and she did a good job working on my back, neck and shoulders.  She had to work the pretty hard and noted that i was quite tense (which I already knew) but afterwards I felt much better.  I highly recommend her if you are in need of a massage in Puyallup.

I still had a bit of a headache an hour or two after the massage but a few Ibuprofen and the headache was gone.  It was amazing how something as simple a massage can bring so much rejuvenation.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2693

Weight: 251.5 lbs

Mood:  Started out tense and sore but is ending a bit more relaxed.

Total Weight Lost: 13.5 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 53 - Dinner with friends

The family got to spend the evening with some friends of ours from Pullman, WA who we knew from when we lived over there.  They have recently moved over here and it was fun to get to hang with their family.  Ethan really enjoyed playing with their kids (and their kid's toys) and did a really good job waiting patiently at the dinner table while everyone finished eating.  Over all we had a great time and some really good food.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2882

Weight: 252 lbs

Mood: Not quite ready for the work week.

Total Weight Lost: 13 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 52 - McDonalds

Today as Kelley and I were walking around the block with Ethan there were kids riding bikes in the street. Ethan enjoyed watching the kids play and sort of joined in on his own big wheel trike. After a while we continued around the block and Ethan looked up at us and said "more kids?" He said this while making the sign language sign for more which to us means he really wants more kids to play with.

For me this just tugged at my heart since I know that Ethan really enjoys playing with other kids but the moms of some of his friends were sick so we were not able to call them up for a play date. As a result I told Ethan that I would take him to McDonald's where could play with the other kid's at the playland.

So, later that day the family made our way to the McD's down the road a ways and Ethan engaged in some much needed kiddy social time, which for him involves chasing and being chased by the other children.

I got to load up on some very unhealthy and calorie packed food while getting a kick out of watching my son run around the indoor playground.


TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 4210
Weight: 251 lbs
Mood: Glad it is the weekend
Total Weight Lost: 14 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 51 - Waiting for Baby

The due date for my second child to be born is coming up fast (it is Monday) and both Kelley and I are very anxious for the big day to arrive. Actually, Kelley has alot more reason to want the big day to be over with since she has to live with another person taking up all that space in her body and making her uncomfortable, but I am also looking forward to meeting my daughter. Any day now Kelley could go into labor and that is a pretty wild and amazing thing. It is hard to imagine what that day will be like.

With Ethan she ended up being induced per the doctors orders on the day before Ethan's due date. This time the doctors are willing to let her ride it out a week or two. I am hoping that the birth happens this weekend but since neither of us have control over these things we will just have to wait for God's timing.


TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2475
Weight: 251.5 lbs
Mood: Ready for baby!
Total Weight Lost: 13.5 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 50 - Week 7 Results

Here are the results of my 7th week on the plan:

Current weight: 251.5 lbs
Weight Lost This Week: .5 lbs
Total Weight Lost: 13.5 lbs
Body Fat %: 28.8% (down 0% this week and 1.6% since 1/1/09)
Avg Calories Eaten Per Day: 3,141
Total Calories Burned: 23,737
Total Calories Eaten: 21,987
Calculated Daily Caloric Need: 3,391
# of Days I Worked Out: 2

No surprise here on the amount of weight lost. I ate a lot more calories and worked out less because of my knee.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2639
Weight: 251.5 lbs
Mood: Ho Hum.
Total Weight Lost: 13.5 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 49 - Biggest Loser Week 7

Here are my thoughts on last night's episode of biggest loser:

Bob went a bit overboard when he told his team to not ask for his help anymore when it comes to elimination. He wanted them to vote off Dane but they voted off Blaine. I feel this shows respect for Blaine's wishes and puts honor above game play. Though I can understand why Bob was frustrated it is a bit extreme to say you will not give advice in the future. Also it is probably not true since he likely will still give advice.

Laura showed this week that she can work hard. I think that Tara was really discouraging her partner by reinforcing the idea that she did not work as hard. It is perfectly understandable that Laura is not going to have the same endurance, strength and stamina as Tara since Tara has a whole month's advantage from being at the ranch while Laura went home. I think that Laura really does want to work hard but has a hard time keeping up with Tara.

I thought it was really fun when a bunch of the players wrestled around in the mud. I think it really shows that they are all really fun people who are not out to get one another.

It appeared the Jillian really seemed to flounder without the gym. While I would say that the weigh in proved otherwise, the workouts that Bob did outside the gym seemed far more interesting and sustainable, in a real world setting, than Jillian's workout which seem kinda boring and looked like she did not know what to do.


TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2408
Weight: 252 lbs
Mood: A bit of a headache
Total Weight Lost: 13 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 48 - Knee Update

Well, my knee is still bothering me and has been alot worse than it has been the past several months so I scheduled an appointment with an Orthopedics doctor. The appointment is not until the 10th of March but at least I took the step and made it. I will let you know how it goes when I get there.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2774
Weight: 253 lbs
Mood: Kinda tired
Total Weight Lost: 12 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 47 - Back on the Wagon

Today I was able to keep the calories a lot closer to my 2400 goal. Other than that I had the day off and do not have much to say.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2502
Weight: 254 lbs
Mood: Relaxed
Total Weight Lost: 11 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 46 - A Weekend of Excess

This weekend has turned out to be a weekend of over indulgence.  It started with Fast Food Friday and my decision to get McDonald's for breakfast.  The two Sausage McMuffin's with egg for $3 had been tempting me through billboards and radio commercials and I decided to cave.  Then for lunch it was a Pita Pit Gyro and then a dinner of Kilbasa and Dorito's.  All in all the calories totaled 3679.

Then on Saturday, in celebration of my bonus and valentines day and everything else that is going on in our lives we decided that we would go out to a nice dinner.  However, a sick kid and two tired adults caused us to change our plans and we decided to do pizza instead.  Kelley found a place that makes gluten free pizza crust so she could have take out for the first time since she discovered her food allergies.  I got a Papa Murphy's pizza for myself and Ethan.  Eating 7/8 of the pizza plus my eggs and hash browns for breakfast put me at 3798 calories.  

Finally today I capped off my weekend of grease and fat with a couple of peanut butter english muffins, followed by a lunch of corn dogs and Doritos and then for dinner, since the wife had been at a baby shower all afternoon and did not want to cook we hightailed it over toApplebees where I had the Brutus bacon burger with fries and an appetizer of caso dip and chips along with two strawberry lemonades.  Today's total calories weighed in at 4085.  

Needless to say this has not been a good weekend in the epic journey I am on and I definitely need to double my resolve the rest of the week.  Hopefully this does not set me back too far for too long.   I need to hop back on the wagon and move on.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 4085

Weight: 252.5

Mood:  Enjoyed the party but it is time to get back to work.

Total Weight Lost:  12.5 since 1/1/09

Day 45 - Tractor Tippin'

Ethan's current favorite movie is Pixar's Cars.  In this movie he likes certian scenes and has learned to skip from scene to scene using the fast forward/rewind button on the DVD player.  One of the scenes we find him watching most often is the tractor tipping scene.  

He has even begun to take his passion for this scene a step further and now, when he is playing with his own cars, he recreates the scene in his play.  He starts by putting two of his trucks or cars face to face.  Then one (or both) honks at the other. He the proceeds to make the mooing sound as the trucks flip up on their hind sides.  I find this to be very cute and enjoy watching him do it over and over.  He even tries to get me involved and so sometimes I will play along and be the tractor that tips to his honking.  It is fun to watch him grow up and begin to encorporate what he sees into his play.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 3758

Weight: 252 lbs

Mood: Why did I eat the whole pizza?  

Total Weight Lost: 13 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 44 - Bonus Check

Yesterday, while I was working through a 4 inch stack of very tedious fleet upgrade invoices and work orders, my boss came into my office and closed the door.  At first I thought he was going to tell me something bad or that they were getting ready to lay off some more workers ( a few people had been laid off recently which is kinda sad) however, instead he handed me a white envelope that looked a lot like a pay stub and said something to the effect of "I know we had talked after you had gotten [the e-mail that said no one was getting bonuses except those who had signed an agreement back in February of 08] but I talked with Brent (his boss) and him and I both agree you are doing a great job so we pulled some strings and did some groveling and here is a bonus."  This literally injected a shot of sunshine into my dreary paperwork filled day and came as a wonderful surprise.

I had pretty much assumed I would not be getting a bonus at all since A) the e-mail said you had to have a signed agreement from February, which I did not since I had only been with the company since September.  And B) my boss pretty much told me that i would not get one, which I was OK with.   Along with the bonus is some stock warrants which vest over the next few years.  

I have to say that, in this economy and in these times I am truly blessed to have received anything and all and it really helped bolster my confidence in the job that i am doing.  It is amazing how a pat on the back, some encouraging words, and something like and unexpected bonus can really bless someones day.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 3679

Weight: 249.5 lbs

Mood: Ecstatic that I got a bonus.  Whoo Hoo!!!

Total Weight Lost: 15.5 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 43 - Week 6 Results

Here are the results of my 6th week on the plan:

Current weight: 252 lbs
Weight Lost This Week: 1 lbs
Total Weight Lost: 13 lbs
Body Fat %: 28.8% (down .3% this week and 1.6% since 1/1/09)
Avg Calories Eaten Per Day: 2,954
Total Calories Burned: 24,178
Total Calories Eaten: 20,678
Calculated Daily Caloric Need: 3,454
# of Days I Worked Out: 3

I am glad that I am down another pound and that my body fat % is dropping.  It is nice to see progress in these ways.  However, on the flip side my right knee has really been bothering me. I am looking into setting up a doctors appointment soon to get it check out by a sports medicine doctor.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2704
Weight: 252 lbs
Mood: Glad to loose another pound.
Total Weight Lost: 13 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 42 - Biggest Loser Week 6

Another week of the Biggest Loser sees us saying goodbye to Blaine. He seemed nice and Dane, his silent counter part, is a bit of an unknown to us since Blaine has been the spokes person for the black team. It was nice to see everyone respect his wishes to go home. So far I have enjoyed the fact that I can root for everyone on the show. They all have unique stories and it is fun to watch them go back and forth. I still don't have a favorite yet though there are a couple of folks whom I root for more than others.


TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2551
Weight: 253 lbs
Mood: Really wanting my knees to feel better
Total Weight Lost: 12 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 41 - More Knees

So my knees were still hurting this morning so I decided to not go work out. This, surprisingly, seems to be helping. Though my right knee is still bothering me it is not hurting as much. I am also taking my normal rest day tomorrow before trying back at a lighter pace on the elliptical machine on Thursday.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 3268
Weight: 253 lbs (again)
Mood: Wishing I can move past the 253 plateau.
Total Weight Lost: 12lbs since 1/1/09

Day 40 - Knees

Lately my knees have been bothering more and more.  I sprained both of the almost a year ago and the left one reached a point where it was not really bothering me at all and the right one only ached a bit.  Now the right one hurts quite a bit and the left one hurts occasionally.  I am not sure if I am just over doing it on the work outs of if there is something wrong.  I should probably go back to a doctor and have them take a look at it but I am a bit stubborn about these things.  I feel like I know what the doctor will say.

In the mean time I will just work on doing the exercises the physical therapists taught me and making sure I stretch well after working out.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2968

Weight: 253 lbs

Mood: Wishing my knees would stop hurting.

Total weight lost: 12 lbs lost since 1/1/09

Day 39 - Ham and Lima Bean Soup

Today I made my mom's home made Ham and Lima Bean Soup.  Beans are an excellent weight loss food because they are full of fiber and are filling.  This soup is delicious and really easy to make.

HAM & LIMA BEAN SOUP

2 lbs Lima beans, soaked overnight

2 lbs Ham diced up
2 onions diced up
2 garlic cloves diced up
3 celery stalks diced up
4 carrots diced up
4 TBLS dried parsley
6 cups water
4 Cans of low sodium Chicken Broth

Cornstarch

Combine everything in the biggest pot you own and let it simmer for as long as possible. Add the cornstarch (mixed with cold water) toward the end to thicken it up a little. This is a soup that is even better the next day or after you freeze it because it becomes really thick.

Enjoy!

TODAY'S STATS

Calories:

Weight: 253 lbs

Mood: Feeling fine.

Total Weight Lost: 12 lbs sionce 1/1/09

Day 38 - Battlestar Galactica

Ok, my number 2 fan wanted some more stuff about me and the family that does not necessarily pertain to weight loss so I will try to pepper a few posts about random things in here from time to time.  (Actually it kinda helps fill the gaps in the times that there is not a lot to post about.)  So today's post is about my favorite TV show...Battlestar Galactica.

****SPOILERS AHEAD****

I have been an avid follower of the new Battlestar Galactica series on the SCI FI channel since the very first mini-series.  I really  think that the show offers a powerful and deep story in a wonderful sci fi setting and truly is an example of story telling excellence.  The past two weeks episodes have been some of the best to watch.  While I was all into the mystery of who the cylons were and what would they find when they got to earth, the have put that story line to rest and have really dug into what a hell hole life is in the fleet and how the characters respond to their last ray of hope being dashed and their new best chance at hope is now with the very entities that at the beginning of this epic quest were trying to wipe them out and got them into this predicament in the first place.  

The mutiny was, in my opinion, a place the show really had to explore.  It was something dark and very realistic and believable and the motives of Gaeta and his mutineers actually had alot of validity behind them but the show did an excellent job of showing that Gaeta had actually chosen the dark path to trying to get his voice to be heard by a calloused and burnt out leadership.  Even through the chaos you knew who the good and bad side was and even though Gaeta's motives are pure, his choice of Zarek to partner with set his mutiny off on the wrong path as Zarek's thirst for "justice" or revenge or to just make something happen turned deadly as his revolutionary roots shot forth anew.  

I am very happy with the ending though I truly felt sorry for Gaeta throughout both mutiny episodes.  It was great to Adama, Tigh, Lee and Starbuck kicking butt and overall the episodes were in the list of my top 10.  Now that order has been restored to Galactica I am excited to see where we go from here.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2903

Weight: 252.5 lbs

Mood: Happy it is the weekend

Total Weight Lost: 12.5 lbs since 1/1/09

 

Day 37 - Potluck

Today at work one of the ladies from the front office was transferring to different location. As a result there was a potluck called to celebrate. Now, at first it was not my intention to participate, and I was going to go enjoy fast food for "Fast Food Friday" however, walking up and down the hall all morning I could smell the food and as a result I found myself in the conference room with a plate full of meatballs, tacos and Doritos. At the end of the day I ended up eating far more calories than I planned but I saved myself a bit of moola. As far as not bringing anything for the potluck....I would have brought a bag of Doritos but apparently I was not the only one with that idea so at the end of the day it all worked out.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 3210
Weight: 252 lbs
Mood: Yea! Another pound bites the dust.
Total Weight Lost: 13 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 36 - Week 5 Results

Here are the results of my 5th week on the plan:

Current weight: 253 lbs
Weight Lost This Week: 1.5 lbs
Total Weight Lost: 12 lbs
Body Fat %: 29.1% (down .1% this week and 1.3% since 1/1/09)
Avg Calories Eaten Per Day: 2,663
Total Calories Burned: 23,891
Total Calories Eaten: 18,641
Calculated Daily Caloric Need: 3,413
# of Days I Worked Out: 4

Another Good Week.  Not quite the 2 lbs I wanted but on average I am still above 2lbs a week over all.  Other than that not much else to report.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2369
Weight: 253 lbs
Mood: Hanging In There
Total Weight Lost: 12 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 35 - Bidgest Loser Week 5

It is about time that Joelle was voted off of the Biggest Loser.  I feel sorry for Carla that she had such a weak and pathetic partner.  I am glad that Carla is doing well at home and I hope that she is able to make her goals by the finale.  It is a real testimony to the differences between the two that Carla has lost nearly double what Joelle lost and all but 9lbs of it was at home where as Joelle has not even doubled her rather pathetic weight loss since leaving the ranch.

My favorite moment from the show, aside from seeing Joelle go home, was when Jillian got all upset at Allison for suggesting that the yellow team member who went home and only lost 2 lbs had gained muscle.  I liked it because I have seen how it is nearly impossible to gain muscle mass and loose weight.  My body fat % has changed very slowly and my lean body mass went down over the month not up (though it went down at a slower pace than the fat.)   Listen to Jillian..if you work out and you don't lose weight it is not because you are gaining muscle.

 I am also glad that the Sione one the at home weigh in.  I really like the blue team and would love to see them go all the way.  

TODAY'S STATS

Calories:

Weight: 254.5 lbs

Mood:  Very Tired.  Ethan woke up at 4:30 this morning and I was the one who went and tried to wrangle him back into bed.

Total Weight Lost: 10.5 lbs since 1/1/09

Day 34 - Future Posts and Cookies at Work

Thanks for the comments from all my (2) faithful readers.  I have heard you out and will try to include more personal stories and updates about what is going in my life.  For my #1 fan here is the story about the cookie (I really don't know why she want's me to post about it but here it is anyways)

Last week some time a coworker came into my office and put a box of chocolate chip cookies in my face.  I was a bit hungry and could see from the nutrition label that they were 150 calories in each one so, since I had some free calories for the day, I took one.  Now this particular coworker thought that one wasn't enough and insisted that I take more.  However, I declined, and after several threats that he would not leave my office until I took another one he finally backed down and left.

That is it.  The cookie at work story.  I probably would not have blogged about it except that my #1 fan requested it.  

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 3098

Weight: 153 lbs

Mood: Full from my nice dinner out with Kelley, minus Ethan who was with his Grandparents.

Total Weight Lost: 11 lbs since 1/1/08

Day 33 - What to talk about?

I had a great idea about a blog post but I can not for the life of me remember what it was.  So, since I am having blogger's block I am putting a request out to you, my faithful, and few :-)  readers.  What are some topics you would like me write about?  Where would you like this blog to go in those periods between weekly updates and milestones?  Leave a comment and tell me what you want.

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 2880

Weight: 253 lbs

Mood: At a loss for words...

Total Weight Lost: 12 lbs since 1/1/09 

Day 32 - Measurements

It has been a whole month so I had Kelley take my measurements today.  Here they are:

• Upper Arm:  15in  (No Change)
  
• Chest: 45 3/4 in (2 in decrease)
  
• Waist: 46 in (1/4 in increase)
  
• Hips: 42in (3/4 in decrease)
  
• Thighs: 24 1/4 in (1/8 in increase)
  

Interesting to say the least.  I am surprised I lost so much from my chest but gained at the waist (belly button really) 

TODAY'S STATS

Calories: 

Weight: 253 lbs

Mood: It is Superbowl Sunday and I am ready for some football!!!!

Total Weight Lost: 12 lbs since 1/1/09