I had to hit the ground running when I returned to work this week, resulting in a lot of late evenings and no time for blogging. However, I weighed myself everyday, and I got to the gym one evening this week after work, which is better than I've done the past few months.
Tuesday morning I got on the scale and was horrified to find that I weighed 205 pounds, a new lifetime high. I was very surprised based on what I ate on Monday, but I think it was the whole weekend rather than just one day catching up with me. I can't remember what I ate the rest of the day Tuesday -- it wasn't too much, but I didn't starve myself, either.
Wednesday morning I was glad to be down to 202.8. Much better. I was really hungry when I left work late (around 8pm or later), and I quickly thought of what I could eat during the 30 minute drive home that wouldn't be "too bad". I settled on an Arby's roast beef sandwich. I had hoped to get to the gym this night, but my friend DW called when I got back to Lexington and wanted to chat. He was hungry, so we went to Don Pablos. I had some chips and a little of what he had, but I did not get my own meal. I did have a margarita, though.
Thursday morning I held at 202.8. That night I went to a "wild game" dinner connected with work -- lots of lean protein. After the dinner, I finally got to go to the gym, where I walked 2 miles (8 laps) on the indoor walking track. I was dragging after a long day, but I went ahead and got on a Precor elliptical machine, and I really enjoyed that with my iPod, so I'm hoping to do that more often on late weeknights. (I'm already assuming the Precors will be in hot demand on weekends.)
Friday morning I was down to 201.8. Yea! I "broke down" on the way to work and got two Hardees sausage egg biscuits, but I did not have any lunch. I went out in the evening with EB and ate a chicken quesadilla and drank some beer. Not a great diet evening.
Today, I held at 201.8. I overslept my Jenny Craig appointment, though, and I really haven't had a good food day. I also did not get to the gym, but I'm hoping to go tomorrow.
So here's the new numbers:
Current weight: 201.8 lbs.
Total Loss from 1/3/06 Peak: -3.2 lbs.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Monday, January 02, 2006
Today's numbers
Well, I'm making more progress on the fitness front than the weight/diet front. I gained 0.2 lbs. today, for a total of 202.6 lbs. and a total loss of only 1.0 lb. from my (known) lifetime peak.
Progress on the walking goal
I went to my nearby Gold's Gym today and did eight laps on their indoor track for a total of one mile. Then I did 30 minutes plus cooldown on the treadmill for a total of 1.79 miles. So I walked 2.79 miles total today!
I'm trying to make the return to Gold's Gym this winter after a long absence. I had not been to Gold's in over a year, and I had never stepped foot in the year-old new facility nearest me until last week, but I had maintained my membership there because I wanted to return easily. I like the new Gold's better than any of the others I've been to before. The others were old department store or supermarket buildings converted into a gym -- this one is a brand-new building. I really like the walking track -- that was the primary thing that attracted me to coming back this time. I really enjoyed walking outside during the late summer and fall while listening to my iPod, and am using the indoor track to continue that into the winter. The treadmill, though, will help me walk consistently faster than I might on the track, so I'm trying to do both.
I've only been twice so far, but I think the new facility, due in part to its newness and location, attracts a wider range of ages and fitness levels than I've seen at other Gold's Gyms. The old Lexington one I went to seemed dominated by college students and slightly older adults that were already in much better shape than me. The one I used to go to in Arlington, VA, five years ago seemed to be nothing but young, fit professionals. I frequently felt like the only out-of-shape person of my age in the room. And I imagined that these people were more disciplined than me in every other aspect of life, too. I'm sure they weren't, but I was really being hard on myself back then. It was not a good time.
Now, however, I'm more secure about myself in general, so I'm not wondering what the other people at the gym think of me. So maybe that's the real reason it feels less intimidating to me.
My next goal is to see if I can get to the gym after work on weeknights. This is the other reason I'm returning to Gold's -- it's open late. I tried Curves back in the summer, and I felt much more comfortable with their strength training equipment than the way-to-many choices at Golds. But Curves' hours just don't suit my current job -- they seem to be designed for people who don't work outside the home or who work very set "9 to 5" hours. No job I've had has ever been like that, but the one I have is certainly not -- I start too early to do Curves in the morning and frequently work too late to do Curves at night. And I can't do a scheduled lunch workout, either. So I have to find another alternative. Gold's should also suit me better than Curves for a while because my plan is to concentrate primarily on cardio first to jumpstart weight loss, then see if I want to add strength training later.
I'll let you know how things go.
I'm trying to make the return to Gold's Gym this winter after a long absence. I had not been to Gold's in over a year, and I had never stepped foot in the year-old new facility nearest me until last week, but I had maintained my membership there because I wanted to return easily. I like the new Gold's better than any of the others I've been to before. The others were old department store or supermarket buildings converted into a gym -- this one is a brand-new building. I really like the walking track -- that was the primary thing that attracted me to coming back this time. I really enjoyed walking outside during the late summer and fall while listening to my iPod, and am using the indoor track to continue that into the winter. The treadmill, though, will help me walk consistently faster than I might on the track, so I'm trying to do both.
I've only been twice so far, but I think the new facility, due in part to its newness and location, attracts a wider range of ages and fitness levels than I've seen at other Gold's Gyms. The old Lexington one I went to seemed dominated by college students and slightly older adults that were already in much better shape than me. The one I used to go to in Arlington, VA, five years ago seemed to be nothing but young, fit professionals. I frequently felt like the only out-of-shape person of my age in the room. And I imagined that these people were more disciplined than me in every other aspect of life, too. I'm sure they weren't, but I was really being hard on myself back then. It was not a good time.
Now, however, I'm more secure about myself in general, so I'm not wondering what the other people at the gym think of me. So maybe that's the real reason it feels less intimidating to me.
My next goal is to see if I can get to the gym after work on weeknights. This is the other reason I'm returning to Gold's -- it's open late. I tried Curves back in the summer, and I felt much more comfortable with their strength training equipment than the way-to-many choices at Golds. But Curves' hours just don't suit my current job -- they seem to be designed for people who don't work outside the home or who work very set "9 to 5" hours. No job I've had has ever been like that, but the one I have is certainly not -- I start too early to do Curves in the morning and frequently work too late to do Curves at night. And I can't do a scheduled lunch workout, either. So I have to find another alternative. Gold's should also suit me better than Curves for a while because my plan is to concentrate primarily on cardio first to jumpstart weight loss, then see if I want to add strength training later.
I'll let you know how things go.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
1/1/2006: The Hard Numbers
For purposes of going forward, I've got to be honest about the numbers:
Weight on 1/1/2006: 202.4 lbs.
Lifetime Peak (confirmed): 203.6 lbs.
Total Loss from Peak: -1.2 lbs.
Height: 5' 4.5"
BMI: 34.2
BMI Classification: Obese
(All weights are on my bathroom scale unless otherwise indicated.)
It's a long road ahead. But I have to focus on one step at a time.
Weight on 1/1/2006: 202.4 lbs.
Lifetime Peak (confirmed): 203.6 lbs.
Total Loss from Peak: -1.2 lbs.
Height: 5' 4.5"
BMI: 34.2
BMI Classification: Obese
(All weights are on my bathroom scale unless otherwise indicated.)
It's a long road ahead. But I have to focus on one step at a time.
Resolutions
Okay, here are some of my resolutions for 2006, in no particular order, big and mundane:
1. For the whole year -- lose at least the 30 pounds I gained in 2005.
2. Lose at least 15 pounds before my friend's wedding in DC in late April. That seems realistic for three-and-a-half months.
3. Exercise more -- get on a walking program. I'm going to try to go back to Gold's Gym to deal with walking in bad weather.
4. Keep up the good momentum I have going on at my job. Lay the groundwork for the inevitable transfer into something else -- because I know the job will not last forever regardless of how well I do in it.
5. Build upon the social network I started building the past couple of years.
6. Here's a big one -- walk a marathon. I'll write more about that goal later.
7. Clean up and organize my den.
8. Clean up and organize my kitchen pantry.
9. Use this blog to help me achieve the weight loss and exercise goals.
1. For the whole year -- lose at least the 30 pounds I gained in 2005.
2. Lose at least 15 pounds before my friend's wedding in DC in late April. That seems realistic for three-and-a-half months.
3. Exercise more -- get on a walking program. I'm going to try to go back to Gold's Gym to deal with walking in bad weather.
4. Keep up the good momentum I have going on at my job. Lay the groundwork for the inevitable transfer into something else -- because I know the job will not last forever regardless of how well I do in it.
5. Build upon the social network I started building the past couple of years.
6. Here's a big one -- walk a marathon. I'll write more about that goal later.
7. Clean up and organize my den.
8. Clean up and organize my kitchen pantry.
9. Use this blog to help me achieve the weight loss and exercise goals.
2005 In Review -- Good Year for My Life Overall, Bad Year for Weight
2005 -- My friend EB said that he was happy to see 2005 end. I understand why he thinks that -- he had a really rough year career-wise. However, I have mixed feelings about the end of 2005. I started off the year with a little romance with an older man. We had a lot of fun for a few months, but for a variety of reasons, the romance eventually fizzled. I missed the guy a little this week, but not with huge regret. As far as the "whole package" was concerned, he was not the guy for me in the long run. But he did have some good qualities I'd like to find in someone else -- most notably his good people skills and his optimism. So even though things didn't work out, it was a positive experience overall.
My career also leapt forward in 2005. I went through some moments of drive-you-crazy uncertainty for two months this fall, but I ended up with a great job with a lot more responsibility than I've ever had before. Though I'm sure I looked like a deer in the headlights on my first day, I quickly realized that this was the right job at the right time for me. Given the position's responsibility and the potential to influence public policy, I think I am right where I should be in my career. More importantly, though, I really like the job.
However, the romance and career concerns have taken a toll on my weight. I dared look up what I weighed a year ago. Though the dates don't all comport, etc, I can (unfortunately) say that I gained 30 pounds in 2005, exceeding 200 pounds for the first time in my life. But I'm optimistic about turning that around in the new year.
So thanks for an interesting year, 2005. Let's hope the new year is much better.
My career also leapt forward in 2005. I went through some moments of drive-you-crazy uncertainty for two months this fall, but I ended up with a great job with a lot more responsibility than I've ever had before. Though I'm sure I looked like a deer in the headlights on my first day, I quickly realized that this was the right job at the right time for me. Given the position's responsibility and the potential to influence public policy, I think I am right where I should be in my career. More importantly, though, I really like the job.
However, the romance and career concerns have taken a toll on my weight. I dared look up what I weighed a year ago. Though the dates don't all comport, etc, I can (unfortunately) say that I gained 30 pounds in 2005, exceeding 200 pounds for the first time in my life. But I'm optimistic about turning that around in the new year.
So thanks for an interesting year, 2005. Let's hope the new year is much better.
Happy New Year! Happy New Template!
It's 2006 -- and like so many other people, I'm trying to make the new year a "fresh start" with respect to my battle with my weight. So I'm making a fresh start on this blog, too -- I'm switching to a new template -- I'm tired of the pink/maroon stuff.
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