Month: March 2008

Not Letting a Small Setback Bother Me

In a comment to a previous post, I mention that I did not do well on Saturday.  It’s true.  I ate a pizza, and drank a six-pack of beer.  I didn’t exercise either.

However, yesterday, I was determined to continue on.  I ate well, and watched one episode of Stargate Atlantis while on the elliptical, so I got about a 42 minute workout.  The 42 minute workout may not be as long as some of the other ones I’ve done recently, but it was more intense.  I pushed a little harder speed-wise, and I turned the difficulty up a bit.

I also spent a fair amount of time doing housework yesterday.  I’m not sure how much of a workout that really is, but it’s more than sitting in front of the computer.  It’s also time well-spent.  I hate it when my house is a wreck.

Today, after work, I will get on the elliptical again.

I’m Just Getting Started

Since starting this blog, I’ve found others.  Some of them have been dormant for a while, and others have been a huge success.

Looking at some of the history of the successful ones, I’ve noticed that most had bad times near the beginning.

I was looking at Jennette Fulda’s blog (She lost half her body weight).  She started documenting in November 2003, but didn’t seem to make much progress until July 2004.  Her posting frequency was pretty sporadic until that time also.

It seems that I’ve had the same pattern.  Some early progress, then the progress fades away, then I quit posting (or weighing) very often.

I’m hoping that today is my July 2004.  I weighed in at 265.4 tonight, I’m down 31 lbs.  I spent 86 minutes on the elliptical watching Stargate Atlantis (I love iTunes).

I’ve said before that my weight loss began when I stopped being so depressed, and saw the changes that were needed.  I’m not so sure of that now.  I’ve been through another bout of depression, and I’m trying to use the focus on weight loss as a coping mechanism.  If it works, and I get to lose weight too, that’ll be more reason to feel better.

My Dog is Fat Too

I have a six-year old yellow lab.  Her name is Candy.  I don’t care for the name, but she had that name when I got her, about 5 1/2 years ago.  She has “thickened up” a bit over the last few years, but she doesn’t look fat.

I took her into the vet yesterday to get her spayed.  I picked her up this morning (she’s doing well).  I was looking over the line-item charges on the bill and noticed the $20 “obesity fee”.  I guess the fat made the surgery a little more difficult.

Just imagine if your doctor tried to add an obesity fee to your bill.

No Progress?

I just got off of the elliptical.  I felt good, until I weighed, and looked at recent weigh-ins on my spreadsheet.

I weighed 268.8 today.  I weighed 268.2 on 12/30.  I weigh more today than I did ten weeks ago.  That’s really frustrating.  I was rather pleased with my March 4th weight of 265.4, but it was just a temporary dip.

Dave commented in an earlier post that he doesn’t like to keep weight goals.  For me, it’s the only objective measure I have.  Subjectively, I feel better than I did at the beginning of this, back in early November.  Objectively, I’ve made progress, but very little since the end of the year.

I’m going to have to work a little harder.

Back on the Wagon

Moving the elliptical into the livingroom and buying a TV seems to be a big win for me.  I can easily watch a one hour show while using the elliptical.

Last night’s weigh-in was 265.4 lbs.  I’ve lost 31 lbs.  This is the lowest weight I’ve been in a long time.  I feel good, and feel motivated again.

I plan on buying a good bicycle in the next couple of months.

In other good news, I’ve been hired back at a former employer, so my job situation is a little more secure.  However, my income will take a bit of a hit over the contract work I had been doing.

A New Beginning?

I have slacked off in my workouts and in my posting.  I’m hoping to rectify that now.

There has been something going on in my life that I haven’t been willing to write about.  Those that know me know about it, but I’ve kept quiet about it here.  I’m going to talk about it now, and how it’s affected my weight loss.

Toward the end of December, my wife and I decided to get divorced.  In mid-January she moved out of the bedroom.  In mid-February, she signed a lease on an apartment and I helped her move in.

The split has been amicable.  Our daughter has chosen to live with her.  They’re staying in the same town, so they are close by.

All three cats, and one of the dogs are going with her.  I’ve still got my two dogs.

We haven’t filed for divorce yet, but will soon.  I purchased new appliances for her apartment.  She took most of the livingroom furniture.  I just replaced it this weekend.

The friction, depression, and loneliness has derailed my weight loss effort.  I have barely been working out recently.  I’ve had more “bad” diet days than I should.

With that said, the purchase of a TV and livingroom furniture makes me feel like I am still living in a house, instead of a shell.  I’m getting used to living alone, and I think I may prefer it.  I’ve moved the elliptical so that I can watch TV while using it, and I expect to get back into gear with it tomorrow.

Please don’t give divorce advice.  I’m already getting a ton of that from family and friends.  My divorce is probably much different than yours.  I do welcome advice on getting out of my rut, and losing more weight.

Wish me luck!