Well, it had to happen eventually!

As the post title suggests, it was only a matter of time before I had my first setback. Though, luckily only a small setback. While doing my 30/30 workout on Thurday night I felt a slight twinge in my right knee. I've been used to knee pains and discomfort for many years as I was diagnosed, at an early age, with Osgood-Schlatter disease. That night, I only really felt anything if I stepped just right. However, on Friday morning I could feel it on almost every step. I took it easy during the day Friday but then went to Dick's Sporting Goods last night to get a "knee wrap". As soon as I put it on, I could immediately tell that it was doing it's job. I wore it for several hours last night as we went to dinner with some friends.

Even though I could tell the knee support was doing it's job, I decided I needed to take a break after 9 straight days of doing 30/30. Plus, I knew I would be doing a lot of walking today at an aviation seminar out at Huntsville Internation Airport. So, I decided to take Friday and Saturday off from 30/30. Disapointing? Yes!! But, I'd rather take 2 days off and then pick up where I left off, than to keep going and be out for several weeks. I wore the knee support all day today, and tonight I can't feel any sign of pain or discomfort. That, even after doing plenty of walking (even more than I thought I would). Maybe it's becuase of being able to go up for a few minutes in a nice airplane. Oh, I need to get back in the cockpit!!!!

So, tomorrow I plan on getting back to 30/30. I'll take it easy and listen to what my body is telling me and not over do it. I know I haven't been at this too long now, but it's a nice feeling to feel like something is missing after missing a day or two. I guess that's a good sign.

Till next time....Take Care!!!!

Monday Update - 26 March 2007

332.5 pounds!

More progress. I thought I had reached the 10 pound mark. But, when I went back and looked, I actually started at 340.5, not 342.5. Now, to be honest my highest weight has been right at, or barely above 350. So, I'm really down 18 pounds. But, since 340.5 is the highest weight I can put a date on, that's what I'm going with.

6 straight days for 30/30!!!

I'm not seeing any "performance" increases yet, but I believe that will take some time. And, will probably see more as the weight continues to come off. However, I do continue to notice improvements in the cardiovascular areas as some tasks where I noticed I would start breathing hard I no longer do. And my resting heartrate continues to slowly go down.

To end this post, I want to say a HUGE Thank You to my Tagrel family!!!!!! And a special thanks to Mike Scopa for mentioning me last night on the WDW Today Live Show!!! All of your support and encouragement has touched me deeply and serves as an additional driving force to continue on!!! Thanks Again, Tagrel!!!!!!!

Till Next Time....Take Care!!!

So, what have I done so far?

As I am already into my journey, I thought i'd give a quick review what I've done up till now.

My latest "attempt" started with the latest "Weight Loss Challenge" on Tagrel back in January. After YEARS of doing things the wrong way it took a few weeks to get things started in the right direction. Then, in first few week February, I bit the bullet and bought several pieces of equipment. The first items was a set of Nautilus/Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells. Let me just say that CostCo is my friend. I also got a Bowflex bench direct from Bowflex. Then we bought a Sole treadmill from Dick's Sporting Goods. Sole and Spirit treadmills are made on the same assembly line. Next, I went back to CostCo and got a Cybex recumbent bike. Then nothing new for a few weeks then a Powerline/Body Solid Cable Crossover Machine, again, from Dick's Sporting Goods. All of this is in a normal sized "extra" bedroom (approx. 11x11).

Even though the weight loss challenge started in the middle of Janurary, it wasn't until the second week of February that I really started in earnest. I have been the most focused and consistent with the dumbbells. I'm following a 6 week program (3 times a week) from the SelectTech user manual. I said I was consistent, not perfect!! I previously mentioned the C25K running program that I was "trying", but not being consistent at all. When I started the weight loss chanllenge I was 340.5 pounds. I am now down to 336. Not a lot, but I'm hoping that's mostly due to muscle weight gain. And believe me, I can tell I've gained some serious muscle.

So, that brings me up to the last couple of weeks. I have been pleased with what I've been eating lately. I done really well with my eating during the day. With dinners being infused with moments of weekness and stupidity.

I'll post weekly updates of my progress, both in terms of weight and how I'm doing with with my workouts.

Till next time....Take Care

Zero to 1.4 miles in 30 minutes!!!

Ever see a 340 pound bowling ball with legs try to run? Believe me, it's not pretty, nor graceful. But, if I hope to eventually run in a 1/2 marathon (WDW 1/2 to be exact), I've got to start somewhere.

I originally started with the "Couch to 5K" (C25K) plan from coolrunning.com. But, it assumes a certain level of fitness that a 340 lb person can't have!!! Since then I have found Hal Higdon's site. He has a great section for beginning runners. It's even great for "those who have never run or walked before". Specifically the "30/30" plan is what I just started. It's a plan where you exercise 30 min/day for 30 days straight. In that 30 min it it broken down into 3 segments. The first 10 minutes are walking only. The next 15 min you are free to run/jog, with the idea that you run for 30 seconds then walk till you recover, then repeat. Last 5 min is walk only.

The benefit I see with the 30/30 plan over the C25K plan is the 30/30 plan seems to focus more on improvement from day to day. I guess it's more a psychological thing than physical. I just started 2 days ago and here is where I am right now. In 30 minutes I can go at least 1.4 miles while running 6-7 30 second intervals in the 15 minute run/walk segment. One thing I have noticed since beginning cardio work is that my average heart rate during my exercise has dropped. And I've noticed that I'm not out of breath as much or have that "pounding heart" feeling toward the end of my workout.

So, sooner or later, I'll be able to run my first mile, non-stop...then two....then three..... You get the picture. So, to follow Jonathan's lead, I too hope to run in the 2009 WDW 1/2 Marathon!

Now, I've got the first 1.4 miles down pat.......

Till next time....Take Care!!!!

Worshiping at the altar of the most almighty!!

A recent post on Tagrel got me to thinking (I know it’s a dangerous pastime, but someone’s gotta do it.).

The holy almighty scale can be a very dangerous thing!!

I used to focus on my weight down to the gnat’s hair. I would weigh every day just to see if I was making any progress. I was determined to will that scale to start sliding to the left. But it never did. And that led to therapy(read: eating) for my daily disappointment. It wasn’t until I read “From Chunk To Hunk” (link in my link list) that I finally changed the way I approached “losing” (More on “losing” later) weight. What I finally discovered was that I was too focused on something that in the end doesn’t mean a whole lot…a number on a scale.

Now, don’t get me wrong here. There’s a lot of good use for weighing yourself. When you are as big as I am (340 pounds), that number means a lot. It means that I’m somewhere around 120-160 pounds overweight. More on that range later. In the long term (week-to-week and month-to-month), it is a wonderful indicator that things are changing. In the short term (daily), however, it is almost our own worst enemy. The numbers on the scale can fluctuate several pounds from day to day due to several things…Time of day; how much food(by weight) have we eaten; how much water have we drunk; how much sodium was in the food (AND DRINK) we ate; stress levels; sickness. I could keep going.

One of the things I’ve done lately is to try to cut back on the amount of sodium in my diet (noun, not verb). Not only can excess sodium/salt lead to heart problems, it also causes your body to retain water. If you’ve had a high sodium diet in the last day or so, guess what? You are going to retain water and ultimately weigh more. If you consider that a gallon of water weighs 8.3 pounds, it doesn’t take much to make a pound of difference on the scale. Ever heard the phrase "A pint's a pound the whole world 'round"? As another thought, have you ever poured salt on a slug? Imagine what we are doing to our bodies!

In today’s diet(now it’s the verb) crazed world, we’re more focused on what we are doing with our fat than what we’re doing with what’s left behind. I don’t like to look at this process as “losing” weight. One of the definitions of lose is “to undergo deprivation of something of value”. HUH?!?! In that case, I don’t want to lose weight, I want to liberate it. Set it free….to never be found again. So, once the fat is “gone”, what to do with what’s left behind. Of course, what’s left behind is our body. Earlier I said that I am somewhere between 120-160 pounds overweight (190 pounds by some medical recommendations). That’s a 40 pound difference. Is it possible for me to weigh 220 pounds and be perfectly healthy and not be “overweight”? You bet! On the other hand, is it possible to for me to weigh 180 pounds and have all sorts of issues and be “overweight”? Yep again!!!

Now, to the meat of my point!!

Focus more on being healthy, eating healthy and doing things to keep you healthy. Work on adding some muscle. I’d rather be 220 with muscle and little fat than to be 180 with no muscle and MORE fat. Do a search on Body Mass Index (BMI). More and more research is showing that one’s BMI may have a more direct influence on one’s health than weight alone.

So, if the scale moves a little from day to day, SO WHAT!! If you’re big, like me, what’s the scale doing from week-to-week and month-to-month? If you’re not so big (or maybe if you are), do you know what YOUR body should weigh? Is your target weight below where your body NEEDS to be? What are we doing to help our bodies be healthier? Right now, for me, the number on the scale is important. But, over time as I get closer and closer to where MY body should be, that number won’t mater. And I’ll be running with Jonathan Dichter (link in my link list) in the 2009 Walt Disney World ½ Marathon!!!!

Oh, and one other thing….don’t try to lose weight. DO IT. Saying you’re trying, is assuming that you’re probably not going to succeed. So, as NIKE says, JUST DO IT!!!!!

Till next time…Take Care!!

Well, I've got to start somewhere!!

Hello, Everyone!! I'm not exactly sure where to start. So, here goes...... Throughout the posts to follow, I'll share ideas, thoughts and observations about many items in my life including, "losing" weight, Disney & Disney World, photography, computers, and just about anything else that comes to mind.

The main purpose of this blog, however, is to share the trials, tribulations, pains, pleasures, triumphs and accomplishments on my journey to liberate fat from my body and become a healthier person.

With that said…..here we go!!