OUCH!!!!!

It's been extremely painful to sit over the last 48 hours!! My butt's sore from all the firmly placed kicks delivered in the last couple days.

I had several thoughts over the last day or so and was planning on putting them on here. But, once again, Jonathan(today's post) has practically taken the words right out of my mouth. I am NOT going to give up. I am NOT going to give in. I will have my struggles, but I WILL WIN!!!

Just as Jonathan has a wonderful trip to Hawaii coming up, I have a trip next week that I think will "rekindle" the fire within. Next Thursday (Sept 6th), I leave for.....none other than.....the vacation capital of the world....the most magical place on Earth.....yes, you guessed it...Walt Disney World!! This will be a fairly short solo trip for me, but something that I think I really need. I need to spend some time on Main Street thinking about why am doing what I'm doing. Time picturing myself running toward, and through, the Castle. Time thinking about the kids that will get to see what I see.

Yes, Jonathan...I AM IN!!! I refuse to let my negative side sabotage my goals!!

Till Next Time...Take Care!!!

Monday Update - 27 AUG 2007

312.5

This Week: +2.5 lb
August Total: +2.0 lb
Total: 28.0 lb

Well, looks like I'm doing my best to make it easy for Jonathan to catch me. But seriously, I'm not at all surprised to see me up some from last week. But I am a little surprised at the 2.5 number. However, my hands are swollen to the point that my wedding band is as tight as it has ever been. So, as I've said (and done) several times before, I think the number will be back down tomorrow or Wednesday.

The last couple weeks have been hard and I've not done much to help myself. I have done well to keep up with my "running" however and is probably the only reason why the number isn't higher. Reading Jonathan's blog this morning, I see that we both still struggle with the very thing that got us to 300+ pounds to begin with...emotional eating. The hardest part of the last 2-3 weeks is now seeing that I won't reach my goal for this month. But, I've just got to find a way to push through this last week to finish the month with something positive.

Sigh.....

Till Next Time...Take Care!!!

Monday Update - 20 AUG 2007

310.0

This Week: 0 lb
August Total: 0.5 lb
Total: 30.5 lb

Well, sigh yet again. However, this time I can say it's my own stupidity to blame. I let what ended up being a great week go to waste over the weekend. I still have 2 weeks to finish the month strong. If I can quickly recover to the point I was on Friday and can still post a good number for the month. Commence the butt kicking!!!!

Till Next Time...Take Care!!!

Monday Update - 13 AUG 2007

310.0

This Week: 0.5 lb
August Total: 0.5 lb
Total: 30.5 lb

OK...I know, I know...I'm a day late. It's been a little crazy the last couple days. But, even then there's just not much to report. I think I'm in the middle of another mental/emotional flat period. With all that's been going on with the sponsorship program and learning about the first wish child, I coming down off the "high" I had.

Till Next Time...Take Care!!!

Please take a minute.....

...and head over to Jonathan's blog. First, read his post from Thursday (and comments) and then his post from today.....I'll just let it speak for itself.

Monday Update - 06 AUG 2007

310.5

This Week: 0
August Total: 0
Total: 30.0 lbs

So, no scale movement this week. However, the same can't be said for my feet. Including last Monday, I've run 4 days for a total of 3 hrs 10mins and 10.22 miles. I did my "first 5K" this morning. I did 3.13 miles in exactly 1 hour. For another first, on Saturday, I did my first 16 minute mile (16:00 to be exact). As a comparision, over the last month my average pace has been around 18:30. I'm not sure how I pulled it off, (and believe me I wasn't trying) but I'm thinking that listening to Illuminations may have done the trick.

Do you ever get the feeling that someone is breathing down your neck??!?! I can tell that I do right now. And, this morning the feeling has gotten stronger. Jonathan shed 3.2 for this last week and is now within 8.1 lbs of my weight right now. (Jonathan, keep up the good work!! I'm determined to not let you pass me!!!!! It was also good to hear you on Lou's show as I ran this morning. I wish I could have been a part of that discussion!!) As I read Jonathan's blog post for today, I could "hear" an excitement similar to what I had last Thursday.

What's so special about last Thursday, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Several things happened. First, the response so far from the sponsors has been amazing!!! Second, I called the Make-A-Wish® coordinator that we've been working with to ask a couple questions and found out the they have chosen a 4 year old boy from here in Huntsville as the first wish child for the Trideum Foundation!!!! (Wow, is this really happening!?!?!) Then, I got the privilage (well, at least it is to me) to carry the first $5,000 check, from the Trideum Foundation to Make-A-Wish®, to the post office. (Ok, now there's money involved, it is really happening!!) Then, to add the icing on the cake, this first wish trip to WDW is currently scheduled to happen the week of Oct 8th. Which, just happens to be at the same time my wife and I are going to be at WDW!!! So, not only will we be a part of granting his wish and hosting the wish send-off party, but I might get the chance to experience but even a small portion of him living out his wish. To borrow from Mike Scopa's MagicMeets speech....this is a perfect example of "why we do what we do!!!!"

Oh, and one other thing...take a look at the number to the right -------------->

Till Next Time...Take Care!!!

Things I look forward to...Part 1....

OK...I know...I promised I'd post about this yesterday. Can I have some grace this time?

I've had many people ask about my weight loss goals. What is my goal weight? How much do you want to lose? How long will it take? But, along the way, as I was thinking about my answers to those questions, I started thinking along a different line. It's kinda hard to explain, but I guess instead of specific "goals", I started thinking of things that will be different WHEN I do reach my goals. And in some cases, before I reach them. For example, at 300+ pounds there are many stores I never bother going in to look for clothes. I just know they don't carry my size. But, I look forward to the day when I can go in any store I choose to shop for clothes. Well, except for Lane Bryant, Victoria Secret's, etc....I said choose!!!

So, here's my first installment of "Things I look forward to".....

• Having the freedom to shop for clothes in any store I want.
• No longer having to pass by a shirt that I like because I know it doesn't come in a size large enough.
• No longer wearing shirts with sizes that start with a number (3XL, 4XL...even 5XL. And yes there ere 6, 7 and 8XL)
• Not feeling "labeled" by walking into the Big & Tall store or section.
• Having the freedom to feel like I could wear no shirt at all...GASP!!!!
• Being able to go swimming and not even think twice about it.
• and finally for today.....going swimming and hot hearing "Watch out mommy, here come Shamu!"

When I look at the list I see two things at work. The first the physical limitations. If a shirt only comes in XL, I know I just physically can't wear it. Then there's the mental and emotional side. Choosing to avoid certain places, pleople and situations. I think the mental items are the hardest because so many of them are choices. I could do many of them now, but I choose not to. But at the same time, it is the results of choices I've made over the last 30+ years that got me to where I am today. Of course, there are some exceptions. Some people are geneticlly predisposed to be obese. But I know in my case, I am the way I am because I chose to be this way. No, I did not specifically choose to be fat and overweight. But, I did choose to eat that whole bag of chips, carton of ice cream or 4 soft tacos. And I chose to not exercise. Consequences don't forget what you did!! We are who and what we are, in large part (no pun intended), the sum result of the choices we make. Once you understand that concept and accept it as a reality, only then can you truly begin to change for the better!!

Till Next Time...Take Care!!

Can I have your John Hancock please?

Well, not exactly. But I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express Last.....oh wait....where did that come from?!?!?

On Monday I mentioned some new additions to the web site. The first one is now online. The Phat Disney Geek Guestbook went live on Tuesday. So, please sign my guestbook so I can know you were here. I get comments from only a handfull of you but I know there are many more of you that read the blog.

Till Next Time...Take Care!!!

Sponsor Emails......

....have been sent. If you have signed up to sponsor me, you should have already received your sponsor email for the month ending 30 JUL 2007. If you have not received an email from me, please check your spam or junk mail folders. If, after checking your spam and junk folder you find that you still have not received an email, please send me an email ASAP!! I have had one report of someone signing up, yet I never recieved any indication.

Tomorrow, I'll share my first installment of things that are not so much goals as they are "Things I Look Forward To!".

Till Next Time...Take Care!!!