Turning 39 and a half

I've never been much of one for half birthdays. In fact, I never really bothered to calculate when mine was. Saturday night I found out when I came home from a movie and found 30 people in my house yelling "Surprise!". It is highly likley that I will be out of town when I turn the big four oh in July, so my wife wanted to make sure I had a proper party.

Needless to say, the diet was pretty much shot for the remainder of the evening. On that other hand, I didn't eat much on Sunday as I was feeling rather "delicate". Back to routine until Thursday when I go to visit family.

It was very gratifying to see people who I hadn't seen since I lost the weight. Received many compliments on how different I looked. Lotta fun.

Week 25 -2.4

Another good week. Apparently, lack of beer is a great motivator.

I can already see how the next few weeks will play out. I will probably lose a couple of pounds this week and then head off for a big family weekend a week from today. I think we will see a slight uptick (but it will be fun). Should be at least mid-Feb before I can take a serious stab at getting under 177.

Feeling good.

Weight: 183.2
Net Pounds Lost: -28.0
Pounds till goal: 6.2

Words

Language exerts hidden power, like a moon on the tides.
-Rita Mae Brown

According to my scale this morning, I am "below average". The average Amercian male between the ages of 30-39 weighs 184 pounds. My home scale puts me slightly below that. I'm not usually that fond of being below average, but I rather like it in this case.

It was another word that got me started on this particular effort -- obese. At 211 pounds, I was classified as obese according to the Body Mass Index. I wouldn't say that was the only reason I started losing weight, but it is probably the single most significant. Though only a word, I was willing to make changes in my life to avoid it.

I should strive to reach a weigh to 174 lbs. Unfortunately, the word for that is "normal". Though a good thing medically, I've never taken to that word. In fact, I rather dislike being referred to as normal. I'd much rather be below-average, abnormally not obese.

Week 24 -2.6

Despite Tim's suggestion to the contrary, I am not starting over at week 0. I will consider doing so in March when I hit my one year anniversary of the weight loss effort. It is still very motivating to me to consider this as one effort.

Good week. Two weeks in a row of decent weight loss. another .4 of a pounds, and I'll be at a new weight low.

Weight: 185.6
Net Pounds Lost: -25.6
Pounds till goal: 8.6

Week 23 - 3.6

Good news: My current weight means that I have passed the "10%" mark, i.e I have lost more than 10% of my body weight since I started.

Bad news: This is the third time I've done it in 2 months.

Gauntlet tossing was helpful earlier in week. Really was time to suck it up. Think I have also discovered the new secret.

Lessons learned in Week 23
1) Drastic changes from a rich, holiday diet to a veggie/bean diet invites flatulence.

2) Flatulent dads receive no requests for extra bed time stories.

3) Cats are not affected by the smell of flatus but can be startled enough by the sound to fall off the kitchen table.

4) One night, OK. Two nights, couch.

Weight: 188.2
Net Pounds Lost: -23.0

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

To myself, that is.

On October 13, 2005, I hit 188.8. It was the 10th consecutive week in a row that I had lost weight. I went to a weekend with my family and put on 3 lbs. That was no big deal. One needs to cut lose every now and again.

Since then, I have developed the habit of cheating on the diet, and I have floundered in my efforts. As I look at my record this week (i.e supposedly my first serious week back on the diet), I am not impressed. I haven't been eating like I did during Xmas, but I'm finding a lot of excuses for myself. Time to suck it up.

As a noble Knight of the Round Bottoms, I hereby make the following oaths.

Until such time as my weight reaches 177 lbs, I pledge:

1) to forego the pleasure of alcoholic beverages
2) to obey the tenets of my "Core" program as set forth by the cruel sisters at the Weight Watchers nunnery
3) to exercise thrice during the week and once during the weekend

My noble father has invited my family to feast with him during the first weekend of February. During such times, I will suspend my oaths in deference to his hospitality. ( A knight has to have some fun).

So sworn,
Sir Chubalot

Week 22 -0.6

Some good news among the bad. Going back to the diet and exercise regimen seems to be paying early dividends. Sadly, this isn't rocket science. If I eat responsibly and exercise, the weight trickles down. If I sit on my butt and eat cookies, it seems to trickle up.

Glad to be back on the program. As fun as it was to wallow in the holidays, all the eating made me feel crappy. The extra poundage means GDW3P is up. Looking forward to feeling a bit less of me.

Lessons Learned Over the Holidays
1) Going off the diet loses its charm after a day or two. "Cheating" results in diminishing returns.

2) Chocolate chip cookies are an exception to rule 1.

3) I will chase after diminishing returns given the chance.

4) The older I get the more I enjoy reading books in my pajamas as my core vacation activity.

Weight: 191.8
Net Pounds Lost: -19.4

Weeks 20-21

It was glorious holiday season, and I've brought some of that joy with me to work today ...

on my big fat ass, that is.

Haven't had an official weigh in since mid-December, so I'll use numbers converted from my home scale.

Week 20: 190.4 (+2)
Week 21: 192.4 (+2 more)

Weight this morning was down a little because ... because ... I have no fricken idea. I was thirsty when I woke up. Maybe I was dehydrated.

Back to the diet starting today. Nice light breakfast. Eating popcorn now as I type. Been so long since I ate popcorn that I almost miss it. More later. gotta get to work now.