Week 8 -- Minus 3

Now that's more like it!

I've been hovering around 174 all week, and then I blew it on Sat night. I went over to a friend's house and played board games (because I'm a geek) until the wee hours of the morning. I managed to avoid the bowl of peanut M&M's (because I have a will of iron) but not the salt n' vinegar chips (because I have feet of clay). I was up on Sunday morning, and I thought I might have to stare at 176 on Monday morning (yet again).

The fat gnomes came and took away some butter in the night, and I was a svelte 173 this morning. Ironically, my goal for next Monday is 174. To mathematically minded, it would appear that my goal is to gain a pound. In fact, this would appear to be my goal even to those whose math skills have been described as "strong in English". But I think the 173 is a false low brought on by over-zealous calorie counting yesterday (aka starvation). That stuff tends to rebound, so 174 will be plenty peachy for next Monday.


Starting Weight: 183.5
Current Weight: 173.0
Goal Weight: 172.0

Pre-recovering from my First Heart Attack

I have quite the family history for heart disease.

My mother died of a heart attack a year and half ago. My father has had a quintiple bypass. All of my paternal uncles have had bypasses or heart attacks. My paternal grandfather had angina. My maternal grandfather died of congestive ehart failure. My maternal grandmother had two strokes and spent the last 8 years of her life in a nursing home. This summer I visited my only maternal uncle in a nursing home. He had a stroke about a year ago.

A few years back, I figured that rather than change my habits after I my first heart attack I'd just change them now. Losing the weight was good step, particularly since it went hand in hand with a change in diet. Quitting drinking was even better. Since I have stopped even the occassional beer, my blood pressure has fallen below 120/80. It was climbing up to 135/85ville a few years back.

Last week I went to the doctor to have a cholesterol test. My numbers are OK (LDL 128, HDL 38), but it's time to do something about them. In a few years, the low HDL number will start to catch up with me. The simplest change I can make is to get a little religion about exercise. I'm not a total slob. I usually make it out the door once/week to run for 2-3 miles. According the Doc, if I can make it out 3times/week, that will be a big improvement.

So there you have it.

A new resolution.

Week 7 -- Unchanged

*sigh*

It might be time for a new strategy. I am staying pretty true to not eating like a Chowderhead. I have forgone many treats this week during my daughters birthday and am generally eating sensibly. It looks like a little something extra may be required.

I was going to throw in the towel on Friday. I'd like to lose the last 4 lbs, but I'm pretty happy with my weight. Most of my pants now fit (though some of the 34's continue to be hard to breathe in) and though it is a few lbs over 25 BMI, it's a good weight.

I decided to keep going simply because I said I would. I wanted to lose 11.5 lbs by October 5th. Well, it ain't October 5th yet, and I'm actually right target. It always seems like a good idea to give up on a plan in the middle. 172 may seem unecessary now, but I said I'd go for it.

I guess I'll keep at it.


Starting Weight: 183.5
Current Weight: 176.0
Goal Weight: 172.0

Week 6 -- Up 0.5

Ah nuts.

It was such a promising week drifting slowly down. Sunday morning I even saw 172.0 flash on the scale, but this morning a nasty 176.0 sneered at me. I did have a fairly substantial steak dinner Sunday night due to my 11 year old's birthday (She's a carnivore's carnivore!) Still, I didn't expect to gain 4 lbs.

Shooting for 175.0 next week


Starting Weight: 183.5
Current Weight: 176.0
Goal Weight: 172.0

Week Five -- Down 0.5

OK. A pokey week.

Monday, I was happy to be down at all because I was a chowderhead several times during the week, including a major faux pas at DQ. As a 43 year old non-drinking man, there's not much left for me to do to "glop out". When I have a week (like I did last week), there's not many options for decompressing.

1) Go running -- OK, but you have to be in kinda a boy scout mood anyway to do this.
2) Go to a movie -- Diminishing returns. I think I mayhave reached my quota of Hollywood blockbusters.
3) Read a book -- Wohoo!

Need some new ideas here.

Shooting for 174.5 next week


Starting Weight: 183.5
Current Weight: 175.5
Goal Weight: 172.0