Day 370 - Still Alive

Hey everyone! Sorry I have been MIA for the last year.

As mentioned last year I did the Long Beach Half Marathon and will do it again this year. It is a very nice path and most of the event is along the shoreline with a great view of the Queen Mary. I did not get enough time for training to do a second Marathon.

However, I have not made that much progress towards any additional weight loss. I can think of all the excuses and it mostly came down to time. Even that is not a solid reason as time is available at any time and it comes really down to energy.

The family is doing great with our son finished up his first season in baseball with outstanding results (3rd place in the playoffs). He also made some great friends. I spent the season as the unofficial pitching coach which gave me the chance to relive my High School days with my two best friends and brother. We are still involved in Scouting and about eight months ago I took on the ranks as the Scout Leader for the boys.

Just last week we went the Northeast on a “Road Trip” vacation of the historic battlefields, White House, Ground Zero, Gettysburg, Minute Man, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Hershey and of course Ben & Jerry. It was a great time with the family and I want to thank all those that made the vacation and experience great, including but not limited to, Congressman Miller, American Airlines (Special Thanks to Pilot Mark from ORD to SNA), Hilton Family Hotels and Places to Go Travel Agency, in Dover, New Hampshire.

It is time to once again kick everything in gear before the summer. I will try to check in at least once a day for a few minutes in the morning.

This Weeks Weight: ~270 Pounds

Day 31/32 - Jogging

I got my butt kicked today! A very close friend of our family invited me to go running with him up Newport Bay this morning. I told him I would do half the run (he was running 10 miles). The first mile was easy at a 12:00 minute pace. The next half mile I had to withdraw. (I thought, if I walked back and ran the same distance again it would be 3 miles.)

At the start of the run I was ready for a run pace and the pace was more of a fast walk. Legs barely moving, but wanting a longer stride and to kick off on each step. I just went with a higher stride, instead of a longer stride. I need to learn how to run for a marathon.

After a mile and a half I walked another quarter mile only to turn around and run short 100 meters and walk 100 meters to work on stride. When I got back towards the starting point I was going to run the mile again to see if I could get a better pace on the mile. Well I did not have to entertain myself as I all of a sudden had to take a bathroom break.

The bathroom was back where I turned around and headed back to the starting point. I think my second attempt at the mile was under 8:00 minutes. I was kicking off on each stride and attempting to bring my leg behind me completely up during the run. Once again when that mile marker passed me I had to go to a slower jog. My body is program from training to run a mile. This is going to be fun retraining it to run longer.

(Additional Resource: Endurance Coach)

Day 30 - 270 Days ...

Only 270 Days Left to get rid of a 100 pounds. Oh wait – Only 80 pounds left to get rid of now. The last 30 Days have been exciting and motivating to drop “20 Pounds in 30 Days”. Of course it will get tougher as I continue to drop the other 80 pounds, but not impossible! The last 120 days will be the toughest part of the battle.


I am looking at being under 200 in time for the 1/2 marathon in October. I am going to invite my little brother to see if he is up to the challenge. If anyone lives out here in Southern California and are looking at running the event, please let me know.

The next three weeks I will be working on muscle strength as I get ready to enter my 12-week half marathon training and focus a lot on losing the 15 pounds for the month a little early and try to push to the 20 pounds, if possible. So long as I am close to 225 before I start the running part of my training, I think, I will be at a safe weight for my knees and joints.

For the actual half marathon I am targeting to be at 200 pounds (give or take 5 pounds). I am really looking forward to seeing myself at the point where I am at the 200 mark. From that point is where the weight will be the hardest to drop and I will most likely slow to about 5 pounds a month at that point.

Today’s Weight: 250

Day 29 - Weekly 13 (I)

Here is my "Weekly 13" for Thursday, June 28, along with some other fun stuff:

Weekly 13

• 6/27 - Immitation/Natural Sugar
• 6/26 - Urgent Prayer
• 6/26 - Chicken Salad
• 6/25 - Pause Diet
• 6/24 - No Scales Required
• 6/24 - Head Spinning
• 6/23 - Tangled Up
• 6/23 - Healthy Sugar
• 6/22 - Correct Way
• 6/21 - 288 pounds?
• 6/20 - Natural Weight Loss
• 2/27 - Break the Plateau
• 0/00 - 7 Habits

Other sites with Weekly 13, please feel free to leave a comment and a link.

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A week ago I was “tagged” on a couple posts...

7 Random Facts about me, tagged by Incredible Shrinking Ladies

1. Married for over 10 years with 2 kids
2. Former High School CIF Finalist (Miler)
3. Grew up in rural America and walked to school everyday
   (It was not uphill both ways)
4. Cannot see the World upside down anymore (read blog)
5. Love the Outdoors (Camping, Hiking, Skiing)
6. Struggling business owner
7. Scheduled to run a marathon within 6 months

---

Get to Know you Better, tagged by The Diet Pulpit
INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.

1. Sophiagurl (Life is just around the corner)
2. Tam (Fitness Journal)
3. Tom LeDree (Get Inspired) and Brian (Lose Weight With Me)
4. Lady Rose (The Diet Pulpit)
5. Alan (My Big Waist)

What were you doing ten years ago?
I was getting married and enjoying the first six months of life.

What were you doing 1 year ago?
I was tired and worn out while trying to run a business and a job at the same time.

Five Snacks You Enjoy:

1. Snickers
2. Yogurt
3. Oatmeal Cookies
4. Lucky Charms
5. Cantaloupe

Five Songs to Which You Know all the Lyrics:

1. Sinking, by Jars of Clay
2. Tonight, by Jeremy Camp
3. Like a Child, by Jars of Clay
4. Lightning Crashes, by Live
5. Runaway Train, by Soul Asylum

Five Things You Would Do If You Were a Millionaire:

1. Invest in Small Businesses
2. Start a Huge Project (Business Idea)
3. Finance a Group Home for Fathers with Children
4. Build a Library Room for my Family
5. Hike the Pacific Trail

Five Bad Habits:

1. Eating Out
2. Ignoring the Yard (Landscapers make you lazy)
3. Email Communications
4. Working at Home
5. Researching TOO much

Five things you like doing:

1. Weekend Vacations
2. Blogging about Life
3. Running a Business
4. Relaxing with my Wife
5. Playing Volleyball

Five things you’ll never wear again:

1. Inside-Out Pants
2. Alf Underwear
3. A-Team Muscle Shirts
4. Dick Tracy Pajamas
5. Boxers (need to prevent certain things from bouncing around while running)

Five favorite “toys”:

1. Microsoft Access
2. SQL (Simple Query Language) Analyzer
3. Blog :)
4. Running Shoes (coming soon…) and PE Shorts
5. Hardware Store and the Gym

---

Now my turn to “tag” five:

1. Diet Blog
2. Agent of Change
3. No More Mr. Fat Guy!
4. Body Fitness Info
5. Total Transformation Test

Sorry for the late post today as I was busy this morning with "interesting" activities at home...

Today’s Weight: 250

Day 28 - Broken Scales

Ok seriously we always hear someone say, “The scales are broken.” when they weight themselves. Today, I have the evidence to prove the scales are really broken.

On a medical scale you have a lower bar that have 50 pounds makers and the top bar that have single pound markers. Today, I was right at 250 and when I placed the lower marker at 250 (where it has been for a while) and move the top bar over to zero the balance was hanging low (meaning I have to go lower). Now moving the lower bar to 200 and the top bar over to 50 the balance was hanging high (meaning I have to go higher).

Arg… Happy Wednesday :)

Today’s Weight: ~250

(Photo courtesy of Support4Change - A New Way to Weight Less)

Day 27 - 2" Later

I am officially less than 48” (just above 47”)!!! I was also happy to see the scale almost under that 250-300 pound section which will put me in the 200-250 pound section on the medical scale. All wonderful news this morning even after eating at Chili’s Bar & Grill in Foothill Ranch last night. The trick was sharing a plate with my wife, having conversation between eating AND stopping when we were full.

We had a wonderful server who even encouraged us with healthy selections for sides and chatted with us throughout our meal. I commended his style along with his service to the manager. Most servers just take your order, but at Chili’s there staff always have energy and are willing to have a good time with there guest.

What else can I say this morning? In the last 30 days I have dropped 2” and almost 20 pounds. It was not easy and I have to admit that I enjoyed my meals at times and did things that I was not suppose to do on a diet. I am going to do those same things even after I lose the weight and waist.

It comes down to balancing. :)

Today's Weight: 251

Day 25/26 - Timeshares

Another post that has nothing to do with weight loss but a timeshare presentation we attended in Carlsbad, California at the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel. We were excited as this hotel appeared to be part of the Hilton Family of Hotels & Resorts. As we watched a pre-show we saw the resorts within the Hilton Grand Vacations Club, followed by a tour of the property.

It was a good opportunity to get to understand how a timeshare works. There are hidden things that are not presented unless you look closely and put aside the financing. Association Dues ~ $750/yr, Property Taxes ~ $200/yr, and Exchange Fees ~ $200/yr or a total of approximately $1,200/yr after you include the $49/yr Hilton member fees. For that same price I can go to Acapulco with the family and have money left over for spending.

I almost forgot that I have to pay 14.9% interest on a ~ $25,000 loan for the next 10 years - that is almost $6,000 a year. Now I am looking at an average of $7,000/yr for a week vacation every year for the next 10 years then about $1,500 a year after that as they increase your Association Dues and other fees. For $7,000, I can take a 3-wk all-inclusive vacation almost anywhere in the World each year for the next 10 years.

Each 1-Bedroom/1-week unit selling at $25,000, 52 times equals $1.3Million along with $65,000/yr in fees. The best part about our evening was when a third sales representative came up and offered us a “give me”. For $1,300, we could try vacation ownership for a year. How can we pass up such an offer? That is a 2-wk vacation for us at $90/night not a 1-wk timeshare.

Today's Weight: 253

Day 24 - Gaining Weight

I cannot tell you how much stuff has gone through my mind today after gaining two (2) pounds this morning. In the past couple of days I have been busy with various celebrations and moved away from my normal routine. These events included a graduation, Cub Scout Ceremony (we have a Wolf in our family, now) and something we did Wednesday Night. I have snacked late at night which caused me to not get a good sleep, because I was hungry two hours after snacking.

Yesterday was my off day at the gym; maybe I can blame that and get out easy? However, I ended up playing volleyball on the beach with the Scouts so that was a good workout (it was). Our Den Leader’s son has good focus when it comes to the game. I felt bad not being able to challenge him more as my own focus was gone as I started to hit the ball like a mad man with no sense of control.

My weight gain comes down to having a little fun for a couple days and enjoying myself a little. Does it mean I have to work out twice as hard next week? No, I did 15 minutes at the gym today on my upper body and I am not going to change anything next week. Nothing wrong with a small gain here and there as I am still focused and I know what needs to be done for my overall goal.

I am still better off today then I was a month ago at this same time. Even as I say that I have thoughts of double time going through my head. It is just time to refocus myself and just get back on the program. I made some mistakes this week, but I did them because I love my family and had fun and some good time.

Today's Weight: 257

Day 23 - Fat to Live?

LOL – I need a pound of fat a day in order to maintain my current weight. No seriously, I do! Based on my Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) multiplied by 1.4 for sedentary daily activities (1.6 for light activity and 1.8 for physical activity) my metabolism burns 3,400 calories a day. That is equivalent to almost one pound of fat.

Reducing a calorie intake by 1,000 calories a day is the same as reducing 2 pounds of fat a week. I never really looked at calorie intake before now as I never really understood. All I knew is that if I ate it, I had to burn the fat (too bad I did not listen to myself). Simple concept; you would think.

Now that I finally know that 3,500 calories is the same as one pound of fat I can watch my calorie intake and calorie expense. Just getting me on a controlled 2,000 calorie diet would help and I could lose a pound to two pounds a week – for the first month or so.

Our metabolic rate is determined by our age, height and our declining weight. I found that the Harris and Benedict Equation is the standard used in obtaining a good estimate of our BMR.

• For men, BMR = 66.4730 + (6.2377 * w) + (12.7084 * h) - (6.7550 * a)
• Women, BMR = 655.0955 + (4.3379 * w) + (4.6980 * h) - (4.6756 * a)

w = weight in pounds / h = height in inches / a = age in years

Understanding what is happening in our body can help us understand how to manage our body. For those that are math challenged, I personally found a quick calculator at Discovery Health.

Today's Weight: 255

Day 22 - Education

Yesterday we went to a class that is part of a series of classes being offered by Bally’s Total Fitness in Santa Ana, California near to South Coast Plaza. The class was held by runner and author, Nicholas Prukop (sbcglobal.net email: runningnick) of Newport Beach, CA. His first comment was his own personal lack of knowledge, but use of proven methods in his own training. In his series of classes offered to educate and motivate students he speaks and writes on being fit beyond 60.

Every person has different goals and those goals need to be balanced by cardiovascular conditioning, nutritional balance and weight training. During the class, which are offered every Wednesday at 5:00PM throughout the summer, he uses personal references to his own personal family and lifestyles at different stages in life.

A couple times in the class Mr. Prukop reminded the class that muscles burn calories at rest as they are continually repairing themselves, even as we sleep. Of course I heard that same message before but it was one of those things you do not remember after you look at a body-builder and bow your head down as you continue on the treadmill.

Does it take being a body-builder in order to benefit from the calorie loss from muscle repair? In researching this I found Ph.D. Research Student, Ms. Wilbert (pcflabs.com email: cwilbert). In her research she states, “Building just five pounds of muscle is equivalent to burning 26 pounds of fat in a year.”. Now if we can only control fat intake to benefit from the burning of this fat to actually see a difference in our waistline.

Today's Weight: 257

Additional Resource:

Metabolism and weight loss: How you burn calories (MayoClinic)

Day 21 - Lifestyles

I am posting this not to offend anyone. I saw me in the coffee shop this morning and I did not like what I saw. Every morning I am now getting some coffee with non-fat milk and no sugar. A big change from the blended ice mocha! This morning after the gym a guy in front of me purchased such a drink and as he stood there with his big waist I saw MYSELF!

What I saw I did not like to see anymore. That was me and the lifestyle I was living. Yes, I will still enjoy those when the time is right and when I am making other correct choices with my life. The only single difference between me and this guy was only a procedural element of the transaction when he did not want a receipt.

Every choice we make has a path. In school they teach us to say, “No” to drugs and walk away under pressure. The drugs of our life are the chemicals in food and more importantly the fat that is killing us. When is enough, enough!

Watching people eat and looking at the food they are consuming is starting to actually make me sick and wanting to vomit. Now I have other concerns of becoming mentally unstable after losing weight in developing pcrescophobia and anorexia nervosa. I do not think this will be the issue and I will only be concerned that what is entering my system is not going to be bad or harmful. Anyone for a Venti® White Chocolate Frappuccino® blended crème with whipped cream topping and a Cinnamon Twist (1,240 Calories)?

Today's Weight: 258

Venti® and Frappuccino® are registered trademarks of Starbucks Corporation

Day 20 - Water

I have never drank so much water in my entire life. Actually let me repeat that, “I have never drank so much water in my entire life!”. Yesterday, in an effort to flush (shock) my internal systems and remove all the chemicals in my body I drank TWO Gallons of Water! It was amazing and yet easy. I found more energy and strength throughout the day.

I started the day with two sips of coffee followed by alternating 20 ounces of water then vitaminwater every hour and fifteen (1:15) minutes. It was wonderful and I will continue that today and over the next few days.

As I talked to a psychologist who works in my office she recommend the “Master Cleanse Fast” as an alternative if I felt there was too much sugar in vitaminwater. Towards the end of yesterday the vitaminwater was starting to taste too sugary.

I ended the day with some wonderful yogurt to help through the night with something semi-solid in my stomach. It tasted good and gave me that little extra as a reward for a good day. I think I might try a revised Master Cleanse that includes a one-a-day vitamin.

Today's Weight: 260

Day 18/19 - Back to Gym

This morning I went back to the gym for the first time in 3 years. It was only for an hour and I only did very light cardio (15 minutes) along with some muscle toning. About 45 minutes into the workout I retired to the sauna to help my neck pain and loosen up the muscles in the neck. While in the sauna I spoke with another gentlemen who lost 75 pounds in the last year just going to the gym 2x a week.

It was good to get back into the gym and realize that in 10 months I will be a lot more happy and be excited about my life. How can anyone be happy when they are not able to do things with their family?

Your family is suppose to be your greatest support network, but when they are overweight and tired all the time that just does not happen. Our kids are raising themselves because we are not able to westle them to the ground. We can but we might break a few bones on the way down from the weight crushing against them.

If you are serious about your life and want a better life then do what it takes to get to that point.

Today's Weight: 262

Day 17 - Marathon

Besides my goal to walk 1,000 Miles in the next 10 months, I am now ready to challenge myself to run the 2007 Long Beach Half Marathon on October 14, 2007, followed by the Orange County Full Marathon on January 6, 2008. These are both going to require major adjustments to my lifestyle starting now.

After writing about running, I just cannot wait to see the track and run. Am I going to make it? That is not a question. My question is, "How much weight am I willing to run with during the marathon?" (Do I want to carry a hundred pounds for 13 1/2 miles?)

What am I willing to do in order to get my body in shape and get rid of this weight? Daily gym with interval jogs along with light muscle toning. In addition, I will be starting a fast in order to clean out my system.

I will be drinking Glaceau (now owned by Coke) vitaminwater, 4-5x a day for the next few weeks or month. This will be tough at the start along with everyone around me eating, but as I said when I started this journey, "When is enough, enough?

Day 16 - Baby Teeth

I know this post has nothing to do with weight loss but has to do with another loss. Last night our son came out of his room bearing a gift in his hand, his first tooth!

He was very excited even after I told him that it meant no sweets for a couple days until the gums close. That did not even phase his excitement as we lightly brushed his gums and rinsed out his mouth. Now he can say he lost his first tooth!

Day 15 - 5 Pounds

Good News! This morning I did a weigh-in and dropped 5 pounds. Over the last couple weeks I started walking after work (even a half mile when I was injured) and sharing meals with the wife instead of filling my own plate. These simple changes have resulted in a little weight loss. I am not declaring the 49” waist as the tape measure showed exactly 49” and we know how things vary from hour to hour. But I have dropped below 265 pounds from over 270 pounds.

Tonight I am reinstating my gym membership and will begin a more targeted exercise routine to help lose the weight. My physician also wants me to take a multi-vitamin once a day. The walking and eating “sensible” are a long-term change and were not that difficult to adjust. Of course I am still going to have those “big” meals, but not every other day.

As a formal California Interscholastic Federation Finalist in track I find the same method and motivation to succeed now as I did in High School. In track you are not racing against others, you are racing against yourself. You strive for pace and your first 100-meter time should be the same as your last 100-meter time. Regardless of the other runners your difference is determined by your ability to maintain solid times throughout your run. I can hear my coach saying “sixteen five” and yelling at me when I was too fast, “Your under sixteen Alan, SLOW IT DOWN!” (However, I would always push myself into the 15’s for the last 300 meters to help cut off about 3-5 seconds)

The difference between sprinters and runners is short-term versus long-term results. A sprinter is quicker, but is not able to maintain the same speed for a long time. My goal is to make this change a marathon run and have fun.

Day 14 - Church Scam

How do I start this post? I am lost for words at what to say ... Last night I saw a news piece on a wonderful (keep reading) resource coming from the “Church” that helps people like me. It was shown as a discipline to God’s Word and pretty much nothing else to lose all the weight.

Understanding that discipline exists in every activity we undertake, it prompted me to visit the site. I attempted to look for some quick materials, including a simple biblical verse and was only successful in finding one short video clip and a $200 price tag for materials. This made me continue my search in finding a real resource for biblical guidance.

I came across a wonderful and well organized blog of a fellow “FatBlogger” [Yes, we have an official title for us that are (or were) fat, improving our life and blogging.]. The Diet Pulpit (http://thedietpulpit.wordpress.com/) is the blog of Lady Rose and she posted an article this morning (Church of Thin) that awoke me to this newest money making scam.

What makes a true Church? The open door [come as you are (that is rich or poor, clean or dirty, and so forth)] to those who want to enter the Church. I have never had to pay upfront for anything from the Church and a site selling a message does not fall into this definition of the family of ministry. We give back to God and the Church though our stewardship and not through forced giving in order to receive God’s Word.

Day 13 - Detoxification

Does the body already have an internal system in place to remove toxins from body? I found it interesting to see diet programs that argue the use of “detox” such as colon hydrotherapy, body cleansing juice, fasting, saunas and so forth. All of these sound useful in helping clean your system and yet we forgot that our body has a system that keeps us alive.

If we had unhealthy levels of toxins in our system I think we would not be here reading this blog and instead would be in dialysis or the emergency room. I better knock on wood!

So what do all these sites mean when they promise detoxification from using there products, methods and services? One of the overall message I get from all these sites is simple – Increase Water Intake!

2 Liters of Water a Day! When was the last time you drank eight cups of water? That is why we feel worn out is because we are not helping our body. Can I just drink extra coffee and soda? On average it takes an additional 2-cups of water for every cup of coffee we intake in order to properly digest because of the diuretic drugs contained in coffee. For every cup of soda ... well you get the point.

Day 11/12 - First 10 Days

My first 10 Days have been challenging as I have been recovering from my neck injury over the last week. It has put a big damper on my mental state and has been personally difficult for me to motivate myself. This is generally where people will throw in the towel and give up and return to what they were doing – nothing.

Well I do not expect this injury to be the stopper in my quest to regain my health and take control on my life. Nobody said this was going to be easy and without pain. I am currently looking at completely recovering from this injury and placing my goal into high gear.

This next week I will look into a gym in order to assist in my recovery with aqua therapy. I have been a member of Bally’s for the last 14 years and only find myself at the gym when I am looking at working out. The closet Bally's to my house does not have a pool. I am not really looking for a workout and want more cardio through a balance of my three favorite sports – biking, running and swimming.

Maybe we can make this a family adventure and I can get the wife to motivate me into aerobics. Shortly after we were married my wife lost over 50 pounds with aerobics and restrictive diet intake. This was part of her pre-marriage commitment to herself to lose weight by losing 50 pounds even before we were married. Life took its course and we found it easier to do nothing.

Day 10 - Morbid Obesity

What? Yes, at 100 pounds overweight or a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more can be diagnosed as clinically severe obesity (278.01 - Morbid Obesity) by a physician. Of course other factors are considered by a physician when he/she reviews your medical problem before you are diagnosed with this condition.

• 5-7 times greater risk of death from diabetes or heart attack


• High risk of "end-stage" (untreatable) obesity
  

At 100 pounds overweight I do not need a physician to tell me that I have severe obesity. Oh what, I do - Blue Cross of California will not cover any medical treatment for weight loss until you become "morbidly obese" this includes any form of medication to help you reduce your weight.

Oh and a Health Club is not considered medical treatment although the medication they would approve requires it to be used with an overall weight loss program. Why does an insurance company have anything to say what a physician determines as the best course of treatment?