Day 6 - Magic Cure

There are countless resources I have found to help people who are interested in walking. In a small search last night I found America on the Move (www.americaonthemove.org) with links to over 30 links to various organizations created to help those looking for additional resources.

Speaking of resources I became a “cure” seeker in my half hour quest for information last night. This included a search for pills and I came across one that was presented as one of the best cure for obesity in the industry and I decided to look at the label for more information.

Chromium Picolinate is the most used dietary supplement among weight loss programs on the market. Does it work? Scientific research says that by itself does not lower weight and in one research study showed to increase weight. Chromium Picolinate and Weight Loss, by Amanda Allen.

www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/chromiumpicolinate.htm

Now there is Hoodia Gordonii. What happened to a healthy blend of exercise, restrictive diet AND dietary supplements (that is multi-vitamins and so forth)?

Day 4/5 - Upside Down

At what age do you stop trying to see the World upside down? Well, I was not told it is around 10 until I almost broke my neck trying to stand upside down with my kids.

This put me out this weekend from doing too much and spent the weekend in bed or trying to find a comfortable position in order to relax. This of course was followed by an Emergency Room visit after my daughter decided to put a “glowing” bead in her ear to try to see what it would do.

Well trying to get back on track today I am going to drive to the local High School and walk a mile or so.

Well there is ups and downs in life. But what does the World look like upside down?

Day 3 - 1,000 Miles

Was that 2 miles? When I reached the bus stop I was not ready to stop as it did not seem as if I walked two miles. Walking a couple miles a day becomes easier as you continue to walk. Now I have to challenge myself to walk 100 miles a month. Seems like a big number, but so does 100 pounds. Irvine to Portland (http://maps.google.com/maps?um=1&tab=wl&hl=en&q=irvine%2C%20ca%20to%20portland%2C%20or)

Walking just 3-4 miles a day should not be too hard given the fact I am already walking 2 ½ miles a day. Currently my diet this last week was descent compared to my prior eating habits and my lunch on Friday was a Half of a hamburger and a salad and it was all I needed. Sure that other half would of tasted good and I wasted a few dollars but compared to wasting my life it was not.

We eat with our senses (sight, taste, smell, and so forth) instead of eating with mind. I say mind. If you are not feeling hungry, why eat? To help maintain a “normal” digestive and metabolism system, but this system also should be the one to tell you when to eat and how much. Enough is enough and I am never again going to finish my plate. Sorry Mom.

We are programmed throughout life that children in other countries do not have food and we should be respectful and not throw food away. But the fact of the mater is the food on your plate does not control how much food children in other countries will have for dinner. If you really want to be respectful then pull out your checkbook and donate to Feed to Children or another other organizations. Oh I almost forgot would it be respectful to eat a double quarter pound burger with cheese and supersized fries in front of a starving child? Then who are you kidding about finishing your plate.

Day 2 - Railroad Tracks

Yesterday on my two and a half mile walk I was surprised to have people back up their cars if they were in the crosswalk and some even rolling (Do we really “roll” our windows down anymore?) their windows down to apologize. It was also exciting to see other people on the same quest to better their health. One individual on a bike passed me during my walk only to board the same bus about a mile after the point where I boarded the same bus on my way home.

Half way into the walk I started getting the urge to jog a little and then I had to remind myself that I weight over 270 pounds and my knees would not be happy. Today of course I have a head cold, but it will not stop me from walking another 2 ½ miles tonight after work.

Last night I took a picture to help illustrate the difference between a normal 30” waist and my 50” waist. The shorts in the background are 50” as is the white underwear (I am going to take another picture with 30” shorts in the scene as well to help in the comparison). Right now for comparison I only placed 30” underwear on top. It seems unbelievable.

Here are the facts – If you stretched out 50” it would be taller then most 8 year olds! That is crazy since I have a 7 year old son… You can also buy a 50” Plasma TV for around $2,000.00. And the width of a Railroad Track is only another 6 ½ inches (56.5")! I will stop there before I compare myself with a whale.

Day 1 - 10 Years Later ...

A couple of days ago I finally got the tape measure out and faced the facts of my life. Mostly as a joke to see how fat I was and to get a good laugh at myself. Well I hit 50" (51" to be exact). I have gone from wearing XS to XXXXL clothes or a 28" waist to over 50" in 10 years. That is 2" and 10 pounds a year!

I now have 50" (3XL) underwear in my drawers. A big change from having ShowToons, Underoos and FunPals. But seriously how much fatter can I get before I stop and change my lifestyle?

Just 15 years, I enjoyed 30 mile weekend bike rides with my brother to and around our local lake. It was a chance to get out and just relax for a couple hours on the weekend from the stress and dealings of everyday life and being cramped up in a bedroom doing homework or watching a ball game. Now the idea of relaxing is “driving” down to the beach and watching our kids run around while I walk along the sand with my wife, who eventually finds her excitement in the marine life along the reefs.

This month has been an interesting month and it is now time to make the change and take control of my life. So far this week I have walked a total of five (5) miles and ready to walk another five (5) miles before the week is over. I am in the process of searching around to find a bike to begin biking again. It took me 10 years to get this bad from doing nothing and I am looking forward to working double time to take back my life.