Last Post (this year)

Christmas Day kicked me in the butt harder than I expected. I ate too much that day and I couldn't completely recover during the rest of the week. Despite my best efforts, I ended the week with a net gain of 1 lb. That puts me at 255 with a total loss of 13 pounds for all 3 weeks.

Disappointing, but not devastating. Hey, at least I didn't get fired by the Ravens today.

Dec 31st weigh-in: 255
Goal weight for July 4th, 2008: 230

Day after Christmas Blues

Whew! I feel like crap today. I decided to relax my food limitations on Christmas and I'm paying for it today. Its what I call a sugar hangover. After two weeks of eating generally healthy foods and especially staying away from sugary foods, yesterday was cookies, pies, chips, ice cream. It will take me a couple of days to recover and get the bad stuff out of my system.

Today's menu was my morning Starbucks coffee, a mid morning apple, some chicken and veggie frozen entree for lunch and a late afternoon no-sugar protein shake. Getting to the gym tonight will help get me back on track also. Its a good thing I don't have to weigh in until next Monday morning.

Best Christmas present: Buffy the Vampire Slayer season eight comic books

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Best Christmas present I didn't give to myself: comfy Three Stooges pajama pants

Damn you Honey-Baked Ham!

Well, despite my best efforts, I've succumbed to holiday cheer and wound up only losing one pound. It's not my fault! I cannot resist honey-baked ham! It's too delicious. I'm recommitting myself to the diet and will begin working out this week.

Current weight: 224
Goal: 197
Date: June 4, 2008

Christmas Eve update

Not too much to report for the past week. Didn't eat anything bad despite the influx of Christmas cookies and other treats that our office gets every year (apparently under the belief that cookies and candy makes tech support people forget how you accidently downloaded viruses and spyware on your computer all year).

Anyway, I didn't expect much when I stepped on the scale this morning. Except for fitting into some jeans that I couldn't 2 weeks ago, I didn't really *feel* lighter. But surprisingly, I dropped another 6 lbs this week to weigh in at 254. Two challenging days are ahead, but as long as I don't go overboard at Christmas dinner, I should be okay.

Dec 24th weigh-in: 254
Goal weight for July 4th, 2008: 230

Big Dem: Day 8

Well, I lost 2 lbs. But it's not a competition right. It's a lifestyle change. Damn, though, doing it during the holidays is tough. I hate having to give up cheese squares.

Exercise tip #1

Apparently, playing fantasy football burns no calories whatsoever. Damn.

1 week down, forever to go

Good results for the first week. Weighed in this morning at 260 lbs. An 8 lb loss in the first week. Today's lunch menu is the classic soup and salad.

Was going to start on a new exercise regimen tonight, but the gym is closed tonight because of the weather (at least thats what Erin told me. I'll have to double check.) If I can't make it tonight I'll have to try on Wednesday.

Dec 17th Weigh-in: 260
Goal weight (July 4th, 2008): 230

Big Dem Saturday Update: Not bad for a fat guy

It was a pretty good day today. Despite the fact that we ate lunch at Pei Wei Asian Diner, I didn't break 1500 calories. I did eat way too much edamame though. But edamame is really good for you, so I don't feel bad.

Weekend update

So far no major breaches in the new healthy routine. Friday was the office holiday lunch. Unfortuneately, our holiday lunches take place at area all-you-can-eat buffets. I did good though. One small plate of various crappy buffet food and a plate of salad. No dessert and definitely no gorging as is the usual buffet tradition.

Big Dem: Teetering on the Brink

Weight: 227
Goal: 193
By when? June 4

Ugh! I didn't blow the diet today but I HAVE TO STOP the light snacks. I had a 100 calorie bag of Ritx miz when I got home. A small 2% cottage cheese. That's 200 extra calories I just didn't need. I also had seconds on the edamame and black beans I made. Need ... to ... stick ... to plan.

Cottage Chesse is Tasty!

Weight: 227
Goal: 193
When? June 4, 2008

Today's meals (so far):

Cottage Cheese: 90 calories
Turkey sandwich: 450 calories
Yogurt: 100 calories
Pear: 110 calories

And what's with the people in my office and Christman cookies? Oy! They're on everybody's desk!

Needs: A pedometer. I'm going to try and go for a 30 minute walk at lunch every day.

So far so good

I've vowed not to weigh myself until Friday but with the help of my awesome wife, avoiding bad food at work has been going well so far. She's been getting me off to a good start by making my lunches this week.

Today's lunch:

• apple
• pita with tuna fish
• 100 calorie snack pack

Add to the list of things I'll miss - Starbucks Eggnog Latte. Its a holiday favorite of mine, but weighs in at a whopping 610 calories for a venti. I'm just hoping I don't have to give up my usual venti non-fat no-whip mocha (280 calories).

Roller Coasters and Fat People Don't Mix

One of my embarrassing fat person moments was waiting an hour in line for a Cedar Point roller coaster and then not being able to get on because I was too fat. When I lose all the weight I want to, one of my rewards will be to go back there and ride every stinking roller coaster in the place.

Those amusement park people sure know their stuff because here's two examples of why fat people shouldn't be allowed on roller coasters:

The guy on the right with the beer belly is thinking "OH MY GOD! I'm gonna die because the safety belt didn't fit around my gut!".

The guy on the left is totally oblivious to his impending doom based on the stupid looking grin on his face. Not only is he too fat for the seat belt to hold him in, but he'll probably lose his hat too.

And the there's this poor kid:

Stay away from roller coasters fat people.

Big Dem Day 2: I've already blown it

Weight: 227
Goal: 193
Date: June 4, 2008

Son of a b**ch!

I misread LifeSaver's Sweet Mints calorie count. I thought it was 12 mints for 60 calories. It's actually 4 mints for sixty calories! I've been chewing on these things all day long. I must have had 30 of them.

Life's little "O" shaped set backs.

The Big REP (gotta come up with something better)

December 10th weigh-in: 268 lbs

Goal weight: 230lbs

Date: July 4th, 2008 (America's birthday baby! cuz Republicans are patriotic!)

Challenges for today:

• Fill cereal bowl only halfway (usually its overflowing)
• Don't stop at pastry shop on the Concourse during walk to work
• Don't eat 8 100 calorie snack packs just because they're only 100 calories
• Tonight is trivia night. Grilled chicken caesar salad - Yay! Greasy bacon cheeseburger - Boo!

Big Dem: Weight loss Day 1

Weight: 227
Goal: 193
Date: June 4, 2008 (Big Dem's birthday)

Things I'm going to miss:

1. Pretzels -- yeah, they're not unhealthy, but I always eat a whole bag!
2. Half and half in my morning coffee
   
3. Grabbing a twix bar in the supermarket check out line
4. Snyders Hot buffalo wing pretzel bits -- spicy and delicious
5. Eating after 9pm (one of my biggest downfalls)
6. Ordering the occasional pizza (with ground beef!)
7. Subway 12" meatball subs (saucy and delicious)
8. Blue cheese (oh good lord, I love blue cheese)
9. Eating Everett's uneaten dinner (It's always chicken fingers at restaurants)
10. AND, the number one thing I'm going to miss? Ice Cream!