Real Life Update 3, Merry Christmas (0 lbs. lost)

257 lbs.
112 lbs. lost since 12/7/07

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Cookies, pies, candies, and lots of big dinners, ahh the Holidays!  I'll take a 0 week over Christmas any year, especially considering the gym was closed and I only got to work out twice this week.  Honestly, if I can kick off 2009 in the 250s I'll consider the Christmas season a huge success.  I love the fact that I can enjoy time with friends and family, eat some yummy stuff, and know that in the long run it will be fine.   Now that I think of it, I'm really craving another piece of pumpkin pie.

See ya' next week!

Real Life Update 2, Dropping Down the Charts (4 lbs. lost)

257 lbs.
112 lbs. lost since 12/7/07

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I guess eventually these 4 or 5 pound weeks will cease to happen, but it's a pretty clear sign that I still have some work to do.  Again, initially I wasn't sure the 250s were a realistic goal and now I can't help but think the 230s might be a reality.  I also should repeat that it's not necessarily about the number it's about the little day to day choices that make me healthier and give me more energy to do the things I need to do.   In two weeks, barring an illness, I will have spent the entire calender year without being sick.  The worst I can remember is that I developed a slight sore throat when our heat kicked on for the winter, but that was just for a couple hours that one morning.  I'm pretty sure this will be the first such year in my 32 calender years of post womb life.  Amazing.

Speaking of not focusing on just the weight number, I never did mention that I had another BFP test done 2 weeks ago when I closed out the first year.  BFP (body fat percentage) is a much more accurate look at health than BMI (body mass index) since BMI fails to account for factors like muscle mass or body structure.  You can see the BFP chart in this post and it should give you an idea.  My BFP this past test was at 21%, another 2.5% drop from where it was in July and getting pretty close to the magic %18 when I officially enter the fitness category (currently I am acceptable).  Compare this to BMI, where I just this week crossed into the "overweight" category.  BMI considered me obese a full 5 months after BFP has said I was acceptable, not only that but BMI still considers me overweight and likely always will (215 is where I become normal according to BMI and 190 is my BMI center).   Let's just say I prefer to go with the BFP for my assessment.  The problem is that the tests aren't as easy to calculate as just putting height and weight into a calculator, so many people don't get them done.  If you are serious about checking out your progress I would highly recommend finding someone to test your BFP every couple months.  The tests are usually around $20-$30 and will do much more to assess you fitness than the BMI does.

That's it for this week, we shall see if the Christmas cookies continue to have no effect next week.

Real Life Update 1, Wii Fit Scale in Effect (2 lbs. lost)

261 lbs.
108 lbs. lost since 12/7/07

If you are new to loseforthefuse.com please read the first post or pledge here.

Week 1 in the real world.

I'm not sure how this will go now that the official first year is over.  I want to continue using this blog as a place for accountability and hopefully to launch others into losing weight for FuseFM.  I'll likely try to continue with the Friday posts at least while I am still losing weight on a week to week basis.  Once I level off, we shall see.

How about that before and after shot?  It's a bit shoking, even to me, to look back and see how big I was.  I didn't feel that big, I don't remember being that big, but there it is, clear as day.

This week I will be shifting my official scale from the gym scale to the Wii Fit scale, so there is a little bit of adjustment with the number.  Wii Fit consistantly comes in about 2 pounds less than the gym scale so it's a bit decieving to say I lost 2 more pounds this week.  Not decieving enough that I won't take it mind you, but still a little decieving none the less.  Still it was a good week, and I feel really good about where this will go in the future.

Thanks for continuing to check in, and be sure and let me know if you are interested in doing Lose for the Fuse in 2009!  I'll probably be leading a group of about 6 for 6 month periods starting sometime in January or February, but we still have to iron out all the details.

Week 52 update, One Year Later (2 lbs. lost)...

263 lbs.
106 lbs. lost
0 weeks left
Total Raised for FuseFM: $1600

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One year later:

- my waist size is down from a 54 to a 42

- my boys now play with my excess belly skin instead of my excess belly fat.

- I can run a 5K in 25 minutes a mile in under 8 minutes.

- I can weigh myself on most store bought scales.

- I can wear an XL shirt comfortably instead of a 3X uncomfortably

- I can touch the my actual belly button.

- I can see where I'm aiming (TMI?)

- I don't grunt every time I stand up or sit down.

- I haven't been sick in over a year, as opposed to developing a nasty cough or sinus infection every 3 months.

- I have face wrinkles

- My shoes are looser.

- Strange women stop me at church to tell me how good I look.

- I have turned a fat beard into a cop stache and then into a baby face.

- I eat salad occasionally.

- I also still eat pizza and cookies..

- The only liquid I consume is water.

- My knees don't hurt, my back is great, and I don't get debilitating headaches.

- I wear T Shirts as regular shirts.

- I sneak feels of my muscles flexing, and smile.

- I can do 30 push ups as opposed to none.

- I weigh 263 pounds instead of 369.

- I'm still not finished.

106 pounds! It's a great feeling and there are a lot of people I need to thank for making it possible in this past year.

Thanks to FuseFM whose great music and ministry was the motivation I needed to stick with it (and also great workout music)

Thanks to the staff at FuseFM who have consistently encouraged me and put up with my non stop talk about this stuff.

Thanks to my wife who has taken up the slack when I've spent time in the morning working out or running (oh, and of course her undying love and encouragement)

Thanks to my sons who have been the most direct in keeping me accountable. ("You're still fat Dad, keep doing it.")

Thanks to my family (immediate and extended) who have been so kind and encouraging through this process (except for my brother, who wondered if I would pay him a dollar a pound if I were to gain weight, but what are little brothers for if not to keep you humble.) Mom and Dad, I hope you know how much your example and love are an inspiration for me trying to make wise choices, both in this avenue and others.

Thanks to my supporters who have put their money on the line to keep me going.  Your gifts to FuseFM will be used to great effect.

Thanks to Autumn Hale and Clare Family Fitness for working with me and teaching me so much about how my body works and how to work my body.

Thanks to Nike and Ipod for inventing the Nike+ system and allowing me to use it to amazing effect.

Thanks to Coleman Railway Center for their support and new workout facility in my home town.

Thanks to the apple growers of the world, I think of you every afternoon around 3.

Thanks to God for his patience with my addictions, and continued forgiveness.

Thanks to you for reading this blog and commenting below.

Please continue to check in here at loseforthefuse.com  I plan to post weekly updates (for a while at least) to keep me accountable as I continue this life long journey.  Also be listening for more details on long term plans for how Lose for the Fuse can continue to help others and raise money for this station.

Stay tuned for a final banner update and the 12 month photos!

30 more pounds til I'm skydiving approved!

Week 51 update, Building the Suspense (???????)...

??? lbs.
??? lbs. lost
1 week left
Total Raised for FuseFM: $1600

If you are new to loseforthefuse.com please read the first post or pledge here.

With just a few days left, I thought I'd build the suspense a bit.  OK, fine, I just didn't want to weigh in after all the turkey and fixins of last week :)  Whatever the case it's been interesting to see the poll results on where you think I will be by Friday.  It's pretty spread out, with nobody think I will be at 265 or more (hope your right) and one lone soul thinking I can break the 260 mark before the final (for the year) weigh in.  I've been keeping an eye on things and lets just say that it's safe to say I will be below 265 but I'm pretty sure I won't be able to drop under 260 (sorry faithful friend).  More interesting still is the poll on where I will level off before next summer, with most people putting me in the 230s.  That would be incredible.  If you had told me when I started this that I might get to the 230s I would have laughed at you.  I honestly thought the 260s would be a stretch (remember I started at 369), yet now it looks possible.  By the way, I heard recently that most sky diving places use 225 as a weight limit, anybody care to guess what my new goal is?

Be sure to tune into 101.7 FuseFM this Friday for the final weight and for an afternoon of stories and info about the whole process.  I'll be taking calls and celebrating a great year of getting healthy and raising money for FuseFM.  If you don't live in the area be sure and listen online at myfusefm.com!

Thanks so much for all your support and be back on Friday for the grand finale, er... grand continuation.