Week 8: The Holidays Loom: (2 lbs. lost)

287 lbs.

132 lbs. lost 12/7/07 - 11/1/2009

60 lbs. regained 11/1/2009 - 9/3/2010

2 lbs. lost this week

10 lbs. total lost since 9/3/10

57 Consecutive 5Ks

This blog and weight loss journey originally began as a fundraiser called "Lose for the Fuse", read the first post to get more background on how this all began.

It's a good week to have a loss.  I need to get some weight out from under my belt before the holidays kick in to full gear.  With Halloween this weekend there has been plenty of candy around to munch on, and I've never been one to be good at not dropping a miniature Resees Cup into my gullet when the opportunity presents itself.  They are only 36 calories, right?  Yes, except 20 of them are 720 callories, and there in lies the key.  Take one, maybe two and I should be fine.  Start grabbing them by the handful, and, well, my choices for costumes next year could be limited to Shrek, Santa, or maybe John Goodman.

The running is going very well and I've upped my speed to 6.5 MPH on the treadmill which I run for 35 minutes.  This puts my daily run just short of 4 miles and plenty past the 3.11 the equals a 5K.  I'm thinking about notching it up to 6.7 next week, because to be honest, my body (with the help of my new shoes) is adjusting very well to the daily activity.  My heart and lungs feel stronger than ever, and I'm excited to eventually be running my 5Ks at around 7MPH (around an 8 and a half minute mile).  I'm also debating when to add strength conditioning back into my routine, as it's something I know is desperately needed for comprehensive health.

If I continue to lose two pounds a week I'll be back to 240 by Tax Day! (and maybe more since I'm sure my wallet will be lighter too)

Thanks for checking in on me!

Week 7: What A Difference A Shoe Makes (2 lbs. lost)

289 lbs.

132 lbs. lost 12/7/07 - 11/1/2009

60 lbs. regained 11/1/2009 - 9/3/2010

2 lbs. lost this week

8 lbs. total lost since 9/3/10

50 Consecutive 5Ks

This blog and weight loss journey originally began as a fundraiser called "Lose for the Fuse", read the first post to get more background on how this all began.

I finally bit the bullet and dropped a Benjamin to get a new pair of shoes.

Thanks to the fine folks at Starting Block for walking me through what I needed and what would work best for me.  They actually will analyze your running for free and recommend a good shoe for you.   To be honest, I don't even remember the brand or name of my shoes all I know is that when I run I now feel like I'm prancing on pillows and marshmallows in the gravity of the moon.  This as opposed to feeling like at any point the arch of my foot might just break in half and decide to not exist anymore.

The shoes didn't make the difference in the weight loss though, the refocusing did.  After slacking on my intake last week, I was diligent this week about paying attention to what, when, and how much I was eating.  I think if I can stay focused and continue my daily 5K I will lose 2-4 pounds a week until I level off around 240 again.  By my birthday next year I want to be skydiving weight and celebrate by jumping out a plane.  I'll be so light I won't even need a parachute.

Week 6: Pay Attention or Pay the Price (2 lbs. gained)

291 lbs.

132 lbs. lost 12/7/07 - 11/1/2009

60 lbs. regained 11/1/2009 - 9/3/2010

2 lbs. gained this week

6 lbs. total lost since 9/3/10

43 Consecutive 5Ks

This blog and weight loss journey originally began as a fundraiser called "Lose for the Fuse", read the first post to get more background on how this all began.

Yuck.

I should have seen it coming.  My arch pain is making my runs a little slower and I stopped paying close attention to what and when I was eating.  I've re instituted the pre-bed bowl of cereal and upped my snacking in both frequency and caloric content.  It's amazing how quickly you can fall off just by not being focused.  I've got two rules for you if you want to maintain health.  Never stop keeping track of what you eat, and never  hunt for golfballs in an alligator nesting area.

So step 1 cut out the late carbs and step 2 stop vacationing in swamps.

Next week will be better.

Week 5: Some Pain, No Gain (0 lbs. lost)

289 lbs.

132 lbs. lost 12/7/07 - 11/1/2009

60 lbs. regained 11/1/2009 - 9/3/2010

0 lbs. lost this week

8 lbs. total lost since 9/3/10

36 Consecutive 5Ks

This blog and weight loss journey originally began as a fundraiser called "Lose for the Fuse", read the first post to get more background on how this all began.

This week was about as ho hum as they come.   I have started to deal with a little bit of arch pain probably not so much from the running but from the running shoes.  In order to save money I bought a cheap pair of running shoes for 20 bucks.  And in order to find cheap shoes I settled for 13s when I really wear 14s.  I've only been running with them just over 3 months now they are already showing major signs of wear and tear.  It's probably something I shouldn't scrimp on.  (Is scrimp a word?  Did I just make that up?)

I'm going to keep running (it wouldn't be a challenge if there weren't obstacles) but  too much more foot pain and I'll have to pony up the dough for new shoes.

No loss this week, but also no gain.  Let's hope things kick in for next week :)

Week 4: Just Keep Swimming (4 lbs. lost)

289 lbs.

132 lbs. lost 12/7/07 - 11/1/2009

60 lbs. regained 11/1/2009 - 9/3/2010

4 lbs. lost this week

8 lbs. total lost since 9/3/10

29 Consecutive 5Ks

This blog and weight loss journey originally began as a fundraiser called "Lose for the Fuse", read the first post to get more background on how this all began.

Partway into Marlin and Dory's journey to find Nemo, Dory in her simplicity sing songs a few words that are more profound than she realizes.  "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, what do we do we swim, swim."

It a great mantra for life, but a crucial one for weight loss.  The truth of the matter is if I continue to make wise choices, run everyday, and eat smaller portions, over time I WILL lose weight.  But the scale is really a false indicator.  The scale tells me I lost zero pounds two weeks ago and 4 pounds this week, but my effort was the same both weeks.   The point is, I think so many people get bogged down in not seeing the results they want on the scale when they try something new.  And as much as I understand that, I just want  to say,  keep going, don't stop, don't ever stop.  Wise choices are always wise choices whether you see that reflected on a scale for a week, or even a month or two.   If your goal is just to see a lower number on the scale I can do that for you easily, just lean on the sink while weighing yourself.   If your goal is to be healthy it takes time.  Just keep walking, just keep running, just keep moving, just keep eating less, just keep swimming.

On another note, I'll be running in my first official 5K tomorrow for Pregnancy Care Center.  So stop by Jordan Valley Park tomorrow morning and say hi.  I'd love to put some more of these on my calendar as part of the 5K a day plan, so if you know of any groups that would have me, let me know!

Thanks for your support!

Week 3: Really?! (0 lbs. lost)

293 lbs.

132 lbs. lost 12/7/07 - 11/1/2009

60 lbs. regained 11/1/2009 - 9/3/2010

0 lbs. lost this week

4 lbs. total lost since 9/3/10

22 Consecutive 5Ks

This blog and weight loss journey originally began as a fundraiser called "Lose for the Fuse", read the first post to get more background on how this all began.

Grrrrrrrr.

My least favorite part of this process (and it's one that anyone who gets healthy or loses weight knows too well) is the week that you work really hard and your body decides not to give.   I just keep repeating to myself, "The body will do what the body will do."  and know that I'm making the right decisions. To be honest,  reversing the trend is always the difficult part.  My body has been used to putting weight on the last few months, so now that I'm burning more calories than I'm taking in, it's probably trying to figure out what is going on.  And when the body is confused or in turmoil it doesn't like to give up it's reserves.

or something like that.

Truth is, the only thing I really know is that I did well this week and the scale didn't reflect it.  All I can do is keep doing well and let the scale do whatever it will do.

Next week, how about just give me one pound down?  Half a pound?

Yes I know, The body will do what the body will do. (sigh)

Redo Week 2: Best Health Website Ever! (2 lbs. lost)

293 lbs.

132 lbs. lost 12/7/07 - 11/1/2009

60 lbs. regained 11/1/2009 - 9/3/2010

2 lbs. lost this week

4 lbs. total lost since 9/3/10

15 Consecutive 5Ks

This blog and weight loss journey originally began as a fundraiser called "Lose for the Fuse", read the first post to get more background on how this all began.

As you can see I've added a new line to my stat sheet, consecutive 5ks.  It's kind of my way of not having to mention it every week in my written blog, so I can focus on other things like this....

http://www.myfitnesspal.com

This website is by far the easiest, most comprehensive, and most beneficial free resource I have ever seen when it comes to tracking weight loss, eating habits, and exercise impact.  There are apps for Iphone and Android that completely sync the info, so even you are out and about you can enter in items eaten or exercises accomplished.  If you have a weight loss goal I would highly recommend you sign up with them and start logging your food and exercise.  The information they provide on calorie intake and goals is crucial if you want to get serious about being healthy.  A couple of highlights in the week or so I've been using it.

- Vast food library.  Everything is here, restaurants, store items, and even your own personal recipes.  Just enter in the ingredients and number of servings and it will save them.

- Exercise adjustment.  Every time you enter an exercise it will add any bonus calories you might have earned to your daily goal, so you have a real time number of how many calories you have left for the day.

- Flexible entry.  You can change the listed meal times to fit your eating schedule.  The default is Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snack.  But seeing how I eat every three hours I changed mine to 6AM, 9AM, Noon, 3PM, and 6PM.

- Day end update.  When you finish the day and have entered your food and exercise it will tell you "If every day were like today you would weigh xxx in 5 weeks."  This is a psychological boost and has been so encouraging this first week.

- Did I mention it is completely free?! (both on the web and smartphone apps)

I've even made my food diary public if you want to check up on my eating habits.  You can find that here: 

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/aarondicer

You might also notice the weight loss badge on the blog as well.  Just remember that is weight lost from my original 369 weigh in 3 years ago.  Not weight lost in this challenge.

As always if you have any questions or comments I'd love to hear them!