Following the path: Daily Update 8-4-09

There is a path I need to follow. Both literally (on a walking trail) and metaphorically.

I am familiar enough with both of the paths I need to take. I’ve traveled them, though I’ve yet to arrive at my destination. I have always gotten sidetracked by that enemy of us all, time. Today was no exception.

Today was not only the first day of my new commitment to eating better and exercising, it was also Day One of our potty training adventure. If you’re unfamiliar with the process, I can only compare it to locking yourself in a room with a rabid wolverine and attempting to get said wolverine to use proper utensils when eating.

My wife’s and my nerves were worn and raw by nightfall, as our son is proving to be more defiant than I would have guessed.

Soon, the entire day was down the drain and I didn’t have make time to exercise. Both my wife and I were frustrated beyond our normal limits and I found myself desperately craving something sweet at 10 p.m. I felt like a drug addict craving my next fix, eying the door, anticipating the moment I could break free and get to my connection.

While I had kept my calorie count fairly low during the day, it was all undone in five minutes at the McDonald’s drive-thru.

So, Day One was not a success. However, this blog is to keep me in check, and I need to update the post with exactly what I ate, so I can see where I went wrong. It’s not hard to figure out…

What I ate today:

• Breakfast: Turkey sandwich, two slices of white bread, mayo – 310 calories
• Lunch – Bowl of pasta w/ cheese sauce – 340 calories
• Snacks – 3 granola bars – 300
• 1 Large McDonald’s milkshake – 1,160 HOLY CRAP!
• Dinner – 2 turkey hot dogs, bread, mustard – 225 calories
• Total – 2,335  (1175 without the shake!)

Okay, now let’s analyze…

First, all of this food is quick-to-eat and surprisingly high in sodium. Lots of empty calories, leaving me unfulfilled and still craving more food at the end of the day. Secondly, NONE of it is healthy.

So, what will I do differently tomorrow?

Eat some fruit, eat a more complete meal, and no milk shakes!

And exercise. I MUST exercise.

So what did you do today? What will you do tomorrow?

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Wednesday Weigh-In March 11, 2009

What do you want to see here?

As you know, we’ve been treading water the past few weeks since David Fowler left, attempting to figure out what we’d like to do with this site.

Tara and I have talked a bit about it and decided to march onward as we were and for those who want to come along, all the more power to them!

So, here is my question for the faithful – what would YOU like Blog To Fit to be?

Do you like its present format of once-a-week postings? Would you like to see more postings? Would you like to see more writers? Would you like to see this opened up as a community blog where everybody can post about weight loss? Perhaps there’s a few regular commenters who you would like to see writing here?

As we consider our options, we would love to have some input from the people who make this worthwhile – YOU.

Now, for the weekly Wednesday Weigh-In

Tara Cain

This giving up refined sugar challenge has been a bit of a revelation to me, truth be told.

It’s been 14 days (yes, I am counting!) since I gave it up for Lent, and I’m not going to lie to you it’s been tough. But tough as in my husband keeps eating ice cream infront of me and the children still want their Friday chocolate. And muggins here has to sit and watch.
I honestly didn’t think I could do it.

However, my skin is just amazing at the moment. I’ve had comments on it (what are you using? New makeup? When infact I find I’m wearing less make up now to cover my 40-year-old abused skin.)

Also, when I try to eat something high in sugar now I find I can’t. I can actually smell the sugar and fat and I can’t face it! Amazing.
I have slipped up a couple of times. I’ve had a handful of sweet popcorn, a small glass of soda and a bite of chocolate roll. But that’s been it.

And this week I actually feel different. I’ve lost 2lb but more than that I feel like I’ve really lost it. And I no longer crave chocolate or biscuits or cake. Sure I could still eat it, but I’m not hovering around the goodie cupboard having some ridiculous internal argument about why I really should be allowed that chocolate HobNob.

So for any of you who joined me in the challenge, I hope you’re doing as well, and for Suzanne who gave up wine, well I’ll believed that when I see it!

The stats:

• Starting weight Wed. Nov.19: 168 lbs.
• Goal weight: 140 lbs.
• Weight last week: 164 lbs.
• Weight today: 162lbs
• Amount lost this week: 2lb

David Wright

It appears that my house cannot stay healthy for longer than a couple of days at a time. If it’s not me, it’s my wife, if it’s not her, it’s our son, and so on and so on.

In other words, I had very little “me-time” to get things done. I unplugged from BlogToFit for a week (sorry I haven’t posted yet to last week’s comments – I will later today) just to clear my head and think about my fitness goals a bit more.

I’m still not feeling it, though much of that can be due to the sickness on the homefront. Once everybody is back in form, I WANT to get back to doing what I need to do.

I’m curious to see what readers want to see at this site.

The stats: David Wright

• Starting weight Wed. Nov.19: 350 lbs.
• Goal weight: 250 lbs.
• Weight last week: 329 lbs.
• Weight today: 329 lbs.
• Amount gained this week: o lbs.
• Total lost since Nov. 19: 21 pounds

Now it’s your turn. Share your success (or setback) story with us.

If you’d like to post a Wednesday Weigh-In post on your blog and help spread the word of our goals, please do so. Get all the info on how you can participate right here.

See you downstairs in the comments – and let’s all show our support and visit anyone taking part.

Update

As always, thank you to everyone who takes part in the Wednesday Weigh-In.

Thank you!

Want a bit of humor and motivation delivered via email every weekday? Subscribe to get each BlogToFit post delivered for free! Email not your thing? That’s okay, you can also subscribe via RSS – like all the cool kids do. It’s also free. Unless you really WANT to pay us.

Copyright 2009 BlogToFit.com. If you are reading this on any site other than BlogToFit.com or your personal feedreader or email, you may be viewing it on a site which steals content. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t trust any site which steals content.

Wednesday Weigh-In March 4 2009

Not feeling it

By DAVID WRIGHT

Every week, I come here looking to write something inspirational, funny or at the very least, interesting.

Today, I’m not feeling it.

Haven’t been feeling it for a while, actually.

Fact is, I’ve got so much on my plate, so much up in the air, that fitness has been the last thing on my mind lately. Like a lot of people, I lost my job last year. I’ve made drastic cuts to my spending and am living on less than I thought I could. And the financial stress has made me numb to most other things.

And yet here I am attempting to motivate other people to lose weight. Who am I kidding? I am probably the last person that should be writing in this blog these days. I loathe that I’m even admitting this stuff, it all sounds so damned whiny. But to write anything else would be dishonest.

My recent weight loss, while it has been dramatic, hasn’t been due to hard work and dedication so much as it’s been modest changes.

I still eat crap I shouldn’t.

I still don’t exercise enough.

I still make excuses to myself for both of the above.

I’m still fat.

So, what to do? The easy thing would be to quit blogging about weight loss and leave Tara all by herself. Hell, Fowler made it a viable option a few weeks ago when he needed to leave. But I can’t quite bring myself to do it.

I have to plug on. I have to find some way to break through the mental malaise which clouds many of my days. I have to clear my mind and find something to cling to which carry me forward.

This week’s question:

So, how do you all plug on when you’re just not feeling it?

Now, for the weekly Wednesday Weigh-In

Tara Cain

l AM feeling it this week. Bloody angry (sorry), that’s what I’m feeling.

I gave up all refined sugar for Lent. No chocolate, no biscuits, no cake – not even my beloved fizzy cola drink.
And what do I have to show for it? Nada, nothing, NOTHING.
HOW. CAN. THAT. BE. RIGHT?

Seriously, I have been really strict with myself. I texted a friend (Michelle who sometimes comes over and comments here) to say I’d been really sticking to it and wasn’t I just marvellous and she sent a message back saying: “E**ing hell! My diet is mainly sugar!” (sorry honey, hope you don’t mind me sharing!) and then I felt even more virtuous.

I admit I fell from grace on Sunday night when I caved in and had a handful of sugared popcorn – but then I felt so bloated and uncomforable afterwards, I wished I hadn’t bothered.

So, it’s been exactly a week and it hasn’t made a single bit of difference.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving up. Seven days down, another 33 to go . . .

Maybe just like Dave, I too need a bit of advice and encouragement to keep me going.

The stats:

• Starting weight Wed. Nov.19: 168 lbs.
• Goal weight: 140 lbs.
• Weight last week: 164 lbs.
• Weight today: 164lbs
• Amount lost this week: 0lb

David Wright

I have a stomach virus, so I’m on a liquid diet for the next 3 days. Which might help me lose the 2 pounds I seemed to gain this week. I love chicken noodle soup but I’m getting sick of it.

Anyone have some soup ideas?

The stats: David Wright

• Starting weight Wed. Nov.19: 350 lbs.
• Goal weight: 250 lbs.
• Weight last week: 327 lbs.
• Weight today: 329 lbs.
• Amount gained this week: 2 lbs.
• Total lost since Nov. 19: 21 pounds

Now it’s your turn. Share your success (or setback) story with us.

If you’d like to post a Wednesday Weigh-In post on your blog and help spread the word of our goals, please do so. Get all the info on how you can participate right here.

See you downstairs in the comments – and let’s all show our support and visit anyone taking part.

Update

As always, thank you to everyone who takes part in the Wednesday Weigh-In.

Thank you!

Want a bit of humor and motivation delivered via email every weekday? Subscribe to get each BlogToFit post delivered for free! Email not your thing? That’s okay, you can also subscribe via RSS – like all the cool kids do. It’s also free. Unless you really WANT to pay us.

Copyright 2009 BlogToFit.com. If you are reading this on any site other than BlogToFit.com or your personal feedreader or email, you may be viewing it on a site which steals content. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t trust any site which steals content.

Wednesday Weigh-In Feb. 18, 2009

This week I feel like my insides have turned to fruit.

I have eaten so many apples, bananas, grapefruit, pears and grapes that my organs feel like mush!

In my bid to stop with the snacking (oh the endless snacking) I have turned to my friend the crisp, tart apple for help.

And the sweet satsuma, the so-juicy-the-juice-drips-down-your-chin-plum and don’t even get me started on what happens to your guts when you devour a bowl of cherries in one sitting! It’s not pretty.

But I have to say, even though it has taken me all week, I now actually look forward to my fruit shot every day.
Have I retrained my taste buds? I’m not sure. I’d still happily fill up on chocolate biscuits and toast, but I don’t actually feel like I’m force feeding myself good stuff now. A grapefruit in the morning doesn’t feel like a chore.

And I do find that if I pretend those chocolate fingers aren’t there, if I ignore their little calls for me to come on over to the cupboard, just a quick visit, just open the cupboard door and take a look at us, ooo look at our nice sleek box, ooo just open us up and have a sniff . .  . Anyway, if I block out their urgent calls to me and don’t have one, I’m fine. An apple suits me just fine and dandy.

So this new revelation hasn’t altered my stats any as I only had the breakthrough on Monday, so I’m pretty sure there will be success next week.

Oh and I will be setting myself – and anyone who wants to join in – a challenge next week . . .

Now, for the weekly Wednesday Weigh-In

Tara Cain

The stats:

• Starting weight Wed. Nov.19: 168 lbs.
• Goal weight: 140 lbs.
• Weight last week: 164 lbs.
• Weight today: 164lbs
• Amount lost this week: 0lb

David Wright

This week was probably my worst since starting. Why? Well, I’d like to blame Valentine’s Day, but nobody forced me to pig out on chocolate. I just did. Of course, the side effects of my indulgences did inspire a humorous post over at BloggerDad today.

At any rate, no loss this week. On the good side, no gain, either. I’ll be interested in seeing what Tara has planned next week.

If it involves chocolate eating and marathon toilet sitting, I’m afraid I’m already up on my competitors.

Also, if I may, Happy Birthday to my best friend (and recent BlogToFit convert) Lisa, who is feeling a bit down on her weight loss struggles of late. Good luck, Lisa. I believe in you!

The stats: David Wright

• Starting weight Wed. Nov.19: 350 lbs.
• Goal weight: 250 lbs.
• Weight last week: 329 lbs.
• Weight today: 329 lbs.
• Amount lost this week: 0 lbs.
• Total lost since Nov. 19: 21 pounds

Now it’s your turn. Share your success (or setback) story with us.

If you’d like to post a Wednesday Weigh-In post on your blog and help spread the word of our goals, please do so. Get all the info on how you can participate right here.

See you downstairs in the comments – and let’s all show our support and visit anyone taking part.

Update

As always, thank you to everyone who takes part in the Wednesday Weigh-In.

Thank you!

Want a bit of humor and motivation delivered via email every weekday? Subscribe to get each BlogToFit post delivered for free! Email not your thing? That’s okay, you can also subscribe via RSS – like all the cool kids do. It’s also free. Unless you really WANT to pay us.

Copyright 2009 BlogToFit.com. If you are reading this on any site other than BlogToFit.com or your personal feedreader or email, you may be viewing it on a site which steals content. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t trust any site which steals content.

Wednesday Weigh In Feb. 4, 2009

What’s your favorite healthy snack?

I’ve found that snacking during the day has helped keep me from pigging out late at night. Unfortunately, I’m getting bored with my snacks.

Typically, I eat some nuts and raisins, baked chips when I want something crunchy and whole wheat crackers and semi-sweet chocolate chips when I’m craving sweets.

These snacks are getting boring, though, and I’m searching for a few healthy snacks. I need to find something to appeal to both my sweet tooth and to my salt tooth (is there such a thing? If not, I just coined a term, let’s ride it to popularity!)

So share some of your favorite healthy snacking foods. And if Writer Dad comes in here talking about donuts, I’m going to pound him!

Tara Cain

After yesterday’s post I don’t think it will come as any surprise to tell you that I have lost just 1lb. Again.
At this rate I will be at goal weight in my pensionable years!

It has been snowing here all week and haven’t been able to get out walking as much (mainly because the children are off school and a brisk walk up hills on the ice and snow is not on their ‘to do’ list. Playing in the garden and pelting each other with snow, now that is on their list!)

I’m not too worried, I’ve turned a bit of a corner on the food front and after giving myself a bit of a talking to, I’ve managed to keep to The Plan and stop the bad snacking.
What’s my favourite snack? Chocolate. No no no, I didn’t mean that. Tinned pears have become a hit for some reason, plain popcorn and bananas, which I am eating right now as I type.

The stats: Tara Cain

• Starting weight Wed. Nov.19: 168 lbs.
• Goal weight: 140 lbs.
• Weight last week: 163 lbs.
• Weight today: 162lbs
• Amount lost this week: 1 lb

David Fowler

I’ve had another good week with a 2lb loss. I continued with the 100 Push Up challenge. I’ve also been running – in the snow! I’ve put in two 1.5 mile runs and a longer 30 minute run, I’m not sure of the distance because I took a scenic route for variety. Most of my measurements are down marginally. I’ve made some good food choices, including the odd treat. My new found approach seems to be working!

The stats: David Fowler

Starting weight Wed. Nov.19: 200 lbs.
Goal weight 173 lbs.

Format: Start / Last Week / This Week

• Weight: 200 / 195 / 193
• Amount lost this week: 2 lbs
• Hips: 40 / 39.75 / 39.75
• Waist: 38.5 / 38.25 / 38
• Belly: 40.25 / 40 / 38.75
• Chest: 41.5 / 41 / 40.5

(Weight is in lbs and measurements in inches)

David Wright

Another good week, continuing my recent trend of shedding multiple pounds. This week, three pounds. This might be the best three week stretch I’ve ever had in attempting to lose weight. I’m feeling a bit sluggish the past few days, though. So here’s hoping I get a burst of energy/inspiration to step things up.

The stats: David Wright

• Starting weight Wed. Nov.19: 350 lbs.
• Goal weight: 250 lbs.
• Weight last week: 334 lbs.
• Weight today: 331 lbs.
• Amount lost this week: 3 lbs.
• Total lost since Nov. 19: 19 pounds

Now it’s your turn. Share your success (or setback) story with us.

If you’d like to post a Wednesday Weigh-In post on your blog and help spread the word of our goals, please do so. Get all the info on how you can participate right here.

See you downstairs in the comments – and let’s all show our support and visit anyone taking part.

Update

As always, thank you to everyone who takes part in the Wednesday Weigh-In.

Thank you!

Want a bit of humor and motivation delivered via email every weekday? Subscribe to get each BlogToFit post delivered for free! Email not your thing? That’s okay, you can also subscribe via RSS – like all the cool kids do. It’s also free. Unless you really WANT to pay us.

Copyright 2009 BlogToFit.com. If you are reading this on any site other than BlogToFit.com or your personal feedreader or email, you may be viewing it on a site which steals content. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t trust any site which steals content.

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