Bringing Sexy Back

Me 20 Years Ago:

Me 20 Days Ago:


Jeepers.

In fairness, I think the first photo makes me look better than I actually did at the time and the second photo is just awful. I don't think I actually look that bad now - it's just a terrible photo. Still, 40 pounds is 40 pounds.

I am one of those people who can spend 2 hours at the gym without getting bored. It's what works for me. Obviously, I have not been hitting the gym in, oh . . . about the last 3-4 years. I actually put on almost all of the 40 pounds I am trying to lose in the past 3 years just from stress eating.

So enough is enough. My old gym was having a membership sale where you could basically join for free so I re-upped.

Today was my first workout. I was dreading it. Not because I figured it would be torturous but because I was not looking forward to being in a room full of mirrors where I could not avoid my reflection (truth can hurt). Ah, well, it all went just fine.

I was actually in the mood for yogurt afterwards instead of a burger so I guess the workout was successful in that regard.

Let's see, where is that 2011 marathon schedule . . . .?

Heh - yeah right.

What About Second Breakfast?

So I tallied my point totals for yesterday (my first official day) on the Weight Watcher's for Men website (don't worry - I am not going to post about this everyday . . . but this is worth mentioning).

Apparently I am allowed 32 points per day with and extra 35 per week to use when I really need them.

Yesterday's total? 68.5! And that's without beer!

My my my . . . I used up one day's worth of points plus my whole week's worth of "slush fund" points and then some . . . IN ONE DAY!

Fortunately I went out for a "run" yesterday so I was able to knock off a couple points . . .

Yes, but what about elevensies? luncheon? afternoon tea? dinner? supper? - Pippin the hobbit from LOTR

Weight and See

194 lbs

Down 2 from last week

Up one for the year

At least we made a move in the right direction this week . . .

Weight and See

196 lbs

Up 6 from last week

Up 3 for the year

I guess that's what another week of not really trying will get you.

It's tough when someone at the office pokes their head in the door and says, "I am going to Lardo's - do you want anything?"

My assistant and I are making a pact and we are going to behave ourselves beginning next week.

So maybe that will help . . .

Weight and See

190 lbs

Up 3 from last week

Down 3 for the year

My full-time assistant starts Monday, which should help. When I work from 4am to 5pm everyday my eating habits go out the window and I find myself eating carne asada burritos at 8am, McDonalds for lunch and then ordering pizza for dunner because I am too tired to cook . . .

Maybe we will see some more progress this week. . .

Weight and See

187lbs

Thats down 9 pounds from last week and down 6 overall for the year.

9 Pounds? In a week? It's makes no sense.

I didn't even really try this week . . .

Oh well, I'll take what I can get . . .

Quote of the Day

Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen.

- Peter Marshall

Weight and See

196lbs

Up four pounds from last week.

Up one pound for the year.

Oi.

Must be all that sympathy weight . . . I believe that I am actually "showing" more than my wife at this point . . .

TreadDesk: Work Out While You Work

Uh, no. I think we will pass on this one.

Weight and See

192 lbs

Up 7lbs from three weeks ago

Down 1lb for the year.

When I am going through a difficult or stressful time, I tend to comfort myself with food and drink.

The past two weeks have been doozies . . .

Weight and See

185 lbs

2 less than last week

8 less for the year

I was 185 when I got married 15 years ago. Of course, I was also going to the gym 2 hours a day. It is amazing how 185 can look so different 15 years later.

I have lost some muscle and apparently what muscle I do have has been covered by a soft protective coating.

I am going to have to lose at least 5 - maybe 10 - more pounds.

Weight and See - 1/19/8

187 lbs.

3 less than last week.

6 less for the year.

(I haven't seen the 80's since, well, the 80's)

Weight and See

190 lbs.

6 lbs down from last week.

Net drop of 3lbs for the year.

2 for 3 on the resolutions this week!

Weight and See - 1/5/8

196 lbs

3 pounds in the wrong direction. Huh.

I don't suppose sitting with my feet up and my mouth open all weekend is going to help matters . . .

On the other hand, I already started the pot roast!

Weight and See

193 lbs - 6' 1" - okay, not a porker but no paparazzi at the beach either.

New Year's Resolutions

I am a big believer in New Year's Resolutions. Actually, I am a big believer in making resolutions whenever the need arises. But there is something about a new year that brings the need for resolutions into focus.

Much of 2007 felt like being "drug through a knothole backwards" as my father-in-law would say and I spent most of last year rope-a-doping.

Many of the things that made last year difficult have not changed but I get the sense that the forces of darkness have reached the bottom of their bag of tricks and are out of surprises for now.

Time to shake it off, regroup and take stock.

Resolution #1: Physical Health

Seeing as how I can't afford to buy all new pants and the grocery bill keeps climbing - it's time to lose some weight.

I figure 10-15 lbs ought to do it although I am more concerned with my appearance and the way my pants fit than the actual number on the scale. Which is a good thing since I don't trust the old-busted scale we bought ten years ago for about $5. I suppose my first resolution should be to buy a scale just to try and track some progress . . .

Resolution #2: Physical, Mental and Emotional Health

Ruuuuun! The Great Upheaval put a kink in my get-along and then I rolled my ankle on Halloween. Well, it's time to get after it again.

Seeing as how I am now entering into year three of my 6-month marathon training program, here's hoping that I will be running my first marathon next fall. . . .

Resolution #3: Mental and Spiritual Health

Read more betterer books. I have been posting a list of must-read books over the past few weeks and number one on the list is THE BOOK itself - the Bible.

I have actually intentionally read through the Bible cover to cover three or four times. If you add up all the reading of pieces here and there, I have probably read it five or six times. I haven't read it cover to cover in a while and its time to do it again.

Regardless of your persuasion, I think we can all agree that the Bible is the most influential piece of writing in history. For that reason alone, we all should read it at least once. For "believers" its not just a good idea - its basically mandatory.

So . . . to try and stay on track, I will be posting progress reports.

"On The Run" postings will return as soon as I - well - start running.

The Bible thing can be handled by reading 15 minutes a day - everyday. In an effort to encourage all of you to read along, I will post my "Weakly Sherpa" reading schedule once a week and post some "Soul Food" - a verse or two from my daily reading each day.

On the skinny-down front, I may even post the dreaded "Weight and See" numbers once a week (provided I pick up a scale that I trust).

So you are probably sitting there in your PJ's hitting the bottom of that first cup of coffee and saying, "Yeah, right - when will you find the time?"

Well, I don't feel like I have a choice.

We all need to watch our weight - it's not really optional. Some of us have it easier than others but we all need to mind our bodies.

We all need regular exercise and goodness knows the dawg needs it too. Again - not optional.

For me, I fall into the reading-the-Bible-is-mandatory category - once again, not optional.

And the postings? I don't see how I will carry it all through without some accountability - so that may be optional but I feel it is very very necessary.

So that's the plan. We are going to get off the ropes and come out swinging in 2008.

Nana-korohi, ya-oki !