SUCCESS! IT FEELS SO GOOD!

Well, it happened at tonight’s weigh-in.  I reached my Goal Weight with .2# to spare.  What a great feeling!  I began my most recent weight journey at the beginning of September 2014 and just reached my goal weight tonight on February 19, 2015.  According to the Weight Watcher Tracker I averaged a loss of 2.2# per week, including one week when I gained 2#.  It was right after Christmas.  Surprise!  Surprise.  This won’t be a long post tonight but I wanted to remind you all that “If you work the plan, the plan will work for you!”  It is so hard to hear or read comments by people who are only counting calories (tracking points) or only increase their exercise a bit or worse yet, only come to the weekly meetings and don’t do either of the other two activities mentioned above.   I have become a firm believer of the fact is (common sense really) that in order to successfully lose weight you need to eat less and exercise more.  It’s not that easy but, really, it’s not that difficult when you put your mind to it!  You can do this!

Now I move on to the stage Weight Watchers calls “Maintenance”.  In that stage I must keep my weight within a 4# range.  I can go as low as 2# below my target weight or 2# above but no more.  It will be an interesting change to my routine.  Actually, I don’t plan on changing that much.  I will need to keep up my walking and tracking and participating in weekly meetings to be successful.  If it’s been working for me so far I sure don’t want to change too much.  I’ll try to keep you posted on my progress.  Once more I’d like to say, if I can do this so can you.  Take responsibility for this weight loss.  Don’t make excuses, make progress by making plans and following them.  This goes not only for your eating plans but also for your exercise plans as well.  You can do this.  Keep it up and let’s become real losers together.  God bless.

A Little Mouse Told Me!

A recent scientific study was conducted using mice to see the effects of including a 12 to 14 hour fast in a daily eating cycle.  The study can be found at http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-prevent-reverse-obesity-fasting-20141203-story.html

Basically, what happened was that two groups of mice were used in the study.  One group was fed a diet high in fat and sugar and were allowed to eat whenever they wanted throughout a 24 hour
period.  The second group of mice were fed the same type of diet but were not allowed to eat in the evening, much like our after dinner time, until the next morning.  The study showed positive results with half as much weight gain for the group of mice who didn't eat after "supper".

I tried following the plan this week and had great results.  In the past I have usually enjoyed some kind of healthy snack at night like grapes (no points) and rice cakes (very low points).  I would eat until satisfied or "feeling full".  I did not see good weight loss while eating in this way but when I actually did "fast" after dinner until breakfast the next morning I found it much more beneficial to weight control and loss.  In other words, it worked for me!  It's interesting to note that the name "breakfast" comes from that very idea.  When we have that first meal of the new day it's the time we "break" the "fast" we have been on for the past 12 to 14 hours.  Hmmmmm?

Now, don't get me wrong.  I LOVE my evening snack time and sometime between 8PM or 9PM I have my usual snack attack.  This week I tried satiating that with flavored water, hot tea or coffee.  It wasn't the most fun but it sure felt good the next morning when I got on the scales.  So, hey, maybe you want to give it a try.

Once again, if you would like to read an article about the study I've mentioned, it is found at http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-prevent-reverse-obesity-fasting-20141203-story.html

God bless and good luck with your own war on weight!  Remember, we're all in this together.  Isn't it great to hang out with such a bunch of "losers"?!

Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words so I’m going to begin this post with a picture…but then I’ll add lots of words below the picture as well.  You didn’t think you’d get out of it that easy, did you?

 Please do not adjust your computer screen.  Yes, the picture is correct and, no, it’s not a photo shop.  Number 1192 in this picture is yours truly.

Now for the explanation.  Our Weight Watcher instructor recently challenged our class to join her for the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in Watertown, NY on November 27^th.  I accepted that challenge and today I actually ran (and walked..a lot) my first 5K run.  Now I should explain that my daily routine is to try and walk an hour or more near my home.  The total distance of that walk is 4 ½ miles so, technically, I have been walking more than 5K on a daily basis for a while now.  I recently added some short runs (now about 200 steps) to my walk and repeat that several times during the hour long exercise.  Sooooooo, it seemed like it was time to “step it up” (pun intended) and join some type of “race”.

The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot was the answer.  It includes all ages and abilities and takes place early on Thanksgiving Day.  I thought I could give this kind of activity a try as a way of “coming out” as a man who has determined that he really wants to be serious not only about losing some weight but also in increasing his level of physical activity on a more regular, permanent basis.  Now for the outcome.

I felt great in completing this event today.  I was walking/running with about 1400 others who had joined the Turkey Trot and no one cared whether you ran, walked or crawled.  They were all part of the excitement of and early morning experience with a large group of like thinkers and that was great.  Being a part of such a large group was, in itself, kind of exciting and encouraging.  You weren’t just watching people race, you were one of the “runners”.  I’m about half way to my weight loss goal and as I continue to lose, issues like a bad knee and bad back are less and less noticeable.  As the weight continues to come off I hope to increase my ability to run longer and longer during my daily exercise to the point that I will be able to truly call myself a “runner” at some future 5Ks.

I want to encourage all of you to “step it up” in your own life as well.  If that means walking all the way to the end of the block and back then that’s great.  If you can work up to two blocks or eventually around the block then you are on your way.  Pick an activity you think you would enjoy and get started.  Maybe it’s riding a bike or some other activity.  Try it out and then, once you get used to it, “step it up” in one way or another.  The changes don’t have to be huge, just press yourself to add just a bit more to your activity level.  As you reach the point where you find small victories (like actually participating in a public "race") you will feel better and better about yourself. 

I’ll leave you with another picture I found from a local news agency that was posted along with dozens more taken during today’s race.  These pictures will remind me that “Yes I Can” make a difference in my physical exercise and  my physical ability.  I guess that’s one of the reasons I’m in WW in the first place.  I not only want to lose weight but I want to develop a more healthy lifestyle so this weight loss can be permanent.  I want to encourage you to join me.  And speaking of encouragement, you will never guess who was standing at the finish line today, long after she had already finished her own race.  Yup, it was that same little Weight Watcher instructor I mentioned earlier.  As I ran across the finish line I could hear someone cheering up ahead.  Not only had she encouraged me to start this race but she was there to encourage me to cross that first finish line.  Thanks Alison!  You are a great encourager.  I hope this blog site can be an encouragement to some of you.  I plan to “Step It Up”, won’t you join me?  God bless.