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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

I'm Number 32!

40 Inspiring Websites To Motiviate You to Get Healthy
Posted by Jeff at Tuesday, November 30, 2010 2 comments: 

Road to Nowhere

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.  My folks were in town and we had a great dinner with them and my aunts, uncles and cousins.

On with the show. . .

After a really good week a few weeks ago, here I am again in the rut.  I've been hanging in the low 270's but can't seem to get out from there.  271 one day, 274 another.  Lot's of riding, running even, too.  Last week was a watershed week for me for this time of year.  Six days of activity, more than 100 miles on the bike, a 5k with the kids and a day in the gym and I'm on a road to going nowhere fast.  If the glass were half empty, I suppose I'd be thankful for holding my own through Thanksgiving.  I won't be making my November goal, but December is just around the corner.

On Saturday, I showed up for the weekly Knobbies and Slicks ride.  When I got there, one of the regulars came up to me and said "Hey, Jerry, I've got some shirts for you."  Well, whomever Jerry is, I'll let him know.  Turns out Doug (who's real name is Dave) used to be a big guy.  At least as big as I am now.  Doug was kind enough to pass on his old 2xl and 3xl bike jerseys to me.  And, if you know me (which is to love me), you'd know that I was most happy to oblige.

I got to talking to Doug about how he lost his weight . . . down to under 200 now.  He did it though Weight Watchers.  I've known plenty of folks that have had great success counting points with WW.  Might be time to give it a try.  Thanks, Doug!

Be back around, soon, y'all!

Posted by Jeff at Monday, November 29, 2010 3 comments: 

Half Dozen and Why I Hate Bacon

A week back on the wagon and I've lost six pounds to 274.  Not too bad.  Still, I know there's much more to be done.  Even though I've run and biked and spun (is that right?  spinned?  no.) gone to spin class.  Need to get back on the weights.
I just saw a note from some buddies in Wisconsin.  They're setting up a weight loss contest for tomorrow through March 1.  Not sure of the details, but more likely than not, I'll be in.  Will keep you posted.

On an entirely different subject. . . I work with a guy that eats everything.  He's 50 years old, tall and lanky and just eats.  We go to lunch and he eats worse than the fat guy that I was.  One day he orders an appetizer of bacon wrapped tenderloins.  I ate one tenderloin, without the bacon.  He ate 11 bacon wrapped pieces and my piece of bacon. Then he ate a burger and fries.  We go to a Mexican place and he finishes with a sopapia desert -- extra caramel sauce, extra whipped cream.  Told me today he weighs less than he did in high school.  (I do too, but I work at it a helluva lot more than he does.)  I accept the fact that our bodies are different, yada, yada, yada, but I don't have to like it!

Thank you all for the positive vibes.  It's good to be back in bloggerville.

Posted by Jeff at Tuesday, November 09, 2010 7 comments: 


It's nice when things start to click.  I'd have to say this has been one of my best weeks, diet and exercise wise, in a very long time.  It feels good, to feel good.

I woke up on Saturday morning planning to head to Knobbies and Slicks for the group ride.  The first thing that I encountered was the weather.  Now, before I get too far along, I must remind and disclose to all what I wimp I am when it gets cold outside.  Let's make that WIMP!  I had set my biking tolerance to about 43 degrees and even that was pushing it.  My Maryland biking buddies knew that there was a much better chance seeing me at the spin studio rather than on the roads between November and Mid-March.  I digress. . .  back to Saturday.  As you might have guessed, I'm gonna tell you about the nip in the air.  According to the Weather Channel, it was just 36 degrees before 8 am.  WHAT?  I thought this was Texas!  I wasn't ready for THAT cold.  I put on every layer I had, including the new thermal bibs and, teeth chattering and all, headed out the door.

It felt great to be out there, temps and all.  I hung with a faster group for the first 25 miles or so and truly enjoyed the ride.  By the time we got back to the shop, I had 35 miles on the Garmin at a 16.5 average.  (Going back over my Garmin history, this was my fastest average EVER!)

The change in eating has definitly had a positive impact on my overall mood.  Feeling less lethargic and a bit more energetic.

Looking forward to reinforcement of the week's activities via the scale tomorrow.  Until then. . .

Posted by Jeff at Monday, November 08, 2010 3 comments: 

Turning Lemons into . . . Carbon!

How do you make this: look like this: Well, it's not EXACTLY magic.  You see, the picture up top is of the left rear quarter panel of my car.  One night, not so long ago, Deb and the car met it's match with the wrought iron gate at my house.  The gate won.
I took the car to be looked at and was shocked a what my little dent would cost to fix.  So much for avoiding the insurance company.
Fast forward and backward to my bike.  I've been talking about upgrading from my entry level Trek for about a year and a half, maybe longer.  Every time I get close to making a move, something comes up and I won't spend the cash.  Recently I've been hanging out at my new favorite local bike shop (LBS), Knobbies and Slicks.  They've tuned up both of the kids bikes as well as my Trek.  I've gone out on a couple of rides that they've sponsored as well.  I happened to mention to the owner, Bud, that I'd been thinking about a new bike.  Well, that was all I had to say.  Before I knew it, Bud had me on a few sweet machines and I fell in love with a particular set of wheels from Rocky Mountain.
Anyone that has been in my car knows that I treat it. . . well, like crap.  It's transportation.  It gets me to work, the kids to school and it's safe.  I remind my coworkers that I've got Maryland dust on it since it's not been washed despite four months of Texas.  (I once took my car for a wash and the guy told me I needed to bring it in more than once a year.)
This is where the "little ding" and carbon fiber collide.  It just seemed logical to ignore the ding and buy the bike.  So that I did!  Thanks, Deb, for the bike (sorta.)  And thank you, too, Liberty Mutual!
Day 2:  Another good day of eating.  A visit to 24 Hour Fitness with a guest pass and a great hour spin.  Best two consecutive days I've had of eating and exercising in quite a while.
Posted by Jeff at Thursday, November 04, 2010 4 comments: 

Day 1: A Run in the Rain

Maybe my little pity party was what I needed to kick myself in the butt. Driving home in the rain, I remembered how much I enjoy running in the weather.  I walked in the door, put my shoes on and headed out.  I wasn't gone long, but it felt good to get out there.  This was a big step in my return to sanity.  Just about 2 1/2 miles, but it's a start.

I ate well yesterday.  No crazy candy consumption.  Nothing fried.  Lot's of green food and some fruit.  It was a good Day 1.

I wonder if there's some kind of four year itch after the big loss.  I heard from my buddies Mike in Wisconsin and Dan in New Jersey.  We had found each other through our blogs years ago.  We're all going through similar weight pains, having bottomed out at around the same weight and we're all struggling in the mid/upper 200's now.

We did it before, we'll do it again.  We can and we will.

Thank you for all of your support.

Posted by Jeff at Wednesday, November 03, 2010 4 comments: 

Finding The Path

November. Incredible how time flies. We've been Texans for more than a third of a year. Before long, my folks come out for Thanksgiving and we head back to B-more at the end of the year.

This past weekend was the Marine Corps Marathon. As I watched my buddies post their excitement and results, I couldn't help but to feel a sense of loss for not being able to be there in person to cheer them on in person. Other than missing celebrating the Jewish holidays with my family, this was one of the toughest "misses" so far. Congrats to all of my Team In Training friends that finished on Sunday.

It's been a time of reflection, too. Thinking back on my personal accomplishments as they relate to this blog, I can't help but to feel disappointment in myself. Just one year ago, October, 2009, I completed the Seagull Century bike ride and the Marine Corps Marathon. Truly a watershed month from where I had come. Since then, it's been mostly a dearth of activity. A DNF at the Hotter than Hell 100 in August, my longest ride of the year since. As for running . . . well, that's been almost non-existent. Last week I struggled to run/walk 2.15 miles in 30 minutes. How far I have fallen.

The understatement of the year is that I'm struggling with food. Many of the old habits that I haven't seen in four plus years are back. I know what needs to be done and I'm ignoring the little guy in my head that says to do it. I handled Halloween poorly and need a plan. It's not that I don't have plans. I've planned over and over. Sometimes that plans go all the way through lunch. But what the hell is it going to take to get my back to my old (good) eating ways.

Last October, I recall struggling with my weight in the 230's. When we got to Texas this summer, I was struggling with my weight in the 260's. This morning I breached 280. Struggling? Yes.

I can tell you about all of the plans that I've had, but if I don't put them into action, they're worthless. I plan to go to the gym. I plan to go for a run (or run/walk). I plan to ride my bike. I plan to eat better and I start the day right, but then . . . I slide down a slippery slope.

I look at pictures from a couple of years ago and struggle to find my current face in the frame on the wall. No need to remind me that I was once the guy in the volcano picture on my blog at 400+. I feel like this part of my life began sometime after July, 2006.

I'd like to share my goals, but for now, they seem so hollow. 260 by the end of November. 250 by the time we get to Baltimore. 220 by next June -- Zach's Bar Mitzvah.

I know where I want to go. Just need to find the path again to get there.

Posted by Jeff at Tuesday, November 02, 2010 2 comments: