Very Quick Update

Sorry I missed last week, but I was not overly excited to announce the largest one week gain in history, well maybe not history, but it was bad. After almost a week in beautiful Malibu California I gained 7.9 pounds. Not to fear I weighed today and lost 6 of it this week, so I am back on the right track!!

Working out has been limited to walks around the neighborhood chasing Kiley on her bicycle. With my current scheudule that is about the best I can hope for.

Down 2

It's not 8, but losing two pounds this week does not disappoint me. I ate poorly last weekend and did not get in near the exercise that I had hoped, so I was hoping to just not gain. I was pleasantly surprised to be down.

On another note, I saw a friend today at a store who complimented me on "how skinny" I am. Not that I mind being encouraged, I like it as matter of fact, but in my mind my first response was "if you only knew". To her I had lost all this weight, run a couple of marathons and a couple triathlons and was doing exactly what I needed to do. But from my perspective I am not working out hardly at all, cheat much more than I used to, and feel like not only I could fall of the wagon, but that wagon would then fall on top of me. I don't see her often and from her perspective I had this weight thing beat. A similar conversation happened this morning between Kim and her mom, it was not about weight, but about relationship. She told Kim how wonderful she thinks our marriage is how, in her words "have it all together" That has really stuck with me today. Let be me the first to tell you, Kim and I have a wonderful marriage, but are far from having "it all together" but like my friend in the store who I don't see often and her mom who lives in Chattanooga, the perception can be better than reality.

I think I have thought that at some point I would have it all together on this health and weight thing, that I would not have to go to meetings or not worry about pigging out and starting a downward spiral of gaining weight, but that is not reality. I think reality is no one ever has anything "all together" we are all on a journey and for some it's weight for others it something different, and to aspire to "having it all together" someday is setting yourself up for failure. I hope I can just enjoy the journey and do better tomorrow than I did today.

Down 8!!

Well the first week back on the wagon was a good one. I did not get near the physical activity that I wanted to, but did lose over 8 pounds. I hope to plan 5 or 10K or a bike race or something I can start training towards, because it is apparent that without a goal I won't get out and do much.

I know it is just the first week and I am still almost 30 pounds from my lowest weight of last year, but I feel like I am on the way, and that it will come off. I have not written about the possibility of an Ironman in a while, but it is something you have to register for a year in advance, and looking at my schedule for the year I am realizing that I might be able to start training at the first of 2009 and would like to at least think about doing one in July or August of 2009. That is along way away, but this years is just not a possibility with all that I have going on, a half marathon is probably the most I can hope for this year and some 5ks, but if things work out like I hope, I will have the first part of 2009 with much more spare time.

By the way I think I am beating Debbie in our newest challenge!!

Thanks

I appreciate so much the support and encouragment from you guys that read the blog as I start the HMR program again. Even though I weigh 100 pounds less than the first time I started, I am dissapointed that I have allowed myslef to gain back over 35 pounds, and not fit into some of the pants I could fit into at this time last year.

I have had a great week and look forward to my official weigh in next Thusday so that I can report a loss. I have to say that the accoutability and the structure built into the program really help me. I am hoping to do a 5k in the next couple of weeks just to get back in the swing of racing and try to work in a half marathon for the fall. I also hope the weather makes it easier to ride my bike soon.

Here we go...AGAIN

Well the slow methodical gain of weight has to stop. I am up over 30 pounds from my lowest weight which was around this time last year. I have still lost over 100, but I have to stop this silly bleeding now. As I posted I started Weight Watchers and I really thought that would work,and I think it if i just wanted to maintain, it would, but I need to lose about 50 pounds, and I know how to do that, I have done it before with the HMR program and as most people tend to do, when in doubt go back to what is familiar. I have swallowed my pride and emailed my old weight loss class instructor and have committed to getting back in a week from today. With all the other things I have going on like, finishing my degree (done in Dec) college ministry, my job, being a dad of two small children, and most recently being appointed by the Gov. to the Quorum Court, I have not had a lot of time to concentrate on how I eat or even think about working out very much.

I weight tomorrow and Debbie and I start over on our race to lose 30 pounds, I hope to at least make it competitive, I am striving to find that contentment of being in the journey that I talked about at this time last year, but for some reason it has been hard to find. I hope to start riding my bike again on Sat mornings soon and running more, but in the meantime I just need to control my eating and know that I am doing all I can do to make sure that part of the formula is successful.

Up and downs, thanks for coming along

It's Official

I owe Debbie www.debbiecook.blogspot.com a CD of her choice. We made the bet late last year, and the first one to 30 pounds won. She did great and I pretty much sucked it up. I went up I went down and in the end I think I gained 2 pounds over the same period of time that she lost 30. Wow that's depressing me just typing it out. But hey life has been pretty hectic and I have been really pre-occupied and..I have more excuses if you want to hear them. But I know you don't and I don't really either. I am trying to eat well and exercise, because next week we are going skiing and I bet I don't eat real well in Colorado, so I will have to make up for that when I get back. Last weekend I traveled to Nashville and didn't do real well there either. I try to update and report in good and bad and this is kinda of bad. But hey I have been lifiting weights a lot and getting a lot stronger and have more defenition in the upper body, now if I could just get that little film of fat that cover my whole body off I could actully enjoy all that work in the weight room.

Double or nothiing??? Come on Debbie!!

I like this Weight Watchers thing

I lost 7.8 pounds in my first week of Weight Watchers. I have to say that it is a little more than I thought I would lose and I am sure it will slow down, but I am excited about it. It is good to be back in the swing of going to a meeting and having the accountabiltiy factor. I hope to cook a WW receipe of poppy seed chicken tonight and the whole family can enjoy it. Even with Kim and I going out of town last weekend I was able to stay on program and eat out the whole weekend.

I really feel that this is a lifestyle thing and would not be hard to stay on long term. Kim is really an example to that, she lost all like 15 pounds she gained afer both kids and continues to go to the meeting once a month and weigh in and stick to the points program pretty well to maintain her weight. She has been doing it for over 5 years or so now.

The weight lifting is still going well 2 days a week and I am trying to get in more running or biking, but the weather has really been bad , and I have not been terribly motivated or had a ton of time, but once momentum starts in the right direction it makes it a lot easier to keep it going and doing the right things to stay in shape.