Another Real Quick Update

I am still alive and working on this weight thing. I have been really too busy the last couple of months, but that should let up a little after Monday, so I will have much more time to devote to a fall race and getting some of this 30 pounds or so I have gained off.

Thanks for keeping up with me. This is a journey, and right now I am having to go up a hill.

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.

Big Weight Announcement

Today I made a prettty big decesion. I have joined Weight Watchers. You are probably wondering why I would do that with the success I was having and had with the medically supervised program. 1) I am taking over grocery shopping and dinner making at the Shumpert house and Kim is on Weight Watchers and Kiley and Robyn need to start leaning to eat healthy, more so Kiley right now, but it will be better for us to all be on the same page. 2) Those of you who know my extremist personality know that I am all in or not, and I loved the shakes only and it helped me get where I felt my weight is vey managable, but looking for the long run I really like the WW plan and think it might fit better into my physicaly active lifestly by allowing points and more food for more exercise. 3) I wanted the accoutability of a group and going into weigh each week like the other program, but did not want to spend the extra money for the other program. 4) As much as I like shakes and prepackeded meals, there is real food in the real world and I have got to learn to maintain and lose weight with it everday. 5) I needed to do something to shake things up becasue the 20 pounds I have gained are turing the corner and looking more like 30, it was time to make a drastic step to stop the bleeding and regain control, and like any good addict I realized I needed help. 6) After I get to my goal at WW I can get my own class and launch my motivatianl speaking and book deal. Ok so maybe number six is not a good reason, but I am being transparent here.

My first weigh in is next Friday that is a week from Friday, I will let you know how it goes.

Busy, busy, but not bad

Well I have been out of town a couple of weekends and have not lost any weight the last two weeks, I have not gained, but at this point staying the same is not really the goal. I have been working out in the weight room two days a week and actually ran once last week. I am currently just trying to get everything I have to get done taken care of and running or biking or swimming is a luxery. My main goal is to weigh Monday with some weight lost and to have done a good job with dicipline over the weekend. That has been a key phrase lately when I want to eat something I should not, I ask myslef if I really have no dicipline and usually I can answer myslef (which they say is a sign of mental illness) with an affrmitive and make a good eating choice. I am going to have to start running on a consistant basis again soon, but I am taking a class a Spanish class everyday at 8 in the monring and my afternoons are always busy, so in order to run I may start trying to get at it around 5:30 or so in the monrings a couple of days a week. I feel that I am on track and the journey is still very much on the right road, I am just afraid that I am going to have to buy Debbie a CD very soon becasue she is kicking my butt at the race to lose 30 pounds.

DOWN 6

It has been a great week and I have eaten well and worked out and I am seeing it pay off in the weight loss for the week. It is amazing how eating less and exercising causes one to lose weight. Now the challenge is to string two weeks together of doing the right things. The weekend are always a challenge and sometimes after a big week like this I feel like I deserve to indulge a little on the weekend and end up gaining back a majority of my loss during the week. But I am going to do my best to actually lose weight over the weekend, I will let you know how it goes Monday.

Finally, Good News to Report

I had a really good week last week and this week (all one day of it) is going well on the eating and working out. I am just trying to make it one day at a time and let one good day build on the next. After the marathon I got out of the habit of eating well and excercising and it is harder than one would think to just jump back in.

Thanks for the all the support. I am hoping to get back down to my lowest before we go sking in March.

Journey

I guess in all good exciting movies when a journey is involved there is a time of trial and trouble and wandering in the wilderness. I have described my weight loss and commitment to physical fitness as a journey from the beginning and it continues to be one. But as Moses and the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness, as Dorthy and the crew had a few dark moments on the way to Oz, and my personal favorite, Luke,Leia, and Han, whet through some pretty bad days,(Empire Strikes Back) on their way to providing freedom for the whole Galaxy from the Dark Side. I need to get back on the yellow brick road to health. As I have taken an account of all the stuff I have eaten over the last week which I am too lazy to type all of here I will give you a quick synopsis.

I eat well for breakfast cereal, oatmeal, health bar something like that.

I do pretty well for lunch Tropical Smoothie wrap of 500 calories or something in that calorie range.

I go home I eat all the chocolate I can find till I am sick and then have a party or think I am having a party and eat anything I want for dinner and then have some more candy or cake or whatever we have around the house to help us celebrate Robyn's Birthday or one of the 10 Christmas parties we are having or going to.

Then I go to bed feeling bloated sick and miserable and tell myself I will not do that again. Then I wake-up and do the same basic thing.

This lifestyle has led me to gain back about 30 pounds of what I lost and now my pants are tight and I the shirts that fit fine last week are a little snug this week.

Christmas and New Year and Bowl Games are coming, all really really good reasons to eat, and my thought process has been that I was not able to really "enjoy" this time last year because I was not eating so this year I am going to make up for it, and so the death cycle continues.

I was laying in bed last night and thought of my good friends Debbie and Jason, who are eating the way I was last year at this time. I have gone to a couple of parties with both of them and they seem to be having as much fun as me and they are not eating like it is their last meal. Perhaps I have a misconception that food and fun are related, that even though I have lost over 150 pounds, I still never got it through my thick stupid skull. So what to do what to do,how do I get back on the right track.

I have a couple of friends in my life that are currently recovering from addictions. They realize they are not at a point that they can do some of the things that "normal" people do without falling back into a lifestyle that will kill them, and they have decided it is worth the price. One even told me yesterday of a person who he was in rehab with that when the guy was allowed to leave he did not want to because he new he could not handle the outside world yet alone. I don't think I am ready for the freedom of anything I want to eat and trusting myself not to go way overboard.

So here is what I have decided to do. I am letting Debbie know, probably right now by typing this as she is one of my thousands of readers, er uh one of at least 5 or 6 maybe, and I will tell Jason also. I am going back into the program that allowed me to lose this weight. It makes keeping up with what I eat pretty simple, it is either a shake or a prepackaged meal or it is a fruit or vegetable. We call it staying in the box.

My biggest problem is that I believed what everyone who was trying to be nice was telling me... you look so good.. you have accomplished so much, you deserve to enjoy yourself...you can work on it after the first of the year... In reality I have accomplished nothing, I have walked down a road toward a life of health and physical fitness, and I have gotten pretty far, father than some, and not as far as others, but I might as well never started walking down that road, if I am content to wander in the wilderness instead of walking with purpose and a clear understanding of exactly why I am on a journey.

Accountability

I have decided to not just use my blog as a way to update you on my workouts and weight loss and races, but I have now decided that I need some accountability in what I eat especially with the holidays coming up. So I have decided to start posting my food journal on the blog also. That way if I know everyone will know I ate it, it might make me think before I decide it is worth it. I may not post everyday, but I will keep it everyday and post it all when I post.

Marathon...check

I can now say I have finished a marathon. It was not easy, it was not pretty, and it was not fast, but it is finished. It was really a wonderful experience, not just because I have lost over 100 pounds in the last year and I finished the marathon at the same place I ran my first 5k, but because of the the overwhelming support from my friends and family. We went out to eat in Memphis Friday night with 22 people! My friends Greg and Carolyn, Chris and Polly, Damon and Stephanie, Russ and Jenny, Von and Melissa, and Kevin and Debbie, and those are just the ones that did the 5k or the half-marathon and then many stuck around just to watch me finish my race. Not to mention the great support from my cousin David via my blog and my parents for watching our kids for the weekend and all their support. It was just a weekend that helped me realize just how blessed with relationships we are. Thanks again.

Now for the Race Report: I had big hopes of 5 hours or less and was making great time with the 5 hour pace group through about 15 miles. I have never in my life, in 4 years of football and all the training for running and biking and swimming had a problem with a cramp. At mile 16 I started having a cramp in my right quad, when I stopped to try and stretch I got a horrible cramp in my left hamstring, then in my right hamstring. I was frozen unable to move, people were asking me if I needed assistance, I thought I was going to have to just stop and have someone come get me. But some really nice guy came up from behind me and had a plastic bag of crystals that he said was salt, it could have been crack for all I cared, I took some and he told me to keep walking and not let the cramps tighten up. I took his advice and walked and ran the last 10 miles to finish in 5 hours 37 minutes. I was a little disappointed in the finish time, but quickly got over it and am just happy to have finished. I will have another chance to better my time someday, maybe sooner than later.

For now I am going to work on losing some more weight and lifting weights and tyring to improve my swim and and keep a base or running that can finish a half-marathon pretty easily. I hope to run another half soon.

Here we go AGAIN

Tomorrow I will run the St.Jude Marathon in Memphis. As you all know what was supposed to my first marathon in October in Chicago turned out to be disaster for race officials and Kim and I only made it to mile 17 before they shut down the race. So I went home and signed up for the marahon in Memphis wanting to make sure I FINISHED a marathon this year. A lot has happened since then and my training has not been what I would have wanted it to be. I have gained some weight and we have lost Kim's dad in his battle with cancer. But tomorrow I will be there and this time many of my friend's are comiing to run the 5K and say they will stick around for me to finish the marathon (they will have time to go eat and do some shopping, get their nails done and read a book by the time I finish) I have to tell you that I am thrilled that they will be there, but at the same time very nervous about this race. Anyone who knows me, knows that when it comes to some things I am not my normal happy go luck let the chips fall where they may self. Traveling, and athletic events. I like to be prepard, I am even a little on the freaky side when it comes to this kind of stuff, I used to get to the locker room over an hour before football practice and over 3 hours before games just to make sure I had it all together. I have to admit I don't feel prepared for the race tomorrow. But a couple of things have happened in the last couple of days to remind me that I can do this.
Tuesday night we did a little 2 mile run with our kids called the "Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis" and wathching little Kiley run beside Kim and I with all she had for the better part of a mile and just loving it brought tears to my eyes, running with her was something I could not do and would not have encouraged her to do 2 years ago, but this week we were all running together (Robyn was in the stroller) and it was one of the neatest feelings I have had. I went to Starbucks at Barns and Noble today to get some coffee and a couple that were in my weight loss class came in and then two more people who had done the same program came in and then another guy that I have run with came in, and we all there taking about running and weight and they all talked about how good I looked and that they could not tell I have gained a pound, much less the 20 or so I gained over the last month in Chattanooga. They were very encouraging and reminded me again that I run for health not just the numbers and that I can lose this weight I have gained and it should not affect my feeling toward this athletic goal that I am about to accomplish, so it won't. And finally my dad emailed me th picture of me crossing the finish line of my first triathlon today and reminded me of my miles I dedicated before Chicago. For those of you who don't remember, here they are

Mile One and mile 26 is dedicated to my life partner, supporter, running partner and mother of my childern.. Kim, I love you and appreciate your encouragment on this journey.

Miles 5 and 15 are dedicated to my sister Shelena, she likes the number 5 a lot and she is the best sister I have so it was only natural

Miles 13 and 20 are dedicated to my parents for putting up with me, I love and apprecaite their support so much, and they continue to be great examples for Kim and I, our marriage and our parenting.

Miles 24 and 25 are dedicated to Kiley and Robyn because I might want to quit then, but can't imagine coming home and not showing them my medal.

Mile 7 and 12 are dedicated to my father-in-law who is struggling with cancer, Larry and Susan were going to be in Chicago to see Kim and I, but they are in a hospital in Chattanooga.

Mile 15 is dedicated to our house church, thanks so much to Debbie, Chris, Polly, Dan, Scarlett, Greg, Carolyn, Jason, Julie, and past members Philip and Brooks who have moved to Hot Springs.

Finally Mile 16 is dedicated to all you people who read and comment on my blog and have been supportive and cotinue to motivate me on in my weight loss and physical endevors. This includes you Kevin, thanks for using ass or damn in every comment you have ever posted.

As I look over this I realize how precious life is, Larry is not with us anymore and that really makes me sad, and I realize how quickly life can slip away from us. If you have read this far, you have too much time on you hands, but you have probalby been a big support to me in my journey and I appreciate it. I know tomorrow will be a great marker on this journey, one that I know will continue to bless my health and overall outlook on life.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I have so much to be thankful for, but the ability to go out and run this morning 100 pounds lighter than last year at this time is just part of it. I get a little extreme with my weight loss and running sometimes and it can monopolize my time. Last night I realized how I wanted to run as far as I could this morning so I could know I was back on track for the marathon, but my priorities changed when I remembered how much Kiley likes for us to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade together. So I left the house a little after 8:00 with my goal for today to run 3 miles with my only time goal to be home in time for the parade...I have to go, it's about to start.

So much to be thankful for.

Back On Track

Well I am a few hours back into weight loss mode today and all is going well. It seems like it takes one good day to get my system back on track. I did a really poor job of eating in Chattanooga. I ate poorly on the road, I ate poorly at the house and I ate poorly at the restaurants. I have had more pizza, burgers, steaks, and chocolate in the last 3 weeks than I had all this year. My weight went up, but the most disappointing things are that my clothes are much tighter, my gout arthritis is hurting my foot, and I will not be able to eat and feel like I deserve to enjoy the food at Thanksgiving this year. Also I have no idea if I could go out and run 10 miles much less a marathon by Dec 1.

OK now I have vented about it, so what am I doing about it? I have done very well today back on weight loss mentality. I am not sure my foot feels good enough to run today, but I will lift tomorrow and try to run a little. Not eating a lot for Thanksgiving should not be that big a deal considering it was a year ago this week that I started this weight loss journey and had nothing but my protein shake for Thanksgiving last year.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support during these last few days with Larry's illness and death. We are very blessed.

Life is HECTIC!!

I have gained about 16 pounds over the last two based on my scales this morning. I have been in Chattanooga with my wife and her family waiting for the death of her Dad. He died last night, so we will be going back for the funeral this weekend. We have put our lives on hold for the last few weeks and I have not run or even tried to eat well. As a matter of fact I have used the situation as an excuse to eat very poorly. I am not saying that the situtation is not much more important than my weight loss, but I have an obligation to protect my weight loss and to continue on my health journey. In our house church last night we talked about getting back up from mistakes quickly and not dwelling on our failures and that is what I intend to do. I have packed my scale for this trip and I plan on sticking to at least eathing healthy throught the rest of the week and weekend. I know based on my past that after a binge like I have been on and a big gain that if I just try a little I can lose 8-10 pounds in a week or so. SO here I go BACK ON TRACK,

By the way I still plan on beating Debbie to 30 pounds as soon as I get this extra 16 off. I am going to kick it in and lose 46 faster then it takes Debbie to lose 30!!! Yeah I know bold statement, but what do I have to lose??

Long Time No Post

It has been busy. First let me update you on the situation with Kim's Dad. He is in the last stages of cancer, but his body continues to work somewhat. The hospice people are convinced he will not be with us much longer, but they said 5 days last Tuesday, so what do they know. We will continue to tralvel to Chattanooga on the weekends until he passes.

That brings me to how poorly I eat on the road. I am holding my weight, probably becasue of the 18 miles I ran Saturday and the weight lifting program I am know on, and the other running during the week, but it is not because I am eating well. I am really trying to lose weight not stay the same, especially with Debbie www.debbiecook.blogspot.com beating me in the race to lose 30 pounds. But I feel a loss coming on this week and I am thinking I will close the gap a little bit.

The marathon is coming up on DEC 1 and I am getting more and more excited about that.

Happy Halloween!