234.0

The bad news is that I gained 0.6 pounds.  The good news is that there is absolutely no confusion, and the accompanying whining, this time about where it came from.  Too much chips and salsa and way too much salt.  The better news is that we wake up tomorrow before the sun and head off to climb a mountain...  something we have no business even attempting.  More on that when we get back.

Here's to climbing mountains...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 234.0
Change from previous: +0.6
Total: (44.4)
Total Days: 144

233.4

Down a pound to a new recent low!  This is my lowest since November 27, 2011.  That puts me at an even 45 pounds down over the last 20+ weeks!

Here's to nice even one pound weight losses...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 233.4
Change from previous: (1.0)
Total: (45.0)
Total Days: 143

234.4

Back down the 2.2 I gained yesterday.  That was odd.  Unlike the last time where I realized after entering my day in myfitnesspal.com that I had eaten more than I thought, that was not the case this time.  I reviewed my day after the fact and while my calories were slightly high, they should have warranted an even day at worst.

Reasons for the oddity have been offered up on Facebook that range from "rocks in my pockets" to the weather.  While I would like to hang on to either, I weigh without any clothes (sorry for the imagery) and the weather has been pretty consistent.  But, I appreciate the suggestions to get me through the my moments of frustration.  I guess it was just one of those things.  

Here's to removing the rocks in my pockets and a change in the weather...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 234.4
Change from previous: (2.2)
Total: (44.0)
Total Days: 142

236.6

Up 2.2.  I have no clue.

Signed, Perplexed In Pueblo

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 236.6
Change from previous: +2.2
Total: (41.8)
Total Days: 141

234.4

Down 1.2 pounds to a new recent low.  This is my lowest weight since December 3, 2011.  So, after 20 weeks, I am down a total of 44 pounds.  

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 234.4
Change from previous: (1.2)
Total: (44.0)
Total Days: 140

A Wasted Week... 235.6

I wasted a week.  Well, technically I only wasted six days... so far.  Last Monday, I weighed in at 238.0.  So, I am down 2.4 pounds over the last week.  But, on Tuesday, I weighed 235.2.  For whatever reason, that was the weight I was going with as my start of the week weight.  So today, it feels like I have gained 0.4 over the last week.  Even if I miraculously lost a pound today, the best I could hope for is a 0.6 drop in a week.  That feels like a wasted week.  And, that pound feels like a big "what if".

Saturday, I woke up bummed.  Saturdays have typically been very good to me and I had crazy thoughts of losing as much as 2 pounds and being around 233.  I felt 233.  Instead, I found myself up 0.6.  That did not help get my weekend started and a weekend of salt saw me gain 1.8 on Sunday and then somehow lose the same 1.8 this morning.  I guess the good news is that this morning I was 235.6, but felt 240.  Usually, Tuesdays are my other good day... though last Saturday gives me pause.  So, I hope to at least hit a new low tomorrow morning.

Moving on...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 235.6
Change from previous: +0.6 (via +0.6, +1.8, -1.8)
Total: (42.8)
Total Days: 139

235.0

Last night, in what has become a semi-regular ritual, Lori and I went out to eat with my Mom and my sister.  I have discussed how these outings usually do me in with a combination of too much sodium and too much grazing while chatting.  And, despite my best intentions, I have yet to come away from these outings without gaining.  It would be easy to just not go.  But, I enjoy this time with my Mom and my sister and it always seemed silly to me that I couldn't control my eating habits enough to even consider making up excuses on a weekly basis to not go.  I have been pretty determined to continue going and figure this out.  To order something healthy, not pick at others' plates, and to not continue grazing after I have pushed my plate away.

So, while a 0.2 loss may not seem like much.  It is actually a minor victory.  These Friday morning weigh-ins are usually closer to a 2 pound gain.  The way I look at it, yesterday's exercise and good decisions last night at GG's BBQ resulted in me losing 2.2 pounds from what I might have been.

This bodes well going in to my Saturday morning weigh-in and a weekend with not a single event planned.  My goal is to be 232-something by Monday.

Here's to Thursday night dinners with Mom and Rita...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 235.0
Change from previous: (0.2)
Total: (43.4)
Total Days: 138

235.2

Despite not going to the club this morning for the second straight day, a good walk last night and a great day eating got me back to where I was on Tuesday and back to my recent low.  My knee was better this morning.  But, it still didn't feel 100%.  While I would prefer to have been at the club this morning, I also don't want to risk injuring my knee further and not being able to do any exercise. 

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 235.2
Change from previous: (1.0)
Total: (43.2)
Total Days: 137

236.2

I woke up this morning with my left knee screaming at me that it did not want to go to the club.  My knee was sore and throbbing and tender to the touch.  I figured it was telling me to take the day off from my three-a-days.  So, I weighed myself to see if I could get by without my morning workout.  Unfortunately, the result wasn't good.  My head said I needed to go to the club so that I wouldn't be up this morning.  But, as I sat on the side of the bed about to put on my clothes for my workout, my knee spoke up even louder.  

Even with the threat of a gain weighing on me, I realized I needed to take the morning off.  Yesterday's three-a-day turned in to a four-a-day when I rode my bike to my Mom's last night.  I think my bum knee(s) had enough and just wanted to take the morning  off.  So, I did.  I crawled back in to bed.  When I woke up an hour later, my knee was slightly sore.  But, most of the intense pain I had felt when I first woke had dissipated.  Not sure if I did something in my sleep.  But, thrilled that most of that pain had gone away.

So, after all that, I am up a pound this morning.  Today, I will only exercise twice.  Tomorrow, I hope that I wake up and my knee tells me that he is happy again and ready to take on a new day.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 236.2
Change from previous: +1.0
Total: (42.2)
Total Days: 136

235.2

I love Tuesdays!  Actually, I love Mondays.  Tuesdays are just the day that I get to see the results of Monday.  Inevitably, after an average or bad weekend that usually consists of too much sodium, Monday is the day that I make up for it by eating healthy, exercising in the morning, lifting weights at lunch, and playing nine holes of golf in my Monday night league.  Monday has become my cleanse day.  By the time I get home from golf, I am not usually hungry and am good with some hydration and a couple of bites of this or that.  As it was last night, I prefer the this or that to be some kind of fruit.

Down 2.8 from yesterday and at my new recent low.  Last Wednesday, I was the lowest I had been since October 15, 2012.  Today's weight is the lowest I have been since December 4, 2011... almost a year before that!  That means that I spent about a whole year hovering between 235.2 and around 250.  My initial free fall happened from July 12, 2011, when I weighed 209.6, through December 26, 2011, when I weighed 246.0.  So, most of the lows that I hit now will take me back to that time frame.  

By the way, I feel great this morning!

Here's to 2011...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 235.2
Change from previous: (2.8)
Total: (43.2)
Total Days: 135

238.0

Yesterday, my daughter surprised me by coming down from Colorado Springs for Father's Day.  Then her, my son, and Lori all cooked dinner for me.  My son wanted to have chicken wings.  But, realizing that chicken wings wouldn't be the best choice for me, he suggested grilled chicken breasts.  So, the three of them made home-made salsa, home-made guacamole, sauteed peppers and onions, and grilled chicken.  The meal was awesome.  The meal was pretty healthy.  I still ate too much.  But, eating too much chicken, peppers and onions is still better than eating brats.  

Today I was down 0.6.  I still gained 1.6 over the weekend.  But, it could have been worse.  It could have been chicken wings.

Thanks to my family for going healthy and thanks for a wonderful day!

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 238.0
Change from previous: (0.6)
Total: (40.4)
Total Days: 134

238.6

I wasn't counting our day at FIBARK as an event.  But, I didn't know we were having a cookout for my sister's birthday.  I also didn't know that there would be brats there. Brats have not gone well with my diet.  I thought I might be up this morning.  But, I didn't see that one coming.  Up 2.2 pounds and very disappointed with myself.

I would have preferred that I gave myself a better Father's Day gift.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 238.6
Change from previous: +2.2
Total: (39.8)
Total Days: 133

236.4

Down 2.2!  This is a new recent low and puts me down 42 pounds total!

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 236.4
Change from previous: (2.2)
Total: (42.0)
Total Days: 132

238.6

I did it again.  After what I thought was a really good day, I gained weight and was up 0.4 pounds.  But, that's not what I meant when I said I did it again.  What I meant was I once again failed to realize the calories I consumed.  That's because I still haven't fully gotten back in to the myfitnesspal.com logging.  I am not even sure why I have struggled to make that a part of my daily routine.

Unlike yesterday, I was not so positive this morning.  Not to the point of going off the wagon or sabotaging the day or the weekend.  But, yesterday I really remained positive all day despite my gain.  This morning, the even smaller gain set me off.  I was upset.

I thought about it a lot this morning, trying to figure out why I am not losing all of a sudden.  I have lifted for almost two weeks.  But, I have a hard time believing that I would be seeing any substantial weight gains over that period given how much I have to lose.  I thought maybe it was from salt... or water... or maybe remoras hanging off my ass like they do sharks!  I even thought maybe my body wasn't getting enough calories.  

So, I got on MFP and decided to enter yesterday's calories to see if that was the case.  HA!  It isn't.  When I really went through the day and entered everything... that handful of cashews, that Monster Energy drink I used as coffee, the pepperoni I ate when I got home... when I was completely honest with myself, I realized that I had consumed too many calories.  Not sure if that was the case the day before.  But, it was yesterday and now I know.  

I really need to embrace MFP.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will see a new low.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 238.6
Change from previous: +0.4
Total: (39.8)
Total Days: 131

238.2

I was due.  Up 0.8 after a really good day.  I have seen this before... a couple of times.  Lifted weights at lunch.  Mowed the lawn last night.  Took a 40 minute walk with Lori last night.  Woke up this morning and walked on the treadmill for 40 minutes.  Top that off with eating pretty good all day and I knew I was doomed to gain weight!  

My only negative yesterday might have been a bit too much salt.  If that is the case, this weight should fall off tomorrow.  So, I will be better about that today and stay positive.  While I have lied to myself before about being positive, this morning I truly was.  I looked at the weight, smiled, and carried on.  I am doing the right things.  I feel great.  My clothes fit better.  My belt, which I bought the second week of traveling to Chicago, is now comfortably on the seventh hole.  When I bought it, it was on the first hole fighting to get to the second.  I am confident that I will be close to where I want to be in five weeks.  I really meant it.

Here's to a little unpredictability...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 238.2
Change from previous: +0.8
Total: (40.2)
Total Days: 130

237.4

I could get used to a loss of 0.8 pounds per day, or almost 6 pounds weekly.  I felt heavy this morning and wasn't sure what to expect.  I thought I was going to get one of those ugly surprises.  So, I ended up surprised after all... but, it was a good surprise.  This is my lowest since October 15, 2012.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 237.4
Change from previous: (0.8)
Total: (41.0)
Total Days: 129

238.2

Down 0.8 and a little further from 240.  That puts me over 40 pounds down for this go-around.  While far short of my original goals, that's still about 10 pounds per month.  I'll take it.  Even if I did no better than that over the next three months, I would find myself under 210 by the end of August.  

Speaking of my original pace, I am still 21.3 pounds behind.  I have been as high as 28.8 pounds behind on May 27.  My lowest point, after stretching the gap to over 20, has been 18.9 pounds behind on May 21.  In the end, if I continue at my current pace and could break 210 by the end of August, I would only be about 5 pounds behind my original pace... just a slightly different way of getting there.

Here's to patience...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 238.2
Change from previous: (0.8)
Total: (40.2)
Total Days: 128

239.0

Back down the 0.6 I gained yesterday and through the weekend unscathed!  Down 2.4 from Friday and, more importantly, the same weight as Saturday.  So, I managed to get through my last weekend of graduation parties without gaining and avoided going back over 240.  Tomorrow I will hope for something sub-238 to kick off this stretch of not having any events upcoming and to put me over 40 pounds lost since February.  Good bye 240.  May we never encounter each other again.

Here's to good weekends...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 239.0
Change from previous: (0.6)
Total: (39.4)
Total Days: 127

239.6

I'll take it.  Not great.  But, I got through a day of temptations with a 0.6 pound gain and managed to remain under 240.  With no graduations, weddings, or events scheduled over the next four weeks leading up to The Fourth of July weekend, I have no more excuses.  It's time to make a big jump.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 239.6
Change from previous: +0.6
Total: (38.8)
Total Days: 126

239.0!

Down 2.4 and finally under 240!  After promising my brother it would be no later than this morning, I was bound and determined to make that happen... even if it meant waking up today at 5:00 PM and then walking for two straight hours.  Neither of those things were required.  This is the first time I have been under 240 since November 1, 2012 and the lowest I have been on this recent journey.  That puts me at 39.4 total pounds lost since I started blogging again.  

After the Memorial Day Debacle, as we refer to it here in my little brain, it took me 11 days to get from 248.8 to 239.0.  I would like to say I lost ONLY 11 days on my journey.  But, that would be a lie.  I was 240.8 on May 21 and I thought I was going to break 240 the next day.  So, in reality, I lost 17 days!  But, I won't dwell.  The good news is that I reacted accordingly and am back on track.

Today, I set off for a company picnic and a graduation party with that 239 in the back of my mind as a reminder.  Yes, I had said I had two graduation parties this weekend.  But, I have even nixed one of those from the line-up in the interest of not going back over 240.  So, I set off for our company picnic, confident that I will remain under 240 tomorrow and that I will continue to lose through the weekend.

Here's to promises kept... (Broadway Joe would be proud)...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 239.0
Change from previous: (2.4)
Total: (39.4)
Total Days: 125

241.4

Down 1.4 from yesterday.  A good day for sure.  But, not enough.  That means to make true on my guarantee I made to my brother that I would break 240 by tomorrow, I must lose 1.6 today.  So, treadmill this morning, weights at lunch, bike ride tonight, and a walk with Lori tonight and then I pray... not only that I break 240, but that I don't actually gain after all that activity.  LOL.  Wish me luck.

Here's to Joe Namath-like guarantees...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 241.4
Change from previous: (1.4)
Total: (37.0)
Total Days: 124

242.8

Up 0.4 pounds... more on that later.  I told my brother I would break 240 no later than Saturday morning.  So, today I begin fasting.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 242.8
Change from previous: +0.4
Total: (35.6)
Total Days: 123

242.4

You would think that I might actually be trying not to break 240 at this rate.  Up 0.8 pounds.  If I hadn't gotten up early for a workout this morning, that number would have been worse.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 242.4
Change from previous: +0.8
Total: (36.0)
Total Days: 122

241.6

Down 1.2 and once again fighting to break the 240 barrier.  Thursday?  We can only hope... and pray that I am not 245 on Thursday instead.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 241.6
Change from previous: (1.2)
Total: (36.8)
Total Days: 121

242.8

Down 0.8 pounds from Saturday and 0.6 for the weekend.  Always a good thing to get through the weekend without gaining.  Time for a little mini-run of losses.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 242.8
Change from previous: (0.8)
Total: (35.6)
Total Days: 120

243.6

The Marinucci cost me.  But, not as bad as I expected.  A long walk and a bike ride helped offset the damages of my namesake sandwich.  Up 0.2 from yesterday and ready to start a renewed focus with our July vacation in mind.  That gives me 47 days to be 'swimsuit-ready'... or at least a weight that doesn't scare people off the beach.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 243.6
Change from previous: +0.2
Total: (34.8)
Total Days: 119