229.0

Oh 230, how I've missed you...

Up a 3.2 pounds after a horrible day of eating.  If you see someone near the Fourth Street Bridge, that would be me.  Wave as you drive by.

Disclaimer:  I am not actually at the Fourth Street Bridge.  Nor do I have any suicidal plan... or even tendencies.  Please do not call the suicide prevention line.  Please do not drive to the bridge.  Please do not call local authorities.  I am at my office and in relatively good spirits despite hating myself.  I was just kidding.

Now off to my our company's Biggest Loser contest weigh-in.  Maybe I can win some cash despite yesterday.

And, yes, the MGC stats have been dropped from the updates.  Just depressing...

Happy Halloween!

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 229.0
Change from previous: +3.2

Total: (49.4)

Total Days: 266

225.8

Just so you know... losing weight is much easier when you exercise and eat decently.  Just sayin'...

Down a pound.  I only need to lose six pounds in two days to meet the MGC!  

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 225.8
Change from previous: (1.0)

Total: (52.6)

Total Days: 265

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 225.8
Pounds lost: 5.2
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (5.3)
Pounds to go: 6.0
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 2

226.8

At my current pace of 0.2 pounds per day, I should break 220 in 35 days.  The worst part about a bad weekend is when it leaks in to the week.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 226.8
Change from previous: (0.2)

Total: (51.6)

Total Days: 264

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 226.8
Pounds lost: 4.2
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (6.0)
Pounds to go: 7.0
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 3

227.0

The one thing I have done consistently throughout the last nine months is exercise.  Other than a handful of days, I have exercised every single day since the beginning of February.  That includes vacations and many of those days include multiple episodes of exercise.  

Yesterday, I ate decently.  Sadly, I did not exercise.  Our walk on the river didn't happen because of the cold front that moved in and the frigid weather.  I planned to go to the gym instead.  I should have gone before I sat down to dinner.  Instead, I planned to go after dinner.  A couple of television shows and a little of the football game later and I no longer felt like going to the gym.  So, I told myself I would get up this morning and go.  But, like yesterday morning, the alarm came way too fast and I was way too tired.  

And, because of all of those decisions, I only lost 0.2 pounds.  So, today I think I need to exercise three times!

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 227.0
Change from previous: (0.2)

Total: (51.4)

Total Days: 263

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 227.0
Pounds lost: 4.0
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (5.8)
Pounds to go: 7.2
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 4

227.2 - The End of the Mark Gregory Challenge

And just like that, our mini-vacation to Glenwood Springs has dashed any hope I had of meeting the Mark Gregory Challenge.  While I will still do everything I can to get close to 220 by Saturday, barring a miracle it doesn't look feasible.  

The weekend was awesome... as all of our vacations, even the short ones, tend to be.  But, I have still yet to figure out how to eat well while on vacation even when that is my intent.  Two great hikes, one to Hanging Lake and the other one around Maroon Bells were not enough to offset two restaurant dinners and two large hotel breakfasts.  Whatever happened to staying at hotels that just had continental breakfast?!  I can only imagine the weight I could have gained had we not been active throughout the trip.

I was thrilled that our vacation was actually planned around hiking and not eating.  But, somehow that eating still nudged it's way in to our plans.  The failure in our plans was not scheduling this trip for the beginning of November...

All is not lost.  I will still, hopefully, be in my low 220s by Saturday.  In the end, October will be about moving the needle from hovering around 230 to hovering around 223-224.  I will make it my new goal to get under 220 by November 8, a week late.  And, I will still try to hang on to a little of this momentum through one of the hardest periods of the year.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 227.2
Change from previous: +2.8

Total: (51.2)

Total Days: 262

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 227.2
Pounds lost: 3.8
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (5.7)
Pounds to go: 7.4
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 5

224.4

Up 1.6 pounds.  But, that weight is not an indication of how I did yesterday and more an indication of how much salt I consumed.  Too many salty snacks yesterday.  Still feeling confident knowing that weight will be off by tomorrow and is an anomaly.  Of course, it still stings a little bit...

So, here is where I stand in the Mark Gregory Challenge.  I have 8 days left with a final weigh-in on Saturday, November 1.  Glad it's on a Friday!  I am out of town this weekend and won't be able to weigh.  In addition, I will be challenged to show some willpower while enjoying my weekend.  If I can get through this weekend and start Monday somewhere around 223, then I think I will get there.  So, that is my goal.  That would leave me five solid weekdays to lose about 3 pounds.  

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 224.4
Change from previous: +1.6

Total: (54.0)

Total Days: 259

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 224.4
Pounds lost: 6.6
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (1.9)
Pounds to go: 4.6
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 8

222.8

Down 0.6 and under 223 for the first time to a new recent low.  That puts me 3 pounds away from breaking 220 and 0.1 ahead of my MGC pace!

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 222.8
Change from previous: (0.6)

Total: (55.6)

Total Days: 258

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 222.8
Pounds lost: 8.2
Ahead/(Behind) pace: 0.1
Pounds to go: 3.0
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 9

223.4

Down 1.0 pounds to a new recent low and my lowest weight since September 22, 2011.  That puts me down 4.6 pounds over the last five days and puts me close to being back on MGC pace.  Ten days left to lose 3.6 pounds.  That also puts me down 55 total pounds since February.  

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 223.4
Change from previous: (1.0)

Total: (55.0)

Total Days: 257

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 223.4
Pounds lost: 7.6
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (0.2)
Pounds to go: 3.6
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 10

224.4

Down 0.8 and back to my recent low.  That still leaves me 0.9 behind my MGC pace.  But, I am gaining ground.  Hopefully, tomorrow I will drop below 224 for the first time in a long time!

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 224.4
Change from previous: (0.8)

Total: (54.0)

Total Days: 256

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 224.4
Pounds lost: 6.6
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (0.9)
Pounds to go: 4.6
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 11

225.2

Excellent!  I start my week down 1.2 from yesterday.  The better news is that I am down 2.8 from Friday's weight and 1.0 from Saturday's weight, which is typically the low weight of the weekend.  While I will have to work a lot harder than originally anticipated, I have yet to give up on my November 1 goal.  This still leaves me 1.3 behind my MGC pace.  

Time to set some new lows this week...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 225.2
Change from previous: (1.2)

Total: (53.2)

Total Days: 255

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 225.2
Pounds lost: 5.8
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (1.3)
Pounds to go: 5.4
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 12

226.4

Up 0.2 pounds... never a bad thing after a Saturday.  And, that's all I have to say today.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 226.4
Change from previous: +0.2

Total: (52.0)

Total Days: 254

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 226.4
Pounds lost: 4.6
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (2.2)
Pounds to go: 6.6
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 13

226.2

Down 1.8 after a very good day and feeling a little less sucky.  The best part is not wallowing in my suckiness and sucking any further.  Instead, I buckled down and now keep a glimmer of hope to meet the MGC Challenge goal.  Still two weeks to go.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 226.2
Change from previous: (1.8)

Total: (52.2)

Total Days: 253

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 226.2
Pounds lost: 4.8
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (1.6)
Pounds to go: 6.4
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 14

228.0

I suck.  I know this is a duplicate blog post.  But, it's true.

I guess the motivation I found in my fake challenge was only temporary and I have truly not gotten past my bad eating habits.  Bad night last night that left me 2.4 pounds up, close to 230 again, and far behind my pace for the MGC.  My only hope is to pretend the weekend is a weekday and see if I can reverse the trend of late.

I suck.

But, I am still down from October 1!

But, I still suck...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 228.0
Change from previous: +2.4

Total: (50.4)

Total Days: 252

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 228.0
Pounds lost: 3.0
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (3.1)
Pounds to go: 8.2
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 15

225.6

Not a great day.  But, managed to limit the damages to 0.2 pounds.  That leaves me slightly behind MGC pace by 0.4 pounds.  Sixteen days remaining.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 225.6
Change from previous: +0.2

Total: (52.8)

Total Days: 251

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 225.6
Pounds lost: 5.4
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (0.4)
Pounds to go: 5.8
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 16

225.4

Back on MGC pace by 0.2 pounds!  Down 0.8 from yesterday.  And, trying to muster up all of the positive energy I can find to carry me through the dreaded weekends!

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 225.4
Change from previous: (0.8)

Total: (53.0)

Total Days: 250

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 225.4
Pounds lost: 5.6
Ahead/(Behind) pace: 0.2
Pounds to go: 5.6
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 17

226.2

Time to make up lost ground on my MGC pace.  Down 1.2 after a decent day and 0.3 pounds behind my pace.  

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 226.2
Change from previous: (1.2)

Total: (52.2)

Total Days: 249

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 226.2
Pounds lost: 4.8
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (0.3)
Pounds to go: 6.4
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 18

227.4

I started the weekend irritated and it got worse from there.  After going to the club Saturday morning, I weighed the same as I did on Friday night.  That bummed me out.   I ate great on Friday and exercised Friday night and Saturday morning.  Not a good start to the weekend.  It got worse...

Saturday night I enjoyed myself way too much at a wedding reception.  Stupid young kids getting married.  I thought these parties were over when they all graduated.  Now, they are all getting married!  I ended up gaining 1.6 pounds.

Well, that bad Saturday continued on in to Sunday.  No exercise.  Tons of bad choices.  And, another 1.4 pounds up this morning. 

So, 3 pounds total gained over the weekend and all of my progress on the MGC wiped out.  A single weekend and now I find myself 1.2 pounds behind pace and far less confident about getting to 220 by the end of the month.  

Back to it...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 227.4
Change from previous: +3.0 (via no change, +1.6, +1.4)

Total: (51.0)

Total Days: 248

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 227.4
Pounds lost: 3.6
Ahead/(Behind) pace: (1.2)
Pounds to go: 7.6
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 19

224.4

I heard 230 was cruising through the neighborhood yesterday.  So, I had a restraining order put out for her.  Down 1.4 to a new recent low.  I feel confident that I have put 230 behind me after a solid day.  Determined not to do the same dance with 225.  That puts me back in front of my MGC pace by 2.9 pounds.  That leaves me 22 days to lose 4.6 pounds.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 224.4
Change from previous: (1.4)

Total: (54.0)

Total Days: 245

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 224.4
Pounds lost: 6.6
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +2.9
Pounds to go: 4.6
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 22

225.8

Too much salt.  Too much free breakfast.  Too much carelessness.  We will call the last two days my weekend and get busy again today.  Glad I had a cushion on my MGC Challenge.  Up 0.8 pounds.  Trying to remember the letter I wrote 230 because I can no longer go back now.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 225.8
Change from previous: +0.8

Total: (52.6)

Total Days: 244

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 225.8
Pounds lost: 5.2
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +1.8
Pounds to go: 6.0
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 23

225.0

Up 0.4 pounds after a second day of not eating that great.  Don't let up now Anthony... 

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 225.0
Change from previous: +0.4

Total: (53.4)

Total Days: 243

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 225.0
Pounds lost: 6.0
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +2.9
Pounds to go: 5.2
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 24

224.6

Down 0.4 and back to my low from Sunday morning.  Not my best day eating.  So, I made up for it by exercising a little harder.  That puts me 4.8 pounds away from my October goal and 3.7 pounds ahead of my MGC pace.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 224.6
Change from previous: (0.4)

Total: (53.8)

Total Days: 242

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 224.6
Pounds lost: 6.4
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +3.7
Pounds to go: 4.8
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 25

225.0 And A Letter To 230

Up 0.4 pounds which leaves me even for the weekend and down 6.0 pounds from last Monday!  Great week with a solid weekend and I finally feel like I have some momentum going again.  It took a fake challenge to finally motivate me again.  That leaves me 26 days to lose 5.2 pounds, or 0.2 pounds per day.  That leaves me 3.6 ahead of my MGC Challenge pace.  All of a sudden, 215 is starting to sound like a better goal than 220.  Now, on to that letter...

Dear 230,
It's over.  I would have preferred to do this face-to-face.  But, I haven't seen you in a week and, frankly, I don't care to see you ever again.  I would like to say it's been a fun summer.  But, I would be lying.  Sure, we had some good times.  That vacation to Florida.  Those margaritas and appetizers at Jorge's.  And, that brief weekend after The Brewery Bar where I hung out with your sister 240.  But, in the end, you were never good for me.  You were a bad influence.  You were just low enough to make me feel content... which equates to 'fat and happy'.  I don't like that you didn't make me a better person.  I never really liked you or how you made me feel.  I apologize for leading you on.  I can't explain why I kept coming back to you even though I knew better.  This may hurt, but I never want to see your face again.  I don't even want to come close to you ever again.  I am dating again... you may know her.  I am seeing 220.  But, like you, this is temporary.  In fact, I hope it doesn't last as long as you and I were together.  220 is good with that.  I was very forthcoming right off the bat and I am not hiding the fact that I don't want to be serious.  I have always felt like I needed to be with 200 or 190.  Thanks for the memories.
Sincerely, Anthony

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 225.0
Change from previous: +0.4

Total: (53.4)

Total Days: 241

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 225.0
Pounds lost: 6.0
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +3.6
Pounds to go: 5.2
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 26