212.2... @#!^&% Mondays!

I think I may cry.  I wanted so badly to end the streak of bad Monday morning weigh-ins.  I have not had a Monday morning drop in weight since September 13.  I thought I did pretty well yesterday.  Probably a little too much salt.  Hopefully, I will see a quick drop and get in the 208 range quickly over the next few days.  With less than a week to go and my official monthly check-in moved up to October 31 rather than November 1, I need to lose at least 4 pounds by Sunday.  I absolutely have to lose at least 5 pounds this month for my mental well-being. 

Day 13 of 20 day plan - 2.4;  Total - (4.4)

209.8!

I know I keep saying "finally", but some of these numbers have seemed a lot harder to get to then others.  Especially recently.  Finally, under 210 pounds.  It has been at least 15 and probably about 16 years since I have been under 210.  Of course, I didn't get far enough under 210.  So, now I prepare for the inevitable Monday morning blues when I go back over 210. 

Day 12 of 20 day plan - (.4);  Total - (6.8)

210.2

Down another .8 and ever so close to breaking 210!  Off to Pueblo Mountain Park to see if I can lose .4 pounds today.  Not even close enough to my official Saturday goal to report.  Now, I am just scrambling to maybe get five pounds out of the month of October.

Day 11 of 20 day plan - (.8);  Total - (6.4)

211.0... A New Low... Finally!

Back in the pool this morning...  inspirational!  If you don't get the reference, refer to last night's post.  Down .8 pounds and glad to hit a new low after a lengthy lull... try saying that three times real fast.

Day 10 of 20 day plan - (.8);  Total - (5.6)

Not Much Of An Inspiration Lately

I should have never thought it.  I definitely should have never said it.  Over the last couple of weeks, I have told a few of my closest friends and family that, while I still planned to continue losing every extra pound I still carry and that I was still intent on getting to 200, I would be perfectly content living the rest of my life at around 210.  When I started this journey, I didn't like myself that much.  Now, I finally feel comfortable with where I am.  I finally feel good when I reach in the closet to figure out what I am going to wear.  I am content. 

I should have never said those words.  I talked to my sister, Gina, today and we talked about that very thing.  The problem with being content is that you tend to lose focus.  While I haven't fallen off enough to gain any of my weight back, I have hovered between 210 to 220 since September 4.  When you weigh over 300 pounds and feel like you are slowly dying, it is easy to find motivation.  When you feel 15 years younger at 212, that motivation is a lot harder to come by.

But, if I can't find an internal motivator that works like it did six months ago, then I think I have found an external one.  If you read this blog from the beginning, you will recall the ephiphany I had one night at Kohl's.  Well, today, while I was talking to my sister, I had my second ephiphany... albeit a little less moving than the original.  My sister uttered the words I have heard repeatedly over the last several months, "You are an inspiration".  I hear this all the time.  I am embarassed every time.  My brother, the very person who has inspired me since this started, said I have recently inspired him through a personal battle that he is going struggling with.  A friend told me last week, while on the verge of tears, that her husband found out he has diabetes and that I have inspired him to get to the gym and change his lifestyle.  Another friend I know basically through a prep basketball forum, recently said that he was trying to lose a few pounds and that I had "inspired" him.

I don't believe I should be anybody's inspiration.  And, as you well know, I don't even believe that what I have done could even flick that switch inside others to make similar changes.  I hope I am wrong.  Despite my feelings otherwise, I really hope it's possible that I can indeed inspire.  But, I haven't been too inspirational lately.  I haven't followed my commandments that I laid out a week or so ago.  I have eaten popcorn and drank soda EVERY day over the last couple of weeks!  I haven't lifted weights since the very first day that I started free weights.  I haven't been in the pool or up early in a couple of weeks.  Lately, I don't deserve to hear any praise that includes my name and the word "inspirational".  Lately, I haven't liked myself again. 

When I hung up with my sister, I realized that I really do want to be an inspiration.  It may sound arrogant, but so be it.  I wasn't the one who said it.  You said it.  So, if that's what you want or what you need, then I will try my hardest to oblige.  I would love nothing more than to inspire as many people as I can to make needed changes in their life.  So, I need to get my head out of my ass and start acting the part again.  Tonight, I start again.

Here's to being an "inspiration"...

211.8

Well, what do you know?  Despite more "taste tests" at work, I managed to show slightly more control yesterday and ended up losing another pound.

Day 9 of 20 day plan - (1.0);  Total - (4.8)

212.8

Hi, my name is Anthony Marinucci and I am a fat pig with absolutely no willpower and possibly no clue either.  Nice to meet you.

Up .2 after sampling every barbeque rib I could at work.  We were supposed to sample each of the three variations of ribs and give our preference.  But, I thought that I needed to sample 3-4 of each rib to fully know how I felt! 

Day 8 of 20 day plan - 0.2;  Total - (3.8)

Music Pass, Lower and Upper Sand Creek Lakes

Okay, I'm a little behind...

About a month ago, we headed towards the Westcliffe area with our friends, Steve and Maureen O'Dorisio, for a much anticipated hike over Music Pass.  I first heard of the trail when I saw photos on Kara Kochenberger's Facebook page of the Kochenberger family hiking it.  Kara was kind enough to provide the info and I immediately started researching it on the internet.  It looked awesome and I couldn't wait for the chance to hike it.  Our first planned outing ended up being postponed and by the time we finally made it up that four wheel drive road to the trailhead, I could hardly wait.

Not sure why I was anticipating this trail so much.  Maybe it was the name... I think Music Pass has a nice ring to it, pun intended.  Maybe it was Kara's photos that included a beautiful lake above timberline that reminded me a lot of Sky Pond.  Maybe it was all of the great articles I read on the internet describing this fantastic hike.  Maybe it was the company, because hiking and talking with the O'Dorisios makes a 10 mile hike seem like a stroll in the park.  Maybe it was stories I heard from Doug Naylon and Jeff Kochenberger describing how their families climbed the pass when they were growing up.  I'm not sure, but I looked forward to this hike as much as I did on Lori and I's first hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

And, in the end, the hike, the company, the views, the lakes, and the peaks in the background, did not disappoint.  The end of our Sky Pond hike was incredible.  But, I think I enjoyed this hike from end to end more than any other hike we have done so far.  The views were simply awesome. 

The start of the hike is a climb to the summit of Music Pass.  The views in front of you, to the side of you, and behind you are stunning.  After reaching the summit, you head down the other side of the mountain down a pretty steep hill that you know you are going to hate on the return trip!  After reaching the bottom, we made the left turn towards Lower Sand Creek Lake.  That portion of the trail was a quiet and cool walk through the forest.  Eventually, you reach the prettier of the two lakes, Lower Sand Creek Lake.  The lake is stunning and sits below an imposing and equally stunning Tijeras Peak.

After a short rest and snack, we started back down to the main trail up to Upper Sand Creek Lake.  This climb is a little longer, but equally as nice.  Upper Sand Creek Lake, while not as pretty as the Lower Lake, is still quite beautiful.  We relaxed, ate lunch, and took in the views with that great feeling of knowing that it was all downhill from here... save for that little uphill jaunt I mentioned earlier.

That section of the trail that climbs back up Music Pass seems a lot longer going up than it seems when making your way down it.  By the time we got there, we had walked at least 8 miles and the climb went slowly and methodically.  Eventually, we summited Music Pass for the second time and felt that true sense of relief that it truly was all downhill from there.  After a little more than 10 miles and 8 hours of hiking, we were back in the truck and headed back down the bumpy road through beautiful aspens and on our way back home. 

Music Pass lived up to every expectation I had going in.  I highly recommend this hike to anyone looking for a great day hike.  Here's to Music Pass...

As always, click on any of the images below to enlarge.

Definitely click on the photo above to see the panorama!

 

212.6

A solid and encouraging 1.8 pound drop.  Despite not being very good over the last couple of weeks, I take solace in knowing that I am only 1.2 pounds higher than my lowest weight of 211.4 recorded on October 6.  Time to set a new low and finally get under 210.  I lost exactly 4 pounds over the last week. 

Day 7 of 20 day plan - (1.8);  Total - (4.0)

214.4 / 214.4

Up 1.8 pounds yesterday morning.  The same weight this morning.  Not even sure why I am keeping track of my plan below since I have not even come close to actually sticking to that plan!  I have had pizza, candy, popcorn, soda, chocolate, ice cream, and have exceeded my calorie goals on a couple of occasions.  Plus, while I have not had Mexican per se, I did make an incredible batch of salsa and have had chips with it!  So, that means the only commandments I have obeyed are exercising every day and not eating chicken wings or nuts.  Not good...

Day 5 of 20 day plan - 1.8;  Total - (2.2)
Day 6 of 20 day plan - no change;  Total - (2.2)

212.6

Down .6 this morning.  

Day 4 of 20 day plan - (.6);  Total - (4.0)

213.2

I can't say that I followed my 20 day plan guidelines yesterday.  But, you can't argue with the results!  Down .8 pounds and anxious to get to 210.

Day 3 of 20 day plan - (.8);  Total - (3.4)

Crap!

Not enough time to post!  Sorry. 

Tomorrow:  Music Pass, Upper and Lower Sand Creek Lakes

214.0

Despite Lori making chocolate chip cookies for her Bunko outing (couldn't she just make the requisite amount to satisfy her Bunko comrades and not leave a full plastic container at home?), I still managed to drop 2.2 pounds.  These cookies happen to be the best in the whole world by the way.  And, she added a peanut butter chip variation to the mix this time.  I wish I could say that those weren't as good as the original!  I didn't break any of my goals on my checklist... only because I conveniently forgot to include "Not eat any cookies" on that checklist.  Does a chocolate chip cookie count as breaking my "candy or chocolate" commandment?  Well, those cookies can be diet killers and are so addictive that it is hard to eat just one.  I would swear they are made with crack.  But, I managed to contain myself to a couple and with an excellent day still found myself well below my calorie goal.  Still, had I skipped the cookies all together, I may have found another .2 or .4 pounds [he thinks to himself managing to squelch all of the short-lived happiness after losing 2.2 pounds]. 

Day 2 of 20 day plan - (2.2);  Total - (2.6)

The Manitou Incline

A couple of months ago, while I was researching Waldo Canyon and other hikes in the Colorado Springs area, I came across references to The Manitou Incline trail.  I had heard of The Incline before.  But, I didn't know a whole lot about it.  I didn't realize that the trail was the same path that the original railway and incline went up and that I remembered seeing when wandering the streets as a teenager living in Manitou Springs.  I knew people used it to train.  But, I didn't realize the extent of it's popularity.  I knew that it was a straight mile-long climb up the mountain.  But, I never made the connection that it was that ugly straight-lined scar that you could see from the highway.

When we went to Waldo Canyon, we started talking about doing The Incline.  Our friends told us about the people they knew who did it regularly.  Lori and I talked about trying to do it by the end of the Summer.  Well, a couple of weeks ago, Lori suggested we do it.  I had half expected that we wouldn't be doing it until next Spring.  But, I happily agreed.  As I read about it more, I wasn't sure that Lori knew what she was getting us in to.  When I called my friend Joel a few days before we were planning to go, he told me how "hard" it was.  My friend Joel is not a recovering fat person like myself and has always been in great shape.  So, hearing him say that was cause for some concern. 

We took off Saturday for The Incline with our friend and fellow willing masochist, Kelly Brude... albeit a little later than our previous hikes.  We were under the false notion that it was late enough in the year that we wouldn't be fighting for a parking spot or find many other people on the trail.  Maybe it was because of the unusually beautiful weather for this time of year.  Maybe, this trail and area is simply always busy.  We got lucky finding a parking spot or we would have had a good walk just to get to the trailhead.  There were still plenty of people on The Incline.  In fact, there were enough folks that it made me think that it must be crazy crowded in the middle of the Summer. 

The short climb from the Barr Trail parking lot to the bottom of The Incline trail is enough to get you breathing hard... and possibly make you regret what you have just committed yourself to.  The Incline is about a mile long and climbs 2,000 feet.  It is a 45-50 degree climb up old railroad ties with varying degrees of difficulty including some steps that are closer to climbing than stepping.  While there is an element that is a test of one's stamina and strength, I think the climb is more a test of will and determination.  While there are people running or quickly walking up, mere mortals like us breathe heavily and slowly feel are legs turn to rubber.

Yes, it is still illegal to hike The Incline.  Good thing there is strength in numbers!

This photo doesn't do the climb justice.  Plus, the summit you see above is a false summit... not very nice if you ask me!

Yes, that speck on the left is Lori.

That parking lot below is where we started.  This isn't even quite halfway up.

Some of the trail is not as well maintained as other parts.

It was her idea... she couldn't quit after suggesting it!  So proud of you Lori!

And, yes, it was definitely worth it!  The views are incredible.  The feeling of accomplishment even more so.  After a short rest and a snack, we actually continued on another 200 feet up to the true summit and eventually met up with Barr Trail. 



The climb down Barr Trail is the best reward for your efforts.  After climbing 2,000 feet over one mile, the descent is a meandering 3.5 miles down.  As we were walking, a young couple ran past me.  I don't think they meant to motivate me.  I imagine they gave me little more thought than a simple "move out of our way old man so we can keep our pace".  Knowing that Lori had a friend that she could walk and talk with, I decided to give trail running a try of my own.  I ran about 90% of the way, slowing only to maneuver around other people on the trail and an occasional rest.  It felt great and I couldn't believe how fast I got down the mountain!

And, yes, while  it doesn't yet fit like I want it too, that is indeed an Under Armour shirt that I am wearing!  Men's Health magazine, here I come!

The next day, my body didn't think that running down was such a great idea.  My thighs, hamstrings and hips were sore and only got more soar as the day went on.  They still hurt today.  But, you know what I am going to say next... it's a good sore.  The Manitou Incline is a great challenge and a great hike.  I don't think I am going to be breaking any sub-30 minute records any time soon.  But, I know we will be back.  Great idea Lori!  Here's to my wife foolishly believing that we are more in shape than we actually are... 

216.2

First, let me say that my post was titled incorrectly yesterday.  I was actually 216.6, not 214.6... which explains why I called myself a big fat dummy.  Down only .4 today.  But, at least it's the right direction!

Day 1 of 20 day plan - (.4);  Total - (.4)

I Promised...

Well, I was working on photos tonight and I lost track of time.  But, I promised a nightly entry.  So here it is.  Still sore today from my trip up the Manitou Incline.  But, today was much better and I still kept my exercise streak alive the last two days despite hardly being able to walk!  Did great eating today...  good start to my 20 day plan. 

Tomorrow I get back to it with a string of three straight posts about recent hikes including the Incline.  Here's to getting back in to the swing of things and remembering why I was doing this in the first place...

216.6... BFD!!!!

Big Fat Dummy!  Okay, I have 20 days between now and when Lori and I got to Las Vegas.  While I have no reason to believe that I can be better over the next three weeks than I have been over the last three, that is the plan.  So here are my goals.  I would like to go 20 straight days and...

• Not drink any soda... that includes sips.
• Not eat popcorn... which I shouldn't be doing anyways.
• Not eat nuts... see above.
• Not eat any candy or chocolate.
• Not eat any ice cream.
• Not eat any pizza.
• Not eat any chicken wings.
• Not eat any Mexican food.
• Not exceed 1,500 calories.
• Exercise... the only thing I do consistently right.
• Writing a nightly blog entry again... something that I think will help me get back on track.

Okay, I can hear you snickering, shaking your head and doubting me.  I will consider that your challenge.  Thank you in advance.

212.6 / 212.2 / 214.6... Shitty Weekend!

Last week, my high school friend, Will Valentine, said he had tickets to this weekend's football game between Tampa Bay and New Orleans and all I needed to do was get my butt down there and he would take me.  I didn't think there would be much of a chance that I could swing it.  But, I still had Lori price some flights in case we could get lucky!  I was thrilled and would love to be able to take a weekend and catch up with an old friend while watching the Bucs and Saints.  Sadly, the prices were a little more steep than I had hoped for.  So, if any of you readers work for an airline and can get me a substantial discount between Colorado Springs and Tampa, please let me know.  Why am I telling you this?  One, because I like to pretend that I have thousands of followers and that they are going to spread the word leading to sponsorships and promos from sandwich shops, motorcycle manufacturers, airlines, etc.  And, two, because it's a lot easier to talk about than my poor weekend.

The only highlight of my weekend was our ascent up The Manitou Incline.  That was awesome!  The rest of the weekend, not so much.  My calories continue to creep up.  To illustrate this fact, here is a chart of my average daily calories since I started to keep track on March 27.

March - 1,320 calories per day
April - 1,309
May - 1,296
June - 1,356
July - 1,413
August - 1,518
September - 1,777
October - 1,982

Ouch.  I could bore you with the corresponding fat grams and weight loss averages.  But, suffice it to say that they correspond directly, or inversely in the case of weight loss, with the numbers above.  1,982!  Ouch again!  That has to stop.   I can hardly believe that I have averaged over 1,500 for two and a half months.  Almost more surprising that I haven't gained even more weight.  Okay.  Time to focus on 210 again. 

211.6

New streak started.  Down .8 pounds.  Won't hit my goal of 209.7 by tomorrow.  But, I am hoping a planned (dependent on the weather) trip up the Manitou Incline tomorrow morning gets me a little bit closer.

Grapes... The Perfect Snack

One of the things that hasn't changed from eight months ago are the occasional nightly food cravings.  Like everything else regarding my eating habits, I am much better.  But, two or three times a week I come home from the club and I am still hungry.  In the past, I would turn to things like potato chips, Doritos, cashews, and even the ol' standby, frozen pizza.  Not any longer.  Now when I get the munchies, I almost always reach for grapes.

I have always loved grapes.  But, I seem to enjoy them even more now.  They are such a refreshing and healthier alternative to my previous snacking choices.  Our refrigerator almost always has grapes.  The refrigerator at work is no different.  I don't even care how expensive they are anymore because they are still far cheaper than grabbing a snack from a fast food restaurant or a place like Dairy Queen.  Combine our increased grape-eating habits with my son's addiction to them, and we end up buying tons of grapes on a weekly, or twice weekly, basis. 

So, for all of you struggling with those cravings.  Whenever you need to chew on something.  I highly recommend them.  Here's to the incredible edible grape... 

212.4... The Streak Ends At One

Yes, you read it right.  My new streak of keeping track of how many straight days under my calorie goal ended at one.  The good news is that it's only three off of my recent best.  The bad news is, well you can do the math, my recent best is only four!  Five out of six days in October... not a good start.

211.4

You know, this isn't rocket science.  Stick to my calorie goals.  Continue working out like I have.  And the result is a morning like today where I lost 2.4 pounds.  After four straight days over my calorie goals to start October, I finally remembered how this works. 

213.8

Back under 100 pounds lost.  I am not lying when I say that I hate myself.  Four days in to October and I have been over my calorie goal every single day.  Very disappointing.

The Lying Ticker

Some of you may have noticed that the ticker that displays the total pounds I have lost is not always accurate.  There are days I am posting a gain in this blog and that ticker remains unchanged.  Well, let me explain...

On myfitnesspal.com, the same check-in function that updates that ticker sends an automatic update to Facebook when I lose the weight.  The only issue?  That same update is not sent when I gain weight.  I could lose 20 pounds in a month, gain 30 the next month, and then lose 10 again and my Facebook status would reflect the first 20 and the last 10... congratulating me on both.  But, never does it report those ugly 30 pounds gained in between.  Again, I like the very optimistic and positive approach of the site.  I get why it doesn't report on Facebook that I have gained weight... though I wish it would in my case. 

I recorded my weight gains for awhile.  But then, I found it annoying when I had gained some weight back that I would get subsequent congratulations from friends when I lost the SAME weight I had lost previously... does that sentence even make sense?  I found this more misleading than leaving my weight at my low point.

So now, I record my new lows.  This way I only get congratulated the first time I break barriers and reach new lows.  I still record my true weight here on this blog.  But, there are times like last week when I gained 8.6 pounds and the ticker still showed 100 pounds lost. 

That's why someone at the club congratulated me on losing 102 pounds today.  I didn't have the heart to fully disclose that I was really at 100.4 today.  I apologize for any confusion.  Here's to setting new lows and not talking about those days when you find yourself heading in the wrong direction... 

212.2 / 211.2 / 212.6

There are the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday numbers.  Three straight days over my calorie goals yet I still remain over 100 pounds lost.  Glad to have the weekend over... somehow need to get through the weekends without all of these exceptions.  Despite the 1.4 gained back this morning, I am still 9.4 pounds less than I was exactly a week ago.  Nice. 

October 1 Status Update... Make That October 2

Yesterday was my sixth official weigh-in against my monthly goals. Below is a quick status update...

• On September 1, I weighed 221.6 pounds. My October 1 goal was 210.0 pounds. Yesterday morning I weighed 213.0. I missed my October 1 goal by 3.0 pounds and lost 8.6 pounds in the month of September. This is the second straight month that I have missed my goal.  Up until posting this, I had mistakenly believed that I had lost 10.6 pounds this month and kept my streak of double digit losses intact.  But  sadly, the only thing that remains intact is my senility.  I thought I started the month at 223.6.  Oops!
• My November 1 goal was 202. While I have no reason to believe that October will be better than the last two months, I am lowering my goal to the Holy Grail, 200 pounds.  So, my remaining goals are November 1 - 200, December 1 - 195, New Year's Day 2011 - 190.
• I have lost 100.0 pounds since the middle of January... though that number is actually 100.8 as of this morning. I have lost 89.6 pounds over the 29 weeks since the start of this blog. And, I have lost 84.6 pounds since returning from Las Vegas on March 23.
• My streak of exercising at least 30 minutes has now reached 207 straight days!
• I lost .287 pounds per day in September. My goal weight for November 1 would require me to lose .419 pounds per day.  Okay, after seeing it that way maybe I might have bitten off more than I can chew.  But, I guess that's what goals are for!
• And the bad numbers... I went over my daily calorie goal 12 times in September.  As bad as that number is, it was still less than August. 
• My new streak of days below my calorie goal ended yesterday at 4.  Today wasn't much better.  So, tomorrow I start a new streak and try to beat 4.  Hitting your goals is much easier when you set the bar low!
• My plan was to start P90x as soon as I broke 200.  My brother wants to start his second go of it soon and would like to do it concurrently... despite the thousands of miles between us.  So, we have set a date of November 8.  Regardless of whether I have gotten below 200 by that date, that is the date I will begin P90x and I can't wait.  My friend told me that I was the first person they ever heard who was "excited" to start P90x.  I would have thought that most people who were taking that on would be somewhat excited.

I give myself a C- for September. If not for a bad week, I was easily headed for a high B or even an A.  But, I got to 100 finally and I still can't believe I can lose almost 9 pounds in a month and be disappointed.  Here's to October...

213.0... Officially 100 Pounds Lost!

While that ticker has shown 100 for the past week and a half, it has been lying to you.  At my previous low of 213.4, I was down 99.6 pounds.  The myfitnesspal.com rounds to the nearest pound... which is a very optimistic approach when you hit the .5 or greater mark and I like it.  But, I never really got to that mark until this morning.  In additon, I hadn't posted my weight gains over the last week.  So, that number sat at 100 even though we all knew better.  Well now, that number is finally a real number!

That give me 10.6 pounds for the month.  Shy of my goal by 3 pounds.  But, I am still ecstatic that I was able to get to double digits for the six month in a row.  Not sure what my goal will be for November 1.  Yeah, you know me, I will probably try for the full 13 pounds.  Maybe I can show a little more discipline and actually get to 200 by the end of the month.

Full status update to come tonight...

213.6

With one day to go, I am now at an even 10 pounds lost for the month.  I won't hit my goal.  But, I will be content with another 10 pounds... especially given the weight I gained recently.  I have now lost 8.4 of the 8.6 pounds I gained in three days!  I can hardly believe I am now .2 pounds from my lowest point and .6 pounds from hitting the 100 pound mark. 

214.2!

Day 2 of the new streak and, incredibly, I find myself down another 3.6 pounds... or 7.8 pounds in two days.  This is the opposite of how this typically works.  Usually people lose a few pounds over a couple of weeks and have a bad weekend where they gain it all back in two days.  I gained 8.6 in eight days and then lost all but a pound of it back in only two!  Now on to Day 3 of the new streak and Day 204 of the old streak.  I am now .8 pounds away from my lowest and 1.2 pounds away from the 100 pound barrier.

217.8

Day one of my new streak, the under-my-calorie-and-no-exceptions streak, started yesterday and resulted in a promising 4.2 pounds lost!  Needless to say, I am in better spirits this morning.  I might even be able to still lose 10 pounds in September if I can keep it up over the next three days.  I would love to keep my streak going of 10+ pound losses every month.  Plus, my brother is nagging me to get to 200 so we can do P90X together... well, as together as two people can do something together when one lives in San Diego and the other in Pueblo, Colorado!

I Don't Know How That Could Happen!

Over the years of watching "The Biggest Loser", I have seen some pretty amazing transformations.  The part I have always had a problem with is when I see the "updates" on television or in magazines such as People.  It has always saddened me to see these people who had made such positive changes go right back to their old eating habits and gain most or all of their weight back.  I never understood this.  I always said, "I don't know how that could happen!".  I always thought to myself that would never happen to me.  I just couldn't grasp working that hard and then just letting it all go.  It hardly seemed possible.

Well, this week, I got a glimpse in to how it happens.  Not that I haven't lost before and then gained.  I know all about being bad for a week and then all of a sudden it's six months later and I wonder what just happened.  So, I had some idea of how quickly a person can relapse.  But, that was 20 or 30 pounds, not  100. After losing close to 100 pounds and feeling completely confident that I was "fixed", I found out I was wrong. 

A friend told me today that I really hadn't changed my eating habits.  She's right!  And, I already knew this.  That is why I still avoid going to Mexican restaurants.  That is why I avoid going to the places I love.  I think I will always have this problem which, again, goes back to my beliefs about not putting myself in to situations that I can't handle.  I will argue with her that I am better.  These bad days are still 1,000-2,000 calories less bad than they were before.  I even go to restaurants and order a side salad and make the right decision from time to time.  I am better.  But, I am not healed.

So, after gaing 8.6 pounds in only 8 days, I lost my mojo again.  Even though I still have lost around 90 pounds, I found myself feeling fat again.  I found myself eating to the point that I felt that old disgusting fullness and lethargy.  I found myself tired when I was driving because I had eaten a heavy meal.  I found myself eating cashews by the handful... cashews that I shouldn't have even purchased let alone consumed like Duke eating $100 bills!  Besides the simple fact that it's like placing crack on the table in front of an addict, the decision is made even more boneheaded based on my diverticulitis and the fact that I should be avoiding nuts entirely!  But, I didn't care.  And, in the end, that feeling of not caring even when my mind was telling me no is what scared me the most.  I am disgusted with myself for the last week and  even more disgusted that I would ever not care again.

Now, having said all that.  I am still going to go out on a limb and reiterate, "I don't know how that could happen!".  Because despite the fact that I put a few pounds back on, I haven't gained 80 pounds back.  And, I won't!  I will back my original statement here in this blogg.  In three months, I will look  at "The Biggest Loser" updates and still wonder how they let it happen.  I will not be one of those stories for all of you to shake your head at and wonder what knocked Anthony off course. 

Today starts a new streak.  A streak that I have not  kept track of up until now.  I am going to see how many days I can go without any exceptions.  I am going to see how many days straight I can stay under my calorie goals.  Today will be my 203rd straight day of exercising and my 1st day of no exceptions.  I am not planning on getting to 203.  But, I do plan to set a bar high enough that I will have a number to shoot for the next time I find myself slipping in to the abyss. 

September will come and go and I will miss my goal once again.  In the end, I will find myself around five pounds lighter than I was to start the month.  And, if that's the best i can do, well then 200 will just have to weight until the end of the year.  I can handle that.

Here's to a new start...

219.2/222.0

I missed yesterday's update... that is the first ugly number above.  That one pound gain was a result of breakfast at The Pantry and food and drink at the Loaf 'N Jug Chile and Frijole Festival. 

The second number is this morning's weight.  : (   That is a result of going to the Denver Bronco game yesterday and showing less control than I did at the LNJC&FF!   That means I gained 8.6 pounds in 8 days!  With only four days left until my official October 1 weigh-in, things don't look good. 

Last night, I had a this sense that I was spiralling out of control.  Well, that ends this morning.  Again, I will talk more about this tonight.

218.2

Whoopity doo!!

Exercise As An Outlet

I had planned to share some thoughts I had about my recent weight gain and the fear that has slowly crept in to my brain over the last week.  But sadly, that will have to wait.

Tonight, my Mom, my son, and I went out to pick up some food and stop by a couple of stores.  Right before leaving, I was looking for some tickets in my laptop case and in the process ended up setting a pile of money and papers on the couch.  This was the money I have collected so far for our fantasy football league at work. 

To give you a little more background to this story, my son's dog, Duke, has started to chew up tissues and papers out of our garbage cans when we leave the house.  I don't think he is looking for anything in particular.  I just think he is pissed off that we are leaving him at home.  This started a couple of months ago and has gotten steadily worse. 

In addition, my son has recently talked about possibly moving out of the house in to a place with some friends.  After tonight, I wish he and Duke would have made the move a little sooner!

When we walked in the door, Niko, who was a few steps ahead of me, started to yell at his Siberian shredding machine.  While Niko has gotten annoyed before, there was an elevated tone to his voice this time.  I wasn't sure what Duke had done, but it seemed worse than before.  And then, I walked around the corner and saw the pile of shredded bills on the floor near the couch.  Duke had chewed, shredded and consumed hundreds of dollars!  I wanted to cry.  I guess I still kind of want to cry four hours later.

We pieced together a couple of bills and then my anxiety started building.  I am a calmer man now than I was fifteen years ago.  Back then, I may have beaten the crap out of that dog.  Tonight, I gave him a couple of smacks on the rear end and then decided I needed to get out of the house. 

So, I took off to the gym for some stress relief.  And, while I can't say that I came back in a jovial mood, my mood improved enough that I no longer felt like harming Duke... though he still hasn't come in from the back yard!  The walk on the treadmill felt good.  It definitely relieved some of my stress.  Not all of it.  But, I came home in a better place than when I left.

When I got back, I found that my Mom and Niko had spent some time on the puzzle that was my shredded fantasy football funds.  Not sure how the reclamation project will go and I just don't know what I will end up getting back.  I know there is at least a couple of hundred dollars that have too many missing pieces for us to get anything out of them.  Hopefully, some of the other pieces will have enough parts to convince someone at a bank or the US Treasury Department to replace them.  I think the hardest part of this little episode is that I don't even play fantasy football.  I still run the league because I like to be involved.  But, after about 15 years of playing, I found myself a little burned out and I have taken the last two years off.  So now, my rather low-paying job... and by low I mean $0... as commissioner has now just cost me money.  Oh well.  I would have been even more stressed if I was out 300+ dollars and also still weighed 300+ pounds!

Here's to the power of exercise and the other benefits it provides beyond just losing weight...

218.4

Will talk about this more later.  Suffice it to say that 2,000+ calories for five of the last seven days is no way to get to 200.  I can only imagine how bad the damage would be if I wasn't working my butt off at the club every night.

216.6

Blah, blah, blah.  Come on Anthony!

Down A Pound

217.6.  Headed in the right direction again.  Though it feels like I have tried to get under 215 way too many times already. 

Oh Yeah... No Change

Forgot to inform everyone of that little tidbit.  Not even sure what I weighed.  I got on the scale.  I saw a number that stunned me for the second day.  I couldn't remember the day before so I wasn't sure if my weight was the same or down .2 or .4 pounds.  By the time I got to work to see what my weight actually was yesterday, I actually forgot what the scale said.  So, in my confusion, I recorded the same weight in my spreadsheet.  September is not ending as well as it started.  I need someone to smack me upside the head!

The Move To Free Weights

Throughout this journey, I have had maintained somewhat of a "plan" for my workouts.  I have added weight machines, swimming, etc. as I have lost pounds and as my body has felt ready to increase my activity level.  That plan included starting to lift free weights again once I got below 220 pounds.  While I have been under 220 pounds for about two weeks,  circumstances have kept me from making the move.

Yesterday, I finally moved from the weight machines that are upstairs at the gym and made my way downstairs to the big boy room.  With the help of my personal trainer, my son Niko, I began my new routine.  I like the machines I have been using.  But, there is something primal about lifting free weights.  I had finally gotten past that feeling that people were making fun of the tiny weight I was lifting as I had begun to increase the weight gradually and even found myself lifting more than most of the people in the room.  But now, I get to face those feelings of insecurity head on once again.  The good news is that I am less intimidated than I was six months ago.  I am okay if all of these muscle-bound guys and girls are snickering at me. 

I could feel that old familiar soreness creeping in to my chest and triceps today.  I love that feeling.  And, while I worked out a little harder, I still didn't overdo it.  Just enough soreness to confirm the hard work.  But, not the kind of overwhelming soreness that keeps you out of the gym.

When I get under 200, I plan to start P90X.  I really don't know if I will be able to handle it.  But, I can't wait to try and I will do as much of it as possible.  I hope I get the opportunity to start sometime in November.  I would love to finish the 90 day program sometime at the end of January 2011 and compare my results shortly after reaching the one year mark!  Here's to mixing things up...

218.6

No, before you start sending me messages that I accidentally typed an "8" instead of a "3", that is not a typo!  Too much salt yesterday.  I expected bad news.  But, never expected that.  I pray that those 5.2 pounds disappear over the next three days.

213.4

After two days without a weigh-in, the scale rewarded me for being decent on the road and hiking 9.6 miles over Music Pass yesterday with a 1.4 pound loss!  Not quite 100 pounds, but it's close! 

First Time Back On An Airplane... You Can Breathe Easier

It's been a long week and, between work and home, I have had little time to blog.  Not that I haven't thought of anything to say.  I just haven't been able to find the time in the evenings to write.  Tonight is no different.  I flew to Kansas last night for a quick business trip and just got back a couple of hours ago.  I am exhausted and I will be up again in about five hours to finally tackle Music Pass.  But, I couldn't go a whole day without at least checking in.  No weight today since I woke up in a hotel in Wichita.

For the first time since early in this journey, I found myself on an airplane again.  But this time, I didn't see that slight trepidation and anxiousness in the eyes of the other passengers as I slowly got closer to their open seats.  What I wanted in March finally came true in September.  I was no longer that fat guy sitting next to you on the airplane.  People smiled at me as if to say, "I wouldn't mind if that man sat next to me on this flight.  He's not too fat and he looks kind of friendly!". 

I didn't have to squeeze my shoulders and arms so that I was no longer impinging on other passengers' valuable real estate.  They paid good money for their tickets and deserve to at least have a full seat!  I no longer was filled with anxiety as I pulled the seatbelt across my lap hoping that it would buckle and praying that I wouldn't have to ask the stewardess for the dreaded extension.  No, that has never happened to me before, though I have been close.  I always managed to exhale just enough air to get that buckle to snap.  And, you know, for a brief moment I still felt that same anxiety until I remembered that it was no longer an issue.  In fact, I had to tighten the belt.  I no longer felt the tray right up against my gut when I put it down.  I no longer had to worry about the stewardess bumping in to my arm and shoulder as they passed in the aisle.  I sat in my seat comfortably for the first time in many many years. 

The other good news is that, despite not having to pay for it, I actually wasn't hungry and ended up skipping dinner!  That's right.  You heard it here first!  I skipped a free meal... in an airport loaded with yummy temptations. 

When I got home, I found just enough energy to go on a 3 mile walk.  A walk I needed since I hadn't exercised today... though walking through the United concourse at DIA should definitely count. 

See you tomorrow night!

214.8!

Finally, under 215 for the first time and down 1.6 pounds.  Now, I turn my sights towards 100 pounds total weight loss...  only 1.8 pounds to go.

216.4

Back on track!  Down a pound.  I have to prove to myself that I have the willpower to handle my Mom's quarterly visits!

217.4

In a little bit of a rut.  Beyond that initial gain, Mi Ranchito's always seems to leave me with a bad week where I struggle to get back on track.  Mom, you really need to go back to California now.  lol.

216.8

Pleasantly surprised to find myself down .8 pounds.  Yesterday, after a slow start to the morning and some difficulty finding any trailheads in Red Canyon Park, we ended up only being able to hike for a little more than an hour.  Combine that with a stop at Culver's yesterday evening and my expectations were definitely in the other direction.  By the way, for those of you as naive as myself, the custard at Culver's is not similar to soft-serve ice cream found elsewhere.  It is far worse!  Had I any knowledge of this before stopping there, I would never have had that sundae.  In fact, I will never eat custard at Culver's again in my entire life now that I know what I know.  I have said this before, but the best reason for tracking calories is to always arm yourself with the knowledge and awareness of the nutritional information for the things you are eating to help you make better decisions.  I will not make that mistake again.  So, I went to bed completely disappointed and woke up to a nice surprise... the weight loss you perverts, get your mind out of the gutter!

217.6

Down .8 pounds and off for a morning hike and a picnic on the Arkansas River with my Mom, sisters, and my nephews!

218.4

Well, my only September exception that I had planned for is now in the books.  My mom arrived yesterday from California and we made our obligatory trip to Mi Ranchito's.  It was awesome, as always.  Mexican food has been one of the hardest things that I have gone without and I still crave it all the time.  While I gained 2.2 pounds, it was still a far cry better than the 4.2 pounds I gained the last time we went there in June.  I skipped the margarita.  I cut down the amount of beans and rice I ate.  And, I significantly reduced the number of chips I consumed.  I had hoped to keep that number below 2 pounds.  But, I am okay with it. 

Now off to the club to get busy working that 2.2 pounds off again.  As of yesterday, I was 1.5 pounds ahead of my pace for today.  Sadly, I ended up missing my goal by .7. 

216.2

*@#!%$

215.8

I found out this past weekend that the pool is closing this Sunday.  I was not happy about that.  This morning, I had a glimpse in to why that is the case.  It usually takes me about three lenghths before my body warms up and I stop noticing the cool air.  This morning, it too between 12-14.  Still, a great way to start the morning and better than the indoor pool which is stuffy and humid.  Oh well...

216.6

I got 1.2 pounds back of the 2.6 pounds I gained yesterday.  Tomorrow, I hope to get the rest of it back!

Reflecting on August

Yesterday morning, I was on the treadmill and I was reflecting back on the month that had just passed.  I found myself thinking that I was much more accepting of my disappointing August now than I was five days earlier.  Maybe, time heals all wounds.  Maybe, I am getting a little healthier mentally and a bit more patient.  Most likely, losing 6.4 pounds in five days can brighten one's disposition... and, yes, don't remind me of the weight I gained this morning.

But, there was one thing I gained in August.  Despite exceeding my calorie goals for almost half of the month, I still lost 10 pounds.  The significance is that it gives me confidence in my ability to maintain my weight once I reach my goals.  I keep telling myself that I will be more relaxed and less hard on myself once I get to a comfortable weight.  I promise that I will have the occasional exception and not be quite so strict about my diet.  But, I secretly wonder if I am lying to myself.  By exception, I mean those days where I break down and have a piece of pizza or two.  Those days where I have a couple of beers.  Those days when I am craving some soft-serve ice cream.  While I don't plan on having 3,000 calorie days, it is nice to know that I can have 1,700-2,200 calorie days and still be able to keep off the weight over a period of time with hard work in the gym and sticking to my goals on the remaining days. 

That gives me a renewed confidence in both my goals for September and the sustainability of this lifestyle once the push for 200 is finally over.  Here's to losing 10 pounds in August and being happy about it...

217.8

I had a feeling that this was coming this morning.  Still, I am encouraged by the results since the start of September and even the overall results from the weekend.  I will get these 2.6 pounds back over the next couple of days.  So, I am staying positive this morning!

215.2!!!

Again, this is purely about staying active.  My day included a birthday party where I ate a hot dog (yes, bun and all) and some french fries.  For the second day in a row I found myself a couple hundred calories over my goal.  But, for the second day in a row, I was moving all day.  I walked on the treadmill, lifted weights, swam in the pool, moved boxes up stairs and in to a storage unit, and then finished with some laps around the fairgrounds. 

I love walking during the fair because we love to watch people and it is mindless exercise.  Plus, Lori and I have fun trying to walk fast while dodging in an out of the crowds.  The people at the fair can be quite entertaining.  If you have ever seen peopleofwalmart.com, then you have an idea of what people watching at the State Fair is like.  The State Fair is peopleofwalmart.com on steroids!  Thanks to all of those people for helping me to lose weight.

217.0

Down 2 more pounds!  This is more a testament to the exercise on the treadmill, in the pool, in the garage moving boxes, and walking around the fairgrounds than it is to any willpower at the BBQ I went to.  Because I had none.  As usual, and despite not having the jalapeno poppers that I had saved my appetite for, Richella's cooking was excellent and I struggled to be good.  I did okay.  Not great, not horrible... just fair.  The highlight of the BBQ was sneaking one of those ice cream sandwiches (on real cookies with a Cherry Garcia type ice cream in between) that were supposed to be only for the kids... don't tell Richella.  Scrumptious!  The 96 pounds on that ticker made me forget about eating that whole ice cream sandwich...  as Russ promised me I would if I took even one bite. 

Finally! 219.0!

A great start to the Labor Day weekend!  Down a pound and under 220 for the first time... well, officially, since I did briefly see 219 last weekend after my hike and workout.  This puts me 1.4 pounds below today's goal weight.  Hoping to stay under 220 the whole weekend by making it a true "Labor" Day weekend.  Off to the pool and treadmill, followed by some work around the house, a BBQ at the Stawski's, and finishing off the day with some walking and people watching at the Colorado State Fair.  Would love to finish the weekend dangerously close to the weight that was my original mini-goal and the weight that I always told myself I could live with...  215.  Though I feel differently now, 215 will be a major milestone for me and has always been an important number.  Not as big as 200, but close.

220.0

Tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow!

Northridge, Devil's Canyon, and Mace Trails - Pueblo Mountain Park

It is an odd phenomen how people tend to take those things close to them for granted.  If somebody told me they were visiting Colorado and asked me what things I recommended they see, I would probably start listing all of the popular spots that tourists always make their way to.  It would include places like Pikes Peak, Seven Falls, The Royal Gorge, maybe even the mint in Denver.  Yet, I haven't been to Pikes Peak and Seven Falls since I was a teenager before I moved to Florida.  I haven't been to The Royal Gorge since my kids were really young.  And, I have never been to the mint.  These are just a few examples.  But, I think you understand what I am talking about.

When Lori and I set out for our first hike about a month ago, the first place I thought of was Rocky Mountain National Park.  I love RMNP.  I loved our hike.  We have gotten closer to home with each subsequent hike... from RMNP to Vail to Colorado Springs.  Last weekend, we finally ended up driving the short half hour to Pueblo Mountain Park near Beulah.  We have been up in the area a couple of times over the last few years.  And, every time we have been up there, we have said to ourselves that we should make the drive more often.

We started up the Northridge Trail and very shortly found ourselves overlooking a beautiful rock ridge.  The trail was awesome and well-shaded for most of the way.  In front of us were incredible rock formations.  Behind us were fantastic views of the entire valley below us.

The view along Northridge Trail

We eventually made our way through the forest and weaved back and found ourselves on top of the ridge pictured above.  Before turning back towards the forest for our descent down the mountain, we ran in to a little friend.

A green snake that I almost stepped on

Starting to heat up along the Northridge Trail

After enjoying the views and taking in some pictures, we eventually turned and started back through the forest making our way down the backside of the ridge.  This section of the trail was peaceful and was a cool respite from the sun that was starting to get a little warmer.  The forest was incredibly quiet and Lori and I felt completely alone. 

Some mushrooms appreciating the cool shaded conditions

We reached the bottom and turned left down Devil's Canyon.  Devil's Canyon is a beautiful canyon between the two sides of the rock ridge. 

Devil's Canyon

We made our way through the canyon slowly climbing down boulders until we realized that the faint buzzing sound we were hearing echoing off the canyon walls was actually wasps!  All of a sudden, I realized that my rock climbing skills, or rapelling skills, were a little bit better than I realized as I flew down along rock walls on the side of a small stream of water to the bottom... ignoring the wasps swarming around my feet and hands.  When I got to the bottom, I realized that I had left Lori a little behind...  who said chivalry was dead?  So, I decided to pull out the camera and get some shots of her climbing down the canyon!

That's Lori climbing down Devil's Canyon

Shortly after the climb through the canyon, we found ourselves back at the trailhead.  After a quick lunch, we started back up on the Mace Trail and eventually made our way to Lookout Point.  Lookout Point is a great spot to take in the views and sights on top of the East side of Devil's Canyon.

Lori taking in the scenery

The panaroma from atop Lookout Point

(click for larger image)

After some more picture taking, we headed back down Mace Trail.  Mace Trail wasn't as shaded as Northridge Trail and it was a nice relief to start making our way down back around the loop to the East side and eventually back to Devil's Canyon.  For the second time, we found ourselves in the canyon facing the hum from the buzzing wasps.  We both did a better job ignoring the wasps and Lori nimbly made her way through the crevice while facing her fear! 

We ended up hiking about 5 miles that morning and it was a perfect hike.  I enjoyed Waldo Canyon near Colorado Springs.  But, I have to tell you that I much preferred the journey around Pueblo Mountain Park and look forward to our return.  The views were better.  The forest and canyon were incredible.  And, the best part is that we only saw three other people on the trail the whole morning!  There must have been 70 people on the Waldo Canyon Trail by the time we got off it.  Who knew such a beautiful mountain and set of trails existed in our backyard?!  We will definitely be back at PMP in the very near future!  Here's to not taking things for granted and finding hidden treasures in your backyard...

220.4

Great start to September!  Down 1.2 pounds on Day 1! 

September 1 Status Update

Today was my fifth official weigh-in against my monthly goals. Below is a quick status update...

• On August 1, I weighed 231.6 pounds. My September 1 goal was 219.8 pounds. This morning I weighed 221.6. I missed my September 1 goal by 1.8 pounds and lost 10.0 pounds in the month of August. This is the second month out of five that I have not made my goal.
• My October 1 goal was 210. Rather than increase it 1.8 pounds, I am leaving it and hoping to make up the ground I lost in August.  So, my remaining goals remain unchanged. They are October 1 - 210, November 1 - 202, December 1 - 195, New Year's Day 2011 - 190.
• I have lost 91.4 pounds since the middle of January. I have lost 81.0 pounds over 25 weeks since the start of this blog. And, I have lost 76.0 pounds since returning from Las Vegas on March 23.
• My streak of exercising at least 30 minutes has now reached 176 straight days!
• I lost .323 pounds per day in August. My goal weight for October 1 would require me to lose .387 pounds per day.
• And the bad numbers... I went over my daily calorie goal 14 times in August.  Add to it the last two days of July where I did the same, and I have actually exceeded my calorie limit 16 of the last 33 days. 

As disappointed in myself as I was last night, several people kindly reminded me to focus on what I have accomplished. In that vain, I had to look back at my original goals set back in March and remind myself that my September 1 goal started at 225. After 25 weeks, I am still ahead of my ORIGINAL pace and that makes me smile. It is unfortunate that my early success spoiled me. All I wanted on March 10 was to get under 200 within a year! Oh how expectations have changed.

I give myself a C for August. Too many exceptions to be anything better despite the 10 pounds.  Here's to September...

Tomorrow: Pueblo Mountain Park...  I promise...  really.

221.6

Down the .6 pounds I needed to reach 10 pounds for the month.  Though not my goal, I was pretty happy to get that .6 and hit double digits once again.  I am excited to start my "September to Remember".  August is behind me... thanks to all of those who reminded me.