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

224.6

Down 0.4 pounds... after a Saturday!  Having a Sunday morning weigh-in that is less than Saturday is always a good thing!  That is 6.4 pounds in six days and my lowest weight since September 27, 2011.  That also puts me ahead of my MGC pace by 4.4 pounds.

While today has been a pretty positive day with several good choices made when faced with temptation, I expect to go back up a little bit tomorrow morning.  That has simply been the nature of the early Monday morning weigh-ins.  But, I am hoping that number is south of 226 and I start this week at least 5 pounds lower than last week.  

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

Total: (53.8)

Total Days: 240

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 224.6
Pounds lost: 6.4
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +4.4
Pounds to go: 4.8
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 27

225.0

Down 1.8 and at a new recent low.  This is the lowest weight I have been since October 27, 2011 and puts me 4.3 pounds ahead of my MGC Challenge weight.  That puts me down 6.0 pounds over the last five days!  Still tentative to right my good bye letter to 230.  But, I am close...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 225.0

Change from previous: (1.8)

Total: (53.4)

Total Days: 239

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 225.0
Pounds lost: 6.0
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +4.3
Pounds to go: 5.2
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 28

226.8

Back up 0.4 pounds.  I expected worse.  So, I am okay with that.  I am confident that tomorrow will bring a new low and have good plans for the weekend.  I need to have one of those weekends where I don't gain.  Staying the same would be okay.  But, actually losing a little would be even better.  That leaves me 2.8 pounds ahead of my MGC pace.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 226.8

Change from previous: +0.4

Total: (51.6)

Total Days: 238

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 226.8
Pounds lost: 4.2
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +2.8
Pounds to go: 7.0
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 29

226.4

Down a pound and back to my recent low of 226.4 from exactly three weeks ago.  Ahead of my MGC pace by 3.6 pounds.  Down 4.6 pounds in three days.  Great early start to the month and feeling like I am getting a little momentum back.  That leaves me with 6.6 pounds to lose over the next 30 days.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 226.4

Change from previous: (1.0)

Total: (52.0)

Total Days: 237

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 226.4
Pounds lost: 4.6
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +3.6
Pounds to go: 6.6
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds total)
Days remaining: 30

227.4

Day 2 of the MGC and down another 1.6 pounds!  That puts me 2.9 pounds ahead of my pace to meet the MGC.  I know it's early, but trying to get ahead of the pace now before it gets harder.  That's my lowest weight in three weeks and a pound away from my recent low.  Could I finally be done with 230?

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 227.4

Change from previous: (1.6)

Total: (51.0)

Total Days: 236

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 227.4
Pounds lost: 3.6
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +2.9
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds)
Days remaining: 31

229.0

Good start to the Mark Gregory Challenge.  Down 2.0 pounds after a solid day.  Yeah, those are the easy two pounds.  Those are the pounds I gained from an okay weekend with too much salt.  Now, it gets harder.  The next four days will go a long way in determining whether or not I am committed to meeting the MGC or simply blowing smoke.  Ahead of my MGC pace by 1.7 pounds.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 229.0

Change from previous: (2.0)

Total: (49.4)

Total Days: 235

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 229.0
Pounds lost: 2.0
Ahead/(Behind) pace: +1.7
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds)
Days remaining: 32

231.0

Okay.  Disappointed to be up 1.4 this morning.  But, glad to be down from Friday's weight.  Now I move on to the Mark Gregory Challenge!  Okay, Mark didn't really challenge me.  I asked for a prediction and he gave me a rather bold one.  Mark has been an ardent supporter and was even kind enough to give me a shout out on a Colorado preps forum when I lost the weight a few years ago.  But, I liked Mark's November 1 prediction of 220 and decided to make it a challenge anyway.  I need any motivation I can get at this point and need something to get me back in gear.  So, what I heard Mark say was, "Anthony, I don't think your fat ass can actually get down to 220 or even close by the end of October".  So, I accept Mark's challenge!  LOL.

I have been in search of something to get me over this recent bump in the road.  Not sure this challenge will actually do it... especially since it is quite contrived and Mark did not actually doubt me.  But, he believed in me.  So, maybe that alone will be enough to motivate me.  Below, I will track how I am doing towards meeting this challenge.  Well, at least as long as I am actually moving towards it and haven't given up.  

That means I need to lose 11.2 pounds in 33 days, or 0.34 pounds per day.  I start today.

Here's to contrived challenges...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 231.0

Change from previous: +1.4

Total: (47.4)

Total Days: 234

Mark Gregory Challenge (November 1, 2014):
Starting weight: 231.0
Current weight: 231.0
Pounds lost: 0
Ahead/(Behind) pace: Even
Goal weight: 219.8 (11.2 pounds)
Days remaining: 33

229.6

After a breakfast burrito at The Pantry, I will take it.  Managed to stay under 230 for at least one more day.  Up 0.4 pounds.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 229.6

Change from previous: +0.4

Total: (48.8)

Total Days: 233

229.2

Almost forgot!  Down 2.0 pounds.  Which sets me up nicely to go back over 230 tomorrow.  LOL.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 229.2

Change from previous: (2.0)

Total: (49.2)

Total Days: 232

231.2

And there it is again.  Up 1.8 after a late late late night dinner loaded with salt and a lot of fluids.  

I first saw 231.2 on July 2.  That means I have wasted three months, or my whole summer.  I fully expected to do better over the summer since I am usually far more active.  But, I guess the other thing about summers is that I have a lot more things going on.  Not sure if it was these events - vacations, weddings, graduations, nights on the river drinking beers and eating pizza - or that I got complacent.  Maybe I was too happy with 230.  Maybe it's that 230 seems to be the weight where I really start to get compliments.  Maybe I felt too much of a sense of accomplishment after only reaching part of my goal.

My biggest concern is that I wanted some momentum heading in to the end of the year.  Those last six weeks of the year around Thanksgiving and Christmas are notoriously difficult times to be good.  But, I have given myself no cushion.  

In the end, I am proud of the 50 pounds I lost.  And, I am still a little bit happy that despite my lack of focus and diligence over the last three months, I have managed to not gain any of the weight back.  That is a good start.  But, I am not done.  I am not content.  Hopefully, the lack of temptations that the next couple of months brings will be enough for me to get it back in gear. 

Here's to the winter...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 231.2

Change from previous: +1.8

Total: (47.2)

Total Days: 231 

229.4

I swear to you I am not trying to get back over 230.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 229.4

Change from previous: +0.4

Total: (49.0)

Total Days: 230 

229.0

Up 1.2 pounds.  Still not eating like I want to and can't seem to quite get fully engaged despite the positive feelings I got from running again last week.  I had hoped that my decent weekend would help me gain some momentum and that 225 would be in the discussion by the end of the week.  But, I keep having one bad day during the week that sets me back.  I would like to remove those completely, or at least save them for the weekends. 

Time to reset my goals once again...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 229.0

Change from previous: +1.2

Total: (49.4)

Total Days: 229 

227.8

Good day.  Down 1.8 pounds.  Must... get... to... 225.

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 227.8

Change from previous: (1.8)

Total: (50.6)

Total Days: 228 

229.6

Still under 230 coming out of a weekend.  That is always a good thing.  Got my usual Saturday morning drop after sleeping in and working out and found myself at 227 even.  After a wedding on Saturday, I was up to 228.6 yesterday and another pound to 229.6 this morning.  But, the good news is that I am still down 0.2 from my Friday weight and starting off the week still under 230.  

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 229.6

Change from previous: (0.2) (via -2.8, +1.6, +1.0)

Total: (48.8)

Total Days: 227 

11:22

I have always stated that while the very nature of a blog has vanity written all over it, the intent of this blog is not grounded in it.  I have never denied that there isn't a part of me that gets some satisfaction at posting my successes.  I think that has been proven in how hard it is to post when I am doing poorly and vice versa.  But, the primary goal of this blog has always been about accountability.  I think some of the sad, and even disgusting, stories that I have shared about myself prove that point.  Not sure those embarassing stories help me stay accountable.  The daily weight seems to do that on it's own.  But, they are part of my story and help me to remember the things I don't want to do ever again.

The number above is proof that this blog is not about bragging.  That number is the time it took me to run/walk a mile yesterday during the annual YMCA Corporate Cup competition.  Like I said on Saturday, pedestrian number to be sure.  But, it is so much more than that to me.  Saturday I ran for the first time in a long time.  I felt good.  But, a couple of days later, my knees were sore and stiff.  I limped through a couple of nightly walks and found myself hurting more than I expected.  Originally, I wanted to try to run/walk the mile in a similar fashion... even pushing it to 50/50 instead of 45/55.  Originally, I wanted to do the mile in about 12 minutes.  I still hadn't seen my time from Saturday.  So, I wasn't sure if 12 minutes was reasonable or not.  But, with sore knees, a big lunch, and allergies acting up, I started thinking that a nice mile long walk was in order. I figured if I could even walk at a 4 mile per hour clip and finish in 15 minutes, I would be fine with it. 

But, that urge to push myself took over when I approached that starting line.  So, I started the race jogging.  I went until I couldn't go any longer.  Then I walked.  As soon as I stopped gasping for air again, I started jogging once more.  I figured I was running slightly more than I did in the 5K.  I would have guessed about 50% of the time.  I didn't think I would reach my 12 minute goal.  As I approached the finish I could see the clock and I saw that it said 11-something and it made me run even faster and push through that last little bit of pain.  I finished in 11:22.   I had not only reached my goal, but had beaten it pretty substantially.

Yeah, I know people are running 4 minute miles.  There were plenty of people in front of me.  But, I was in the first 1/3 of the overall group, beat 12 minutes, and felt pretty good!  And, I felt like I ran about 60% of the time.  Then I did the math.  I figure I walk at around 3.6 mph, despite always pretending it is closer to 4.  I jog at about a 6 mph clip.  Based on that, I calculated that I ran about 73% of the time!  That is awesome!

Okay, so maybe this is a different sort of bragging.  I am not telling you how fast I ran.  I am not telling you that I ran the whole thing.  I am not telling you that I looked good doing it.  But, I guess what I am bragging about are those other things that I am more proud of... perseverance, attitude, effort, and hard work.  I could have walked the course.  I could have skipped the whole thing as I debated doing.  I could have jogged until it was slightly uncomfortable and ran for 40%.  But, I pushed through it and that is what I want to shout out to the world.  I finished a mile in 11 minutes and 22 seconds and still found it worthy of calling Lori from the car and telling her that I had broken 12 minutes.  Crazy how such a minor thing can feel so good.

That run ended up making up for a bad lunch... a belated birthday lunch with friends and a sandwich I had craved because it had been so long.  Down 0.8 and back under 230.  I am not even going to say a word about this being the last time.

Here's to small accomplishments that feel much larger...

Starting weight (this time): 278.4
Current weight: 229.8

Change from previous: (0.8)

Total: (48.6)

Total Days: 226