Category Archives: DecGTD

Trying to Get it All Aligned

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“When the mooooooooooooon is in the seventh house
and Jupiterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr lines with Mars…“

Wait…that’s not what I mean…

You hear it all the time “get fit in the gym, lose weight in the kitchen.” While I have fought with this notion for a long time, I’ve seen how true it really is through out my weight loss journey. With that, it’s been easy to have one component of that statement down and have the other one completely lopsided.When I lost my first 100 pounds, my eating was at the forefront of this journey. Sure I worked out, but making smart decisions helped peel off the weight. Some time after that, I lost sight of that. I got caught up in the fitness side a little too much and it seemed to throw me off because I didn’t know how to refuel properly with my eating. Then, I started training for my first half marathon which kind of put my weight loss dead in the water because, contrary to popular belief, you don’t always lose weight when you train for long distance races like half marathons. So right now, I’m not training for a specific race. I’ve put on about 15 pounds since December so I want to get that off ASAP to get my weight loss momentum going.

Since I’ve been working out regularly, usually a combination of running and circuit training classes 3-5 times a week, I feel awesome and actually strong for the first time in close to forever. In the past, I’ve been quick to beat myself up when I want to go work out in the “bro den” (the part of the gym that has free weights, benches, awkward grunting) because I don’t feel like I belong. But how can I make progress if I don’t work out in there? (I’m going to talk about more on that in a post I’m working on. Stay tuned.) Anyway, the point is that good things are happening. After working out regularly like this for the past ten weeks, it would be really hard to stop. I just love it too much!

So now that I’m in such an awesome place with my fitness, I’m really working to change my eating. I’m eating fruits and veggies like they’re going out of style and I’m incredibly intentional about drinking water (#alltheclearpee).

But I’m not perfect…
Can I still pound down a bag of potato chips? Yessir.
Do I hoard candy sometimes like those spoiled brats in Willie Wonka? Sure do.
But…Do I immediately regret it? Now more than ever.

I really hate that feeling of regret after a mini-binge, so I’ve been trying to combat that with just abstaining as much as I can. I tell myself that I won’t miss it in 5 minutes because all they are are just impulses. For example, we walked by a cupcake store in Tallahassee and I thought I really wanted one.

I knew I had two options:
1) Keep walking and go on with my day
or
2) Go in, spend money on a dessert that I’m generally kind of ambivalent towards, and then sulk because I could have spent those Weight Watchers points on bacon.

So, I’m making progress with my eating! I really feel like I’m on the verge of everything lining up for some serious weight loss awesomeness.

Speaking of weight loss…

I lost 2.8 pounds this week! After losing 3 pounds or so two weeks ago, I gained it back last week. (Between kidney stones and traveling, the MacDonalds have been a little cray…) This week, I wasn’t perfect at all. In fact (and if you try to troll me on this, so help me…) I had McDonald’s for the first time since we’ve lived in Tallahassee. I drove to Jacksonville twice this week and I really needed some coffee and breakfast. So, I had an Egg McMuffin and a hash brown. It was 12 points. I counted it and I moved on. I also ate at Hardee’s for breakfast one day and I counted it too. So I wasn’t perfect, but I counted my points and I exercised to bring balance to the Weight Watchers force. This past week was once again proof that when you count regardless and exercise, everything will fall into place.

Count all the points

 

Day 558: Thursday and Stuff

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Hello!

I love all of you. There, I said it.

I still can’t believe my Facebook Page got to 200+ Likes last night!

This week I was feeling a little sluggish and lazy. Luckily I was able to pull myself out of it and have an awesome day! Good things. Alright, let’s get at it.

Breakfast: This morning, as per usual, we went to Atomic Coffee before class and school and stuff. I just had a bagel with butter and a little honey. It was fantastic and filling. Awesomeness.

Lunch: Today I had to go to a luncheon for a class. I walked from campus uphill both ways (yes, like your parents did when they were kids) to the downtown Double Tree. The menu had a lot of awesome healthy choices, but I was still thinking about getting something a little heavier. That was when my friend Andrew (the Edward Cullen lookalike) told the whole I was his dietician and then asked for a healthy option. It was the conviction I needed to make a much better decision. I ended up getting a grouper sandwich and instead of fries I got a salad with honey mustard. It was delicious, but it was also hard to conceal my picture taking ability in front of a bunch of strangers. When I got home I had a 100 calorie Klondike ice cream sandwich that was awesome. Then I ate two servings of chips.

Awesome Non Scale Victory: So today I was organizing my old fat clothes in order to sell them online (anyone want size 54 khakis or some really nice XXL polo t-shirts?) and then I found these bad boys. I bought these plaid shorts a few weeks before I started grad school. It was like folding up an American flag. Those things are huge. I was huge. Anyway, I held them up, thought for a second, and then got in one of the leg holes. They fit me in the waist. I know I’m not half them man I used to be, but I am making awesome progress. It was seriously the motivation I needed to get focused on losing weight. It also made me proud because this kind of picture is usually in an infomercial for some weight loss cookie or some shake that tastes like ground up chalk. This is proof that all you need is a healthier diet, a good pair of running shoes, a little patience and a persistent attitude. Oh yeah, and a bunch of awesome supportive friends doesn’t hurt either ;).

SAWS:So after that moment of NSV clarity, I decided I needed to keep it up so I can no longer fit in my current clothes and went to the gym. It’s kind of sad because it was one of my last times working out at Leach. I’ve burned a ton of calories in that place. Anyway, I wanted to keep up the same intensity I had when I was working with Joe so I went after it. I divided my hour into three 20 minute segments. The first 20 I did a circuit that involved stairs, burpees, box jumps, jump squats, push ups and running up and down stairs. It was awesome. Then, I got on the ARC Trainer and did 20 minutes on the weight loss setting which was a hill climb pattern of awesomeness. Finally, I did 20 minutes of abs. Elevated sit ups, this weird leg lift row and then holding a plank position. I felt like I made really good use of my hour, I did what I came there to do: sweat through my shirt.

 

 

 

 

Late Night Dinner: After staying on campus to try to get some work done, Megan and I went through the drive thru at Jimmy John’s (the only thing faster than their delivery dudes) and had a Turkey Tom sans mayo and a nice layer of avocado spread. Not to mention their classic pickle. The healthiest drive thru around.

So that was my day. Not too shabby. Although I didn’t write them down, I’m definitely back in the mindset of counting points and being better about what I eat. I was looking at an older post and I realized it took me 4 months to lose the last 15 pounds to break the 100 pound mark. It was because I was kind of a slacker and wasn’t strict with my points. With my new-found love for weight lifting, sticking with my points should be the perfect recipe for some serious weight loss. If anything my body would feel better, and isn’t that what it’s all about? See ya tomorrow.

 

Day 204: Tuesday Times

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Sup yo!

So I went to the doctor and I found out that I just have some weird cold virus that is going around the school. The doc just said just drink a lot of water and to get some sleep and that will take care of it. It’s good to know that I’ll survive, but in the process, I got Megan sick! So we are in a bit of a role reversal where I’m playing nurse now instead of her (that sounded a lot weirder than it was suppose to…) Anyways, the last time I went to the doctor, my blood pressure was really high like 150/80. The nurse was a complete jerk and gave me a lot of crap about being big… but that’s for another blog. Anyways.. again, today my blood pressure was 108/50 and this nurse was thrilled! She was like “what ever you are doing keep it up you are doing awesome!” Then I told here about my weight loss and she was even more impressed. Pretty awesome trip to the doctor. Anyways, good times.

Breakfast: I was in a rush to get to campus to get in for an appointment so I brought a Fudge Brownie Clif Bar for breakfast. The Fudge Brownie one tastes a lot like those no bake haystack cookies that mom used to make. Pretty good 4 points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch: After being cooped up in the doctors office, I was pretty hungry for good lunch. I went to Pollo Tropical for some chicken and black beans and rice. It had been a while since I had the good ol’ 1/2 chicken combo so it was a good lunch. 13.5 points.

 

 

 

 

 

Snack: Before my marathon of classes, I needed some caffeine to get through. I had a skinny iced caramel macchiato and it was delicious. 3 points. (P.S. this might the weirdest face I’ve ever made on this blog.)

Snack: When I got home, I had matzos and cheese. 2 points

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner: Since Megan wasn’t feeling well, she said that she wanted some Pizza Hut for comfort food. We had thin crust pepperoni, onions and tomatoes. It was delicious but, 16 points for four slices.

So I got up to 38.5 points. Ouch! I was going to work out today, but it did not happen. I am going tomorrow morning though and I am going to give the rowing machine a whirl. Should be a good one. See ya tomorrow.

Day 103: Food and Resolutions

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The first post of 2011. Here we go.

It was a rainy New Years Day here in Tallahassee which is good because we haven’t gotten much rain lately. Last night we watched the Noles dominate in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl and then I watched Back to the Future until around 4 am. Then the Three Stooges came on after that and it took a lot not to just stay up all night and watch my favorite comedy trio. Anyways, I got up around 11 and watched football. (New Years Day is definitely a lounging holiday.) Then we finally got cleaned up and just drove around, enjoying each other until grad school dominates our lives once again. Anyways, on to food and resolutions.

Breakfast: I went with the staple Peanut Butter and Banana Wafflewich. Oh so filling and oh so delicious. It was 9 points which wasn’t too bad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch: We kept it simple for lunch. We bought a can of Spaghetti O’s because it’s such a cheap meal. For half of the big can was only 4 points which isn’t that bad at all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snack: In the middle of our drive around, we decided to hit up Starbucks to get out of the rain. My parents gave us each a gift card so we put them to good use. If you ever get one, you should register it the Starbucks site and you can get different rewards like free syrup shots and even a free drink on your birthday. Pretty legit. Anyways, I got an Venti Iced Coffee with Non Fat Milk which is only 3 points which isn’t too bad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were out, we made our way to Goodwill (because that’s what you do on random trips around town) and I came across this bright piece of fashion. I have to admit, it’s a lot of yellow for a fellow of XXL stature, but it was only $3.99 so how could I say know (especially because new it would be like $50… well maybe less because of the color.) After Goodwill, we went to Earth Fare, a knew Whole-Foods-Like Store that just opened up in Tallahassee. It was a pretty awesome layout and the prices were actually pretty reasonable. We got some salmon for dinner tomorrow which I am pretty stoked about. (I freakin’ love salmon.)

 

 

 

 

 

Snack: After we got back, dinner was going to be a while so I had some of what is know my favorite cereal in the word: Kashi GoLean Crisp! Berry Crumble (move over Lucky Charms!) 3/4 of a cup has 7 grams of fiber! It’s only 4 points with 1/2 a cup of skim milk. It’s quite the hearty cereal to say the least.

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner: Since it’s New Years Day, we definitely had to have black eyed peas to ensure good luck for 2011, so Megan made Hoppin’ John which is a Southern New Years classic. All it is is black eyed peas, ham, and rice. It’s super hearty and really low in points for how filling it is. I had 2 cups of it and it was only 8 points. Luckily we made a lot so we definitely be eating on it the rest of the week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So overall, I was pretty good today and ate 28 points. I wanted to have ice cream after dinner then I had a tall glass of water and then I was full. Funny how that works out. Alright, on to resolutions.

I usually do monthly goals, but today while at Starbucks, I laid out a few goals for this year:

Beat my 5K time: In 2010 I ran two 5K’s (which was two more than I thought I would ever run) and my time got better each time. I really want to get my time down in to the 20 minute range which is going to take some training but I’m ready to start! I really want to do this 5K around Disney Hollywood Studios during ESPN The Weekend at Disney in March but we’ll see what happens. Regardless, there is some serious running in my future.

Warrior Run: If you don’t know what that is, it’s a 5K on steroids with a bunch of crazy obstacles in between. There’s one in Jacksonville in a month but I want to wait until a little later in the year when I’m a little more fit. If anyone is interested in doing one with me let me know.

Do More Photography: Before we moved to Tallahassee, I did quite a bit of senior and engagement photos for friends. I really enjoy it and miss it. I also like doing landscape photography which is a lot better here since Florida is gorgeous and West Texas was… well… a different kind of pretty.

Visit a New State: Why not? We live 15 minutes from Georgia but I haven’t really been there (as in I had a layover in Atlanta for 30 minutes one time) but I really want to explore the Southeast.

Lose 75 more pounds: My goal was to lose 100 pounds by the time I graduate in May 2012 and if I lost 75 more by the end of the year, that would totally obliterate that goal which would be awesome. So far I’ve lost 50 pounds in three months and hopefully the next 50 will go just as well.

 

 

 

 

 

Go to a Blogging Seminar: There are some pretty awesome ones for fitbloggers but even just a general one would be pretty cool.

Do a Blogging Seminar: That’s a little lofty, but I can dream. Just speaking to five people about blogging would be tight.

Beat at Least One Video Game: I need to play more video games. Everyone does.

Finish the HP Series: I just read the Goblet of Fire so I’m getting there slowly but surely.

I know what you are thinking and yes, that is a super random list (especially at the end) but if you don’t have a few fun things on your resolution/to do list it’s harder to stick with. So tomorrow is weigh in of a short week. Hopefully I will make more headway towards breaking 300 before Jan 13th (my birthday.) See ya tomorrow.

Day 87: Reporting Live From Texas!

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This sucker is going to be short. Forgive me. It makes up for other long winded rants that you have read.

We got up this morning at 5:30 and worked out with my folks at Anytime Fitness. I did a mile warm up then did dad’s circuit and it was beastly. I held my own for the most part. Fun stuff. 12 exercise points

Breakfast: 2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon 6 points

Lunch: Ham and Turkey Cheese Sandwhich with veggie chip (ever had those?) 8 points

Dinner: Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Meat Sauce (which I haven’t had in decades) and a salad with Lite Ranch. A swelltastic 12 points

Dessert: One cookie with M&M’s 3 points

So I’m only at 29 points with exercise points to spare. And they say you can’t be healthy on vacation (Who says that? I don’t know.) See ya tomorrow

Day 83: A Weekend With Nothing To Do???

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It’s so weird to have a weekend with no lingering assignments or annoying reading due (books are dumb) it was nice to wake up to nothing or any set agenda for the day. So. Awesome.

Breakfast: I just had two dry waffles which was 3 points. I missed the pb, but we were heading out the door and driving with waffles and pb is a dangerous combo. (I guess it is, I don’t know. Sometimes I just say weird things to prove my point.)

Lunch: There was a holiday art show in one of the lovely parks downtown and one of our friends was selling his photography so we went to go check it out. We checked out the show and then decided to go to the Florida Capitol Building since we hadn’t been there yet. The new state capitol in Florida was built behind the old building which is now a really cool museum. One of my favorite sections was dedicated to different campaign ads state and national. They had election pins as old as the McKinley administration, but the one pictured was one of my favorites.

 

 

 

After walking all around, we  tried the Subway Cafe downtown. It was actually pretty fancy. They had pastries and a cappuccino machine and everything, however we were just there for the sandwiches. Megan and I split the footlong black forest ham on wheat in all its delicious glory. We just got water but the cups were so small! I don’t usually gripe about such nonsensical things (for those who know me personally you know that’s a lie) but a regular cup costs like 6¢ to make. Just give me a regular cup! Okay, I’m off the soapbox now. Anyways, the sandwich was 8 points.

Snack: After our escapade downtown, we fought the crowds at the mall. We did some Christmas shopping there and another big strip mall close by. When it was all said and done, we had walked 5.03 miles (I wore my pedometer) so we were pooped by the end of it. I also went to Dillard’s and tried one some clothes. I think I found the pair of jeans I am going to get with some Christmas money which was awesome and I found out I went down at least one size in button up shirts which is a also awesome. I tired on a 3xBig Polo oxford shirt, which is the size I always have worn, and I was swimming in it. I tried on the 2xBig and was a little baggy but it fit very comfortably. Thank goodness Christmas is right around the corner. Anyways, we went home and I had a slice of pumpkin pie which was 4 points (I recognize that the preceding sentences don’t necessarily coincide. That’s the joy of Weight Watchers.)

Dinner: So since we are leaving on Tuesday, we don’t really want to buy any groceries but we don’t want to eat out a whole lot so we are getting creative with what’s left in the fridge. Tonight Megan made this awesome breakfast scramble with potatoes, onions, bacon and eggs (if it’s a scramble, does that imply eggs? Just wondering.) It was fantastic and really hit the spot. My half with a piece of toast was only 11 points which was legit.

 

 

 

 

After a day about nothing that turned into something, I ate a total of 26 points which works just fine with me since I went over a little into my weekly points this week. I went at least 11 points in which works. It’s a little more than I am use to but that’s okay. Tomorrow is weigh in. I’m 5.6 pounds away from the 50 pound mark which is just unreal to me. I don’t think it’s going to happen, but I would obviously be okay if it does happen 🙂 See ya tomorrow.

 

Day 81 Thursdayness

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Sup yo!

Today, I got a glimpse of what Winter Break is going to be like and it was glorious. I sat around and watched the Travel Channel. I studied a little, but it’s hard to gauge an open book final. It’s awesome and annoying at the same time. Anyways, we are both starting to feel better which is great so hopefully it will be all gone by the weekend. Anyways, let’s talk food.

Breakfast: There was one bagel left so I toasted it up with a little cream cheese. A little 3 point breakfast. Scrumptious. For a snack I had a 2 point cookie even though it was a little stale. Not the best call. Why throw away points like that right?

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch: I had 2 Hebrew National 94% fat free hot dogs with some ketchup and mustard. So good. Only 6 points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outdoor Adventure: After Megan’s final, we decided to take a little hike and get some fresh air and to work on our 50 mile goal (which we didn’t start until… today :/) I put on a jacket and I could really tell a difference so I was wondering how much of a difference there was from last December. Here it is. The picture on the left was from December 2009 and the pic on the right is from today. I didn’t put this up as some proclamation of how awesome I think I am or anything like that, I’m just really stoked about this! This is proof that diet and exercise works. Give it a shot. Anyways, we went to the park and the leaves are really changing now. We only went 1.42 miles but it was still good to enjoy such a beautiful day.

Dinner: We hadn’t had curry in a while so Megan whipped up some Panang curry with red peppers and onions. The plate was only 10 points but Megan got full so I ate the rest of hers because it is that delicious. Anyways, it was 15 points which was cool because I had only eaten 11 points today.

 

 

 

 

 

So I’m only at 26 points but Megan just made the awesome WW Sour Cream Pumpkin Pie so there’s so awesome nom nomage in the future. See ya tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

Day 78

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Finally an assignmentless Monday,

It was a great day full of… not much. Woke up and it was freezing outside. I know I keep saying this, but it really does feel like fall here in Tally. AND CHRISTMAS IS ONLY 19 POINTS AWAY!!!!! HOW CAN YOU NOT BE EXCITED!?! Anyways, on to food.

Breakfast: While Megan was busy studying and writing papers, I made some breakfast. Back in the day, there was nothing better than a fast food breakfast sandwich, (at one point, everyday I got a mocha and bacon egg and cheese griddle which it around an 800 calorie breakfast. Yikes. The sad part is that I was aware about how bad it was because I had looked it up but I still put that in my body. My how things have changed.) Anyways, we had a few WW bagels left and so I made a Bacon Egg and Cheese Baglewich. It was 5 points and then some watermelon for 1 point. A good alternative to some breakfast greasy goodness.

 

 

Lunch: I had some leftover mac and cheese. Absolute yuminess. I put some ketchup and mustard on it like I usually do with leftover mac and cheese. Does anyone else do that? Anyways, it was 6 points.

 

 

 

 

 

Snacking: I had 3 points of chips and a 2 point chocolatey chex bar. (BTW, this is me while I was cooking. That is an Alaskan Ulu and that is my crazy face.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner: Even though we are going to Chipotle on Wednesday, we were still both craving some burrito action so I made black bean and cilantro rice burritos. It was awesome as always, but I also tried my hand at making baked tortilla chips. I brushed 4 flour tortillas with some olive oil, cut them in the sixths, then threw them in the oven at about 350 for about 10 minutes and I flipped the cookie sheet around once. They were a little burnt, but pretty good. Dinner was about 10.5 points which was a little high but that was also for 2 massive burritos so it’ll work!

 

 

So today I am at 27.5 points which will work. See ya tomorrow.

Day 75: Dec. Goals!!!!!

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I know I keep saying this, but I can’t believe it’s already Day 75! The time has flown just like the semester has. This evening I turned in my final project so I just have one final next week on Friday at 3 (which is super lame) so I feel like life has slowed back down… for now.

Breakfast: Today was another day of craziness along with strange eating habits. (As you can see from this pic, I’ve gone a little crazy.) Megan bought some WW bagels that are 2 points and she also got some low fat cream cheese and I put about 1 point on it. That’s all I had to eat until around 4 when I ate a Chex bar which was 2 points. I have never had weird eating habits like this before. It’s insane. I just haven’t been hungry when I’m working on stuff. I’m not a big fan because after I eat a really meal I feel stuffed. I’m reading to get back on a regular eating habit.

 

 

 

Dinner: Tonight, we went out with our friends the Wises who we haven’t seen in a long time. We decided on Cabo’s which is this Mexican meets seafood meets surf shop. The food is great and it’s relatively inexpensive. Plus they have really good healthy options. I got the black bean and rice meal that came with tortillas. We also had chips and salsa. At the beginning, I went nuts on the chips but then realized what I was doing and laid off a bit. I didn’t eat all of my dinner so this is for about half of how much it would have been The spanish rice was 3 points and the black beans were about 1 point. Then the 3 tortillas were about 6 points. The chips were also about 6 points. It was a great dinner with great friends.

GOAL TIME!!!!!!!!!

Tie a Bow Tie: I really want to wear one at Christmas and I bought one a while back but I have had issues learning to tie it.

DecGTD: I set a another a goal of 50 miles for this month of trail/tread wogging. My reward will be something from Under Armour. Last time my goal was jeans but since I really need a pair since none of my pants fit anymore I need to actually buy a pair.

Finally Finish HP4 and Then Conquer HP5: This month I’ll actually have some time so it’s worth a shot.

Not Gain Any Weight at Christmas: This might be a tough one. I love Christmas treats. However, I asked my parents to give WW a shot when we are there for a while and they said sure! I’m pretty stoked about it!

Read Bible: I really want to work on that.

Do 25 Push ups and 25 Sit Ups every day: I need to work on my core  (and take care of some loose skin. Is that gross?) so that should help.

Break 300: This is a pretty lofty goal. I know that going in. Basically, I would have to lose 14 pounds in 4 weeks (which is like 3.5 pounds a week.) Even if I get close, that’s still pretty awesome.

With more free time this month, before life gets nutzo again, I’m going to try establish healthy goals that will carry over in to the new year like getting up early and working out.

So I got to 21 points today (…er Friday) so that works. Like I said, I’m ready to get back to 3 squares, but tomorrow we are going to 2 Christmas parties. Both of which are going to have amazing food. I guess I’m going to break out the Biggest Loser DVD and let Jillian Michael kick my butt in the morning. See ya tomorrow.