Why I Bought 5lb Weights, and The Importance of the Baby Step …

by | May 20, 2020 | Health

Full disclosure: I don’t work out a ton. I justify this because I walk everywhere and I eat a lot of kale salads. When I do work out, it’s a quick, 20-minute run. I have friends who are bodybuilders: they are hardworking, strong, talented people who work out to see results. I admire their work ethic and dedication, as well as their physical strength, for sure. And while I have a great amount of respect for people who exercise to become muscular, I had never been able to identify with the urge to do so.

That is, of course, until it became necessary for me to try. The situation arose from my own laziness; I like to carry in all my groceries in one trip, even if that means four bags on each arm. The straw that broke my back was after one of these trips, when I finally set my bags down, and had sore arms for hours. I thought it was funny at first, but then I realized that my arms should probably be able to hold stuff without being devastated the following day. So I did something I thought I’d never do: I bought weights.

Granted, they were 5lbs, and sat next to my couch for a week before I decided to go through with it and use them. When I finally picked them up, I decided to do simple motions with them that I had seen in articles on the Internet (research always comes through). I would do those until I was sore and then stop. After a few months of having them, however, I found the glorious world that is Pilates videos on YouTube—which, to my intense satisfaction, required the small weights that I already had!

My progress includes muscle definition on my arms and the fact that I can carry all my groceries in one trip without being sore the next day. Obstacles to overcome? I have no idea what the muscle I managed to define is called, and I am still lazy enough to bring in all my groceries in one trip. I obviously still have things to learn, and weights to lift, but I did something I thought I would (read: could) never do, and that, for me, is a huge accomplishment.

Journal Entry 6 – Laissez les bon temps rouler! …

by | May 20, 2020 | Health

My family has had a four-day vacation planned to New Orleans for months now.  Possibly the worst timing to start a new diet and wellness routine when you go to a city known for incredible food!

I tried my best to not eat everything in sight, limit my beignet (French Donuts at Café Du Monde http://www.cafedumonde.com/ ) consumption to mere mortal levels, and sample rather than gorge. I believe I did my best, but I still put weight back on (I need to update my profile so my coach can see my set back.) Still, there is a silver lining to this post.  I really have nothing impeding me for the next 60 days. No travel, no crazy events that I can’t handle… nothing but time to test my mettle. Can I make a change in my life?

Time to dig in and let the good times roll!

 

Journal Entry 5: Corned Beef and the First Milestone …

by | May 20, 2020 | Uncategorized

Apologies for taking longer than a week to update you on how my journey is going after it’s critical first week.

I would like to report that it’s been easier than expected.

Here are the numbers:

Starting weight on 4/27: 317 lbs – it really sucks having to actually type that number.

Weight as of 5/7: 310 lbs.

I actually have been holding steady at 310 since last Thursday, yup I lost 7 lbs in one week. So what did we do as a family on Friday night… we went out and celebrated and had a cheat dinner. I am convinced that this cheat dinner has held me back from losing any weight right now.

It started last Tuesday as me and my family watched a cooking show we like. On it, the chef made corned beef. For some reason I cannot fathom, I became fixated on having a corned beef sandwich.

“Friday night” I announced, “we are having dinner at Katzinger’s Deli” I pulled the dieting Dad trump card.

For those outside of Columbus, Ohio, Katzinger’s Deli is the next best thing to a New York Deli, truly a culinary landmark in the city.

I have no idea why that sandwich got lodged in my frontal cortex, going from piqued interest to full on raging obsession in a matter of a few hours.

Katzingers is that good.

Since Friday night I have dutifully stuck to the diet my coach outlined. I know I ‘feel’ lighter even though the damn dial on the scale isn’t budging. On a side note, me and the scale are going to have some words out back after all of this is said and done. Picture the scene from Office Space as they take the company printer out into a field and gleefully smash it to kingdom come… just like that to the scale, only a bit more primeval.

Sorry, got sidetracked there… ah yes, having a ‘celebration’ upon hitting a minor weight loss goal wherein I go stuff my face with all the foods not on the plan sounds like the old me. Damn, only made a week before I sabotaged myself. However, I am confident of the long-game here. This little plateau won’t last, the weight will come off rapidly if I continue to adhere to the plan.

Then I realize that this Thursday me and the family are going away for a long weekend to New Orleans.

Of all the places… New Orleans!! Okay, my revised goal is to come back from NOLA still weighing 310 lbs. Means I need to lose 10lbs from now till Friday morning so my cheats only adds back those 10.

I am in a pickle.

Speaking of Pickle, here is the link to Katzinger’s Delicatessen: http://www.katzingers.com/

… now I am hungry again.

 The world famous Katzinger’s Deli… however there wasn’t snow there last Friday!

Journal Entry 4: Reflections on D-Day …

by | May 20, 2020 | Uncategorized

Today I started my journey to a healthier version of me. I video chatted with my coach, Katy Tombaugh from the Wellness Collective as we outlined a basic plan for me to start with. Can’t undue 12 years of neglect in a weekend, this is going to take a while.

The several weeks preceding this I actively ate anything I wanted, ‘get it out of my system’ I was telling myself. I did a stellar job, weight jumped up nine pounds… oops. When it comes off it will be more dramatic… right?!

We decided on a low carb diet and moderate exercise at first. I have done well on the eating and I did get some steps in but not enough. I need to carve time out to exercise or take a walk, this will be the hard part… time.

I announced that today was the day I would start, no backing out. I am leaving it all out there for everyone to read about my triumphs (fingers crossed) and my setbacks (I am a realist) and this openness about my life is very uncomfortable for me.

Maybe that is what I need, being uncomfortable to truly make some substantive changes.

More to come…

Journal Entry 3: The “Perfect” Time To Start

by | May 20, 2020 | Health

I am sure like most everyone that takes on a fitness or diet regime, you wait until the perfect time to start. Certainly can’t start on a Thursday, who ever heard of anything starting on a Thursday?!

I planned that my big adventure would start on a Monday – yesterday Monday – but once again life happened. A medical emergency with my extended family and my laptop deciding to quit threw me in a mental state that a Monday start was just not in the cards.

So now what…

I could go back to my normal routine as I yo-yoed through weight loss and weight gain… and wait until the perfect time next Monday to start. But part of this journey is to break habits that have I instilled or let rule my life. I need to go against the tide and shatter my routines.

Thursday it is.