Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Take Pride in yourself

Another week gone, Another week weighed in. Closer than ever to my goals.

I weighed in this Wednesday. Lost 7.4 LBS this week. Down a total of 72.2 LBS since January 16, 2013. Bringing me down to 453.8 LBS. I started being over 500 LBS. I am proud that I left the 500 plus way behind. I will never be that again. GOOD RIDDANCE!!!

Why take pride in yourself? Every little bit of pride you have in yourself will make you happier. It makes you work harder to hit your goals.

This last week was rough. Maria and myself got sick. So energy was zapped, and we just wanted to sleep. But we both lost. Combined, myself and Maria have lost at grand total of 102.2 LBS. 30 LBS for Maria, 72.2 LBS for me.  Not everyone can say they lost over 100 lbs with their best friend. Maria has been an amazing support system for me. She pushes me when I don't have any motivation. Wednesday after work we went for a nice walk around the neighborhood. I couldn't be prouder of Maria.

So this week, even being sick, I ate better, exercised more. It shows on the scale. So my next goal is 2.8 lbs away. That will put be at 75 pounds lost. I know I can hit it this next week. But even if I don't I will still be happy with the progress I have made. Exercise is getting easier. My joints are hurting less. Clothing is fitting better. All together I'm very proud with what I have accomplished so far.

On a sad note, the Weight Watcher meeting at working will be ending next Wednesday. There hasn't been enough people attending. We have to remember it is still a business and they have to make money. But I can still go to Weight Watcher meetings at different locations. Now Maria can attend with me. Got to look at the upside of things.

I earned another charm today from Weight Watchers. Bringing my total of charms to 7 total. The one I got today was for being active. I have pride that I am changing my life. My health is much better. I have my ups and downs like any one else. But the Ups are much better than the downs. Weight loss is a crazy roller coaster. I am happy to be on the down slope. That is the funniest part if a roller coaster. I just hope not to be on the up side any time soon.

I guess I do inspire people. If anyone I know I inspire myself. If i didn't want to lose I wouldn't. I could still be eating horrible. Not exercising. Still sitting on my Butt. I'm NOT. I'm more active, I am eating better. I can do it.

Please comment below. All comments are great support for me and everyone else that needs help. They all keep my spirits up and brighten my day. Share this blog with who ever will read.

Weight Report from Jan 16 to May 29. 



16 Week Stay and succeed Charm. Being in Weight watchers for 16 weeks

First 5K Charm. Completing my first 5K.


50 LBS charm. Losing 50 LBS.


25 LBS charm. Losing 25 LBS.


Second 5K charm. Completing 3rd 5K.
10% Charm. Losing 10% of my starting weight.  

Active Running Man Charm. Most current charm for being active. 





Thank you for reading. Again please comment and share. If you would like to hear more about my progress let me know. I am happy to share what is working and not working for me. 


The Amazing Shrinking Dude
Todd

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Depression, and weight loss struggle.

Depression sucks.

It doesn't just make you sad like most people think. It can make you numb. Sometimes others don't even know when a person suffers from depression. You can throw on a smile and chug along in your day. But other days you want to bury your head in the sand like an ostrich.

If you didn't know I suffer from depression.

Depression can lead to lack of sleep, lack of energy, lack of interest in just about everything. It can also lead to significant weight gain. It makes you want to eat, it makes you want to sit on your butt and just melt into the couch.

Everyone that has tried to lose weight knows it has its challenges. Its not an easy process. There are times when I want to melt into the couch and do nothing. But I know if I want to lose weight, I have to get up and move. Weight loss will not happen by its self, or everyone would be able to do it. If it was as easy to lose weight as it is to gain life would be golden.

To deal with the depression I talked to my Doctor. That helped. Losing weight helps. But one of the biggest helps is every person that reads this. Every person that pushes me to try harder. Those days I want to stuff my face with horrible food, and I don't want to exercise I have great people in my life that help me. They all know how to light a fire under my butt. They can motivate me and get me on track.

The times I want to bury my head like an Ostrich are the hardest. Those are when I need the most motivation. Some times all I need is "You can do it", "Way to go", Keep up the great work". Other times I need someone to put my work out clothes on and drag me out the door.

To every person that motivates me, pushes me, helps me, pulls my head out from the sand. THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart Thank you. I don't think I could do it without all your help. I've heard I inspire people. I don't know about that, but I know you all inspire me to try my hardest. I want to be able to hit my goal. You all bring me out of the gray funk and get me moving, get me motivated.  I want to succeed. I will succeed

Now onto this week. 

I lost 2.2 lbs this week. Down a total of 64.8 lbs. Bringing me down to 461.2 lbs. I earned another 5K charm for finishing my 3rd race.

 I was able to run/walk a 4.5 mile marathon over the Coronado Bay Bridge in San Diego. The views were amazing. But the best part, I DID IT. I RAN across the finish line. I wanted to give up toward the end, but I dug down deep, pushed hard and I finished. I couldn't be prouder of everyone that did the run with me. This was the first marathon we signed up for. But this was our third marathon we participated in. I now want to do more. I am loving it.

Depression happens. But what happens in the end is up to you. You can melt into the couch, stuff your face with horrible food and become more depressed. Or you can get up and move. Get up get motivated. That is the option I want to choose. I want to be motivated. I want to take care of my health, mental and physical. You cant work on your physical health until you work on your mental health. Keep those people that help you, motivate you, love you, Close. Contact them. Keep them in your life. The people that bring you down, push you into the gutter, want to bury your head in the sand, Get rid of them. Get them out of your life, you don't need them.

We can all do better. We can all get out of the funk. We will all succeed if you try hard enough. Please feel free to comment and share this blog with anyone that is willing to read. You motivate me, let me try to help others.

The Amazing Shrinking Dude
Todd



Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The Blog I don't want to write

Here it goes. I really do not want to write this blog today. I was hoping to have a good post, but it is the opposite. This was a bad weight week for me.

When I walked into my weight watchers meeting today, I was hoping that the scale would be on the negative side. I removed my belt, removed my shoes. I was ready. I stepped on the scale and was told I gained. I heard the price is right failure song in my head. I stepped off the scale and was told I gained 5.6 pounds. I couldn't believe what I heard. I was in shock. I asked if I could step on the scale again, maybe I was leaning on the table. I was trying to reason that I couldn't have gained. On the scale again, told yes it was up. Off the scale, shoes back on, belt re-buckled. I got handed my weight tracker sheet and went to go sit to listen to the meeting.

After I weigh in weekly I text my weight gain/ loss to a select group of family & friends. I was really in disbelief. This week was rough to text everyone. I was sure I would have lost. But still let everyone know. Of-course I was beating myself up. Thinking I am worthless. Thinking I will never hit my goal. Then the text messages started coming back to me. With the loving, uplifting words. I could feel the hugs in the letters on my phone. One message I got back was from my oldest brother "Trying to loss weight and not let life get in the way is tough. My opinion is to start fresh tomorrow." My beautiful wife said the same thing. Put this week behind you, move on, try harder this next week.

Feeling as low as I did today. I can only go UP. I will crawl out from under my depression rock. Get some happy sun shine. Get some needed exercise. I am going to own up to my weight gain. I will try to be more active this week. On Sunday I will get to walk/run over the Coronado Bay Bridge. Its a 4 mile walk. I am really looking forward to being able to take pictures from the top.

Gained 5.6 pounds this week. But down 62.6 pounds total. 5.6 is small compared to what i have done so far.

Thanks you for the support everyone. Please keep the comments coming. They keep me going. The moment I want to give up & I want to stop doing this, everyone that reads this gets me back on track. Please feel free to share this blog with whoever would be interested in reading.

The Amazing Shrinking Dude
Todd

Sunday, May 12, 2013

My first Blog

Here it goes. This is my first blog. Lets start from the beginning to give some background. I am a 28 year old male. I live in the San Diego, Ca area. Been married for 6 years.

My entire life I have been over weight. I was set in my mind that I will always be heavy. Every time I saw a doctor the first thing that came out of their mouth was, "you need to lose weight." They would just tell me that. No help, no guidance. Every doctor wanted to me to have gastric bypass/ lap band. Doctors wanted me to do the medically supervised shake diets. I tried every fad diet under the sun. I would lose 2 or 3 pounds and then gain 5 or 6 pounds back. this was the entire cycle. I tried Diet pills, diet drinks, diet anything I could find. Of course it did not work. Some stuff I tried made me feel horrible. My heart would start to beat very fast.

My blood pressure was high, my cholesterol was high.  I had a fatty liver, all my joints hurt. If I ever went walking I would be out of breath in a very short distance. I would be winded half way up a single flight of stairs.

If we went to any amusement park such as Disneyland I had to determine if I could fit. Being asked to step off a ride since the safety harness wouldn't latch is one of the most embarrassing moment I have ever dealt with. Making an extremely happy, fun time into a horrible disaster.

In January 2013, my wife Maria, got told by the doctor she was diabetic. This was the turning point. My work offers Weight watchers discount. So we decided to sign up. This has changed everything.

My starting weight was 526 pounds on January 16, 2013. First time I am posting my starting weight. I want to get down to 350 lbs by January 2014. We are going on a trip to Hawaii. One activity we want to do has a weight limit. That is why I have that goal set. It seems like a lot to lose in one year, but I know I can do it.

Weight Watchers has really helped change my life. I am so much happier than I have been in a long time. As of May 8, 2013 I have lost a total of 68.2 pounds. Bringing me down to 457.8 lbs. My clothing is fitting better, I can sit in seats easier. My blood pressure is now in the normal range. My cholesterol is just higher than what it should be. My liver looks much better. My new doctor is amazed with my progress.

My activity level is much higher than it has ever been. I have done two 5K runs, third will be next week. I never thought I would ever be able to do this before. I can conquer stairs without being out of breath. Exercise does not intimidate me any more.

I know I can do this. I WILL DO THIS. I have so many people in my life supporting me. Every one is giving me so much encouragement. Please keep it coming.

That is it. I will update this blog as much as possible. Please leave you comments. Let me know what you think.

October 2012


May 2013