Things are happening. This last week, I thought I really blew it in my eating habits and exercise program. There were some particularly stressful days at work and I found myself dropping back into the old habit of eating food when stressed or depressed. I ate out for lunch Monday and Tuesday. And while I didn't intend to do so Wednesday, a co-worker invited me out for lunch so we could chat about the things going on at work. So…
Then due to an after-work appointment with the chiropractor and then needing to be at the lodge early, I didn't get my regular workout Thursday. Then Saturday I was gaming with friends all day and again skipped a workout. And Saturday I had Arby's for lunch and then the most wonderful ribs for dinner. And later a chocolate brownie fresh out of the oven.
The only thing I can look back on and smile a bit about the week is that even when I was eating for the wrong reasons I wasn't even able to eat very much. Apparently, I'm getting used to the smaller portions. Oh, I would have liked to eat more ribs or brownies. Just couldn't think of doing it. Was TOO frackin' full!
Then…the dreaded weigh-in this morning. Don't know how it happened. But, the scale said "269". So I got off and back on. It must be defective because it still said "269". I moved it on the floor in case it wasn't flat and it still said "269". I figured it was stuck, so put my PJs on and weighed again – it said "270". Ok….not stuck.
I don't know why, but apparently I've hit the 30 lbs. weight loss milestone. WOO HOO!
So…I had set a goal to lose weight. I had set my first milestone goals based on some traveling I had planned. This coming weekend (9/12) I had been going to speak at SharePoint Saturday New York and wanted to be thinner so I'd have a chance of fitting in the airplane seats, but mostly so that if there were any pictures, they wouldn't look as bad as the last SharePoint Saturday I attended.
The other milestone I set was to have lost more weight by when we left to go to the SharePoint Conference 2009 on October 16th. Again, to better fit in airplane seats and look better in pictures, but also so that I could walk around Las Vegas and not be totally winded after only a block or two of walking. And perhaps even participate in some fun things without feeling totally self-conscious.
My goal for 9/12 was to have lost 30 lbs. That would have been an average of 5 lbs. per week since I began this ride. My goal for 10/16 was to have lost 50 lbs. I thought the weight loss might slow a bit, so set a more reasonable goal.
My wife is jealous. She's lost a few pounds, but not like me. I keep encouraging her and she keeps at it. She says she feels better for the exercise and the eating better. She says she sleeps better at night and has more energy during the day. So, I think she'll keep at it. I hope so, I want her to feel as good as I.
I've had to toss my favorite jeans. They were feeling very loose and I ended up taking them off without unfastening them. Didn't have to even push them over the hips. So…they just came out of their last laundry (still fastened) before I send them off to Goodwill. I did have a couple of older (read smaller) jeans so I pulled them out. There were sizes 40, 44, and 46. I had been in a 48 and considering a 50 early in July.
The 40s…uh…no. Not yet, anyway. I put them where I could see them fairly regularly. I didn't even know I had anything that small in my closets. The 44 (I didn't know it was a 44 when I put them on) was tight, but I could suck it in and fasten them. They were tight enough I couldn't put my normal utility belt stuff in them. So, I was thinking that maybe I hadn't lost what I thought. Then I tried the 46. They fit well, if a bit loose, and gave me just enough to put wallet, keys, etc. in the pockets. So…down a full size in jeans! And coming up on the next one down.
My work-shirts are baggy but the next size down is still a bit tight around my still quite large belly. Maybe another 10 lbs. or so and I can toss the 3X totally.
So, I've met my first real milestone goal. I've lost 30 lbs. I can hardly believe it! Now I have another one to meet. And I need to set another short-term goal. I'll need to think about it. My long-term goal is 175 lbs. I can't believe I'm less than 100 lbs. away from that. It's still a long way…but doesn't seem so far now.
I almost want to take a picture…my friends Saturday said they could see a difference in my face. I'm afraid to really look at two pics side-by-side. Maybe later.