The Biggest Loser

The Biggest Loser is about to begin again. Check out this link for an emotional preview!
http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/video/clips/the-biggest-loser-extended-preview/1152091/

Highs and Lows

So, today was filled with a lot of highs and a lot of lows.

But first, in case you missed it last week, I finally crossed the halfway point in the weight loss journey! I have officially lost 51 lbs since April 19th! But now, back to the blog entry....

Today I started the day with something I never thought possible...I ran a 5k race! It's one thing to run 3 miles in the neighborhood. It's a completely different animal when you are racing with hundreds of people around you! It was great! It was super! I was somewhere in the middle of the pack...which is a good place to be I guess. I certainly didn't break any speed records, but I got out there and I DID IT! During the post-race awards, they even had three people from The Biggest Loser there, which was cool.

After all the festivities, I got home and it was time to shower, cook lunch, etc. Once I was home, though, I noticed that my ankle/heel on my right leg was KILLIN' me. Since I started running back in April, my right leg has always bothered me a little bit. Nothing that a little ibuprofen and my ankle brace couldn't cure. But this really hurt...bad. I'm writing this blog at 9pm, and it still hurts to walk on.

So...in order to get better, my lifestyle coach Carlyn has put me on BootCamp and running probation until the ankle gets nice and rested and better. And let me first say, she's absolutely right. I need the rest. All the articles I've read on running and exercise claims that real strength and results come during rest and recovery times. But that small voice in the back of my mind is saying, "what will happen to all of your forward progess while you rest?!? You'll gain weight!". But I know that voice is stupid and needs to shut up. So what if I gain a pound? If I royally screw up my ankle worse, then I'll be out LONGER and REALLY lose momentum. So, for a few days, I'm hangin' up the sneakers and resting...relaxing...and recovering.

Let's all think of this as a halftime show (since I'm watching football on NBC at work right now). Let's let the band come out and play. I need to regroup, refocus, and come back out for the second half at 100%. I'm gonna win this game.

And yes, since you are my cheerleaders, you have to wear the cute little skirt!

The First 100 Days!

Much like the President, my first 100 days has been fun, difficult, rewarding, and painful.
It's been exactly 100 days since I took the plunge and started on this new healthy lifestyle. AND I FEEL GREAT!

So, what has changed in the last 100 days:

• Lost 48 lbs (at last weigh in last week)
• Lost 2 ring sizes. Bought a new wedding ring last weekend.
• Lost 4 pants sizes. Getting close to going to a new one.
• Added 4 new belt holes on my old belt.
• Averaging 4 mile run - 5 to 6 times a week.
• Was able to pass down/up some shirts to my dad.
• Signed up for my first 5k run which is on August 30th.

AND I FEEL GREAT!

I'm like a kid in a candy store. I love updating my Facebook profile pic when new weight-losing pics. I love weigh-ins (I know that is horrible).

I use weigh-ins as a motivator. Carlyn, and several weight loss websites I've researched, thinks it's smart to only weight once a week. THAT KILLS ME! I understand the reasoning behind it, though. I shouldn't see all the little fluctuations that weight loss brings on. But still!

And what makes it worse, is that Carlyn agreed to buy me a massage when I hit my halfway point. I was at 48 lbs loss last Thursday morning. That's only 2 lbs away from my halfway point! (Yes..for those good at math...I'm shooting for a total of 100 lost). I could be halfway right now and not even know it! It kills me! But you better believe on Thursday morning, I'm going to be on that scale.

If you are reading this, let me tell you, it's hard work...but it is definitely worth it! No pills, no creams, no weird diet. Just exercise, watching calories, a friendly pushes from friends, family, and God! You can do it too!

Who's up for a run?

72 days in...still going strong

I've been on my weight loss journey now for 72 days. As of my last weigh in (2 days ago), I have lost 39 pounds.

My weight loss has slowed a little bit...but that was to be expected after such a dynamic start.

It's interesting to see what milestones I feel like I need to hit. First it was 25 lbs. Now, I feel like if I just hit that 40 lbs mark (one pound away)...that will be a good "push" to go the next leg of this race. I don't have to tell you what kind of craziness will be going on when I hit the 50 mark. That will represent the exact halfway point of my total loss.

It's also interesting how I view myself. Oh sure, I feel great. My clothes are all too big these days (except my skinny jeans I purchased a few weeks ago). Deep down inside, though, I still feel like that fat person. I guess it is a little like when a person loses an arm. To some degree, they still feel that it is there. Well, to some degree, I still feel that the fat is all still there (stupid mental block). I can still see myself in the mirror and I know that I still have a ways to go....but I'm getting there.

And...for those keeping score on the exercise, I've decided that I'm a fulltime runner now. I love running. I love sweating. I love the endorphins/elations after a good run. I love getting sun when I run. I love the solitude of having "me" time while jammin' to the iPod. For 40 minutes everyday...the entire world is at peace. 5 minute walking warmup. 30 minutes to run 3 miles. 5 minute walking cooldown.

I seriously gotta get with the program and sign up for a 5k run this summer. I have two picked out...I just have to pay to register.

End of 8 weeks..some victories!

This new journey I have been on for the past 8 weeks has been AMAZING. It has been at times tiring, many times rewarding...and just overall a good experience.

I had to find out what really works for me. Running. Who knew? My ENTIRE life...I've always struggled with running. Short-winded, shin pain, stitch in my side...you name it...I've had it. A friend of mine at work (Hey Leah!) turned me onto http://www.c25k.com This is a site that is designed to take you from the Couch, to running a 5k (hence C 2 5k). It starts off slow...and don't get me wrong...at first, I thought I was going to DIE running for 90 seconds at a time (it was that bad). I am now in the 8th week of the program and I ran 28 minutes WITHOUT walking this morning! WHAT?!?!?!? It's still a S-L-O-W run...but it is still a run, nonetheless. Next week, I should be reaching my goal of running a 5k in it's entirety. I love to run. I've picked out a race in August that I'm interested in, but I haven't registered for it yet. Still thinking about it. I usually run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

On the days I don't run, I like to use the new game from E.A. Sports for the Wii called ACTIVE. This is a cardio/exercise game that puts Wii Fit to shame. Cardio boxing, squats, and sports drills get me sweatin' on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and occasionally Saturdays.

I rest on Sundays.

I watch what I eat in addition to all of the exercising.

Today's victories....I stepped on the scales this morning and I have lost 36 pounds since I started on April 19th! I am a third of the way to my goal!

Victory #2 came when I went to purchase some new jeans (all my pants are literally falling off of me). I used to wear a very TIGHT 42. It was always a loose/relaxed cut. In some instances, I had gained too much to buy stuff at Kohls or Target (Walmart usually had stuff that fit). But today...today was a different story. I was able to purchase two pair of jeans. Today's size was 36! ORIGINAL CUT! Not relaxed or carpenter! It felt absolutely great, as you might imagine. The only problem is I had to wash them and I didn't have time to do that before going to work...so I couldn't show them off! (I sound like a girl).

Tomorrow is a new day with new experiences. I am going to the community pool at my parent's neighborhood. It'll be the first time in a VERY LONG time that I won't feel like wearing a t-shirt in the pool. While I still have a ways to go...I'm certainly excited about showing off the new chassis!

Thanks to EVERYONE that has been following me and my progress. Thanks for the prayers and all of the kudos. You guys are as much a part of this process as the diet and exercises! THANK YOU!

This photo was taken almost 2 weeks ago after a great run!

2 Weeks In...update

Two weeks ago, I changed my life. I didn't go on a diet, I made a lifestyle change.

"They" say that the first few weeks of a new habit are the hardest. Don't get me wrong, I have had my challenges, but all in all, I haven't really struggled with this. Is this just a mindset that I have suddenly entered into?

I wake up early to workout. 2 things wrong with that statement. "Early" and "workout"...two word that were 'bad' words in my vocabulary only 2 weeks ago. Don't tell anyone, but I actually look forward getting up and working out. It doesn't matter whether it is running with my new sneakers, or boxing on the Wii...I wakeup ready to go.

So, if you remember, my goal is to drop 100 lbs. As of this morning's weigh in, I have dropped 16.5 of those (in only 2 weeks). 83.5 left to go!

Hope the rain holds off tomorrow...gotta get runnin'!

Day 1. Loser.

Sunday, April 19, was a big day for me. A rough day. An unexpected day.

I went to church (http://www.mytruenorth.org) like most Sundays. We are in a series called "Hostage". We're talking all about what are those things in your life that are keeping you from experiencing TRUE freedom in life and your walk with God. This week's topic was simply called "Addiction". I have no addictions (okay, maybe Mt. Dew) so this was going to be an easy one for me to hear.

Then a lady, we'll call her Wendy, cuz well...that is her name! Wendy got up and talked to us about her addiction to alcohol. She talked about sneaking drinks and lying about it. She talked about how she was always concerned about when/where her next drink was going to be.

That's when God smacked me in the back of the head.

I've done the same thing with food...for a long time. Oh sure, I overeat at meals...but it goes way beyond that. If I went through the drivethru to pick up dinner for the family, I'd get an extra cheeseburger and eat that on the way home...so that it looked like at dinner I only ate the one. My favorite time would be at night, after the rest of the family went to bed...I'd eat something while I was watching tv. Piece of balongna here, spoonfuls of peanut butter there, bowl of pretzels, etc.

Wendy, using some sermon notes from Jon from over a year ago, said that you need to first TAKE IT TO GOD. Did that. TAKE IT TO OTHERS. Talked to Carlyn, and now the rest of the world. TAKE IT DOWN. That's next.

So Carlyn and I talked about it. I wanted to see a counselor for my addiction to food. And that might still be in the pipeline. After studying for a while, we decided that I would join the Biggest Loser Club online. And hey, since I work for NBC...what better way to support our own show!

Last night, before I went to bed, I fired up Wii Fit. And yes, it yelled at me and told me I had not done ANYTHING for 250 days! And then it weighed me. 265. That's two hundred and sixty five pounds. According to ideal weight charts, I should weigh no more than 155. I know your math is as good as mine...I need to lose a 5th grader. I need to lose 110 pounds. Officially, on the Biggest Loser Club, my goal is 100 pounds (nice round number).

So, officially, today is Day 1. I got up this morning and went running. On a Monday. With a drizzle in the air (man, he MUST be serious). I didn't run for long, but I got out there. It was a cornecopia of running, jogging, walking, and perhaps a little crawling.

I know this is going to be hard. I know the deck is stacked against me. I'm not looking for pity...but just support. Prayers. Perhaps someone to buy me some running shoes, LOL!

This photo was taken last week. I'm hoping this person becomes extinct soon enough.

Bout to have a busy afternoon at the station

Stream of Consciousness

Okay...so it has been a while since I have updated my blog...

And...I update my FB/Twitter status several times a day. I know that there are some of you out there that only follow one or the other, or this blog. So, at least for a trial time, I have linked all of them together.

So, this blog will have live updates as to what I am doing. After all, Twitter is micro-blogging at it's finest.

Just wanted to get everyone up to speed here.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich at my desk. I love eating like a kid!

Check out ping.fm!

"GreatMother" Canady

Today was a day of both sorrow and celebration. Today, we buried the woman my daughter calls GreatMother.

That's the name Makayla calls Great Grandmother Canady (my dad's mom...but you figured that out already). GreatMother Canady is THE one you think of when you think of what a grandmother is supposed to be.
(and yes...Stewart....I did "take" this pic from you...but I love it)

Grandmother Canady was without a doubt, the gentlest, soft-spoken, servant of God you will EVER meet. The idea of a swear word from this woman was, "Oh foot!". That was it.

The smallest things tickled her. She was SO interested in everything we had to say...even if she didn't understand...or even if she didn't "hear ALL the words" we said. After a story from my dad, she would almost always answer with a, "Lord Randy, you know not!" (Randy of course is Dad's name).

She loved telling us about her "score" at bingo that week. One week she won kleenexes, the week before that...soda! She was a master at that game.

Thirsty? Go ahead and get one of them Co-Colers out of the fridge. (and of course it was usually the glass bottles...very trendy and cool).

At lunch today, the grandchildren talked about her "palettes". You see, when you went to visit Grandmother, and you spent the night, you got to sleep on a palette. A palette was a complex system of quilts and blankets...stacked in a particular way on the floor. This engineering marvel was topped with a "piller" and a top sheet....and don't you know, that was one of the best places to sleep. And even though Grandmother snored, it was still a great experience.

And there are only a few people in history that I can think of that had the servant's heart that my Grandmother had. She never wanted the spotlight (not even sure she would have enjoyed all the attention she got today). Many, many years ago when Grandaddy was sick and in the nursing home...she was there EVERYDAY. Holding his hand, doing his laundry, whispering "it's going to be okay" in his ear when all he could do is shout "Rosa MAE!" at the top of his lungs...not able to say much else. It was her duty and privilege to serve. Even if deep down inside she thought it was a chore, I never knew. I think about some of my darkest days, 4 years ago when I was caring for a sick wife with cancer AND a newborn baby girl, Grandmother Canady was the model of servanthood that I had. It wasn't about her and it wasn't about me.

This past Friday, Heaven welcomed one of their most prized angels in my Grandmother. We love you and miss you already, Grandmother.

For a much more eloquent blog entry about Rosa Mae, visit my cousin, Stewart's blog here.

Don't worry

Today, Pastor Jon talked about not worrying. Most of what we worry about in life, we have NO control over...and no responsibility to be worrying about in the first place.

As we take a look at our lives, we need to see all the things we are thankful for...and not just the problems. As I look at my own life, there are a few things to note:

1. Both Carlyn's and my cars are old and have significant problems. BUT...at least we live in a country where we are able to have two cars. We have freedom to go when and where we want.
2. We live paycheck to paycheck. BUT...at least I have a job that pays as well as it does so that my wife can stay at home to raise our daughter.
3. Our 4 year old daughter is testing our patience everyday. BUT...at least she is healthy and actually brings unmeasurable joy into our lives.
4. I have to drive 35 minutes to get to work. BUT...at least I have that time to clear my head and sometimes spend with God.
5. We couldn't decide earlier what to have for dinner. BUT...at least we had several options. God has provided us well.

And I was going to make my list longer, but realized....hey....why am I trying to come up with a list of things that I worry about, or that are troublesome. Honestly, if my list is only 5 things...and one is about what we had for dinner...I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination.

When you really get down to it...what are YOU worried about? Really?

The 80's live again!

As if the 80's ever really went away.

Came across this video and thought everyone should experience it as well. It is a LITERAL re-voicing of a-Ha's Take On Me video.. You know the one with the comic book that comes alife and back.

Enjoy!

Super Benjamin!

If I had a theme song...I think it would be better than this one...at least I'd hope.

http://www.makemesuper.com/r.php?i=4_236e3-132740-m-Benjamin

Enjoy!