wonder how many points this is.

Being that I have a pregnant wife, I am sometimes forced ENCOURAGED to join her for dinner that isn't the most friendly to me losing weight.  Lucky for me these cravings have been few and far between.  But tonight I am glad I ate light this afternoon because she wants to go to Beto's Pizza in the South Hills. 

I will see if I can leave food long enough on the table to snap a photo of the delicious cheesy goodness before we devour it.

mmm dino eggs.

mmmm dinosaur eggs...i wonder how many points they are?  oh wait.  thats a mango.

and mangoes are ZERO points...mmmm zero points.

SNACKTIME!

one of those weeks.

You ever had one of those weeks where everything is frustrating?  Aside from my great run on monday everything has gone downhill since then.  Somebody call the wwwwaaaaambulance for me please, then come over and slap me upside the head and tell me how good my life is please.  I am just in a funk...of course I know this too shall pass. 

its good to be back.

Last night I forced myself into bed at 9pm.  As previously stated I have been putting off/taking a week off from running.  I compelled myself into bed forcefully early because I didn't want any excuse for getting up at 6am to run before work today.  I was up off an on about an hour before my scheduled wakeup time courtesy of some wicked awesome thunderstorms.  With lightning that lit up the sky like Vegas and thunder that clapped like a NASCAR race there wasn't much consistent sleep to be had between 443am and my 6am alarm.  At 6am I happily bounded out of bed...yeah thats right I bounded like a friggin' gazelle over to the alarm, grabbed my under armor, running shoes, and socks.  Filled up the SIGG bottle and hopped on the treadmill.  It felt really good to get back into running.  I think if anything last week was a mental holiday because I have a renewed energy this morning to really start knocking down faster miles!  Also as a side note since the weather is getting warmer I really can't wait to get back out on the mountain bike in a few weeks because I really miss the solitude of riding in the woods.  This morning I ran for 23 minutes plus warmup and cooldown time which equates to 6 points in the weight watchers system.

I also have to amend my previous blog about the description of the show HEAVY on A&E.  The format for the show has changed since the first 6 or so episodes have aired.  The new format now puts 2 people into the Hilton Head Health hotel where they spend 6 months exercising, eating right, and undergoing counseling.  The previous format sent people home after a few weeks to see how they did on their own.  This new format appears to be much more successful in promoting and educating the individuals involved.

While at my new godsons baptism luncheon yesterday I also learned that one of my friends B.P.  is also doing the weight watchers for men program.  He has lost about 7lbs in his first 5 weeks, he is on about the same track as I am and is about 2 weeks behind me in the program.  I am happy because now I have someone to convince to workout with me when I am feeling less than motivated.  He is a father of 2 and with the encouragement of his wife has joined to get back in better shape.  I wish him all the best and hopefully we can help motivate each other in the coming weeks.

call the waaaaambulance I'm whining.

Another Sunday weigh in, another week of weight loss.  HO HUM.  This weeks official number 215.2.  The continued weight loss is great!  But, I feel like I should be seeing more aggressive results.  I feel like the .8-1lb per week I have been losing isn't enough.  I know that is not the correct way to think but sometimes I hop on the scale on Sundays hoping to see some magic week of 5 lbs weight loss or more.  I guess I should just be happy that I am continually losing weight. 

Don't feel bad for me I am just complaining.  There are plenty of other people out there suffering through crushing weight with no hope of loss.  Just watch an episode of the Documentary Series "Heavy" sometimes.  That show is both inspirational and tragic.  To see someone who through many avenues, years of overeating, and most likely some mental or physical health issues has blown up to 400, 500, even 600lbs will crush you.  You then follow them through their education on how to properly cook and eat.  The participants are also taught how to exercise, given tools for success, and membership to a gym for a year with a personal trainer for 6 months.  If the participant doesn't comply they are sent back to the boot camp for 1 more month of intensive training.  By the end of the show most participants have lost anywhere from 50 to 150lbs in a 6 month period.  The only thing that you don't get to see is a follow-up with the participant greater than 6 months after the show.  I am sure there will be a followup series that will chronicle the successes and failures of the participant as well.  (if that wasn't planned A&E I want a cut!)  I feel like I could probably predict the people that will stick with the program and those that will go back to their old ways with pretty good success.  The problem with many of the people on that show is that they don't have a good support network at home.  I feel bad for many of the people because the families they go home to are enablers and in the same condition as the participant.  It's tragic to see a wife who just wants to succeed on that show only to come home to a husband who is morbidly obese himself and their kids who are also on the road to the same problem.  The wife tries so hard to succeed in her weight loss only to have a husband basically sabotaging everything she is doing.  The show falls short in that they don't offer any support, counseling, or education to the families of the participants.  The show is definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen an episode yet I highly recommend Heavy.   

it's the weekend?

Alright!  Its the weekend!!

Oh wait, I work today.  If my weekends seem overwhelmingly busy now whats it going to be like when we have a little one at home? 

Ever just had one of those weeks where you can't wait for the next week to start so you can put this week behind you?  I woke up every morning this week feeling creaky, sore, and tired.  I did get up a few early mornings to shovel snow this week.  I didn't run a single day this week...for shame I know!  But I was just not feeling it all week.  I haven't lost sight of my goals and one week off isn't going to kill me as long as I get back on the treadmill or out on the trails this coming week.  Maybe my body was just telling me to recover...or maybe I am just making excuses. 

Either way, I have a date with the treadmill tomorrow morning. 

Have a great weekend!

dreaming of the future...

I keep thinking of the future and what it holds for Christine and me and our growing family.  I keep thinking of all the things that I can teach and share with my children.  One of the things that I really remember as a child was going fishing with my dad.  Fishing by itself takes a GREAT deal of patience and fishing with a child takes the patience of a saint.  (Therefore I think my father may be a saint because he took up to 4 kids fishing at a time).  I learned the level of patience this takes when spending a weekend at the lakehouse with my family and my nephew.  If you don't know me, I love fishing its one of the destressors I use to get through crazy times because I find the solidarity soothing. 

My experience with teaching Nicolas (not his 1st time fishing)  was actually very rewarding, albeit stressful at first.  When fishing alongside a young child you have to get in the habit of not fishing much.  You put some bait on a hook for them (most likely a worm) and you show them how to cast the bait into the water.  Of course the first 10 or 12 casts either go into the weeds, behind them, or send the worm FLAILING out into the water and off the hook.  Frustration will mount a bit no doubt because in my head it seems like such a simple concept of casting this little piece of bait into the water.  After rebaiting, recasting, and Nicolas beginning to lose interest we got a worm into the water.  The first time that bobber disappeared under the water was exhilarating, Nicholas set the hook properly and reeled in a nice sized bluegill.  He was hooked!  Now everytime I am at the lakehouse with Nicolas he wants to fish...or swim across the inlet with his grandmother (my mom) but that is a story for a different time!

Something I know I will need to have plenty of with raising children is patience and self sacrifice.  I will have to give up or take a break from many of the things I love so that I can spend the time teaching my children to love the same things.  I really am looking forward to being able to shape this young child into a strong individual and respectful person!