Motivation for Monday
Per Pippa’s very flattering comment, I decided to make my Toastmaster’s speech this week’s Motivation for Monday. Be sure to adjust your sound. Enjoy.
Log My Loss
This isn't a diet, it is your life!
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Good: My brother was released from the hospital last night. His kidneys are working, his blood sugar has stabilized, and he seems to be well on the road to recovery.
The Bad: He is having to stay for at least a month in a nursing home. While he is well on the road to recovery, he is having trouble walking. He is retaining a great deal of fluid in his legs, feet, and especially his left knee.
The Ugly: Much of his troubles right now are because of his own laziness and fear of needles. While he needed a shot in his knee, he is so scared of needles that he refused to get the shot. He has since given in and done this, but it is about two weeks later than it should have been.
There is a lot more to this story than I am willing to publish here; however, the simple fact that he is recovering is the most important part.
The Good: This leadership program that I started this past weekend is going to really be a good thing. We had a dinner last night that solidified that. Tomorrow morning is a breakfast where our group is introduced to many leaders in the community. On top of that, I think the relationships I am building with this group are going to turn into strong friendships that last a lifetime. I am truly thankful I was chosen for this.
The Bad: My boss and another senior office in our company warned me that the time commitment for this program was nothing to be taken lightly. They both warned me that it is much harder to fit this in that you initially think.
The Ugly: I am barely into this, and I am realizing they were right!
Don’t misunderstand me, I am really thankful. I have already made a few contacts that I think I have a lot in common with. I have been very reserved with people for a long time. This is helping me to open back up and trust people again.
The Good: My back is much better. In fact, I am hardly feeling any pain now. Woot! Tomorrow I think I will be totally well.
The Bad: I haven’t done any substantial exercise this week. Thankfully I did quite a bit last week.
The Ugly: My indiscretions on Sunday (which I didn’t write about) are going to haunt me all week. Why, oh why does it have to work this way?
Today was another IF day. Now that I am about well in the back, I am ready to start back on the 100 push ups program. It seems I get just within reach on this and something happens. I really want to hit 100.
The Good: My oldest son has finally decided that taking over my computer repair business is a good thing. He has been doing much of the work and is making a fairly decent profit.
The Bad: He is still a beginner and doesn’t understand all that he needs to understand yet. While he is willing to learn, it takes time.
The Ugly: Right now most of the jobs that seem to be coming our way are the very complicated one. Why, oh why can’t some easy ones come our way? 
This is something I have been waiting on for a while. If he will get serious about this, he can make some serious money and have fun doing it. I think that is about to happen.
High Ropes, Falling Weight, and More
What a weekend! As I wrote on Thursday, I had a leadership training excursion this weekend to a high ropes course. It would have probably better been explained as a COPE course. COPE meaning Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience.
The COPE Course is the kickoff retreat for a ten month local leadership development program. Approximately 30 people (29 for our group) are selected from the region to attend this training on an annual basis. The training focuses on developing leadership, exhibiting needs in the community, and building relationships. I’ll have to say, there could hardly be a better way to build a bond with 28 other people in a short time than the COPE Course. I went in only vaguely knowing two people in the group, and I left feeling like I have many new acquaintances and several new friends.
I am not going to give the specifics of the training, as it would diminish the value of the experience to you if you were to ever attend a similar training. I will say we spent a significant time building trust in each other, something I tend to struggle with. We also worked on our problem solving skills, and we learned a great deal about how we tend to begin to work out solutions without fully understanding the problem or the options and resources we have available to us. Very eye opening. Our team really took this to heart though, and by mid-morning of day two we were working together like clockwork.
The crux of the weekend, at least for me, was the challenges in the air. I will have to say, I really thought we were going to do more in the air, but honestly, we did enough to stretch me and many others in the group. The two that really pushed me were the telephone pole and the zip line.
The telephone pole went against everything I have in me. As I have shared with you before, I am absolutely terrified of heights. I wasn’t going to willingly let that stop me though. I got in line early, and I ended up being number three. I convinced myself that I would not look down. While there was a ladder for the first 10 feet, the rest was basically large staples sticking out of the pole. I climbed up the 24 foot pole and made it almost to the top, then I began to feel the sway. GULP! I moved on up and reached the top staples. At this point there is nothing for my hands to hold on to, and my knees are above the top of the pole. Now realize that we were protected through safety ropes the whole time, but that didn’t mean a whole lot to me at this point. I then tried to get my foot on top of the pole, but my harness was so tight I was worried I didn’t have the flexibility, and I knew if I tried and couldn’t get my leg up, then I would fall. I finally convinced myself that I was going to be able to do it. I raised one leg up, then I used my hands on that leg to support myself as I raised my other leg up. As I stood tall I raised my hands in a “V” and yelled VICTORY! as I lost my balance and fell from the pole. Yes, there is a picture of my hands in a “V”, but it didnt’ snap until I had already fallen, so there is no pic of me on the top of the pole. And no, I don’t have the pics yet, but I am told they are coming.
I thought the zip line would be much easier, but I was wrong. I wish I knew how high this was. My guess is 50 feet, but I could be off. I heard someone say 65 feet, but I don’t think it was that high. So, we had to climb the tree just like we did the telephone pole. Thankfully it didn’t sway like the pole, but let me tell you, it sure was a lot higher. When I made it to the platform, I wouldn’t let go of the staple in the tree until the gal helping me had me buckled in to the zip line. I was quivering. She gently talked me through turning around and facing the zip line, then I held the rope, walked to the edge, and jumped off. I don’t really remember the first few seconds like I thought I would. I know there was a five or so foot drop as you fell because I saw the others, but I don’t remember that myself. I just know that my heart was racing the whole time.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret a minute of this. In fact, quite the opposite. It was exhilarating. In fact, I would love to do it again. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all good. At least not the after effects. As part of one of the problem solving exercises I ended up carrying two of the gals on our team, one at a time, from one side of an obsticle course to the other – one over my shoulder and the other in a fireman’s carry. I am not going to go into the details of the why, as that would not be fair to others who might attend this in the future, but I did it to help our team through a project. While this helped us beat the typical time by over 20 minutes, I am feeling it in my back right now. Would you believe I was going back to get the guys after that? Fortunately we found more resources to use and were able to conquer the course using another method. When am I going to learn that my body isn’t as strong as I think it is?
Eating ended up being far better than I expected, and while most of the group partook of a fair share of adult beverages in the evening, I happily stuck to my bottled water. I do have a breakfast and a dinner with this same group later this week, but I think both of those meals are going to be just fine.
Now on to the weigh-in and measurements. It was really a great week with regards to this. Overall the eating was great, as was the exercise, and it paid off.
I lost a total of five pounds, which puts me at 193. I know you are going to think I sound crazy, but I really wish it wouldn’t fluctuate by this much in a week up or down. I am much happier with it going down though. My body fat percentage went up by 0.2% to 20.8%. My BMI naturally went down 0.7 to 27.7. My neck decreased 3/8″ to 16.5″. My chest and my forearms each decreased a quarter inch to 44.375″ and 11.875″ respectively. My stomach was the big loser for the week – it decreased by half an inch to 39.75″. My waist and my calves both increased by an eighth of an inch to 37.75″ and 16.25″ respectively. My thighs increased by a quarter inch to 22.5″. Last, my biceps decreased by 3/8″ to 12.75″. Not bad. Not bad at all.
I am going to attempt to repeat last week with regards to eating. Three days of IF minimum, eating only a good dinner. I also hope to exercise more, but not if my back doesn’t start feeling better.
Plans for the Weekend
I am finally back home again, but heading out again tomorrow. Tomorrow is the orientation weekend for the leadership program I told you all about some time back. It is going to be a challenging weekend for me. First of all, we are going to be at an old Boy Scout camp where there is no real cell phone signal, so I will be distanced from all technology. Second, the focus of the weekend is a high ropes course – the intent being to push us out of our comfort zones. Considering I am terrified of heights, that should be interesting. I am going into it with the attitude that I am going to do it all though.
One challenge for the weekend is going to be eating. All meals are provided. I have already decided that I will just fast if the food is not in line with what I know I need to eat. I don’t have a real problem getting weak from fasting, and I am sure there will be one meal a day with acceptable food. I might be surprised; there may be something acceptable at all meals. Either way, it will be fine.
Today was another great day with regards to eating, although there was no exercise to speak of. Just some minor walking at the airports. I chose to IF again today, ending with a great dinner at one of my favorite chain restaurants – Ruby Tuesdays. The one disappointment was the tomatoes on my salad. They sure did taste waxy and bland. I will be so happy to have one my fresh tomatoes tomorrow morning!
Speaking of my garden, I am so ready for fall, but I sure am going to miss all the fresh veggies. Most of the garden is already showing signs that its days are numbered, but we are still getting plenty of tomatoes and hot peppers. I was really disappointed in the sweet peppers this year, we really didn’t have that good of a crop. I still have a few herbs left, including a large stevia bush, but other than that, everything has already died. We have had such a hot, dry summer that nothing could survive without frequent watering, which I don’t tend to do. Especially not when I travel like I have this summer. At least we canned and preserved foods while we had plenty.
Be sure to watch for the weekend update Saturday night. I won’t be posting again until then.
Drinking Enough Water?
I am sure you have heard the importance of drinking water. Did you know drinking water is proven to help with weight loss? (see this story for more) The main points of the article are as shown below:
- Drinking two cups of water before all three meals helped dieters lose weight and keep it off.
- The findings only worked in people who were middle-aged and older, but water might help younger dieters, too.
- Americans get far too many calories in the form of sugar-filled beverages.
Also, if you are drinking tea for health benefits, you should be brewing your own. It seems that home brewed tea is healthier than bottled tea. Imagine that!
Sorry, I haven’t had time for much blog reading this week. Hopefully I can catch up this weekend.
Another IF day here. Dinner was Blazin’ Wings at BWW. Oh, I had a salad too and an apple for dessert. No exercise today. I will get some in tomorrow though.
More on Emotions
A few days ago I wrote about the emotions I feel when I see people of various sizes and perceived degrees of healthiness. Tonight is a follow-up post to that one, so if you haven’t already read it, go do that now.
I will be the first to admit that many time I have thoughts hit me as soon as I see someone. I am particularly sensitive to those I feel are allowing themselves to be damaged through their lifestyle. Unfortunately, those perceptions are sometimes wrong. In fact, truth be known they are probably often wrong. For example, just because someone is overweight, doesn’t mean they aren’t trying to lose weight. It also doesn’t mean they are less healthy than a skinny person. On the flip side, just because someone is skinny doesn’t automatically mean they are healthy. Nevertheless, we are in a society that perceives it that way.
As I wrote the other day, it frustrates me to see someone who is very obese, but seems to be doing nothing about it. In fact, it seems just the opposite, as they are drinking a milkshake, or working on the last of a 48-ounce soft drink. Yet, there is something I realized since I began this journey to lose weight. For some of us, it is very hard to focus the energy and determination it takes to succeed at something on more than one thing at a time.
Let me elaborate. I have seen in my own life that I can only spin so many plates at a time. There comes a point where something begins to suffer. I have certain priorities in my life, those being my relationship with my God, my family, my health, and my career. Once I get beyond those things, I struggle to give what it takes.
What occurred to me some time back is that there are people out trying to better multiple areas in their lives. Perhaps they are a smoker, and they wish to quit smoking. They may also be going through marital troubles, and they are working as hard as possible to save their marriage. Work may be taking a tremendous toll on them, or they may be having problems with their children, parents, or friends. In addition, they might be extremely obese, which is affecting their health. While they want to improve in all of these areas, the emotional toll and energy it takes to succeed in each one is tremendously taxing. Using whatever reasoning they may, this person prioritizes the areas for which they would like to improve, and they begin their journey. Perhaps they decide they really want to quit smoking. As they start down this path, they struggle. They begin to eat more, but they are staying off the cigarettes. However, they begin to gain a little more weight, yet they are determined to win the battle against their cigarette addiction. A year or year and a half later, they feel strongly that they have this addiction beat, but their has been a cost – they have gained another 20 pounds.
The question I have to ask myself is: who am I to judge this person? Do I think I understand their priorities better than they do? Do I understand all the ways they are trying to better themselves? Do I know the challenges they have faced today? The answers to these questions are obvious. I have my priorities, but my priorities are not their priorities. I want to see people at healthy weights. I want to see people fit. I don’t want people to die from things like I have seen my family die of. Yet, as the old saying goes, I haven’t walked a mile in their shoes.
This also spurs more thought. Although I am much healthier and much closer to a healthy weight than I was in 2008, I am not where I need to be. I am still 20 pounds or so too heavy. I am not as active as I need to be, and no where near as fit as many of you. Who am I to look upon others and judge, when I still am not doing everything in my power to be healthy?
This took a somewhat different turn than I anticipated when I began writing. Even though I consider myself to be a pretty understanding person, I make mistakes. This is one area for which I need to improve. I made choices over two years ago to improve my health through weight-loss, but that doesn’t mean everyone else has made that choice. It doesn’t mean that others prioritize things like I do. And it sure doesn’t mean that I have the right to make decisions in their lives. I have enough trouble doing that for myself.
Enough of my rambling.
Today my eating was great – it was a day of IF. I ended it with a reasonable sized dinner. I also did push ups and squats.
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