Week Fifty-Six Weigh-In, Measurements, and Goals
Well, it has been almost a year since I began this weight loss/healthy body journey, and today is my last weigh-in and measurements for the year. Tomorrow is the official last day, and Tuesday is my lifestyle change birthday (interesting posts planned for both days), but today is where the rubber meets the road. Today is the day that I give the official yearly update.
Let me tell you, this has been an interesting ride. Last July 13th, I went to bed know that my life would never be the same. I knew that when I woke up Monday morning, I was leaving the past behind me. The decision was made, there was no turning back. I have said this before a few times, and indicated it many times, I was truly a walking time bomb. I knew that I would never live to be an old man. When you looked up “walking heart attack” in the dictionary, my picture was there. The high blood pressure, the high cholesterol, the high triglycerides, high LDL, low HDL, apple body, stress — you name it, I had it. To top it all off I had a history of heart disease on both sides of my family. This, my friends, is what finally pushed me over the edge. I would go to be sad at night realizing that I was setting my wife up to be a widow. I would ocassionally shed a few tears thinking that my sons would have to attend their dad’s funeral while they were still young. All of this finally built up in me enough that I could not continue down the path I was on. While this is all in the past, it is important for me to reflect back on it periodically to make sure I never forget where I came from.
You have all seen my progress pictures, but what you haven’t seen is my pictures from the months leading up to that life changing day. You see, I had been losing weight prior to starting this diet, but it wasn’t intentional. That is one of the things that makes me think I had slipped into full blown diabetes. If you want to know more about this, see my About page, or who knows, I may do a full post on it sometime. I don’t really know what my ‘beginning’ weight was, as I wasn’t intentionally trying to lose weight. All I know is that I was big. Here are several of photos of me from the two vacations prior to my change and Christmas 2007. In addition, I have included today’s pictures for comparison purposes (I don’t like how WordPress crops these — be sure you click on the photos for the full shots):
As you can see, I was a little heftier than I was when I started my lifestyle change.
All of this brings me to today. Today is really the 364th day since I began my new life. It is a little off because somewhere along the way I made Sundays my weigh-in and measurement day, rather than Monday. It is close enough though. Honestly, I had expected to be at my goal weight by now. While I am not there, I am not unhappy with the progress. In fact, I am considering slowing the weight loss down a little; I want to ease into the finish line.
Enough of the idle talk – here goes: my weight dropped another 2.5 pounds this week, which means I now weight 199! — a total loss of 60 pounds over the last year. My body fat percentage is now 21.2%, 0.2% less than last week, and 10.7% less than a year ago. My BMI this week was 28.6, a drop of 0.3 for the week and 7.3 for the year. My neck went down 0.625 inches (I know this doesn’t seem right. I broke my rule and remeasured three times), which brings it to 16.5 inches, or 2.75 inches less than a year ago (btw, this is 1.875 inches less than my original goal). My chest went down 0.125 inches, or 44.5 inches total, which is 5 inches less than a year ago (this too is less than my original goal by 2.5 inches). My stomach is now 41.25 inches, which is a gain of 0.75 inches for the week or a loss of 10.25 inches for the year. My waist this week was 38.375 inches, or a gain of 0.125 inches for the week and a loss of 6.125 inches for the year. My thighs are now 22.625 inches, a drop of 0.125 inches for the week and 1.625 inches for the year. My calves remained the same for the week (17 inches), and I have lost a half inch on them for the year. My biceps are now 13.625 inches (another shocker), a drop of 0.5 inches for the week, and 0.625 inches for the year (see what I mean, that doesn’t make sense). My forearms are now 12.125 inches, which is a drop of 0.25 for the week (another shocker) and 0.625 inches for the year. While I didn’t achieve all that I had hoped for this week, I am very happy with where I am at.
In closing, I do have to admit one little discouraging piece of information I came to realize a few days ago. I am not as tall as I thought I was. I don’t know whether I had always measured myself with shoes on in the past, whether I was pretending I was taller than I really am, or whether I have shrunk. Either way, I am a full 1.25 inches shorter than I thought I was. I thought I was 5′ 10″, but without shoes on I am 5′ 8.75″. I’ll have to admit, I wish I were a little taller, but my real issue with this is that it means my body fat percentage and BMI are both higher than I have been reporting (23.4% vs 21.2% and 29.6 vs 28.6). If I change my body style to athletic it puts them more in line with the current measurements, but I hardly think I am athletic. I am not going to change what I have listed here because it will mess up my tracking, but know that I am not doing as good as I had thought.
That is the results for the week – all I can say is I like it here in Onederland, and I think I gonna stay 
. If you aren’t here, you should make plans to move here one day. It’s a fine place. Nevertheless, like Ehren, I am not done yet. There is still work to be done.
As far as goals for last week – I said I would walk 24 miles, and I walked 29.21 miles. I said I would do 30 push ups, and I did 30 push ups. I said I would do 3 days of planks, and I did 3 days of 3, 60-second planks. I said I would continue my Tabata workout, and I did continue it, although I only did two days of it.
My goals for this week are to walk 20 miles (with the traveling this week, I am not sure how the walking will go), do 36 push ups, do three days of planks, and do a Tabata workout (probably not jump rope this week since I am traveling).
I still have a few special posts lined out. I think I am going to do something a little extra tonight, but I am not sure about that yet. I have already begun the one for tomorrow, and Tuesday’s post will be another interesting one. Be sure you check back for them.
Hell yeah brotha. Almost a year, its incredible…. and your changes are just ridiculous. Sure, you might not be at your goal weight and sure, you aren’t finished yet, but at least you found something that works and your able to stick with. That’s like, a third of the battle. Congrats on finally being below 200, it’s a nice feeling, isn’t it? Looking forward to your posts tomorrow.
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Eric, thanks for the warm welcome. It is sure a nice feeling being below 200, but I still have 20-30 pounds to go. It has indeed been incredible.
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You look GREAT! That’s quite a change in one year… Gratz!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Thank you Larkspur.
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Well I have been practicing all week and now I can finally do the Happy dance for ya.
Dude that is so amazing and I am both so happy and proud of ya man on all these great accomplishments this week and of course this past year as well. Today I am in total awe after seeing the real before pictures and the now pictures. Very very impressive; especially those calf muscles. WOW!!!
I could go on and on but man all this is so great. What a feeling you must be at today and the fact that you’ll now life a longer, healthier and happy life ahead of you.
For me come August 23red it will be a 1.5 years for me and so far I think I lost about 95 pounds and 110 more pounds to go. Like you I’ll get there 1 pound at a time. In the meantime enjoy this victory and all the ones that will sure follow you. Yeah for YOU!!!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Rob, I have been waiting all week for this happy dance.
Thanks so much for your encouragement. As much as I am happy that I am below 200, I am far happier that I am now a much healthier person.
BTW, you have a lot to be proud of as well. Even though I had read your “about” and seen your “progress pictures”, I guess it never clicked with me that you had already been at this a year and a half. That is pretty awesome. They say that continual, long-term weight loss is a sign of permanent weight loss. I have no doubt in my mind that will be the case with you. I cannot believe all the exercise you do. You are no doubt building up an incredible athlete that is busting out a little more every day.
Thanks again Rob!
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woooo hoooo!!!
pat on the back steven! don’t worry about height. with losing 11% body fat in a year , you are ten feet tall and bullet proof!
you seem to be the type of person who loves their progress , but is also enjoying the journey itself. ususally those types of people never end the journey. they lose their body fat, then work on endurance, then decided to build more muscle ect ect.
i have a feeling by next july your goals will look a lot different than today, but you’ll still be working on your health and athletism. seeing your development shows you are becoming a natural athelete, and that goes far further than the being in the land of onederland! cheers and congrats!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Okay Rachel, now I am truly humbled. I sure don’t feel ten feet tall and bullet proof, but I do feel I have reached a milestone of success.
I truly believe that you are right in your assessment of me. This journey is a life long journey. I will soon achieve my goal weight, but that is just the beginning. I have a lot of body tweaking to do before I am done.
I cannot wait for the pics and report next July. I hope it is as shocking as the one made today.
Thanks again Rachel, I appreciate it.
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What an accomplishment Steve! A healthy, active lifestyle can be so rewarding and you are reaping all the rewards of your determination. Walk on!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Thank you Wendy. It is indeed rewarding. In fact, I now intend on having a much longer life to enjoy it.
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You’ve come a long, long way! Well done!
I love how you’ve just dropped down under 200 pounds! Congratulations!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Hanlie, that was somewhat by coincidence, somewhat by an extra push the last several weeks. I honestly wasn’t sure I could make it, but I am tickled that I did. Thanks Hanlie!
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I simply do not know what to say Steve. Those pictures really put your accomplishments into perspective. Are you playing minature golf in one of the pictures ans sweating like a demon??? Your achievements are truly inspiring. To lose 60 lbs in this past year is nothing short of stunning. All I can say is ‘well done, congratulations, and I have truly enjoyed being part of the ride with you this past year’.
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 12th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Mark, thanks. Of all visitors here, you are my longest supporter and partner in this journey. And yes, I am sweating like a demon in the picture playing miniature golf. The bigger I get, the more profusely I sweat. In fact, it is somewhat of a joke with the people I am around daily. Thankfully, that has begun to subside. In fact, I have been cold a few times in air conditioning lately, which is really out of character for me.
Mark, I truly appreciate all your support, and I am glad we have had a chance to get to know, and support each other along the way.
Make it a great week!
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Steve, this is SO GREAT! Under 200. Wow, I haven’t been there since 6th or 7th grade (I think. I don’t know for sure, since I never checked my weight growing up–too depressing), but I planning on moving there in the next year or two. I think Onderland sounds great.
And I don’t think you should worry about the “miscalculation”. Since you started with it at the beginning, all of your progress is proportionate. And very exciting and inspiring!
Keep up your spirits!!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 13th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Beej, thank you! I appreciate your thoughts on the miscalculation. It really isn’t that big of a deal, but I just wish I had been accurate from the beginning.
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Wow sexy legs!Really your story is so inspiring and you should be so proud of yourself.Just think you lifted 60lbs off your heart and can breathe easier now!Congrats!!!!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 13th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
VAngel, now I am blushing.
Thank you so much for your kind comments. There is no doubt that I am now healthier, for that, I am very thankful.
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those calves? Pretty nice, Dude!
That entire story? AMAZING and you have so literally and figuratively worked your ass off.
congrats.
Miz, who also is shorter than she’d thought (yearly check up) are we ALREADY SHRINKING?!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 13th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Thank you Mizfit. I appreciate it. Regarding the height, I am going to say that I shrunk. Heaven forbid I be one of those guys who overestimated himself. :-/
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Congratulations Steve!
I am so inspired by your consistency. Even when you were at a plateau with the scale, you kept on consistently with your plan. I admired your ability to keep on doing the right thing and the scale followed.
You are both motivate me and inspire me to stay committed to my plan and I really appreciate it!
You look great. I am so happy for you that you have dropped so much weight and you are closer to your goal. Welcome to Onderland, it will be sometime before I get there, but it is very cool knowing that you will be there to greet me!
I agree the calves look amazing…:-)
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South Beach Steve Reply:
July 13th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Kat, thank you. I really appreciate this comment. Of all the things that people can say, to say that I am consistently doing the right thing is what I want to hear. Thank you so much for the compliments. There is no doubt, you will join me here in onderland before you know it. Just keep doing what you are doing. I am a firm believer that we have to look long term. If we get discouraged by the day-to-day results, we will flop around like a sheet of paper in the wind. We just need to do what is right and works, and just keep doing it.
Thanks for the comments on the calves. I wish my whole body looked that good.
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