Time for a little status update! As of my last post on this matter back in October, I had dropped my weight a total of 32lbs to 228 (12.5%). That was from my mid-June high of 260lbs. Following that post, I went on to win my weight challenge at work, having dropped a total of 29.6lbs from the beginning of the challenge (late June) to the end (Jan. 9th). Though I got as low as 223 before Christmas, my final weight was 226lbs for an 11.6% total reduction. Not bad!

I admit that since the challenge ended, I’ve “cut loose” a bit. I have NOT stopped exercising, which has held me generally steady, but my eating habits have gone a bit off course. Since January, my weight has fluctuated between 224 and 228. As of yesterday, I am at 225. I’m happy with that, but not satisfied. I am lifting more weights (currently benching 205), so that accounts for some weight-gain. But when I started this mission, I stated that my goals were to weigh 215 by Thanksgiving, 210 by the end of December, and 200 by the end of May. Unfortunately, I missed the first two goals, and that frustrates me. Granted, it’s hard to lose weight over the holidays. But I can do better. I’m not done.

So this post is my “reaffirmation” of my stated end-goal. I fully intend to hit 200 by May 31st. Starting at 225, that means I need to lose 25lbs in 105 days (starting yesterday). That’s roughly 8.5lbs per month. I can do that! Again, I am still excercising as much as I can (despite continued foot problems). And soon, I hope, the weather will break and I will be able to start riding horses again. That means my primary obstruction is my eating habits. I have “behaved myself” before, and I can do it again.

At this time, I plan to post an update each Friday to this site that outlines my weight beginning the week (”In”) and my weight exiting the week (”Out”). I’ll also update any highlights, such as days I’ve fallen off the wagon, or any other significant changes. Please check back, and pass the word! I need all the support I can get! =)

I just wanted to get in a quick “Happy New Year”! I hope to keep up with this better in 2009, but then I say that every year. lol! My personal resolutions for the new year are as follows:

1) Keep exercising and losing weight to attain my target/goal weight of 199lbs (currently @225lbs).
2) Spend less time on the computer late at night and get in bed at a decent hour.
3) Keep riding horses and show at least one time in 2009.
4) Update my blog more frequently. =)

As for my 2008 resolutions, they were to exercise more and lose weight, which I’ve accomplished (at least in the last 6 months). Another was to get up earlier and on time, which I have generally accomplished now that Troy is picking me up for work at 6:30am. haha!

One more thing… I wanted to pass along a link to a site that I use frequently for saving money when buying stuff online. The website is called “RetailMeNot“, and you can find quite a few stores and sites listed. The site is legit and is well layed out. It is also not loaded with generic “out-links” (no real content) like many coupon sites. People enter discount codes there and others rank whether they worked or not. I’ve saved quite a bit of cash using this site!

Because I’m currently participating in TWO weight-loss challenges, I’ve generally I’ve kept quiet about my weight and my health. I like to keep the competition guessing. However, it’s not a secret among most folks that know me that between late-2006 and the middle of this year, I slipped a little with regard to my weight.

Okay… I’ll be honest… I slipped a LOT. My low-water-mark in 2006 was 223lbs, which I believe I only hit briefly before I began my unhealthy “decline”. Between then and June of this year, I managed to get back up to 260lbs. I wasn’t as bad as I was in 2003/04, when I peaked near 280, but I was on my way. I felt miserable. It was largely attributable to a few injuries that kept me from working out, general laziness, and the re-establishment of poor eating habits. I learned that the low-carb diets alone do not work for me. They are a short-term fix to a long-term problem.

The Problem
The turning point came in June of this year. I went to the doctor for a follow-up after having had my appendix removed and a small hernia repaired. Knowing I had somewhat let myself go, I inquired about my cholesterol and he agree we should test it. On June 23rd I went for the follow-up to my test. I learned my total cholestorol was 208, and my triglycerides were through the roof at 315. I weighed 260 on that visit. I had borderline “metabolic syndrome“. The doctor told me I needed to make changes, or he would have to put me on medication and start monitoring me for diabetes.

The Plan
The last thing I wanted was to have another pill (in addition to my BP medicine) that I had to take every day. The week following my appointment, I started watching what I was eating and made a committment to exercise. I was already in one weight-loss competition, but really had not taken it seriously yet. We then decided to start one up with my team at work. I thrive on competition and goals, so the game was on! I began lifting weights three days a week, and stepped up the cardio (running/cycling) on the alternate days. I also spent significant time over the summer riding horses, which I had not done in some time. I cut back on fried stuff, and worked in a daily bowl of oatmeal. I replaced processed grains with whole grains (pasta, bread, etc.). I avoid as much fast-food as possible. Finally, I stopped eating out 2-3 days a week at work.

The Results
Last Thursday, I had my 4 month follow-up appointment. Between June 23rd and October 23rd, I had dropped my weight 32lbs to 228lbs (12.5%). I had also lowered my total cholesterol to 191, which is within the “acceptable” range. But more importantly, I had lowered my triglycerides to 150 — more than half the previous level. My doctor was pretty stoked about that one. From measuring at work, my body fat percentage has also gone from the mid-30’s to the mid-upper 20’s.

The Challenge
I am not done yet. I have largely gotten to this point by setting small goals that are attainable, and understanding there will be “bad” days that I have to get past. I have now set my goals on weighing 215 by Thanksgiving, and 210 by the end of December (6-month mark). My weight loss competitions run through the end of the year, so I will have continued pressure to keep it up. Right now, my left foot is bothering me, which is frustrating. But I’m vowing to fight through it. I have not been under 220 since college, so I’m feeling better (physically) than I have in a very long time.

Thanks to those who have supported my goals over the past 6 months! Wish me luck!!

Despite the title, my left foot is actually fine. It’s just such a popular expression that I had to use it. I am frustrated right now by, of all things, my right foot.

To be honest, I’m not 100% sure what I did to it. The only thing I can recall is that I slipped going into a doorway and whacked the top of it against the metal sillplate back on the 10th of this month. That put a healthy bruise on top, but it was tolerable. Then I ran 3 miles on the 11th, and I guess that aggravated it. I couldn’t run and it hurt to walk, but I continued cycling that week on a limited basis. By last weekend it seemed to be getting better, and really wasn’t bothering me too badly. But I guess a weekend in flip-flops, followed by a cruddy ride on the old exercise bike at home, put the hurt back on it. It really hurts to walk on it this week!!

Of course, this comes just as I had just gotten over having a sprained ankle and had gotten back into my workout routine. I’ve fought off the pain by riding the bike, which actually makes it feel better for a bit. It’s just frustrating to have my foot hurting like this all the time when I’m trying to get back in shape! I’ve persisted with the cycling this week, but it has reached the point of being an annoyance.

In time it will heal, I’m sure. For now, I guess I can take some solace in the fact that I am not this poor girl. One minute she was enjoying a fun day at Kentucky Kingdom, the next she had her feet ripped off (literally!) by a ride. How horrible… I hope they are able to reattach them, but I’m sure she will have a lifetime of pain from this event.

Oh well… Have a happy weekend, and enjoy your healthy feet!

Not much going on to speak of this week. I took our van in for 60k-mile service today, and of course it needed new brakes and an alignment. The whole deal cost me more than a month’s car payment, but I guess if it makes it last a month longer down the road, it’ll be worth it. It did seem to run a little better.

Speaking of running better (like that segway?), I’ve sort-of gotten back on track with my running. I ran two days the week before last, and ran two days and cycled one day last week. Today I ran a little over 3 miles, though that included about 5 minutes of walking to work out a hitch in my back and to take a phone call. I’m going to try and ride again tomorrow, and work in two more runs this week. I need to change up the tunes on my shuffle, because my running mix is getting a little stale.

And speaking of stale tunes (wow, I’m on a roll…), it’s time for a new “Song of the Week”! This week’s tune is brought to you by the letter ‘B’… twice! As in B.B. King’s “The Thrill is Gone“. Enjoy some classic blues, and check out BB’s website. There you’ll even find an excellent video rendition of this song as a duet with Tracy Chapman. Good stuff… a cigar and a Red Stripe would make it perfect.

Quick note: for those watching the saga of the buried car, the “unearthing” is Friday! =)

I ran again yesterday for only the second time since the 5k. Last Wednesday I ran 3.5 miles, but it was the only day I ran all week thanks to an ingrown toenail (ouch and yuck!), which made it hard to run at all. That seems to have resolved itself, so I put in 2.75 miles on the treadmill yesterday. It wasn’t a bad run, but I’m a bit sore from it today. My plan is to run again tomorrow, though. I need to ease back into my routine of eating more miles than donuts in a week.

I’m thinking now that I really could have done the Rodes City 10k Run this past weekend, had I applied myself. I feel I have really lost momentum since the latter part of February. There are a few other 5k’s coming up, but I know I can go that distance. I’m sort of eyeballing the 5th Annual “Barnyard Dash” at Huber’s in early June. It’s a 10k, so I’ll have to see how I’m making progress to that point. It’s something to shoot for, though, which is apparently what I need to stay motivated. We’ll see. Since it’s in June, at least I won’t have to dress like a wounded thumb!

According to the National Weather Service, it’s 69°F outside right now. And sunny. The expected high today has now been revised to 81°. So nice! In fact, Emily and the kids are going to the zoo today.

But according to my calendar, it’s still Tuesday. That means I have to work… inside… all day. I have so many things I want/need to get done outside, or places I want to take my truck for “consultation” that would be great to do on a day like this. In fact… uh oh… I think I feel the flu coming on. haha!

But the weather has been pretty awesome lately. Friday was really nice, Saturday wasn’t bad, Sunday was better. Emily and the kids rode with me in the truck to get a newspaper and gas, and then up to my parent’s house to show them the truck (my dad hadn’t seen it yet). I even had two guys at Meijer ogling the truck while I was gassing it up. lol! I took my dad for a ride while the kids played, and that was about it. It was Emily’s first time riding in it, though, so that was fun. I also took it out last night to pick up something for dinner. That was the first time I’ve driven it at night since I fixed the lights, and they worked great!

Outside of that… I need to get back into my workout routine. I’ve been really bad lately with my eating habits. Seems someone is always bringing in donuts or buying us lunch here at work. The trousers are feeling a little snug, so I need to slow it down a bit and get back into my workout routine. Things just got so out of whack, and it seems to be one thing after the other. Right now I have an ingrown toenail — and that feels great when you’re running (not)!  

That’s all for now! That is, unless you want a good laugh…