Thursday, December 10, 2009

Day 451 No Plateau: Weigh-Day Success!

Day 451

No Plateau: Weigh-Day Success!

It's kind of funny, I woke up on time two mornings in a row without the alarm clock, then I find the alarm clock and oversleep. It's the snooze bar, totally evil that thing. I can't resist making the noise go away for nine more minutes by simply pressing the snooze bar, it's too easy. And I've concluded that you automatically fall into a deeper sleep once you hit the snooze bar. I wake up as soon as the initial alarm sounds, but after hitting the snooze and it goes off again, I'll keep right on sleeping while it blares KPNC all over the place. I need to start banning the snooze, my new neighbors might not appreciate the noise at 4am! Often times it goes off to me voicing a commercial--it's like waking myself up. I haven't had neighbors on the other side of a wall from me in many years. I must remember them. I met one the other day, very nice man--knew me from the radio, I look forward to meeting more.

I was in a hurry yes, but I wasn't sacrificing breakfast, Oh no! I can make a mess of scrambled egg whites in less than 5 minutes. I did, and it was good! I grabbed a banana and an apple and I was off to the races! I do get use to certain things, almost dependent on certain routines or foods. Early on this journey it was Wendy's small Chili for lunch, at least a few times a week. I got sick of it fast! Now it's egg whites with veggies and low-fat part-skim mozzarella. I'm not tired of that yet, but really--I'll get there. Maybe I'll get hooked on steel cut oats again. I'm such a creature of habit, aren't we all? The importance of breakfast has always been super high. It is a must every morning period. The metabolism needs fuel to wake up and start working---breakfast fills that need. Even when we oversleep.

Today was weigh day. I really wanted to weigh much earlier in the day, but couldn't make it until late afternoon. It's a very busy time of year around here, so late afternoon had to work. I walked into a very busy doctors office full of sick people. I walked in with a smile and confident stride, right past the receptionist desk---they're use to this routine---and straight back to where the nurses, doctors, and patient rooms are located. I greet everyone with a smile and they're always happy to see me. They all remember me at my heaviest. They remember the Sean that would come in barely able to breathe, or the Sean that would come in with multiple leg wounds from out of control leg swelling, or the Sean that threw his back out at over 500 pounds and needed two people to help me move around, or the Sean that came in on several occasions with stroke level blood pressure...yeah, they like seeing me now. And I love seeing them every two weeks. Their smiles and kind words really inspire me.

We all know what happened last weigh day. The scale stayed the same at 278. Today it moved. Thank goodness! Three more pounds gone forever! The scale was friendly, giving me 275...oh how relieved. No plateau---just a nice slow loss. We're getting there by golly. Just 45 more pounds until goal. Like I've said before, 230 was just a number that sounded nice to me on Day 1, we'll get there and see how it feels. Who knows where we'll end up when we're at an optimal weight. A couple of big things will factor into that number: Weight training and excess skin removal. Who knows? It doesn't matter at this point, it's business as usual getting to where we're headed.

Tonight I braved the cold for fifteen seconds and walked next door into the fitness room! Oh, I'm gonna love this! It's seriously maybe 35 steps from my front door. The elliptical and I must get to know each other a little better. I tried it again, and like my experience at the YMCA---my legs were really upset. It's like I'm discovering muscles I didn't realize I had. Oh the burn...and I'm a real wimp---I quickly found my way to the trusty treadmill. I know, I know, I should push myself a little harder and feel the burn, love the burn, go for the burn, but it hurts! OK---I'm being a big baby now. I make myself sick sometimes. I need a personal trainer---someone to bark orders at me like a drill sergeant, someone to really kick my behind when I start whining about a little burn. I'm such a little girl sometimes, I swear.

After my workout I collapsed in bed early and then woke up at nearly 10:30pm, realizing that I never had dinner. I still had 800 calories remaining. I immediately grabbed a banana. Then I threw some of the spaghetti we didn't eat into the microwave. I still left approximately 350 calories on the table. I don't like, nor do I make a habit of doing that. It's just not good to leave that many calories, but I didn't want to eat so blasted late, you know?

Thank you for reading my friend. Starting Thursday night, this blog will go back to being updated every night and occasionally (especially on the weekends) the next morning, instead of always being a day behind! Big thanks to Gayle for pulling a computer repairing miracle out of her trick bag. We're back up and running at home. Goodnight and...

Good Choices,
Sean

18 comments:

  1. Congrats on, well, I was going to say today's weigh-in, but really, congrats on your entire journey and positive attitude!
    You are an inspiration.

    Leilani

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  2. Glad you're not plateauing after all :)

    I hate the elliptical, it just doesn't feel safe to me, I always am sure I'm going to fall off!

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  3. Two things: a personnal trainer is a great idea. Find a good one that you like and trust and make at least 2 appointments with that person per week. #2 I don't know if you get it down there but Canadian Bacon is a great, lean addition to breakfast. It's in with the regular bacon but round. Pretty low in calories. Congrats on the 3 lb loss.

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  4. Don't worry about the eliptical, if you like the treadmill better then use it. The net effect is the same. Congrats on another loss. The Biggest Loser folks should profile you as the ultimate "doing it at home in the real world." That seems to be the focus of their show now. (which is a good thing) 45.54% of you gone forever. All because you chose to do so. Un-freaking-believable. Keep up the good work.

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  5. Fairly newbie here....but wanted to chime in. Congrat's on the loss!!!

    I'm a creature of habit myself and usually have the same breakfast and often times the same lunches, it just simplifies my life. I totally feel ya!

    Oh, and I"m not big on the elliptical either, it always makes my toes go numb!!!

    Keep up the awesome work, you're such an inspiration!!!

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  6. Oh give that lil eliptical another try...she will be your friend! She is my GO-TO girl at the gym! I love to watch that calories burn number creep higher and higher. Start with a small goal 5 mins, 10mins, whatever...do it EVERY time you go in there. You'll be ricking that girl in NO TIME!!!

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  7. Congrats on the weight loss!!! I have been following this for awhile and WOW is all I can say!

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  8. Congrats on the loss!

    So far as the elliptical goes...I know it is daunting. When I first started losing weight at 269 lbs I tried to use the elliptical at my apartment complex. I remember feeling like it was a HUGE accomplishment to make it five minutes. Now I could seriously go for hours on the thing. It has been a major part of my success so far. It is encouraging to look back on those days when 5 minutes on the elliptical was hard, because now I know that even if I can only do something for five minutes now it will turn into 15 mins, 30 mins, and beyond! That thought has inspired me to start running, and sure enough it is the same kinda thing!

    Keep up the good work! You are such an inspiration to me every day :)

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  9. Sean,
    I own both a pacemaster treadmill and a precor elliptical and I have to say I like the treadmill way way better. But that's because it's easier! I try to make the treadmill as hard as I can but I still get winded way quicker on the elliptical! Also one trick for me is to put my alarm clock ACROSS the room. That way I am forced to get up when it goes off!

    Jodi

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  10. Yay! Three pounds = 12 sticks of butter. Love it! Congratulations. :)

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  11. Do you ever get tired of oatmeal or steel cut oats for breakfast? I just can't get tired of that. :)

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  12. Hi Sean. Congrats on your loss! Glad you're doing so well. Your capacity to cope with all the recent changes is just amazing. I really think it's the psychological and physical boost from all the weight loss that is enabling you to power your way through it all.

    (Sorry I haven't been around much - I've been ill. But on the mend now.)

    Best wishes,
    Bearfriend xx

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  13. Congrats on the loss - you are doing GREAT!! So happy for you and your wonderful accomplishments!! Keep it up!! :)

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  14. WTG!!! Congratulations on the continued success :) I can't do the elliptical either....it killlls my legs! Maybe that means I should do it more :p

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  15. I do the precor elliptical. The dreadmill bores the crap out of me. I don't know why, but the treadmill feels endless.
    Great job on the loss.
    way to go.

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  16. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

    Way to bring it, big man!

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  17. "Often times it goes off to me voicing a commercial--it's like waking myself up." I know you're used to that, but that is just so...cool, weird, cool--it would give me a start!

    Congrats on your loss! WOO-HOO!!!

    You know, we bought that new/used bike a few weeks ago. DH asked me what my calorie burn was on it on the phone last night. I said I didn't know. He was aghast. He wanted to know why I wasn't riding it. Because...it hurts my butt! lol So not quite the same pain thing, but I get it.

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