Monday, September 15, 2014

September 15th, 2014 My Six Year Blogging Anniversary

September 15th, 2014 My Six Year Blogging Anniversary

It was exactly six years ago today when I started my journey along this road. I'll never forget September 15th, 2008 for as long as I live. It was that very night, six years ago, that I started this weight loss blog. I wasn't writing to gain followers, or for attention--or because I wanted a writing career or to write a book someday.

My intent was purely to help me stay on track--to keep me accountable. If anyone read it or not, it didn't matter. I was writing for me. It was helping me understand myself better--I was learning, I was discovering incredible things about me--and for once, I found consistency in weight loss.

For the first 200 days or so, about a dozen or so people would read on a regular basis. And that was fine. The first 200 days were some of the most powerful to me, so they served their purpose--and yet, they're some of the least read entries in the archives. Readers, comments and all of that--didn't matter. I was writing from the heart, regardless.

In fact, if you have gone back and read the archives, you can't help but notice the lack of comments and activity. This blog was a year and a half old, over 500 days in, when AOL featured it on their homepage--and that's when it started gaining readers.

This is something I try to emphasize to bloggers just starting out. Do it for you. Write from the heart. Even if you feel like not another person is reading your words, do it anyway. Because the most important person is reading every single entry, and that's you. Your writing can have the most profound impact on you, a seriously therapeutic experience, if you allow yourself to achieve a level of realness like no one is watching. Free yourself, my friend.

If you're writing your blog to gain an audience or to collect followers and comments or any other motive, it will affect what you write. Be real. Be genuine and authentic--just be yourself and let all that other stuff unfold as it will.

I can't tell you how many times someone has said to me, "I wrote my blog for a while but then I stopped because it didn't seem like anyone was reading, I felt like I was just talking to myself." And I say, exactly!!! Why stop?? Breakthroughs were coming!! Epiphanies were inevitable--if you just kept writing!

 I'm very grateful for the tremendous support I gain from readers today. I'm touched and often times overwhelmed by the sincere outpouring of support. And even though some have stated how this blog has helped them in some way--I must always remember my original mission to be real and to write for me. Do I sometimes write something other than that? Of course I do. But at the end of the day--when it gets down to the nitty gritty, I'm focused on me and trying to dissect the elements contributing to my success AND the elements contributing to my stumbles along this road.

 Happy Six Year Blogging Anniversary To Me!!!! Okay, enough of that-- On to today: 

I can recall numerous doctor visits in my past where I would go in with an overwhelming feeling of dread. I would only go if absolutely necessary because I knew I would likely get a very negative report. My doctors appointment today was very different. My doc and I laughed, joked--and we were both very happy with the blood pressure reading. He took me off all BP meds three weeks ago and today it was 120/74. He commented, "Perfect. You couldn't have scripted it any better."

What a beautiful relief. As I was approaching my top regain weight, I knew my blood pressure was once again getting out of control. I could literally feel it and that's saying something, since high blood pressure is commonly referred to as the "silent killer." It was getting super bad. Part of my initial stand in starting the turn around was my appointment where we addressed the sleep apnea issue and the blood pressure issue in the same visit.

Speaking of sleep apnea--I realize I'm long overdue for an update. I stopped using my machine well over a month ago. I don't actually remember exactly when, but it was at a point where it was disrupting my sleep, not helping me rest. I tried it without and slept beautifully. Here's the rub: This could be a very temporary reprieve from the sleep apnea. My body is changing--and where I am now seems to be an optimal place for my apnea situation to dramatically improve. Experience tells me it could very well come roaring back sometime within the next 50-80 pounds of weight loss. That's what happened during my initial weight loss.

I had lost the first 100 pounds and my apnea went away--suddenly I could sleep normally, without assistance from any device. And I celebrated!!! Then, I was profoundly disappointed when I realized it was back with a vengeance as I approached goal weight. It didn't make any sense to me at all. The sleep specialist explained it to me several months back--and it has everything to do with body composition.

Perhaps this time, I can get leaner--and maybe, just maybe--I'll continue resting well. It feels amazing to just lay down, get comfy and fall asleep without the machine. But rest assured (pun intended), if I start needing it again, I will be the first to recognize the effects and do something about it. When I'm tired these days, I can tell the difference--it's not a "sleep apnea kind of tired," it's a "I'm choosing not to get enough sleep kind of tired." Why I continue to make that choice is an exhausting debate that is truly pointless to ponder. I'll either start making it important or not. There will be consequences either way. I'd rather not complain about it anymore. I know what I need to do.

Part of what I need to do is stop taking the naps midday. I've enjoyed the naps--and in a way, they're great because when I need the sleep, I really need the sleep!! But I also need to go to bed at a decent hour. When I nap, it keeps me up late, because the quality is so good, I'm rested. And then the cycle repeats itself. The only way to break it is to stop the naps, get stuff done instead and then go to bed like someone who gets up at 4:30am, not like a school kid out for the summer without a care in the world.

I totally napped today. I rocked that nap for all it was worth. I slept soundly for one and half hours. And here it is, after midnight and I'm wide awake and sharp. No complaints--I'm just saying. It doesn't fix the problem simply because it's acknowledged--there must be action. So far I've done a whole lot of acknowledging and very little action in the sleep schedule department.

There was more I wanted to write about--but after all of the sleep talk, I probably should call it a night. Before I do...

If you're reading this blog, perhaps for the first time--please go back and read some of the archives. Things are going great right now and have for some time, but it hasn't always been this way. Diving into the archives on the left hand side bar of this blog will give you some perspective. I want you to know that you can do it too. This can truly be the time you take a stand and experience the transformation of your life. You deserve it. You're worth it. And I promise, no matter how lost you're feeling, there's hope. Please believe this. I've been in that hopeless state along this road--and I remember how it felt. I felt doomed and out of control. I truly believed it wasn't possible to pull out of the dive. And I believed it...until I didn't. I wasn't doomed, and you're not either.

I recently made it very important to reply to all comments made on each post. If you have a question, feel free to share it in the comments. We often have lively discussions in the comments section of this blog. If you want a more private place to send a message or question, you can email me: Transformation.road@gmail.com

My Tweets today:
















Okay--seriously?? It's time for an eyebrow trim again!! I'm starting to look like the late Andy Rooney.


Thank you for reading and your tremendous support,
Strength,
Sean
Posted by at 27 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Sunday, September 14, 2014

September 14th, 2014 Excited and Happy

September 14th, 2014 Excited and Happy

I rested even better last night. It must have been in excess of eight hours. All I know is, it's lasted me all day. I enjoyed some good coffee this morning with sugar free chocolate flavored creamer and a gooey cheese omelet for breakfast. Heather and I decided to hit the trail today for a great workout. She ran five miles and I did a brisk three mile walk with spurts of jogging. I have some kind of pain in the top right hand side of my right foot. I need better shoes for this, I'm convinced. It was a fantastic workout and since Heather was doing five miles, I actually beat her back to the car...by less than five minutes. She was moving pretty quickly.

Heather and I work well together. I'm soaking up things from her all the time. I'm learning from a wonderful teacher. She's very studied on nutrition and fitness, as separate subjects and how they each work together. She's very advanced. I'm not advanced, necessarily, but I'm at the point where I'm interested in learning more.

I'm feeling the differences in my body everyday. My clothes are fitting better, getting loose--and these are clothes I couldn't wear two months ago and now they're about to be retired too!

It's a consistent approach, a steady approach, supported by a variety of tools along this road that's making this trek back to my healthiest weight a successful one. It's different than my initial weight loss in many ways. I'm more grounded, I'm more open to learning, I don't subscribe to the "my way or the highway" type attitude that I may have had a smidgen years ago. I've been humbled--I've been shown the way and shown the error of my ways and I've discovered how to properly and truly love me for me, regardless of anything else. And that one epiphany will be something I discuss, write about and talk about the rest of my life. It's why I seem so incredibly happy these days. You couple these revelations with my abstinence from sugar and you've got what feels like a completely different experience from my initial weight loss. The differences are profound, yet, in many ways--a lot of the emotional/mental dynamics remain identical to the initial trip down this road.

I enjoyed lunch with Heather and her son before departing for Stillwater for an evening with mom. Mom and I dined at Mexico Joe's. We shared the most incredible chicken fajitas in the world. I ordered a couple of taco shells for my plate and I loaded them with chicken, a little sour cream, lettuce and salsa. I counted out 9 chips, separated them from the bowl and enjoyed each one with the freshly prepared salsa.  We had a fantastic conversation too. It was a wonderful night.

I got a call on the way to Stillwater from my oldest daughter. She was calling with some wonderful news! She's now officially engaged to he boyfriend KL! My little girl is getting married! Oh my-- I'm gonna be a big bundle of emotions when that day comes around. They haven't settled on the date just yet, but they've agreed, for sure--it's happening!

I shared the news of Amber's engagement with mom and she was elated. I'm so excited and happy!

My Tweets today:


















Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
Posted by at 15 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Saturday, September 13, 2014

September 13th, 2014 "No" Is A Complete Sentence

September 13th, 2014 "No" Is A Complete Sentence

I slept well last night. Sleeping in is sometimes difficult because I'm trained to be up at 4:30am. I've tried to sleep in before, only to wake up at 6am, get up and just accept that I'll be going back for a nap a little later.  Sleeping in seems to be not as difficult these days. It's certainly because of my drastically improved sleep quality. Quality, not quantity. Yeah, that's a another discussion.

I had a location broadcast from a grocery store today. It was pretty routine. This broadcast coincides with an annual event in Newkirk, Oklahoma called Charlie Adams Day. A local BBQ competition team phoned the station earlier in the week, promising to bring me BBQ today. I spent a little bit of time stressing about this--not because I feared eating it, not at all. It's BBQ--the calorie values are horrible and the sauces typically have a lot of sugar. I obviously wasn't going to eat it. My plan was to leave the plate of whatever they might bring in the break room of this store and let their employees devour. I was actually going over in my head how I would decline if they asked me to try their BBQ on the spot. The likelihood of this is pretty high considering they were in a BBQ cookoff competition at the day's downtown festivities.

It was all worry for nothing. The plate of BBQ never showed. I was relieved. How crazy does that sound? I was relieved when the free plate of award winning BBQ didn't show up like expected. That's interesting. Again, wasn't the food--it was the possible confrontational aspect if they requested I try their food right then and there. What was I going to say? I guess a simple "no, thank you." would work. Or as Life Coach Gerri always reminds me, "No is a complete sentence."

I left my broadcast feeling a little lighter on my feet. I headed home to do some multi-tasking...Laundry, cooking and working out needed to happen at the same time. I made it that way. I prepared lunch, threw in the laundry--put lunch in a foil pouch, then tossed it in the oven on 325 while I left for the YMCA elliptical.

Great workout!! I was walking out of the Y when my friend Jon in Wisconsin called. I had a wonderful conversation with Jon for probably 15-20 minutes on my hands free as I drove, arrived home, transferred laundry from the washer to the dryer, grabbed lunch from oven, cut up some cantaloupe, weighed everything I needed to weigh, entered everything in MFP, snapped the photo--tweeted the tweet and washed a few dishes! All of this while carrying on a good conversation. Multi-tasking for sure.

I made the trip over to Heather's to enjoy dinner and a rented movie. Heather cooked chicken taco chili and it was amazing. Perfect amount of spice!! She even went a step further and calculated the crock pot of calories--and divided it by the number of servings to give me a fairly accurate post for MFP and Twitter. She is absolutely one of a kind! I'm so lucky. The dinner was exceptional and the movie "The Other Woman" was hilarious.

We watched the new documentary "Fed Up" Thursday evening. If you've watched the trailer, you have a great idea about what it's all about. Sugar and sugar's link to obesity in America. One of the craziest things in this documentary was a Cola executive claiming his soda product was just as healthy as water. It was also sad. Fed Up features a lot of obese and even morbidly obese children. The school lunch program was discussed. I didn't know these things: Pizza is considered a vegetable because it has tomato sauce, french fries are also on the list of veggies. This means my favorite lunch from high school--pizza and fries from the ala cart line was actually just me eating two different veggies! Yeah, right. I had planned on a big review, but I don't have the energy tonight. I do recommend you find it and see for yourself.

My tweets today:














I really enjoyed the cantaloupe today!
Thank you for reading and your support,
Strength,
Sean
Posted by at 10 comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Friday, September 12, 2014

September 12th, 2014 Mickey Gilley Gave Me A Beer

September 12th, 2014 Mickey Gilley Gave Me A Beer

Today wasn't in a position to be this good. It turned out to be an amazing day. It wasn't a perfect day (Not sure I have too many of those!), but it was exceptional.  My plan today was my morning show, then commercial production, a workout in the afternoon and a location broadcast from the county fair immediately followed by a late night trip to the airport two hours away in Oklahoma City (11pm arrival) to pick up a colleague returning from the NAB Radio Show in Indianapolis.

When I realized my production load wasn't too heavy, midday, I seized the opportunity to split my day and grab a nap at home before returning for a productive afternoon. One of the keys to me getting to bed earlier throughout the week is not taking naps--but today, considering I wouldn't get home until after 1am at best, a nap was critically important. 

I enjoyed a great nap, I mean--real quality sleep, then returned for an eventful afternoon. My plan included leaving the studio by 3:30pm, heading to the YMCA for a good workout, cleaning up, changing and driving to my fair broadcast at 5pm. That was the plan. It's not what happened.

I was to interview Mickey Gilley via phone on Wednesday, but for whatever reason we couldn't connect on the phone. Instead, an opportunity presented itself for a live in-studio interview this afternoon at 3pm, in advance of his performance tonight on the Poncan Theatre stage.

I couldn't miss the opportunity to interview a living legend! I agreed to get Mickey on the air, chat it up, play some of his songs and remind listeners about the remaining seats available for the big show. Mickey was inspiring. I hope I'm that incredible by the time I'm 78 years old! The interview lasted 16 minutes. We sat, just the two of us in the studio and talked for ten more minutes off the air afterward. We laughed and he shared some incredible stories--and we laughed some more.

It was quickly approaching 3:30pm when Mickey's road manager found him in the studio and requested he get on stage for sound check. Our studios are located in the front of this historic theatre, so getting from the on-air studio to the stage takes literally 60 seconds, tops. I asked Mickey for a picture and he suggested we do a selfie. Fantastic! We shook hands and I thanked him for being such a wonderful interviewee, he then asked his road manager to go out to the bus and bring back a Gilley's brand beer from his own personal fridge. Mickey Gilley gave me a beer today!! How crazy surreal is that?? He was one of the nicest celebrities I've ever met.
photo photo28_zpsbe885d9d.jpg
Mickey and Me

By the time I edited the recording of our live interview for a drive-time re-broadcast, it was 4pm and I had officially missed my window of opportunity for a YMCA workout. I immediately modified my plan to include the Y workout after the location broadcast. I would have a small window with just enough time for a workout and dinner before hitting the road to Will Rogers World Airport in OKC.

I wasn't able to leave the fair until 8pm. I was hoping to leave a little earlier, but it wasn't happening! And that was okay, because my pickup at the airport still hadn't left Indianapolis. By this time I was tired and hungry. I quickly realized a Y workout wasn't likely considering how late it was--and the Y closes at 9pm on Fridays. No problem, I thought--I'll enjoy dinner and then a brisk walk at the trail--something--anything, as long as it could be considered a workout!!

I enjoyed a good dinner at one of my favorite little restaurants. After the meal, I walked outside and into the exceptionally cold night air and even though I had just received word that my trip to the airport had been cancelled--because my colleague's flight was cancelled, I didn't feel like hitting the trail. I was cold and tired. It had been a long day and I needed to get home. When circumstances pop up like this, I usually modify my approach and get done what I intended to get done. Tonight, I extended some self-compassion and gave myself permission to not workout. I worked out very well yesterday and I will again tomorrow. It's okay, I kept repeating in my head, it's okay.

This is all Mickey Gilley's fault, you realize this, right? :)

I felt exceptional all day today. It wasn't the nap or the interview with a country music icon. I was feeling great because I put on a warm pullover today and it fit perfectly. I've been wearing a lot of things recently that are way too big for me. The larger shirts make me look considerably bigger. With this perfectly fitting pullover, however, I was seeing a true reflection of how far I've come, physically, in the last five months. As for how far I've come mentally and emotionally over the last five months, I don't need a reflection to notice that at all. It's evident in everything I do, touch, see, think and feel.
photo photo29_zpsd5b0d8dc.jpg
Progress!!

I was honored to be included in a small group of bloggers, along with one blogger turned writer for Huffington Post--in a Jack S**t blog post this morning. Jack turned me into the green Teletubby.

It was a different kind of day!

My Tweet's today:










Heather and I watched the documentary "Fed Up" last night. I had planned on writing my review this evening, but I'll wait until tomorrow's edition. If you get a chance to watch it--please do! It's exceptional, eye opening and at times, enraging!

Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean

Added Saturday morning 9:40am Central: The Mickey Gilley interview without songs. Press play and enjoy!


Posted by at 15 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Thursday, September 11, 2014

September 11th, 2014 Taking Care

September 11th, 2014 Taking Care 

I worked out this afternoon at the YMCA. I ran into a completely different set of people, including a colleague from the studio! We'll be talking about our matching elliptical strides tomorrow morning for sure!

I was invited over to Heather's this evening for dinner and the documentary "Fed Up." Heather's son is an aspiring chef--and pretty good cook! He cooked dinner tonight. It was excellent!

My food was wonderful today. My elliptical workout was great and the documentary "Fed Up"--oh my, it's a must watch!  I'll be writing a full review in tomorrow night's edition!

I'm dropping in bed within minutes. I'm looking forward to writing more over the weekend.

My food tweets today:
Thank you for reading and your support,
Strength,
Sean
Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

September 10th, 2014 The Importance of Certainty

September 10th, 2014 The Importance of Certainty

A quick recap tonight, then bed. Quick recaps do not give me the same mental and emotional clarity as does thorough, exploratory writings, but the body needs sleep. And I must remember, this is a daily diary and there will be time for exploring another night. This is one day and this daily blog isn't going away, I'm committed!

I had a long work day today, taking me up until 8pm at the county fair. I did take the time in between breaks and greeting fair goers to reply to comments on last night's post. I was being efficient! It was a slow evening at the fair, so most of the time my alternative was watching the BMX stunt riders practice in front of our radio station's booth.

"Do you want fair food?" I was asked this question by our sales rep in charge of the fair account. I knew what this meant. Whatever I wanted, say the word--and I could have it for free. I've taken advantage of this in years past, especially prior to the start of my journey in 2008. Tonight, I firmly and easily declined. "Oh no, not a thing, I'll eat as soon as I leave here." Our on-staff news anchor/journalist who joins me every morning on my show, heard me say this and queried, "Is that hard for you to turn down the fair food?" "No, not at all. I'm looking forward to dining at Taco Mayo afterward." 

In a situation like this, I'm more concerned with certainty in my calorie budget than what I'll eat. Could I have selected something at the fair that possibly would have fit? Sure, but it would have required me playing a guessing game on the calories. Taco Mayo, even though it's fast food, gives me fresh ingredients (much higher quality than the big chain--you likely know the big chain I'm talking about!), and I can customize my order and feel really good about my choices. I ordered two crispy chicken tacos. These are not on the menu. The only chicken tacos on their menu are wrapped in flour tortillas. I order special and cut the calories, every time. Asking for the corn shells instead of flour saves up to 50 calories per taco. I declined the cheese on the white meat chicken tacos and allowed cheese on the bean tostado--a calorie budget maneuver. With the addition of sour cream and black olives, I knew the calories would be pushing 600, which is on the upper limits of any one particular meal for me. By the time I had it all entered in MyFitnessPal, I was correct--621 cal. Had I allowed cheese on the chicken tacos I would have easily exceeded 700 for the meal.

Dinner was delicious, satisfying, and certain. Had I picked the fair food, it would have surely been delicious, likely satisfying--but not at all certain. I could have saved a little money by accepting the free fair food, sure, but I will not put a price on the peace of mind certainty brings.

After dinner, I stopped by the store to pick up some new pots and pans for Courtney's new place. Courtney just moved into her first place that's all her own and she's so excited and proud! My house warming gift was the same for her as it was for Amber. Every time either of my daughters cook at home, they'll think of their dear old dad! 

After peeking into my grandson Noah's room and seeing that he was peacefully sleeping, I quietly turned around and exited on my tippy toes. I left Courtney's place and headed for the trail. It was too late for the YMCA. A good walk was an easy alternative considering this nice cool fall weather we're experiencing. It is downright amazing outside. I love fall!

My food Tweets from today:










Thank you for reading and sincerely, thank you for your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
Posted by at 6 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

September 9th, 2014 Checking In With 37 Year Old Me

September 9th, 2014 Checking In With 37 Year Old Me

Sometimes it's good for me to go back into my archives and read a perspective from years ago. I was looking for something written about "Importance Level," when I came across this from August 29th, 2009:

I feel so weird right now. My body feels good, my vision is sharp, my muscles feel relaxed. So this is what it feels like to get a solid nine hours of sleep? Wow, nice. I needed it and I took it. It's Saturday morning already and below you'll find the Friday August 28th edition of this blog---I was too tired to post last night. Just couldn't function properly. I had a voice-mail greet me this morning, I still don't know exactly for sure who it is, all they said was “I'd like to report that my morning edition of the Daily Diary of a Winning Loser is missing, please have someone deliver it soon, thank you!” No problem, I'll call the circulation department right now! OK—In listening to it again for that quote, I figured out who it was. It's good to have friends, huh? I never feel right just going to bed without posting. In 348 days, it's happened less than 10 times. Just couldn't help it last night. Getting rest was the only option. I needed it and I took it. Sometimes you have to force yourself to do what's right for YOU. So, I'll rewind my brain now and do my best at recalling the events, thoughts, emotions, and choices that made up a wonderful Friday, and I'll do it from the perspective of Friday night. That can be tough, because it's sooo Saturday morning right now.

Five years later and I'm dealing with some of the same issues! It is interesting how some things get the highest level of importance with me while other equally important elements do not. And the very thing that allows me to excuse this lack of importance level is continued positive results. I do not get enough sleep and except for the last three days and an occasional fluke day, I've rarely made enough water important. From the same day as the above excerpt:

The importance level we set for things isn't something we just say. It's easy to say, “my weight loss efforts will be of utmost importance from this point forward.” It's ultimately set by our actions, not our words. If you find yourself making excuses and coming up with rationalizations that make bad choices seem alright, then maybe you need to check the importance level. Check it often, because it can deplete without you realizing. How do you check it? With complete honesty, that's your dipstick. Richard Simmons tweeted this today: “There is only one way to lose weight and keep it off. And it's by being truthful with yourself about the food...” 100% self-honesty is crucial to your success. I've written about this many times because it's something that I never did before with past failed attempts. Since day one nearly a year ago, this self-honesty policy has been firmly in place, and you know what kind of results I've had. The self-honesty component is vital to the mental changes required on this road to permanent success. Make this one of the most important things you've ever done. Give it the highest important level. Get completely honest with yourself about the habits you know are holding you back---and then get ready for an almost magically transformation of mind and body. Forget “almost,” it is magical.

Okay then, thank you 37 year old self. 

I made a point today to come home not long after my show to nap for a little while before heading back to the studio for a busy afternoon. I suppose that's making it important, to a degree.

I had a great food day too! I even made sure to enjoy dinner before my 7pm conference call support group. This is positive progress!  The only two things left to do after the call was workout and write this edition. My workout was incredible because I took it to eleven. You wouldn't think the difference between level 10 elliptical and level 11 would be too much. It was a big difference!

My Tweets today:
Thank you for reading and your amazing support,
Strength,
Sean
Posted by at 16 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Monday, September 8, 2014

September 8th, 2014 It Was A Nice Plan

September 8th, 2014 It Was A Nice Plan

I'm excited about my new Fitbit Flex. I like statistics and it keeps plenty of them, for sure! I'm really looking forward to giving it a good workout to analyze. I don't completely understand how it does what it does. It just does it--and I suppose that's all I need to know. 

After last Wednesday's weigh day, I wrote about a few people saying variations of "Losing weight is easy for you." I was informed there was one comment I didn't see or reply to, and I'm so glad I went back to read what had been written. It was from a fellow blogger who understands. There are a bunch of us, bloggers or not, who get this too. She's a fellow weight loss blogger who has experienced both sides--the side of success and the side where success seems a million miles away. I've been there too, oh my, have I ever. Her comment was a spot on analysis:

"...45 and Aspiring" writes:
Olympic figure skaters make quadruple axles look easy too. It's called practice, training, and commitment. Not to mention innumerable falls and occasional sliding crashes.

And you know what kills me is that it always seems easier when I'm doing it. I think, geez, what took me so long? But when I'm not doing it, it feels like I don't know where the "on" switch is.

People want to say it's easy for you so they have an excuse for themselves--"it's too hard for ME."

Crud, I find just choosing to be conscious all the time is hard, instead of being in the zombie zone and that unconscious easy eating that has kept me obese.

I've just recently come back to your blog and every time I see a tweet or FB post I think--how does he have time for all this? It took me hours to write blog posts when I did them, and I didn't have a bunch of comments to give a personal, thoughtful response to.

Yeah, it's "easy" for you, Sean, because you redesigned each part of your life--your eating, exercise, environment at home and away, your emotional responses, your take on the past and your belief about the future. It's easy for you because you publicly eviscerated yourself with long, personal posts and thereby gained a following of people who both count on you and keep you afloat, so you've kept it easy on yourself by publicizing your weight, each bite of food you eat, and spreading the "word" in a book, with nationwide motivational talks, and coaching in small groups. Next time someone says that to you, say, yes, I spend every minute of every day focused on emotional freedom and healthy living so I can make it easy to lose weight.

One of my favorite inspirational quotes is from author Annie Dillard, "because how we spend our days is how we spend our lives."

How incredible is that? I gave her my sincere thanks. 

Today was a challenge. Coming off a weekend, Monday is a day that always seems to be a little more difficult. I worked hard this morning to get my production finished in order to leave the studio early enough to get a nap and workout in before I took a work related trip to Oklahoma City at 4pm. My plan was to jump up before 3pm, rush to the Y, get a good elliptical workout, then be ready to leave town on schedule.  Then I overslept my nap. It was a nice plan. "Was" being the pivotal word.

Getting the afternoon workout would have been the thing to do. Instead, I found myself in the position of trying very hard to not be so very hard on myself for missing the opportunity. I can get it in later, I told myself. Yeah--later, when I'm getting back into town after 10pm!! That was also a nice thought. I'm exhausted. This will be a Monday without a workout. I need to be okay with this, so I'm deciding to be, okay. Seriously, I'm okay with this. I could do PiYo in my living room floor. I also have a giant Nordic Flex strength training machine in my spare bedroom--I do have options, I just don't have the time, not tonight. I need more sleep.

I enjoyed dinner at Applebee's this evening. As soon as I Tweeted about my dinner options, Applebee's verified corporate account favorited the tweet and followed me. Twitter is weird. There I was, dining solo in an Edmond, Oklahoma Applebee's carrying on a Twitter conversation with the company about my meal. This isn't unusual actually. Applebee's is really good about interacting with their customers via social media. I don't dine at Applebee's very often, maybe once a year, or every couple years. I knew they had an under 550 calorie menu--and that's what drove me there this evening. I was impressed with the selection and flavor. It was a really good meal, even though it contained in excess of 1800mg of sodium. A little pricey in the sodium department, but a good fit in my calorie budget. A Facebook friend shared that she always requests "no added salt/sodium." I wish I would have thought of that! 

When it came time to enter the food into MyFitnessPal, I did find a single file representing the meal with the menu listed calories of 530. I didn't want this, I wanted each item individually listed. I requested additional information about the ingredients used in preparation and found my server and the kitchen staff very helpful. I entered every single ingredient into MFP and it came up to 532 calories, just 2 calories over the menu declaration.

I've had two good water days in a row. I consumed 10 cups on Sunday and 9 cups today. This takes the most effort for me each day. I know of some who drink much more than this, naturally. I'm unnatural in several ways! I mean that in a good way! Getting enough water, even "just enough," is a challenge each and every day.

My Tweets today:
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
Posted by at 18 comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Sunday, September 7, 2014

September 7th, 2014 Learning New Things

September 7th, 2014 Learning New Things

I've enjoyed a much needed weekend! I had a wonderful breakfast and lunch followed by an incredible workout today. Heather took me to the trail she frequents for her run. She did her four mile run while I did my brisk three mile walk. She passed me as she headed back. I was on my way to the half way point turnaround. I had the key to the vehicle in my pocket, so I did my best to pick up the pace. I even did some light jogging! Heather finished her run, then ran back another mile to me and helped push me to the finish line. She was straight up coaching me that last mile!! She's really good and once again, it reminded me how I'm capable of giving more out there. I'm learning a lot from her about the physicality and science of exercise, things I've never really studied too closely. I'm at a point now where I'm ready and open to learning new things.

Heather is currently doing the Beach Body Ultimate Reset and she has a very specific nutrition plan she's following. She gave me the option to eat something different, whatever I wanted or what she was having. I decided to give her lunch a try. It reminded me of my recent lunch with Kat L., with all the quinoa, lentil beans and fresh veggies. It was very different from my usual lunch fare, but it was very good. If I could figure out a way to make it into a taco or tostado, I'd like it even more. I'm kidding. Okay, sort of kidding. ;)

I've always seemed to have an issue getting enough water. It really isn't too much of an issue, it's simply a matter of importance, or better--whether or not I make it important. Heather shares the same struggle sometimes. Today, we made sure to get enough. I was already at 8 cups by shortly after my three miles today. I finished with 10 cups straight water, something I rarely accomplish. The water consumption is definitely an enhancement I can make along this road. More water and more sleep. Those two things will make the biggest positive impact for me at this point moving forward.

I bought a FitBit tonight. It's my first! It's charging as I write and I'm hoping to be ready to strap it on before bed. It tracks everything, even my sleep! And it syncs with My Fitness Pal too!

This weekend has been very busy but exceptionally nice. The dinner Friday night with my daughters, Amber and Courtney, their boyfriends and Heather, along with my grandson Noah, was a wonderful experience. Everyone visited and got to know one another a little. It was truly fantastic. My daughters are incredibly loving and supportive. They absolutely love seeing their dad happy, feeling great and taking extraordinary care.

Noah hasn't spent too much time at my place, since I usually go to him, so he was all over this apartment. He walked from one end to the other, exploring!! His momma followed close behind, because this apartment isn't the most toddler friendly place! I'll make it that way if it means he comes to visit more often!

My workouts both Saturday and today were perfect, especially today. Heather offered for me to try her body combat class on Saturday, but I declined for fear that I'm not quite ready for that level of workout! The elliptical Saturday morning was perfect, really. And familiar, since it was the exact elliptical model I use at my local YMCA.

The upcoming work week will be busy. It's county fair week and we're doing location broadcasts every single night Tuesday through Saturday. I'm sharing those broadcast duties with a colleague, so it shouldn't be too much.

Heather and I planned on starting our YouTube channel this weekend, but ran out of time. It's absolutely coming, though--and we have some fantastic ideas already. All in time! I can't wait!

Oh--almost forgot-- I had a very disappointing time trying to find OSU spirit wear to fit on Saturday. All of what I had fit great when I was close or at 230 pounds. Where I am now, not so much. I almost purchased something new on Saturday before the game but I just couldn't justify the expense for something that will be too big for me within weeks. It's nice to know I'll have plenty of spirit wear soon. It's all waiting for my return to a healthier weight! I'm coming!! There was a couple of things I could have worn, but they were too tight for my own comfort. I could have worn them, sure--but I wanted to be comfortable, you know? The need for comfort trumped my need to wear orange Saturday.

My Tweets today:
















Thank you for reading and your fantastic support along this road,
Strength,
Sean
Posted by at 14 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Saturday, September 6, 2014

September 6th, 2014 The First Photo

September 6th, 2014 The First Photo

I was a guest this morning at the fitness center where Heather teaches class. While she taught her Saturday morning body combat class, I did my thing on the elliptical, resistance level 10. It was very unusual to get my workout in so early. But it felt good. And we had a busy day ahead of us.

We enjoyed the OSU football home opener today. We even snapped our very first photo together!!
 
I really enjoy her company! It was nice.

I was getting hungry before the game and with a 2:30pm kickoff, lunch was a must. I knew the plan was to grab dinner with Heather's daughter after the game and I knew she wanted Mexican, so I scrapped the idea of a quick and safe Chipotle stop. Instead, I ran into Walmart for Joseph's Pitas, thinly sliced cheese and turkey, plus rice chips! I made lunch right there in the vehicle! It was really good.

We only had water at the game. The Cowboys were winning very easily, so we made our way to the gates during the 3rd quarter. We decided to beat the traffic and the restaurant rush afterward. It was a wonderful plan.

I ordered the mixed grill fajitas. I didn't eat the cheese, beans, rice, sour cream or guacamole. I stuck with the grilled chicken, shrimp and steak stuffed into three taco shells instead of flour tortillas. 

This weekend continues to be wonderful. It's kind of a do-over from last weekend, when I worked three days of the three day holiday weekend.

I'm really taking a slight break from writing this weekend. You can expect I'll be recapping this weekend and more--including what happened when I tried to find some spirit wear clothing that fit. All of the OSU shirts in my closet were part of my 230 pound wardrobe.

My food tweets today:
Thank you for reading and your continued support!
Strength,
Sean
Posted by at 13 comments:
Labels: , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)





Copyright © 2008-2020 Sean A. Anderson

The Daily Diary of a Winning Loser. All rights reserved.