Day 581 of the 50lb Journey - Sleep Dep Diaries

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Weight : 247lbs

This is the beginning of the Biggest Loser Challenge (Round 21) on SP, and I'm going to try and get back into the swing of things. I let the back side of me get the better part of the rest of me lately. For those catching up, I'm dealing with some spinal issues, so my exercise routine got turned upside down. No weights, no running, walking and light lifting. I'm aiming to lose 5-6lbs this round, just because I'm being conservative. If I get more, that's gravy, but I need to get a routine down that works first.

I'm going to aim for 4 improvements.

1.) Track EVERYTHING (Meals, Water, Exercise)
2.) Participate in all the challenges
3.) Engage Daily
4.) Stay Positive

The big focus for me this round is getting back to basics and tracking. It's day 2 and I'm doing okay tracking breakfast and lunch, but dinner fell short yesterday. It's hard to remember the next day, and I forgot to track it after dinner. I got distracted playing with the little guy.

This is a revised piece I put on my teams discussion board as it sums up everything pretty good.

I feel like it's evening, and it's only 2pm... been up for 11ish hours now.

Liam woke up and was in a uber-snuggly-fidgety-cranky-to-the-point-d
addy-was-going-give-him-scotch-to-knoc
k-him-out kind of way. Would not go to sleep without one of us keeping him anchored.

Liz tried her best for an hour an a half, but eventually gave in and brought him into bed, where I took over. After a couple diaper changes, two bottles of juice/milk, some Motrin, and some little tummies, the little guy finally calmed down enough that he pretty much collapsed on my shoulders. But as soon as I tried to put him back in his bed---*WHAMMO*--- eyes wide open, throat engaged, you-are-murdering-me fit. Generally I don't pick him up immediately, I usually just hang next to his bed/crib and let him hold on to me or rest his head on my shoulder.

After a while, I gave in, picked him up and we snuggled into the guest bed, where he passed out and slept fitfully. I was just getting to sleep when the alarm went off. I told Liz to take Liam and make it a rest day for the two of them, and went to work.

Long story a little shorter - She took boogerhead to the doctor, and he has another double ear infection. I guess they are more common than I thought. Doctor's office rushed him through since it wasn't flu like and they didn't want him contaminated...

So mommy and boy got to nap this morning, and I'm trying to remember what I ate for breakfast... Looking around my desk it seems I had some Asian Green Salad (Sesame and Seaweed) for lunch... Oh and I had Fage Strawberry Goji yogurt and a Bagel for breakfast with 3 cups of coffee and 96 oz of water...

I did break down and buy a soda that I wasn't planning on buying, but I just can't figure out how to get through the rest of this afternoon without causing an accident.

Anyway... I'm as loopy as a rattlesnake on a wagon wheel and as sleepy as a Saturday night drunk at Sunday church.

Liam is doing awesome sans the ear infection incident that flared up last night. He's a massive flirt, is really digging slides, dry erase boards, and reading anatomy and physiology books with his babysitter...


And playing in Mud


And I can't forget eating Chick-fil-a Honey mustard dipped Apples.


He and I play with blocks all the time trying to see if he can build a tower higher faster than I can reinforce it not to collapse. Also, he just had his 2 year checkup and is a whopping 23lbs and 32inches. That puts him somewhere under the 3rd percentile for both... hence little man... progress wise his curve is good, and doc says to expect a growth spurt to happen before the next checkup.

Hope everyone has a great week, and I'll try and at least update this blog again every week. If not, kick me in the butt and remind me to do so 'kay?

W

Happy New Year - Day 566 of the 50lb Journey

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Saehae Bok Manhi Baduseyo!! Feliz Ano Neuvo! Happy New Year.

Weight : Last recorded 242.1lbs (Dec 5th)

Last post - October. Not that I fell off the wagon or anything, just didn't record anything since the end of my Biggest Loser Challenge ended. And I just haven't had the dedication to keep up my blog.

To bring our returning viewers back up to speed. Shortly after our last blog episode, I started to have a weird pain in my left side/hip. It actually felt like someone was grabbing the top of my buttock on the left side and squeezing profusely hard. TMI, I know... Any how, Doctor, Tests, Pills, More Tests, Stronger Pills, Even More Tests, and they send me to an ORTHO. After on MRI, I was diagnosed with a bulging disc between my L4 and L5 vertebrae and also a healthy case of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis on the left side of my L5. I'm currently in Physical Therapy now to help with strengthening some muscle issues and teach me how to keep the inflammation down and reduce back stress.

Threw a bit of a kink in my workout schedule (No lifting over 20lbs, with a concession that I'm not giving up picking up my boy...) But no more monkey business with Liam such as the beach..



Anyway, I digress, yet again. After the diagnosis and recovery from being on nasty pain medication, I scheduled my first visit with my physical therapy folks. After a couple weeks, they increased my variety of exercises to really work on my hamstrings and IT Band. Leah my primary therapist admitted she thought I was joking when I said my left side has always been weaker than my right, and that my legs are tight. She still gets surprised by how much my right side gets accustomed to the new exercised MUCH quicker than the left. The ortho said my right side has been over compensating for so long for the lack of strength on the left that they are still trying to learn to give up control, or something like that.

They noted that I have a "deep socket??" thing on my left side too, which limits my rotational ability. I didn't really get all of that, just that I can't rotate my leg a certain way on the left side like I can on the right and not to freak out, that is just the way it is.

Anyway long story short... My exercise routine has to be reworked. Right now it's mostly chasing my crazy little boy around and walking around lightly. Couldn't happen at a better time of the year either.

With all of the issues, Thanksgiving and Christmas seems to have rushed by. Went to North Carolina to spend Turkey Day with the extended. Raced back up to the Bay to party with Grandma, work, pt, work pt, grandma's, work, pt, work, pt, etc. Before I knew it, my 4th?? Biggest Loser Challenge ended with me being 5lbs down, and the mad Christmas rush to get everything wrapped up for the year began. Fortunately I was able to carve out some vacation time so I could recoup mentally and physically during the holidays.

Liam and I kicked backed for the christmas season and just chilled out.


Though Liam did have to remind me to get up and unplug from time to time, even though I didn't have a stable internet connection!



I did try to do all of my PT at home exercises, and here is that list.

Lying Down Routines
Tilts - 10 secs X 10
Tilted Squeeze - 10 Secs X 10 (Wrapped up towel between knees)
Single Knee to Chest - 30 secs X 3 each side
Straight Leg raises with opposite knee up - 10 each side
Clam Shells (on side) two sets of 10 on each side

Seated Routines
Teapot Stretch to the side 30 secs X 3 each side
Seated Stretch to the toes 10 secs X 10

Standing Routines
Hamstring Heck (Stretch) on stairs toes up 30 secs 3 times each side
IT Band hip to wall closed leg behind 30 secs X 3 each side
Three way leg lifts (forward, side, back) 3 sets of 10 each side


I'll be honest and say I don't do them everyday. I just seem to get caught up in the day's activities and forget to carve out enough time and don't realize the day has ended until it's too late. But that is just an excuse which is really no excuse. I need to get back on the ball. Do my PT exercises, stay within my recovery parameters, but remember that I have to make up for lack of intensity with increased repetition of activities since a sustained duration is a limited commodity.

I'm going to make more time for my self this coming year, and I'm going to drive hard. I'm not going to say I'm going to hit X on this date, but I will make it a point to drive myself as close as possible and put all the effort I can.

After all, it's a new year!!

EDIT : Due to my slow typing this post actually didn't go through until 1201 AM on DAY 567, which is kinda funny in it's own way! Good NIGHT!

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BEACH WEEK - Day 495 of the 50lb Journey

Monday, October 22, 2012

Weight : Bloated.

Just going to say up front I indulged in week of too much seafood and inordinate portion sizes. You put fresh shrimp, scallops, soft crab, and oysters on a platter, my head seems to tilt back like a PEZ dispenser.

THE GOOD NEWS : I managed not to drink even ONE soda until the drive home.
THE BAD NEWS : But like when I quit smoking, I apparently made up for the calorie loss.

It's a tough pill to swallow, but I'll get off those things by the end of the year if it kills me.

You would figure chasing Liam around would have burned more energy. I'm sure even if the trip lasted a full month, I'd still think it was too short. Loved my morning walks and gorgeous views before Liam went to the beach, but that boy has to announce to the world each morning he has arrived.




Liam really loves the beach. He gets that from his momma. I like it mind you, especially with the little man by my side.




Liam is like my personal medicine ball. Between his new game "WHEEE" where he grabs my hand and Liz's and lifts his feet, and me doing curls and bounce lifts, you'd think my arms would be much stronger.




He was just so happy and friendly all week. He was pretty wiped out by the end of the day, and would rest his head on my shoulder. I love it when he gets snuggly. But come the next day or after a nap, he's ready for it all over again.




I'm probably going to have to eat tuna fish and crackers for a week to make up for last week, but we will see on Wednesday. I made it a point not to weigh myself while on vacation. My focus was on not drinking any soda's. I'm glad I can do it, even if I was about to start getting pretty cranky about it. I had to break down and get one on the 7 hours drive back to the house, which should have only taken 3 hours, but we stopped to shop and eat dinner on the way.

Time to get back on the horse again. Buckle down and push through. I'm still going to try and get down to 185 by June 15th. It's going to take some better focus on my part, but I'm hoping that lower and eventually eliminating the soda's will help that progression.

I'll try and remember to post an update on Wednesday, but until then, I'll just keep moving!

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Reflection - Day 477 of the 50lb journey

Thursday, October 04, 2012

Morning Weigh-in : 245.0

Down 1.6 from yesterday, so apparently I was a bit stressed when I did my weekly for the Biggest Loser Challenge (Official Weekly Weight Reported : 246.6). Been missing some hours at work the past week because of Dr. Appointments and what not, so I'm going to cancel my extended weekend before my week at the beach.

The big plus to that is that next Friday begins my beach week vacay. It's a yearly ritual we do with Rick and Sherry (Liz's Dad and Step-mom). Gives them some extended time with us, which is even more precious now with Liam.





Looking back to June 27th of last year, I weighed 268lbs. And 16 months later, I'm down 23 lbs. Okay it's not alot, it wasn't aggressive, but it's in the right direction. And I'm having more fun now than I did back then, and I was pretty stoked at that time as well. I was only two weeks into my journey, so I was full of newbie greatness. I posted every day. Kept my food log, and was losing at a good rate. Since then I plateaued a few times, got pretty sick for a spell, and over all lost a lot of momentum, but as I said before I persevered and at least keep trending downward.

I find it hard to keep within my range these days. Namely because of all the awesome fall food goodness... The peaches, the apple pies, the pumpkin pies, turkey, cook outs, family gatherings, you name it. Granted alot of the food I craved last year are no longer my main stays. I don't eat a half dozen eggs worth of scrambled eggs or 3 egg omelets, half a pound of bacon with sausage, biscuits and gravy, and 3 glasses of orange juice for breakfast. It actually makes me ill thinking about eating that much in a sitting.





My only truly bad vice now is the soda's. On the surface I know I need to kick the habit, I even doubled my water intake, but I just can't seem to kick drinking in calories via that sugary liquid crack. Even now as I'm writing this I'm nursing my 12 oz Pepsi mini-bottle (sans the 20oz go to) while eating my red grapes and celery. I don't down it like a 5-hour energy drink anymore so i guess that is an improvement as well.



I need to start getting my mind into the beach game now, or otherwise I'll go crazy with the food I know. At least this year I have my MyFitnessPal and SparkPeople Apps to help me control my portions a bit better. I expect to hit over the high end a few times, but hopefully I'll find a good balance. I guess I could take Liam's routine and just cover the table so food can't be put down.



Well at least I have the best two motivations in the world. My lovely wife, and the best kid I've ever had the pleasure of making (so far )

So let me ask you. Do you know what your biggest vice is, and if so, how did you come up with a plan to mitigate it? Also, if you have kicked the soda habit, what strategies did you use to break the habit? I know I have the will power, but as I've stated before, quitting smoking was far easier that this.



Hope everyone has an awesome week! And let me know how your journey is going!

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Day 467 of the 50lb Journey

Monday, September 24, 2012

Howdy Folks!

Weigh-in 243.5lbs.

Doing pretty good on the home front! Liz and I got our C4 Sleep number bed on Friday. I'm a 35, I think. Funny thing is, I didn't get to sleep on it until last night because we went to the country.

I did get a chance to play with my boy a bit, and also fired my new bow (without boy being around). Also did some shore cleanup at Point Breeze, the shoreline erosion folks came out and said that we could help the water grasses on the shoreline get more light by trimming the overhang on the bank. Liz and I managed to clear about a third of the bank before we just got pooped and had to get back up on dry land and relax.

Not the greatest food choices over the weekend, but not horrible either. Did manage to stay away from white processed flour, no drive through joints (except for half cut tea from the McD's), no fried food, add ate my freggies, I even managed to get 20 minutes of activity each day. I don't count chasing the Liam, but that counts as incidental exercise and makes up for those calories I may missed counting in one shape or another.

Last Sunday, I enjoyed a nice Sunday at the park, and finally got some of the photos of me, Liam and Liz.



I was looking for some new head shots for possible web use. I'm happy with the photos and had a good time with my fellow photographer friends.



We horsed around alot, and Liam loved the area. Got some pretty cool shots along the way. I especially like the one where Liz is spinning around with the little man.








If you want you can see some more photos on my flickr site at www.flickr.com/photos/willcalder

Mother-in-law gave me a big compliment on how Liam and I just seem to understand each other. I admit, I'm surprised that I've gotten pretty good and figuring out what is making him uncomfortable, hurt, and generally cranky. I am so worried at times that I'm going to just muck things up and ruin the great little dude he is. He amazes me every day and motivates me to eat better, be more active, and be more engaged with life.

I need to work on my new task list for the week, but I hope you enjoyed me catching up. Not looking forward to Wednesday's weigh in, but maybe I can burn some of it off in the gym during lunch!! Have an awesome week, and I do truly hope you can get at least one thing on your stress list off your shoulders!

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