Healthy Lifestyle 3.0

It was inevitable…it has happened in the past and will probably happen again.  My Healthy Lifestyle 2.0 came to a crashing halt around the end of December.  Binging became the norm.  Daily calorie intake of up to 10000 was happening.  Eating Binging had become the norm.  Same thing that had happened in the past, happened again.  I even stopped biking to work every day, was more like twice a week.  In addition, I was going through a period of no sleep, for over a month, I would only have 2 hours of sleep at most, yes, I was in bed, but no sleep.  I was depressed!  I would start crying for no reason.  I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me.  Perhaps the eating habits had screwed me up, who knows? 

I did research, because that is what I do.  Was I having mental issues?  It sure seemed that way.  First thing, off to the doctor for a physical.  Heart rate - 58, freaking awesome (I think doc was surprised), blood pressure – perfect, weight (well, I knew the answer to that), he said “you have to lose a lot of weight”.  I said “no shit!”.  Blood tests, all good except triglycerides a little high, I figured it was the 10k of shitty calories/day that was causing that.  So, it was definitely nothing physical causing the depression.

Next step…and this was the difficult one, I had to talk to a psychiatrist.  Ugh, one of the most difficult things I have ever done.  After an hour of talk, he suggests that I may be clinically depressed (I’m thinking…no shit!), what can I do?  I have not made a second appointment.  I feel I should, but it is so subjective and not objective.  Why can’t there be a blood test? Give me a shot and boom it is gone.

In any case, today I have started Healthy Lifestyle 3.0.  I hope to get back with Team Awesome and continue a good physical routine as the weather starts to get nicer. I need the support of everyone as this continues, please help me.  It is not like me to ask for help, but with this, I truly need help!

To my friends, family, coworkers, I am so sorry for being the prick I was during my depression.  I just could not come out of it.  I feel terrible.  But you are my friends; I will do anything for you and hope that you will help me as I struggle with this.

-SB

Healthy Living 2.15 - Cross Training

It was a pretty much a fun week for healthy living, didn’t do anything crazy, but things went well and binge threats were almost non-existent. Bike riding to work is still a challenge first thing in the morning, something about getting up at 4:30, eating breakfast, then getting prepared to go out in the cold.  I’m sort of looking forward to it snowing, it will give me some excitement on my ride in.  I also love the feeling of the sweat and tears from the wind freezing to my cheeks.  That is so cool!

The statistics for this past week.

BMI – 39.7 (down 6.8 total)
Calorie Intake - 1752/day
Calories Burned - 3350/day
Net Caloric difference -1598/day
Water - 72 oz/day


Proteins - Carbs - Fat distribution -- 49% - 41% - 10%

On Fridays at school, there is some pick-up basketball with some of the staff.  I figured it was time that I get some cross-training in.  Yes, I’ve been biking, doing the elliptical, and lifting weights, but every time you do a different activity you work different muscles.  I knew this going in, but felt I was in really good shape for being a fat guy.  And I was right, my cardio during the basketball was great, never got really winded, had lots of energy, and felt really strong.  I played for about an hour and felt great.  My ride home was a little slower than normal, then, about a mile from home waiting for the light to change, boom! Calf started to cramp, inside of my hamstring was cramping, I knew immediately I was in for a sore night.  I took a hot shower and got ready for a relaxing night, wow, the pain of cramps and muscles rarely used is strangely both agonizing and intriguing.  Then Saturday, I went golfing with my good friend Rob, again, different muscles, back and shoulders, I felt so strong, but again sore. 

Ahh, did it ever feel good on Sunday, I could barely move.  It took a few days for the sore to go away, but overall, my body feels strong and good.

-SB

Healthy Living 2.09 - Inspiration

Life as a teacher, father, and husband is very busy.  Sometimes too busy.   As a result, sacrifices must be made.  For me this past week it was food that was sacrificed.  Time was non-existent to cook healthy meals, the only thing available to me were foods that were not good at all.  So, I had a choice, have an unhealthy meal...or no meal.  I chose no meal.  As a result, for the second consecutive week my calorie intake was way too low.  I had two days when I had less than 1000 calories, about 1000 calories less than I should be eating.  Ugh, it is so difficult to plan to eat healthy, but I am doing the best I can because of my inspiration.

The good news from are the statistics for this past week.

BMI - 41.9  (down 0.3 down 4.6 total)
Calorie Intake - 1375/day
Calories Burned - 3479/day
Net Caloric difference -2104/day
Water - 72 oz/day


Proteins - Carbs - Fat distribution -- 50% - 41% - 9%

On this journey to healthy living, I am finding inspiration an important part of my life...no not from some fictional fairy monster living in the sky, but from friends, family, acquaintances, and from deep within myself.

I have said many times, that my wife is my best friend and the greatest, kindest person I know.  If I could only be a small percentage as wonderful as her, I would accomplish great things.  I could watch her all day, she makes me smile.  And I think to myself more and more that she deserves more than this obese lard ass here.  I look at my daughter, and I hope that she will not follow in my obese footsteps, parents are the only true role models and she sees my bad habits no matter how I try to hide them.  This will not happen!

Friends and acquaintances are great!  My fitness team formed by JT Eberhard is great.  It is good to know how other people watching you calorie intake can make comments and care for you and worry for you despite not even knowing you in person.  I am truly honored by this.

Finally, inspiration must come from within.  It is just difficult sometimes to get it out.  It arrives when I check the scale and it shows a loss, it arrives when I have an aggressive workout, it arrives when I achieve a goal/milestone, it arrives when I use my willpower to overcome unhealthy choices.  I just can't wait until the moment it arrives when I can see a difference in my body.

-SB

Healthy Living 2.08 - Clothing part 2

Last night I asked my wife, "how long do you think it has been since I started doing this 'healthy living' thing?"  Her response, "I don't know, 14 weeks!".  Yup, feels that long, but in reality it has only been 8 weeks, not even 2 full months and it feels a lot longer.  Yes, I love the results, but oh, I miss my favourite food of all time, pizza.  I don't dare eat a slice because I know one slice will lead into a whole pizza, I just don't have that will power. 

In any case, here are the statistics for this past week. 

BMI - 42.2  (down 1.1 down 4.3 total)
Calorie Intake - 1484/day
Calories Burned - 3675/day
Net Caloric difference -2156/day
Water - 72 oz/day


Proteins - Carbs - Fat distribution -- 43% - 47% - 10%
I'm extremely worried about my calorie intake, it is at this point that I feel binge opportunities available.  Yes, I'm making all of my meals, and should really eat more...but have the feeling that I am eating too much.  This week I'm going to increase my protein and reduce my carbs even more.  It means more chicken and fish.  But will, I promise to make a concerted effort to increase my caloric intake to around the 2100 range.

Clothing - Part 2

Last week I talked a little about sizes, this week it is more about the looks and effects of clothes on the obese person.  Clothes, no matter the style always look terrible on obese people and never fit properly (I really don't know about properly tailored clothes).  From a male perspective, the only one I can give is this.  No clothes for obese people fit well and as a result there is an ugly result to this on an obese persons body.

I love wearing Polo's, golf shirts, whatever you want to call them, and getting a size that fits correctly a XXL or XXXL is possible, however, the what happens is that chaffing of the worst kind occurs under the arms and feels absolutely terrible!

Directly under arm, hurts so bad!

Pants, whether jeans, shorts, khakis, whatever, must be cinched up tight with a belt to prevent showing an enormous plumbers crack.  The result is unsightly lines across the belly.  So disgusting and absolutely nothing you can do about it.  I'm wondering if this will be the same 12 months from here.

Clothes in general, big, bulky, hanging off our obese bodies, no matter how, never look good.  I love my friends for they see me as the good person I am and not the person wearing these terrible clothes.  I know it doesn't matter, but there is some vanity in all of us.  And yes, I have some.

-SB

Healthy Living 2.07 - Clothing part 1

What a month it has been for a commuter cyclist in Maryland.  On August 23rd, there was a magnitude 5.3 earthquake that hit the region.  At first I thought it was one of the construction vehicles at our school smashing into a wall.  Next up was Hurricane Irene from August 28th to August 30th.  Then this past week, which really sucked for a cyclist was over 11 inches of rain.  There was flooding everywhere. But oh my, it is very exhilarating feeling the rain stinging your eyes and face as you peddle hard into the downpour.  However, I was really getting tired of being soaking wet upon arrival at school and getting home.  Oh well, it will only make me appreciate the fall and winter season coming up.


The statistics for this past week.

BMI - 43.3  (down 0.7 down 3.2 total)
Calorie Intake - 1658/day
Calories Burned - 3692/day
Net Caloric difference -2035/day
Water - 72 oz/day


Proteins - Carbs - Fat distribution -- 40% - 50% - 10%
This extremely wet week has made me go in search of a new rain jacket for cycling.  Well, I know that a good rain jacket is a speciality item.  So, I go to REI and take a look at the biking jackets.  I find a couple of makes, and way cool, they have a couple of XXL in two different styles.  There is one in particular, in an awesome florescent green, I try it on, I could barely put my arm through it.  XXL, in what world?  Oh yeah, the biking world where most people barely weight more than 150 lbs and are extremely tiny. Grrr!

This has not been my first encounter with crappy sizing, unfortunately, getting quality and plus size clothing is extremely difficult.  I suspect it is because clothing has never really been designed properly for obese people.  But that is another posting.

-SB

Healthy Living 2.06 - Online group help

Thought these things are supposed to get easier as time goes on.  You know, developing new habits, I am doing that, but no way it is not easier, it is just as difficult.  Just have to keep on going.  The Livestrong site is very cool for showing progress and trend lines, at this rate, I'll be at a healthy weight sometime around December 2013...that makes this journey very daunting and very long.


The statistics for this past week.

BMI - 44.0  (down 0.2 down 2.5 total)
Calorie Intake - 1735/day
Calories Burned - 3978/day
Net Caloric difference - 2287day
Water - 72 oz/day


Proteins - Carbs - Fat distribution -- 42% - 48% - 10%

I mentioned here about Binge Eating Disorder and how I was sort of inspired by two of my favorite bloggers who wrote about their challenges with psychological disorders.  First off was Jen McCreight of The Blag Hag blog, writing about what must be a truly embarrassing disorder.  Then having the courage to piggy back on Jen's bravery is JT Eberhard writing on his very good blog What Would JT Do?  JT has been battling anorexia nervosa and doing very well, until recently it has morphed into anorexia athletica, you can read about it here.

JT has formed a group called Fitness Saturday...errr, Friday, err, whatever day of the week it is supposed to be on.  In any case, there are six of us in this group and we post our results, accomplishments, encourage each other.  We are extremely different, each person has their own goals, their own battles, and their own reasons for doing this.  I have yet to get to know Conrad, Sid, Brandon, Nikki, Tanya, or even JT  (I just know him through his blogs).  What I do know from the few e-mails we have shared is that we are all dedicated to becoming more fit.  It feels good to be part of a group.  It feels good to have the support of people you hardly know who are going through a similar journey and we can see each others goals.

Thanks to all for the support so far, I estimate that I have completed approximately 10% of this journey.  It is a long way to go but I'm sure it will be worth it.

-SB