Santa Claus, Here We Come!!!

Santa Claus, Indiana that is. We are going to Holiday World. We will be staying at Santa’s Lodge. While I am excited to be going, I am not excited about the drive there or back. 3 hours stuck in a car with (almost) 5 year olds. Though, I believe we can keep them occupied.


In case you were wondering, my Weight Watchers journey has been doing poorly. I am failing at journaling and during the two weeks surrounding Memorial Day, I gained 4.2 pounds. If you remember, I lost 4 pounds prior. That means, I was .2 pounds higher than my starting weight. That stinks. This morning, I decided to check out the points that I ate yesterday. I totaled around 52+ points. Most of it, 34 points was just on dinner. I had a culvers double cheeseburger deluxe with cheese curds. No wonder I am having problems. With my trip this weekend to Holiday World, I am going to be eating out a lot. Wish me luck as I enter unknown food establishments and buy food. Hopefully, I will be making some good decisions instead of poor ones. FYI - If you would like to find out the WW points on food you are buying from restaurants, I would suggest going to www.dwlz.com. This is a good site, if you have access to the internet. For a portable version, I would suggest the book produced and sold by Weight Watchers. It is a convenient side and has most of the chain restaurants in them.

As for my depression, I have been having some ups and downs lately. I am considering changing from Lexapro to maybe Cymbalta to see if it can help my drowsiness and also provide an appetite suppressant as a side effect.

Hugz,

Daddy Scotty

Diet…er…Lifestyle Change

I am trying to change the way I am viewing Weight Watchers in my life. I can not just try to diet. I must admit to myself and realize that this needs to be a lifestyle change. This is not something that I can stop when I reach my target. I will need to continue this not only for me but for my family. I do not want my children to grow up following in these footsteps of mine. Desserts every night and lounging on the sofa all night is not the example I want to show them.

Thankfully, we have joined a fitness and aquatic center that will allow all of us to swim, work out, and play. When wife-e-pooh and I want to work out alone or if either of us take the girls by ourselves, we will be able to drop them off in the play area. They have some large tunnels for them to crawl through, areas to color or play ball. Last night was my first night to walk through the facility. My wife and girls have been there previously to do water aerobics and swim lessons. I can not wait to start working out. I have been using the elliptical machine at home. Still not able to keep going for long periods of time, but I am working on it. I have also started walking more and taking the stairs. (MY LEGS HURT)

As far a journaling, I have finally started to do what I am supposed to. Though, I know I have a long way to go. One big modification that I recently made was noticing that I was starving myself every day until dinner time. In between all of this, I would have cravings for chocolate, donuts, cakes, et cetera that I could not easily control. With the assistance from wife-e-pooh, I changed my breakfast from 2 oatmeal packets to 1 sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich at home. It comes up to 6 points and it has kept me full for 4 hours now. That is amazing. Normally, I would be hungry by this time.

Daddy Scotty

~If you continue to do what you have always done, you will continue to get what you have always got.

314/314/200
Starting Weight / Last Weigh-In Weight / Goal

Weight Watchers

Diet:
After discussing and attempting weight loss on my own, I am going back to Weight Watchers.  Tonight was my first night.  I weighed in at 314.  A lot more than I wanted to be and more than I was the last time I attempted Weight Watchers.  However, I had lost 85 pounds then.  I know it wont be easy.  I have been down this path before.  The chocolate will keep calling my name, my girls will continue to offer me their leftovers, and people will tell me that one bite wont matter.  One thing that will help me out is that my family has just joined a local aquatic and fitness recreation center.   

Girls as Flower Girls:
On Saturday, the girls were flower girls in my cousin's wedding. They were so beautiful in their purple dresses.  They did really well, then they danced the night away w/boys.  This daddy was watching very closely.  The girls kept calling the bride a princess.  It was very cute. My aunt that has been fighting cancer was able to be there for her grandaughter's wedding.  It was a special day.  Not sure how long she has left, but am glad that we all got a chance to be together again.

The Great Depression is Over....or soon will be

No, I am not meaning the economy.  Not even meaning my fluctuating mood.  I am meaning, winter.  Winter is a time that I don't really care for.  I tend to stay inside and not venture out too far away from a warm building.  A couple of weeks ago, my family went to Florida.  The weather was an awesome, with tempetures in the 80's.  Then, I returned home to temps back in the 30-40's.  Now, we are in the 60-70's.  I have been taking walks and have even ridden the motorcycle once. 

With the newness of spring upon us, and the feeling that it is time to revitalize ourselves, I am looking to make a new spring resolution.  With the onset of warmer weather, and the multitude of activities that can be done outside, I am planning more outtings with the kids, [playgrounds, parks, walks, bicycle rides (for them), and who knows what else]. 

I recently read an article about detoxing the body.  Basically ridding the body of the toxic substances that we continually put in it.  This got me thinking.  Maybe it is time for me to attempt to change my mindset regarding things edible and drinkable.  What is potentially toxic and what isn't?  Reason of thinking, if I consider sugar and fat laden food as toxic instead of "can't eat cause I am on a diet", maybe I can actually accomplish my goal of making the scale go backwards instead forwards.

Wish me luck, and if anyone has any supportive statements for me, please post

Another day another try

hat can I say? I am a flawed human. Though, I am learning during this rough patch of journaling. I have replaced snacking on sweets with chewing sugarless gum. Extra Polar Ice to be exact. I have also replaced my nightly sugary snack with Jello brand Sugar Free chocolate pudding and whipped cream. As for the rest of my diet issues, I am still having a problem with ordering the wrong meals when I eat out, both restaurants and fast food. I always go for the cheapest or tastiest. I have been doing better as far as choosing chicken over hamburger, but I still find it a challenge.


Despite my hurt ankle (from an accident in October) I am trying to walk more. During lunch I usually take a 15 to 30 minute walk around the lower level of my workplace. I always finish with a stretching exercise, especially with the ankle to prevent further damage. Tonight, unless something comes up to stop me, I will be trying the Walk Away The Pounds tape series. This should give me some nightly cardio.

Updated:  Well, didn't do the WATP tape.  No extra workout other than the regular playing with the triplets.  I have attached my spreadsheet of what I ate.  I know that I could have done much better, but what can I say?  I at least wrote down what I ate.   Next step, do it again today and strive for perfection. 

Do you have words of wisdom on what I could do to assist is this process?  Let me know. 

Thank you,

Scott H.

Day 5 (Skipping 3 and 4)

What a weekend. Stress was high and I didn't even watch what I was eating. Now that it is Monday and I am back to work, I will be able to utilize the more structured schedule to continue.

Note: Today should have been the start of my new challenge to capture my food on camera. I forgotten it and now have decided to just journal online. I still welcome any inspirational comments you may have.

Journal:
7am Chocolate Glazed Donut
7:30-12pm 4 mug of coffee (Smaller mug than usual. Equates to about 3/4 pot of coffee.) w/2tbsp sugar.
12pm Sandwich w/3 slices of honey ham, 1 tbsp of mustard, and 2 piece of wheat bread.
12pm Yoplait yogurt original peach
12-pm 1 mug water

Fitness:
12:30-1pm   Slow - Moderate Walking w/ankle pain

Day 2

Today has been pretty good in terms of journaling what I eat. Since I am currently at work and the only office to the sweets is locked, I have resisted temptation. When I get home and the real work and stress begin, I am sure to have moments of desperation.

Journal:
7am-10am 1/2 Pot of coffee w/2tbsp sugar total
7am 10 donut gems
10am 1 mug of water
12:30pm 1 sandwich (2 pc Honey Loaf prepackaged deli meat, 2 pc wheat bread, 1 tbsp mustard)
12:30pm 1 Yoplait yogurt

Activity
15 minutes of moderate walking

Day 1

Today, I started journaling everything that I was eating. I didn't do too bad, but I know I could have done better.

Journal:
7:30am - 1 Venti Carmel Macciatto (Full fat / calorie version)
9am-12am - 1/2 Pot of coffee w/2tbsp sugar total
7am - 8 donut gems
12pm - 8 Fish sticks
12pm - 1/2 c Macaroni and Cheese
12pm - 1/2 c Green Beans
2pm - 1 minature reece cup
12pm-5pm - 2 mugs of water
7pm - 2 bowls of Potatoe Soup w/velveeta cheese in it
7pm - 2.5 Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
7pm-9pm - 2 Valentine Sugar Cookies
9pm - 2 M&M's

End of Day Comment:
I know that I did poorly when it came to what I ate. I could have done so much better. The way I look at it is that at least I now have a documented daily eating habit. From there, I can only go up.

Blog Challenge ~ Starts 01/26/2009

Hello all,

I was thinking about starting a new thing on Monday that will challenge me in being accountable for what I am doing and share my experiences. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in doing this as well with me.


1.) Set up a blog that pertains to your weight loss journey.

2.) Update daily with pictures and/or info of what you ate and the nutritional content of the item.

3.) Keep a loss/gain log. I would say keep a log of how much you weigh, but I thought that may be too personal. Though, I don't mind telling people I am BIG guy.

4.) Send me the link to yours so that we can link together.
If not, please feel free to leave me comments of encouragement. You know us "Losers" need it.

Thanks,

Scott H.

Here I go again

Well, it is 2009, and as usual, I am thinking about New Year's resolutions. They are all the standard ones; lose weight; exercise; be a better father husband, son, brother, and friend.

Even though, I know from past resolutions that the ones requiring effort (diet and exercise) usually fail. I will not fail to continue trying.

As Mark Twain was said, "The secret to getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one." Therefore, I must get started. While getting started, I can not focus on the goal (lose 200 pounds, be a lean mean fighting machine, or expect immediate results). I must realize that losing weight is a minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day task. Each time I put something in my mouth, I am either hurting or helping my body.

"What do you want to be when you grow up" is usually a question I ask my daughters. However, now I am asking myself, "Who do I want to be when they grow up". Do I want to be confined to a bed or wheel chair due to the weight I am carrying or do I want to be an active father who can participate in the lives of my children? I choose the latter, I choose life.

While I am not sure exactly what this blog will end up being, I will try to use it as a way to be accountable for the actions I do.

If you have any uplifting quotes or encouragement to pass to me, please do so. I love seeing messages from readers.

Thank you,

Daddy Scotty

County Fairs and Stress

Why is it that every time that I want to start doing something healthy, events come up that I feel compelled to eat. Right now, we have the county fairs and the state fairs going on. The smell of the fair food can draw even the most disciplined person to salivate. Thankfully, I am not the type of person that likes the fried candy stuff. You know, like the deep fried twinkie, cookie dough, banana cheesecake foster, reece cup, etc. That stuff is a heart attack waiting to happen. For a big guy like me that heart attack might just happen right there on the fair ground. Something that also helps me is that I don't have any money. Therefore, I go for the cheap necessities and bypass on the rest. Sure, I might partake in a bag of german roasted walnuts or possibly a sandwich from the pork tent, but I am only human.

My current biggest issue is wanting to eat more when my stress level is high. With triplets, that seems like that is always the case. There is always someone wanting my attention or crying to me that the other one hurt them. That makes that little guy on my shoulder say "Hey, that bag of chips sure sounds good right now. Go ahead open the bag." Unfortunately, there is the other guy on the other shoulder saying "hey isn't there some french onion dip in the fridge".

Thankfully, my wife and I have been working on what we are purchasing from the store. Trying not to buy the ice cream, cakes, cookies, etc, that we usually littered the cabinets with. I have also been trying to make my portions less. However, we just went to a parade this past weekend that filled a 1 gallon ice cream container that we took to combine their bags. I need to toss it or give it away. ....hey that reminds me. Back when I was in Weight Watchers the leader told me that she used to have her kids take a few pieces out and then take the rest of it to work for her co-workers. That might just work for me. I may try that, instead of eating pieces that I think they wont eat.

Wish me luck on my continued weight loss. I know that I will need it.

Scotty H.

County Fairs and Stress

Why is it that every time that I want to start doing something healthy, events come up that I feel compelled to eat. Right now, we have the county fairs and the state fairs going on. The smell of the fair food can draw even the most disciplined person to salivate. Thankfully, I am not the type of person that likes the fried candy stuff. You know, like the deep fried twinkie, cookie dough, banana cheesecake foster, reece cup, etc. That stuff is a heart attack waiting to happen. For a big guy like me that heart attack might just happen right there on the fair ground. Something that also helps me is that I don't have any money. Therefore, I go for the cheap necessities and bypass on the rest. Sure, I might partake in a bag of german roasted walnuts or possibly a sandwich from the pork tent, but I am only human.

My current biggest issue is wanting to eat more when my stress level is high. With triplets, that seems like that is always the case. There is always someone wanting my attention or crying to me that the other one hurt them. That makes that little guy on my shoulder say "Hey, that bag of chips sure sounds good right now. Go ahead open the bag." Unfortunately, there is the other guy on the other shoulder saying "hey isn't there some french onion dip in the fridge".

Thankfully, my wife and I have been working on what we are purchasing from the store. Trying not to buy the ice cream, cakes, cookies, etc, that we usually littered the cabinets with. I have also been trying to make my portions less. However, we just went to a parade this past weekend that filled a 1 gallon ice cream container that we took to combine their bags. I need to toss it or give it away. ....hey that reminds me. Back when I was in Weight Watchers the leader told me that she used to have her kids take a few pieces out and then take the rest of it to work for her co-workers. That might just work for me. I may try that, instead of eating pieces that I think they wont eat.

Wish me luck on my continued weight loss. I know that I will need it.

Scotty H.

Update

Well, I would like to say that things are going well since starting this program, but I am pretty much doing the same thing. I try to eat good, yet still partake in the sweetness of candy. Combine this with my recent birthday and lack of time to prep meals for the girls, and I am preparing myself for failure. I have been told over the years to try and prepare freezer meals so that there can always be a quick meal available, but I haven't yet tried that.

Scott H.