Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Wow, I made some progress.
I can lose initial weight REALLY fast -- like I can cut back for a day or two, and feel the difference. The last few days have been one of these times. I still have a hard time getting past the cookies and milk at night, but I've been making up for it by keeping my breakfast, lunch and dinner calorie intake under 300 each meal, eating mostly protein and lower-carb stuff.
Monday, August 4, 2008
My Weaknesses
I'm lucky in that I like a lot of foods that are good for you: salmon, broccoli, blueberries, salad, fruit, turkey, etc. I'm unlucky in that I really like a lot of things that are NOT so good for you: candy, ice cream, cheese, crackers, peanuts, etc. I'm a carb junkie, no doubt.
My weakest time is between 5 p.m. and bedtime. I will typically cruise by the kitchen, get a handful of something (peanuts, potato chips, etc.) as soon as I get home, or maybe make half a sandwich. Or I will stuff a wad of lunchmeat in my mouth, or eat 5-8 pieces of string cheese, or -- worst of all -- eat half a tub of ice cream. I really go off the deep end when my wife and kids are out.
I also like beer, and will usually drink anywhere from 8-12 per week on the high end, none on the low. Some would say I'm an alcoholic, too, but I don't share that belief.
Lately, I think what's been really killing me is my "night eating." Every night, between 2-4 a.m., I wake, starving. I usually go for the big glass of whole milk, and cookies or crackers. It puts me right back to sleep.
I know -- bad, bad, bad.
My mornings and lunches are always good. I have a turkey sandwich, fruit or whole wheat cereal for breakfast, no snacks at work, and then a light lunch (another turkey sandwich, salad, or vegetables) but again, it's dinner time that kills me.
I also have a thing for fast food. I NEVER buy it, but my wife will just bring it home and I'll eat it, and am a real sucker for pizza, too. Just love it.
My weakest time is between 5 p.m. and bedtime. I will typically cruise by the kitchen, get a handful of something (peanuts, potato chips, etc.) as soon as I get home, or maybe make half a sandwich. Or I will stuff a wad of lunchmeat in my mouth, or eat 5-8 pieces of string cheese, or -- worst of all -- eat half a tub of ice cream. I really go off the deep end when my wife and kids are out.
I also like beer, and will usually drink anywhere from 8-12 per week on the high end, none on the low. Some would say I'm an alcoholic, too, but I don't share that belief.
Lately, I think what's been really killing me is my "night eating." Every night, between 2-4 a.m., I wake, starving. I usually go for the big glass of whole milk, and cookies or crackers. It puts me right back to sleep.
I know -- bad, bad, bad.
My mornings and lunches are always good. I have a turkey sandwich, fruit or whole wheat cereal for breakfast, no snacks at work, and then a light lunch (another turkey sandwich, salad, or vegetables) but again, it's dinner time that kills me.
I also have a thing for fast food. I NEVER buy it, but my wife will just bring it home and I'll eat it, and am a real sucker for pizza, too. Just love it.
What I've Decided To Do About It
First off, I want to get back into my "cool" clothes. I have a closet full of them, but I'm relegated to the same couple of pairs of khakis and jeans I can still squeeze into. I'd also like to be a better example for my kids, and not look like the typical "dumpy dad" I see everywhere I go. I'd also like to be a bit more visually appealing to my wife, who has never complained about my weight. Not once. And, probably most important, I ain't getting any younger. Heart attacks and strokes happen to guys my age.
So, since blogging is all the rage now, I will use this tool to track my progress (or lack of it) and spew it into the universe. I doubt anyone will ever read it, since I won't be posting it anyplace for anyone to read. If you do, however, somehow stumble upon it, I'd appreciate your support, insults, etc. So here we go.
First off, I want to get back into my "cool" clothes. I have a closet full of them, but I'm relegated to the same couple of pairs of khakis and jeans I can still squeeze into. I'd also like to be a better example for my kids, and not look like the typical "dumpy dad" I see everywhere I go. I'd also like to be a bit more visually appealing to my wife, who has never complained about my weight. Not once. And, probably most important, I ain't getting any younger. Heart attacks and strokes happen to guys my age.
So, since blogging is all the rage now, I will use this tool to track my progress (or lack of it) and spew it into the universe. I doubt anyone will ever read it, since I won't be posting it anyplace for anyone to read. If you do, however, somehow stumble upon it, I'd appreciate your support, insults, etc. So here we go.
August 4, 2008: Welcome to Rick's Big Fat Blog
I've tried everything else.
Low carb, low fat, low cal -- you name it, I tried it, and failed. Sometimes, I had limited success, but never lost any more than a few pounds before I'd invariably fall off the wagon, say "f*** it," and go back to my bad eating habits. The extra weight has been badgering me since I was about 30 (I'm now in my early 40s).
A little background on my "problem": I was a thin child until about fourth grade, when overeating put me into the "pudgy kid" category. I was made fun of, etc., but still was moderately popular. I fell in love in the seventh grade, but watched the object of my affection (a cute little thing named Wendy) "go out" with other guys while I -- the dumpy, goofy kid in Sears "Husky Plus" pants -- went unnoticed. As a result of the depression the rejection brought, I ate more. Sweets and carbs were my mortal enemies, but I embraced them still.
Halfway through eight grade, I finally said "enough." I started eating right, lost the weight in about four months, and felt a lot better about myself. Girls finally stared to notice me for the first time in my (older) life -- even the really great-looking ones. When the two best-looking girls in class finally started to be "nice" to me, I knew I was on to something. So I kept eating right. I went from 145 pounds, 5'2" to 105 pounds, 5'5" (yep, i grew a little, too). And I was a really, really nice looking guy at this point, too.
That summer, while attending art camp (yes, there was once such a thing), I attracted the interest of a brunette named Terri. Of course, the preferred communication method of 1981 was via notes passed on to you through third parties. I finally "rendezvoused" with her later, after being assured that she was truly a "fox" through other guys who had seen her, and was not disappointed. Years later, I can still see her in my mind's eye, and can recall the little kiss (my first) we shared outside the dining hall not long after we met. Though we only lasted a few days (she left me for another art stud), I still felt like I pulled one over on somebody -- I was just a goofy fat kid in the body of a slender Tom Cruise almost-lookalike.
I never let a day go by without being thankful for my thinness. I put on a few pounds at age 17, and lost it again by 18. I started lifting weights and got into REALLY good shape around this time. I pretty much stayed this way until oh, my third year of college. That's when beer, success, and latency took its took. I went from about 150 up to 190, and looked "pudgy" again. My beautiful girlfriend, though, said I looked "fine," and so there went THAT motivation.
Keep in mind, I was never obese. My weight goes right to my stomach, chest (man boobs), thighs and chin. I resemble a later-life Alec Baldwin more than anything. And it seemed like every time it got out of hand, I'd reel it in with exercise and sometimes the pursuit of another cute girl. I laugh when I think about those guys who called me "tubby," "fatty," etc. when I was a kid, because I've been out with only the most beautiful women ever since (including a well-known actress, a few models, a lot of cheerleaders) and married a real stunner, too.
Rick at 40: Fat, Fatter, Fattest
I'm afraid to weigh myself. I know I will top 190. I think the biggest I ever got was the fall of 1997 -- about a year before I got thin and fit again for about two years -- when I tipped the scale near 200. Being married to a woman who eats almost anything (and gains little) and having two little kids does NOT make it easy to lose. And therein lies my problem -- lack of motivation.
Low carb, low fat, low cal -- you name it, I tried it, and failed. Sometimes, I had limited success, but never lost any more than a few pounds before I'd invariably fall off the wagon, say "f*** it," and go back to my bad eating habits. The extra weight has been badgering me since I was about 30 (I'm now in my early 40s).
A little background on my "problem": I was a thin child until about fourth grade, when overeating put me into the "pudgy kid" category. I was made fun of, etc., but still was moderately popular. I fell in love in the seventh grade, but watched the object of my affection (a cute little thing named Wendy) "go out" with other guys while I -- the dumpy, goofy kid in Sears "Husky Plus" pants -- went unnoticed. As a result of the depression the rejection brought, I ate more. Sweets and carbs were my mortal enemies, but I embraced them still.
Halfway through eight grade, I finally said "enough." I started eating right, lost the weight in about four months, and felt a lot better about myself. Girls finally stared to notice me for the first time in my (older) life -- even the really great-looking ones. When the two best-looking girls in class finally started to be "nice" to me, I knew I was on to something. So I kept eating right. I went from 145 pounds, 5'2" to 105 pounds, 5'5" (yep, i grew a little, too). And I was a really, really nice looking guy at this point, too.
That summer, while attending art camp (yes, there was once such a thing), I attracted the interest of a brunette named Terri. Of course, the preferred communication method of 1981 was via notes passed on to you through third parties. I finally "rendezvoused" with her later, after being assured that she was truly a "fox" through other guys who had seen her, and was not disappointed. Years later, I can still see her in my mind's eye, and can recall the little kiss (my first) we shared outside the dining hall not long after we met. Though we only lasted a few days (she left me for another art stud), I still felt like I pulled one over on somebody -- I was just a goofy fat kid in the body of a slender Tom Cruise almost-lookalike.
I never let a day go by without being thankful for my thinness. I put on a few pounds at age 17, and lost it again by 18. I started lifting weights and got into REALLY good shape around this time. I pretty much stayed this way until oh, my third year of college. That's when beer, success, and latency took its took. I went from about 150 up to 190, and looked "pudgy" again. My beautiful girlfriend, though, said I looked "fine," and so there went THAT motivation.
Keep in mind, I was never obese. My weight goes right to my stomach, chest (man boobs), thighs and chin. I resemble a later-life Alec Baldwin more than anything. And it seemed like every time it got out of hand, I'd reel it in with exercise and sometimes the pursuit of another cute girl. I laugh when I think about those guys who called me "tubby," "fatty," etc. when I was a kid, because I've been out with only the most beautiful women ever since (including a well-known actress, a few models, a lot of cheerleaders) and married a real stunner, too.
Rick at 40: Fat, Fatter, Fattest
I'm afraid to weigh myself. I know I will top 190. I think the biggest I ever got was the fall of 1997 -- about a year before I got thin and fit again for about two years -- when I tipped the scale near 200. Being married to a woman who eats almost anything (and gains little) and having two little kids does NOT make it easy to lose. And therein lies my problem -- lack of motivation.
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