With apologies to Chicago, that's a little how I feel. As I went to the weigh-in, I was surprised to find that some had 13, 16, or more pounds lost. I am happy for them, and hope it continues. I am not in the contest to win per se, but I am in it for the accountability factor, and the lifestyle change opportunity that it provides. My scale it home registered an 11 lb. loss, while on the scale, only 6 lbs were gone. Now, some things are different weighing in there, but I thought it might be more than 6.6lbs. I did have them measure my chest and navel, and I was pleased to find out I lost 2 inches around that area. I will continue to tweak the workouts and nutrition so that I can have a more positive outcome next month. However, losing 6lbs per month is OK as well, as that would give me about 36 pounds down - to 265 - 15 lbs over my goal...with a lifestyle change....and I am OK with that....

The weigh in is about 3 1/2 hours away. I am sure that I will have lost weight, but how much? I will still go with my bathroom scale, which says 11 pounds. I doubt that it will be that much at the Slim and Fit, but we will see...I am looking forward to the "official" results, even though I know I have lost 11 already...The anticipation mounts...

According to the scale at home, the pounds lost currently stand at 11! I weigh myself every Sunday morning for WW, and the results have been positive. I thought that this being a recovery week that I might not lose any weight at all, but there was a loss. I would guess that the nutritional component is also doing the trick as well. This past week I've tried 2 new foods I'd never had before - chicken sausage with peppers and onions and turkeyburgers. We went for the healthier option as a family, and it seems to be paying dividends. I am looking forward to the "official" weigh-in next weekend!

This is the recovery week after finishing the first cycle of P90x. I will do kenpo, yoga, and core synergistics. The core workout is actually very challenging, and I felt it last night. I am hoping that my positive gains are continuing. The WW aspect of the plan is working well, as I can eat without feeling hungry. Our family is also eating MUCH better, so I appreciate that as well. We threw out 95% of the "bad" food in our house, and are making healthy alternatives.I look forward to my first weigh in a week and a half!

As I weighed in for my WW Online account this morning, I was pleased to see that I have continued to lose weight. I am officially down 9.5 pounds since the original weigh-in at Slim and Fit. I have also completed the first round of P90X. A recovery week is planned for this week. My soon-to-be wife and I have started to eat healthier, and you can really tell the difference. I feel much better and clothes are starting to fit better. I even had someone at work tell me that they can tell that I have been losing weight. WW Online definitely makes it easier. More updates to follow....

Well, a small milestone has been reached this week. Since I started the program, I have lost 8 pounds, and I feel better. I have had a lingering problem in my back due to an injury that had interfered with my sleeping. I noticed that it had intensified as I had gained weight, and was having to take a Celebrex before bed to try to manage the pain.I have noticed since the weight loss that the problem has disappeared. I see a direct correlation to the loss of weight and the feeling of my back. I am sometimes tired when I get home, but I push through and do the workout.

 

The second milestone occurred tonight, when I tried a dress shirt on that I have not worn for several months due to it not fitting - and it fit. This gave me a new motivation to continue on, as I definitely have more clothes in the same category as that. What a feeling to wear something I haven't worn in about a year! I'll be back with more updates - Weight Watchers is progressing well, and lifestyle changes are being cemented as we speak. This provides a foundation for success and continued motivation. I expect it to continue!

As I write this, it is the night before the article appears in the News-Herald. I have had people tell me that they could never have done what I did, as it puts extra pressure and motivation on you and lets all of your friends and family know your weight and measurements. I am OK with that, and hope that it gives me the necessary drive I need to be successful. As a competitive person, I would of course like to win but I want to become a healthier person overall. I feel that the help of family and friends I will be successful. After tomorrow, it will no longer be a secret, and I am OK with that. I appreciate help from all of you as I strike forward on this journey...

I was interested to see the other people who arrived at the Slim and Fit last Saturday in Concord. I was not quite sure what to expect, but Laura (editor of the News-Herald) put everyone at ease. I call this week 2 for me, as I really started my program last week. I began a very aggressive workout regime that I expect to pay some benefits to my overall health and well-being. The workout I selected has 2 distinct parts - the actual strength and cardiovascular component, and the nutritional aspect. I expect that these two will complement each other as my journey continues, and help make my results as positive as they can be.

 

The strength and conditioning program that I am using is very simple and tough - P90X. I have attempted P90X before, with some results, but I did not have the nutritional aspect of the plan in place, and my gains were minimal, at best. I am pairing my P90X workouts with Weight Watchers online for men. I find that the tracker is very easy and intuitive to use, and I like the format - even though no P90X workouts are in the workout section.

 

My motivation will be simple - I need to lose weight - I put on about 35 pounds last year when I encountered two fairly traumatic events - the loss of my father, and a very serious motorcycle accident which leaves me with a permanently separated (third degree) shoulder. I hope to lose 50 pounds, to get down to 250, but I would love to get to 225 or even 205, which is the weight I played college basketball at. As a science teacher, varsity coach, and athlete, I know what to do, I just have to do it. I would prefer to be more of an example of healthy living to my family and my students. I will need some encouragement, but being in the paper exposes it for all to see. That is a fairly strong motivational tactic as well. I encourage you to follow me and check on my progress. I'll be working on it!