Happiness!

Weekly Stats
Current: 280.6
Weekly Loss: 7
To Go: 105.6
Total 44.4
Exercise - Hiking and yard work.

My happiness comes from several things this week.
1. I lost another 7 lbs!
2. I hit another 10 lbs goal (see the new star?)
3. This is the lowest weight I have been in a few years.
4. I am fitting into clothes that I haven't been in for a while!
5. When I hit my next 10 lbs goal, that will make it 50 lbs I have lost since I started my blog.
6. I went hiking in Goblin Valley this week and felt much lighter on my feet!
7. I made it through my third week of this six week strict diet!
8. Even though I still have a long way to go, I am optimistic about making it to the end!

Thanks for all the encouragement along the way. It has helped me stay motivated and accountable. It was fun to hear from the progress that you are all making as well. It feels like we are in this together to get and stay healthy! Keep on going!

A Better Week

Weekly Stats
Current: 287.6
Weekly Loss: 5.8
To Go: 112.6
Total Lost 37.4

Just finished off the second week of my strict diet. This week was much better as my body finally made adjustments to the reduced calories. Monday night, I just started feeling half decent and it has been pretty good ever since. I had to fight through what was like a constant headache and craving, not so much from my stomach, but my something in my brain that was being denied that it was used to getting. That may not make much sense, but that's how it felt. Probably not to different than trying to go off any other addiction. I was determined to see it through the first week and I'm glad I did.

This week had a couple of challenges. With the severe reduction in calories, I knew that I wouldn't have a lot of energy reserves. A lady that we home teach, had her dog put to sleep after he was struggling with so many health issues. She asked Corey and I if we could bury her dog in her back yard. The ground in Orem used to be a river bed I believe. Just a few inches down there are many rocks that are cemented in clay. It takes a great deal of effort to dig very far down. I learned that early when I moved to Orem and ditched my yard by had to put in a sprinkler system and also planted a several trees. Corey was of help, but it was hard for both of us. I didn't even get a chance to eat before since both Corey and I had to be somewhere by seven. I'm glad we got the job done and we both had a better appreciation for each other after that.

The other challenge of the week is after we went to my uncle's funeral, my Mom and Dad offered to buy us all lunch at Golden Coral. If you don't know it is an all-you-can-eat buffet. I wasn't sure how I was going to stay on plan and eat there. But I headed to the salad bar and started with a foundation of lettuce. They had some chicken, shrimp and steak cut up into small pieces,which I was able to get my 100 grams of protein from my "approved" list quite easily. I then found some vinaigrette hanging out by the other dressing and I was set. I did grab another plate and got a little extra chicken and some salmon and put some strawberries with it and I was more than satisfied with what I ate! I didn't gain any weight and I didn't blow my diet! Whooohoooo!!!!!

Got good reports this week from others who are sticking with their health goals. Gordon is still going strong on the bike! Way to go! Lisa H. is hanging in there and still making progress losing weight! Yesssss! Rachel has kept up her training after completing a half-marathon by training for another! Wow!!! Bill H. finished the St. George marathon with a personal best time!!!! He has already started up training again and is looking towards the Boston marathon which he as qualified for two years in a row now! Impressive! Barbara has been faithfully keeping in shape for many years now! Amazing job!!! Thanks to all for the inspiration and examples that you set. I hope the others are doing good as well.

Two breakthroughs!

Weekly Stats
Current: 293.4
Weekly Loss: 9
To Go: 118.4
Total 31.6
Exercise - None

Back from my three week (thought it would be two) hiatus. I decided during my rest period that I would really focus on the weight loss. I did gain a lot by my exercise, but I also realized that my body was really taking a beating with all of this extra weight. I looked at various options and have decided to go on a very strict diet. It has been a tough first week, but my body is adjusting to the change and I am dropping weight. The weekly loss above really is just my net loss since my last reporting three weeks ago. I gained some back during my recovery. I actually lost 14.2 lbs this first week on the diet. I realize that this won't keep up at this rate, but it was a good start.

I was able to fill in another star! I passed two thresholds. I've not lost 30 lbs and I broke the 300 lbs level. Yippee!!!!! Hopefully I will never see 300 again!

Haven't heard how others are doing. Hopefully when I post my stats, I will get some feedback how others are doing. If you took a break, get back at it! We are all cheering for you!

Two Week Reporting Hiatis

On Saturday, Scott (who is a fellow co-worker) and I went on a four mile hike up Dry Canyon and over across the front of Big Baldy on the Curly Springs trail. This was to be the day that we hiked to the top of Baldy, but as I mentioned earlier, it was too much to attempt. I just wasn't ready to do it. This hike that we took was hard enough as it was. Both Scott and I, as we compared notes this morning, were wiped out the rest of the day on Saturday. We were however both happy with the progress that we have made over the summer. There is no way I could have hike this distance and climbed like we did at the beginning of the summer.

I decided even before the hike that I was going to take a week to recuperate. I have learned that after a hard workout that it takes a lot out of me and I have been running a bit on empty as it was. So this week to rest up and regroup. Next Monday, I am going to focus on getting my weight down. I will still exercise, but my main goal is to get some serious pounds off. I will resume my reporting the week following after I have started off in my new direction (same goal just adjusting how I will get there). If you don't see a post on September 28th, I invite all to get after me because I committed to do this and I don't want to stop until I reach my goals.

Lisa H. continues to do well. She has helped keep me motivated! Thanks Lisa! Chris and Rick are off to great starts on their diets. They are working together to get the weight off and so far so good, 9 and 15 lbs is something to cheer about for sure. Keep hanging in there!

Back on the downward slope

Weekly Stats
Current: 302.4
Weekly Loss: 2
To Go: 127.4
Total 22.6
Exercise - 5/5 Days – 30+ minutes

With school back up in full swing for the kids I have been lucky to get in the minimum of 30 minutes of exercise. But in ways this was probably good. I have been feeling run-down lately and I think the bit of a cut back and not going on a major hike on Saturday allowed my body to catch up a bit. I am happy with the 2 lbs lost especially with the long holiday.

Saturday I had so much to do, I decided to just work really hard on some of the more physical chores and I did work up a good sweat just doing things like washing the car. Normally I would have run to the car wash, but I saved some money and got a good workout as I went as fast as I could. Silly I guess, but it worked! Doesn't work for everyday, but you can work exercise in some ways that you might not normally think of.

For the holiday, we hiked Upper Provo River Falls. It has been a couple of years since we have been there. It isn't a strenuous hike and is quite enjoyable with the beautiful water falls. I guess being in better shape helped as well.

Big shout out this week to Sarah, Mike and Rachel who ran their half marathon this weekend. They had made it a goal to do it and they all finished!!!!! Great job you three. Lisa H continues to make steady progress. Keep up the good work. Gordon keeps going on some great rides and keeping in shape. I'm sure Martha has lost some lbs as well as busy as she has been lately. Barbara continues to amaze me with her ability to get out of bed as early as 5am and get exercising within a few minutes. My body just can't do that first thing. It takes me a bit to wake up enough to get going. She has been doing this for years now and is in great shape and has a lot of energy to go with it. Emily has been working hard and thinking more about being fit! Good for you Emily! Keep up the good work everyone!

Steady as He Goes

Weekly Stats
Current: 304.4
Weekly Loss: 0
To Go: 129.4
Total 20.6
Exercise - 5/5 Days – 40+ minutes

Not much progress the past few weeks. I have for sure put my exercising in. Hopefully the scales will crack here soon.

I have enjoyed going up the canyon for my daily walks through the summer. With school now in session, I have to make sure I get out the door so I can get back in time to get the kids off to school. That makes it pretty dark when I start. Don't know how much longer I will be able to go. We'll see.

My hike of the week was to the Y. My son Corey went with me and we had a nice time together. We took in the great view and talked quite a bit. I was able to hike at a pretty good pace. I just have to keep in mind how much I have improved over the summer as far as being able to hike.

A couple of shout outs. First one to Martha for losing 4 lbs! Way to go! Gordon gets one for his awesome bike rides! He is definitely in great shape and is lean and mean! Haven't heard from others who are on track for getting in better shape. Keep on trying!

A Bit of A Setback.

Weekly Stats
Current: 304.4
Weekly Loss: .4(gained)
To Go: 129.4
Total 20.6
Exercise - 5/5 Days – 40+ minutes

Saturday was a day of reckoning for me. I had the time to see how far I could be up Dry Canyon. I was hoping to make it to the saddle. I hiked for two hours made it to just over 7000', but still was about a mile short of the saddle when I knew I needed to turn back. I had a hard time making it back to the van because I was so drained. I realized that I better not try to make it to the top of Baldy in two weeks. I would be putting myself at risk if I pushed it to the top (over 8000'). I will now aim for a late spring / early summer attempt after the snow is all but gone. In ways I am disappointed, but I when I think how far I have come I should be proud of the progress I made at the same time. I did make it up a couple of miles on a fairly steep hike. There is no way when I started this that I could have done it. On my first hike with my son, I didn't even make is a quarter mile before I turned around. Now I can make it that far with out too much effort. My hope for the postponing the hike is to take off quite a bit of weight and keep working out for an even better fitness level.

As far as my weight goes. It looks like a similar thing that I saw a couple of weeks ago. The hard work out on Saturday seems to make my body hold on to the weight. I was 302 yesterday morning and I would be surprised if I dropped back down tomorrow somewhere around there.

Lisa H. is doing well in her weight loss. Way to go! Keep up the great work. Sarah and Mike ran 12 miles on Friday! That was awesome. Gordon G. is keeping up on his biking and I suspect Martha is doing well on her goals! Everyone hang in there and I will too!