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January 30, 2012

Last week, a wonderful thing happened! I pulled my belt a notch tighter! I had been wearing a belt to take the strain off the overtaxed buttons, zippers and clasps on my pants. Now, I am getting into my pants more easily and the belt has changed it’s function. Now it actually holds my jeans from drooping to the level of an adolescent’s half mast, underwear advertisers.

To me, the change is noticeable and dramatic. Today I have another weigh in and we’ll see what the numbers say. Last week, I was delighted to learn that my efforts thus far had resulted in a net loss of 8.5 pounds! Yee haw! It’s working.

It’s also becoming easier to reach for things that are better for me. We were in Hamilton last weekend putting on the bike show. Instead of relying on getting my sustenance from “fair food”, we took control of our food and packed fresh fruit and protein bars with us. Then we decided to bring in some food for our staff and got a fruit tray, a meat tray and a cheese tray. In effect, we are passing on our new habits to others.

Soon, I’ll be able to get into those other pairs of pants that I have been saving in the back of the closet….

January 24, 2012

Challenges When the Routine is Off

This weekend is the first of 3 motorcycle shows that I run. As a result, my routine is going to be turned on it’s ear for a few days at a time over the next couple of months.

I will be spending a couple of days setting up the show in Hamilton and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday staying in a hotel and attending the show from start to finish. Of course, that means the only food reasonably available to me is that which is served at the show. Show food is not really known for anything but the ability to serve a lineup efficiently. It’s certainly the easier choice. But there it is. I have choice. I will plan to bring some fresh fruit and energy bars to snack on so I don’t fall prey to going too long between eating and cramming something convenient into my face.

It’s up to me, not the vendors of grease and carb-laden foods at a special event. I have to plan it out ahead of time. That’s proving to be the trick for me in changing my ways. That’s not to say that I will never have a delightfully greasy handful of fair food again, but it means that if I do, it will be because I thought about it and CHOSE to.

Life has it’s turns and twists. I need to be prepared to act and react to them, if I am to stay on my course to reach my goal.

January 16, 2012

Botten F.L.A.B. O.F.F. (Finally Losing A Bunch – Otherwise Feeling Fine!)

Day 4 and it is starting to feel a bit more regular! It’s no secret that most of us live unconsciously within our habits and rarely stop to give conscious thought to the mundane things we do every day. For me, that has included eating. I feel hunger and reach for whatever is handy, usually a bad choice!

Herbal One is showing me that I need to premeditate my food intake, if I am to find balance in the fuel I consume. That is starting to happen by way of the daily diary that I am now using.

I thought that my canned chick peas and the jar of salsa in the fridge were “safe”. Apparently, they both contain higher levels of sodium than fresh chick peas and Blue Menu salsa. Slowly, I’ll get it!

I am finding that I don’t have the peaks and valleys in energy through the course of the day than I used to experience. I eat less, but more frequently.

Truth be told, I have experienced a couple of days of mild cramping, but I’m told that it’s a product of my body chemistry adjusting and the “cleanse” doing it’s thing. Yup! All that water requires more trips to the bathroom, but it’s a small price to pay toward the final goal.

- db

Jan. 11, 2012

Well, today is the day. I’ve been thinking about how this was going to feel for a while now (as I went for seconds and quietly consumed a mountain of Christmas treats). I am the heaviest I have ever weighed.

My scales and I have been estranged since we started to see things differently some time ago. When they asked me at Herbal One how much weight I wanted to lose, I shrugged, “Oh, maybe 25 pounds”, because I didn’t really know how much I actually weighed. All I knew was that my “relaxed fit” jeans were straining at the seams and I wheezed when I bent over to tie my shoes. Enough!

Yesterday, I went to Herbal One and had my weigh-in/measurement/consultation with Tracy, the manager. I stepped on the scales, without my glasses on and thought it read “223″ pounds. I was horrified! Then she said “233″. I did a double take and saw that she was right! Yike!

I told her that I’d be comfortable around the 190 mark. That’s, um (counts on his fingers and toes several times) 43 pounds to lose!

I reminded myself that I got here one mouthful at a time and Tracy explained that it’s not really a diet, but a lifestyle change. I have been given a food diary and some literature explaining what my optimum eating habits should be. I told her that I eat out a lot, especially this time of year because I’m busy meeting clients and putting the three bike shows together that I run. She says it’s a matter of making the new lifestyle fit my life. One of the leaflets I now have is a list of different entrees at local eateries showing me how I can stil eat healthy, even while dining out!

What I do know is that I am committed to making change for myself. That means I know there will be a series of habits I need to break and some mistakes i will make along the way. Tracy smiles warmly and said “We’d like to see you every day for the first while, to measure your progress and answer questions you may have”. That’s good advice. I have about a zillion of them, but somehow I feel safe about the process. Kind of like the ‘buddy system’. I don’t have to do this alone!

Come along for the ride with me!

- db

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