The holiday season is over- and with it most of the goodies and extra food that found its’ way into our house.  No more piles of cookies and breads and candies and other weight loss land-mines that I fell prey to over the last month or so.  It also marks a return-to-normal for gym visits- no more holiday closings and wacky hours.  All is right with my world once again!

Or is it?  I’ve lost some serious ground on my way to a healthy weight.  How did it happen?  Why am I being punished with an extra yoke of fat to haul around?  Why?

Oh, boo-friggin’-hoo.

Here’s the thing; I gained weight because I ate more than I should have and moved less than I could have.  It’s as simple as that. I was into the Christmas cookies a little too often and the daisy chain of parties and other gatherings gave plenty of opportunities for grazing the carb troughs.  Plenty of simple reasons for the gain but what it all comes down to is that it’s all 100% me- making less than beneficial choices.

Things like this make me get all introspective and ookie.  But before the self-doubt and disappointment sets in, I realize that when the junk fills the trunk it’s up to me to refocus and start making the right choices again- either relearning the lessons that haven’t quite stuck or by massively applying what has… er… stuck.

It all comes down to this- I’ve been looking over my list of fifty (50) things I learned during my initial 150 pound weight loss and am really focusing on them to formulate my plan of action for this last 40 pound push so that I will achieve my goal by my next birthday.  It’s more of a review and re-do kind of thing I suppose; I’ve already learned what I must do- what I will do to achieve my goal.  It’s now all about the doing.

Rock on.

Blandest Smoothie Ever! (with the power of apples!)

1/2 Apple
1S EAS Protein
1S Ground Flax
4 Ice Cubes
Water

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January 7th, 2009 | Tags: Candy, Christmas, health, responsibility, Supplements, weight-loss | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

My last post was on Christmas Eve- that pinnacle of hope and anticipation of the coming dawn, when children wake at 4AM to peek in wonderment at the pile of wrapped shiny and pointy distraction, when parents are nestled all snug in their beds with images of missing and extra parts of bikes and trykes in their heads.  A few moments of unbalance, when the scale tips deeply toward happiness without responsibility or regret.

But then, like the piles of wrapping paper scattered where plastic tokens of conspicuous consumption, rapt consumerism, and economic stimulus once sat, tension builds as self-assessment of the past 360-some-odd days bubbles into view and I wonder where the hell the year has gone and what the hell have I accomplished.

I’ve come to take self-assessment very seriously and the past year has been important.  It’s been a time during which I’ve focused on not only losing weight but maintaining its’ loss.  It’s been a time of enjoying the benefits of a healthier lifestyle and regaining abilities I was sure were gone from my life.  I was a period during which I had an unobstructed view of all regions South of my navel and a time when little things I didn’t realize I missed became a much bigger deal.

Now here I am, another year has rocketed into the past and I sit contemplating what’s next for little ol’ me; what IS 2009 going to be about and how do I make it better than 2008?  I’m pondering, I’m plotting, I’m planning.  I’m not ignoring that I’ve gained five (5) pounds since my last weigh-in.

That’s right, five pounds.  Am I shocked, surprised, or taken back by it?  Discouraged?  Oh, hell no!  I’m not proud of it either.  What I am is friggin’ determined. The thing is that I’ve been lighter than I am right now, recently, so I know how to lose the weight.  More importantly, I know how I put it on and therefore what behavior I need to change. Now all there is (once the knowing part is done) is the doing- and a lot of it.

In my mind it is “crunch time”; that period when I know that a deadline is coming up fast.  Mine is my next birthday.   The goal I set (on my last birthday) is to lose another forty (40) pounds by then.  It’s getting real.

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December 31st, 2008 | Tags: Persistence | Category: attitude | Comments (3)

Let me start by saying that I’m not really into the holidays.  Year-end is kind of a stressful time for me and I spend a little of it steaming and venting- probably more than I should.  I’m at a slow-simmer today.

As I sit here racking my brain for gift idea for my wife (procrastinate much, Steve?) my thoughts are muddied with Christmas music.  Not the reverent babe-in-a-manger stuff, but the quirky tunes that get stuck in my noggin and force my little mental trolley right off the tracks.

Now playing in Steve’s brain: “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth“

If it’s now stuck in your head, Merry Christmas with a heapin’ helping of my apologies.

Here’s the thing (also known as “note to self”)- the holidays are an awesome time of family togetherness and with that, all the food, drink, and dysfunction a guy can stomach.  The key is moderation.  The theme is giving with gratitude.  The sentiment is joy.  If I can do one thing, it certainly will not be stuffing my face with carbs, but instead cramming my heart with good feelings while packing my memories with happiness.  And that can only come from being with family and friends.

Then I’m gonna puke it right back up on all the people that mean the most to me.  Hurling happiness like jungle juice from a co-ed at a frat party.  The happy chunder will be deafening.  Happy holidays!

Rock on.

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December 24th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (3)