Stego's (comments, of course, welcome) WW thread...

[stego]

And here it is. It's been a month since my wife and I joined. I'll bet you would all love to hear how much weight I have lost from March 3 through April 3rd. Well, that will be for another post. (OK, I'll post it in the next one.)
Anyway, here's my story, I'm sticking to it:
Basically I'm a middle aged guy, married, we have a son who's 9yo. Live in suburbia. Most afternoons, go out for a walk for 30-45 minutes with our son. On occasion, go mountain biking for an hour. What happened is I went to community college FOREVER, working as a chef. FINALLY, I finished school and got a sit down job. What happened? You guessed it. 3 1/2 years later, and a few waist sizes, I was really unhappy. I couldn't even run anymore. I was wheezing coming up the steps. For the past couple years I was miserable about my weight gain. It seemed every few months, my clothes were getting tighter. Then a friend shared with me about asking for help in other areas of my life.
I'd been working bettering myself in a number of areas, but healthwise I was SERIOUSLY lacking. Something clicked that day.
I researched the net, and found weight watchers. WAIT. The same weight watchers my mom went to? What about LA weight loss? I remember peering through the window (they were closed on saturday) and looking at all the food and supplements they sold. I was turned off by that. For some reason, I didn't go to them that saturday. Anyway, I went and talked to my wife that evening. Since we've been together for pretty much the past 3 1/2 years, her physical form resembled mine. So she said, sure what do we have to lose? HA HA! So she went by one meeting on her day off, and got information. As it turns out, she found out about the great american weigh off. So we dragged our son out that wednesday evening, paid the $20 each, and paid for the month. We sat through, and they gave us all this new information. Basically, at the time, I figured, WHOA! I can eat all the food I want? YAHOO! But WAIT, I can only eat the foods I want if I count the points toward my daily allotment. What the heck is that all about? No more all you can eat pizza buffets? no more chinese buffets? OH, MAN!

I tell you, that first week I was irritable and discontent. I was hungry, constantly. I HATED POINTS! I was snapping at my son, and my wife. And she snapped at me. We snapped at each other. Was it worth it? Heck, yes. I went to my first meeting.
I stepped on the scale (what is it with women who take their shoes off? I weighed the first time with my shoes on, why should that change?) I sat in the meeting, opened my book...

Good grief! 9.6lbs? IN ONE WEEK? I looked around, all women.
Uh, oh, better keep quiet. Nope, got picked on. They all laughed at me about being irritable and discontent. Yeah, it's funny, right.

A month later, I still hesitate about telling my wife how much weight I lost.

I really hated the way I felt, the way I looked. I even compared myself to my younger brother; a lot of good that did me. Yup, he's larger, and 4 1/2 years younger. I figured out that's like comparing apples to oranges. He has his thing; I have mine.

As a new person to weight watchers, I'm still on the pink cloud, still pretty gung ho.

I went to a noon meeting 'cuz I couldn't go on a saturday. I get there, and man, 40 women, and I look around, I'm the only guy.
Oh, man, I don't want to be the Tuesday noon whipping boy!
I look at my weight chart. WHAT THE...
2.4 lb GAIN! NO!

Even better, the leader looks, and points at me. OK, the tuesday whipping boy gained 2.4 lbs. No clapping. Deflated, I admitted that I was just at one of those "plateau's",and if I would just STICK to it, I'd be OK next time.

So, 10 days later, on my saturday, I showed up, got weighed.
Sat down, and read my weight chart. It said...

 

[stego]

looking at the weight chart: It read:
I lost 9 lbs. this week.

So the total from March 3 through April 3 was 20.6 lbs. total!

O MY GOSH!

In one month? Geez!

I remember sitting in a meeting and doing the imagine what you see exercise. That's allready changed in one month. I went from riding a new bad BMW motorcycle, all decked out in my form fitting roadmaster suit, to riding a bicycle? HUH? A bicycle?
Yeah, that's right. I can't pedal the motorcycle. I sat there, admist the clapping, and thought about what I REALLY wanted.

And you know what that is?

I wanted to run again. To feel the sun on my face as I'm running on the hike and bike trail, the cool breeze off the colorado river.

OK, I probably won't run as much as when I'm 20 something. So I can ride a bike.

I talked to my wife, and we went by the bike store. At first I picked out a hybrid. They didn't have the size I would fit on, so we came back. I looked at some other bikes. I saw another one, in my size, but more of a recreational bike. The whole idea with getting another bike is so I would ride with my family. Well, I picked that one out, and I'm picking it up on Thursday, my 40th birthday, and riding it home. I don't know how long it'll take me, but I'm leaving work early so I don't get run over by the rush hour traffic. I figure it'll be my time alone, to reflect on 40 years on this earth. Thursday's forecast is looking good: 0% chance of rain, 70's. No rush, and I'll have plenty of FRIGGIN' water. I asked my wife if she would bake me some fish. Wait, fish, what happened to lasagna? Oh well.

 

[Auntmeme]

Welcome to wish and I must say thank you for the laughs

You have quite a sense of humor and it will help to make this journey easier. Pre- happy birthday and good for you for choosing a real bike and fish

 

[DoeWDW]

So very cool!!! A bike for your 40th and a healthy dinner!! WOW! You really ARE making changes! You're doing such a great job - keep it going!

There are a couple of other guys on the WISH board. Dax (user name = myhandd) thinks he's the only guy here so you may want to visit his journal and reassure him! Also solotraveler has a journal here!

Happy early birthday! I turned 40 in early February. I felt really good about all I've accomplished so far in life. I know many people who have gotten depressed about the big 4-0 but I'm really enjoying it! I hope you'll enjoy it too!

Best wishes for a pleasant ride home tomorrow afternoon!

 

[wilderness01]

It sounds like you have gotten a great start. Pat yourself on the back. One of our friends (male) is also on weight watchers and he looks great! It really works for him.

Happy Birthday. Thanks for the laugh with your postings.

 

[stego]

well, woke up, and 40 REALLY felt no different from 39 and 364 days. REALLY.
I did go to my WW on tuesday noon, and once again assumed the position of tuesday noon whipping boy. However, I sat behind a woman who was really tall and had BIG HAIR. I think the coast is clear...
I used my "pass home, do not collect $200" NO WEIGH-IN slip for the first time. Something about running around on weekends, excercising way more, and eating a little more does things to my body. Like make the scale say "Fred, you gained 2.4 lbs."
Uh-uh, not going to do it. Not this week, anyway. I can wait 10 days, again. Besides, it says on the slip you HAVE to get weighed once a month.
So I don't know what I weigh on my 40th birthday. But I do have an idea of what I WOULD like to look like on my 41st birthday.
My wife and I were watching a show on the travel channel about Boston. I told her I wanted a Red Sox jersey for my 41st birthday, size large. SIZE LARGE? I can't imagine. I was born in one of the boston suburbs and have always been a Sox fan.
We're going to New England next year, among other things, to see the Sox play, to show my wife where I grew up, and to...
climb a mountain. I've taken her up Enchanted Rock, and Diamond head, but Mount Chocura, well, that's a whole other thing.
So the weather is REALLY nice outside today, I ate right today,
and I AM going to pick up my bicycle this afternoon.

Thank you all for the kind and encouraging responses.

 

[stego]

I got out of work later than I had planned. One of the ladies showed up with a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake... and guess who was on it? Yup, Mickey Mouse. I had my wife feeding me cake while I was finishing my project so I could get the heck out of there. We finally left, and I got changed. We got to the bike shop, and the guy rolled her out. The bike was beautiful, a wonderful gift from my wife and son. They even put on some gear I had purchased, which included a wireless computer, so I could see how far I rode. I set out quickly, with my cell phone.
I did stop by work to show off my bike, which was on the way, to a co-worker. He loved it, as well. About 1/2 way through the ride, I noticed the bike riding "funny". Yup, you guessed it. Flat tire. I noticed all kinds of "junk" on the side of the road that you don't notice riding in your car. What was I gonna do, flap my arms and jump up and down? No, part of the gear I had was an extra tube, a tire lever, and pump. So I changed the darn thing and threw the old tube out at the car wash. I made it home in one piece. I called my wife to let her know I was a couple of minutes away, so she could take my picture. On the last stretch, I became PAINFULLY aware of the new seat. Oh well, what do you do? My wife did cook fish, and the meal was very healthy.
Of course, I filled up on "empty" calories that day. She made a triple layer chocolate fudge cake. Would you tell your old lady, no I can't eat my cake, I have to watch my girlish figure? Yeah, right.
The next day I mowed the yard, got cleaned up, and took our son out for a ride to the hike and bike trail. It was such a wonderful day. My computer told me we had rode 11 1/2 miles. I could tell our son was tired. So was I. But it was a really beautiful day, and I felt lucky to be able to spend the time with him, doing something outside, together. Back in my old days, I could run, without stopping, that distance. Oh, well.
I have noticed on the weekends I am eating differently. I am not as regimented. I'm not drinking as much water, and not eating as much fruit. I am trying to convince myself I am countering that with all the activity I am doing on the weekend. Last night after a great, healthy meal, I was still hungry, had some ice cream, some popcorn, and then chips & salsa. I figured I burned about 3 or 4 flex points. For the first time my wife told me to stop eating.
She told me-"do you really want to lose 30 lbs. by the time we go to florida?"
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention, we are going to see the mouse next month, for our family vacation. That should be interesting, with our new eating habits.

 

[wilderness01]

You sound like you are doing great on the exercising end of this. Good for you!

 

[DoeWDW]

You sound like you had the perfect birthday, well, if you don't count the flat tire. I think your bike is going to get a LOT of use! Good for you!!

I hope you took some "before" pictures so you can take some "after" pics on your 41st birthday in that Sox jersey!!

 

[Strings]

Hello,

I just wanted to stop by znd say congrats. You are doing a great job losing weight. Keep up the exercise, and you will lose those 30 pounds. I think it is great that you chose a bike for your bday. Not only for exercise, but to have something to do with your son. WTG.

Beth

Happy belated birthday.

 

[stego]

Yesterday was just terrific. One of those days where it's just right. So I got out that brand, spanking new bike, and put on the new seat I ordered. (it works very well!) Then it was off with our son for the next hour or so. We just enjoyed the time together. We rode by the park I used to take him when he was much younger, as a toddler.
That was one of the places I felt the most peace as a single parent. I think, in the summer, we will ride there, and stop for awhile so he can play. We had to get back to the house for our nightly routine: homework, music lesson practice, dinner & bathtub. That's hard to do in an hour.
I have noticed, as previously posted, my mon-fri eating habits are regimented. Same thing at breakfast, fruit for snack, small sandwich at lunch, much water at my desk. Dinner is consistently
in the 6-10 pt range. The hard part I'm having with my eating is sitting down to watch TV with my wife after our son goes to bed.
I have spurts of hunger; and sometimes it's hard to stop. I have made a more concentrated effort just to eat what's been portioned out at dinner, and not get back up and get a second serving to add more points. I've had this notorious bad habit of inhaling my food; ala vacuum cleaner. I turn it on; inhale my food, turn it off, I'm done. So I'm left feeling hungry. I think a lot of it has to do with my chef days: eating on the run. As a chef, we NEVER got an HOUR for lunch. NEVER. Either I grabbed a little something while I was working, or I went without. Simple as that. I feel once again, my clothes getting bigger. I'm looking forward to saturday for my weigh in. I'm taking the family camping out to the hill country for saturday night. On sunday afternoon I promised my wife I'd take her to the disneycatalog outlet in san marcos so she can exchange the skorts I got her: they're too LARGE.
I have noticed my excercise level has increased a bit since I started. I feel like I have MUCH more energy. I am, however, making a concentrated effort not to overdo it. I went with my wife and son on Tuesday afternoon for a ride, as well. She remarked her legs felt like jello. She told me later she wanted to get in shape more. She never really was into athletics. I think it's more she wants to keep up with our son and I.
OK, that's it for now.

 

[wilderness01]

You sound like you are really on track. Good for you!

 

[stego]

spring's still here. I went camping with the family on Saturday night out in the hill country. Talk about relaxing. Rode the bicycle for a bit, as well. But I didn't excercise to the degree I had been doing on the weekends. And for some reason I was ravenous on Saturday evening. I didn't go TOO overboard on my flex points.
I feel guilty if I do use them at all.
Very soon I will be at the next point level.
I went to my Saturday morning meeting before we went camping, got weighed, and sat down to look.
It's been 6 weeks, and I've lost over 25 lbs.!

Good grief!
3 more lbs., and I will be at my initial 10% mark.
I'm trying to get to the point where I will smoothly go to the new point level.

Yesterday I went riding with our son to the park, it's about 7-8 miles. I stopped over at the park, so he could play on the playscape. I called a friend and we talked for about 15 minutes.

The weather has been just really good. I'm trying to balance my exercise with bicycle riding, walking, and have started jogging again. Last week I got up to 3 laps around the track without stopping. I think I will be up to a mile without stopping by the end of April. That is my goal.
I would like to be up to 2 miles by the end of May.
However, we have our big Disney/Universal/Florida trip coming up on May 20th. So 20 days in my excercise level will drop off.
I am comfortable in stating that we'll be in the parks, touring and walking. I am hoping to spend some time planning out our eating plans for that time.
I have seriously debated staying on property. I have weighed the pro's and cons like one wouldn't believe. I even did the right thing and sat down and talked with my wife about it, showing her in black and white what everything would cost, what we'd be doing. Basically it came down to this: how do we want to spend our money?
So we got a really nice suite hotel, with a full kitchen VERY CLOSE to downtown disney. This also includes a free breakfast. I got such a good deal, it was impossible to pass it up.
We've got our flight paid for, our hotel reservations, our park-hoppers, and our Universal tix are in the mail. The only thing we have to do is pack and show up.
I'm hoping someone can give me some hints in making some good decisions regarding dining at the parks.

Again, thank you for your continued support.

 

[DoeWDW]

It sounds like you're really enjoying the exercise you're getting! That's great! You're setting such a wonderful example for your son!

Your trip sounds fabulous!! I bet you'll have a great time, no matter where you stay. We always stay on Disney property because we only go to the Disney parks and because DH does not want to drive during vacation. When you're visiting other places like Universal, it makes sense to stay off-site. Having a kitchen is always a big plus, even if you only use it for one meal a day and light snacks!

You may want to post a note on Dax's journal. He's another guy on the WISH board. He doesn't believe me when I tell him he isn't the ONLY guy around here. His user name is myhandd but the name in his journal title is Dax.

Hope all is going well and congrats on your success thus far!

 

[myhandd]

Hey,

I am so glad that you posted on my journal. It is nice to know that I am not the only guy on here. Doe kept telling me there was another and now I have finally found you.

I flew through your journal, and it looks like you are doing really well. As you said in my journal, the key is water and exercise.

Just a warning, I am fool of foolishnessm so don't be surprised if you see off the wall posts from me in the future (as many others will tell you).

Well my little boy (3 yo) wants to play a game on the computer, so till next time!

Dax

 

[stego]

to come over and watch our son so I could go to my WW meeting.
I'd been going to Tuesdays at noon-but found that to be too close to my regular saturday weigh-in. After that first time, when I GAINED 2.4 lbs, I used my one no-weigh voucher. I didn't have one this week, so I scrambled.
So my mom shows up. She goes into the kitchen. I just mopped, thinking it had dried. WRONG! I step in and WHOOSH! down I go. I laid there, laughing. I got up and said, I'm going to take whatever humility I have left and go to my WW meeting. Of course, I found out I had sprained my ankle. So no running for awhile. I did my regular weigh-in thing, and sat down to look...
and found out I lost 1.6 lbs. WHAT? THAT'S IT? NO! THAT CAN'T BE! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WEEKS OF 9 LBS., AND 4.6 LBS.?

Talk about ego deflation. Here, I'd been the miracle loser, shedding and waistline reducing like a madman. Our leader asked for losses; I felt ashamed; I hid. I couldn't outloud state:
defeat. Lots of people would scream: YOU LOST! WHAT ARE YOU GRIPING ABOUT!?

I think it's more of what I had expected of myself, and my projecting. I realize my body is going to do it on it's terms, and not mine. Funny how that works.
I sluggishly went through my day, overcast and rainy. Consumed with household chores, grocery shopping, etc., etc., I finally picked myself up and the rain cleared enough so my son and I could ride our bikes.
Sunday we'd made arrangement to go to Fiesta Texas in SA. Again, another dreary day. On the way down, our son threw up because he hadn't eaten all his breakfast. He takes medication which requires him to take on a full stomach. Last year I learned the hard way on our family vacation to Hawaii. So consumed in my haste, I made him gobble his pill, and by the time we got to LAX, he was heaving. Talk about guilt. This time, though, he gave me some song and dance about not being hungry. It taught me a lesson: I have to be responsible to make sure HE DOES EAT ENOUGH. Period.
Well, we met my wife's friend, who got us in for free. Hardly any one there. We made a beeline to the scooby doo-ride. No one there. When we'd gone in the summer of 2002, when it had first opened, getting there late, on a saturday, the wait was one hour and 45 minutes. I'd promised our son to take him again, one day.
He enjoyed it, I was a bit disappointed. Expectations, again. If I had waited that 1 hour and 45 minutes I think I would have blown my top.
I ate well that day, surprisingly. I enjoyed the time with our son, however by 230, the rain was just getting worse, and we'd had enough. The crowds were still light, though. I think it was a good idea to go-to prepare me for our trip in 3 1/2 weeks to the world.
The weather is clearing now, and so I will get outside this week, to continue my excercise. I'm going to work on ACCEPTING my body's weight loss. I'm real close to my 10% weight loss. I think at that time I should talk with my leader about how I feel. I've had nothing but very positive remarks by lots of folks, and especially so from my wife. She continues to point out continously how well I look. I am HOPEFUL that come May 20th, I will be at that 30lb. weight loss when we fly out to Florida.

 

[PAdisMOM]

My sister and I did WW together last year. I saw her near tears once over a .4 lb loss. I had a gain that week and I just couldn't get wh she was so upset. But she said that she was trying so hard and had been so hungry all week that she had expected more. But she was honestly near tears!

You're doing great! Keep it up.

 

[DoeWDW]

Sorry you were disappointed at weigh-in. I know how hard it is to stay on plan, work so hard and then feel like you DESERVE more of a loss. You're right, though - your body will shed the weight on its own timetable. The best you can do is treat it in a healthy way every day - healthy food, exercise, drinking that water. So hard to do without setting up expectations for weigh-in, I know, but know that you're doing all you can to be healthy, and that's something to be proud of, no matter WHAT the scale says!

 

[sharoncity]

Wow! Just read through your journal. I am really impressed. This has been quite a journey for you so far. You seem to be learning quite a bit about yourself. And getting in shape while spending all that wonderful time with your DS - how great is that???!!! You are providing him with an awesome example and some of the best memories he will have his whole life!
Keep up the good work. I have NO doubts you will reach that 30 lb mark by May 20! Perhaps add in some weights to your exercise routine. Building muscle will burn more fat. Plus it will firm up everything as you lose. The cardio stuff is GREAT, but the weights help a lot too!
Hope you have great results at next weigh-in!
TTFN-
Sharon

 

[stego]

not much to do with losing weight, but it is part of my journey.
I feel if I posted this on the community board, well...
last night after my wife got home from her shift at the hospital,
she sat down with our son so we could watch 7th heaven. For some reason, this is my favorite show. I enjoy watching it with our son, as I feel it teaches him some good, practical lessons.
There was a situation that came up with one of the characters where he lied to his mom and his friend so he could go out drinking with his other friends. Our son told us why that was wrong. But that wasn't it. There's a new character on the show-a boy about our son's age who is being "adopted" by Chandler. The storyline was somewhere along where he was questioning why there was alcohol in the house. At the end of it, the boy made clear he understood Chandler's reasons, but he did state-you never asked me why I don't want alcohol around. The realization of this hit Chandler head on. He went to tuck the boy in, and asked him why. At this point, my wife and I looked at each other.
At the end of the show, I decided I would ask our son some questions-specifically about alcoholism, and if he understood what an alcoholic was. He knew a little, but we were pretty sure he doesn't yet quite grasp it. He definetly understood that it was wrong to drink alcohol-and that he would face challenges in middle school. I know, I know, not at that bridge YET. Then I moved on to the boy in the show who talked about his mom, and how she left him. I told our son that is what happened to his old mom. We haven't talked about it much, at the time I pretty much told him she got sick and had to go away. Last year he'd been struggling for some reason, and my wife decided to talk about what was going on with him. That came out, and he broke down and cried. And that's what happened last night. I tried to explain to him that she couldn't help it, and that, no matter what, I would always be there for him. He was sitting next to my wife, and she embraced him as he was sobbing. I didn't realize he still feels his loss for his biological mother (once again, it's NOT all about me). I sat there, in tears for my son's pain, wishing, oh, wishing, I could take away his pain. His tears finally subsided, and my wife told him we BOTH would always be there for him, no matter what.

Sorry this is all convuluted, and off the subject. I felt it was important to share a part of the journey, at least on a level where I could share a little more, personally on our lives.

My wife made an attempt to explain to our son about alcoholism,
but, as I stated, he's not quite there yet. She did explain that there are some folks who do quit drinking-and that those people are called sober alcoholics. Still alcoholics, but sober, and living
without taking a drink, because they can't just take one drink.

I don't think he knows that is me...

but I know in my heart that day will come, and we will talk, just him and I.

OK, I promise next time I will share more about losing weight, eating right, excercising, etc.