Saturday, January 29, 2011

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Week 4: Down to 196 A Week Before the Super Bowl

I missed my goal of 195 by one pound this week. I now have one week to get to my Super Bowl goal of 190.

Shrinking is seeming slower this time from the last time I went in to shrinking mode.

This seems odd to me, due to the fact that I believe I am being way more active than I was the last time I did some major shrinkage.

Maybe the shrinkage slowdown is age-related. I believe I have read before that the older you get the more difficult it is to lose weight.

I continued with the high protein, extremely low carbohydrate mode of calorie consumption this week. I will continue with the modified Atkins Diet routine this week. And probably the week following that.

I may run into some trouble this week if I find myself invited to and going to a Super Bowl Party, which may happen, what with my current place of residence being just a few miles from where the Super Bowl location in the Dallas Cowboy Stadium.

Monday, January 24, 2011

My Favorite Fatling, Fat Bastard, Leader of the New American Fat Acceptance Movement with a Great Fattitude

That is my funny new friend, Fat Bastard, you are looking at.

Fat Bastard commented on a blog I wrote a couple weeks ago, titled "Observing The Amazing Struggles of the Amazingly Obese."

In that blogging I mentioned a horrendous incident that took place in a McDonald's, where a morbidly obese former acquaintance of mine nearly destroyed a McDonald's trying to sit on a stool.

Fat Bastard had the following to say about that particular morbidly obese person's attempt to get on a stool...

"Nothing does my clogged heart more good than a good story about fattitude. The fatling you describe is a real heroine.

McDonalds is becoming less and less fat friendly. They should have lift chairs so that fatling will not have exert themselves standing and sitting."

Fat Bastard has a blog or two. One of Fat Bastard's blogs is called BIGGER FATTER BLOG.

About himself Fat Bastard wrote...

"I'm Fat Bastard. I am the de facto leader of the New American Fat Acceptance Movement (NAFAM) and NIFAM which is the New International Fat Acceptance Movement. Like the name implies, I am a fat bastard. I promote, food, hedonism, pleasure, sloth, lust and gluttony."

And then there is Fat Bastard's credo at the top of his blog...

"THIS IS THE NEXT PHASE IN FAT ACCEPTANCE. THE DAYS OF JUSTIFYING OUR FATNESS BY LYING AND SAYING WE HAVE A MYSTERIOUS GENETIC OR METABOLIC DISORDER ARE OVER. WE NOW FREELY ADMIT TO AND EMBRACE WHAT THE FAT HATERS WOULD CALL GLUTTONY. WE FATLINGS ARE NO LONGER APOLOGISTS FOR OUR SIZE NOR OUR GREEDY GLUTTONY. WE ARE FAT BECAUSE WE EAT HUGE AMOUNTS OF FOOD AND WE LIKE IT. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT GET USED TO IT BECAUSE FAT PEOPLE ARE NOW THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY."

I had never read the term "Fatling" before. I like this word and plan on adding it to my vocabulary immediately. If not sooner. I also like Fat Bastard's "fattitude" word. Used in a sentence. You've got a bad fattitude for a fatling. Or one might have a good fattitude for a fatling.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Week 3: Down to 199 By Cutting Carbs

Well, I did not get to my goal of 198 this week. But, I am under 200 and only 9 pounds from my Super Bowl goal of 190.

Since I started shrinking a few days before the start of the New Year I have lost 18 pounds.

This week losing weight was hampered by bad weather rendering doing heavy duty hill hiking not possible.

To amp up the fat burning I've gone into a Modified Atkins Diet mode. As in extremely low amount of carbohydrates and an increase in protein.

I'm not a dessert fan and have absolutely no sweet tooth. So, it is pretty easy to cut down the carbs, as in no bread, no sugary fruits, like bananas. And no milk.

I don't know why more people don't use the high protein/low carb method of losing weight. It's not like being on a diet.

And unlike those miserable diets where the caloric intake is cut way back and you don't feel or look good, with the high protein/low carb way of eating you feel real good, full of energy. And you look healthy, instead of that gaunt, sick look some people develop when they lose weight.

Next Saturday's goal is 195.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Amazon No Longer Offers Do-It-Yourself Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Kits

Amazon, the humongous online retailer, had been selling a do it yourself laparoscopic gastric bypass kit.

Yes, where you, the morbidly obese person perform surgery on your own stomach.

That is a picture of the do-it-yourself kit. As you can see, below the kit is a message telling you the item is currently not available.

Though the gastric bypass kit was touted as a do-it-yourself deal, the actual seller of the product that had been listed on Amazon, that being the medical retailer, Med Plus, Inc. operating out of New Jersey, communicated, via a company officer, that the do-it-yourself kit is intended for medical workers only.

I've no idea what is meant by "medical workers." Janitor who works in a hospital? Nurse? Doctor's secretary?

I've only know a couple morbidly obese people. One of them was unable to put on her shoes herself, so, obviously, do-it-yourself surgery was out of the question.

Methinks Amazon needs to pay closer attention to what is being sold on its website.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution End of Week Two: Under 202 After a Week of Monosodium Glutamate Poisoning

Well, my goal this week was to get under 200 pounds by Saturday, January 15. I missed the goal by about 1 and 1/2 pounds.

I've now lost around 15 pounds since I started shrinking a few days before the New Year.

I went into Atkins mode this week, which created a problem when I bought a big bag of beef jerky.

The package said the jerky was "All Natural."

A few hours after sampling the "All Natural" beef jerky I got a headache and felt pressure in my head.

At first I attributed this to the effects of being on the Atkins Diet.

But, by Day Three of feeling headachy and sort of kicked in the gut, I remembered how I react to Monosodium Glutamate.

I then read the ingredients on the beef jerky package. Previously I'd only looked at the ingredients til I saw Papaya Extract on the list. Papaya Extract seemed to confirm this really was "All Natural" beef jerky.

But, on Day Three of feeling miserable I looked at the beef jerky ingredients again and was appalled to see Monosodium Glutamate on the list.

It was at least 24 hours more of not feeling right til the Monosodium Glutamate symptoms completely abated and I started feeling like my good-feeling self again.

I suspect the Monosodium Glutamate poisoning had a deleterious effect on my weight loss attempt. Feeling not so good caused a cutback on my activity level, for one thing.

I think I am still on target to get to 190 pounds by the Super Bowl. That's about 23 days from now.

My goal for next Saturday is to get down to 198.

See you there!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Kelly Osbourne Loses 50 Pounds Avoiding Pie & Mash While Worrying About Turning Into a Kirstie Alley Yo-Yo Dieter

When Kelly Osbourne showed up on ABC's Dancing   with the Stars I did not expect her to last long. Or be cute and likable.

I was wrong. Kelly was very cute and extremely likable and quickly became a fan favorite as we watched her confidence grow as her dancing got better.

And, as she got into shape.

And lose weight.

After the Dancing with the Stars was over Kelly continued to lose weight and work out. Eventually losing an amazing 50 pounds from that little body of hers.

Kelly was pleased to win Fitness Magazine's Best Celebrity Body 2010 Award. But, this type attention makes Kelly a bit nervous, putting pressure on her to keep the weight off. Apparently Kelly is afraid of becoming a public spectacle like Kirstie Alley with her weight yo-yoing up and down.

Kelly told the UK version of OK Magazine, "Half of me thinks that's so cool and the other half thinks that I really have to keep this up because if I gain a pound now everyone's going to Kirstie Alley me. There's that pressure to keep it off. But what happens if there's a few months when I want to eat pie and mash every day? I'll be crucified!"

I know what pie is. But what is mash?

Saturday, January 8, 2011

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Day 11: Down to 206

On Day 11 of  my current Shrinkage Program I am down to 206. That is an 11 pound shrinkage from the start of the program. 26 pounds to go to the goal of 180.

And 16 pounds to go to reach my Super Bowl goal of 190.

I have grown weary of taking a photo each morning of the daily weigh-in.

I have decided once a week will suffice for the duration.

So, from now on, Saturday's will be my Weigh-In Day. As in, next Saturday will be, "2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Week 2: Hopefully Down to 199."

It will actually be more than 2 weeks, because I started doing the losing weight thing 3 or 4 days before the start of the New Year.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Calories Burned Per Hour By Various Popular Activities

Every little bit of extra activity you add to your already active lifestyle, burns calories. One flight of stairs, over average, depending on how big you are and how fast you climb them, will burn 15 calories.

If you watch too much TV, sitting way too long, make yourself get up from the sitting position at least every 10 minutes.

When you go to the grocery store, don't look for the parking spot closest to the entry. Park as far away from the entry as possible. Unless you are in a hurry.

And, if you are in a hurry, walk fast.

With just a little focus you can find all sorts of ways to burn more calories and fat during the course of a day. After awhile it will become second nature.

The heavier you are, the more calories it takes to move you, the lighter you are, the fewer calories it takes to move you.

Below is a chart giving you an idea of how many calories are burned per hour via various popular activities.

Now. Get moving

Activity (1 hour)
130lbs
155lbs
190lbs
Aerobics, general
Aerobics, high impact
Aerobics, low impact
Archery (nonhunting)
Automobile repair
Backpacking, general
Badminton, competitive
Badminton, social, general
Basketball, game
Basketball, nongame, general
Basketball, officiating
Basketball, shooting baskets
Basketball, wheelchair
Bicycling, <10mph, leisure
Bicycling, >20mph, racing
Bicycling, 10-11.9mph, light
Bicycling, 12-13.9mph, moderate
Bicycling, 14-15.9mph, vigorous
Bicycling, 16-19mph, very fast, racing
Bicycling, BMX or mountain
Bicycling, stationary, general
Bicycling, stationary, light
Bicycling, stationary, moderate
Bicycling, stationary, very light
Bicycling, stationary, very vigorous
Bicycling, stationary, vigorous
Billiards
Bowling
Boxing, in ring, general
Boxing, punching bag
Boxing, sparring
Broomball
Calisthenics, home, vigorous
Calisthenics, home, light/moderate
Canoeing, on camping trip
Canoeing, rowing, >6 mph, vigorous
Canoeing, rowing, crewing, competition
Canoeing, rowing, light
Canoeing, rowing, moderate
Carpentry, general
Carrying heavy loads, such as bricks
Child care: sitting/kneeling-dressing
Child care: standing-dressing, feeding
Circuit training, general
Cleaning, heavy, vigorous
Cleaning, house, general
Cleaning, light, moderate
Coaching: football, soccer, basketball
Construction, outside, remodeling
Cooking or food preparation
Cricket (batting, bowling)
Croquet
Curling
Dancing, aerobic, ballet or modern
Dancing, ballroom, fast
Dancing, ballroom, slow
Dancing, general
Darts, wall or lawn
Diving, springboard or platform
Electrical work, plumbing
Farming, baling hay, cleaning barn
Farming, milking by hand
Farming, shoveling grain
Fencing
Fishing from boat, sitting
Fishing from river bank, standing
Fishing in stream, in waders
Fishing, general
Fishing, ice, sitting
Football or baseball, playing catch
Football, competitive
Football, touch, flag, general
Frisbee playing, general
Frisbee, ultimate
Gardening, general
Golf, carrying clubs
Golf, general
Golf, miniature or driving range
Golf, pulling clubs
Golf, using power cart
Gymnastics, general
Hacky sack
Handball, general
Handball, team
Health club exercise, general
Hiking, cross country
Hockey, field
Hockey, ice
Horse grooming
Horse racing, galloping
Horseback riding, general
Horseback riding, trotting
Horseback riding, walking
Hunting, general
Jai alai
Jogging, general
Judo, karate, kick boxing, tae kwan do
Kayaking
Kickball
Lacrosse
Marching band, playing instrument
Marching, rapidly, military
Moto-cross
Moving furniture, household
Moving household items-upstairs
Moving household items-carrying
Mowing lawn, general
Mowing lawn, riding mower
Music playing, cello, flute, horn
Music playing, drums
Music playing, guitar, classical (sitting)
Music playing, guitar, rock/roll (stand)
Music playing, piano, organ, violin
Paddleboat
Painting, papering, plastering, scraping
Polo
Pushing or pulling stroller with child
Race walking
Racquetball, casual, general
Racquetball, competitive
Raking lawn
Rock climbing, ascending rock
Rock climbing, rapelling
Rope jumping, fast
Rope jumping, moderate, general
Rope jumping, slow
Rowing, stationary, light
Rowing, stationary, moderate
Rowing, stationary, very vigorous
Rowing, stationary, vigorous
Rugby
Running, 10 mph (6 min mile)
Running, 10.9 mph (5.5 min mile)
Running, 5 mph (12 min mile)
Running, 5.2 mph (11.5 min mile)
Running, 6 mph (10 min mile)
Running, 6.7 mph (9 min mile)
Running, 7 mph (8.5 min mile)
Running, 7.5mph (8 min mile)
Running, 8 mph (7.5 min mile)
Running, 8.6 mph (7 min mile)
Running, 9 mph (6.5 min mile)
Running, cross country
Running, general
Running, in place
Running, on a track, team practice
Running, stairs, up
Running, training, pushing wheelchair
Running, wheeling, general
Sailing, windsurfing, general
Sailing, in competition
Scrubbing floors, on hands and knees
Shoveling snow, by hand
Shuffleboard, lawn bowling
Sitting-playing with child(ren)-light
Skateboarding
Skating, ice, 9 mph or less
Skating, ice, general
Skating, ice, rapidly, > 9 mph
Skating, ice, speed, competitive
Skating, roller
Ski jumping (climb up carrying skis)
Ski machine, general
Skiing, cross-country, racing
Skiing, cross-country, moderate
Skiing, cross-country, slow or light
Skiing, cross-country, uphill, max
Skiing, cross-country, vigorous
Skiing, downhill, light
Skiing, downhill, moderate
Skiing, downhill, vigorous , racing
Skiing, snow, general
Skiing, water
Ski-mobiling, water
Skin diving, scuba diving, general
Sledding, bobsledding, luge
Snorkeling
Snow shoeing
Snowmobiling
Soccer, casual, general
Soccer, competitive
Softball or baseball, fast or slow pitch
Softball, officiating
Squash
Stair-treadmill ergometer, general
Standing-packing/unpacking boxes
Stretching, hatha yoga
Surfing, body or board
Sweeping garage, sidewalk
Swimming laps- fast-vigorous
Swimming laps, freestyle-light
Swimming, backstroke, general
Swimming, breaststroke, general
Swimming, butterfly, general
Swimming, leisurely, general
Swimming, sidestroke, general
Swimming, sychronized
Swimming, treading water, vigorous
Swimming, treading water, moderate
Table tennis, ping pong
Tai chi
Teaching aerobics class
Tennis, doubles
Tennis, general
Tennis, singles
Unicycling
Volleyball, beach
Volleyball, competitive, in gymnasium
Volleyball, noncompetitive
Walk/run-playing with child-moderate
Walk/run-playing with child-vigorous
Walking, 2.0 mph, slow pace
Walking, 3.0 mph, mod. pace
Walking, 3.5 mph, uphill
Walking, 4.0 mph, very brisk pace
Walking, carrying infant or 15-lb load
Walking, grass track
Walking, upstairs
Walking, using crutches
Wallyball, general
Water aerobics, water calisthenics
Water polo
Water volleyball
Weight lifting/body building, vigorous
Weight lifting, light or moderate
Whitewater rafting/kayaking/canoeing
354
413
295
207
177
413
413
266
472
354
413
266
384
236
944
354
472
590
708
502
295
325
413
177
738
620
148
177
708
354
531
413
472
266
236
708
708
177
413
207
472
177
207
472
266
207
148
236
325
148
295
148
236
354
325
177
266
148
177
207
472
177
325
354
148
207
354
236
118
148
531
472
177
207
295
325
236
177
295
207
236
236
708
472
325
354
472
472
354
472
236
384
148
295
708
413
590
295
413
472
236
384
236
354
531
413
325
148
118
236
118
177
148
236
266
472
148
384
413
590
236
649
472
708
590
472
561
413
708
502
590
944
1062
472
531
590
649
679
738
797
826
885
531
472
472
590
885
472
177
177
295
325
354
177
148
295
325
413
531
885
413
413
561
826
472
413
974
531
295
354
472
413
354
413
413
413
295
472
207
413
590
295
354
708
354
207
236
177
236
590
472
472
590
649
354
472
472
590
236
236
236
354
354
413
472
295
472
236
177
236
295
148
207
354
236
207
295
472
236
413
236
590
177
354
177
295
422
493
352
246
211
493
493
317
563
422
493
317
457
281
1126
422
563
704
844
598
352
387
493
211
880
739
176
211
844
422
633
493
563
317
281
844
844
211
493
246
563
211
246
563
317
246
176
281
387
176
352
176
281
422
387
211
317
176
211
246
563
211
387
422
176
246
422
281
141
176
633
563
211
246
352
387
281
211
352
246
281
281
844
563
387
422
563
563
422
563
281
457
176
352
844
493
704
352
493
563
281
457
281
422
633
493
387
176
141
281
141
211
176
281
317
563
176
457
493
704
281
774
563
844
704
563
669
493
844
598
704
1126
1267
563
633
704
774
809
880
950
985
1056
633
563
563
704
1056
563
211
211
352
387
422
211
176
352
387
493
633
1056
493
493
669
985
563
493
1161
633
352
422
563
493
422
493
493
493
352
563
246
493
704
352
422
844
422
246
281
211
281
704
563
563
704
774
422
563
563
704
281
281
281
422
422
493
563
352
563
281
211
281
352
176
246
422
281
246
352
563
281
493
281
704
211
422
211
352
518
604
431
302
259
604
604
388
690
518
604
388
561
345
1380
518
690
863
1035
733
431
474
604
259
1078
906
216
259
1035
518
776
604
690
388
345
1035
1035
259
604
302
690
259
302
690
388
302
216
345
474
216
431
216
345
518
474
259
388
216
259
302
690
259
474
518
216
302
518
345
173
216
776
690
259
302
431
474
345
259
431
302
345
345
1035
690
474
518
690
690
518
690
345
561
216
431
1035
604
863
431
604
690
345
561
345
518
776
604
474
216
173
345
173
259
216
345
388
690
216
561
604
863
345
949
690
1035
863
690
819
604
1035
733
863
1380
1553
690
776
863
949
992
1078
1165
1208
1294
776
690
690
863
1294
690
259
259
431
474
518
259
216
431
474
604
776
1294
604
604
819
1208
690
604
1423
776
431
518
690
604
518
604
604
604
431
690
302
604
863
431
518
1035
518
302
345
259
345
863
690
690
863
949
518
690
690
863
345
345
345
518
518
604
690
431
690
345
259
345
431
216
302
518
345
302
431
690
345
604
345
863
259
518
259
431

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Day 10: Down to 208 Past the Diet Plateau

Well, my good night's rest was interrupted by multiple liquid voidings which had me assuming I was losing the accumulated water weight acquired during the first Diet Plateau of my current New Year's Resolution to shrink to 180.

I do not know if I am on target, or not, to get to 190 by the time of my scheduled Super Bowl Party of February 6. That is 18 pounds from now.

My current Super Bowl Party Plan is it will be Mexican themed. I don't know if that means tequila will be in the house, or not.

I did my regular weight/yoga routine this morning prior to my regular breakfast. I am currently scheduled to go hill hiking around noon, prior to lunch. Which will be something made from tuna today.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Zumba Dancing To Lose Weight & Get in Shape With the Wild Woman of Woolley

A few days ago the Wild Woman of Woolley, Betty Jo Bouvier, informed me she was going to be doing Zumba in the evening.

I won't tell you which of the backsides in the picture is Betty Jo doing her Zumba dancing.

I had no idea what Zumba was when Betty Jo mentioned it, though the name seemed familiar.

Now I have learned that Zumba is a world-wide phenomenon, and has become the world's largest and most successful dance/fitness program. More than 10 million people are taking Zumba classes at over 90,000 locations in over 110 countries.

Including the State of Washington in the country known as the United States of America. Which is where Betty Jo is doing Zumba.

Zumba started out in the town of Cali in the country known as Columbia. I believe Columbia is the country where Shakira comes from. Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" song is my favorite dancing song.

I wonder if Betty Jo has Zumba-ed to Shakira yet, with her hips not lying?

Zumba uses very energetic international music, choreographed with addictive, contagious dance steps to create a big "fitness party."

Betty Jo told me her first Zumba experience left her feeling a bit uncoordinated. Which surprised me, because Betty Jo has always moved with such gracefulness.

Below is a YouTube video of a Zumba Fitness Party. A short way in, Shakira starts singing about hips not lying. I think I want to join in.....

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Day 9: Still at 211

Day 9 of my New Year's Resolution to shrink to 180 is still stalled at a Diet Plateau, albeit slightly shrunk from yesterday.

My goal of hitting 190 by the time of my February 6 Super Bowl Party appears in jeopardy.

I need to make an adjustment to the program to amp up the shrinkage.

Maybe I should join a Zumba Fitness Club. This seems to be the trendy thing to do. And it looks sort of fun.

This morning I did my regular weight/yoga routine followed by a shrunken breakfast of pineapple, a grapefruit, Gorgonzola, 3 cloves of garlic, stalk of celery and glass of skim milk.

I will be doing some hill hiking late this afternoon. At least that is my current plan. But, my plans seem to often get altered.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Day 8: Down to 211 Again

Day 8 of my New Year's Resolution to get down to 180, which actually started a few days before the New Year.

I am still stuck in Diet Plateau mode, though this morning's weigh-in did show a slight, but insignificant drop from yesterday.

Not significant enough to indicate I have traveled past the current Plateau.

I am expecting the Diet Plateau to be circumvented by tomorrow, if past experience is any guide to the present.

This morning I did my regular pre-breakfast weight and yoga routine, followed by a grapefruit, glass of skim milk, slice of pineapple, slice of whole wheat folded over with Gorgonzola inside and a stalk of celery. Lunch will be chili today, followed later this afternoon by some hill hiking.

Observing The Amazing Struggles of the Amazingly Obese.

I have blogged previously about observing the feeding habits of the only two morbidly obese people it has been my displeasure to observe up close.

That pair of morbidly obese people was one of each gender. Of the female of the pair I also observed the incredible difficulties carrying that much girth caused whilst attempting the most usually easy of activities.

For instance, getting out of a car, the obese person you see in the picture has to grab hold of the side of the car above the door, then rotate her torso to get her legs outside the car. And then with great effort pull on the door jam to yank herself into a vertical position.

How does one get to the point where that is what one goes through to get out of a car? Is it a gradual thing? Or is it just one day this is what you have to do to exit a vehicle?

From a sitting position on something like a couch, to get vertical this particular obese person would rock back and forth, gaining momentum, til enough momentum is gained to make one final rock forward into a vertical position.

If you are sitting on the couch, beside the rocking obese person, it can be quite a bumpy ride until verticality is achieved.

Once verticality is achieved this particular person will stay vertical for long periods of time, due to once that position is achieved it is easier to stay vertical than to sit down again.

An entire phone conversation, like the one you see documented in the photo, will take place while firmly planted to one location, This can go on for an hour. Or more.

The most horrendous incident I witnessed, courtesy of this particular obese person, was in a McDonald's in Gig Harbor, Washington.

There was a round table with 4 stools surrounding the table. Both the stools and the table were bolted to the floor. The obese person approached the table and stools with her bag full of 3 Quarter Pounders with Cheese, 2 Large Fries, 2 Apple Pies and a Chocolate Shake, sat the food on the table and then proceeded to try and get on a stool.

It was a stool that really was not all that far off the ground. Obviously, it was McDonald's, do you think McDonald's is going to have some sort of stool requiring gymnastic ability to mount it?

So, the obese person first tried to get on the stool via conventional means, but she could not lift her heft high enough to get on the stool.

And so she leaned forward and grabbed the end of the table, pulling hard to try and lift her heft on to the stool. Completely unaware of what a disturbing spectacle this was making for the rest of the fast food diners.

The table began to quake. I realized that the amount of torque her considerable mass was exerting on the table's grounding bolts would soon rip them from the floor.

I yelled, STOP it! You're gonna pull the table over.

We then moved to a regular booth where she was able to squeeze herself in between the table and the bench and blissfully consume her bag full of McDonald's goodies.

The McDonald's Table Incident etched itself deeply into my sub-conscious and regularly surfaces in various iterations in nightmares during the past 2 and a half years since the McDonald's Table Incident occurred.

My observers on the scene tell me that this particular obese person has increased by at least another 100 pounds since the McDonald's Table Incident of 2008.

Appalling.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Day 8: Still at 212

The Dreaded Diet Plateau still has me in its throes. In fact I think I have taken a slight northerly turn, maybe de-shrinking a bit to the plus side of 212.

I am currently scheduling breaking from from the Dreaded Diet Plateau by Thursday. Maybe as early as Wednesday.

I made Avgolemono Soup for lunch. That is a Greek soup with lemon, eggs, chicken and rice.

I don't think the authentic version uses rice. Orzo instead.

Avgolemono Soup is low calorie and highly nutritious. And it tastes good.

I did the weight room/yoga thing this morning, as usual, before breakfast, which was a glass of skim milk, white egg omelet, grapefruit, celery and fresh pineapple.

I'll be heading out to do some hill hiking before having the Avgolemono Soup lunch.

See you on the hills and back here for lunch.

How To Break Free of the Dreaded Diet Plateau

I have reached that point everyone reaches when trying to lose weight.

The Dreaded Diet Plateau.

Weight reliably drops. And then suddenly stops dropping. Still eating less, exercising more. But the weight loss stops.

Temporarily.

The "Plateau Effect" is a big motivation killer for a lot of people. It really should not be. It is just part of the way dieting works, what with the human body being amazingly adaptive, working hard to keep some sort of balance, or equilibrium, not letting you waste away.

If you don't feel like waiting out the Diet Plateau, there are ways to get your body back in sync with what your mind wants it to do. As in shrink.

1) Add muscle. As in do strength training, building lean muscle mass, boosting your metabolic rate. (I already to the strength training thing, so this is not my plateau excuse)

2) Change when you eat. And the amount you eat. Try more of a foraging eating style, fooling your body into not thinking you are starving. (I already do this)

3) Change your nutrient intake. As in, switch it up. One day eat a lot of protein and few carbos. The next day reverse it. (I have not tried this)

4) Vary your calorie intake. One day take in 1,000 calories, then the next day 2,000. Don't stay to a rigid pattern of a certain amount of calories a day. If you do, your body will try to slow your metabolic rate to that caloric intake level. Mix it up. (I have also not tried this)

I think you can see the pattern here. To break out of, or never suffer a diet plateau, change up your routine, don't stay static and your weight won't stay static.

Now, I need to go take my own advice to break out of this 212 plateau I am stuck on.

Monday, January 3, 2011

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Day 7: Back up to 212

Well, I am now at the end of the first week of my program to shrink myself back to 180 pounds.

I must mention, I am on Day 7 of my New Year's Resolution to lose weight, even though it is only Day 3 of the New Year, because I got an early start on the shrinking.

And this morning the shrinking reversed slightly. Yesterday morning I was down to 211. This morning I'm back up to 212. Such is how it goes with the weight loss thing.

I suspect I may be at my first plateau. A plateau is a weight loss thing where shrunk fat cells are replaced with water, for who knows what reason. Something to do with the physiology of metabolism and fat storage. When you hit a diet plateau it can last a few days. Then there will be a sudden drop of several pounds via the purging of excess water.

It'll be clear by tomorrow morning if I am at a plateau, or not.

Join The Millions Of Americans Walking To Get Fit

Of all the various forms of exercise available in America, apparently walking is the most popular form of exercise, with over 70 million Americans walking for exercise.

Walking is an easy exercise to learn. Most of us have mastered walking by our 2nd birthday.

Walking on a flat terrain at about 3 miles per hour, a 100 lb. person will burn 15 grams of carbohydrates, a 150 lb. person will burn 21 grams, a 200 pounder 27 grams per hour.

If you are diabetic, walking is a strong component in controlling diabetes and blood glucose levels.

Walking is one of the least boring, least strainful exercises. It really requires no equipment except for a good pair of walking or hiking shoes.

You can indulge in your walking exercise no matter where you are.

If you are an oldster you are not too old to start in with a walking program. Just make yourself go on walk 3 or 4 times a week for 20 to 30 minutes.

If you live near a mall, pretty much every mall in America has a Mall Walking Program. Some malls let the walkers into the mall early, before the shoppers, so you can do your walking unimpeded by the shoppers.

Many of the malls even have Mall Walking Clubs.

Mall Walking is a great option for old folks who live in dread fear of getting mugged, a fear which makes the idea of going walking in a park a bit scary.

So, get out there and do some walking. You will be glad you did.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Day 6: Down to 211

Despite some New Year's Day debauchery in the form of food and drink, I still managed to continue on my shrinking path to 180 pounds.

This morning the scale pointer appeared to be just a tad north of 211.

After I did an exercise/yoga routine this morning, for breakfast I had a egg white omelet with provolone and chili as omelet filling. Plus a celery stick, grapefruit and a glass of skim milk.

I'm taking off to do some hill hiking in a few minutes. After that it will be chili for lunch.

I expect to continue to shrink throughout the day.

And tomorrow.

And the day after that.

Starting Off The New Year With A Polar Bear Swim in Seattle's Lake Washington


You are looking 100s of New Year's Day Polar Bears running in to Lake Washington in Seattle on January 1, 2011. That photo was in the Seattle P-I, taken by Joshua Trujilo.

The water in Lake Washington was 46 degrees. The air around Lake Washington was heated to 29 degrees.

I have wondered before about how much more of a comfort level does an overweight person, particularly a morbidly obese person, has in extremely cold water.

Most of the people being Polar Bears and running in to Lake Washington did not appear to be benefiting from the insulative properties of having excessive adipose tissue.

I am currently in Texas. I did not take a Polar Bear dip in my pool this year. It was freezing. Last year, however, on January 1, I did dip into the pool. For a very short time.

I don't think I will go swimming in the cold today. I think I will go hiking instead. Polar Bear Hiking.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2011 New Year's Weight Loss Resolution Day 5: Down to 212

Well, after my New Year's Eve debauchery that included malted beverages and tortilla chips I did not think my New Year's Day weigh-in would show shrinkage.

I thought wrong.

At this morning's weigh-in I was down to 212.

5 pounds less than when I began this descent to 180.

Which means I have 32 pounds left to disappear.

This morning I did a weight lifting routine and some yoga before having a breakfast of scrambled eggs, mixed with chili, topped with shredded cheese, turkey bacon, celery, a grapefruit, one Cutie orange and a glass of milk.

See, you don't have to starve yourself to lose weight. You just have to eat right, eat less and exercise more.

Getting Fit At Any Age Including 50 & Above

A few days ago someone close to me lamented that her goal to get fit by the time she turned 50 in February of 2011 had gone awry after doing so well, due to several buffets in Las Vegas and a return to her home location and continuing to eat too much and exercising too little.

I opined that though there may not be enough time to get fit and lose the weight you want to lose by the time of your half century birthday, you could make your 50th year the year you get fit and lose the fat, if you so choose.

I have some empathy with the gaining weight problem. I have found myself having that problem more than once. And then I take the weight off. Like I am doing right now, even as I type.

Getting in shape and getting fit is fairly easy, in my opinion. You just have to make up your mind to do so.

Go on a walk, each and every day. Soon you will find yourself looking forward to it.

Work up to being able to go on a hike, up hills.

If not walking find something else.

If you think you drink too much alcohol and that this is impeding your ability to get fit and not fat, well, cut back. You don't need to go cold turkey, just cut back.

If you are nutritionally ignorant, educate yourself. There is plenty of info out there as to what one should or should not eat. What is healthy and what is not. You do not need to starve yourself to lose weight, you just have to eat right.

If something as bad as smoking any of the things people smoke is keeping you from being fit, you really should stop. You may need help to do so.

If you have access to a swimming venue, swimming is a real good way to get fit.

To keep on track to getting fit you have to find a way to make it fun. As in find physical activities you enjoy. And do them. Whether it is swimming, walking, hiking, biking, golfing, basketballing, baseballing, weight lifting, gardening, roller blading, skiing or walking up and down stairs or any other activity that requires you to move your body.

Just do it. And then do it again. And in between doing it, eat well and eat less.

By the time 2012 rolls around, and you know it will roll around very quickly, you will be fit and be very happy that you are.