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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.