Progressing...

After a small gain last week of 6 ounces, I was back on track this week and lost 4.5 pounds for a total loss of 48 pounds since Feb. 21. We are entering the last week of our works weight loss challenge so I need to work hard for the next 5 days! The real test begins Friday; I need to keep it up after that! Still have a bunch of weight to take off.

Here is something that really bugs me: SMOKING. I hate the smell and stench it leaves behind, but here is what I hate most...
I hate seeing a parent/person smoking while there is a kid strapped into a child seat in the back of the car. Even worse, 2 or 3 kids strapped in while that person puffs away with out a seeming care in the world. I really hate it for kids in that situation. At least as an adult, I can ask for you not to smoke, or I can choose not to ride. Horrible!

Am very glad spring is here. My back is feeling better finally! I am really tired though and wish I could get a serious nights sleep!

Lost 12.75 pounds last week...

Lost 12.75 pounds last week...

But this was not the way I want to lose weight. I have pulled a muscle in my back and am in extreme pain right now. No appetite because of the pain. Total of 44.5 pounds lost since Feb. 21. (34 days). Hope I start feeling better soon. I miss the exercise!

Here are few more pointless ramblings:

- I discovered that I love Jonagold apples! They are awesome! Braeburn are also really good as well.

- People in Roanoke do not know how to drive for the most part. Stop on green, go on red, and merging off of an exit, forget about it!

- I generally do not take many drugs other than the occasional asprin or Excedrin. God bless the muscle relaxers last night! Had not slept for 3 nights in a row!

- I got a new keyboard and it is smooth!

- 8 years ago today, we moved into our house and that night, we go 4 inches of snow. We are supposed to get snow tonight! Kinda cool.

- It stinks being hurt and not being able to do the things you love to do!

Another good loss, -7.25#

Lost 7.25 pounds this past week. Total loss of 31.5 pounds in 29 days. That is 7.2% loss from my starting weight. Very long way to go but a great first month! Do not know how much longer I can keep up this pace and I am going to keep on working really hard at this! Feeling good but still have aches and pains. Knee is much better but the hip has arthritis and that does bother me. I feel better when moving than when standing.

Ate too much for lunch today and felt like crap after!

Updates and random thoughts...

My plan is moving along. I am not down 18 pounds since February 21! Many many more to go. I have been averaging about 1,200 calories per day. That is really low for a man of my size! Have a bum knee right now but I am working through it all!

And not for some meaningless, random thoughts...

- I do not understand Lady Gaga, but I guess I do not need to understand.
- Why are people mean, just for the sake of being mean?
- I am tired of the rain for the moment!
- My hands have been soaking in heavy duty grease cutter all day. Talk about a chemical peel!
- I have become a coupon clipper! I try to be smart about it!
- Dogs are so cool; and pugs are really goofy!
- If you want to die, texting and driving is probably a pretty good way to go about that!
- I really despise credit card companies! I paid off a card, but still got a bill because of interest. So I paid that bill and got another bill for .40 so I paid that one off but I paid .50, and then got another bill for .10. "Come on man!" They really have to go be kidding!

All for now! Cheers!

Plan Update...

Here is my first update for my new weight loss efforts. Following my plan and sticking to it all, with a ton of temptation all around every day, I managed to lose 13 pounds my first week! I know I can not keep that up but I am happy! Glad it was not more actually!

So it begins again...

It all started a few years back (2002) with "One Fat Chef", and then that turned into "The Incredible Shrinking Chef" (2008) and so it begins again; February 21. I am one fat chef and there is little really incredible about me, so this time I am just the shrinking chef! I have a monumental task in front of me; losing weight and it does not get easy as you get older for sure.

How do you eat an elephant? "One bite at a time" the wise man says, and so this is how I will begin my quest to lose, lets say, 200 pounds. WOW, yes, that is right; I am one big tub of goop so lets see how this goes this time. Not going to eat an elephant but I start the journey with one single step, my plan...

My plan: follow 10 basic rules:

The 10: 10 ideas to help me make better choices

1. Drink Ice Cold Water; try for 8 glasses a day. Limit Sodas
2. No eating after 7:00 pm.
3. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, raw or steamed.
4. Eat more fish, less beef and pork.
5. Limit protein and starch portion sizes, eat more veggies.
6. Exercise 6 days a week, Walk every day if possible, at least
30 minutes. Lifts some weights as well, every other day.
7. Write down everything I eat and log it every day.
8. Limit butter, mayonnaise, creamy dressings, salt, sugar,
highly processed foods. Cook with more olive oil.
9. Eat more whole grains, limit processed white breads, pasta,
white rice.
10. Do not skip meals and if at all possible, try to eat 4 or 5
smaller meals during the day.

I think the 2 keys to this is going to be writing down everything I eat and portion control limiting myself to 1,500 calories a day!

Wish me luck!

More meaningless thoughts...

Here are my latest thoughts! Remember, there is not really much going on up in my little brain!

It appears to me that Valentine's Day is a day created by chocolate makers, jewelers, greeting card companies, and florists. It is all about the women in our lives. I know it is big business!

To the man trying to make a turn at the mall last week: I am usually a very nice driver and try and let people turn in front of me whenever possible. If you had your directional signal on, I would of let you in front of me! Wish more people would use the little tool!

I do not understand taxes, at all! Our tax system is so complicated, it is amazing that any one employed knows what to do, how to file, how much to with hold from a paycheck! I got the best return of my life this year and I am scared to death that if I change any numbers, I will end up owing a shit load of money next year! I do not want a big return but I do not want to write a big check either! I want my money working for me, not the federal government! irs.gov was no help at all! There needs to be a better way!

I need a new key board for this computer! Or I need to learn to type better!

I am still trying to embrace social networking! I post from time to time but I still have a hard time believing that what I do at any particular moment is very interesting! Yet here I sit, typing away. Notice I do not make a bunch of posts here either!

I grew up knowing that the word "fair" is a 4 letter work, just as bad as the "F" word. We were not allowed to utter the word fair in our household. I guess this was to give us youths the understanding that life is not always equal, things do not always go our way, get used to disappointment, good things will happen to others and not to us and there is not a damn thing we can do about it. I really despise this concept! The only thing this has really taught me is that when I am being taken advantage of, I just need to accept it and there is no way for me to stand up for myself. It makes me very sad.

I need to start posting some recipes here on this blog!

I was told this week that I should write a book. Maybe I will?

Until next time!