Eating on Purpose...And, I Hate the Gym (Part 7)

So, yesterday was frustrating...after I weighed in and realized I had gained 2 pounds I didn't want to do anything.  I didn't want to work out, I didn't want to eat right, I was annoyed with myself and with this whole ''diet'' thing.

I am still feeling that way a little bit, it's so frustrating to make progress and then screw up and lose it (the progress that is...not the weight).  I know that a lot of why that has happened is my own fault, because I don't make the best decisions sometimes, especially on the weekends.  I enjoy food sooooo much!  And I looooooooove eating!  I also get frustrated because I see other people who can eat whatever they want and they don't have to work out, or work out the same amount that I do, and they never gain weight.  That is obnoxious...I feel like if I eat a carrot and drink a glass of water I gain 7 pounds.  But, I guess it is the lovely metabolism and body that I have been blessed cursed with.  I will just have to live with that for my whole life, and making healthy food choices and exercising is what I have to do to make up for that.  But then I go back to the whole ''I hate the gym!'' rant.  I have yet to go this week, because I am so frustrated, but I plan on going tonight because I have to get back on this weight loss plan!  I need to do it and I have so many folks out there who are following me and I want you all to be there to celebrate with me when we get to the end (maybe we can have a party...of course we'll keep the food limited).

Well, today's post is a bit of a rant (I promised you a weekly rant several weeks ago...let this count for last week's and this one's).  But I also wanted to share some information I found on a website, it's from another weight loss blog called ''Fatty Weight Loss.''  They have listed the Top 10 Diet Tips and Tricks and one of them I found interesting...

Diet Tip #8 – Eat on Purpose
Don’t be afraid to get in touch with hunger. Discover what true hunger really feels like. Treat this as research and document all findings. Observe what happens to the body as hunger approaches and how long it takes the physical feeling of hunger to subside even when no food is consumed. Also, pay attention to any emotional reactions that may arise. Strive to develop a sense of actual hunger so that eating becomes a purposeful activity designed to sustain the body only rather than fill other needs. 

This MUST be a tip I missed when I started this whole weight loss thing over a month ago.  It is something I had never really thought about doing.  I know that I eat out of boredom and when I'm stressed or frustrated.  But, I have never really understood how to handle that.  So, yesterday, and today, I have been conducting this little ''Eat[ing] on Purpose'' experiment.  It may seem a bit unhealthy, but I have been letting myself experience hunger, for example, now it is almost 1 p.m. and I have not had breakfast or lunch.  I can feel that I am hungry and know that I will eat a healthy lunch after class.  Now, this is not my ''gateway drug'' to anorexia, so don't worry about me there.  I also know that some tips say ''Don't allow yourself to get hungry because you will eat more.''  Well, I'm not doing this every single day, but I am going to try it out for 3 days and get a real feel for hunger so I have a better appreciation for food and will learn more about ''Eat[ing] on Purpose'' as this article refers to.

So, as you go about your Tuesday, I encourage you to ''Eat on Purpose.''

Until Next Time...

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-Tyler 

Week Two, Week Two, We Made it to Week Two!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, I am proud to announce that we have made it to WEEK TWO!  Yes!  Week two!  This is exciting because we will no longer be counting in days, but in weeks (I can't wait until the ''counting by months'' times get here).  This morning I found myself laying in bed when the alarm clock went off at 8:30, having no desire to get up and go to the gym.  Then, I remembered it is weigh-in day, so that made me a little more excited.  Of course, going to the gym was quiet the adventure because I forgot that my tennis shoes were completely covered in red clay mud (our friend Jennifer's car got stuck at our house over the weekend and we had to push it out, it was pretty gross) and my iPod was missing.  So, after washing my shoes in the shower (then realizing they were soaking once I put them on and my feet, in turn, became soaked) and finding my iPod (it was in one of my jackets hanging in the closet, by the way), I was off to the gym.  


Now, let's talk about a fundamental struggle I have every time I go to the gym:  I always want to drive.  I know, I know...pretty lazy, huh?  I mean, I am a ten minute walk from the gym (and, let's be honest, a ten minute drive once I drive all over campus trying to find a parking spot that is in a ''least likely to get ticketed for not having a valid parking permit'' area [PS:  GWU administration folks that may be reading this, that last sentence is just a figment of your imagination]).  But, alas, I always find myself wanting to get in the car and drive there...when it's warmer I will walk, but for now, let me have my driving to the gym...PLEASE?!?!


Another fun thing happened this morning while I was in the gym...it was a Dawg Day.  For those not familiar with my university, Gardner-Webb, a Dawg Days is your typical prospective student visit day.  The Dawg Day tours come right through the work out area where I was and I felt like a freakin' zoo animal.  I had my headphones in (attached to my missing iPod from earlier in the morning) so I couldn't hear what the tour guides were saying, BUT, I am sure it went something like this:  On your left you will see the endangered overweight Gardner-Webb elephant, be careful, he will charge if he smells chocolate.  Okay, I'm sure they weren't saying that, but that last part is true...I would charge if I smelled chocolate.


So that has been my morning thus far, and now I have exciting news to share with you all!  As I said earlier, today was weigh-in day, and I weighed this morning and have the following to report:

My weight, as of January 18 is:

313 pounds

A loss of 6 pounds from last week!

So, some of you may be going "Oh my god?!?!  6 pounds in one week?!?!  You're going to die!!!"  Well, for all of my friends out there who have dieted in the past, and from my own past experience, the first week tends to have a greater weight loss than other weeks.  This next week will probably be a larger number too, then I will settle in to a more steady 1 to 2 pounds a week.

Alright, that is all for now, I must go to class.  And, don't worry, I'll be walking.

Check back this afternoon for an update on the blog, specifically, and some new features I am going to be incorporating this week (including my new special, A Little Weekly Rant).

Until Next Time...

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-Tyler

Today's The Day...

So, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls...TODAY IS THE DAY!!!  I began my new weight loss plan this morning and have had, in my opinion, a very successful day!  This morning I had to work at new student orientation on campus, so I was up early.  The gym didn't open until 8 this morning, so I couldn't go before the orientation.  I had my oatmeal for breakfast, a turkey sandwich with fruit and cheese cubes for lunch, and then worked out this afternoon with my friends Eric and Leanna!  It's pretty awesome because since I decided to do this I have found other folks that want to do it as well, it's great to have a team of support and people that I can talk to and share recipes and success with.  For dinner I fixed chicken alfredo with whole grain pasta and broccoli and a mixed greens salad.  


So, let's talk about the gym.  I HATE WORKING OUT!  Haha.  I hate being all sweaty, I hate being sore after working out, and it's just not fun to me.  BUT, I MUST do it!  Working out was okay, I couldn't do as much as I wish I could.  The elliptical was fine, but the treadmill was too much.  I can walk fast on it, but running hurts my ankles and knees really bad.  I think I'll just have to stick to walking and using the elliptical until I lose some weight and build up my strength.  One thing about the gym that drives me crazy are the skinny folks.  Now, to all of my skinny friends out there, I love you.  But, to all the skinny people that come into the gym and look at us fat, sweaty, trying to not have a heart attack, and gasping for air folks with disgust, I do not want to have anything to do with you.  One of the big reasons I was always nervous about going to the gym (except for feeling like I was dying and losing 10% of my body weight in sweat from one work out) was the fear that people judged me for being all nasty and fat and trying to work out.  This year I decided that I don't really care what others think of me, especially when I'm in the gym trying to better myself.  But, all of that to say, if you are skinny, and you come into the gym, and you look at me with any kind of hate or disgust in your eyes, I will cause you bodily hard.  :-)  Just kidding!  But seriously...


Alright, so the moment you've all been waiting for:  my "Biggest Loser" pictures and my actual weight!

My Weight, as of January 11 is:

319 pounds

And now...the pictures.  I am really embarrassed by these and am even a little disgusted, I'll be honest.  BUT, I promised it and it is something I must do!

Well, that was embarrassing.  BUT, I cannot wait to see the pounds melt away!!!

So, with all of that said, my first weight loss goal will be 10% of what I weigh now:  31 pounds. That is almost the same as my goal to lose 35 pounds by graduation, so I hope to lose that 10%, plus some, by the time I graduate!

I will post my weight every week and post pictures every month!

Well, that's all for now, I'm tired.

Until Next Time...

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-Tyler