I'm Baaaaaaack!

Well, it's been a few weeks...close to a month now actually.  I complete forgot about my dear blog and quit worrying over it as I finished my last few weeks of college, graduated, served as the chair for a Student YMCA conference in Virginia, and then started my first ''real'' job!  (That graduation/YMCA conference/starting a job part was all within one week's time).

Anywho, I have started back on my plan to get healthy, lose weight, and feel better.

For those of you who don't know, I have started my career in the YMCA and am working as the office manager at the Ruby C. Hunt YMCA in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.  The facility is beautiful, new, and has great work out facilities (along with an amazing pool).  I'm working at a great YMCA with a membership included in my employment...what excuse do I have?

So, today I started working out again.  I've been trying to ween myself off of sodas and sweet tea (which I started drinking again a few weeks ago) and eat more healthy foods.  I also weighed myself again today and was pleasantly surprised!

My Weight, as of June 7 is...

307 pounds!

I've gained some from the last time that I weighed, BUT, not too much.  That makes me happy!

Until Next Time...

----------

-Tyler

9, 21, 22...and a Couple of Pounds

Wow, wow, wow...

So, I only have 9 days of college left; 21 days until graduation; and 22 days until a National Campus YMCA Conference that I'm a part of.  I can't believe my college years will be over so soon!  I have papers and projects to finish, graduation to get ready for, jobs to try and get...sooooo much going on!

Now that I've had a little rant about all that's going on over the next few weeks, let me share with you the results from the scale this morning.

My Weight, as of April 26 is...

305 pounds.

A loss of 2 pounds from last week!

We are still doing well!  I'm excited about the progress of the diet and am hopeful that I will be below 300 pounds by graduation day, May 17!

I spent part of the weekend shopping for locally grown produce and getting items that are healthy and yummy.  I went to the Foothill's Farmers' Market and bought lettuce, asparagus, local pork, and saw a bunch of other great food items.  I can't wait to go back and visit it again!

Until Next Time...

----------

-Tyler

It's Weigh In Day!

I did a weigh in this morning and I am happy to report that...

My Weight, as of April 20 is...

307 pounds.

A loss of 1 pound from last week!

So, we are still doing pretty good!  I think we will make to below 300 pounds by graduation day, which is very exciting!

On another note...I mentioned the film Food, Inc. last week in a quick discussion of industrialized food (I'll talk more about that on tomorrow's update), BUT for now, I wanted to pass on some fun news I found out about this afternoon from a tweet by Michael Pollan (author of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto).  The tweet reads...

Yay!  Sooooo...for all of you out there with PBS (which is ALL of you with a television anywhere near you) watch Food, Inc. on Thursday night!  Visit PBS's website here for your local listings.

Until Next Time...

----------

-Tyler

 

Wha, Wha, Wha...

So, EPIC fail on the blog this week, although not as big of a fail as this photo of a sign from FailBlog.

Anyway, I did do a weigh in this week and I am happy to report that...

My Weight, as of April 14 is...

308 pounds.

A loss of 2 pounds from the last time that I weighed!

So, we aren't doing horrible, and I'm happy with that.

I still haven't started back to the gym, but I plan on doing that next week.  This week has been crazy with assignments, projects, class work, and job hunting.

I plan on posting some interesting links tomorrow, so be on the look out for that!

Until Next Time...

---------

-Tyler

Cook Out -- Go To . . .

For those of you not in the North Carolina foothills, piedmont, or coastal plain areas, you are probably not familiar with this North Carolina only, deliciously tasting, bad for you, establishment called Cook-Out. You can only find them from about Charlotte, NC and eastward.  They serve hamburgers, hotdogs, BBQ, chicken strips, fries, milkshakes, and some North Carolina local sodas.  

The food is horrible for you, loaded in grease and fat...but sooooooo good (check out the menu here).  

When Cook-Out first came to the town near where I go to college, it was swarmed by local students (it's open 'till 4 AM, so it works for our schedules, AND the menu [which you can check out at the link above] is incredible cheap), myself included.  My favorite thing is a Cook-Out Tray, which costs $3.99, with a BBQ sandwich, french fries, chicken nuggets, and sweet tea.

...I know, right?  It's TERRIBLE!!!

Well, I love Cook-Out and when I started the diet I had to quit it, then I had my relapse time and I had it some then, and then I quit it again.  Well, after the last time that I ''quit it'' I told myself that I would have it again for my birthday, and tonight was that night.  So, we went, and I got my Cook-Out.  Yeah, I feel kinda gross now, but I'll get over it.

One final note before I head to bed, I weighed myself today...

My Weight, as of April 6 is...

310 pounds.

 A gain of 1 pound since last time I weighed.

So, here we are, back up to the 3-teen mark.  BUT, I still have five weeks until graduation, and think I can get below the 300 mark by then!

I'll be heading back to the gym tomorrow (and I am NOT looking forward to it).  Wish me luck!

Until Next Time...

-----------

-Tyler

I'm BACK!!!

Spring Break has, sadly, come and gone, and it's back to the grind...for a few days.  I will leave on Thursday morning for Little Rock, Arkansas, for the 2010 Alpha Chi Super Regional Convention.  I'm excited because I love AX and spending time with some fun folks from my University and other schools across the country.  I'm also a bit nervous because, as we all know, I don't tend to do the best when I travel and I have to be careful to maintain the diet and exercise regimen I don't always do the best job of keeping up.  On that note, let me share the results from spring break with you all.  Let me start by saying that it was a real struggle to exercise while on break (meaning I didn't...at all, although I did a lot of walking around St. Augustine, Savannah, and Charleston) and I had a tough time eating ''right.''  Meaning, I ate a lot of pizza, fried foods, and even drank some soda.  I am definitely feeling it now as my body is ''detoxing'' from all the crap I put into it last week (oh, but it was sooooooooo good while it lasted...I kinda miss it now...okay, okay, snapping out of it).

My weight, as of March 22 is:

309 pounds

A gain of 5 pounds from last week!

I know, it's sad.  That 5 pounds I lost before I left...I gained back.  Well, it is okay, I'm not going to worry about it, I just have to get back to doing what I was doing, and the weight will continue to come off.

I am struggling a bit with exercise this week because I am having some issues with my right ankle and my knees.  I have had problems with my left knee since high school, and they have started to come up again recently.  I also took a nasty tumble (I am the world's most graceful person, for those of you who did not know) while on break and have hurt my right ankle and knee.  I'm just going to take it easy on those for a little while (mind you, I will continue to exercise, just not as hard as I had been), until they feel better.

I will update you all later in the week on how the ''back to the real world'' campaign is going.  Let's hope for some weight loss this week, and next, so I can reach my goal of being below 300 pounds by my 22nd birthday!

Until Next Time...

----------

-Tyler

This Week's Weigh In...form Florida

I write to you all from The Sunshine State (although it's dark out right now and raining).  I wanted to update you quickly since I did a weigh in this afternoon.


I am very excited to share with you all that

My weight, as of March 12 is:

 304 pounds

A loss of 5 pounds from last week!

Wow, wow, wow!!!!  I am very excited about how well the diet has been going and very excited to report that I have lost 15 pounds thus far!

I will update you all again when I can!

Until Next Time...

---------

-Tyler

It's Weigh In Day!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls...


I am happy to report that

My weight, as of March 8 is:

 309 pounds

A loss of 4 pounds from last week!

We did pretty good last week, didn't we?

Today I went to the gym and worked out for a loooooooong time.  In the past I have typically average 2.5 to 3 miles on the elliptical.  I get really burnt out around mile 2 and that is the time that I usually hit the ''Cool Down'' button and finish the last 1/2 mile at an easy pace.  Today the 2 mile mark came and I wasn't tired, then the 3 mile mark, then the 4 mile mark.  Before I knew it I had finished 5 miles!  It was crazy and I felt soooo good afterward, it was a great accomplishment for me.  Today was also the day of my first 10 pounds, so that's another great step in the right direction.

My next big goal is to get below 300 pounds by my birthday (April 2nd).  That's just a little over 3 weeks away; so, give me the encouragement I need to get there.  As I said earlier, I am sticking to my goal of losing 35 pounds by graduation (May 17th).  That is 10 weeks away, I'm not sure if I'll make it, but I am going to try...I am already headed that way!!!

Until Next Time...

--------------------

-Tyler

Good afternoon everyone!

So, I went to the gym this afternoon and weighed myself, and was surprise to find the following...

My weight, as of March 1 is:

313 pounds

A loss of 1 pound from last week!

So, despite the crappy eating and lack of exercise from last week, I still lost weight!  That is exciting, haha.  But, I am back on track from here, trying to reach my goal of losing 35 pounds by graduation.  I have 10 weeks until then, so we will see how much I can lose in that amount of time.  I have lost 6 pounds since I began on January 11, averaging out to 1 pound a week since then.  I would be content with being below the 300 pound mark by graduation, but I will still strive to lose 29 more pounds by then, that's an average of 3 pounds a week, which is doable.

I did notice something over the past few weeks, when I was eating poorly and not exercising, and that is that I felt horrible.  My headaches came back, my back and legs started to hurt again, my stomach was yucky...all the issues that were reconciled with proper eating and regular exercise came back as soon as I started drinking soda, quit exercising, and gave up.  If for nothing else, I have to do this because I feel better...soooooo much better!

Until Next Time...

----------

-Tyler

Here We Go Week Three...

So, I updated earlier this morning about how last week wasn't the best week for the world of Tyler Loses It!  And...that is true, I definitely could have done better.


Today I went to the gym and did 3.5 miles on the elliptical and .75 miles on the treadmill.  It is getting easier for me to work out and I am finding that I enjoy that hour or so I spend in the gym each day.


I did weigh myself this afternoon while at the gym and the results are in...

My weight, as of January 25 is:

311 pounds

A loss of 2 pounds from last week!

I'm proud of that, seeing how I didn't end the week on a good note.

I have a few goals this week, here they are:

• Limit going out to eat.  This is something I really struggle with because it is so easy for my friends and I to go out to eat and enjoy a meal and each other's company.  It is also easier for me when I do go out to eat to overeat and not really be aware of the calories I am putting in my body.
• If I DO go out to eat...make better choices and eat less.  I tend to think ''Oh, I'm eating at a restaurant, I can order whatever I want and eat it all.''  NOT TRUE!  I still need to make wise choices AND only eat half of what I'm served.
• Continue working out on a daily basis.  I got a little lazy last week and missed a couple of days of working out, that's fine, but I want to try and go every day for at least an hour if possible.
• Reduce stress and anxiety using healthy tools.  Last week was very stressful for me, and when I am stressed or anxious I revert to what I know best and what is the most comforting to me:  food.  I have to do a better job of releasing stress through working out, talking, drawing, something that is healthy and doesn't kill my eating plan.  Yeah, a little cheat here and there is okay, but at the end of last week a mixture of stress, anger, and excitement about the weekend led to me eat, frankly, whatever the hell I wanted.  Not a good idea.
• Finally, limit ''liquid calories.''  I love soda and I love sweet tea...it hasn't been that hard for me to cut those things out, actually since I have stopped drinking them (I did have a diet soda last week and unsweetened tea, that I sweetened with Splenda, once) I am not having headaches and I feel better.  The main source of liquid calories in my life, as a college student, is alcohol.  Yes, I know, I promised you honesty...so here we go.  I really enjoy wine and beer...but do you know how many calories that crap has in it???  And I'm not necessarily talking about drinking the stuff to get drunk.  For example, when we went out to Mellow Mushroom in Asheville over the weekend I wanted a beer, the place has dozens of different options.  So I got a pint, and then a refill.  On top of my delicious calzone, I consumed hundreds of calories!  I need to reduce my ''liquid calorie'' intake.
• One more...update the blog daily, yeah, I sucked at that a little bit toward the end of last week, let's try harder this week, shall we?

So, those are the goals for week 3, say a little prayer, if you feel so inclined, that it goes well!

Until Next Time...

------------

-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...

--------------

-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...

-------------------

-Tyler

Well...Here We Go

So, I plan on beginning my new diet/exercise/weight loss plan on Monday!!!


I can't believe it's almost here.  This has been something that I have needed to do for a very long time, and I finally am.  I feel very very motivated and encouraged and KNOW that I can do this.  It won't be the first time I've tried to lose weight.  In high school I did Weight Watchers, which did work, and Atkins, which I hated.  I have also done the Cleveland County Shrinkdown since I've been in college and tried to lose weight several other times.  I'm not sure what happens...I think I get really overwhelmed, then I get stressed, then I start eating bad foods, then I quit going to the gym, and then it all falls apart.  Within a month.  SO, it will be different this time because I know I can do this and I will make it through the first month.


I will post my goals on the blog later and will start to do more updates as Monday gets closer.  But, for the time being, let me share some of my reasoning for doing a blog and letting the whole world see my weight AND what I hope to include in the blog over the coming months:

• ACCOUNTABILITY -- I feel that if I am keeping a blog and have people following my I will have a better chance of success.  If I have people watching me, keeping track of me, and pulling for me, then I know that I can do this (also, see GOAL SETTING).
• GOAL SETTING -- From past experience, AND from what I understand from researching weight loss success stories, people do the best when they write down their goals and have others see them.  If I just come up with a goal in my head ''I will exercise an hour a day this whole week," but don't write it down or tell it to others, then there is a better chance of me thinking, later on, "Oh, I didn't mean that, I meant 30 minutes a day."  Writing down my goals on a weekly, monthly, and longer range basis will help me in this endeavor.
• SHARING SUCCESSES AND FAILURES -- By sharing what goes right, and wrong, as I try to lose weight and be healthier, I hope to inspire others and gain encouragement.
• RECIPES -- For those of you who know me, I LOVE to cook.  It is one of my favorite things to do.  I love cooking for others and sharing meals with others as well.  Food has always been a very important part of my life, it has been a way for me to come together with others, have conversation, and form and maintain community.  Because of my love of cooking I plan to post healthier recipes that I find and ones that I develop for others to use.
• PICTURES -- So, this blog is really going to be "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of my weight loss journey.  Something that I feel will help is to share pictures, similar to what you see on the Biggest Loser.  I'm going to hate doing it and will be embarrassed to do it too, BUT, I must and I will.
• MY TRUE WEIGHT -- Another aspect of the blog that is going to be difficult for me is to post my true weight.  This has always been something I am uncomfortable with because I feel that I don't look my true weight, I feel that I look thinner.  Whenever I ask a person how much they think I weigh they always guess 50 pounds less than what I really do weigh.  But, for the blog and for my weight loss plan, I will post my true weight and weigh myself every week.

Again, I will post some more as Monday gets closer and I prepare for this crazy journey!

----------

Until Next Time...

-Tyler