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...

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-Tyler

We've Stayed the Same...

Yesterday's weigh in revealed a weight of 314 pounds...no changes from last week.  That is good I guess, I am maintaining instead of gaining.

Last week was really tough (and the beginning of this week hasn't been too great either).  I have completely ''fallen off the bandwagon'' and I am finding it difficult to jump back on.  It's been difficult, but I know I can do this, I just HAVE to do it!  I talked with my dad last week, which was very encouraging, he and I have both always struggled with our weight (he is a large fella himself).  We talked about how it is really unfair that our bodies are almost ''built differently'' in that it is so difficult for us to lose weight.  We also talked about how we really have to fight and struggle to lose weight, and that that is frustrating, but it is the life we have been given I suppose.

Well, as a final note for this morning's post, let me share something neat I saw this morning on a friend's Facebook.  It is a neat project that is going on for another cause, but it relates to health!  An organization called blood:water mission (whose mission is:  empowering communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS & water crises in Africa) is encouraging folks to take part in the season of Lent by only drinking water.  More information can be found here.  The goal is to show that for many people in the world, water is the only option when it comes to having a beverage, and that for many of these people it is difficult, time consuming, and sometimes, virtually impossible to get potable water.  Check it out!

Until Next Time...

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-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...

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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

Day 4...

Day 4 is here and is going good so far.  I worked out this morning and did 2 miles on the elliptical and 1/2 mile on the treadmill.  I think I've discovered what I do enjoy doing on the treadmill and that is walking at a fast pace with the incline turned up, it's good for burning calories and is pretty low impact.  That's one of my biggest problems with the treadmill is the high impact nature of running, so I just try to avoid it all together.  I think next week I will start to incorporate weight machines into my workout routine and start building a little muscle.  So, that's exciting.

I'm not really sure what to share today...I guess that's all I have for now.

Until Next Time...

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-Tyler

Day 3...

So, today was day 3, and it has gone pretty well.  I ate well and went to the gym.  I did 3.25 miles on the elliptical and 1/2 a mile on the treadmill.  I think I'll add in weights in a couple of weeks, but for now I just want to get used to being in the gym and working out in general.


As for other things that have been going on...

• I've had a headache ever since I started, it was pretty bad at the beginning, but now it's just a dull ache.  I'm not sure what it is, but I think it may be the fact that I am not putting caffeine in my body and my body doesn't know how to handle that.  
• I have a really big issue with mindless eating.  Today I was sitting at home typing some emails and listening to music and wanted to eat.  I had finished lunch like half an hour earlier but I still had a desire to eat.  This is a big issue
• I'm still trying to figure out how many calories to consume a day.  My first day I had about 1,200.  Yesterday I had about 1,500.  And today I had about 1,800.  My friend Kevin sent my blog info. to a dietician friend of his and she suggested I use a formula to calculate the number of calories I need to consume in one day to maintain my current weight, that number is 4,378.  I am eating a LOT less than that, and burning about 500 calories in the gym.  So, I just don't know if I'm doing it right.  Am I eating too much or not enough?  I am full all the time and don't really have a desire to eat, except for meal times and an afternoon snack.  We'll see how this goes for a little while and then I'll revisit it.  I guess the biggest thing is just making better choices than I used to make.  In the past I would eat as much of whatever I wanted.  Now I am eating more nutritious and more healthy foods in smaller portions.
• I contacted a registered dietician today and found out some more information about scheduling an appointment with them.  The only issue is how much it would cost.  They do participate in a great program with my insurance company, BlueCross and BlueShield of NC, where a person gets 6 visits covered 100% per benefit period.  The sad thing is that my plan under BCBSNC doesn't participate in that program, so I am waiting on a call back from them on how much it would be to see them and pay a copay.  Hopefully it won't be too much, I really want to start seeing a dietician to help me with my questions on daily caloric intake.

Finally, I want to thank all of my lovely readers and followers for being so supportive and keeping up with the blog!  I hope that it has been what you expected and love your comments!  

Until Next Time...

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-Tyler

Day 2 and Exercise...

To start this post, I want to remind you all of something I told you earlier when I started my blog and that is that I would provide you with honesty and sarcasm and humor.

So, with that in mind:

I HATE EXERCISE!!!

And now that I have that out of the way...let me share some of my opinions on exercise and the gym:

• I have decided that it MUST have been a skinny person that designs workout facilities.  My reasons?  Because why in the world would I want to work out in the room surrounded by mirrors and windows?  If a fat person would have designed a gym it would have been a low-to-no-light room with no mirrors and no windows to ensure ultimate secrecy and anonymity.
• I understand listening to Christian music, and I understand why it would be playing at Gardner-Webb, a Christian school.  What I don't understand is playing Christian music in the gym.  Who wants to sing along to "How Great is Our God" while they're gasping for air and trying to not have a heart attack?
• In conclusion, I finally realized where a piece of workout equipment that had always puzzled me comes from.  The StairMaster rose straight out of the pits of hell.  I tried it...for like 3 minutes and decided that it is evil and I will never go near it again.

With that said, day 2 has gone pretty well so far.

Until Next Time...

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-Tyler

Let's Talk About Portion Size...

Let's be honest:  we all eat wayyyyyyyyy too much.  


One of the biggest things I have to work on with this diet is portion control.  I will sit down with a bowl of cereal that is 2 or 3 serving sizes, or I will have two servings of pasta or chicken.  I love bread and I love cheese and could sit down and eat one piece of cheese after another.  Another issue is also listening to my body and KNOWING when I'm full.  Yesterday was good because as I was eating I would put my fork down after each bite, take a drink, and just sit for at least a minute.  I did not make an effort to clear my plate, and I tried my best to eat slowly and wait for my body to tell me when I was full.  It worked really well.  I prepared meals that were based on the food items' serving size and didn't eat too much of that.


So, for the rest of you out there, if you're dieting or not, here are some visual guides for serving size, to help you whenever you're preparing food at home or when you go out to eat.  Hopefully you can picture these items and see how much of the food item you should be eating.  These portion size images come from Food Network's Healthy Month 2010 website and can be found at this link.

One serving of meat is 3 ounces, and is about the size of a deck of cards.

One serving of pasta or rice is 1 cup and is the size of a tennis ball.

(PS:  Whole grain pastas and rice will fill you up faster and are healthier!)

One serving of peanut butter is 2 tablespoons, or about the size of a ping pong ball.

While you can eat a lot more veggies than one serving, the size you should eat to count as at least one serving is 1/2 cup, which is about the size of a baseball.

A baked potato can be a great choice for a meal, when it's not loaded with butter and sour cream.  When are picking a potato, the perfect size is about the size of a computer mouse.

Cheese cubes or fruit can also be a great snack.  The serving size for cheese cubes and fruit is about 6 ounces, which you can visualize as 6 dice.

I hope these tips help you all!  They have really helped me over the past couple of days and I am sure they will be useful in the future!

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

The Kitchen Purge...

So...with the diet starting tomorrow, I decided it would be good to go through the house and purge the kitchen, fridge, pantry, and my junk food stash of everything that shouldn't be around.  I tried to get rid of sugar, products with high fructose corn syrup, products made with white flour, and anything that was generally high in fat or calories.  We also had some old stuff, expired stuff, and almost empty items that needed to be thrown out, so they're included in this.

That's a lotta junk...

Bye bye Caesar salad dressing, Rainbow Chip frosting, and Pure Cane Sugar.

Nice knowing you cream cheese, full fat sour cream, and Original Pancake and Waffle Syrup (i.e. brown colored high fructose corn syrup).  By the way...whoever left that Michelob Light and Coors Light at the house last semester, they're now in the trash.

Peace out pasta made with white flour; Aunt Jemima, it's been nice knowing you.

So, that's it for now.  Tomorrow morning I have to work at a new student orientation on campus, so I will be doing my first weigh in and updating the blog in the afternoon.  I also plan on starting my workout plan in the afternoon!


Until Next Time...


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-Tyler


PS:  Check out my friend Vicki's weight loss blog:  Losing It With Momma

The Health Effects of Obesity...

I thought it would be good to have a post today detailing the negative health effects of being overweight or obese (and yes, I am obese, extremely obese actually, which is determined by measuring one's BMI, now, my BMI is -----...actually, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out when I post that and my first weigh in!).  Many people have an idea of the effects obesity places on one's health, but they aren't really aware of how serious the issue is.  The list below is from Stanford Hospitals and Clinics and can be found at this link.  I highlighted the effects that I suffer from because, as I stated in my first post, one of my big goals with this blog is to be truly honest with you all and let you know who I am and what I'm going through.  After the list, I explain how some of these have impacted me throughout my life thus far.

Health Effects of Obesity

Obesity has a far-ranging negative effect on health. Each year obesity-related conditions cost over 100 billion dollars and cause an estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the US. The health effects associated with obesity include, but are not limited to, the following:

• high blood pressure - Additional fat tissue in the body needs oxygen and nutrients in order to live, which requires the blood vessels to circulate more blood to the fat tissue. This increases the workload of the heart because it must pump more blood through additional blood vessels. More circulating blood also means more pressure on the artery walls. Higher pressure on the artery walls increases the blood pressure. In addition, extra weight can raise the heart rate and reduce the body's ability to transport blood through the vessels.
• diabetes - Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes begins in adulthood. Obesity can cause resistance to insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. When obesity causes insulin resistance, the blood sugar becomes elevated. Even moderate obesity dramatically increases the risk of diabetes.
• heart disease - Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is present 10 times more often in obese people compared to those who are not obese. Coronary artery disease is also more prevalent because fatty deposits build up in arteries that supply the heart. Narrowed arteries and reduced blood flow to the heart can cause chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. Blood clots can also form in narrowed arteries and cause a stroke.
• joint problems, including osteoarthritis - Obesity can affect the knees and hips because of the stress placed on the joints by extra weight. Joint replacement surgery, while commonly performed on damaged joints, may not be an advisable option for an obese person because the artificial joint has a higher risk of loosening and causing further damage.
• sleep apnea and respiratory problems - Sleep apnea, which causes people to stop breathing for brief periods, interrupts sleep throughout the night and causes sleepiness during the day. It also causes heavy snoring. Respiratory problems associated with obesity occur when added weight of the chest wall squeezes the lungs and causes restricted breathing. Sleep apnea is also associated with high blood pressure.
• cancer - In women, being overweight contributes to an increased risk for a variety of cancers including breast, colon, gallbladder, and uterus. Men who are overweight have a higher risk of colon and prostate cancers.
• metabolic syndrome - The National Cholesterol Education Program has identified metabolic syndrome as a complex risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome consists of six major components: abdominal obesity, elevated blood cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance with or without glucose intolerance, elevation of certain blood components that indicate inflammation, and elevation of certain clotting factors in the blood. In the US, approximately one-third of overweight or obese persons exhibit metabolic syndrome.
• psychosocial effects - In a culture where often the ideal of physical attractiveness is to be overly thin, people who are overweight or obese frequently suffer disadvantages. Overweight and obese persons are often blamed for their condition and may be considered to be lazy or weak-willed. It is not uncommon for overweight or obese conditions to result in persons having lower incomes or having fewer or no romantic relationships. Disapproval of overweight persons expressed by some individuals may progress to bias, discrimination, and even torment.

So, some of these effects haven't necessarily been pointed out by a doctor, but I am aware of how I am affected in these ways.  For example, I get headaches, a lot, like everyday with a migraine about once every couple of weeks.  They can be debilitating at times and make life a little more difficult.  Now, as I posted yesterday, I will be finding a doctor in the coming month to monitor my progress, and hopefully s/he can help with this headache issue, but I do think that they may be caused by high blood pressure.  On to the joint pain issue...I'm 21 and my legs, ankles, feet, and back all hurt, bad.  That's not a good sign and is another issue I have got to get healthier.  On the sleep apnea issue, I snore pretty badly and my sleep is never really "fulfilling," I wake up tired and am exhausted by about 6 p.m. every evening.  Finally, psychosocial effects can never truly be measured or observed like the others, but I am aware of the fact that I may get stared at, people may talk about how big I am, I may be an embarrassment to others around me, and I have low self esteem.  I have also always been picked on because of my weight, even while I've been in college (one would think that college-aged individuals would be past the need to harass others, but I guess I'm wrong).

This is just another set of reasons why I am embarking on this weight loss journey!

An Important Note about The Blog  -- Two things here:  1)  I encourage you all to share this information, along with my blog, with your family and friends.  I need all the support I can get AND want to be an inspiration to others (or some feel good crap like that :-P). And 2)  In the right sidebar of the blog, I will be posting different information and encourage you to check it out!  It includes some of my favorite links, the Blog Rolls I am listed on, my stat counter, AND my weekly goals.

Until Next Time...

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-Tyler

Some of My Goals...

So, I thought I would go ahead and share some of my goals with you all as I begin to prepare for Monday!  I almost feel like a prisoner on death row...getting ready for my execution, and eating everything in sight until then.  And...I'm okay with that.  I have really been preparing myself mentally for this whole ''weight loss thing.''  I think that is something I have lacked in the past is a real intentional preparation for what is ahead.  I also think I will be able to keep these goals and see success because my semester is not going to be nearly as difficult as what I have done in the past -- it is my last one after all!


So, as I said, here are some of my goals...these are more long term or overall, I will have weekly goals too, starting next week.


GOALS

• Exercise, 1 hour each day, Monday - Friday -- Okay, this seems a little bit overwhelming, especially for a chubby kid that can barely walk up a flight of stairs.  BUT, I know that exercise is very important and plan on exercising at least an hour each day.  This will be mainly cardio, and I hope to add some light weight work after a few weeks.
• Walk at least half an hour every day, on top of the 1 hour per day exercise goal -- I also want to spend time walking, outside of the 1 hour of exercise per day.  I think it will be a good way for me to continue to keep myself active outside of my aerobic walking course that I am taking this semester, and the exercise that I plan on doing daily in the gym.  I can definitely spend more time being physically fit instead of sitting in front of the TV.
• Lose at least 2 pounds per week -- So, this is another goal that I feel is a little dangerous to give myself, but again, I feel it's important.  As I have learned over the past few weeks a pound of fat is equal to 3,500 calories, SO, for me to lose 2 pounds a week, I have to consume 7,000 calories less than what I usually do.  With a combination of healthy eating (which will be a lower calorie diet) and exercising, I will be consuming less and burning more.
• Lose 35 pounds by graduation (May 17, 2010) -- Graduation is on Monday, May 17 2010.  That is 19 weeks away from when I start on Monday.  If I lose 2 pounds per week, for 19 weeks, I will have lost 38 pounds by graduation day!  Wow, what an amazing accomplishment!
• Reduce my BMI to somewhere within the "Normal weight" range -- One's BMI (Body Mass Index) is the measure of their body fat, based on weight and height.  The "Normal weight" range for BMI is 18.5-24.9.  For a person that is 5 foot 11 inches tall, like me, that translate to a weight of 136 pounds to 179 pounds.  Now, let's be honest folks, could you imagine what I would look like at 136 pounds?  I KNOW!  A crackhead, meth addict, and malnourished child.  SO, 136 is not what I'm going for.  I want my BMI to be within the healthy range, but I have no desire to be some skinny, tiny little person (no offense to my skinny, tiny little friends).
• There are also several other measure of ''ideal weight'' for a 21 year old, male, who is 5' 11" and weighs -------- (I'm not telling you yet!  You'll have to wait for Monday):  The "People's Choice Ideal Weight" for me is 244 pounds.  The "Metropolitan Life Table" range for a person with a large frame, such as me, is 164 to 188.  And, finally, the "Dr. BJ Devine Formula for Ideal Weight" says I should weight 166.
• Eat 3 meals a day plus 2 healthy snacks (one mid-morning, one mid-afternoon) -- This is one thing I have been thinking a lot about, how much I will eat and when.  I know that folks say the smaller 5 meals a day works.  BUT, I know me and I know that I really, really, really LOVE to eat. Haha.  Eating 3 healthy meals per day with 2 healthy snacks (for example:  Breakfast -- Oatmeal with bananas, Morning Snack -- Berries and Yogurt, Lunch -- Low Fat Chicken Salad on Whole Wheat Bread, Afternoon Snack -- Babybel cheese and whole wheat crackers, Dinner -- Grilled chicken with steamed broccoli and whole grain rice) will work much better for me.  Of course, this plan may need to be altered once I actually get to it.
• Watch less TV...mainly Food Network -- As I mentioned in my first post, I LOVE cooking and, therefore, really enjoy watching Food Network.  BUT, Food Network leads me to get hungry, crave ridiculously unhealthy recipes, and fall deeper and deeper in love with Paula Deen (and butter).  I MUST cut down on my Food Network obsession and replace it with a FIT-TV obsessions...okay, not really.  But it will be helpful to put down the remote and start walking or, oh I don't know, do homework or read or quite procrastinating on my work.
• Understand the emotional and psychological reasons behind why I eat -- Another issue that I am very well aware of is that I take part in emotional eating.  I always have...when I am tired, stressed, upset, have low self esteem, or depressed -- I EAT!  I think it will be vital for me to understand the emotional and psychological reasons for this type of eating and help to stop it.  It may be difficult for me to have to work through those feelings and NOT have food to fill in that gap.  BUT, I do think that a lot of my issues with self esteem and being depressed can be traced back to my weight and not be completely comfortable in my own body...losing weight should help with this!

Okay, I think those are enough of my goals for now.  I will be posting weekly goals on Mondays of each week, along with that weeks weigh in and my work out plan for that week!

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Until Next Time...

-Tyler

"7 Reasons you shouldn't diet in 2010"

I found this article online while browsing this evening and found it interesting.  I think it has some good points to it and things I want myself to remember about "dieting." 


"7 Reasons you shouldn't diet in 2010"
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/newyear/7-reasons-you-shouldnt-diet-in-2010-560899/
By:  Brett Blumenthal


You may be making a New Year’s Resolution to diet in 2010.  Let me stop you there.  If you are planning on losing weight in 2010, save your money and time, and instead, resolve NOT to diet.  No, I’m not kidding.

I know, I know…you want to lose weight.  You want to have the body you had 5, 10, maybe even 20 years ago.  Your skinny jeans are folded neatly under piles of clothes, just waiting for you to squeeze into them.  Sound familiar?  Many of us at some point have gone through this.  But I’m going to tell you a secret…dieting doesn’t work. Sure, these diets work in the short term, but after a dieter stops dieting, they most likely put back on some, if not all of the weight.

In 2010, I’d like you to resolve not to diet.  Here's why they don’t work and what are better solutions for 2010:

1. Malnutrition: Contrary to popular belief, most diets are not healthy and may actually border on malnutrition.  Many urge us to do extreme things, forgo our favorite foods or cut major food groups in order to lose weight.  Healthy eating requires ALL nutrients (carbs, fats and protein) and a minimum number of calories in order to maintain health and proper body function.  FOR 2010: Eat foods that are nutrient rich and provide balance to keep you feeling satisfied.
2. It is Unsustainable: Depriving your body shocks your body into losing weight, but once it gets over that shock, it adapts.  How?  By slowing down your metabolism, going into unhealthy physical states (such as ketosis) or stopping weight loss.  Even if you have the mental willpower to diet forever, your body doesn’t. FOR 2010: Eat healthy as a lifestyle, not as dieting.  This will help you to lose excess pounds and maintain a healthy weight for a lifetime…not just for bikini season.
3. The Pendulum Factor: When you deprive yourself to an extreme, you end up craving to an extreme.  The pendulum swings from “being extremely good” to “being extremely bad” to compensate.  You may have heard this called “yo-yo dieting.”  FOR 2010: Indulge in moderation.  Enjoying the foods you love and the treats you crave once in awhile will help you to crave foods less overall.
4. Life Happens: Diets often require us to change our eating habits in such a way, that normal life gets in the way.  Eating out, going over friends houses for dinner, special occasions all become “problems.”  These things, however, are the very things that make life worth living!  Further, most of us are busy and may not always have the time to shop, cook and calorie-count the way many diets require.  FOR 2010: Fit healthy eating into every day life so that you can enjoy life AND be healthy.  Discover which nutritious foods you love that make healthy eating delicious!
5. Energy Loss and Metabolism: Dramatically reducing your calorie intake can result in reduced energy levels and fatigue.  Instead, it is important to understand which foods provide you with quality nutrition.  FOR 2010: Eat small meals often which will stimulate weight loss, keep you satisfied and make you feel energetic.
6. Quantitative versus Qualitative: Dieting doesn’t really teach you how to eat for the long term.  You may be counting calories while eating foods that actually make you hungrier or cause you to crave more.  FOR 2010: Learn what foods are the most satisfying and most nutritious.  The more nutritious the food you eat, the less hungry you will be.  You’ll make smarter choices and lose weight without focusing on every calorie you ingest.
7. One Dimensional: In order to truly lose weight, you have to eat well AND be active.  I’m not saying you have to run a marathon, but as we get older, our metabolisms NATURALLY slow down.  The more active you are, the more calories you burn and the higher your metabolism will stay.  FOR 2010: Be active.  Even if it means taking stairs instead of the elevator, walking at lunch hour, walking to work instead of taking the train…just move.

Get real in 2010!  Change your life by changing your mentality towards health, nutrition and wellness.  Stop dieting, start eating and start seeing the results that you want…for the long term!

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!

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Until Next Time...

-Tyler