If you think your job sucks....

I just had to share...

Rich

Graphing

I was just playing around with graphs and thought this dramatic visual was worth posting..

The Biggest Loser

I SOOOOO wanted to be on NBC's The Biggest Loser. I just could never get time off from work. Now, they're casting again (details to follow) and I think I'm too skinny to qualify. How ironic is that!!!???? Anyway, if you're interested or know someone that is, here's the details!!



Oh, by the way, another 1 hour on level 4 treadmill today. 628 calories gone, 3.6 miles walked!!

Here's the skinny on the Biggest Loser....

CASTING FOR THE BIGGEST LOSER - ON NBC!

NBC'S THE BIGGEST LOSER IS BACK!

We are searching the country for individuals OR teams of two to compete together and who need to shed the pounds on season 5 of NBC's hit show, and compete for big cash prizes!Now you can audition with a friend, family member, or co-worker -

This is your chance to TRANSFOR YOUR LIFE!



LAST YEAR'S WINNER LOST 214LBS* AND WON $250,000!!!

(*results not typical)

We will be casting in many cities across the US, including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and Chicago!COME BE A PART OF THE BIGGEST PHENOMENON IN REALITY TELEVISION.We are looking for OUTGOING & CHARISMATIC individuals with PERSONALITY who have the WANT, DESIRE and COMPETITIVE EDGE to vie for this all-expense-paid chance of a lifetime.WE'RE LOOKING FOR CONTESTANTS READY TO SHED THE POUNDS ONCE AND FOR ALL!
You must be at least 18 years of age and a legal resident of the U.S. to apply.

TO SUBMIT:Be sure to mention you heard about this from Jeff Gund at INFOLIST.com for priority consideration, and email ALL the information requested below to:mailto:jthomas.prtv%40gmail.com

YOU MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
1. A picture of yourself (and your partner/teammate, if applicable)
2. What city you live in
3. A brief paragraph about why you should be on the show
4. Be sure to mention you heard about this from Jeff Gund at INFOLIST.com! Good luck!

Take Care, Eat Well,
Rich

Treated like Royalty, Treated like a Peasant

I touched on this in one of my comments under one of my posts. We were discussing being 'hit on' since I've lost weight. In all honesty, I don't think so. BUT what I have noticed is that people, complete strangers are A LOT nicer to me. People smile at me more, people are more helpful. Now that I've been in both camps (really fat, and the not so fat camp), I can tell you, YOU GET TREATED LIKE CRAP WHEN YOU'RE FAT. Let me vent again... YOU GET TREATED LIKE CRAP WHEN YOU'RE FAT. People have intentionally gone the other direction when I approached them for help at a store when I was 300lbs. NOW, people seem to go out of their way to help me. People smile at me more, people are more helpful and a lot more friendly. All the attention is unnerving at times, but I think I'm loving it!!

Being fat is something most anyone can change. I've felt the harsh treatment thrust against me when I was 300lbs, it was mean, cruel, unwarranted and totally discriminatory. I am lucky, all I had to do was lose the weight and change, and all that harsh treatment disappeared, gone, poof. I can only imagine what's it's like for others that can't change and face the same horrible treatment. People, like blacks, hispanics, gays, handicapped, etc. don't have that option to change. They can't flip that switch and be treated better. It gives me a whole new perspective. Since they can't change, it's left to society then to change, to look beyond weight, skin color, sexual orientation, religion, physical ability. I've said "we're all in this together" several times in my posts and this was refering to my our common weight loss journey. Seems like it applies to our common journey through life. We're ALL in this together.

Peace out.

Rich

Back in the Saddle

I'm back in my routine. I did 1 hour at level 4 on the tread mill today (Watched "ZODIAC" during the work out, the time just flew by as I burned nearly 600 calories). I had my staple of cheerios for breakfast, yogurt (Activia) for morning snack, Salad for lunch, Almonds for afternoon snack. I'm thinking about dinner and thinking about an afternoon stroll when it get's cooler outside. I walked yesterday and felt my wellness feeling return. I feel really good today except for my ever present back ache. I went to my chiropractor today, he did his magic and I feel better, but know it will only last for a short time. Blah.

Anyway, back on track, stepping things up a notch and hope to blow away my numbers come Wednesday.

Oh, I also checked on some pricing for a tummy tuck to get rid of all this extra skin and well, err, ummm, guess I'll be carrying the stuff around a while. 'nuff said.

Take Care,
Eat Well.

Rich

Just What I Expected

Ok, after my little 4 day vacation of not walking and eating whatever, I gained 2 pounds. This is the first time I've gained on YOAD, but I guess I wasn't really 'ON' Yoad this week. It was an experiment. I have a theory, and I'll see next week if I was right. I'm not upset about the 2 pound gain, actually I expected to gain more than 2 pounds. But trust me, I have NOT given up and I am back on track now.


Here's the numbers...

Week.....Date.......Weight.....Lost.....Waist....Lost
Start.2/28/2007.......297.....n/a.......57......n/a
1.......3/07/2007.......289......8.........56........1
2.......3/14/2007.......280.....17........55.5.....1.5
3.......3/21/2007.......275.....22........55........2
4.......3/28/2007.......274.....23........53........4
5.......4/04/2007.......271.....26........52........5
6.......4/11/2007.......267.....30........52........5
7.......4/18/2007.......265.....32........51........6
8.......4/25/2007.......262.....35........50........7
9.......5/02/2007.......259.....38........48........8
10.....5/09/2007.......254.....43........47........9
11.....5/16/2007.......253.....44........46.......10
12.....5/23/2007.......249.....48........46.......10
13.....5/30/2007.......247.....50........45.5....11.5
14.....6/06/2007.......241.....56........44.5....12.5
15.....6/13/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
16.....6/21/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
17.....6/27/2007.......237.....60........43.......14
18.....7/04/2007.......233.....64........43.......14
19.....7/11/2007.......230.....67........41.......16
20.....7/18/2007.......229.....68........41.......16
21.....7/25/2007.......229.....68........41.......16
22.....8/01/2007.......231.....67........41.......16







Take Care,Eat Well,



Rich

Taking a Break

Ok, I'll be honest here. I've taken the last 4 days off. By 'off'', I mean, not walking my hour a day, and eating whatever I wanted. Tonight I feel like crap. I'm groggy, tired, feeling very blah. I fear hopping on the scale tomorrow. Have I given up? NOT ON YOUR LIFE. Call it a little experiment on my part. Tomorrow, it's back to the routine. Promise.

Never give up, never surrender.


Rich

Good News in the Mail Today

okokokokok, I'm sooo over being bummed yesterday, especially after I got my mail today. I got the results of my blood tests I had done while having my annual physical a couple of weeks ago.

My Total Cholesterol is 149!!
< 200 is desirable,
200-239 is Borderline High,
>240 call the mortician.

My LDL (Bad, Lousy, Cholesterol) is 90!!!
<100 is Optimal
100-129 Near optimal
130-159 Borlerline High
160-189 High
>190 Don't make plans for Christmas

My HDL (good Cholesterol - Higher is Better) is 49!!!
< 40 LOW
>60 HIGH

My Triglycerides is 49!!! Triglycerides is blood fat. May be associated with heart disease and stroke.
<150 is Normal
150-199 Borderline High
200-499 HIGH
>500 - Just squeeze some of your blood in the pot, you can fry chicken with it.

Not too shabby for a 43 year old still technically 'obese' guy, eh? Thank you Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen for not only helping me lose the weight, but making me a very healthy man.


Take Care,
Eat Well,

Rich

Bummer

Another week, and well, umm, errr...... I didn't lose anything. I've increased my walking to an hour a day, ate good, didn't cheat and I still didn't lose. I'm disappointed, I'm only human, and really bummed. Have my expectations been artificially elevated because of my huge success in previous weeks? Maybe. Will I give up, quit?? N E V E R. "Never give up, NEVER surrender". I didn't take any pictures this week, they'd just be the same.



Here's the numbers...
Week.....Date.......Weight.....Lost.....Waist....Lost
Start.2/28/2007.......297.....n/a.......57......n/a
1.......3/07/2007.......289......8.........56........1
2.......3/14/2007.......280.....17........55.5.....1.5
3.......3/21/2007.......275.....22........55........2
4.......3/28/2007.......274.....23........53........4
5.......4/04/2007.......271.....26........52........5
6.......4/11/2007.......267.....30........52........5
7.......4/18/2007.......265.....32........51........6
8.......4/25/2007.......262.....35........50........7
9.......5/02/2007.......259.....38........48........8
10.....5/09/2007.......254.....43........47........9
11.....5/16/2007.......253.....44........46.......10
12.....5/23/2007.......249.....48........46.......10
13.....5/30/2007.......247.....50........45.5....11.5
14.....6/06/2007.......241.....56........44.5....12.5
15.....6/13/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
16.....6/21/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
17.....6/27/2007.......237.....60........43.......14
18.....7/04/2007.......233.....64........43.......14
19.....7/11/2007.......230.....67........41.......16
20.....7/18/2007.......229.....68........41.......16
21.....7/25/2007.......229.....68........41.......16

Take Care,
Eat Well,

Rich

Motivation

I stumbled across this really cool website. It let's you create your own personal motivational posters FOR FREE!! Gotta love the free stuff. It's really easy to create, save and print your own customized motivational poster. Here's one I made that now is posted on my refrigerator!!

Take Care, Eat Well.

Rich.

This Makes it ALL Worth It.

When you post a video on You Tube (like my "The Incredible Shrinking Man" video), you plug in your email address and when someone leaves a comment on You Tube, you get sent a notice by You Tube that someone has left a comment. I received this comment today.........

"HI DADDY ur not fat anymore YAY!! I LOVE YOU!"

Wow! That, my friends, makes it all worth it.


Take Care,
Eat Well.

Rich

Another One Bites the Dust

It's been another successful week. Another week of walking an hour a day, another week of eating good, another week of eating right, another week of eating healthy, another week of losing weight. I have 10 more pounds to lose to reach my mini goal of 219 (my lowest weight in my adult life.) and only another 32 pounds for my ultimate goal of losing 100 pounds.

Here's the numbers...
Week.....Date.......Weight.....Lost.....Waist....Lost
Start.2/28/2007.......297.....n/a.......57......n/a
1.......3/07/2007.......289......8.........56........1
2.......3/14/2007.......280.....17........55.5.....1.5
3.......3/21/2007.......275.....22........55........2
4.......3/28/2007.......274.....23........53........4
5.......4/04/2007.......271.....26........52........5
6.......4/11/2007.......267.....30........52........5
7.......4/18/2007.......265.....32........51........6
8.......4/25/2007.......262.....35........50........7
9.......5/02/2007.......259.....38........48........8
10.....5/09/2007.......254.....43........47........9
11.....5/16/2007.......253.....44........46.......10
12.....5/23/2007.......249.....48........46.......10
13.....5/30/2007.......247.....50........45.5....11.5
14.....6/06/2007.......241.....56........44.5....12.5
15.....6/13/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
16.....6/21/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
17.....6/27/2007.......237.....60........43.......14
18.....7/04/2007.......233.....64........43.......14
19.....7/11/2007.......230.....67........41.......16
20.....7/18/2007.......229.....68........41.......16

I'm wearing 38" Dockers in these pictures!!! Can you believe it!! 38" Docks!!!

Take Care,
Eat Well,

Rich

n2styx@comcast.net

Mail Call

Usha, Thanks for the comments and insight. I agree with a lot of what you said. While '197' is my goal, it is just a number. Everyone wants to know what I weigh. They don't care how healthy you are, it's always about the number. Trust me, my goal is being healthy and active. The 197 is a means to an end, it is something tangible I can measure to ultimately get to a healthy body. I'm really NOT obsessed with the number. It's really funny too, because at 197 with my height, I will still be considered overweight using the BMI charts. I'm 5' 11". I think I have to get down to 178 to be considered 'normal' weight. I think I'd look dreadfully sick at 178. BMI doesn't take into account frame size. I have a large frame, wide shoulders. The BMI charts only take into account height and weight. But I'll take being considered overweight at 197. I can live with that.

In answer to some other questions. I am 5' 11". I used to be 6', but a crushed a vertebra in my back 2 years ago and I lost an inch. (Believe it or not!).

About the question about handling anger... Ummm.. I ususally dont' get angry. I get frustrated and stressed, but usually not angry. I'm an air traffic controller, so stress is part of my life. I've been an air traffic controller for over 19 years. I sit at a radar scope 8 hours a day and get stressed for a majority of that time. It's a bad combination (seditary work with a ton of stress, no wonder I have belly fat). I never really used food to cope with stress or anger or frustration. I usually ate junk food because I was bored and I loved to eat!!! I cope with anger by removing myself for the situation that causes anger. When put in a situation that causes anger, I take a line from the Penguins in the movie "Madagascar", "Smile and wave boys, just smile and wave."

Take Care, Eat Well,

Rich
n2styx@comcast.net

Where's the Comments?

Ok, I was getting a little bummed that no one was posting comments. I was beginning to think no one visited my little ol' blog, but my counter says over 500 people have visited my blog. But still I had ZERO comments on all my posts. Today, when I logged on, I saw this really small thingy saying I had comments I needed to moderate. All this blogging stuff is really new to me. All this hi-tech hocus pocus throws me for a loop at times. Anyway, I clicked the link to moderate my comments and wah la, there were comments. Then I dug deeper and found a setting that was checked about moderating comments. I unchecked 'yes' and checked 'no'. NOW comments should just post without me having to intervene..

Soooo..... POST AWAY! We could get some good discussions going. Ask me anything. I'm pretty much an open book. If it will help and inspire you, it's all good!

Take Care, Eat Well,
Rich

Fuze - The New Miracle Drink??

I have discovered this wonderful drink called FUZE - Healthy Infuzions. There's different varieties, but I get the 'Slenderize' variety. The Slenderize Variety comes in 6 flavors (Cranberry Raspbery, Strawberry Melon, Tangerine Grapefruit (my favorite), Tropical Fruit, Blueberry Raspberry, Dragon Fruit Lime). The drinks taste really good and each drink has Chromium (40mcg), Vitamin C (135mg), Super Citrimax (450mg), L-Carnitine (45mg). They're really good and the ingredients have long been touted to help lose weight. Again, I can't say these drinks are helping, but they're sure not hurting. Check out their website http://www.drinkfuze.com/ Here's another site where they review FUZE. http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/fuze/ I purchased 12 - 18oz bottles at Costco for $9.99 (Sam's Club had them as well.)

Take Care, Eat Well,

Rich

Leaving the 230's

I had to pinch myself this morning to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I lost another 3 pounds AND 2 more inches!!! I really don't understand how I possibly could be losing so much. I'm eating soooo good (I'm having Flash's Cajun Jambalya again for lunch today!!) and I'm eating all the time (every 2 hours). All those years of starvation with limited results, WHAT A WASTE!!!



Here's the numbers...


Week.....Date.......Weight.....Lost.....Waist....Lost
Start.2/28/2007.......297.....n/a.......57......n/a
1.......3/07/2007.......289......8.........56........1
2.......3/14/2007.......280.....17........55.5.....1.5
3.......3/21/2007.......275.....22........55........2
4.......3/28/2007.......274.....23........53........4
5.......4/04/2007.......271.....26........52........5
6.......4/11/2007.......267.....30........52........5
7.......4/18/2007.......265.....32........51........6
8.......4/25/2007.......262.....35........50........7
9.......5/02/2007.......259.....38........48........8
10.....5/09/2007.......254.....43........47........9
11.....5/16/2007.......253.....44........46.......10
12.....5/23/2007.......249.....48........46.......10
13.....5/30/2007.......247.....50........45.5....11.5
14.....6/06/2007.......241.....56........44.5....12.5
15.....6/13/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
16.....6/21/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
17.....6/27/2007.......237.....60........43.......14
18.....7/04/2007.......233.....64........43.......14
19.....7/11/2007.......230.....67........41.......16

Another Good Week

It was another good week! 4 more pounds found their way out of my body and into oblivion!! I'm getting closer and closer to my goal weight and oh so close to the lowest I've ever weighed in my adult life. My GOAL weight is 197 lbs (100 pounds weight loss). The lowest I've weighed in my adult life is 219. Both these milestones are just on the horizon and VERY obtainable for me.



Thanks to Flash for the YOAD approved Jambalaya recipe. It rocks! Losing weight and eating food that is so good and so good for me, who can complain?



Here's the numbers....



Week.....Date.......Weight.....Lost.....Waist....Lost
Start.2/28/2007.......297.....n/a.......57......n/a
1.......3/07/2007.......289......8.........56........1
2.......3/14/2007.......280.....17........55.5.....1.5
3.......3/21/2007.......275.....22........55........2
4.......3/28/2007.......274.....23........53........4
5.......4/04/2007.......271.....26........52........5
6.......4/11/2007.......267.....30........52........5
7.......4/18/2007.......265.....32........51........6
8.......4/25/2007.......262.....35........50........7
9.......5/02/2007.......259.....38........48........8
10.....5/09/2007.......254.....43........47........9
11.....5/16/2007.......253.....44........46.......10
12.....5/23/2007.......249.....48........46.......10
13.....5/30/2007.......247.....50........45.5....11.5
14.....6/06/2007.......241.....56........44.5....12.5
15.....6/13/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
16.....6/21/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
17.....6/27/2007.......237.....60........43.......14
18.....7/04/2007.......233.....64........43.......14





Take Care, Eat Well.
Rich

WOW!

I decided to try on my jeans tonight. 40w loose! 38w comfy! 36w, buttoned, zipped, snug. HOLY COW!! Honestly, I almost teared up. 2 day until weigh day.

Eat Well,
Rich

BMI Baby!

I just re-did my BMI (Body Mass Index)....I started at a BMI of 41.5 and now it's 32.8 !!! Incredible!!!

You can calculate your BMI here if your a RealAge Member: http://www.realage.com/WorkoutCenter/bmi.aspx?mod=YOAD_WT

If you're not a member of RealAge.com, then you can go here to quickly calculate your BMI:
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/


Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

According the cdc. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/adult_BMI/about_adult_BMI.htm Here's what the BMI number means:

BMI ...................Weight Status
Below 18.5............. Underweight
18.5 – 24.9 .............Normal
25.0 – 29.9 ............Overweight
30.0 and Above...... Obese

So according to the CDC, I'm still obese (duh!!), but I only have to go down 2.8 points to be just overweight!! Imagine that, I'm excited about being 'overweight'!!! Sounds a lot better than OBESE. According the RealAge.com website, my ideal BMI should be 22. It says to get there, I should weigh 157 lbs. That will never happen! I would be a walking skeleton. but if I reach 178, my BMI will be 24.9 and I'll finally be Normal!!!

Take Care, Eat Well

Rich

Lights Camera Action

My first attempt at a home movie... Enjoy!!!