I am Belittled - This Week at Least!

End of the week and time to review my goals and my journals to see how I did. Also it is time to face the ultimate test - to see what the scale says.

It was a challenging week - in that I was back to work. This brings all the challenges of trying to maintain my exercise and diet goals while shuffling many more responsibilities. over all, I did well.

My diet/calorie intake was good - keeping solidly within the 1800-2200/day zone that is my target. Of the seven days this week i missed my goal twice. In one I was slightly over - a bit of unwise late night snacking - and one I was a bit under. 

It is a good point to bring up in that eating too little, especially when you are working in an exercise program. While eating too much will defeat your weight loss goals, eating too little can mean your body will start using your muscles and bones to help fuel it, something that can lead to injury. 

Neither of the times I was outside my target calorie intake was it a major problem - I was 100 calories high and 75 calories low. This included going out twice to eat. During the week we went out and I simply made some good choices for calories and portion control. Last night I went with my wife for sushi. I ate light during the day so I could afford the extra calories.

My exercise was great, although a struggle from a convenience standpoint. A lot of last minute scheduling commitments and some bad weather made me change a lot of my workout plans. I ended up substituting an exercise DVD at home for my planned workouts twice. Yesterday I had planned a cardio workout at my school's track after work, but they were doing maintenance. Instead, I decided to walk home. 70 minutes later I had a nice walk and a decent cardio (hauling my bag with me helped).

It was worth it at the weigh-in. Despite it being a challenging week, I managed a two pound weight loss. Better yet, I busted through the 270 barrier and stood at 269.

Here are the numbers:

High Weight:        295

Last Week's Weight: 271

Current Weight:     269

This week's loss:     2

Total Loss           26

Next week's Goal:   267

Short Term Goal:    260

Medium term Goal:   250

Long Term Goal:     200

Ultimate Goal:      Hit and maintain 190

Jillian Workout DVD

Jillian, from The Biggest Loser, has rode her fame on that show to some serious weight loss and exercise success. Of course, a lot of it is because her stuff works.

I ran across this exercise DVD of hers. I'm ordering it for myself, and thought I'd mention it here for anyone also interested.

Back to Work - But Keeping the Faith

I am a teacher at an Ecuadorian high school, so as I have started my weight loss campaign I benefited by being on vacation (South American schools generally have "summer vacation" in February and March). I haven't had to worry about fitting my diet around work, or figuring out the best time to do my workouts.

That changed today. Mar 22 is back to school or for teachers so here I am back into a work routine. We are up early enough to get our animals taken care of and lunches packed. Then my wife gets on her bus and I get on mine. First day for teachers, of course is fairly simple. We get a couple of meetings, spend some time networking with the other teachers and seeing what everybody did on their vacations. Then we check out our rooms - I got a new desk!

After school was over I changed and did a cardio session on the school track. While doing that I heard a yell. Some of my oncoming seniors were at basketball practice. While the ladies had a water break we talked a bit and briefly got caught up. Fun!

Tonight I'll be trying out a total body fitness DVD. We'll see how it goes!

Mall Walking and Kathy Ireland

Friday my plans were thrown completely out of the window, since I got called in to substitute at my wife's school for half of a day. That put me behind, but I was looking for ways to get creative to replace my missed cardio session. Later in the day, I found myself at a local mall, waiting for Lisa to meet me, when she called to say she would be delayed. At the spur of the moment, I did a 45 minute mall walk - simply walking around the perimeter of the public areas, interior areas of the mall. This was a fairly good sized mall, with two floors, so I got to do some fair exercise and people watch at the same time. Of course, it was Friday late afternoon crowds, and I wasn't dressed in exercise clothes, so I didn't do it at the intensity I would normally do a cardio, but it elevated my heart rate, worked up a bit of a sweat and most importantly burned some calories.

That night I was going through some older DVDs in our collection and ran across some older aerobic workouts. I popped one in the DVD player and spent 30 minutes on a low-impact, low-intensity session with Kathy Ireland. It was a great change of pace!

Vacation Winding Down - Back to Work!

This morning I had a good, 60 minute cardio - a walk-run around adjacent neighborhoods with a couple laps around the running track at my favorite park. These morning times will be going by the wayside, unfortunately. next Monday teachers report back to our school. My school here in Guayaquil, Ecuador, runs on the South American school calendar, April to January. Getting up to grab the bus at 6:30 in the morning means my morning workouts are out. Instead I'll be taking time after school to use the school facilities as often as I can.

I'm going to weigh-in Saturday, and I am hoping for a number below 275. Wish me luck!

Bad News - Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure Way Up

My wife, who has been diabetic for over 20 years, suggested I use her blood suger tester to see what my blood sugar level was. A prick of the finger, a drop of blood and the reading was...

315.

OMG, that reading is worse than my wife gets on her bad days, like when she has eaten breakfast without taking her insulin. The next day I took it again: 280. Still way bad. I also know my blood pressure is elevated. All severe medical situations that are brought on and complicated by my weight.

Of course, I shouldn't be surprised. Obesity is a major factor in people with high blood pressure and diabetes. Good news, both can be treated with medications, and even without medication with proper diet and exercise along with loss of weight. If I didn't need it before, I have even more motivation to shed these pounds off me.

Half-assed - I love it.

If you want to read a story about someone losing weight, that is inspiring and hysterical all at the same time, check this out!