I haven't thrown anything at the wall recently, so I figured I'd write a little. I've been more or less sticking to the diet, and about the same with the weight training. I've been a little more consistent with cardio...I figure if I slack on weights, I have to at least get some cardio done. It's been working out well. I had been sick a few weeks back, right as I was starting down the slope of getting into a rhythm and actually losing weight. Well I'm starting back down again, and it feels great to get on the scale. I may not always show a loss, but I know that I'm not starting more than a pound or two higher than I was the day before.
I also went out and picked up a home weight bench. It is a bit narrow, and a bit high for my tastes, but it is certainly better than nothing. I can actually do some fairly good bench work on it, and at the least, it's one more reason I can't make any excuses for not putting in my work outs. If I don't have time at work, I can come home and do at least something. I'd like to get a better set of dumbbells, but the stuff I've got now will work for a little while longer. So, between the exercise bike, the bench, and the dumbells and barbells, I've got no reason not to get up and lose some weight...except of course for laziness...
What I've found helps me to shut down the lazy streak and get fired up enough to actually change clothes, put on the gloves, and move some heavy stuff is to have a goal. I'm not unlike a rodent or a magpie. Shiny things catch my eye, and I just can't resist. I've got a certain shiny new thing that I'm going to allow myself to get if I can get down to 185. It's about 15 lbs higher than my goal, but hell, if I lose that much weight, I deserve something special.
One of the other things that is great (or was, but is starting to annoy the hell out of me) is that my pants don't fit right anymore. I went from struggling to button my jeans, to being able to button them with little effort, to ah damn, even with a belt I'm constantly pulling them up. I feel like a little boy again, in awkward clothes that don't fit. The problem is, when you plan on losing 60 lbs, you just don't really know what you're going to fit in by the time its all done. I don't want to go out and waste a bunch of money on interim pants, so I'll just have to put up with it...but it is pretty darn cool in a way. My wife has noticed that the bottom of my shirts don't ride so high anymore (due to being held up by my fat belly). There is a certain blue t-shirt that I loved, and was really sad when it didn't fit anymore. Well, welcome back, favorite blue Tee. It's like an seeing an old friend after a long time apart.
For anyone dedicated enough to still be reading this, please understand: This is my third try at a weight loss effort and fitness program. While I sound positive now, this isn't easy for me. It takes a huge amount of dedication, and constant application of willpower to get here. Instead of buying ground beef, I ignored my horror and bought 5 lbs of ground turkey. That's what I'll make tacos and hamburgers out of from now on. Instead of the fat and carb heavy steak fries, I've bought a bunch of sweet potato fries. They aren't the same, but they aren't horrible, and the turkey burger was actually pretty tasty. No, it isn't a replacement for the old American Standard, but when you're trying to drop 60 lbs, everything has to change. I moan and groan, and whine and grouse, but I eat raw vegetables and fruits, and I drink water instead of sodas. I eat smaller portions and I have learned to not drool in public while watching other people eat. I've found that it upsets lots of folks when you stare at them like a starving waif while they dig in to a loaded chili dog and a tall beer.
On the bright side, I'll get my shiny thing, I'll live a longer fuller life, and I won't have to avert my eyes when I pass a mirror in the mornings. I've already noticed a change in how I look. A small change, but it's there! Losing 15 lbs does things to a body!
Well I guess I've droned on long enough, but I thought I'd reassure those that care that I'm still following the program...not as strictly as I should be, but I'm doing it, and I'm losing weight again after a long and nerve wracking post sickness plateau.
Oh, another new development, I'm no longer wheezing like a dying pig during my cardio workouts. I'm sweating like a Mississippi Madam in the middle of summer, but it doesn't feel like torture. Now that I have to put in a lower weight in my heart monitor and exercise tracking program, it has raised the zones for my heart rate. Before, I would hit anaerobic at 155 bpm. Now, I don't even get to aerobic until 153 bpm, and I haven't pushed myself hard enough to get to anaerobic yet. I've noticed my blood pressure is gone down, as has my resting heart rate, so my health is definitely improving.
It works folks. It isn't pleasant, it isn't easy, and it's a lot of gruelling hard work, but if you stick to it, you'll see results. Don't lose hope if you aren't seeing the results you want either. If you haven't been doing the program for at least 6 weeks, you aren't being patient enough. If you've been going for 6 weeks and aren't seeing any changes anywhere, try something else! There is TONS of information out there on different approaches and programs, and you just have to go search it out.
Good luck!
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