The Weight-Loss Journey Continued

"Love can never grow old. Locks may lose their brown and gold. Cheeks may fade and hollow grow. But the hearts that love will know, never winter's frost and chill, summer's warmth is in them still." ---Leo Buscaglia

I made myself a promise as I lost weight and regained my health. That promise was that I would never again purchase fat clothes. My definition of fat clothes is having to go shopping for new clothing because you have outgrown your current wardrobe. If you have ever battled your weight or have gained weight, you know of the uncomfortable feeling I speak about. I find nothing pleasant about gaining weight to the point that your clothes are not fitting properly.

December of 2010 I was at my lowest weight in twenty years. It was at this point that I began dating again following my divorce. One would think that the two have nothing in common. However, spending a few evenings per week dating and dining the two quickly becomes related. Throughout the early part of 2011, I was dating and dining. Working out and eating according to my program became less important.

"There'll be two dates on your tombstone, and all your friends will read 'em; but all that's gonna matter is that little dash between 'em." ---Kevin Welch

Dating was a daunting adventure and I had some incredible experiences and some shocking experiences. I smile because I was certainly the incredible and shocking for some of the wonderful women that honored me with a date. I believe I have shared these before, however I recall being screamed at in a busy restaurant when I asked if my date yelled at her children. The entire restaurant became silent except for my date that was yelling so loudly and powerful she was almost spitting. That was probably the first time in my life I did not want to finish a meal at a good restaurant. Another experience I encountered while at a nice restaurant with a very nice woman was meeting her fiancé with whom I had no idea existed. There were many, many experiences and they all had one thing in common. They all consisted of lots of food, very fattening, very bad food for a diet and weight-loss journey.

After remarrying in 2011, I desired to focus on my new marriage and my family. I put my journey and my diet plans on the back burner. Near the end of January 2012, I approached my beautiful wife with some depressing information. I told her that my clothes felt like Saran Wrap. In all honesty, Saran Wrap sometimes has air-bubbles, my clothing was feeling more like painted on clothing. Each day I hoped all seams, buttons, zippers, belts and fabric held their ground. A break in the dam could be quite disastrous and embarrassing. Here I was, facing the moment I said I would never give in to and admit I no longer fit in my clothes. Do I go shopping and purchase larger sizes or do I get back on track and continue my journey.

Monday the week before the Superbowl would be the day that I once again climbed back on the horse and continued my weight-loss portion of my journey. My amazing wife decided to join me and we would work together. The first week was difficult again, experiencing major carbohydrate withdrawals. We stayed the course and worked out together whenever possible. Weigh-in day was Superbowl Sunday. My clothing still felt like painted on clothing without a single air-bubble in sight. However, when I stepped on the scale I was relieved to see that I was down 7.5 pounds for the weeks work. Naturally, that day I feasted during the Superbowl and then the feast continued the next day as I took my Stepson out to eat. My amazing wife had a great week and lost 6 pounds.

Week two weigh-in was a somber moment for me. I knew I had feasted a couple of days and did not keep up with my workouts. I was battling an ear infection and the medication made me ill without food. My week was not a complete loss or failure as I was down .5 pounds. My beautiful wife took a commanding lead and had another excellent week with a 4-pound loss. That brings us to today’s weigh-in. Yes, I dined out for Valentines Day, as did my wife. However, I took a to-go container and actually finished the meal the next day, eating outside of my program for two days. The final half of the week, I really focused on my program and worked out whenever possible. The result was a very surprising loss of 5-pounds. My wife came in with another 2-pound loss for the week. This brings my three-week weight-loss to 13-pounds and my beautiful wife comes in with 12-pounds lost in three weeks.

The program is simple and we try to make our own meals and eat as many whole foods as possible. The program that I find works the very best for me is a simple 1200/28. Consuming 1200 calories or less and 28 grams of carbohydrates or less per day and working out whenever possible and the pounds drop off. Working out, reading labels, and paying attention to those labels and their serving sizes are keys to success. When we work out or when our bodies feel the need, we will increase those numbers appropriately. We have been taking one day off per week from this program. Nothing major, but enjoying some of the higher caloric foods so that we do not feel deprived.

The weight-loss journey is in full swing again and my painted clothing is actually Saran Wrap now, as air-bubbles are appearing everywhere. It feels wonderful to see that the buttons on my shirts are no longer ready to shoot someone’s eye out and cause bodily harm. I am so grateful that I was able to avoid that which I vowed never to do, purchase fat clothes again.

"My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet." ---Mahatma Gandhi

"The most thoroughly and relentlessly damned, banned, excluded, condemned, forbidden, ostracized, ignored, suppressed, repressed, robbed, brutalized and defamed of all Damned Things is the individual human being. The social engineers, statistician, psychologist, sociologists, market researchers, landlords, bureaucrats, captains of industry, bankers, governors, commissars, kings and presidents are perpetually forcing this Damned Thing into carefully prepared blueprints and perpetually irritated that the Damned Thing will not fit into the slot assigned it. The theologians call it a sinner and try to reform it. The governor calls it a criminal and tries to punish it. the psychologist calls it a neurotic and tries to cure it. Still, the Damned Thing will not fit into their slots." ---Robert Wilson

"The greatest beauty tip:
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his / her hands through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed, never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others. be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ---Audrey Hepburn