Thursday, June 26, 2008

Scales Of Insecurity

Want a perfect example of how excruciatingly up and down this whole process can be?

As you know from yesterday, I had to delay my weigh-in because the training room at Clemson was closed. So today it was off to my backup scales at a local grocery store.

Throughout the six months I've been doing this, I have used those backup scales quite regularly - mostly during the week if I'm in the area to check up on the week's progress. I've used them so often that I know exactly the difference in what my weight shows on it, compared to the scales at Clemson.

Let me repeat that. I know the exact difference. Exact.

The backup scales always show me three pounds heavier than the scales at Clemson. Always.

Never a variance.

Am I being too vague?

Yet when I stepped on those scales this morning and it said I have lost seven pounds since last week's weigh-in, I panicked.

That can't be right, can it? Is there anyway I can get into Clemson? Does anyone have a key?

Again. I have the difference between the two scales down to a science. And allowing for the difference, it said I lost seven pounds. Yet I considered faking the story this morning because I didn't want to believe it.

But you know what? If it's been accurate for six months, it's accurate today. At least that's what I have to believe. So, I turned in one of my best weeks in a long, long time.

It brings my total to 65 lost.

Probably no coincidence that I began exercising daily in the pool last week, eh?

Anyway, here's the scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Lost 7

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Weigh-In Delay

Can't weigh-in until tomorrow.

Went to Clemson today, my normal day to make the scales squeal, but the training room was locked up. On the door was a sign saying it would be closed from June 24-30.

I was there on Monday, the 23rd. Apparently the note was on the door then, too. Except that the door was propped open and you couldn't see the note.

So, I will go to my backup place tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Motivation

It's funny that six months into this thing I still find myself fighting the urge to chuck it all and live out the rest of my days fat and miserable.


Not that it's unexpected, I suppose. But I guess while I'm learning lessons about what, how and when to eat, I'm also still fighting 22 years of previous programming.


Though I haven't written about it until tonight, the fact is that I find myself struggling with motivation these days. I'm sure it will pass. At least I hope it will. But I don't know, really.


Six months. This is uncharted territory for me. In the past it was a month or two, then the motivation would begin to wane as the temptation began to rise. Shortly thereafter it was goodbye diet, hello same old unhealthy lifestyle.


I think part of it has to do with the numbers.


I look back at the last five weeks and see just two pounds gone. And while the reality of the situation is that being on the road and my daughter's graduation were tremendous obstacles I overcame in order to hold serve during that time, my apparently black-and-white way of thinking sometimes only sees the scoreboard.


If I had to pinpoint something right now (besides the urge to dive headfirst into a bathtub full of beer and chicken wings), I'd say it's patience. Or lack of it.


There have been times in my life when I've had problems with patience, and this is turning out to be one of them. I want the weight gone, and I want it gone now. And I have to constantly step back and remind myself something I've told you before:


It took 22 years to build this magnificent temple. It ain't coming off in just a few months.


So, I press on. Bobbing and weaving as temptation fires one haymaker after another.


Bloodied, battered, but not beaten.

Not yet.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Fun Way To Exercise

I hate exercise.

At least the kind of exercise which has you in a gym lifting weights, or running on a treadmill, or riding a stationary bike. Never have cared for it.

As I've stated before, I much preferred - when I was able to do so - playing basketball for a couple of hours, or playing baseball/softball. Tossing the football around. Anything along those lines.

I wrote a few months back about buying the exercise bike for the house, and doing so against my better judgement. After a few weeks of half-hearted work on it, the bike is doing just what I thought it would - serving as a glorified clothing rack and collecting dust.

Okay, so it wasn't one of my better decisions.

But there's hope on the horizon. After a few weeks of fixing leaky pipes and patching a few holes in the liner, we got our pool up and running this past weekend.

Each of the last couple of days I've spent at least an hour in there, doing some calculated exercises as well as just some general thrashing about. It's been a great addition to my afternoons and evenings as the temperatures have stayed in the high 90's.

But for me, mental case that I am, it doesn't smack of boring old workouts. Whereas I hate the gym, I love the pool. And in just a couple of days I can already tell that it's been beneficial, as I am a bit sore in some places I haven't been sore in a while (keep your mind out of the gutter, please).

So perhaps the next few weeks will see an acceleration in the weight-loss process. No guarantees, of course.

But I can promise you this. I sure as Sam Hill don't dread coming home to get in the water.

Good thing there's no sand around, though. I hate when Greenpeace-niks try to roll me back into the ocean.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Six Months In The Books

Today was my six-month weigh-in.

I had hoped to be at 60 pounds gone by this time, a nice, even average of 10 pounds lost per month. But, came up just short.

I did lose one pound this week, which puts me at 58 total.

Obviously, I'm still happy with how things are going. I've just got to make sure my motivation stays strong. I've noticed it wavering a little in recent weeks, but that's not unusual in a process like this.

Keep the comments and emails coming. They are a greater source of that motivation than you realize.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1

Friday, June 13, 2008

Milestone Approaching

If you noticed on my last scorecard, this week's weigh-in was Week No. 25.

That means next weigh-in marks six months I've been on this road to better health.

It's really hard to fathom sometimes. Over the last 10-12 years I've tried so many different times to lose weight, sometimes lasting a month or two and sometimes just a day or two. So to make the six month mark means quite a bit to me.

If I can get three pounds off this week, that will get me to 60. An average of 10 pounds per month.

It's not Biggest Loser weight loss, but it's slow and steady. I'm told that's the best way to keep it off once it goes away.

Regardless, reaching the six-month mark is quite an accomplishment, considering past failures.

I can only imagine what the first year anniversary will feel like.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Status Quo

Weigh-in day. First one in two weeks.

After my daughter's graduation weekend, full of cookouts, cake and ice cream, chips, snacks and the like - all of which I allowed myself to partake of - I hit the scales today.

I haven't gained a pound.

Haven't lost one, either. But maintained the 57-pound mark throughout the two weeks.

I'm a little surprised, to be honest. But happy. Maybe I am figuring this thing out after all.

The scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Creature Of Habit

I am, as the headline on this post would suggest, one who tends to operate on a regular schedule.

Unless I'm on the road somewhere, my life revolves around my 9 a.m.-Noon time slot at the radio station. And even on the road, I have set patterns by which I usually do things.

Boring? Not really. It's just a matter of functionality. And trust me, the road trips and game coverage provide enough change and excitement in my professional life. Plus, I have two children. What more excitement could you want?

Anyway, this time of year with baseball done and not much happening other than the show, the day is pretty well defined. That includes eating and weigh-in habits.

Doing my show 9-Noon, I can get to Clemson on weigh-in day and hit the scales before I've had anything to eat or drink (a must for a true weight readout). I can also keep breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner pretty much on schedule - which is good for me as I try to shrink down to normal human size.

Filling in for Mickey this last week-plus has been a challenge. Not anything like the challenge he and Kelli face with Ryan lying comatose in a hospital, understand. I realize this. But in my day-to-day life, I've had to adjust eating times and habits. I also have had to find an alternate weigh-in point for the time being, and try to figure out the plus-minus factor on the new scale compared to the one at Clemson.

I've been able to do it. Only problem is the scale is in a grocery store that's open 24 hours, and in order to weigh in tomorrow I'll have to get up even earlier than the 4:45 a.m. wakeup call I've had for the last week or so.

But you know what? I don't mind.

I'm helping a friend in a time of dire need, and at the same time I'm learning a lesson about adjusting on the fly.

Now, if I just hadn't had that cake, ice cream and chips over the weekend...LOL.

Oh well, my daughter only graduates high school once. It was worth it, no matter what the scales may say.

But now, it's back on the straight and narrow.

Anybody going walking in the evenings?

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Concession

Well, I can almost guarantee that the next weigh-in will be a small step backward.

With the family in town and the celebration of my daughter's high school graduation, I allowed myself to enjoy some things I hadn't in a while. Cake and ice cream, potato chips, etc.

But no lamenting the decision. No beating myself up for doing it. Just a matter-of-fact approach to getting back on the straight and narrow.

I've been told by people that it's okay to have such moments every once in a while. The problem for me, however, is that those "moments" too often turn into hours. Or even days. So I've honestly tried to stay away from them through this process, and for the most part I've been successful.

This weekend? Not so much. But it's really no big deal.

Yeah, I'll be pissed off when the scales show I've put on a few pounds. But I'm beginning to realize I'm more in control of this thing that I thought I was. Not in total control, mind you. But getting a little stronger every day.

And I suppose that's half the battle.

By the way, if you ever wanted to see a big, tough, sports talk show host cry, you should have been in Littlejohn Coliseum Friday afternoon for Samantha's graduation.

I was doing pretty well until the chorus - of which Sam is a member - sang "I Will Remember You."

Then ol' dad lost it, thinking back on her and how she's grown over the past 18 years.

In fact, it's happening again as I write this.

Time for me to go.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Weigh-In Delay?

Today is weigh-in day, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get over to Clemson to hop on the scales.

Because of Mickey's attention being on his stepson, I'm doing both his show and mine. So, my timing is off. Can't get over there early, which I normally do. Before I've had anything to eat or drink.

Having already had breakfast this morning (low carb bowl from Hardee's), and the water I'll drink between now and 1 p.m., I won't get a true reading. At least I don't think I will.

Anyway, we'll see what happens. But if I don't get the results this week, we'll be back on track next Wednesday.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Prayers For A Co-Worker

Please keep my co-worker, Mickey Plyler, and his family in your thoughts and prayers today.

Mickey's step son, Ryan, was in a serious automobile accident Monday morning. Ryan has suffered a serious head injury, and his recovery is going to be a long, uphill battle. If he recovers. Right now, that's not a certainty.

He's currently in ICU at Greenville Memorial Hospital. The family - wife Kelli, Ryan's sister, and many others - are holding vigil over there as we speak and likely will be there for weeks.

If you want to drop him a note, his email address is mickeyplyler@hotmail.com. I know he'd greatly appreciate knowing more and more people have he and his family on their minds.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Six Flags Success


NOTE - I've been asked a couple of times for some before/after pics. Don't know how much you can tell here, but the top photo was taken last August when I was best man at my brother's wedding. The second was Saturday at Six Flags in Atlanta. Can you tell a difference? Now, on with the blog...

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A chance to have a picture taken with an icon. A legend. How could you pass up such an opportunity? I tried to tell Bugs I was just a normal guy with a radio show, but he insisted on having his photo made with me.

Yeah, right. Anyway.

Still a little tired today, and my feet still hurt. But I welcome this kind of feeling. It came after I accomplished something - almost the way I used to feel after giving it everything I had on the field or court for a couple of hours.

A good hurt, if you will.

By the time we got parked, picked up our tickets, grouped up the kids and gave them their instructions, it was 11 a.m. I left the park at 8:15 to warm up the bus. So for better than nine hours, I was inside the Six Flag gates.

Now understand, when you're an adult waiting on kids at a large amusement park, there's going to be a lot of sitting. So I did get the usual rest opportunities.

But unlike last July, the rest stops were a matter of routine. Not feeling like a matter of life and death.

I walked around the whole park with no problems in my knees or my back. I had no trouble breathing. Even the areas where the walk was uphill, I did fine.

Again, I wasn't breaking any land speed records. But I wasn't getting left behind like I did last summer. Kept up the pace when we were on the move, and we were moving all day long.

Some of you will understand this, and some of you won't. But when you've allowed yourself to get in the shape I have over the last 22 years, something as simple as walking around an amusement park all day long is a reason to feel giddy, as I mentioned last night.

For the first 20 years of my life you couldn't keep me still. For the last 10, sometimes an act of congress couldn't have moved me.

How I felt this morning reminded me of that first chapter of my life.

Frankly, I'm ready for an encore.

Quick Update

Just walked in the door from Six Flags in Atlanta.

I'm tired, my feet hurt. But I'm happy. Bordering on giddy, even. No knee pain, no back pain, no struggling for breath after just a few minutes walk.

Night and day from last July.

More details in the morning. Got to get some sleep.