Redemption!!!

Wow, talk about your roller coaster ride.

After a zero week last week, I couldn't wait until after the show today. I went to Clemson early, hopped into the training room, and weighed myself.

The result?

Lost nine more pounds.

That brings the total to 24 in the first five weeks.

This up and down mental ride is exhausting. But weeks like this make it worth it. Now I've got to make sure I keep it going in the right direction.

So now, the scoreboard update:

Week 1 - 9 pounds
Week 2 - 3 pounds
Week 3 - 3 pounds
Week 4 - 0 pounds
Week 5 - 9 pounds
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Adding this to today's entry. Some recent emails have asked how/why this weight loss issue got started, and why I'm doing it in public? The following is part of a column I wrote for TigerNet back on Dec. 13. This should explain it all:

Finally, a rare personal note.

I want to clear up some confusion about something I said on my radio show today. I want it in writing so everyone knows what I said.

I'm not dying. I'm not sick. I've got nothing terminal. Yet.

What I did get was a warning shot fired in my direction after a visit to the doctor Wednesday.

Blood work has revealed that I'm in a pre-diabetic stage, and that my good cholesterol number is about 12 points too low. Not surprising for a guy roughly the size of a Volkswagon Beetle, eh?

I always kid about my weight. I'm not sensitive about it, and nobody makes more jokes about it than I do. People who otherwise can't win an argument and fire away at my weight when they criticize something I write or say think they are bothering me. They aren't.

I'm fat. We've documented that point. I did it to myself. I'm not suing McDonald's or anyone else for making me this way.

What I am doing, though, is finally saying enough is enough. Those warning signs came from tests I took after finding out my dad is having much more serious issues that are also weight related. It was a wakeup call for me, because I want to be around long enough to become a burden on my children (thanks Jeff Foxworthy).

In seven years of hosting my own daily show on WCCP and even a time or two in other on-air capacities before that, I tried weight-loss tactics that were nothing more than publicity stunts. Well, I can promise you this is no stunt.

I now know that if I don't do something, and quick, not only won't I be around to bug my children in my old age, I may not be around another 7-10 years to heckle all of you. And goodness knows how much I love doing that.

Anyway, Friday I go for a stress test. If all checks out well, I begin work with both a physical trainer and a nutritionist inside the next couple of weeks. Serious work. No publicity stunts.

It's the drive to stay alive.

Why am I saying this publicly?

Two reasons. One, perhaps there are others in a similar circumstance. If talking about my problems inspires someone else to take the same steps I'm taking, then I've accomplished something.

But I'm also asking for your help, asking you to become something of an extended support group. As much as I'm on the road and out in public, visible to many of you, I want you to help be my conscience until I get this thing rolling strong in the right direction.

If you see me eating or drinking something I shouldn't be, call me out on it. Smack me. Put me in a headlock. Do something.

Temptation is around every corner, and as you can see I've turned more than a few corners in my life.

I have a great wife and two beautiful daughters. I have a job I love, a number of wonderful friends, and a readership/listenership that keeps me on the straight and narrow.

It's all worth living for, and it's time I make sure I'm living for them for a long, long time.

I appreciate your support.

Keep me, and my dad, in your prayers.

Feeling Better

Well, with one more day to go before this week's weigh-in, I'm feeling much better about things. This time last week I had that foreboding sense of doom.

I suppose I shouldn't fret too much about a zero week. After all, I didn't gain anything. But I'm not going to make any progress if all I do is serve and volley. So hopefully my instincts are right again, and this week is a good one.

Some good news. More than one person has told me they can tell I've lost weight. That helps, because I can't see it yet. I only know it's happened because my pants are a bit more loose these days.

Oh, and being on the road again a day or two this week, I've handled it much better.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Weekend's A-Comin'

It's late Friday afternoon. Dusk is about to fall. Just finished watching another episode of MASH. Man, what a great show that was.

None of that has anything to do with my attempt to lose weight. As you can see, I'm trying to distract myself. If I'm not out working and keeping busy, the cravings try their best to drive me crazy. And with nothing scheduled tonight, most of Saturday and all day Sunday, this should be fun (sigh).

Anyway, here's the running tab as we continue this journey. I'll make sure to update it every week.

Week 1 - Lost 9 pounds
Week 2 - Lost 3 pounds
Week 3 - Lost 3 pounds
Week 4 - Lost 0 pounds

I hate that stupid zero.

Setback

Zero.

That's how much weight I lost last week. Zero.

I suppose the good news is that I didn't gain anything, either. But, as I wrote yesterday, I had a feeling it was going to be a bad week. Go with your gut instinct, I always say. And once again I was right.

There was one other piece of news that really is good that came out of today. Went back to the doctor for my follow-up and everything is okay. No further issues. Just gotta get the weight off.

Which means no more weeks like this last one.

The Night Before

I'm worried.

I don't feel like I've had as good a week this time around. I actually felt better after the two weeks over the holidays. Don't ask me why. Maybe, as I said the other night, it's because we've been eating out quite a bit.

But then again, who knows? I ate out a lot the first three weeks, too, when I was on the road.

I just don't feel as confident. There were no real breakdowns, as such. But maybe I ate too much of the good things.

So, I weigh in tomorrow, then go to my doctor's appointment that was rescheduled from last week.

I'm going to have to quit putting off working out and snap to it. But I know me. If I do it and my mind's not totally set in and in the right frame, I'll fail. I've failed so many times before...I can't this time.

Slow and steady. I keep telling myself. Slow and steady. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

I'm going to bed now. I need a full night's sleep.

On The Road Again

Coming to you tonight from just outside the Nation's Capital, bedding down in rainy College Park, Md.

Just finished writing a column on Sunday's Clemson-North Carolina basketball game for TigerNet (www.thetigernet.com). Too bad I'm going to miss that game. I'll be busy working up here.

Tomorrow (Sunday) the Clemson Lady Tigers face No. 5 Maryland to open the ACC season. I get to call the game on radio, as per usual, and will do so wondering if the 38-point loss the team suffered at Dayton a couple of weeks ago might be a pleasant walk in the park compared to this one.

I guess we will wait and see.

Anyway, next weigh-in time will be interesting. Circumstances have dictated that I eat out a lot in the last few days. It can be challenging to do so when you're trying to lose weight. Everything looks so darn good...LOL.

But, I'm trying. I've not been perfect, to be sure. But I've been pretty good.

How good remains to be seen. But it's just another obstacle I've got to learn to overcome as I try to recapture my life.

Keep after me, folks. I need the help, the support, the chastisement.

And as always, thanks.

More Good News

Coming to you tonight from Halton Arena in Charlotte, where it's halftime of the Clemson-Charlotte women's basketball game (Clemson trails 31-27...not much new there).

For me, it was weigh-in day No. 3, and it proved to be another successful week. The scales said I lost three more pounds, bringing my three-week total now to 15. Six of those pounds have come in the last two weeks, through all the Christmas parties, family gatherings and New Year's get-togethers.

Kinda proud of myself for that.

Ah, but it's the long haul that matters. Gotta stay focused on the task at hand.

Oh, my follow-up doctor's appointment scheduled for tomorrow got moved to next week, but I think I'll start the physical workout on Monday anyway.

Wish me luck.