My Final Weight Loss Blog

Bad news and very bad news

2009-03-15T07:47:00.002-04:00

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Yeah, it's what you think... I fell off the wagon. Like an alcoholic fueled by a full case of good liquor I've been a remorseless eating machine. I've gained some weight but I'm fighting to get the "spirit" back. I did great yesterday until my kids took me to an all you can eat sushi place.

Today I take my life back! I will be healthy! I will make the right choices!
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Good news, bad news...

2009-03-01T08:19:00.002-05:00

Good news - I'm down .2 - which, in my mind, a negligible loss - so I'm maintaining. The bad news is I'm eating some "junky" food. I've got to nip this in the bud - NOW! I lost weight not to look good but to be healthy. I'm a ravenous junk food- (e.g. chocolate) -aholic; but the fight is on and I WILL win!

Have a great week.

Gained on Purpose

2009-02-22T07:51:00.002-05:00

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That seven pound loss last week was amazing, but unsettling. Too much weight, at least I thought. So this week I ate more. I can’t say it bothered me to eat more to gain weight – for the first time in my life. I hoped for +/- two pounds and it ended up at 2.2 pounds up for the week. I weighted 180.8 this morning. Now I can back off and slowly get down to goal at 178. I’m in no rush to get to goal – I’m more in a rush to be healthy and feel good. By the beginning of this past week I felt “weak-ish,” like under fed or something and seven pound at 180 is a lot different than seven pounds at 240. The crappy weather isn’t a great help – if it were midsummer I probably wouldn’t have noticed. Oh well, but I’m feeling good about where I am.

Active, fun day ahead and work has be BUSY!

Have a great week!
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A Weird But Wonderful Weigh-In

2009-02-15T10:01:00.004-05:00

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I had a very “interesting” week; quite tumultuous, to say the least. Consequently I missed a few meals – I went almost a day and a half without eating at one point. So when I got on the scales this morning I weighed 178.6! I was very surprised, to say the least – oh, and yes, I tried several times to make sure! Needless to say, the Weight Watchers web site yelled at me, but I don’t care! I feel great and I’ve learned a lot.

What’s wrong with being hungry? Why am I so driven by it – almost afraid of it? I often I wonder if it’s really true hunger I that I feel or just psychological need or emptiness. During the past week, when my mind was elsewhere and I went many hours without eating, I never experienced hunger. HUH! Quite a lesson for me. To top off the experience, I heard a Dr. Dean Edell radio moment in which he said that older people need to practice additional self control in calorie consumption in order to maintain a healthy weight. Well, I’ve spent a few days thinking about this and I realized something important. Okay, I’ve lost quite a bit of weight, backed by a strong inner motivator – so now what? The only answer is self control and discipline. There’s no magic or thrill or people asking, “Are you losing weight?” I’m no longer the ‘new’ me, I’m the normal, everyday me. So, in actuality, the work starts now. There’s no break, it will take constant vigilance, one day at a time. This is a great thing! My mindset has become different over the last half year – I really believe having discipline and self control in my life is very beneficial – it’s now a total package. The properly maintained weight gives me a better shot at a longer healthier life – the discipline needed helps build a healthier psyche. How cool is that?

I wanted to update you on the pedometer. I love it! It’s always somewhere in the back of my mind to not only add steps, but aerobic steps! I think it’s played a big part in my new weight loss and sense of discipline. This is from last week:

Have a great week!
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Well, well, well…

2009-02-08T07:56:00.003-05:00

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It had to happen sometime. The cold winter drags on – carbohydrates, like the Sirens in "The Odyssey", calling me in the evening… Okay, I’ll cut the crap; I weighed 185.8 this morning, a big shock indeed. What can I say – time to call up the reserves in self control – I don’t mind a static week or a little gain – but this was more than I bargained for. Oh well, it’s a long road with peaks and valleys – I’ve had it all downhill for months – it’s good for me to see that it’s precarious state and calls for vigilance at all times. Damn it, I love how I feel and look – I’ll not give it all back for some stupid pretzels!

Have a great week!
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The Moment You Have Been Waiting For!!! ;-)

2009-02-01T07:38:00.003-05:00

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Drum roll please! This morning my weight, as read on the Tanita HD334*, is 182.6!

*The Tanita HD334 is the official scale of the "My Final Weight Loss Blog"

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In all seriousness, this is good. I'm down to losing one pound a week, which was my goal. Winter is perfect for that - I'm lethargic and cold. Man, I guess it's age or loss of body fat, but I'm really feeling the cold weather this year!

I had a mini-binge last night - and I don't care! Don't worry, I'll explain... I was sorta chilled all day and I hadn't eaten a lot anyway. After dinner I felt cold and empty. Then, my brain, which can't remember anything else, remembered an old bag of animal crackers I spotted left over from the last time my daughter was over and spent the night. Well, I ate a bunch of them. Yep, and I felt a little better. I guess, in a way, that's what I needed at that time. I'm not worried because I know I can't do that all the time, I won't do it tonight, or again for a while. I've worked too damned hard to lose the fat, I feel too good now that I'm at my proper weight to start the nightly ritual of stuffing my cake-hole.

HMMM - I just realized - it must have bothered me - I just wrote a big paragraph about it, and the more I wrote the more emphatic I became. Weird. I like this blog...
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Hey Guys! Another Good Reason...

2009-01-29T14:07:00.004-05:00

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Dieting May Cut Risk for Gum Disease, Mostly In Males

For men, especially older men, dieting may help reduce the risk of gum disease more than for women, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and other institutions.

The study, published in the journal Nutrition, also provides the latest clue to a powerful link between chronic inflammation and poor health, according to Mark Reynolds, DDS, PhD, associate professor at the Dental School, part of UMB.

"Chronic inflammation appears to be an important factor underlying aging and many age-related disorders, and dietary restriction has been shown to reduce the risk for chronic disease and promote longevity in multiple animal models," says Reynolds, who is chair of the Department of periodontics at the School.

The study, of 81 rhesus monkeys at the National Institutes of Health, showed that males fed a diet of 30 percent fewer calories for 13 to 17 years had significantly lower levels of a gum-damaging condition known as periodontal pocketing, less immune response to invading bacteria, and higher inflammatory molecules than males fed a normal diet. Periodontal inflammation and disease start from bacteria.

Also, for the monkeys not fed the reduced-calorie diet, males showed "significantly greater periodontal breakdown" than females. Consistent with previous studies of humans, the monkeys in the study showed an increasing degree of gum problems as they aged.

Aging and obesity are associated with increased biological signs of overall inflammation and periodontal disease in humans, says Reynolds. Although about one-third of adults aged 30 to 90 have periodontitis, attempts to study humans directly have been hampered by the environmental complexities of oral diseases and factors such as smoking.

Non-human primates, such as rhesus monkeys, are an important model for studying inflammatory gum disease and oral infections in humans, says Reynolds.

Reynolds studies the role of inflammation in periodontal disease, including modifiable risk factors such as nutrition. Periodontal disease is one of the few inflammatory conditions that can be readily seen and studied in humans and other animals.

Reynolds was at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) before joining the faculty at the Dental School in 1999. Continuing research verified that the monkeys develop visible gum disease, and the NIA awarded John Novak, BDS, LDS, RCS, MS, at the University of Kentucky; Reynolds; and others a five-year grant for their study.

Men develop higher rates of periodontal and coronary heart disease than do women on the whole, says Reynolds. A major question has been: how much do modifiable risk factors, such as smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity, contribute to the male-female gap? Or, is this difference in risk a natural occurrence between males and females? The monkey study seems to point to a genetic basis for the difference in risk, he says, reflecting underlying differences in how males and females respond to injury and inflammation.

He adds, "An understanding of such sex differences will become increasingly more important in the selection of treatments as we move toward personalized medicine based on individual genetic profiles."

The study appears in the Oct. 15 online issue of Nutrition, and will appear in the January hard copy. Along with Novak and Reynolds, the study team included other researchers from the Maryland and the University of Kentucky, as well as researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University, the National Institute of Aging, and Louisiana State University.

Author: Steve Berberich
Author Phone: 410-706-0023
Author email: sberb001@umaryland.edu
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A Second Mid-Week Post!

2009-01-29T07:57:00.003-05:00

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Thanks to Pamela and Ron, both for your concern for George (no change) and curiosity about the scale (it arrived).

The scale is very, very nice. It's very well made, with some heft, and seems more serious about it's intended use than my old scale. I did weigh myself and I was surprised. Pleasantly surprised! No great loss, but a loss all the same. I'll do an official weigh-in on Sunday and post the numbers. The only "fancy" function of the scale is that you can input your goal weight and the scale tells you how far above it or below it you are - kind of a "DUH!" - but I guess these days people expect things to do a bit more that it's intended use - kinda like your boss. :-D

It's the Tanita HD334 ($36.00 shipped):

A Mid-Week Post!

2009-01-28T15:50:00.004-05:00

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First - Pamela's suggestion of the Tanita scale was right on the mark - after some research I ordered one from Amazon on Sunday and it has been shipped! Hopefully I'll have it by the weekend - I'm really curious what my weight is!

I have been having a blast with the pedometer - it really outputs interesting data. Here is part of the output I compiled yesterday morning:

Cool, huh? I think so. It really pushes me to walk more and walk faster!

Lastly, our surrogate child - George, our dog - has been sick since last Thursday and in the Vet hospital since Monday. The vet is cautiously optimistic - he says it's severe gastroenteritis We're (my wife and I) are pretty bummed about the whole thing. I can tell I'm down - I'm hungry ALL the time and it's really a struggle to hold off the munchies. So far so good.

I'll keep you all posted on stuff!
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A FUBAR Scale and I Guess I Do Get Exercise...

2009-01-25T07:55:00.006-05:00

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Well, it finally happened, the digital scale has bitten the dust. I could not get a consistent reading this morning – it read anywhere from I lost four to I gained three. I don’t think it’ been accurate anyway. The last time I went to the doctor’s office I weighed less full dressed and well fed than I did at home on this scale. Time to research and Amazon a new one; hopefully next week I can give you a weight!

Speaking of Amazon… I bought a pedometer. Way cool! The one I bought measures steps, aerobic steps and distance. You can also download the data to your desktop and keep a spreadsheet of your history! I knew I walked a lot. From the subway to my building is one half mile and I like to walk it fast (especially going home!). I have also been walking my dog, George, a lot more. It seems that I walk up to three to five miles a day and between 30 to 60 minutes is aerobic! Pretty good news.

The pedometer is the Amron HJ-720IT.
And I can't let this go by without introducing my daughter and son-in-law's new Corgi pup - Lucy!

Weight loss, exercising and reconditioning the brain...

2009-01-18T08:22:00.004-05:00

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I counted and this is around the 27th week I've been doing this lifestyle change. I lost 2.2 pounds this week! Yeah, I'm a little surprised at the amount, but I think I’m catching up from last week too. I haven’t been exercising per se, but I’ve been more active in other ways. I’m not a good exerciser – it’s one of the reasons that I wanted to lose weight by learning to control my eating rather than depend on exercise. I realized that in the past I’d lose weight by exercising a lot but still eating too much. Then, when the exercising lost its initial attraction, the pounds came back and I felt defeated. I had to accept I am not a person who can maintain an exercise regimen, but I need to lose the weight via restricting food intake. That’s helped a lot the last couple of months. This pertains mainly to the winter months – spring and summer I do much better. I just need to maintain my reconditioning through this winter and I’ll be very much on my way. I do try to be active in other way, being sedentary is a bad thing.

My dog developed some issues recently, so I contacted an animal behaviorist and had a very interesting discussion with her. Funny, I was able to relate it to me maintaining a proper weight as well as to the dog. For me, it’s all about conditioning and reward. I cannot reward myself with a big meal or a treat of some kind. It sends my tiny brain the wrong signal, I guess. I found that I need lifestyle rewards – feeling better about myself, new clothes, etc. I think of those rewards when I’m tempted and it’s a better trigger for “correct” behavior.

Oh, the extra activity – longer and more walks for the dog… a bad week to start – I think I lost more weight by my body burning calories to keep warm than the actual physical part!

Have a great week everybody!
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WOW!

2009-01-16T11:29:00.003-05:00

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WOW! That's how I feel when I finally got around to looking at this blog. Eighteen followers and some really encouraging comments - I am truly humbled. Gad, I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted... I've been busy lately and distracted with other issues in my life, but I have not let the goal of losing weight and keeping it slip out of focus. It's a daily thing and it does take some effort, but I'm mostly on top. I did slip last Friday! We had pizza for dinner; I had my usual portion and was finishing up when my wife had to leave for an appointment. Well, I got out my current book and started to read - the next thing I knew I had finished off the pizza - yea, the whole thing! Then I ate about ten cookies for desert - I have no excuse - I did because of the drive that kicks it at some point. I picture it's like the alcoholic who has a drink or two and then the "what the hell" mode takes over. I'm sure some of you can identify with that feeling. Oh well, I'm only human. The trick is that now there's no guilt the next day. It's a new day - new victories lie ahead - I was back on track and have been ever since. I weighed in at 186.6 on Sunday.

I want to get to around 180, but I want these last few pounds to come off slowly. I have not been counting points (before I eat) the last couple of weeks and I think the WW lessons sunk in pretty good. I have a good sense of portions, etc, but I still need to check the point value of foods that I'm not familiar with. I really want this to be a lifestyle and it's starting to feel that way, a bit.

I get complimented on my new look all the time and that's nice. What I really enjoy is how good I feel!

I promise I'll post my weight on Sunday!
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Making Things Right

2009-01-03T08:34:00.004-05:00

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First, thanks to all of you that comment each week (e.g. Pamela, Ron...), it does mean a lot.

Second, I re-weighed myself on my own scale last week and I had lost a pound - so my weight for last week was actually 189.2. I'll weigh in tomorrow morning - I'm banking on at least a pound so I did my photo thingy...

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Another Week

2008-12-28T09:26:00.007-05:00

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Well, here it is - another week has past. But not any week - Christmas was in there. Lots of food, not the correct food, was shoved in the old pie-hole. At least I broke even - same weight: 190.4 -so, no damage done. All that crap food - cookies, cakes, pies, chocolates - makes me feel so lethargic; well, more lethargic than normal. Today I'm going to eat right and head downward again.

The doctor visit was great - he said my goal weight should be 180, so ten pounds to go!

Ah, yes - the glucose - you've been waiting for that, right?

TA-DA! Man, that looks good! Though after yesterday it may be around 180! Just kidding...

Catching Up

2008-12-20T06:45:00.003-05:00

First, I want to thank everyone who left a comment - that's really cool and I need the encouragement!

Well I missed posting last week - no biggie - I weighed in at 192.4 - a 1.2 pound loss. I'm slowing the loss up some and trying to wean my self off the constant tracking and going with a "lifestyle" approach. Man, Weight Watchers really teaches you a lot! I still "count" and look up foods, but not tracking every bite. I sometimes look up foods after I eat to see how I did - I'm really getting a good sense of what and how much I should eat. I weighed myself this morning and it was 191.2 - that rocks - I feel great!

I had blood work done yesterday and the lipid panel was posted last night look at this!

WOW, huh? I'm waiting for the glucose numbers to come in - that, to me, is most important. As soon as I get those in I'll put 'em up!

I have a busy Holiday ahead - my daughter and her husband are coming in for a week and I'm really looking forward to the time with the entire family together!

Merry Christmas everyone! And a Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends!

WEEK TWENTY

2008-12-07T08:43:00.003-05:00

This is why I missed a week! I wanted to wait until I hit the "Big 50" at WW. When you add in the first ten pounds I lost it's actually 61.4 pounds this year! WOW!

It seems that all I get is compliments these days and another guy joined due to his daughter and my success with WW. I still keep it in perspective, I really didn’t do this to look good and hear compliments – it was begun for my health. I feel great, really great – like years younger! I have reset my goal to 185. I realize that I’m not done; I’m not at my correct, healthy weight. I have an appointment on Dec 22 with my doctor – I’ll let him make the final decision.

WEEK 18

2008-11-23T08:43:00.004-05:00

Week 18 has granted me another 1.8 pounds less of me – there are a lot of people besides me who say the less of me the better! :-) Man, the cold weather is a killer – I seem hungrier these days – last night I dreamed I was eating Sun Chips and couldn’t stop. The funny part is I knew the points and was counting as I ate!!! That’s true!

Doing the on-line WW presents a challenge in that there’s nobody to monitor what or how you’re doing on the plan. Personally I’ve made the GOAD my “monitor”. I dutifully report my WI each week as if I were going to a meeting – I take it seriously. I’ve gotten feedback on my comments and it has been a very positive force in my weight loss.

Pictures Tell the Tale...

2008-11-22T09:11:00.001-05:00

A thousand words and all that crap...

Week 17 – I break 200 and 2 NSVs!

2008-11-16T09:32:00.004-05:00

What a great week! Let’s start with my Sunday WI – 199.6! I, for the first time in many years, weigh less than 200 pounds! I feel like a feather – LOL! I look and feel great! I’m wearing good looking clothes and a Harris Tweed sport jacket I bought 20 years ago has been part of my attire for a couple of weeks – but this week it fit perfectly - a 32R! Can you tell I’m happy?

The two NSVs involve two different people I hadn’t seen for a while. Both said almost the same thing when they saw me which was “You look great!” They wanted to know how I did it, the amount and all the details – wow, it sure made me feel good.

The me that walks around today is definitely a different guy. I feel more confident and far less negatively self-conscience. I never realized how my weight was affecting me psychologically until the last several weeks. I’m looking forward to hitting my goal and sustaining it though Weight Watchers!

Week Sixteen!

2008-11-10T07:40:00.002-05:00

Another 2 pounds down - I have not gone a week yet where I didn't lose weight.

My wife and I went to Don Pablo's last night - before I went I looked up the nutritional values of their menu on-line and I was able to get a meal within my points available! I did change the rice & beans to double vegetables and only had a couple of chips. Man, their vegetables are great!

I’m really getting into the discipline of eating right. I have felt so much better since I started controlling my eating – physically and mentally. I’ve read in books and heard people say how it’s mentally & physically healthy to practice discipline in eating and I scoffed at the control freaks - I have never been good at self control - but now I’ve found that there is truth in the practice of dietary control. Now I’m one of those control freaks… (not quite! :-D)

Why Weight Watchers works (in my opinion):

The Weight Watchers approach to weight loss
Our food plans are just part of the overall Weight Watchers approach. We also offer advice on developing healthy habits, building a supportive environment, and getting exercise—and why these “Four Pillars” can help you lose weight and keep it off for good.

41.4 in 15

2008-11-02T09:02:00.000-05:00

Has it been fifteen weeks already? Time is flying by. I lost a modest 1.6 pounds this week and I’m delighted. So far I have not gone a week without losing weight – 41.4 pounds lost since joining Weight Watchers.

Adjusting Goal Weight & Fourteen Week Weigh In

2008-10-26T09:41:00.001-04:00

Weighed in at 205.2 – still losing – still excited about WW. But I was giving my goal weight of 199 some thought – I believe it’s too high. When I initially set it that weight seemed reasonable for me, but now, at 205, I see how much fat I still have hanging off me! That also has my BMI over 30. Many years ago, when I weighed 185-190, that seemed a pretty healthy weight for me. I am large framed (doctor confirmed), so I think 190 is a better, more realistic goal for me at age 55.

Updated the Progress Pic

2008-10-19T10:26:00.003-04:00

(click it to see it BIG)

Thirteen Lucky Weeks!

2008-10-19T09:24:00.003-04:00

Another great week – down another two pounds for a total of 37+ pounds since joining WW and 46 pounds since March of this year.

Funny, when at 245 - 250, I thought at my current weight I’d be skinny. Well, comparatively speaking, I am, but I still have a belly and plenty of cushion – so I still have a way to go!

Did a quick picture thing this morning...

Ah, Yes – the Blood Work Caveat.

2008-10-18T18:44:00.004-04:00

Well, one more list of test results straggled in and one of the numbers was NOT good…

GLUCOSE POST FAST ----- 113 ---- 70-99 MG/DL
My blood glucose is four points above the highest level it should be. It was three points higher, at 116, in July. Kinda not good that it didn’t drop more. So, I need to keep losing weight and he’ll retest in three months. Man, I hope I didn’t cause diabetes by carrying that fat for so long. We’ll see…

BLOOD WORK RESULTS!

2008-10-12T08:20:00.002-04:00

I was retested to see if all my funky, loser-type, fat-induced, off-the-scale figures improved. They sure did!

Twelve Weeks!!

2008-10-12T08:17:00.003-04:00

Another THREE pounds! Thirty-five lost. Weight=209.8!

Two Ride Day Pix

2008-10-07T10:43:00.002-04:00

Week Eleven and Sea Gull Century Report

2008-10-05T14:25:00.005-04:00

First the weigh in report is another 2.2 pounds down – I weighed 212.8 as of this morning! 32.2 pounds of fat gone!

Now, the Sea Gull. There are not enough superlatives to describe this weekend! First off, it was the 20th Annual Sea Gull and I had bid on the rider number 20 and I won! Very cool. They also gave me a signed print of the picture for this year’s ride – even more very cool. There were over 6000 riders of all ages, shapes, races, and you name it, from all over North America bombarding the small town of Salisbury, Maryland. On Friday night there was a reception with a DJ, barbecued chicken, Nachos, soft pretzels, popcorn, beer, wine and energy drinks – all outside - very, very nice. Ride day was perfect weather-wise. I was up at 4:40 too excited to sleep and raring to go. The ride was beautiful – all day I seemed to peddle effortlessly – one of my best biking memories. When the ride was over there was a party of all parties! Hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken, soda, beer out the wazoo and best of all a live band. Man, what a weekend - 2009 – here I come! I’ll do the picture thing ASAP.

Week Ten (can you believe ten weeks already?)

2008-09-28T08:27:00.004-04:00

Another three pounds – I’m at 215 – a loss of 30 pounds. The extra pound is a surprise – I don’t do much exercise anyway and this week I missed a couple of nights due to my sore knee.

We went to Don Pablo's last night for my daughter's birthday. Before leaving I checked their nutritional info on the web and picked out what I wanted. Two tamales and one enchilada (all chicken) was around 13 points!

AUGH! The Seagull is this Saturday!!!! Beside my already sore knee I've been real busy, so not much saddle time... Is there a SAG in my future? Stay tuned.

The Three Faces of Me

2008-09-25T12:26:00.001-04:00

WOW! I must have had most of my weight in my face - quite a difference!

Triggers - From Weight Watchers

2008-09-25T07:57:00.002-04:00

I ran across this WW article and, man, did it ring true! I stay away from all sweets now because if I eat one serving I'll eat 20. I ate a bowl of ice cream a while ago and the next night all I wanted to do was binge on ice cream! So, it's reassuring to know that I'm using a good practice.

"Identifying and understanding eating triggers can help you achieve weight-loss success.

JANUARY, 2007 — A trigger can be defined as something that sets in motion a course of events. For example, red wine can trigger a migraine headache in susceptible people, while seeing a spider can trigger a panic attack in those who have arachnophobia. When it comes to eating triggers, they fall into three separate categories: trigger foods, trigger feelings, and trigger environments.1 Trigger FoodsA trigger food is a specific food that sets off a course of overeating where control is lost and excessive amounts are consumed. The most common trigger foods are sugar/fat combinations (e.g. ice cream, cookies) and fat/salt combination (e.g. nuts, potato chips).2 Food triggers are fairly uncommon and should not be confused with favorite foods (foods that are highly preferred), comfort foods (foods that are linked to a sense of home and contentment) or food cravings (desire for a food that has not been consumed in a long time). With a true food trigger it is the food, not an emotion or situation, that triggers the out-of-control eating. For example, open the bag of potato chips and it will be gone, regardless of mood, time of day or place.

To help manage trigger foods, it is important to identify the food and avoid it altogether, at least for a certain period of time, and then reassess periodically.
Trigger FeelingsA trigger feeling is an emotion, good or bad, that sets off a period of overeating.3 Unlike food triggers, which initiate overeating of a specific food, after an emotional trigger any available food will do. For more information on this topic, read the Science Center library article, Emotional Eating. To manage trigger feelings, it is important to first identify the specific emotion that initiates the overeating and then develop positive strategies to cope with that emotion without using food.

Trigger EnvironmentsA trigger environment is a specific situation or place that sets off a period of overeating. Common examples include walking into a movie theater, going to a buffet restaurant, attending a sporting event or visiting a relative. To manage trigger environments, it is important to identify the specific location, people or events that set off the overeating. As with trigger foods, avoidance is an effective strategy for many people. For example, if the movie theater is a trigger, then going to a play or museum may be a better option. If visiting relatives in their home sets off an eating frenzy, ask to meet in a restaurant or elsewhere. When avoidance is not an option, it is important to develop tactics that minimize the likelihood of overeating.

Bottom Line – Inevitably, eating triggers happen. When this occurs, it is important to recognize them for what they are and think about how you could avoid it from occurring in the future.

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1 Wardle J. Conditioning processes and cue exposure in the modification of excessive eating. Addict Behav. 1990;15(4):387-93.
2 Hagan MM, Chandler PC, Wauford PK, Rybak RJ, Oswald KD. The role of palatable food and hunger in an animal model of stress induced binge eating. Int J Eat Disord. 2003 Sep;34(2):183-97.
3 Patel KA, Schlundt DG. Impact of moods and social context on eating behavior. Appetite 2001 Apr;36(2):111-8.

Nine Weeks of Weight Watchers

2008-09-21T12:56:00.002-04:00

Yep, hard to believe! I lost another two pounds - just like WW says I should - I'm impressed. I'm now at 218 - a loss of 27 pounds since joining.

I rode 25 miles on the B&A this morning. I have a lot more energy and pulling hills is getting easier!

10%!!!

2008-09-14T17:51:00.002-04:00

This is a big step - the first big goal has been reached - I've lost 10% of my initial weight. I weighed in at 220 today, 25 pounds less than when I started! I feel so much better.

I celebrated by doing 25 miles on the B&A. Gad, it was so hot and humid I thought I'd die!

The B&A Trail and Pizza

2008-09-08T07:31:00.003-04:00

Went out on the trail yesterday - beautiful once again! I was only able to do twenty miles due to time constraints, but anything is better than nothing!

I was hungry last night and my daughter was hanging around the house so we ordered Papa John's Pizza. Italian Trio - that stuff is great! I ate 28 points worth – I get 32 points for a day. Now, I can put away some pizza and in the old days that amount was on the low side of my usual helping. Sheesh - this helps me realize how much I used to overeat!

WEEK SEVEN

2008-09-07T09:13:00.002-04:00

Well, things are slowing down, as I expected. I'm OP just as much as in the beginning but each week the loss is a bit less. Down 1.5 this week. I'm happy, believe that, but this is the point where I used to lose my will. This time around, though, I feel so much better that even if I didn't lose weight - I'd still continue to use WW.

Another Great Day on the B&A!

2008-09-02T16:13:00.002-04:00

Went out on the B&A Trail again yesterday - it was beautiful! I felt pretty strong and had plenty of energy - giving me good vibes about the Sea Gull coming up. The guys I ride with and I want to go do the Western Maryland Rail Trail some time later this month. Man, talk about beautiful!

WEEK SIX!

2008-08-31T08:46:00.003-04:00

Well, another 2.5 pounds down! I’m at 223.5 – I’ll reach 10% and my half-way point (220) in the next week or two if I continue to lose at the current rate. Yeah, I’m happy! When I was at my top weight I felt every year of my 55 – I told my wife just yesterday I feel twenty years younger already - how good am I going to feel at my proper weight? Lately, it’s hard to make points some days - I believe that’s because the point system makes me make better choices so I can eat more, but it’s healthier foods! I’m exercising at least 30 minutes at least six days a week and I’m not hating it completely. I can’t say I like it either, but it is progress… I use one of my bikes on a trainer – I watch TV and the time goes by pretty fast.

The picture above is one of a very few fat pictures I’ve been able to find and on the right side is me yesterday.

Boring...

2008-08-30T12:14:00.003-04:00

Good Lord - what a boring week. Nothing to speak of but too much time at work. Weigh in tomorrow - I'm predicting 224...

Week Five!

2008-08-24T09:50:00.006-04:00

Another two pounds of fat has left the building! Nineteen pounds gone and I feel great!

The Ride is Behind Me!

2008-08-23T15:37:00.003-04:00

What a beautiful ride! The weather was perfect. 25.8 miles average 11.6 mph. I had to take it easy - my knee started to hurt pretty early in the ride. I have one of those knees missing cartilage - it clicks and grinds when I move it. To help with that I have shortened cranks on my bike - that helps a lot!

Weigh in tomorrow!

Going Cycling Today!

2008-08-23T07:04:00.003-04:00

I'm going to the B&A Trail today - it's going to be beautiful!

2008 Sea Gull Century!

2008-08-21T14:59:00.000-04:00

My favorite bicycling event is rapidly approaching – the Sea Gull Century! It takes place in Salisbury University on the eastern shore of Maryland on the first Saturday of October. This is the 20th year! This is one of the best rides that I do – it’s fun and with beautiful scenery to boot! I've done the ride a number of times, including 2006 with my daughter during a nor'easter!

The camaraderie and the party atmosphere make this ride a total blast!

Look at the info on the left and go check it out!

Foods That Help Me

2008-08-17T08:07:00.000-04:00

Man, those Hebrew National 97% Fat Free hot dogs are great and they are only one point each! The veggie burger doen't taste exactly like a burger - but it is a really tasty two point alternative! Add light bread or rolls to either of those and you have a very low point, filling sandwich! A cup of non-fat vanilla yogurt is a two point snack that is great for you - I have one to start my day. I've been eating grapes, bananas and cantaloupe like it's going out of style - sweet, filling and good!

Week Four Weigh In

2008-08-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

Week number four has me at 228 pounds - seventeen pounds since I started WW and twenty five pounds since March. I really do feel different - more energy, healthier.

Having a GREAT Week!

2008-08-14T18:29:00.001-04:00

I've been very busing getting stuff done around the house. Washed and waxed two of the cars. Exercising every day - I even got in a great bike ride yesterday! I've been doing great with my eating, too! I've had so much more energy this week - I haven't felt this good in a long time! I know it's due to eating healthier!

My Third Weigh In

2008-08-10T15:23:00.000-04:00

I'm at 231.5! Four and a half pounds this week and a total of 13 and 1/2 pounds so far - I'm quite happy!

I figure when I get back to work, trapped at my desk, things will slow up. I have another week off this week, so I'll be busy again - enjoying my temporary freedom!

Reflections on This Past Week

2008-08-09T08:57:00.001-04:00

I really have to tell you all about my week. I’ve been on vacation and my daughter’s been in town (she’s still in bed) while her husband is buried deep in the crunch-time of a project at his work. My other daughter is a teacher, so she’s been free to join us as well. Well, we’ve been dining out or grilling every night and it’s been a blast. We’ve also been very busy just doing fun activities. I’ve made it a point to stay on points during the week and it’s very possible! For example, we went to Carrabba's Italian Grill. I found a salad that has a smallish grilled chicken breast and enough greens to sink a small ship. I simply asked for the dressing on the side and a low point dinner (I avoided the bread). I had a great time with my family and was full when I left the table. We (my wife and I) seldom dine out, so I’ve been ignorant of the menus of most establishments – what I’ve learned is that most places have a great, low point salad dish (if you get the dressing on the side) and all the fun is still there! At home I just keep a scale on the table and portion control is a snap! For about three days I was way below my points, we were so busy we didn’t have time to eat! Oh yeah, my daughter showed me Hostess Chocolate Mini-cakes – one package of three is 1 point! They’re tiny, but very chocolate-y and filling. ONE Point!

Weight Watchers is great! It does lead to better choices – it’s a comfort to know that when I stay OP, that’s how much food I need to be healthy!

Weigh in is tomorrow!

A Quick Check In

2008-08-07T18:17:00.000-04:00

Haven't posted in a while - with my daughter in town it's been busy & lots of fun! I've been doing great with the WW. I've been below points the past three days and today - 34.5 points total. there are so many distractions I forget to eat! I'm sure I''ll catch up later!

What a Blowout!

2008-08-04T11:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I had my first big binge out and I am here to own up to it. My daughter's in town and we went to an all you can eat sushi place. That's not the worst of it. There are tons of snack foods and sweets sitting around in plain sight. AUGH! I consumed a big selection of treats before I went to bed - AUGH (Part II)!! But the Dark Knight of Vengeance named GERD made me suffer for my act of gluttony. Today I am contrite and ready to move on.

Update: I Put the Two Pictures Side-by-Side.

2008-08-03T11:47:00.000-04:00

Sunday Weigh In

2008-08-03T11:17:00.000-04:00

Weighed in this morning: 236. I'm pretty happy. I took my blood pressure at the store yesterday: 104 / 67! On the same machine three months ago I was tracking 140 / 85. Tell me weight loss ain't good for ya!!

I saw a show last night about a 41 year-old dad who died at Disney World - killed by high blood pressure - it ruined his heart. He looked to be a bit overweight. His wife said that he knew he needed to take of him self and he just got tired of doing that - and he got boneheaded when anyone mentioned it to him. I said to myself, "That's me!" It was a good motivator.

The picture above is not that great, my daughter snapped it kinda quick this morning - I think I can see a difference fron the pic at the bottom of the page. Can you?

Why Weight Watchers Didn't Work the First Time.

2008-08-02T09:48:00.001-04:00

It failed for me because I couldn't control my night binge eating and I started gaining the weight back. I started to feel embarrassed and the sense of defeat was overwhelming. I simply gave up. The meetings sucked for me – I couldn’t relate to anybody there. Now that I’m older, the weight is starting to affect my health and GERD keeps me from night binges (C0D17) so there tends to be a bit more in the motivation department.

I have to admit, with just the weight I’ve lost so far – I feel better! For some reason, I’ve never been able to say that in the past, I never noticed much of a change in the way I felt. This time is different.

Tomorrow is weigh in…

A Small Victory

2008-07-31T10:47:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd start off with this comic. It's way too true...

Now my small victory. I took a day off from exercising last night and watch the very first episode of The Sopranos. I watch TV while I exercise anyway, but I wanted to point out that I watched the very first episode of The Sopranos last night. Anyway, I got the urge to forage in the kitchen, big time! I resisted though, I went upstairs and avoided the kitchen – walked right by it and went to bed. Man, I felt good about it this morning!

Hey – two blog posts in one day!!

Weight Loss Supplements Aren’t Worth It

2008-07-31T10:32:00.000-04:00

Published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, is a study that analyzed over 402 dietary supplements that claimed to aid in weight loss, fat loss or increase metabolism. Their findings are published here:

Entrez PubMed - Availability of weight-loss supplements: results of an audit of retail outlets in a southeastern city.

Pretty interesting reading. They conclude: "“The general lack of research evidence for the safety or effectiveness of the many ingredients . . . even the most frequently included ingredients, is cause for concern.”

Though they do find that there is modest evidence of effectiveness exists for green tea, chromium picolinate, and ma huang (ephedra).

I stick with Weight Watchers, thank you.

Doin' Great!

2008-07-30T16:11:00.000-04:00

HA! I knew I suck at blogging - I forgot I had a blog! Stupid blog.

Well, here I am - it’s Wednesday – a week and a half into Weight Watchers.

I visited my brother, who lives in Ocean City, on Saturday because my other brother from Michigan was there. Normally, in the past, I would have had a few drinks and gorged my ample gut with junk food and my sister-in-law’s great cooking. I was good I ate very small amounts of most things put out and I was satisfied! As for the drinking, I stopped drinking adult beverages a while ago. Not for any big reason, I just completely lost any desire to drink – I drank enough for two life times in the past so I guess I’m ahead of the game.

So, I get on the scale on Sunday and it reports 237. Whoa. I left and came back – same result. I was really hungry so I waited a while ate a light breakfast and hydrated myself. I jumped to 238.8 and stayed there for a while. I reported 239.8 to WW - so I got credit for 5.2 pounds for the first week. Right now I’m hovering at about 237 – 238.

This morning I squeezed into a size 38 pair of pants. The 40’s I was wearing seemed baggy and made me feel good – the 38’s are tight and remind me of how much work I need to do – get it?

I’m doing great with WW – I usually have a point of a half point left at the end of the day. I’ve also been riding my bike, set up on a trainer, for 30 minutes at night. When the weather’s bearable, I take a walk at lunch.

I have/had a problem binging at night – on WW they say that it takes 21 days to break a habit – so bingers count 21 day cycles: so if you haven’t binged 47 days it’s be C3D5 – cycle 3, day 5. I guess I’m C0D14 – I’m feeling good!

Some More Details

2008-07-25T10:46:00.000-04:00

Here I am at my biggest - probably a bit over 255 - I was at this weight, again, about three months ago. I weigh in on Sunday and I'm thinking I'll be around 240, so I'm 15 pounds lighter that the me in that picture. The problem is when you weigh this much it's impossible for people to see any difference - but I can feel it.

I did good yesterday - stayed with points and got some exercise.

Weight Watchers is very good - to understand points go read up on it:

http://www.weightwatchers.com

Who the heck is YoYoNoMo? Well, at WW you have access to forums and one is called "Guys on a Diet" or GOAD. On of the guys there gave me that nickname - I like it; it's funny and motivational at the same time!

Let's Get Started

2008-07-24T11:30:00.000-04:00

I’m a 55 year-old life-long weight battler, with all zeros in the win column - I’ve yo-yoed so much I could use the name “Duncan”. Consequently, I gave up years ago and just resigned myself to being fat – (5’8” 240 – 255 LBS.) – when I’d hit 250/255 I’d cut back a bit, so I did have my limits. My biggest issue is I’m one of the laziest guys I know – I love lying down and reading, watching TV or whatever – as long as I’m horizontal. Over the last several months I have tried to keep to a structured diet, especially not eating after dinner due to the fact I developed a wicked case of GERD and I didn’t want to deal with that anymore. It sounds good but I was still overeating, eating a lot of the wrong stuff and often snacking at night – waking up have aspirated my own vomit! YUMMY! That combined with heart burn caused me to lose sleep.

Well, after six years I decided it was time for a physical. I got a warning from the results – my cholesterol was 238 and my sugar was slightly elevated. Okay, that’s new… I was the guy who could stay overweight with no repercussions, right? Sorry, wrong. Now I’m serious about losing weight – I don’t want to take pills for that stuff – not when there’s an identifiable solution. So, my doctor said to lose weight and come back in the fall for a follow up on the blood work. Will do! It also got me to thinking about retirement and wanting to be healthy and able to enjoy my life then – something that may not happen if I don’t make some changes now. The first thing that came to mind was WW and here I am! About two or three months ago I was around 255 so I cut back and got down to 242 and man I was on a roll - but I slipped again and realized I couldn't do this without help - so I joined Weight Watchers (from now on refered to as WW). I had used WW in the past with much success until I strayed. My daughter uses WW and has done will with it over the years. I hated the meetings when I went before - but now everything is online and I LOVE IT! Also, I just joined Kaised Permenente and they contavt with WW to give us a great discount! The Doc's office weighed me in at 245, so signed up on Saturday at 245 pounds with a goal of 190 pounds. So far it’s been an easier transition this time as I just follow the structured meals I’ve been using – just that now I use the points to guide my choices! I have a stationary bike that I’ve used on and off, so I ‘m back in the saddle again and I make a conscious effort to get up from my desk every once and a while and move around. I don’t care how long it takes to reach the goal – it just needs to get done!

Here's the blood scores:

Component_________Your Value________Standard Range
-----------------------------------------------
CHOLESTEROL__________238_________<200>40 - MG/DL
CHOLESTEROL,NON-HDL__191______________- MG/DL
TRIGLYCERIDE_________149_________<150 - MG/DL
LDL__________________161______________- MG/DL
HGBA1C_______________6.2%________4.3-5.8%