Third time lucky?

Yep,  I’m back too! 

What happened?  How come I fell off the wagon?  What’s my excuse?  Well, my dog ran away, my truck broke, my best friend passed away…

Noo, not so simple as a country & western song but I did go 1 for 3.  My best friend passed away on July 17, 2007.  I was in the parking lot just getting ready to go into the Tuesday morning WW meeting in North Vancouver when I got the call from the EMS in Texas.  That was the end of the North Van meetings for me.  I spent a fair amount of time down south over the following months and into the early fall helping out with his estate and with all the sympathy eating that went along with that I just never made it back to a meeting in North Van… besides, Tarry had pretty much bailed by then.

I did try  attending in Ladner for a while last year with a friend of mine, Vicki… she is an exceptionally positive role model, hovering a pound or two above her goal weight for the last long time, threatening to become a lifetime member.  Why’d I stop going to Ladner WW meetings?  Change of meeting leader, or at least that’s my story and I’m sticking too it!

So… 3rd time lucky I hope.

Went to a meeting in South Delta tonight with my Sister Corilee… her first time to WW and I think she’ll like it if she can maintain the discipline to eat regularly and track what she eats.  With me helping her – do as I say, not as I’ve done – she’ll be fine.

So, how much do I weigh today?  Not so fast…  When I first went on WW in March 2007 I was 265#.  I quickly lost my first 40#s and by July was at 225#.  When I got back on the scales last year in Ladner I was up to 240#s.  I lost 10#s before falling off the bus.  Today, I weigh in at 252.6#.  So, still below my all time high, but well above my recent memories low.

I hope you’ll follow along with us for this next ride.  I can’t promise it will be my last, but I sure am hoping that 3 times is the lucky one for me.

B

I’m back…..

Yes I am back and with vigor.  Have some new goals and have just started weight watchers again.  Starting weight 246.4 lbs – OUCH!  - but hey got to start somewhere….  First goal is 10% loss.  That would be 24lbs lighter from here.  Because I’m at quite a high weight level the first 24 will (should) be a lot easier than the second 24!

My goal is to lose the 24lbs in twelve weeks.  Start date was Saturday January 10, 2008.  I will be at 222.4lbs (or lower) by April 4, 2009.

I’m pretty excited about this – particularly since I believe it at some deep core level!

(Rachel  - formerfatguys.com lives again as promised!)

hmmm…..everything is not as it seems…..

It has been a very interesting few weeks.  I have lost 10lbs (thats 2 stars in WW talk!) – and that is great news!  However this has been a particularly bad week for me so this Tuesday will be interesting to say the least.

It has been a real eye-opener to see how much I “normally” would eat compared to what i eat now – but I have to admit I have been getting weary lately.  Probably because I’ve missed the last two meetings (I made the last weigh in) – but totally missed the meeting.

This kind of stuff takes me off track – as much as I’d like to think I’m a super spontaneous person (I am) who doesn’t like a fixed schedule (i dont), I think I operate best when there is regularity in my schedule.  We are short staffed in our business in a very critical position so I’ve been double shifting myself to do the work – this gets very draining.

I’ve noticed that when I miss a “feeding” – and by feeding I mean breakfast or lunch (at a leisurely pace, not eating quickly in between rushes) is when I typically get into trouble.  For some reason my brain when it misses a meal will NOT let it go, as in, if I missed lunch and now its dinner time – I will “militantly” eat lunch (at dinner) and then have dinner later.  Yes I know this is wacked – but this is my reality at the moment.  Also when I miss lunch (or breakfast) is when I’m most likely to feel “entitled” to eat whatever I want.

The other major thing I’m noticing is that lately I’ve have become more easily frustrated/angry that when I can remember – and I’m not easily frustrated or angry (I’d like to think that anyway).  This in an odd way is encouraging to me because I believe that I have been long addicted and controlled by food – it has been too big a part of my life for most of my life, and I think because I’ve made some kind of deep commitment to changing the way I eat and view food – that some inner part of me is “greiveing” and its emoting in the way I just described.  I’m sure I could get a better analysis than I just gave for $3,000 (in counseling fees …

Anyway its a journey and I’m in and thankful for it.

Peace,

Tarry G

“I’m lovin it…”

As Tarry said, it is going to be an interesting week…

I was looking forward to weigh-in yesterday… somewhat cautiously optimistic that I was able to maintain my focus during the week on managing my portions. You see, holidays for me are a time to relax, have some fun, and eat… After a rough start last Tuesday I did buckle down and enjoyed myself along the way.

Weigh-in went well. Down 8.4lbs this time around so that put me over the 10lb mark and earned me two gold stars! Woo0 Whooo! It was rewarding to be recognized in front of our Tuesday meeting group. From my experience the first 50-60 lbs will be the easiest. I’ll start hitting the wall big time around 200lbs.

Tarry and I celebrated with some Sushi at Gen Sushi on Lonsdale. Great Spicy Tuna rolls and even better Teriyaki Chicken. We actually ate too much!

Eating too much. That’s a whole other topic…

Cheers!

Barry

Its going to be an interesting week……

Barry just got back from Disneyland…..

I’ve just about finished a fairly tough week food wise. I’ve eaten way too much. I couldn’t tell you exactly how man points because I haven’t kept track of it all – very bad management on my part. On the other hand I have not eating even close to what i would have normally consumed if I were not on this plan.

So at the end of the day where does this all leave me…..well we will find out tomorrow (weigh-in day).

Oh and I just bought a 3 month membership to our local recreational center.  My training strategy will be to walk it off.  After I lose some base weight (like 40-50lbs) I may go and see  Dave to take me to the next level, or maybe do some pilates with Caroline – or hey maybe a bit of both.  Anyway its a ways away – and I will be smiling when I get there.

Tarry

Entitlement eating…..

Entitlement eating – yeah what exactly does that mean. I should know because I just invented the term.

Entitlement Eating: Eating what you want, when you want it, even though you are supposed to be changing the way you eat – because you deserve it – and the cosmos should somehow agree with you and not punish you by adding the calories on your body that you are actually eating because after all you are “entitled to it”.

This is the kind of head space that orders a burger and fries at Cactus Club and has a half order of hot wings for dessert….. I did that today – and accounted for it. By the way the hot wings were 20 points!!!! – I will never do that again – I could have had a large order of fries for less, and enjoyed them more.

Yeah I know – that is totally whacked – which makes sense because I’m whacked too!

Nevertheless, I’m encouraged, very encouraged by the progress I am making and the progressive revelation that I’m getting of the obstacles.

Tomorrow is a new day and I’m on a long journey so I plan to be glad and rejoice in it
Tarry

Well it was bound to happen…

I just didn’t think so soon…

So here I am, in Disneyland. Maintained the plan on the plane down. Even for the first night. All day today I managed my intake. And… tonight at Joe’s Crabshack it happened.

We started with a mixed plate of shrimp for an appetizer. Problem was it was on a plate of fries and I couldn’t resist a few. No big deal. Then came my dinner. A blackened Mahi Mahi where I had them hold the rice and double up on the veggies. No problem, still on track. It was the melted butter that came with the mahi mahi. I should have given it to my wife or sent it back. I dipped the fish a bit and loved it so much I had to borrow some fries from my Wife’s plate to dip. Couldn’t help myself.

Well back at the hotel tonight and I feel like cr*p. Bloated and feeling a tad large or better I say fat. I’ll try and get up early tomorrow and hit the treadmill for an hour. Not the smartest given we’ll walk a ton at Disneyland during the day.

That’s it. I’ll get over it and will do my best for the rest of the week.

Tarry called me today and said he was down another 2.4… that makes 4 at the end of the first full week! Way to go buddy! I wish I’d been there to weigh in this morning. Next week I’ll be there. I only hope I can get back on track and stay on track for the rest of the week.

Arghhhh!

Barry

No, the novelty didn’t wear off…

It’s been a few days since either of us posted. I know at least in my case that I have just been a tad busy recently, planning a bit of a vacation.

In any event, as MacDonalds Ads say, “I’m Lovin it”! Was able to put a pair of jeans on today that I’ve not been able to do up for about 6 months. About 2 inches has gone by the wayside. Woooo Whoooo!

Points were a bit tough this weekend… I had to dip into bonus each day, but not by very much. I had ordered a batch of beer before starting on this trek and I bottled, or rather, I canned on Friday afternoon. Averaging 2 beer a day since then I’ve had to use some reserve points.

Went for an hour long walk with Fern again tonight… she had trouble keeping up with me near the end… that’s a first!

Off to Disneyland tomorrow morning for the week. This will be my first out of town challenge. Maybe I can find a meeting in Anaheim for weigh-in on Tuesday, or maybe I’ll just have to skip this week.

Cheers!

Barry

Peaks and Valleys – you can’t have one without the other….

Ah its so hard (at the moment) to be consistent and steady. For example on Tuesday I started well but consumed a total of 56 points – yeah ouch. Used up 28 points of my bonus 35 points per week. Why did that happen – because I didnt eat when I should have – worked hard and long hours, and so decided to treat myself and eat “whatever I want”. It was a good day until 11pm at night – hungry and tired I went with my two oldest boys to a great little restaurant called Ragland at the bottom of Lonsdale. Excellent fresh food in a fun surfer hangout. Plus they use a POS system on a Apple platform, and open till midnight!! The only problem is that in the course of a (very very enjoyable) hour with George and Johnny, I managed to eat 40 points of food!! Yeah you read it right, more points than I’m supposed to eat in a day….

So the next day….I’m feeling a little sheepish, plus our business (Coffeebar/Bakery) called Crema (yah, yah no link – we are working on the website – and its going to be great…) is really busy, so I don’t get a chance to eat. The whole day passes and finally at about 6:15 I sit down at my favorite local Sushi bar and have a Spicy Tuna Roll (5pts), and a green salad (2pts). I feel satisfied for the time being….

About 3.5 hours later – yeah close to 10pm, I eat a piece of Lil Caesars Pizza (4pts) – and thats it, I’m out of time and I’m full

Total consumption for the day 11 points. I’m not supposed to do that and I know it doesn’t help me when I do.

So over 2 days I don’t look as bad – but we are supposed to eat all of our points everyday. “Steady Eddy”, is the right path…that’s hard for me but I’m on it.

Tarry

I’m a bigger loser!

Thanks to Tarry for setting this up for me!

Yep… I’m struttin’ pretty tall today. Down 2.2lbs yesterday on the first weigh-in after only 2 days. Yeah, I know… the water may be responsible… but… I’ve been chugging water for the last week at least so I truly believe the portion control has helped.

I’ve also got to admit it… on Monday night I walked pretty briskly for an hour with my Wife Ferm and then went to the Gym and killed myself on the elliptical trainer for 30-40 minutes.

I feel really good… mentally good. Very much like when I started off on Atkins. Very an*l about monitoring the point count, etc… and excited about getting back to the gym.

I also learned something from the meeting yesterday and that was to not give up anything, just manage the points. So… tonight went to Earl’s with Fern… had a killer sandwich (Cajun Chicken Cheddar Sandwich on Ciabatta), had them hold the Cheddar, hold the mayo, had a big salad and you know what? I was full AND satisfied! Only problem is, didn’t leave any room for a snack tonight… no real problem though as I’m still feeling full. Maxed the points and didn’t go into bonus!

Onwards and downwards as they say…

Barry

I’m a loser!

Yup, after only two days on the program we weighed in today – because Tuesday is going to be our weigh in day – and I lost 1.6 lbs! Not bad for only 2 days !

Went to our first full meeting today as well. 9 women and Barry and I. We are probably the only two (former) fat guys who go to weight watchers. Heard some interesting ideas today from the instructor (our normal leader is on a two week holiday/cruise in Florida – yeah “cruise”….. Think never ending 24 hour buffets – woohoo!

Hope she saved up a pile of points or lost extra weight before she left.

Our instructor today shared a rule a successful (weight) loser follows – she wont incorporate anything that she doesnt think she can sustain for the long term. I like that, its realistic, more so than I tend to be. I usually try and do everything at once and in an extreme way – and then of course cant sustain it.

So – whats for dinner tonight?

Tarry

My last time… or just another kick at the can?

I’ve been weight challenged since I was 13. I’ve tried many times to turn my life around (weight wise) but with no long term success. I’ve been able to lose a lot with a low-fat diet but didn’t change my life enough to keep it off. I had tremendous “success” with the Atkins/Low-Carb diet losing 75 lbs (in less than one year) 3 years ago, but once again didn’t change my lifestyle so it came back. I’m once again at my all time high of 265 and it’s time to finally change my lifestyle for good… or at least I hope so.

It wasn’t too hard to convince Tarry to join me in this go around with Weight Watchers. We have been eating lunches together for a number of years now and, no, haven’t watched each other’s kids grow up… but we have watched each other’s bellies grow out!

I’m pumped… We’re going to make it this time and Weight Watchers is going to help us, and if you are able to take the time to follow this journey with us you’ll help keep us on the straight and narrow until we reach our goal.

Oh, and to answer the question I posed in the title… My last time!

Barry

I’m one of those people who actually think the best time to go to the supermarket is when you are hungry..

One of the things that bothers me about losing weight is that eating is a big deal for me. Yeah I’m addicted! I think about where I’m eating and what I’m going to eat all day long. Sometimes for days ahead if its a particularly excellent restaurant and great company. I like the feeling of being really really hungry and then sitting down to eat. I also like the idea of being really really thirsty and then having a super cold glass of ice water. But I know that if I wait until I feel real thirst that I’ve waited too long, and thats the rub…..if you drink water “properly” you really will never be “thirsty”…. if you eat properly, you will never have the joy (at least that is what I’m calling it in my fat addictive state) of sitting down to a big meal in super hungry mode.

Tarry

But I’m not satisfied…..

So I was complaining to Barry about being comfortably full – but not satisfied. I mentioned that I had a 12 inch Chicken sandwich but I really wanted a couple of spicy tuna rolls (yeah!!), so why didnt I have the sushi. Well a number of reasons, like I’m a work and I cant leave, I didnt think of it at the time….blah, blah. If I would have put a little more thought (read planning), just a little, I would have ordered the sushi and been full and satisfied. By the way – I work in West Vancouver (one the greatest places in Canada) and one of my favorite sushi places here is Yanaki House. Friendly people, great food.

Tarry

I get to eat 37 points worth of food everyday!

Yeah that sounds like a lot, but when you are used to a lunch buffet at Shabusen, at least once a week or more it doesn’t seem like enough.

I’m on weight watchers flex plan which allows me to eat anything (yup anything) I want to – but everything I consume has a point value attached to it and I can only consume 37 points per day. Just to give you an idea of what that could be:

• 2 fried eggs 4 pts
• 4 slices of Weight Watchers Bread 2 pts
• covered with fresh tomatoes opts

• Fruit Parfait (big) 5 pts

• 12inch (yeah 12 INCH) Turkey sub – loaded (no cheese or mayo) @ Subway 12 pts

• Another yes another 12 Chicken Sub – loaded (like above) for dinner 12 pts

Thats only 35 – I still have 2 points left to spare so lets throw in a big apple.

I’m stuffed just thinking about eating all that food…..

Peace,

Tarry G

Here we go!

Woohoo!

Here we are two former (well not yet but soon) fat guys on a journey to lose weight. It has been a long time coming! This blog is an expression of our weight loss journey. It is really a way for us to be accountable and because of that have a better shot at succeding. We are going to write as if people are reading but the primary purpose is for our own soul in the journey.

Tarry

Start Stats

Gotta start somewhere:

Tarry G 5′8, 243.2 lbs – yeah you read that right – Ouch! I used to work out with a professional football player, I would remind him when he was being to hard on me that I weighed more than he did….:) (he is 6′3 with a body like batman)

Barry C Height 5′7″, Weight 6′3″… that’s 265.6 lbs… the weight of a professional foodball lineman in a PeeWee form factor.