Hey everyone hope your summer has been good... mine has been pretty busy with finishing my second 'ep' which will be available soon, traveling to visit friends and family in SK and soon to Vancouver and Kelowna, as well as gigs in Dauphin, MB, and Kelowna (Aug. 2 at the Minstrel Cafe).
I always get a little scared when I have to go away from home, it usually means that you have little to no control over your diet, and you are away from you normal routine of sleep and gym time. Summer itself changes my sleep and working out routines just because Amy and I like to stay up later than normal, and sleep a little later (I am usually up and out of the house by 9 which may not be late for some).
On our trips this year we have done fairly well at keeping ourselves active, by playing a round or two of golf, slo-pitch, even going for walks and attempts at playing tennis. Because I am not 'gymming' it everyday means that I need to be active and I think that being a more active person is one thing that has changed overall in my life since I started the journey.
The eating part is alot harder than normal as you are going out to eat much more than you usually do when you travel, as well you may not be able to cook a lot when you are visiting someone else.
For instance we were billeted in Dauphin MB and our amazing hosts made us what I am sure is a treat to everyone else, but to us it was pounds in a pan. She made us these amazing breadpan cinnamon buns. Sooo much gooey caramel goodness, there was also orange juice, and cereal, and coffee. To someone else that might seem like the ideal treat, to me it was hard to eat even though it was quite good. It was all sugar, I need protein to survive, and thrive! I was like a little school kid on our drive home because of the sugar high and then I became like Eore the Donkey when I crashed and I was angry at everything.
That is what sugar in your bloodstream does when it isn't controlled properly by balancing protein, fat and carbs. Notice how you get tired in the later afternoon and need a 'pick-me-up' and we reach for the high-sugar- snacks like donuts or cookies with our mid-afternoon coffees. When you consistently eat protein with carbs and fats in the right ratio your blood sugar level won't crash which means you will not be as hungry, or as tired, or as cranky!
Amy and I did pack a lot of snacks and we did do a lot of our own cooking when visiting with my family in SK. It's a lot of hassle to pack a cooler full of fruit and cheeze and protein powder but it really helped us to stay away from junkfood and other quick foods that are full of empty calories. One of our 'power' foods was beef jerky! It is a high-protein source, that can be low in sugar and in fat if you look hard enough. Careful about the sodium content eating a bag every hour or two will not be good for you. The other thing we did was drink water, ALOT of it so that anything that wasn't 'good' for us was being cleansed quickly. However, we did have to stop a bit more than usual ;)...
The summer travels thus far weren't that bad. When I last weighed in it was a couple of days before we left and I was 374 (which meant that I had gained 2 lbs in the few days after my last blog) and when I came home expecting to be up again, I found that I had not only lost the 2 lbs since my last blog but also another 2lbs. I weighed in this week at 370.2lbs! My total weight loss now stands at just over 55 lbs. Not bad for a 3.5 months.
I will be back from my travels next Tues. and get back to the gym and have some normal life for a couple of weeks before I head to Calgary for another gig.
Wish me luck!
Blake
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Golfing not just a thin man's sport
I love golfing. Perhaps I should explain. I love going golfing, but what I do on the course may or may not be what one would call golf.
When I drive it is usually long but more often than not it slices like a boomerang and looks like it might come back and hit me in my face. Worse yet is my iron play which can go from bad to worse in a matter of seconds depending upon how angry I get. Very often I can throw the club farther than I hit the friggin' ball. Then there is my putting which simply put (haha pardon the pun) is horrible. I can take a great drive, a decent second shot and make it into a gentleman's 8 in a few short strokes. I love golfing, no sarcasm I actually love golfing.
My friend Kevin introduced me to it. He would stand and laugh at me as I teed off every ball in my bag as I got angrier and angrier because it wouldn't go straight. They would curve far into the woods never to be seen again by mankind. Eventually after I graduated College I used my grad money to by myself a grad present which was a set of new Jazz clubs (canadian made baby!) Over the course of the summer I broke each club (these were broke on hitting the ball not by me hitting the ground or anything else in anger) which sent me back to the store for another stronger set (bought on warranty). That summer I actually improved mostly because my friend Doug and I played almost 2-3 times a week as I was needing some serious stress relief after a break-up I didn't see coming, a graduation from College into a life of paying bills and learning about the real world and my continuing in a ministry of a church that was under it's own brand of tension and strife. Golfing for me became a boon, as did eating by the way and sometimes those things co-mingled!
Golfing can be great exercise. Lot's of walking (especially when you play like I do), lot's of twisting and turning your core. I was pretty excited when my wife and I and our friend Debbie headed out to my favourite local course for a quick round of nine of Saturday afternoon. I warmed up with a bucket of balls, as this was mine and Amy's first outing of the year with our clubs. It was interesting to me that I was able to swing more efficiently, and easily than I had the previous year. My back that had been bothering me since I hurt it last summer wasn't as tight either as I warmed up. Before we knew it our name was called and we were facing our first challenging hole of the year. A little par 4 that has a 90 degree dog leg in it making it perfect for a 'shape' iron shot. I surprised myself by parring the first hole. The next couple of holes were less than par but I was able to get myself out of trouble and do reasonably well. The fourth hole something clicked and I unleashed an almost 300 yard drive straight up the fairway about 40 ft. from the green. My game continued with good shots and bad shots and everything in between but I noticed that my score was relatively low for my first round of the year (which I usually don't count the score on). By the end of our round I tallied it up and I had shot a personal best for my first round of 46 (par is 36) only 10 over.
I began to wonder what had happened, and what the difference was. I decided it had to be that because I have lost almost 55 lbs, and I had been doing so much core work that I had more 'control' instead of 'momentum' as my core has been strengthened greatly. I was still pretty stiff and tired the rest of the day, mostly because of my tired back muscles but after about 10 minutes of some stretching and a back rub by my very amazing wife I was good to go and woke up the next day without any strains or stiffness.
I weighed in on Friday and I was at 372.1 lbs which means that I lost another 2.6 lbs for a total of 53.9lbs total weight loss.
This week will be a good one I think even though it's busy for me with recording, gigs, and travel all coming up soon. I am going to look at some new goals for the summer as I would like to be down to my high school grad weight which was 340lbs (I was a large 18 year old). That means I would need to lose 32.1 lbs in just over 2 months (Sept. long weekend). I think that's doable. Amy and I will also be measuring me this weekend!
Here's to summer at last !
Take care talk soon
Blake
When I drive it is usually long but more often than not it slices like a boomerang and looks like it might come back and hit me in my face. Worse yet is my iron play which can go from bad to worse in a matter of seconds depending upon how angry I get. Very often I can throw the club farther than I hit the friggin' ball. Then there is my putting which simply put (haha pardon the pun) is horrible. I can take a great drive, a decent second shot and make it into a gentleman's 8 in a few short strokes. I love golfing, no sarcasm I actually love golfing.
My friend Kevin introduced me to it. He would stand and laugh at me as I teed off every ball in my bag as I got angrier and angrier because it wouldn't go straight. They would curve far into the woods never to be seen again by mankind. Eventually after I graduated College I used my grad money to by myself a grad present which was a set of new Jazz clubs (canadian made baby!) Over the course of the summer I broke each club (these were broke on hitting the ball not by me hitting the ground or anything else in anger) which sent me back to the store for another stronger set (bought on warranty). That summer I actually improved mostly because my friend Doug and I played almost 2-3 times a week as I was needing some serious stress relief after a break-up I didn't see coming, a graduation from College into a life of paying bills and learning about the real world and my continuing in a ministry of a church that was under it's own brand of tension and strife. Golfing for me became a boon, as did eating by the way and sometimes those things co-mingled!
Golfing can be great exercise. Lot's of walking (especially when you play like I do), lot's of twisting and turning your core. I was pretty excited when my wife and I and our friend Debbie headed out to my favourite local course for a quick round of nine of Saturday afternoon. I warmed up with a bucket of balls, as this was mine and Amy's first outing of the year with our clubs. It was interesting to me that I was able to swing more efficiently, and easily than I had the previous year. My back that had been bothering me since I hurt it last summer wasn't as tight either as I warmed up. Before we knew it our name was called and we were facing our first challenging hole of the year. A little par 4 that has a 90 degree dog leg in it making it perfect for a 'shape' iron shot. I surprised myself by parring the first hole. The next couple of holes were less than par but I was able to get myself out of trouble and do reasonably well. The fourth hole something clicked and I unleashed an almost 300 yard drive straight up the fairway about 40 ft. from the green. My game continued with good shots and bad shots and everything in between but I noticed that my score was relatively low for my first round of the year (which I usually don't count the score on). By the end of our round I tallied it up and I had shot a personal best for my first round of 46 (par is 36) only 10 over.
I began to wonder what had happened, and what the difference was. I decided it had to be that because I have lost almost 55 lbs, and I had been doing so much core work that I had more 'control' instead of 'momentum' as my core has been strengthened greatly. I was still pretty stiff and tired the rest of the day, mostly because of my tired back muscles but after about 10 minutes of some stretching and a back rub by my very amazing wife I was good to go and woke up the next day without any strains or stiffness.
I weighed in on Friday and I was at 372.1 lbs which means that I lost another 2.6 lbs for a total of 53.9lbs total weight loss.
This week will be a good one I think even though it's busy for me with recording, gigs, and travel all coming up soon. I am going to look at some new goals for the summer as I would like to be down to my high school grad weight which was 340lbs (I was a large 18 year old). That means I would need to lose 32.1 lbs in just over 2 months (Sept. long weekend). I think that's doable. Amy and I will also be measuring me this weekend!
Here's to summer at last !
Take care talk soon
Blake
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Sick and Fat
I caught a cold last week. When I get a cold my wife would like you all to know I become like every other man when they are sick. A whiny, sniveling wuss, who can't even crack a can of soup. I hate being sick especially during the summer time when you want to be outside. I was kind of happy it was January in June last week as it matched my mood.
I was worried about being sick though, because it meant I couldn't get to the gym. It meant that I had to stay home for a few days, it meant that I had to find at home, without going to the gym a way to comfort myself in my time of sickness. We all know what we are like when we are sick, get out the ice cream, get out the junk food, get out anything that will make us feel better.
Normally when I am sick I would make a couple of fast food runs, grab a movie or two, and hunker down and wait it out, all the while enjoying my reprieve from the real world with comfort in a burger, ice-cream or fries form. I am a simple man after all, it doesn't take much to make me feel happy when I am not feeling well. So what was I going to do now that I couldn't have my comfort food.
Well I still had comfort food. Comfort came in the form of soup (which is my all time favorite comfort food) in a can as I was too drugged up to be trusted with preparing my own homemade soup. I ate some trail mix (very little I might add) and I slept. Sleeping when you are sick is apparently the best thing for you, I never knew this before because I was too busy watching movies and eating ice cream to sleep.
I was really worried though because I wasn't able to get to the gym, as I knew going to the gym when you are sick is a real no-no. Although some might argue going to the gym when you are feeling good is also misplaced truth. Even though I was eating healthy, it did mean an entire week away from the gym.
I hit the gym on Tuesday to start off with some easy cardio for the next week or so. After my workout I decided to face the inevitable and climbed upon the harbinger of bad numbered news; only to find out that I hadn't gained, I had actually lost. I lost 4.9 lbs on a week that I hadn't gone to the gym. I was so happy I couldn't stop smiling in the change room, which almost got me in trouble with a rather 'muscly' type guy who thought I was checking him out. What I was most happy about though was the fact that I broke my goal of losing 50 lbs by the end of June early. I have lost a total of 51.3 lbs!
I am pretty excited about that, I think I will celebrate... McDonald's anyone? Just kidding...
Later
Blakey
I was worried about being sick though, because it meant I couldn't get to the gym. It meant that I had to stay home for a few days, it meant that I had to find at home, without going to the gym a way to comfort myself in my time of sickness. We all know what we are like when we are sick, get out the ice cream, get out the junk food, get out anything that will make us feel better.
Normally when I am sick I would make a couple of fast food runs, grab a movie or two, and hunker down and wait it out, all the while enjoying my reprieve from the real world with comfort in a burger, ice-cream or fries form. I am a simple man after all, it doesn't take much to make me feel happy when I am not feeling well. So what was I going to do now that I couldn't have my comfort food.
Well I still had comfort food. Comfort came in the form of soup (which is my all time favorite comfort food) in a can as I was too drugged up to be trusted with preparing my own homemade soup. I ate some trail mix (very little I might add) and I slept. Sleeping when you are sick is apparently the best thing for you, I never knew this before because I was too busy watching movies and eating ice cream to sleep.
I was really worried though because I wasn't able to get to the gym, as I knew going to the gym when you are sick is a real no-no. Although some might argue going to the gym when you are feeling good is also misplaced truth. Even though I was eating healthy, it did mean an entire week away from the gym.
I hit the gym on Tuesday to start off with some easy cardio for the next week or so. After my workout I decided to face the inevitable and climbed upon the harbinger of bad numbered news; only to find out that I hadn't gained, I had actually lost. I lost 4.9 lbs on a week that I hadn't gone to the gym. I was so happy I couldn't stop smiling in the change room, which almost got me in trouble with a rather 'muscly' type guy who thought I was checking him out. What I was most happy about though was the fact that I broke my goal of losing 50 lbs by the end of June early. I have lost a total of 51.3 lbs!
I am pretty excited about that, I think I will celebrate... McDonald's anyone? Just kidding...
Later
Blakey
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Motivating Factors Pt. Deux
Thanks everyone for the feedback, it's time to continue the conversation that I started a week ago.
I think we all understand and can agree that fear is a motivator. However for me and I think for most others the fear of dying because of lifestyle choices fades pretty fast. The moment temptation arises our fears are assuaged as we dive into the need to comfort ourselves from those same fears. It's really a sick cycle and we are the metaphorical hamster on the spinning wheel. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Austin Powers where Fat Bastard is bemoaning the fact that he is fat. "I'm unhappy because I eat, I eat because I'm unhappy"... many of us have this issue.
I asked last week what motivates you? If fear is not powerful enough on its own to keep us motivated then what will?
I think I shared this a few blogs ago, but in coming to my decision to become a healthier version of myself during a day of solitude I wrote down a list of dreams that I wanted to accomplish in my 30's. The dreams that pertain to my weight loss are my motivators. Some of them you probably will find ridiculous, but then again being almost 450 lbs is also ridiculous. (BTW-I tipped the scales Sept. 2009 at 440.6 lbs and lost 20lbs using the Weight Watchers System for 3 months. This journey started at 426.6 lbs)
1). To be able to sit comfortably in a chair with arms.
This might be to some a very silly and almost embarrassing motivator unless you are a large person. Chairs with arms frighten me, they make me shake, and sweat. They usually send me running, okay walking around looking for another chair without arms. CWA (chairs with arms) are a huge deal. I can remember times going to a new restaurant, hoping to God they would have at least one chair without arms so I didn't have to endure the 'Slouch' position. You know what the 'Slouch' is all about don't you? You know the one where you put your butt on the front of the chair and lean back so that you almost form a plank shape against the chair. This allows you to 'sit' with most of your largesse out of the arms while making it look as though you mean to sit that way.
I have to say though I may not be able to fit in some CWA's no matter how much weight I lose. I am pretty big-boneded (no that wasn't a spelling mistake, you have to say it like that 'I am just big-bone-ded') and there are some chairs that my ass just wasn't made for. Like those small metal chairs that used to be in every reception office and hospital waiting room. The ones with with shiny legs and upholstered seats. I can't even get a leg in one of those things. 'Just take seat sir the Doctor will be right in ' 'Uh no thanks, my hemorrhoids flared up again why the hell do you think I'm here?'
Plane seats aren't much better. The last time I flew was on my way home from our honeymoon in Mexico. Now I am not sure who makes those plane seats, but I can bet they look NOTHING like me. They probably haven't ever seen a person my size. I almost didn't make it home because the seats were too narrow, or was it my ass to wide... either way there was a struggle, a deep breath, a snap of the arm bending on the chair and there I was hoping that I didn't have to get out again till Edmonton, only 6.5 hours away hoping I didn't have to pay for that broken arm on the seat. I really thought it should move, I guess it does now, any other 'large' passenger that uses that seat can thank me later it is now officially 'broken in'.
The point is that one of my motivators is to be able to sit in a CWA without any fear of me breaking it, bending it, snapping it, or otherwise destroying a seat that some small person can easily fall into. My hope is to walk into any restaurant and never have to worry about the question... 'Booth or table sir?' 'I don't care I fit anything now!"
2). First shopping trip in a 'normal' sized store.
You know what's funny about this one, is that it happened last week. Amy bought me some new clothes to work out in. I was worried, how were we going to pay for this? (clothes at the Big and Tall store cost me anywhere between twice to three times as much as it would anywhere else, apparently we use THAT much cloth). Amy brought home 3 bags but from Wal-Mart! This is a big deal. I have never bought anything at Wal-Mart (some of you would applaud that). So either Wal-Mart is buying bigger clothes or I am getting smaller. It is a combination of both.
I always go into Old Navy with Amy looking for stuff for her. She always tries to find things for me, but I tell her it's a waste of her time, but in a few short months it won't be, and I will have joined the masses, the proud new owner of a poorly sown polo-shirt that only cost me $10!
3). The ability to do things that I haven't been able to do. (ie. Sports, Hike, Camp)
Acouple of weekends ago we went to Jasper and did a small hike, and a bunch of other really nice walks around a lake (I walked around an ENTIRE lake). These were huge milestones for me, normally I would rather watch others hike or walk around the lake, now I am the one doing it.
The camping well it might not be that strenuous, but from a guy who makes a 3 man tent look like a grocery bag I am excited to head off into the 'wilderness' and explore my 'Manhood' as I make fires, and sear meat yay for Coleman stoves and Hot Dogs. (BTW does anyone know how to make our stove work?)
I started playing ball again, this is always something I have done except for the past couple of years in Edmonton, but I am really excited to be able to play at a level that I haven't been able to do. I am looking forward to the day when I am more agile, quicker, and stronger on a bat than I was even in high school. I am looking forward to the day that when I run around the bases I actually run around the bases.
Fear might start our motivation, but living is what keeps us motivated. Motivation needs to arise out of a desire to achieve what you thought impossible. Motivation is all about setting a goal, and pursuing it relentlessly until it is achieved. Our motivation should be about LIVING LIFE WELL whatever that means to you. For me the key to a life lived well, means that I become a healthy person (emotionally, physically and spiritually) so that I can do the things that I dream of, so that I can be the husband, the father, the leader, the man that I know I was created to be.
I am excited to share my week with you. I had a great eating week, and I had a couple of dogged work-outs but I persevered. I lost another 4.4 lbs which means that I broke through 380 this week and I now sit at 379.6lbs!
Thanks for following, I pray that somehow, somewhere you will find the motivation to change your life wherever it needs to be changed.
Talk to you all soon
Blake
I think we all understand and can agree that fear is a motivator. However for me and I think for most others the fear of dying because of lifestyle choices fades pretty fast. The moment temptation arises our fears are assuaged as we dive into the need to comfort ourselves from those same fears. It's really a sick cycle and we are the metaphorical hamster on the spinning wheel. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Austin Powers where Fat Bastard is bemoaning the fact that he is fat. "I'm unhappy because I eat, I eat because I'm unhappy"... many of us have this issue.
I asked last week what motivates you? If fear is not powerful enough on its own to keep us motivated then what will?
I think I shared this a few blogs ago, but in coming to my decision to become a healthier version of myself during a day of solitude I wrote down a list of dreams that I wanted to accomplish in my 30's. The dreams that pertain to my weight loss are my motivators. Some of them you probably will find ridiculous, but then again being almost 450 lbs is also ridiculous. (BTW-I tipped the scales Sept. 2009 at 440.6 lbs and lost 20lbs using the Weight Watchers System for 3 months. This journey started at 426.6 lbs)
1). To be able to sit comfortably in a chair with arms.
This might be to some a very silly and almost embarrassing motivator unless you are a large person. Chairs with arms frighten me, they make me shake, and sweat. They usually send me running, okay walking around looking for another chair without arms. CWA (chairs with arms) are a huge deal. I can remember times going to a new restaurant, hoping to God they would have at least one chair without arms so I didn't have to endure the 'Slouch' position. You know what the 'Slouch' is all about don't you? You know the one where you put your butt on the front of the chair and lean back so that you almost form a plank shape against the chair. This allows you to 'sit' with most of your largesse out of the arms while making it look as though you mean to sit that way.
I have to say though I may not be able to fit in some CWA's no matter how much weight I lose. I am pretty big-boneded (no that wasn't a spelling mistake, you have to say it like that 'I am just big-bone-ded') and there are some chairs that my ass just wasn't made for. Like those small metal chairs that used to be in every reception office and hospital waiting room. The ones with with shiny legs and upholstered seats. I can't even get a leg in one of those things. 'Just take seat sir the Doctor will be right in ' 'Uh no thanks, my hemorrhoids flared up again why the hell do you think I'm here?'
Plane seats aren't much better. The last time I flew was on my way home from our honeymoon in Mexico. Now I am not sure who makes those plane seats, but I can bet they look NOTHING like me. They probably haven't ever seen a person my size. I almost didn't make it home because the seats were too narrow, or was it my ass to wide... either way there was a struggle, a deep breath, a snap of the arm bending on the chair and there I was hoping that I didn't have to get out again till Edmonton, only 6.5 hours away hoping I didn't have to pay for that broken arm on the seat. I really thought it should move, I guess it does now, any other 'large' passenger that uses that seat can thank me later it is now officially 'broken in'.
The point is that one of my motivators is to be able to sit in a CWA without any fear of me breaking it, bending it, snapping it, or otherwise destroying a seat that some small person can easily fall into. My hope is to walk into any restaurant and never have to worry about the question... 'Booth or table sir?' 'I don't care I fit anything now!"
2). First shopping trip in a 'normal' sized store.
You know what's funny about this one, is that it happened last week. Amy bought me some new clothes to work out in. I was worried, how were we going to pay for this? (clothes at the Big and Tall store cost me anywhere between twice to three times as much as it would anywhere else, apparently we use THAT much cloth). Amy brought home 3 bags but from Wal-Mart! This is a big deal. I have never bought anything at Wal-Mart (some of you would applaud that). So either Wal-Mart is buying bigger clothes or I am getting smaller. It is a combination of both.
I always go into Old Navy with Amy looking for stuff for her. She always tries to find things for me, but I tell her it's a waste of her time, but in a few short months it won't be, and I will have joined the masses, the proud new owner of a poorly sown polo-shirt that only cost me $10!
3). The ability to do things that I haven't been able to do. (ie. Sports, Hike, Camp)
Acouple of weekends ago we went to Jasper and did a small hike, and a bunch of other really nice walks around a lake (I walked around an ENTIRE lake). These were huge milestones for me, normally I would rather watch others hike or walk around the lake, now I am the one doing it.
The camping well it might not be that strenuous, but from a guy who makes a 3 man tent look like a grocery bag I am excited to head off into the 'wilderness' and explore my 'Manhood' as I make fires, and sear meat yay for Coleman stoves and Hot Dogs. (BTW does anyone know how to make our stove work?)
I started playing ball again, this is always something I have done except for the past couple of years in Edmonton, but I am really excited to be able to play at a level that I haven't been able to do. I am looking forward to the day when I am more agile, quicker, and stronger on a bat than I was even in high school. I am looking forward to the day that when I run around the bases I actually run around the bases.
Fear might start our motivation, but living is what keeps us motivated. Motivation needs to arise out of a desire to achieve what you thought impossible. Motivation is all about setting a goal, and pursuing it relentlessly until it is achieved. Our motivation should be about LIVING LIFE WELL whatever that means to you. For me the key to a life lived well, means that I become a healthy person (emotionally, physically and spiritually) so that I can do the things that I dream of, so that I can be the husband, the father, the leader, the man that I know I was created to be.
I am excited to share my week with you. I had a great eating week, and I had a couple of dogged work-outs but I persevered. I lost another 4.4 lbs which means that I broke through 380 this week and I now sit at 379.6lbs!
Thanks for following, I pray that somehow, somewhere you will find the motivation to change your life wherever it needs to be changed.
Talk to you all soon
Blake
Monday, May 31, 2010
Motivating Factors Pt. 1
On Monday morning I was in the gym doing some core work when I overheard a conversation between 2 ladies. I hate to eavesdrop but it's pretty hard not to when between planks and crunches a conversation between two people is going on a few feet away.
The first lady had inquired about the second ladies' health choices, the second lady made a response like "I am doing great I am down 'x' amount of lbs." (I can't remember figures I was too busy trying to not have a a heart attack after my second circuit of abs and planks). The second lady who had lost the weight then began a conversation about how she wished her husband would begin to make some healthier choices. She was voicing a fear about how she wanted her husband to be around, and not be subject to a premature death brought on by his choices in living a sedentary lifestyle.
I couldn't help but listen more intently to the ongoing dialogue as both ladies traded stories about friends' spouses dying and by this time I was finished my core workout and was 'resting' on my mat trying to not die of suffocation because my abs wouldn't contract anymore. The lady kept speaking her fears of being alone, and perhaps being left alone with kids and how defensive her husband got every time she brought the subject up. I felt really bad for her, which is hard for many of you to believe, but I truly felt bad for her. I understood her fears, my wife (Amy) and I have had that same conversation, and I have to say that the fear of dying a premature death caused by my idiotic choices in my lifestyle was definitely a kick start to my journey towards health.
As I wheezed and limped to my new favorite cardio machine the 'StairMaster', I replayed the conversation in my mind. I put myself in a mental conversation with the lady. I wanted to help her, I wanted to give her a way to motivate her husband, but as I thought more about it I had to ask the questions of why I started, and why I am sticking with my choice to engage in a healthy lifestyle. Part of it I had to admit was fear, I am scared to die and leave my wife alone. I am scared to not be able to provide for my future family, I am scared to not be able to be the father my future kids need me to be. However, there's more to my choice then that. My motivation may have started out of fear, but my continuation on this journey arises out of something that far exceeds the power of fear.
Fear definitely motivates us. It can motivate us into making healthy and positive choices, or it can send us into a spiral of hate, treachery and even murder. Fear arises out of that which we cannot understand, or discern through our senses, through our minds, and even through our spirits. A little fear goes a long way as a catalyst for change. However, fear is usually a starting point especially when we are talking about lifestyle changes. Fear doesn't bring lasting change in many people, because we try not to live in fear, and truthfully I don't think we are supposed to. Fear fades over time, fear is something we tend to confront, overcome, subdue, and move on from. Fear that motivates is no different.
When I was 21 I moved to Edmonton, about 6 months later I went to the Doctor because I was having a lot of pain in my feet, I was also having frequent nosebleeds (2-3 times a day for at least 1-2 hours). Talk about fear. I was worried enough to go see a Doctor without any medical coverage (this I know is weird when you are from Canada, but it is possible to be without medical coverage and drug coverage in the country). He was kind enough to see me and promptly took my blood pressure. It was 180/165, he couldn't believe it so he took another reading and the other arm was almost 190/175. Stroke zone for blood pressure readings are 190-200 so I was close, really close. He almost hospitalized me. He scared me that day, enough to go home and recruit some help from my roommate Grant who was a body builder/personal trainer.
Fear is a "minimal motivator", at some point in time the fear fades away in the into the great abyss and resides with the rest of the diseases that could possibly kill you, the fact that you have the power over this one isn't considered. The foot pain was gout, a very painful arthritis caused by a rich, high fat diet and is controlled by medication. The nosebleeds were caused by dry, musty air in our apartment and they lasted long because I didn't know how to stop them. The blood pressure was adjusted a little by diet, but a few years later when I was able to afford it I was placed on medication. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) is thought to be caused by obesity, a high sodium diet, stress, lack of sleep, and genetic preconditioning, all of which I have. By being able to control these issues with proper medications and science, the fear was removed. This enabled me to move on in my life and back into habits that I had formed and given up for a brief time because fear motivated me to do so.
So what keeps us motivated? What will keep you moving towards your goal? I would love to hear from you! This will be a two-part blog, I will write more this week.
It's been a busy week, hence the blog at midnight on Sunday. I had a great week at the gym, and a pretty good week eating. I did my best with the weekend which was full of BBQ's, Church Events and a Wedding Reception! I weighed in on Friday and I was down almost 1lb from last week which brings me to 384.8 so I am about .2 lbs away from 41lbs lost! Every little bit helps...
Talk to you later in the week...
Blake
The first lady had inquired about the second ladies' health choices, the second lady made a response like "I am doing great I am down 'x' amount of lbs." (I can't remember figures I was too busy trying to not have a a heart attack after my second circuit of abs and planks). The second lady who had lost the weight then began a conversation about how she wished her husband would begin to make some healthier choices. She was voicing a fear about how she wanted her husband to be around, and not be subject to a premature death brought on by his choices in living a sedentary lifestyle.
I couldn't help but listen more intently to the ongoing dialogue as both ladies traded stories about friends' spouses dying and by this time I was finished my core workout and was 'resting' on my mat trying to not die of suffocation because my abs wouldn't contract anymore. The lady kept speaking her fears of being alone, and perhaps being left alone with kids and how defensive her husband got every time she brought the subject up. I felt really bad for her, which is hard for many of you to believe, but I truly felt bad for her. I understood her fears, my wife (Amy) and I have had that same conversation, and I have to say that the fear of dying a premature death caused by my idiotic choices in my lifestyle was definitely a kick start to my journey towards health.
As I wheezed and limped to my new favorite cardio machine the 'StairMaster', I replayed the conversation in my mind. I put myself in a mental conversation with the lady. I wanted to help her, I wanted to give her a way to motivate her husband, but as I thought more about it I had to ask the questions of why I started, and why I am sticking with my choice to engage in a healthy lifestyle. Part of it I had to admit was fear, I am scared to die and leave my wife alone. I am scared to not be able to provide for my future family, I am scared to not be able to be the father my future kids need me to be. However, there's more to my choice then that. My motivation may have started out of fear, but my continuation on this journey arises out of something that far exceeds the power of fear.
Fear definitely motivates us. It can motivate us into making healthy and positive choices, or it can send us into a spiral of hate, treachery and even murder. Fear arises out of that which we cannot understand, or discern through our senses, through our minds, and even through our spirits. A little fear goes a long way as a catalyst for change. However, fear is usually a starting point especially when we are talking about lifestyle changes. Fear doesn't bring lasting change in many people, because we try not to live in fear, and truthfully I don't think we are supposed to. Fear fades over time, fear is something we tend to confront, overcome, subdue, and move on from. Fear that motivates is no different.
When I was 21 I moved to Edmonton, about 6 months later I went to the Doctor because I was having a lot of pain in my feet, I was also having frequent nosebleeds (2-3 times a day for at least 1-2 hours). Talk about fear. I was worried enough to go see a Doctor without any medical coverage (this I know is weird when you are from Canada, but it is possible to be without medical coverage and drug coverage in the country). He was kind enough to see me and promptly took my blood pressure. It was 180/165, he couldn't believe it so he took another reading and the other arm was almost 190/175. Stroke zone for blood pressure readings are 190-200 so I was close, really close. He almost hospitalized me. He scared me that day, enough to go home and recruit some help from my roommate Grant who was a body builder/personal trainer.
Fear is a "minimal motivator", at some point in time the fear fades away in the into the great abyss and resides with the rest of the diseases that could possibly kill you, the fact that you have the power over this one isn't considered. The foot pain was gout, a very painful arthritis caused by a rich, high fat diet and is controlled by medication. The nosebleeds were caused by dry, musty air in our apartment and they lasted long because I didn't know how to stop them. The blood pressure was adjusted a little by diet, but a few years later when I was able to afford it I was placed on medication. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) is thought to be caused by obesity, a high sodium diet, stress, lack of sleep, and genetic preconditioning, all of which I have. By being able to control these issues with proper medications and science, the fear was removed. This enabled me to move on in my life and back into habits that I had formed and given up for a brief time because fear motivated me to do so.
So what keeps us motivated? What will keep you moving towards your goal? I would love to hear from you! This will be a two-part blog, I will write more this week.
It's been a busy week, hence the blog at midnight on Sunday. I had a great week at the gym, and a pretty good week eating. I did my best with the weekend which was full of BBQ's, Church Events and a Wedding Reception! I weighed in on Friday and I was down almost 1lb from last week which brings me to 384.8 so I am about .2 lbs away from 41lbs lost! Every little bit helps...
Talk to you later in the week...
Blake
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Worth the "Weight"
Amy and I were talking about how we are at that strange place where our clothes don't fit right anymore. Most days I look like a prep and a rapper had a very large baby. Some of my shirts look like they could fit two of me (ok maybe that's an exaggeration...) and my jeans are falling off hence the new prep rapper look. Good thing it's summer, shorts and flip flops are meant to be baggy, although yesterday even though I cinched up the belt tighter I am pretty sure that a few people were wondering why the moon was out on a such a bright sunny day. I think I may have heard a few gasps from a couple of people, I took this to mean that my time on the stair master has been paying off!
Amy has been loving it as well, she told me yesterday that she has lost 15 lbs! She's happy because it gives her a reason to go shopping. I am happy because I get to go shopping with her.
SIDENOTE: I will NEVER understand why guys don't like to go shopping with their wives/girlfriends... I actually enjoy it most days... how can you not enjoy going with a beautiful woman who gives you a fashion show at every other store? Call me voyeuristic, but it's always worth my time!
I won't get new clothes for a while, that will be a reward for 100lbs. I will just get all my other stuff fixed, so if you know a good cheap seamstress/tailor let me know!
Last week was a challenge to not get frustrated with myself as I did not lose, but rather stayed the same. I hit the gym pretty hard and reduced the amount of grains I was eating ( I try not to go over 2-3 servings per day) as that is a good way to kick start your body again, and I changed the intensity level of my work-outs with some heavier weights and more cardio. I had GREAT results as I am down another 6 lbs to 385.6! which brings my total weight loss to 40.4 lbs!!!! I am feeling good about that!
I usually have been blogging on Friday or Sat. but I thought I would weigh-in today and blog as Amy and I are going away for Friday/Sat. It will be an interesting time trying to figure out what to eat, and how to remain active, but I know that it will be a great time!
Have an awesome weekend!
Blake
Amy has been loving it as well, she told me yesterday that she has lost 15 lbs! She's happy because it gives her a reason to go shopping. I am happy because I get to go shopping with her.
SIDENOTE: I will NEVER understand why guys don't like to go shopping with their wives/girlfriends... I actually enjoy it most days... how can you not enjoy going with a beautiful woman who gives you a fashion show at every other store? Call me voyeuristic, but it's always worth my time!
I won't get new clothes for a while, that will be a reward for 100lbs. I will just get all my other stuff fixed, so if you know a good cheap seamstress/tailor let me know!
Last week was a challenge to not get frustrated with myself as I did not lose, but rather stayed the same. I hit the gym pretty hard and reduced the amount of grains I was eating ( I try not to go over 2-3 servings per day) as that is a good way to kick start your body again, and I changed the intensity level of my work-outs with some heavier weights and more cardio. I had GREAT results as I am down another 6 lbs to 385.6! which brings my total weight loss to 40.4 lbs!!!! I am feeling good about that!
I usually have been blogging on Friday or Sat. but I thought I would weigh-in today and blog as Amy and I are going away for Friday/Sat. It will be an interesting time trying to figure out what to eat, and how to remain active, but I know that it will be a great time!
Have an awesome weekend!
Blake
Friday, May 14, 2010
Kiss My ... Adversity?
I am not sure how to feel. I probably should feel frustrated. I should feel unhappy, however I am not even though the weigh scale went up this week instead of down. I was up today 1.6 lbs. I mean it's not a lot of weight, that's the equivalent of one good visit to the bathroom (sorry for the possible mental image). There is any number of reasons for the fact that I gained, I may not have drank enough water, ate too much sodium, etc.. etc... I know that I didn't cheat, and I know that I worked out hard even though I had to take Wed. off to work at the studio and on my sermon for Sunday. So while I am not overly happy, but I am far from throwing the towel in and burying my head in a bag of chips and a cake.
I think adversity is good for us. If we don't have it then we can't say we really overcame anything. Adversity ensures that we don't get lazy, it should inspire us to kick things up a notch. If anything this reminds to be even more diligent in my eating, and my work-outs.
Speaking of intensity, it's really fun to watch people at the gym work-out. There are the soccer moms who are really working it, guys who are pushing themselves so they can show the soccer moms how to work it and lot's in-between. My favorite people are the ones who are so obvious about their dislike for the gym. They do a set, then hang out on the machine for 10 minutes, do another set and then seem to call it a day. I hope I don't look like them. I feel sorry for them, and count myself blessed because I actually enjoy the gym (at least I do now) and have always been into sports. I realize its a hard place for some because they would rather be getting a tooth pulled at the dentist's without freezing than being at a gym. I hope someone told them that 90% of losing weight is diet and that if they walked around the house and were stricter on their diet they wouldn't have to be at a place they hate; trying to pretend they know what they are doing and that they like it.
Adversity kicks my intensity levels up usually. I like a challenge, and this upcoming week I am sure will be another success. That's the way you have to look at it. If life is all about numbers, be it the amount in your bank account, the number on the weigh scale, or even the numbers of friends you have on facebook, then we have really missed the point of why we are doing something in the first place. In fact I think we can miss out on a lot of good things that are happening in our lives by giving a number the power to determine my emotional capability of any given day.
Numbers are simply metrics to measure how we are doing in accomplishing our goals. Here's what I know I am doing well:
1). I am not cheating myself by eating foods that are unhealthy (fried, sugary, empty carbs, loaded with bad fats)
2). I am not bingeing because I am eating at regular intervals in my day. I may need to watch my portion control more closely as I have lost almost 35 lbs to date which means I may need to decrease my caloric intake.
3). I am not snacking late into the night.
4). I am Drinking water regularly.
One area that I have seen a drastic improvement is sleep. I used to never sleep more than 5-6 hours a night. Now I regularly get 7-8 hours of sleep, and I notice that if I don't my work-out the next morning is that much harder as I am not able to focus and push myself.
I hope that you are doing well in your goals, if you are facing an uphill battle, keep going it just makes winning that much better. I say bring on the adversity, so I can kick its ass one more time.
Blake
I think adversity is good for us. If we don't have it then we can't say we really overcame anything. Adversity ensures that we don't get lazy, it should inspire us to kick things up a notch. If anything this reminds to be even more diligent in my eating, and my work-outs.
Speaking of intensity, it's really fun to watch people at the gym work-out. There are the soccer moms who are really working it, guys who are pushing themselves so they can show the soccer moms how to work it and lot's in-between. My favorite people are the ones who are so obvious about their dislike for the gym. They do a set, then hang out on the machine for 10 minutes, do another set and then seem to call it a day. I hope I don't look like them. I feel sorry for them, and count myself blessed because I actually enjoy the gym (at least I do now) and have always been into sports. I realize its a hard place for some because they would rather be getting a tooth pulled at the dentist's without freezing than being at a gym. I hope someone told them that 90% of losing weight is diet and that if they walked around the house and were stricter on their diet they wouldn't have to be at a place they hate; trying to pretend they know what they are doing and that they like it.
Adversity kicks my intensity levels up usually. I like a challenge, and this upcoming week I am sure will be another success. That's the way you have to look at it. If life is all about numbers, be it the amount in your bank account, the number on the weigh scale, or even the numbers of friends you have on facebook, then we have really missed the point of why we are doing something in the first place. In fact I think we can miss out on a lot of good things that are happening in our lives by giving a number the power to determine my emotional capability of any given day.
Numbers are simply metrics to measure how we are doing in accomplishing our goals. Here's what I know I am doing well:
1). I am not cheating myself by eating foods that are unhealthy (fried, sugary, empty carbs, loaded with bad fats)
2). I am not bingeing because I am eating at regular intervals in my day. I may need to watch my portion control more closely as I have lost almost 35 lbs to date which means I may need to decrease my caloric intake.
3). I am not snacking late into the night.
4). I am Drinking water regularly.
One area that I have seen a drastic improvement is sleep. I used to never sleep more than 5-6 hours a night. Now I regularly get 7-8 hours of sleep, and I notice that if I don't my work-out the next morning is that much harder as I am not able to focus and push myself.
I hope that you are doing well in your goals, if you are facing an uphill battle, keep going it just makes winning that much better. I say bring on the adversity, so I can kick its ass one more time.
Blake
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