It is really important that you read today's Blog

Today's Blog is a really good one. One of the best I think. I can say this without bias because I didn't write it.

I received a blog response from a friend two days ago and I cried.

I cried because of what my friend did to himself, I cried because of its honesty, I cried because I could relate to it, and I cried because of the positive message it sent overall.

It is quite a personal message, I think, but with his permission I am re-posting it here.

I think we all have so much to share, and if nothing else we can find comfort in knowing that at the end of the day, we are not that different. Our similarities allow us to support one another with sincerity.

My friend's message:

Firstly let me start by saying that I love reading your blog and it has really helped to inspire me to get back into a frame of mind where I gain control of my own weight. 

Like you, I have struggled for years to control my food habits and it’s a war I refuse to quit, even when at times, I do lose some battles! I was particularly interested to read your latest blog about being ‘born again’ and I wanted to show you some support with what I think I know you are going through. 

So a year ago, I hit my all time highest weight of 234 lbs and my doctor said I should be around 154 lbs which according to him was the probable cause of my slipped disc in my back and my slightly elevated blood pressure. The result of this consultation – I went out and ate anything sweet and bad I could find until I felt sick. At that point I felt so low I went to the toilet and did something I’d never done before – I wanted to punish myself for being so weak and I emptied my stomach. 

At that moment as I kneeled by the basin, I knew I had to stop this cycle of abuse and try to take back control over my own body. I had a moment of complete clarity about why I am the way I am and how I should deal with my ‘way of being’. I now accept that I have food dysmorphia and I know that I panic with food to the point where I will become irrational about how much of it I need. I even think that I have worked out where it all stems from and to that point I feel better equipped to deal with the issues that arise from my relationship with food. 

I chose to think of myself as an addict – “I am a food dysmorphic but I haven’t allowed my portions to get out of hand today!” I also accept that I will fall short at times and lose that particular battle, but I now refuse to let a failure define me and therefore, damage my future successes. It’s hard to fight the good fight, but I know that it is something I must always be aware of – it is a part of me that I deny at my peril. 

So over the course of a year, I’ve managed to lose 17 lbs which is a good start but believe me, I’ve had a dozen new beginnings during this time... However, despite being ‘re-born’ many times and feeling disappointed by my lost battles, I am now considerably lighter than I was in January of this year AND had I not had the courage to keep fighting, I actually believe that I would be weighing in at around 250 lbs now and unable to do up my own laces properly let along enjoy a confident social life. 

I now see that it is BECAUSE of my lost battles that my considerable success has had more meaning to me. Most powerfully of all, now when I slip, I don’t find that I spiral into a bottomless pit, but after a few days I accept that the battle is over and I plan my next one (only this time I will win!). 

My friend, you have been fighting the good fight and you have had so many victories! The fact that you dust yourself down when you lose a battle defines you as being strong. You live a varied and full life and that will mean from time to time you may move down a path that you hadn’t planned – but that is part of the fun! But like all interesting detours, eventually you get back onto the main road and cover a huge distance. 

Five steps forward and two steps back is still great progress with diversity and life experiences! Sometimes the ‘bad moments’ took me away from my weight loss goal, but my life would have been poorer for it not to have happened. 

I know I will get there in good time and so will you my friend. Give yourself permission to be a health warrior – as long as you win more battles than you lose, you will be victorious! 



I am so glad my friend sent me this message. I could never have written anything better. It is so raw, and so truly honest. We can all learn from it I think.


Please share this blog with anyone you know who might find supporting words in his message.


Be healthy,


Alan

Avoidance

Are you avoiding doing what you need to do?

I have spent my entire morning doing everything imaginable except what I know I need to do.

Although the experience, for me, doesn't really apply to weight issues right now, it did get me thinking about the number of times I have avoided being healthy. Something as simple as a function that night or even two nights from now can be enough to convince myself that I might as well wait and restart things AFTER the function.

This time of year though, there is function after function after function. The kind of mentality I am speaking of can make you look back in January and say "what happened?!!!".

So the message is "Don't Delay....Start Today".

Be Healthy,

Alan

Cleaning For Health

Do you ever allow things in your home to get a little too messy? I do. The third floor of our house sometimes looks like a bomb hit it. It's actually quite a pity because I think it is a really nice floor when it's clean.

I think everything gets messed up when it is messy.

We tend to entertain up there (the lower three floors of our house are a Bed and Breakfast so staying on the third floor means we can entertain friends without bumping into guests) so when it is messy, we go out for dinner with friends instead of having them over for a healthier evening.

When the third floor is a mess, my work is everywhere and it is harder for me to focus. I still get everything I need to get done, done, but the extra things I don't have to do usually slip.

Most importantly I don't feel like things are in a good place and if things aren't "feeling right" I tend not to eat right.

So...yesterday I cleaned up the third floor. We have a little kitchenette up there. It now contains only healthy food, drinks, vitamins etc.. I used to keep everything from alcohol to windex  to tools in the cupboards of that area. No more.

We have created  our own personal health centre. It is even in the perfect location for Feng Shui. It is in the area of the house that represents "Health and Family".

I put up the "Vision Board" I created for my Nutrition Course too.

With a clean, and Feng Shui correct, environment I will succeed. :-)

Yesterday I said I would post my tracker daily and I will do that. I have done it but I can't post it until later in the day as I need to scan it and it is so early right now I am afraid I will wake the B&B guests up. The scanner can be kind of noisy.

Be healthy!

Alan

A New Member - Again

I have skipped a few days of blogging. Things got out of control workwise and although they weren't disastrous the last few days were not great.

I almost blogged yesterday. It's probably a good thing I didn't. I was angry...well...not angry...that implies violence...maybe disappointed is a better word...strongly disappointed. I was disappointed because I had managed to let things slide...AGAIN! Now I have to work to get back on track...again. Crap.

I have been better the last few days but I still feel like crap. I feel....well...I feel fat...there I said it...I hate that feeling.

I am going to start tracking properly again today and post my tracker on the blog. My tracker probably bores you so I won't talk about the specifics of what I eat too much. I may not even mention the tracker, but I am going to post it for me. If I have to post it I have to do it.

Right now my December 12th picture post isn't looking like it is going to be too pretty. It's unbelievable how quickly I gain. Fortunately I can still lose quickly if I really want to...so there is hope.

I have decided that today I am a new member. I am starting fresh. Not just a new member at Weight Watchers...a new member in life.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I have woken up with the strong conviction that healthy eating is normal for me. It is normal for the me that was born today.

I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but I will consider myself "born again".

Be healthy,

Alan

December 11th Is Approaching...Why aren't I panicking

Last week I committed to posting my picture in just shorts on December 11th and every two months after that. It isn't that far away. After the week I have had I should be panicking. I'm not. Why not?

A little panic can be good I think. It snaps you back into shape. I was pretty good yesterday, but I need to undue the damage I did over the last few days. Just because I said I am no longer going to focus on weight doesn't mean I should stop paying attention. When I overdo I have to undo.

So...being good today isn't good enough. I need to undo and that means back to weight loss mentality for a bit. Funny...I was so sure I would never have to go back. You would think by now I would know better.

Tonight is our WW meeting and to be honest I need to go this week more than usual but I can't...work is eating up every moment of time right now.

I will be good though. I will be back on weight loss plan effective this second and I will be back to WW next Wednesday.

Be healthy,

Alan

Making Excuses

I know I am going to be told I am making excuses. It is ok...because I am...or rather I did...to myself.

I am not even going to try to pretend I didn't.

I haven't blogged for two days because I have been sooooo busy...I mean busy as in about four hours sleep a night, racing the clock every second and eating whatever I could get as quickly as possible.

Financially it has been fantastic...I have had a great week...the best I have ever had actually....mentally and foodwise...perhaps the worst.

Yesterday for instance, I was up at 4AM preparing paperwork and doing analysis for offers. At 9:30AM I was attending a three hour home inspection on a property listed at $1.4 million. I raced straight from that to my office to spend the afternoon accepting offers on one of my seller's listings. It wasn't an expensive property (by Toronto standards)...$329,000, and it had issues, but it got 9 offers which meant a lot of work on my part and it sold above list price. I went straight from that into placing an offer on the property that was listed for $1.4 million. Believe it or not it went multiple offer too. The process didn't finish until midnight but we got it. We had to pay over $1.5 Million for it but we got it and my Buyers are absolutely thrilled.

So now comes reflection day. Did I have a choice? Yes. Did I make the right choice? No.

I am sure I am "up" weight-wise, and I feel exhausted and overwhelmed. Today I am preparing a listing to go to market tomorrow so I am still busy but I think I can get back in control.

Not sure what the point of my blog is today to be honest. Just reflection I guess. I won't say it was "worth it" but my focus was where it needed to be and I got the job done.

Now I am still busy but the craziness will be a bit better so I have to be healthy today.

Having said that it is 4:00AM and I am up and working. Went to bed three and half hours ago. I just have so much to do my mind is racing. I will have a nap later. I will have to.

I guess it boils down to the same old thing. When you fall off the wagon get back on as quickly as you possibly can.

Be healthy!

Alan

Do your remember the way it used to be?

I went to a gym yesterday. I know that in itself is no surprise but I went to a different gym located out by a house I have listed for sale.

It was an interesting experience. The gym itself was very clean and well presented and the equipment was running ok. There wasn't really much I could complain about but the equipment was not as advanced as the equipment I have in my current gym.

As I was using the equipment it occurred to me that at one time...not that long ago....this WAS the equipment I had to work with and I thought it was just fine. It did the job. Not that great...but it did what I needed it to do.

Now that I have had the opportunity to experience the newer equipment, however, I realize how much more efficient it is. How much more I am able to do, and how truly limiting the old equipment was.

I think that once you start the journey toward health you go through a similar thing. You become more efficient...almost "reborn". You can do things you could not do before. Things a simple as cutting your own toenails. You are new.

The unfortunate thing is that we forget too easily where we have come from. We forget what life used to be like, and how much better we are now. We get frustrated because we are not where we want to be instead of seeing how far we have come.

I wish I could have the same experience I had at this gym with my own body. I wish, for one day (please universe...I said ONE DAY) I could go back to the old me so I could remember what it was like. I know I functioned...I probably recognized I wasn't totally efficient but I was able to do what had to be done. I was not, however, efficient. I didn't feel as good as I feel now and I couldn't function the way I can now. I have become the newer and more efficient equipment.

Am I perfect?  Heavens no...a long way to go...but I am so much better.

If you are on this journey with me stop and reflect on how much you HAVE accomplished instead of how far you have to go and give yourself a pat on the back.

If you haven't started the journey yet. Ask yourself why not? Do you really want to continue struggling to get even even the simplest things done. Do you really want to lack energy? You don't have to. The time to change it all is now...not later.

Ok...enough ranting. Those who read my Facebook page yesterday will know I had a chocolate meltdown. I went back and tracked my points allowance for Weight Watchers though and I am totally fine. I used my 35 extra points as well as activity points but I am still "on plan". It was a totally permitted indulgence. Soooo...from a weight loss perspective...no issue. From a nutrition/health perspective...I do regret doing it.

We are all permitted to indulge, but it was silly nonsensical indulgence.

I am not going to beat myself up for it. Just live and learn.

Today is a new day with a new beginning.

Be healthy!

Alan

I need to have a more solid goal

Ok I am floundering. Not doing bad...just not doing. Not working TOWARD anything really.

I don't think goals were as meaningful to me in the past as they are now that I have started this blog. I almost seem to require them to move forward.

Ever since the "T-shirt Day" came and passed I have felt a little lost in my journey. Sure I have the coffee reduction goal to work on (its not going great) but that doesn't feel significant enough. I need something lasting, repetitive, sustainable, and rewarding.

The only I can think of now that weight isn't the absolute top priority, is to work on my physique.

So...I am going to photograph myself in shorts only (and not hiding the little love handles like I kind of did last June) every two months and post it on the blog.

This time it won't be about achieving a specific goal though. It will be about monitoring progress. The first picture I post will simply be a base line picture and then every two months after that I will post a current picture to determine if there is any change.

I will take the picture on the 11th of every other month (come one....I need to psyche up for this...can't do it yet) and will post the picture on the 12th. So I will post a picture December 12th, February 12th, April 12th, etc.

Every time I post a picture I will also post my December 12th picture (I better look good because that one will be there to stay), my current picture, and the picture from the time before.

So:

December 12th you will see my December 11th Photo

February 12th you will see my December 11th Photo and my Feb 11th Photo

April 12th you will see my December 11th Photo my February 11th photo and my April 11th Photo

June 12th you will see my December 11th Photo, my April 11th Photo and my June 11th Photo (but the February one will drop off)

etc. etc.

Get it? Once it builds up to three photos it will remain at three photos each post.

I apologize for you having to subject you to seeing pictures of me in shorts and no shirt every two months, but I think if I do this as a permanent goal it is really going to push me to improve my physique. The abs and love handles especially. They really need work.

Consider yourself lucky...you don't have to look at me in my underwear. If I ever get confident enough to do that then I can consider this plan a success because I would have to look damn fine. LOL

Wish me luck and be healthy!

Alan

The Debate Of A Potentially Sick Healthy Person

I may be getting sick again. Too soon to tell but I have that feeling of something coming on.

If I am, I have been sick more than normal this year. Kind of strange since I have been trying to be healthier. Or is it?

I could blame it on my Wendy's and Chinese Food trip a couple of days ago...but that is probably not fair.

It makes me wonder. Should healthy people get sick a lot?

Part of me says a big resounding "NO!". Our immune system should be stronger so we should not get sick.

There is another part of me that says a resounding "YES" though. That is the part of me that says that my body is doing what it needs to do. I don't take any medications when I get sick which means I don't keep things "in"... I don't suppress my sickness. By letting things out, it may mean I don't keep the potential for things like cancer "in".

Perhaps in the non-medicated world of letting things "out" you actually get sick more often but you don't get cancer down the road.

Is this justification for being sick while eating healthier or does it actually make sense?  I don't mind getting sick more often if it adds ten years to my life.

What do you think?

I'm not sure. I'm really not.

Regardless, be healthy!

Alan

Sleep...need it.

Looks like I stirred up some people with my blog yesterday. I enjoyed it immensely. This blog is so much more interesting when we choose to disagree I think. Of course we all know that ultimately, at the end of the day...I am right. LOL...juts kidding.

I indulged yesterday. Jamie and I had been working all week on getting a house I am listing for sale ready for market. It needed a lot of work. Paining, carpets ripped out, steps need wood filler, Asbestos evaluation had to be done. It is ready to go to market Wednesday, but at the end of the week we were weak and vulnerable. We had Wendy's for lunch and Chinese Take out for dinner.

Not proud of it, not ashamed of it, but wish I hadn't. If I am going to indulge there are much tastier ways to do it.

Still...it is done...it is over...and I move on. Hardly a failure...just a blip.

The only thing I am really concerned about is sleep. Just not getting enough of it. That is not good for your health or for weight loss. Been waking up at 4:30AM and am pretty much up for the day. Then I need a nap around 3pm which is just enough to ensure I don't go to bed early.

It doesn't matter how healthy one is, if your body doesn't rest you won't be healthy.

Gotta find a way to fix this.

Be healthy!

Alan

Am I crazy?

I think I may be crazy.

I have had an idea in the back of my head that I want to do something. Something that might not be the wisest thing in the world to do. It might mess up my body from time to time.

I have been thinking for a while that I really want to do something with nutrition and health after I graduate from the Institute of Holistic Nutrition. What started as a personal interest journey is turning into a realization that I need to do something with this. I am meant to do something with this.

Quite frankly, the timing isn't bad either. The Real Estate Industry in Canada, and the way it operates, is changing drastically. I am not sure what the future holds for Real Estate Brokers like me, but one thing that is becoming clear is that is that I need a back up plan, and I do not want to go back into the corporate world.

I love Real Estate, and I will not give it up, but I want to work toward, and start establishing a second profession. I would like to work with people with weight issues.

Ok. Here comes the crazy part.

Every Nutritionist I know has said repeatedly that they would never give a client anything they haven't tried themselves. Believe me...they have tried things that are NOT good. One friend ended up in hospital. The point is valid nonetheless. If you are going to create a business you need to know what your doing, believe in what you are doing, test your options, and make informed decisions.

So here is the thing.

I am thinking that I want to actually do every major diet plan I can think of. Not in sequence. I need periods of health to keep the body balanced, but I want to try everything.

When clients come to see me I want to have done the programs they have done.

Nothing...and I mean nothing...irritates me more than a person who tells me to do something, or judges something I have done, but has never been where I was and/or has never tried what I am trying. So I want to try them all.

I have done Jenny Craig so I don't need to do that. I have done Atkins but probably need a refresher.

I want to try South Beach (don't think it is that different from Atkins), Herbal Magic, NutriSystem, and the one that scares me the most, Dr. Bernstein.

This wouldn't be instead of Weight Watchers. I would do these programs spread apart, for not too long, and would attend WW throughout the whole process.

Am I nuts? Maybe.

Biggest problem may be that I don't have that much to lose anymore. Hard to do a weight loss program unless you really need to lose pounds.

I am still contemplating this...will let you know what I decide when I decide. If I do do it I think I would do Dr. Bernstein first while I could still stand to lose a little weight. I want to get what I perceive as the worst out of the way. Even that may be an unnecessarily judgemental statement. I am saying it is the worst without really knowing what it is. All I really know is what I have heard. It is very food restrictive and you have to have supplement injections (Vitamin B's I think).   I am making judgements based on hearsay. That doesn't work for me. For all I know the plan has some very good qualities. I do know people who have had success with it. My goal is not to find out why other plans don't work, it is primarily to find out how they really work, and what the positives are.

If I do this it won't be until 2011 though.

On another note. I am struggling with the coffee challenge. I have got myself down from three extra large a day to two, but I am supposed to be at two large now. Not ready yet. I will go to two large on Thursday. This coffee reduction program may take longer than I thought but please hold me accountable. Don't let me conveniently fail to ever bring it up again. Thanks!

Be healthy!

Alan

Daily Acts Of Discipline Create A Tsunami Of Success

I almost titled todays blog "My Butt Hurts". I bet more people would have read it if I had.

My butt does hurt. Now before you go getting any silly ideas pull your minds out of the gutter. My butt hurts because I have been exercising it.

Your mind is still in the gutter.

I have been exercising it at the gym...with the gym equipment. Clear now?

In my blogs I always write about the need for change. If I don't change what I am doing all the time I get bored. When I get bored I start to slip. For me success has always been about change, change, change.

I have been so busy changing I haven't really thought much about the need for consistency. I have been doing it though. I have been doing it without realizing it.

Aside from the very rare week or two of slip ups, I have been going to the gym every day for over a year. It requires discipline. I am, however, seeing results. Discipline brings success.

So my butt hurts. To me, that is an awesome feeling (Ok...this is the last time...pull it out of the gutter). It is an awesome feeling because it means I am toning the butt muscles (the gluteals for those of you who which to remain professional). My butt tends to disappear when I lose weight. I want a nice butt...not an invisible one.

This, to me, is simply more proof that if we really want to we CAN change who we are. Mentally AND physically.

It is not as simple as ensuring I constantly change. It is also imperative that I find my DAILY discipline of "constant" and stick with it.

Your "constant" may not be exercise (although I truly hope you consider it if it is not) but I bet if you figure out the "constant" that works for you, and find the discipline to actually do your "constant" constantly, the result will be a tsunami of success.

So here is to "constant" and to "discipline" and to my aching butt.

Be healthy!

Alan

Mental Adjustments Are Hard

I am struggling with the mental adjustment I am making regarding food.

Earlier in the week I stated that I was going to focus on health and not weight loss. I am doing as I said, for the most part, but it is harder than I thought.

I play so many mind games with myself. I panicked yesterday morning as I realized that the holidays are coming up. I started convincing myself I need to lose weight now to prepare.

I don't want to send the wrong message here because it you are in weight loss mode you probably DO need to lose weight now to prepare.

If I am truly trying to find "balance" though I have to stop thinking that way. I have to be balanced now, and I have to be balanced during the holidays.

Frankly, it scares me. It means putting total faith in the fact that I can do this. It is particularly hard to convince myself I can do this because I went to a Birthday Party for a two year old last night and had Birthday Cake. Two pieces.

I can do this.

I am not going to focus on weight loss. I will keep my eye on the scale and adjust accordingly but will not go "down" so that I am able to "go up" over the holidays.

You may think I am being silly but the adjustment really is freaking me out a bit.

Deep breaths.

Be healthy,

Alan

Mrs. Conway Had It Right

When I was a kid there was a lady on the street named Mrs. Conway.

I suspect there were rules surrounding it, but we were always a little jealous of the Conway kids because every day after dinner they got a sweet.

I think it was something very little (like maybe a candy) but we never got a daily treat. I wanted one.

I realize now that this may, perhaps, be the secret to success and health.

Simply allow yourself something small on a regular basis and keep your palette satisfied. If it is not satisfied you will crave foods and that is an open invitation for the binging to begin.

Like many things in life, the key is moderation. It is a lesson I never learned.

I wish I had, as "excess" is a very hard lesson to unlearn.

Mrs. Conway and her family moved to Scotland when I was around ten years old, and sadly, she has now passed away.

We have never lost contact with the family though, and one of her daughters even posts on this blog from bonnie Scotland.

Here is to you Mrs. Conway!

You were not only wise, you are missed.

My words of the advice for the day are based on this lesson. Treat yourself regularly, but not excessively.

Be healthy!

Alan

Did you Notice?

I was just wondering if you noticed? Probably not. It was a subtle change...but in retrospect, a significant one.

It has to do with my pictures on my blog.

I used to have a "Current" picture", a "Before" and an "After" picture. The "After" picture was a picture of me after the last time I lost weight with the caption: "I am definitely going back!". The "After" Picture came down about a week ago.

I am my after picture.

It is still posted at www.roadtonutritionandhealth.com but you know what? I will never look like that again. It is not a bad thing. Yes..it looks good, and it also looks like a person who is a lot younger than me...because it is. I like the picture. Problem is it doesn't look like me. I know this because it is also on my business cards and every now and then when I go to show a property someone does a double take and says "is this you?".

I look older now. In my humble opinion I also look better. Not because I have the youth and vitality but because I have health and strength. I have an inner core that I now carry with me. I have confidence.

I am actually looking forward to getting older. My long-term goal is to be healthier than I have ever been in my life on my 50th birthday. Two and a half years to go.

Having this as a goal actually makes me look forward to turning 50.

It just goes to show you that life, and how you much you enjoy it, is all a matter of the perspective that you take on it.

I choose to take the most positive perspective I can. How about you?

Be healthy!

Alan

Life Is Good

I'm sitting in my Nutrition Class right now thinking life is real good.

I am being healthy, learning more and more about living a healthy lifestyle (although not in this particular class...it is "Professional Practice"), my niece gave birth to a beautiful baby boy this morning (well...I haven't actually seen him yet but I am SURE he is beautiful) and a client of mine found his perfect home. Who cold ask for a better week!

Yesterday I got a pretty good system going to. I had my laptop in the dining room and was doing my work while periodically preparing foods in the kitchen.

I made my own whole wheat bread (even made my own flour from kernels), prepared a mint ice cream and put it in the freezer for when we have guests over, and sprouted Buckwheat as a "pre-step" for making raw granola.

Dinner was simple. A slice of the whole wheat bread and chilli I had made and froze a couple of weeks ago.

Feeling healthy and on plan.

Gotta go...class is about to begin and then I race directly over to do a Home Inspection on a property after it is over.

Jamie is painting a house for me that I am about to list for sale too so I will pick him up around 6:00 when the Home Inspection is done.

Busy day!

Be healthy!

Alan

Times Are A Changing - Weight Is Taking A Back Seat.

I have decided I don't want to worry about weight anymore.

It doesn't mean I will ignore it. I can't. It also doesn't mean I won't go to Weight Watchers every week. I have to. I know this. I will always have to...and I always have to weigh-in...more importantly...I want to.

The reality is, however, that I really want to turn my attention to health and I think I lose that focus whenever I try to focus on weight loss. I find myself doing things I no longer want to do in the name of getting the right number on the scale.

Don't get me wrong. Doing what you have to do to get the right number on the scale can sometimes be critical. If I start to slip then I will return to that mode of thinking.

For now...I am focusing on health. I will allow myself five pounds leeway from my Doctors note goal, which means I can go up to 190 pounds but no higher. My Doctor's note is at 185 pounds. The Weight Watcher's guideline goal is 179 pounds. Would I rather be at 179 pounds? Yes. Will I stress as long as I am under 190 pounds? No. Will I be happy if I am 187 or less? Yes...because then Weight Watchers remains free. That gives that little extra incentive to go back down if my weight creeps into the 187 - 190 range. I am thinking, however, that if I truly eat healthy, and exercise, the weight may naturally stay in check. I am really hoping this is the case.

I won't abandon the Weight Watchers program the way it is designed...at least not for the most part. For you WW members I will be sticking to the "Filling Foods" plan with the one caveat and that is that that I will not be eating dairy every day...I personally believe there are better Calcium sources...but that is just my opinion.

This is not an excuse. It is an informed and conscious decision. I want the focus, at this point in my journey, to be on healthy eating.

I am kind of excited about making this transition official. Originally I thought it would be my New Year's resolution, but I am ready for it and I am ready for it now.

So...here is to health!

Be healthy!

Alan

Not my Fault

Blog is short today.

Hung Over

Not my fault. I know the person who got me intoxicated will read this. I want you to know I blame you entirely :-)

Alan

The Holiday Season Is Upon Us

It is coming...real soon...I promise.

It happens every year. The Christmas and other holiday stuff comes out and we all scream..."this is ridiculous...it is way too early!"...and then before we know it we are all screaming..."how did it get here so fast?!".

It is not that far away. If you get paid every two weeks it is only three paydays away.

I think most people find it really hard to lose weight over the holidays. I rarely even set that as a goal. I am more inclined to aim to either stay the same or only gain a few pounds.

The reality is though...we are not there....we are NOT in the holiday season...yet.

There is still time. There is time to lose weight BEFORE the season hits. Just imagine how great you will look on New Year's Eve if you click into "full force action" mode now. You know you can do it. You have the will. You have the strength.

In a way we are lucky here in Canada because we have Thanksgiving out of the way and don't have to contend with that. But even if you are reading this in the USA, if you consider Thanksgiving a holiday and not a holimonth, and plan for it, you can cross that holiday with barely a ripple.

I am going to do it. I am going to lose that last little bit of weight. I personally want to be able to say that 2011 is the year of health and not the year of weight loss.

Maybe you won't be at that point yet on December 31st, but even if you aren't, don't you want to be closer to that point? Do you want to reach the day when you can say to yourself. I have done it! I have reached the weight that is right for me....now I am turning my attention completely to health? I do...and I will.

Please take the journey with me...and be healthy!

Alan

The Official Pics Are In! A New Goal Is Set.

I did it!

I wore the shirt, as promised, for a day and took pictures proving I did so. Here is my picture at the Weight Watchers meeting:

I was down 2.8 Pounds!

I also took some pictures at the gym, but they are a little "staged". I wanted the pictures to be taken in this shirt but I didn't want to actually work out in it as I still had to wear it the rest of the day. So here is me in my shirt:

I included this one mainly so you could look at the guy in red's muscles under my armpit.
I'm thoughtful that way :-)

For 47 - I'm A Happy Camper 

Ok so my point of posting this isn't really vanity (well...maybe a little...I worked hard and deserve to be a little proud of the way I look I think).

The point is...set goals and stick with them. If you really want it you can achieve what you want.

The goals don't need to be big ones. But they need to be there, they need to be real, and they need to be achievable.

So now it is time for me to set a new goal. This one isn't really weight related but if you believe that caffeine increases your metabolism it could be weight related.

I seriously need to cut back on coffee. It has gotten to the point that in spite of all my new found healthy habits I am now up to a minimum of three extra large coffees a day.

I quit cold turkey once and the headaches were so extreme I honestly thought I would throw up. After making it through the withdrawal I was stupid enough to start again (well..the reason for starting wasn't totally stupid...I was driving a very long drive in the car and was falling asleep...I needed the stimulant...still...I should have stopped drinking the coffee when the drive was done...or better yet...pulled over and slept).

I am not sure I am going to QUIT drinking coffee. I like it and I am not totally convinced it is bad for you. I am, however, going to start a coffee reduction program.

So...starting today, I am going down to two extra large coffees a day. Next Thursday I will go down to two large coffees a day and the following Thursday I will go down to one large coffee a day. I will decide if I wish to go further at that point. Depends on how grumpy I become. LOL

Wish me luck and be healthy!

Alan

The Big Tease

OK. Today is the day!

For those of you who have not followed my blog here is the background.

Last August I was in London and I tried on a shirt. My partner's immediate response was "No...there is no WAY you can wear that in public". He was right. The shirt was far too tight and my stomach protruded like a pregnant woman's would.

Soooo...being the stubborn person I am, I bought the shirt and committed on the Blog to wearing it to a Weight Watchers meeting on November 3rd and posting a picture of myself doing so on this blog. The goal was to fit into the damn thing!

Today...is November 3rd.

To be honest I am ALMOST where I wanted to be weight wise...but not quite. I am still about 6-7 pounds off...but I can wear the shirt without embarrassment now, and I am happy :-).

So...I will wear the shirt all day today, and take a picture of myself wearing it at the Weight Watcher's meeting as promised. That "full" picture will appear in tomorrow's blog but until then, here is a little tease :-)

No...I am not sucking it in.

Be healthy!

Alan

The Vision Board

Have you ever done a Vision Board?

It really is quite a fascinating process. I did one yesterday.

I bought a piece of Bristol Board and started thinking about what I envisioned for my future.

Whether you believe that they work or not, the process is worthwhile because it makes you think.

I thought I would be thinking about the things I wanted, and yes, that occurred, but perhaps what is just as relevant is what you don't put on the Vision Board. Things that are so much a part of your life now but could easily disappear tomorrow without a second thought. At least they could if other factors, such as finances, allowed.

For me, quite honestly, it is my job. I am actually quite happy with my career choice, and have zero regrets about doing it. It has afforded me a good lifestyle.

Would I care if I stopped doing it tomorrow though? If an alternate money source came in that was more meaningful to me I wouldn't regret it for a second.

I would love, for instance, to be able to use all I am learning about health and weight loss to work with others to achieve their health goals. It is making enough money for it to be viable that is the question. I like to live well so I need to make money.

Still...the Vision Board has me thinking.

Thinking about my possibilities, and about my future. One thing I do know is that we can never accomplish anything if we do nothing.

Weight struggles have taught me that. I hope they are teaching you that too.

Tomorrow is the shirt day.....yikes!!!!

Be healthy,

Alan

Life Change Number One...check!

I am almost afraid to say this.

I think my life has finally changed for good.

I don't think I will be perfect, but I think I have figured out how to stay within my weight range the rest of my life.

Bottom Line: Always get back on track as quickly as humanly possible when you slip, and exercise!

So...it's figured out. Am I done?

Are you kidding?

I have barely started. The "health" side of things still requires a lot of work. There is SO much more to learn.

The journey never ends...but it can be enjoyed.

Be heatlhy,

Alan