McDonald's Tricked Me!

You would think I would know by now that things in Fast Food Restaurants are often not what they appear. I can still be fooled.

Yesterday morning I went into McDonalds to get a coffee and I wasn't starving but was feeling a little hungry because I hadn't had my breakfast yet.

I noticed they had breakfast burritos on their menu and they are quite tiny so they sell them in sets of two. I looked at it and thought...it is just a wrap with a bit of egg and vegetable in it. I can have this for my breakfast without issue.

I had them...and they were ok...but I thought to myself at the time that they really weren't much of a breakfast. They were so tiny and not filling at all.

When I was home later that day I went to the nutritional page of McDonald's website and was shocked at what I found. There was 16 grams of fat in EACH of them. This added up to a total of 16 of my daily points allowance and all I had had was breakfast (for those of you not on Weight Watchers that is ALOT!).

I really didn't understand why until I went back and looked at the product closer. Although the "ingredients" section on the nutritional page simply refers to the contents of the wrap as "egg mixture" further investigation revealed that this egg mixture had sausage in it. I didn't see anything that looked like sausage and I didn't taste anything that tasted like sausage. It was so small I didn't taste anything!

Anyway...like everything else on this journey it is a lesson learned.

Can I have a breakfast Burrito from McDonalds again? Yes...if I want to. Will I want one again? No. If I had loved it or it had filled me up perhaps it would be worth it on occasion...but this was not worth it.  Live and Learn.

Today is weigh in day and I am currently 5 points in the "negative" as far as my point tracking goes but that is insignificant really and I will exercise myself back into balance "point-wise" before I weigh in. So I expect to be "down" when I step on the scale tonight.

I hope so...I have to take off the 10.8 pounds I gained on my cruise!

Be healthy!

Alan

We Just Aren't Accepting Our "Fate" Anymore

When I was in High School I used to hang out with my friend's John and Sue. We were all pretty "naturally thin". Then I went to University and met Wendy...thin as a rail. Did any of us really even think about weight back in those days? Why would we? We were...after all...thin.

OK...perhaps the girls thought about weight. I don't know...but if they did it wasn't because they needed to. If they thought about weight at all it would only because they were girls and that is what girls did. Hopefully that is starting to change although I know it is still a big issue.

Then the inevitable happened. We aged. As we aged our metabolism slowed down...our activity slowed down...but (and I am presumptuously speaking for all of us here) our food intake did not slow down.

It all started so slowly at first. Sure I was starting to get a bit of bulge in my tummy but not so much so that anyone would notice. I just needed to wear looser shirts...problem solved!

I am sure Sue can quite correctly say that having two kids played a role in establishing weight issues for her. John and I, however, can really only say that we were still acting like two kids. Fun was more important than health.

So now John, Sue, Wendy and I are all hovering around the "fifty year old" mark and we can no longer turn our heads the other way.

We had a choice. We could accept weight gain as "fate" or we could look it straight in the eye and say "damn it" you are NOT getting the best of me!

We have not all followed the same route to weight loss...but we are all fighting back! Sue and I lost over 50 pounds and we now live with the challenges of keeping it off, and I was so excited to read on John's Facebook page this morning that he has just lost 50 pounds!

Wendy has just jumped on the band wagon with Weight Watchers and is on her way to being a healthier person again too. It is all very exciting.

I can't write this blog without mentioning my friend Tom as well. Although Tom did not go to University with us as he was finished University before we finished high school, John and I performed in a few plays with him. A year or so ago he decided that he was not going to let fate get the better of him and has lost 92.4 pounds to get to goal!

All I can say is the proof is in the pudding. Our fate (at least weight wise) is not predetermined. It is totally within our power to lose weight and be healthier.

There is a reality though...and that is that for most of us...we will gain...and sometimes we will gain a lot...but that does not mean we have failed. We only fail if we give up.

Never give up.

Be healthy!

Alan

I Have A 10.8 Pound Bundle Of Joy In My Tummy!!

Yeah you read it right. I went on a cruise last week and came back carrying a baby...or at least the equivalent of one...I gained 10.8 pounds! It is definitely the result of a lot of joy :-). One of our Weight Watcher's member's (Diane) sister's (Linda) was on board...I am convinced she knocked me up when I was asleep!

Back in the old days this would have totally stressed me out.

To work so hard to lose the weight and then gain that much back in one week...yikes! I have done worse though. I went on a two week cruise once and gained 21 pounds. This is the down side of being a man. We get teased because we tend to lose so fast...but man...can we gain fast!

At the end of the day though...it doesn't matter. Why doesn't it matter? Because I don't have to put myself back on a diet...I just have to go back to healthy eating...and it WILL come off again.

In other words...all I have to do is go back to eating the way I should be eating in the first place...not such a big deal.

The only problem is I have not, and may never, reach the point where eating the way I should eat in the first place is second nature. I was not really raised to eat properly...just to eat.

For me it requires help...and for me you all know what that help is...Weight Watcher's. I know it s not for all of you but for me it is my life-line.

I needed to get on that scale yesterday to face my reality and get myself right back on track...otherwise I would just keep eating until another ten pounds came back on...that is "natural" for me.

So not only did I face my reality at the meeting yesterday, I asked if I could take the "magic tracker" home.

The magic tracker is simply a book with three months worth of tracking pages in it. Each week a different member can take it home and track the food they consume for the week...for better or worse...and then the tracker gets returned to the meeting and another person takes it for the next week. It is totally voluntary and the theory is that if you are writing your food in a public book for the week for others to see you just "might" be a bit more careful.

I find it to be a great little trick as is not only motivates me to track my food, but people from previous weeks write hilarious comments about their successes and failures during the week and it reassures me that no matter what I may be struggling with, at the end of the day, we are all human.

So here is to taking the weight off...again...in a healthy way.

Be healthy!

Alan

Got the sniffles today

The night before I went on vacation I started to get a sore throat and thought: "Oh no...I am going to be sick on the cruise!". I wasn't sick on the cruise but every now and then I could sense that I wasn't 100% healthy either. There was a bug inside me waiting to get out.

Fortunately, the bug was kind enough to hold off until I got home, but when I woke up yesterday morning I could tell it was about to start to manifest into something bigger.

So here it comes...the sore throat and the sniffles this morning...sigh. 

I am grateful, nonetheless, that the cold held off as long as it did and allowed me to enjoy my holiday.

I ate normally yesterday (not excessively and not dieting) and pumped myself full of Vitamin C. Hopefully it won't get too bad.

Unless I am on my death bed and/or seriously at risk of making others really sick I will still go to Weight Watchers tomorrow. After one does damage to one's body (weight-wise) I think it is important to face the damage head on as quickly as possible. If you don't know EXACTLY what you are dealing with you can't really deal with it effectively.

So while I hope I am feeling better I have every intention of being at the meeting tomorrow.

Here's to another day of normal eating.

Be healthy!

Alan

What A Difference A Week Can Make

On Friday, February 10th, I posted a picture of myself on this blog...and then I went on a cruise.

The following Friday I was on a beach in Aruba and posted another picture of myself on Facebook. I had taken the second picture on my iPhone and couldn't really see it well until I got home last night. Clearly, a week of buffets for breakfast lunch and dinner along with the odd alcoholic beverage can make a difference in the appearance of a body and face. Here is the picture before the cruise and the picture toward the end of the cruise:

Friday February 10, 2012

Friday February 17, 2012

Now don't get me wrong. I am still very happy and there is a lot "artificial" about that first shot. I was hungry and dehydrated when the "before" shot was taken and covered in "instant tan". In the second picture I had been eating buffet's continually and I had actually drunk that beer in my hand.

There are two realities for me I think.

The first is that had the "after" shot been my "before" shot I would still have been happy as it is a lot better than my original "before" shot of even a year ago.

The second is that it doesn't matter if I am happy or not. This is proof positive for me that if I do not watch myself my body is quite capable of reverting back to its old self rather quickly.

I still had two more days of eating after that February 17th photo, so a little more weight went on the body.  Today I return to the weight loss journey.

The good news is that I will not "diet". Just go back to the normal Weight Watcher's plan that is my life (my GOOD life) and go back to healthy eating. I am not going to put myself in a weight loss race this time but will let you know as the weight drops off...and it will drop off... :-)

Be healthy!

Alan

As Naked As You Are Ever Going To See Me (Perhaps Nieces Should Skip Today's Blog)

Ok today is the day. A month ago I said I would post a topless picture of myself online. Today I am keeping my promise...in fact...I went further...I am in my undies...so if you decide to view today's blog  I suggest doing it on an empty stomach :-)

Before posting the pic though...a quick word about why I am posting it.

For me it is about a few things:

1) Setting a goal and keeping it.
2) Looking back at my journey and taking the time to recognize that I have accomplished something.
3) When I do accomplish something I want to let the world know because...damn it...I worked too damn hard to accomplish it to be quiet about it. I want to celebrate my accomplishments...it makes me happy. Is it vain?...yes...do I care?...no.

If you have never had weight issues you may not really understand the need to celebrate out loud but I am going to take you through a very brief trail of my history in pictures. Perhaps if you see where I have come from...how long the journey has been...and understand that it NEVER ends...you will understand the need to celebrate when you feel good.

So lets go back to around 2004. Here are some pictures of me then.

2004

It was this picture that made me decide to start this journey

On vacation and probably in need of a hotdog.

I wish I could say that when I started this journey in 2004 it was my first journey...but it wasn't. I had lost over fifty pounds a multitude of times before...only to put it back on eventually. In retrospect this was good...as it taught me that the journey never ends. If I am not careful...I can easily be right back there again.

By about 2005 I had taken most of the weight off but kept on struggling. I was thinner...but I did not exercise. You do not need to exercise to lose weight. It helps...and it definitely helps keep it off...but I was not exercising yet so I became a thin geek.

From 2005 to 2009 my weight went up and down...I probably gained 30 pounds back and lost it and gained it and lost it and gained it, but it was during this time I figured out that as long as I never stop going to Weight Watcher's it will always be "top of mind" and I will never ever gain 50 pounds back again.

I will also continue to drive to Burlington every week because I found a leader, and friend, in Cindy there. As far as I am concerned she is the best leader in the business and she is definitely worth the drive.

In 2009 I decided to take a course in Nutrition at George Brown College. It is here I met Anthony who was to become a great friend and nutrition/exercise mentor. Anthony was my instructor at George Brown. He inspired me to take more nutrition courses and I am halfway through a program to be come a Certified Registered Holistic Nutritionist. I do not know if I will ever practice nutritional counselling but the knowledge I am gaining makes it well worth the effort the courses require. I am on a bit of a hiatus from courses right now but will be back again soon. Anthony and I work out together often and he is the one responsible for getting me in shape.

A year or so ago I posted the picture below on the blog. The muscle was starting to come but I was still fluctuating in weight by twenty pounds so attaining any real definition was...well...a challenge.

My consistent exercise has finally resulted in the attainment of definition. Here is the picture Jamie took of me this morning:

Feb 10, 2012

Am I happy? You better believe it. I could look at the picture and criticize (we all do this to ourselves). I would, for instance, love to lose the love handles...but at 48 years old I accept that that may not happen.

I cannot write this blog without thanking my husband Jamie for the years of support. He has been so patient with my ups and downs...promises and set-backs...I honestly don't know how he has survived this journey as I must drive him crazy...but he has stayed by my side.

The journey does not end. I know that. I could be the guy in the first pictures again real fast. Those who read my blog know I mess up ALOT...but I never end the journey. In the early days I lost over 50 pounds and then fluctuated by thirty pounds...then I introduced exercise and fluctuated by twenty pounds...now I think I fluctuate by ten pounds.

I think at the end of the day my point it this. If you start the journey and just keep going...no matter how many times you have set backs...eventually you will succeed.

Why?...because you only had set-backs. By continuing on...failing is impossible.

Be healthy!

Alan

24 hour count-down to Non-Extreme Nudity!

The count-down is on...23 hours to go...your eyes may be offended very soon. Perhaps it will be best if you just keep your computer turned off tomorrow.

Maybe my computer, Jamie's computer, Joni's computer, the Ipad2, and my iPhone will die and I won't be able to do it. We can only hope.

Tomorrow is reveal day. My commitment will be kept and I will post a shirtless picture of myself. If I really feel like scaring you maybe I will just wear my undies...that will likely send my nieces into therapy.

I'm surprisingly not too stressed about doing it but I won't be eating today....come on...I bet Valerie Bertinelli didn't eat for a week after her big reveal...and Kirstie Alley starved herself for so long before hers she couldn't stop eating for a year afterward!

I would love to say I am not eating today because I believe in cleanses and I believe they are good for you. While I believe this to be true I also believe you are not stupid and would see right through that explanation for the crap it is.

I am not eating today because I am vain and want to look the best I can tomorrow.

In other words...I am doing it all for you...I am trying to save your eyesight. I'm kind of like a doctor performing pre-surgery on you.

Don't be scared...you will survive.

Be healthy,

Alan

P.S. I am not sure if I was up or down at Weight Watchers yesterday. Last week I was 189.8. When I stepped on the scale I was pretty sure it said 188.9 but the girl forgot to write it in my book (she wrote it on their records) and being as old as I am I wasn't quite sure. I went back  up to the desk to inquire and she said "oh yes I think I remember you were only up a pound but let me check"...she checked and said..."actually your only up by .1 pounds"...and then proceeded to write it in my book. When I checked my book later she wrote 188.9 pounds. So I am either up .1 or down .9 pounds...either way I pretty much stayed the same...I'm happy with that.

Two More days...

Today is weigh in day and I am pretty sure I will be "up" a bit. Not by much...and I know why...but being "up" in weight two days before I have to post a shirtless picture of myself on-line doesn't quite sit right.

Still...I am actually comfortable. When I look at how far I have come since those dreadful "before" pictures of 2004 I can only be happy.

Don't get me wrong I will do everything I can to make the pic look good without resorting to Photoshop. This means I will likely do a fast on Thursday,

So...yes....the picture will be of me without food for 24 hours...but it will still be me.

I'm going out to a comedy club tonight...thinking that might not help the situation.

All is good.

Be healthy!

Alan

Let the countdown to nudity begin!

Did that get your attention? If so you should probably get help. The thought of me partially naked should put the average person off their next meal. LOL

Whether you like it or not though the day is quickly approaching. In three days (Friday) I have to keep my commitment and post a shirtless picture of myself online (OK OK..it's not really nude...but it feels like it's nude).

I have some abs now so that is kinda cool but I have abs and love handles...if only I could be 18 again...but I'm not...I get that.

So...love handles and all will be exposed Friday.  I am thinking I will go to the gym first (need all the help I can get) and then get Jamie to take pictures as soon as I get home so look for the post around 10AM...or mark on your calendar a big warning sign advising yourself not to look at my post that day. LOL

When it comes right down to it this is the kind of stuff that works for me. I need commitments and goals. I don't always keep them all..but if I keep half of them then I am taking steps in the right direction.

So let the countdown begin.

Be healthy!

Alan

The Roller Coaster Ride

Eat Bad Eat Well Eat Bad Eat Well Eat Bad Eat Well...Eat Bad Thursday Friday Saturday Eat We'll Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday, Weigh-In, Eat Bad Thursday Friday Saturday Eat Well Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday, Weigh-In...

This is the patter of my life. This week is no different. I haven't eaten well Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and today is the day I turn things around.

Why do I do this? I think for two reasons. One is obviously the prospect of standing on the scale Wednesday night and the other is the fact that the bad days are pretty much the weekend days (although I am not sure when Thursday became the weekend).

The thing is it works. I can pretty much lose weight or stay the same with this methodology. Last Wednesday I was "up" but only by .2 pounds (that is "point 2"...not "2").

The problem is I don't really learn anything do I? It allows me to go out and make a total pig of myself. There is no "health" involved here.

Even tracking doesn't alleviate the problem. I have become a master at making my tracker balance out by weeks end by exercising myself to death.

So I need to step back and focus...I need to at least TRY to be healthier when I go out...and perhaps drink a little less (did I say perhaps?...ok...drink a little less).

I think next week I at least have the Thursday covered off as I promised to post a shirtless picture of myself on this blog on Friday...that will keep me in line for sure...yikes!. The challenge is Friday and Saturday next week. Will do my best to remember this blog and be at least "better".

Balance Balance Balance...you think after all this time I would have figured it out.

Be healthy,

Alan

When I don't blog it is generally not a good sign

Hey everyone!

I haven't blogged in five days. Why you ask?

There is the "rationale" and the "reason".

The rationale is that I got real busy. This is the truth. The last few days have been busy.

Somehow I still found time to play an on-line game of scrabble a few times though so I can't really say I didn't have time to blog. When I don't blog it is usual not a good sign.

The truth is I fell off track...then got myself back on track but not in a "weight watcher's" kind of way.

Thursday through Sunday were kind of a disaster for me. Not only was I busy but I was unprepared for eating well. Fast Food restaurants became the name of the day. This was particularly problematic when I was doing Open Houses Saturday and Sunday afternoon as the townhouse I was trying to sell (and sold) was across the street from a Dairy Queen. I went more than once.

By Monday morning I was feeling pretty bloated.

The manner in which I corrected the issue was, in my opinion, a very good thing to do...it was just for the wrong reasons.

I have been thinking for months that I needed to do a cleanse. I haven't done one for the longest time and it is my humble opinion that your body needs it from time to time. Soooo...the cleanse began.

I have not eaten since Sunday night.I am not sure if I will end the cleanse after weighing in tonight or end it tomorrow morning but the three day cleanse has been good for me. I feel good again.

In terms of the scale I believe I simply balanced things out. I am in the same position I was last week. When I step on the scale tonight I suspect I will be up or down a pound but not much more in either direction.

I am happy I corrected the situation...and happy I did the cleanse because I have wanted to do one for ages...just not happy that binge eating forced me into it.

Not posting my tracker today as it is blank (no food equals no points)

Oh well...onward and downward (weight-wise that is).

Be healthy,


Alan