Day 86: The Weigh-In: Week 12 + DC

Now, before you get down on me for a week gone by without a blog post, let it be known that I was gone Wednesday through Saturday morning on a company outing to Washington, DC and I did not have any access to the internet (except my Twitter update via cell text).

So, how did I do this week in another city? Not so hot. All company-related expenses were paid by my bosses - including meals. Everything is expensive and terribly overpriced in DC, so of course, I felt like I could eat anything. I know it doesn't make any sense, but this really was my thought process.

I really did well in keeping up with exercising. On Wednesday night, I worked out for an hour at the hotel's gym and it reminded me of the overall better workout I miss by not going to the gym. I sweated a lot and burned plenty of calories on the exercise bike and elliptical machine in only an hour. I never really got to see much of DC during the whole trip, so on Friday night, I walked around the city for hours to see how many landmarks I could at least experience (more on that later). Still, I felt like my meals were too much and bad to burn off before my weigh-in today.

STARTING WEIGHT (1/1): 254.
CURRENT WEIGHT (3/27): 228.
Weight loss this week: 0 lb. (+1)
Total weight loss: 26 lb.

Yes, my 11-week trend of no weight-gain ended this week... just barely. I mean, my digital scale says 228.0. I checked it over and over this morning, hoping it would become 227.8, but it never changed.

On Thursday night, I did not workout, and I wonder now if that would've made a difference. I also ate grease-covered Fuddrucker's after my walk last night (of course I found the Subway after I stopped there) and a cinnamon pretzel at the airport this morning before my weigh-in (again, a reel lack of selections on my route); both of these probably did me in as well.

The walk on Friday night really was impressive though. I had been on my feet all day already with the installation we were doing at the Renaissance Hotel downtown and they hurt before I stepped foot on the walk. They really hurt on the way to the Lincoln Memorial. They were killing me as I went to the Capitol. It was all much further than it had appeared, but I'm glad I got to see those landmarks at least. I only learned when I plotted the course today that I had gone about six miles, my second longest walk ever.

Too bad I gained all the calories I lost when I ate the Fuddrucker's Dogzilla with Fries afterwards... although it did taste really good. But I really hate the idea of gaining any weight during this fitness plan because I now have re-lose it again.

Of course, I'm certain I can and will do it this week now that I'm back to my normal daily routine. I'm two weeks away from Day 100. I'm looking to have an even 30 pounds lost by that time.

Peace,
Neil

Day 79: The Weigh In - Week 11

Unbelievable week. Spring decided to arrive in Chicago right on schedule, although it decided to leave on vacation again last night, as we all woke up to Winter this morning complete with snow back on the ground. But it was still an amazing week.

STARTING WEIGHT (1/1): 254.
CURRENT WEIGHT (3/20): 227.
Weight loss this week: 3 lb.
Total weight loss: 27 lb.

I hit my goal for the week and then some! I've lost more than 3 average newborn babies this year. I think I'm back on track.

When my feet hit the ground the morning after my 8 mile walk, there was an immediate stiff pain coming from my shins, which I guess shouldn't be that surprising. However, I do realize that I need new shoes if long-distance walking is going to be part of my daily or weekly routine. Luckily, Fleet Feet Sports is in the hood!

I am gearing up to run the Chicago Marathon in October 2011. I'm not used to running at all in general, no less long distances. I'd rather be safe and get my body comfortable to doing it and I think this October is just too soon for me. Plus, it encourages me to continue living healthy into late next year to be able to run.

In the meantime, my goal for next week is 2 more pounds lost.

Excelsior!
Neil

Day 77: A Spring In My Step

Inspired by the Spring weather that will soon taper away into the cold again this weekend, last night I decided last night that I was going to challenge myself to walk all the way from downtown to my place on the Northwest Side. I put on my sneakers for the first time since maybe last October and I was pumped for the walk the whole day at work.

By midday, I wasn't sure if I would walk along Lake Shore Drive or if I'd walk through the neighborhoods as I originally planned. In the end, I stuck with my original plan and this is what I ended up doing:

Total distance: 8.11 miles and it did take me almost three hours. I really enjoyed it though and I plan to do a variation on it at least once a week. I want to make sure the route is different every time though; that's what keeps it interesting.

I stopped at a Subway around Fullerton and Lincoln halfway through, simply because I needed a nosh. I met up with my lovely friend Kate Lambert at Addison and Southport, who, honestly, really made the last part of the walk go by faster. Thanks, Lamby!

I'm looking forward to doing more walks like these and if anyone wants to join me, the more the merrier. I ultimate goal this summer is to walk the entirety of Western Avenue, which is officially a little over the length of a marathon. I'm certain I can do it, although walking a straight line north might be a bit more boring than I'd wish for. Someone did this route years ago and took pictures of their trip and put them up on a website. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Anyway, this summer. Maybe around August?

And again, anyone who wants to join me is welcome.

Neil

Day 75: I've Been Here Before

So, because I like to reminisce, I decided to look at my LiveJournal a few weeks back.

There were a lot of things in there that I had forgotten about. (I have the memory of an ant when it comes to some things.) Some of these memories were good; some bad. I was a whiny bitch sometimes and I definitely used that LJ to vent.

There was one fact that I came across that I had totally forgotten about. On November 23rd, 2006, I listed things I was thankful about, including:

"I've lost a total of 20 pounds since I've lived here."

I had totally forgotten that when I first moved to Chicago, I had lost twenty pounds in the first two months I lived here. (Sound familiar?)

How? Well, I had a job that I was on my feet eight hours a day. And then I was also going to rehearsal and was on my feet that much longer. I definitely didn't change my diet. So, of course, when I got the job in the office a month after I did this entry, I eventually gained that weight back pretty quickly.

Now, unfortunately, I can't find anything where I mention how much I weighed before and after the weight loss. I did complain months earlier that I was at the most I had ever weighed, but I was less open about my weight back then than I am now. I keep getting 220 in my mind, but I thought I weighed 250 when I moved to Chicago.

At any rate, I have been down this road before and I've already passed my original Chicago weight loss. Most Chicago folks don't remember it because I gained this weight back within the first few months of meeting them. This time it's different, though. It's pretty impressive to me that I am able to maintain an office job where I sit on my ass everyday and still managed to lose more weight this year than I did being on my feet eight hours a day.

Imagine if I had a job where I didn't sit on my ass anymore.

Neil

Day 74: More Daylight Means More Walking

So I decided that I'm finally going to get my very expensive Nikon N75 fixed. It broke almost five years ago when the film started loading incorrectly. I never got it fixed because at that point I was just looking for a reason to get a digital camera.

I planned to go to Central Camera after work to get a quotation on repairs but realized quickly I would never get downtown before they closed at 5:30. So, at the last minute, my co-worker Todd told me about Helix just north of the Racine stop on the Blue Line. I gave them a shot but discovered they closed earlier at 5pm. However, I didn't have anywhere to be until 8, so I figured... random walk!

Today's walk was 3.23 miles, which was about the same distance as a couple of previous walks. Not the least of my "big walks" but not the most. (I'm still looking to hit 5 miles at least). Still, the near West side is awesome. I'm going back some point very soon with one of my cameras. There is an amazing building on Madison dating back to a year after the Great Chicago Fire that I hope is never torn down.

For some reason, I also neglected to blog about my half-drunk walk home on Saturday night.

This was 2.91 miles. Now, this was not, of course, walked during daylight. It was, however, the evening of the Daylight Savings. It was more awesome for the fact that it was pretty late at night and all the bars were already closed so the St. Patty's drunken noise was gone. It wasn't so late that the sun was coming up, but you could hear the birds. This is the first time I've heard morning birds this year and it really reminded me of Spring. 

I. Can't. Wait for Spring.

Neil

Day 72: The Weigh In - Week 10

So, I went directly to the bar after work on Friday and then to a party directly after that, so I did not weigh myself on my usual Friday night. I did weigh myself Saturday morning, when I should've blogged about it. I did not but I made a note of the weight.

STARTING WEIGHT (1/1): 254.
CURRENT WEIGHT (3/13): 230.
Weight loss this week: 2 lb.
Total weight loss: 24 lb.

I lost two pounds, which is great, but I am noticing that I'm getting a little too laxed with things. My wii is starting to gather dust. This often happens and also how I tend to end my progress. There is a plateau point I know I'll hit and I think I've hit the first, but there's much more I know I have to - and can - lose, if I pump it up to the next level.

So I am now entering Wearing Thin: Phase II.

I may add to this, but here are some essential ground rules/changes:
- I have to sweat every day.
- I can't use social situations as an excuse to eat poorly.
- I am still going allow one "spoiler" meal, but I can't allow it to spread into the entire weekend.
- My new weigh-in date is Saturday morning instead of Friday night.
- I will set weight-loss goals weekly intending to keep up with my goal of 180 by 12/31. Right now, the curve on the chart appears to be on-course, but I can take that for granted.
- I have to blog at least 2 more entries than my standard weigh-in entry per week.

I did not meet my goal of 3 pounds this week, so my goal for next week is 2 pounds (for a total of 26 pounds).

Let's do this.

Day 64: The Weigh In - Week 9

Another week with nothing to blog about? Terrible. It really has been quite a stressful week at work and next week will be no exception, but I take it as a reflection of my lack of dedication towards the diet routine this week. I think I was wondering what I could get away with, actually; I lost 3 pounds last week and there was only one day of exercise. What if I didn't exercise at all this week?

STARTING WEIGHT (1/1): 254.
CURRENT WEIGHT (3/5): 232.
Weight loss this week: 0 lb.
Total weight loss: 22 lb.

Oh snap!! I really didn't eat anything too bad after Saturday, but I think the lack of exercise does make a difference. Who knew?? However! It should be noted that this is my bye week, meaning during my entire diet I have lost a lot one week, little the next, lot the next, little the next. I didn't expect to lose more than 1 pound. I did technically lose like .6 pounds (my scale is digital) but I do not round up.

ANYway, I'm gonna really pump it up this week, exercise every night if I can and really watch what I eat. I want to hit the big 25 pounds next week. I also have a great entry that I've been meaning to write since I started this blog. Hopefully I can get to that this weekend.

Thanks for the continued support, peeps!
Neil

Day 60

Yeah. :)