Tag: diet

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Economy Health sports

Goodbye, 2008. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Reflecting back on 2008, I can honestly say: This year sucked. It’s always a good idea the look at the positives and all the good things that have happened to you and your family. That’s all well and good, but for the sake of argument I’m going to look back on what will go down in flames as the one of the crappiest years in my life. (How’s that for being professor positive?)

Screw you, Dow Jones and your average.
When you make a living in the investment business, it’s not good to have the worst year on record for every major stock average. Seeing the Dow drop from 14,164 to about 7500 makes for a bad year. Throw in a bond market that is for crap and there you go. I have spent most of the past three months dealing with this market, so, that’s all I have to say about that.

And Leo’s getting larger….
I started to get on a diet plan a couple of months back. I was jazzed about it and even wrote a blog or two. Then stress from the stock market crept into my waistline and the diet went by the wayside and McDonald’s came back into my life. Now I just have a bigger number to start from when I appear on Biggest loser next season.

Ahhhhh, my sports teams.
Indians – The Tribe was one win away from the World Series in 2007. Whoever won the American League was going to roll over the Rockies. The Indians managed to blow a 3-1 series lead in the ALCS and lose to Boston. C.C. Sabathia won the Cy Young award and things were looking good for 2008. Injuries, bad pitching and other excuses lead to a 81-81 season. We spent most of the season in 2nd to last place. Our bright spot was that Cliff Lee won the Cy Young this year. So, it’s December and we are still without a closer, a healthy, power-hitting DH, 3 spots in the rotation are up for grabs and we don’t have a 3rd baseman. Needless to say, I’m a little concerned for next year.

Cowboys – After expecting the Cowboys to run the table in the NFL this year, they sit at 8-5. Tony Romo was hurt, the team is still learning that NFL games are 4 quarters, not 3 and they still have the train wreck that is T.O. So, the Cowboys will be enjoying the playoffs from their couches this year.

Salukis – The football team had another good year, but was bounced from the playoffs in the first round. Our basketball team is average at best and missed the NCAA this past March after going for the previous 6 years.

So, I’m fat, work is tough and my sports teams stink. Seems like a thin reason to call it a bad year. I still have a beautiful, wonderful wife. My son brings a new smile to my face everyday. I have the love and support of my family. Most of the things that I am ready to flush are out of my control. And what that old serenity prayer say? “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. So, c’mon down 2009. I’m ready for you.

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Health

Weight-loss check in.

Thought I should give an update on how things are going. On my Monday weigh-in, I came in at 248. So, that marks a 7 pound loss the first week.

The Good

Water – I did drink a gallon (2 on some days) each day. Whenever you start drinking that much water, you pee like 40 times a day until your bladder starts to stretch. Now I only have to go about 12 times a day.
Walking – I walked 5 days last week for about 25 minutes each time. I was out the door by 6am. It felt good to have it done first thing in the morning.

The Not-so-good

Food – I did clean up my breakfast from McDonalds to cereal and toast or yogurt. I did snack on apples. Dinner, however, was not as healthy as I would have liked. That’s something to work on.

So, overall, I’m very happy with week one. Well into week two, I’m still on the water and walking trail. I have gotten several emails from other people starting a diet/work-out plan. Congrats on getting started and keep up the work. See you soon.

P.S. Check out the Nike+ graphic on the right side of my page. I have started the Keith 500. I plan to walk/run 500 miles by my goal date of July 18, 2009. (11.85 down, 488.15 to go.)

Categories
Health

When did I get so fat?

I’m a pretty tolerable guy and usually content to “let things be”. But sooner or later that nagging voice tells you that you can’t let it go any longer and a change needs to happen. Ooops, hold on, my phone is ringing, “Hello?” “This is that little voice, just calling to tell you that you got fat. Hope all else is well, talk to you soon.” So, with that, the voice has spoken and changes need to be made.

My Belly, A Short History

For anyone that has known me more than 20 years, you know that I did not own a belly until sophomore year in college. When I graduated high school, I weighed in at a slim 143 pounds. At 5’11”, I was skinny by anyones measure. Ate what I wanted and didn’t gain a pound. Then came college.

I was first introduced to my belly at SIU. During college, we became pretty close and I managed to find 50 more pounds during my 3-year stint in Carbondale. I graduated weighing 193 pounds.

The summer after graduation, I decided that I had let my self go and that voice made itself be known. Here was my diet plan:

1. Drink a gallon of water a day.
2. Work out about 3 times a week (if you get around to it.)
3. Continue to eat whatever I want.

How did that plan work out? Well, I lost 25 pounds that summer. This weight-loss thing is a snap.

Fast forward to my 30th birthday. My belly and I had rekindled our friendship and shared chicken wings, burgers, fries, large cokes, and packages of cookie dough. We got pretty close, my belly and I. On my 30th birthday, I weighed about 220 pounds.

It’s September 1st, my belly and I have become one. I officially weigh 255.6 pounds. They say that if you don’t eat right and work out, that you will add an additional 5 pounds a year. The math goes like this 255 – 168 (summer of 1992) = 87. 87/16 (years) = 5.44 pounds per year. Hey, there might just be something to this whole science thing!!

I have decided to sever my friendship with Mr. Belly. You need to know when a relationship has gone south and it’s time to say goodbye. I have come to face that reality. So, goodbye belly, we had a good run.

September 2, 2008 – A New Beginning

So, 9/2/08 is my go date. I don’t plan to make this too complicated. I’m going to drink my gallon of water everyday, eat 5 small & healthy meals, and start a walking/running program. The ultimate goal is to lose enough weight that I feel comfortable. I know that every year I wait to do this, it’s going to get harder and harder to do. I want to wake up on my 39th birthday (next July) and be at my goal weight.

Why blog about this? Well, I have run into several friends over the summer that have made the same comments about their weight. I am throwing this out there and see if anyone else wants to come along the weight-loss ride with me. If you are as tired of your weight as I am, get a plan and start it this week.

In the past, I always just started a diet and never told anyone. Since that hasn’t worked out too well, I thought that by going public would give a little more accountability to this plan. I will be posting updates here and on my Facebook page. So, goodbye fast-food, pop and sleeping in, hello to walking, water and chicken breast. Good luck to anyone else starting on their plan.