Thanks to all who threw me so encouragement in my rough day. Maybe tomorrow I can post a little 5k report?

If you are in the ATL, you should come to the dick lane velodrome on Saturday night! It is going to be awesome!

For many athletes (and I speak from my experience being around elite athletes, Olympians, world champions etc…)  when they get sick, it is really traumatic.  Not so much the physical effects of the sickness, but the mental.  It’s tough because they know their competition is training while they are resting and trying to get un-sick.  Often times they come back too soon and get sicker – which sucks even more.  I feel great compassion for them as I know they have dedicated so much time and effort to their success.  It happens to all of them.

The funny thing is that when a ‘fatlete’ (fat athlete) get sicks, the fear and anxiety is pretty substantial.  I’m sitting here in bed, with bronchitis, feeling like crap – but I’m more worried about how fast I will be able to run 5 miles on Sunday and/or if I will still be able to keep up with Nate on July 4th.  Am I losing all of my endurance?  Will I be able to ride with Tim in 2 weeks?  UGH – this sucks.

Skinny people who haven’t struggled with weight issues may be saying “dude, get real”, but for some of us – this is a life long battle that isn’t easy … EVER!  Even if I came out of April slower than I went into it – I developed a SOLID habit.  Habit is everything in the workout arena.  If you are in the habit of doing 1-2 hours of exercise a day, you have time.  If you fall off the wagon, suddenly you fill that gap with work, internet surfing, eating, planning to eat or making excuse for why you didn’t work out.  THIS is what I fear the most.  I fear this so much so that I am pondering taking my dog for a 5 miles walk so I don’t ‘lose my fitness’.  (Keep in mind, I cough walking up stairs right now).  Ugh… it’s just not SANE!

I’m really just trying to get this out of my head so I can calm myself down.  Realistically – this may be my body saying “dude, you must rest a bit” and resetting my clock.  I just hope the BODY gets the rest and the mind doesn’t suffer or crack  and I start eating bon-bons and biscuits.  I do know that there is something that feels really good about a great workout a week or so after you are sick… when the pipes clear out and you start firing on all cylinders.  I’m going to pin my hopes on that.

In the mean time, i’m trying to eat light…. avoid running to the refrigerator to medicate my frustration – THAT won’t help anything.  I’m not really sure anything here made any sense – I am sure it’s probably a little to the left side of odd…. Thanks for listening!

In April, I decided to get my fat tail feather in action and try to get back to some healthy habits and get the workout routine jump started.  I decided to do this by attempting to workout every day.  I do not think any human being should set this goal.  As you know, I have done it a few times and I think it is stupid – but at the same time it is effective in forming a habit of working out.  It proves to you that in the end, you have the time and you can do it.  Great…. i’m tired.  Will I do it again, surely.  Somebody should smack me – but that would just make me grumpy, so please don’t.

The year in review....

This little graphic shows exactly what I have done – without my ‘rest days’ which were, in no particular order:

• 5 hours of yard work
• 3 hours of yard work
• Walks of up to 3.5 miles
• Housework – not just feather dusting – insane-o cleaning/moving
• Kickball

As you can see, I truly hit it hard in April.  Even if you double any other month or combine any two, you can’t touch April.  I’m proud of this but I think my body is in some sort of funk-a-dump.  It’s not losing weight, its holding onto everything.  I’ve been logging all of my activity and www.loseit.com which I really like.  They didn’t used to have a droid app (bastards) but now they do (friends).  They have a nice social interface and through the powers of modern technology everytime I step on my bedroom scale, my facebook gets updated with my weight.  I’ve COMMITTED to stepping on it daily … so those of you who want to have ammunition to use against me, I’ve given you a canon!

Anyway – I ran 95 miles in April, rode a bunch too, had much fun.  Now it’s time to get smart and focus more on eating and working out towards a goal.  There is even a glimmer of p90x insanity in my eye.  Still haven’t completely decided on that.

Until next time… Hasta la compastidor.

I have the following:

• Blog
• Twitter (2)
• Facebook
• Foursquare
• Email
• Google+
• Phone (txt, voice)
• Other….

Effective today, I am going to use the following:

• Google+ which… sort of ties into email, so it’s available too.
• Phone (txt, voice)

I’m taking the challenge – 29 days… it’s on like donkey kong!  You wont see me on FB, no comments, pictures, posts … I will still behave the same, just on Google+.  Feel free to join me!

Scott on Google+

I believe this will end up on FB via a posting app.  Keep in mind, I wont see the comments… I don’t know my FB password any more!

You can send me a message on my Google+ profile, or an email… but my email is PRETTY simple to figure out!  Scott@…. Check out a poker game if you have time!

Hasta la Pasta!

In 2008 I went from 274 – 230 (44 pounds).
In 2009 I went from 260 – 228 (42 pounds).
In 2010 I went from 267 – 217 (50 pounds).

So … my average starting weight for the last 3 years is 270 pounds.
So … my average low weight for the last three years is  225 pounds.

I’m going to go right ahead and admit that for the last 10-14 days of my life, I didn’t worry about eating too much.  I tried here and there, but I was on VACATION…. a work phone, email, computer free vacation and I enjoyed myself.  I’m heavier than I want to be right now, but I can PROMISE you in 48 hours, I will weigh about 5 pounds less.  You don’t get obese on a single vacation…

So – how was 2011 a success?

In 2011 I went from 267 – 212 (55 pounds).

This is  CLEARLY sets my record at 55 pounds.  Unfortunately I have to report that I am not 212 right now … rather 232.  Some would be very sad about gaining 20.  I’m not thrilled about it, but again, I know it’s going to come off SUPER FAST and I’ve done a lot of things right.

Let’s put this all together….

In 2008 I went from 274 – 230 (44 pounds).
In 2009 I went from 260 – 228 (42 pounds) – simply disguised as a THIRTY POUND GAIN!
In 2010 I went from 267 – 217 (50 pounds) – simply disguised as a THIRTY NINE POUND GAIN!
In 2011 I went from 267 – 214 (53 pounds) – simply disguised as a FIFTY POUND GAIN!
In 2012 I am starting at 232 – so put on that tag… 18 pounds.

For the last three years, I have gained back FORTY POUND!  This past year, I not only lost more, I kept more off!  I kept off nearly what I lost the last four years and for that I am proud.  I am happy and focused.

This post is not a kick off to my new super fit annoy everybody with fitness routine.  It may be waking it back up a little, dusting it off – but the simple fact of the matter is that I learned a TON of super good stuff.  I go int 2012 with a good attitude and the desire to finish this!  Four years in a row I have lost an average of 47.75 pounds.  If I can type this line:

In 2012 I went from 232 to 184 pounds (48 pounds)

I will be very happy.  I think 185 is my goal weight.

Since I don’t make resolutions…. I’m going to write down a few goals here and work towards them.

• 185 (or a healthy weight that is not going to kill me getting there)
• 365 miles running
• 3650 miles riding
• 52 bicycle commutes to work (which will take care of 1664 miles of the last goal)
• Beat Nate Finch in the PTRR since he told me he was going to “kick my butt”
• Enjoy the above listed

How do I plan to complete these?

• Portion Control – Nothing – and I do mean NOTHING is more important than this.
• Blogging and discussing – The support of friend and encouragement I get really helps.  Please keep it up!
• Portion Control - Nothing – and I do mean NOTHING is more important than this.
• Only eating my food - even when it looks good, or I am still hungry, eat my portion and leave others alone.
• Portion Control - Nothing – and I do mean NOTHING is more important than this.
• Making good decisions – this doesn’t always mean eating broccoli instead of fries.  You can eat some fries now and then, but moderation and realization that you had them YESTERDAY… you need to think about your health.  Desert isn’t bad if you have been good all day… just thinking through everything and staying on track.
• Portion Control - Nothing – and I do mean NOTHING is more important than this.
• New Sunday Morning Run – Dragging my butt out of bed to meet with the runners
• Portion Control - Nothing – and I do mean NOTHING is more important than this.
• Meal Planning – I want to continue to find some healthy and easy recopies for  me and the family.
• Portion Control - Nothing – and I do mean NOTHING is more important than this.
• Support Circle – developing a circle of similar minded people who will help keep me accountable.

So… while I didn’t ‘finish strong’ – I finished well and I am happy!  On to bigger and better things!  Who wants into the circle?

Eating has been good.  Saturday was AWESOME…. Sunday was good.  Monday is already taxing me a lot.  Not really found of being taxed while I am at home – then again – not really sure being near vending machines is a good idea.

Last night we ordered up some Chinese and I didn’t want it… all my favorite Chinese recipes are really bad for you (or expensive).  They did have Thai food… I got some curry w/Chicken that everything I have searched on is apparently not too bad for me.  I was more impressed with what I did when it arrived.  I immediately took out a tupperware bowl and put 1/2 of the dinner away.  I wanted more, but I did one for now, one for later, one for now, one for later… *BOOM*  Got lunch today.

I felt weakness around lunch.  The kids didn’t finish their doritos – but I asked Sarah to get rid of the left overs.  I haven’t eaten anybodies left overs in 3 days.  I’m kind of proud of that.

One day at a time, one decision at a time – I hope to conquer this addiction.

I’m putting my faith in God on this one.  I am powerless over this – and he is not.  I can’t do it.  I proved that AGAIN…. My lowest weight was 212.  I’m at 226.8 this morning.  Not a huge gain – so I am grateful for that, but not good.  Let me see if I can plow some of this off before Christmas.  I did very well on my food yesterday … here is a link to my food diary.  Comments are welcome:

11/26 Food Diary

What I ate (too much of?)

This is the substance that brings me to the truth-booth. It was like heaven in my mouth… or so I thought. I fought with NOT eating it all day, it has lots of things in there I like (Fiddle Faddle, Candy Corn, Chocolate, Reeces Pieces, Pretzels, Chocolate…. Okay, I like it all). I did really well all day, but when I took it to the club house, I started ‘grazing’.  Every time I walked by, I grabbed  handful.  Over and over.  I kept saying to myself – “no more” – but as the song says… Wild horses couldn’t keep me away… I have NO earthly idea how much I actually ate, but I ate more than I should have.  I think it was probably less than I would have a last weekend.  I couldn’t even quantify how to tweet this.  ”32 handfuls of Halloween Trail Mix”?  I don’t know.

Anyway, I did the “smart thing”, just had one “Mummy Dog” and got the heck out of the line.  I had a cupcake too, but that is party time – one is acceptable.  I’m just upset that I grazed so much.

When I got home, I put ALL the leftovers in bags and when I got home from the football game, 90% of it was gone.  I have no idea where this stuff went, but not in my belly, so that is good.

I’m far from healed, perfect or on the right path – but I am trying!

So… If my food annoys you, I am sorry. You can un-follow or de-friend me. I won’t be mad. You might miss when I hit one-derland, which could be one heck of a day. They say I am gonna party like it’s 1999!