Shameful, but there's still hope

Blogging is kinda like writing your mother -- you know you should do it and you think about it every day, but the longer you go without doing it, the more awkward it is to actually sit down and put fingers to keyboard.

(Sigh.)

I feel like I've been doing this alot.  (I wish I could add "lately".)  By "this" I mean apologizing to you, who've been so faithful and supportive and checking in on my sorry excuse for a blog on a regular basis.  You deserve a better effort from me.  So again, I say with all sincerity, I'm very sorry for not writing sooner, Mom... er, EP-ites.

Here's what's been going on for the last two months:

My job is going very well.  I've now gratuated from orientation at The Poop Factory, but of course still have lots to learn.  I enjoy the entire staff (including the doctors) very much.  You've got to have a sense of humor about your work to help folks through colonoscopies every day, and my informal goal is to get a laugh out of every patient.  I'm usually successful, and why not?  Your bowels are a gas!

Unfortunately, as far as the blogging is concerned, the old job with its down-time during the night-shift was far more conducive schedule-wise to being able to jot down my innermost wierdness during a shift.  It's not a terribly good excuse, I know, but I've been just waiting for "blog time" to open up at home and it's just not happening.  Blog Time is going to have to be made, it appears.

So how's the weight loss going? you ask.  (Sigh again.)  I've come to grips with the fact that I flat-out took the summer off as far as the diet goes.  Mercifully I didn't balloon up the way I should have.  (Semi-regular exercising is probably to thank for that.)  I've put on ten pounds since the last time I entered my weight, which I'm SHOCKED to see was in JULY!  (What's the matter with me?!) 

Believe it or not, I can feel the difference in the weight increase.  Some of those pants that were getting really loose, well, they ain't so loose anymore.  I've also noticed my scrubs fitting a little differently, which is not a good thing.  (I can't wear the XL's I purchased at the end of the summer -- I can't bend over without giving a partial moon-shot to anyone with a sight-line.  Yuck.  I wouldn't want to see it either!)

My workouts have been sporadic at best.  Starting in mid-October, I'd buckled down and had worked out 4-5 days a week for 3-4 weeks.  I wasn't dropping any weight, but was seeing some positive body changes again.  Then, about 2 weeks ago, I got sick and haven't worked out since.  The illness has gone from flu to cough and repeated the cycle.  A naggy thought in the back of my brain tells me that if I were eating better, this wouldn't have lasted as long, but honestly, who knows.

So, the question remains, "How we gonna turn this boat around?"

A good question, that speaking of boats, has an interesing answer:  Incentive.  My wife and I will soon be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary.  She's been dropping subtle hints for a few years that she wants to do something BIG for our 10th.  Subtle like, "Let's buy me something expensive!"  She's going to have to settle for a short cruise to the Bahamas.  This brings me back to my incentive:  I'm looking forward to taking my shirt off in public and not having my fellow guests requiring emergency trips to the infirmary for something along the lines of "seasickness" medication.  Nothing provides incentive like a threat of a little public embarrassment.

Incentive, Part II:  Because of the trip, I am now basically broke.  This is a good thing.  Why? you ask.  Another very good question.  Probably my biggest vice when it comes to food is eating out, which is expensive.  If you can remember back to the last milennia (when I was still blogging regularly), you might recall that I am not a picky eater.  I'm just as likely to "ooh" and "ahh" over something in a paper wrapper served to me in my car as a menu choice that I have to gesture at with my index finger because I haven't the foggiest idea how to pronounce it.  Therein lies my biggest problem - indescriminate eating, especially of the fast-food variety.  So, I have a little financial incentive to not eat spontaneously.  I just don't have the dough for the mass-produced bread.  This, I believe, will require me to resume planning my meals, a key component to my prior success.  We'll also be eating far more fresh/whole foods from the grocery store as a result.

So, here's the rub:  I've had an idea rattling around in my brain for a couple of weeks -- a contract with myself.  I'm going to construct a very straightforward list of expectations I have for myself ('cause, as my wife knows all too well, I just don't do all that well with nuance) that will lead to better behaviors and therefore help me achieve my goals.  When finished, I will print out a copy and post it on my fridge and in my car, the two places I struggle the most, and am quite likely to see on a regular basis.  Any sugguestions are most welcome.  Here's what I've got so far:

THE CONTRACT for SUCCESS

1. I will not eat any fast food between now and the cruise.
2. I will not eat in my car.  (This may seem redundant, but even with food brought from home, I can snack indescriminately forever, as long as I'm driving.  This will also rule out impulse buys at the gas station/grocery/drug store, etc...)
3. I will drink 8-12 glasses of water every day.
4. I will not watch more than 7 hours of TV per week (avg 1 hr/day), the only exception being that time on during workouts does not count toward my total, as it helps keep me focused/distracted.  (Such a brain-drain-time-sucker the tube is.  At first, 7 hours a week may seem like alot, but when I do an honest self-assessment...  shiver!)
5. I will have a focused work out for at least 1/2 hour a minimum of 4 days per week.
6. I will research and implement a simple, whole-foods based diet.
7. I will blog at EP at least twice a week.

I'm serious about sugguestions.  Send 'em my way.  I need all the help that I can get!

Blessings to you all.  Thanks again for sticking with me.  I hope to be checking in with you soon.

Pete! Welcome back!!

Thanks for checking in on me.  It's good to see you blogging again Pete, I'd wondered how you were doing.  I'm glad to see you with renewed focus, and I like your contract, it's a great idea.

Me, I've made some major changes and the weight is finally moving downward again.  I was already vegan, but now I'm eating whole foods, fruits veggies and the like ... no junk, which believe me, there's plenty of that's still vegan.  You can find me now here!

Hey! Welcome Back!

I'm glad you checked in with me. It sounds like things are going well with your new job.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Only ten pounds up since July? You must have been doing something right in that time. Remember, it's a marathon not a sprint!

Your contract is a great idea. Make sure you give yourself some concrete incentives too -- maybe a special excursion on the cruise if you reach a certain goal? The thing that has helped me the most is scheduling. I know what time I eat my breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, and snack -- and if it's not one those 6 times. Well, I don't eat.

The biggest incentive of all ---- a 4 and 6 year old who aren't constantly asking me if I have a new baby in my tummy!! Gotta love kids...

Random Stranger...

But then again, that is what this is all about isn't it?

Anyhoo, I felt compelled to comment on your excellent writing (ironically, I spelled 'excellent ' wrong three times trying to write that, so you may have to take that compliment with a grain of salt) and honest self-refection.

I can, of course, relate to just about everything you said. ESPECIALLY, the drive thru eating:

1. It is not just for drive thru's anymore. Gas station crap food (a step down from "junk food"), grocery store bakery items, candy, all of these are things I consume in the "privacy" of my automobile somehow thinking the calories don't count if I am not at a formal meal.

2. It is also so easy to forget just how much food I have eaten when I  mindless shovel food into my face at 50 miles an hour.

Good luck on your contract. Summer play time is over, baby, time to get back in the game!

Welcome back!

Quote of the day: "It's okay to struggle sometimes, it's not okay to quit"

So, you've struggled a little, so what? It happens to the best of us. The point is that now you're back. Good for you! It's tough getting back on the wagon, and I've been there, too... I think we ALL have at some point.

Leaving reminders around the house and office are awesome! I put inspiring quotes and reasons why not to overeat on the inside of my cubbords so I see them every time I go to get something.

Congrats again for making it back here... good luck! And don't be a stranger!

Woohoooo!

Glad to see you are back! Thanks for stopping by. LOVE the contract. Thinking I might need to do myself up one too. You weren't the only one that got off the weightloss train this summer. I am still struggling with getting back on track.

The only thing I would add to your contract are some rewards. They can be such a big motivator at least for me they are.

admiration

I admire because even with a full job and family, you are continuing to CHOOSE to make yourself and your health a priority.  That is a great anniversary present- a healthy husband!  Enjoy the clean air, pun intended. HAHA!

Great

I like the contract idea.  Can't think any additions right now.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hey there's room at the bloodmobile if you need to burn some calories that way LOL!!

You are a nurse-medical-type person - is that correct that it burns 3500 calories donating a pint?  You outta check around... LOL!!

Have a great new week!!

PETE!!!

Oh my gosh, so glad to see you back again!!! *mwah!*

I have a new blog, too. (Anna and I keep commenting on one another's blog. We're keeping each other propped up!) You join in, too, please!!!

You can find me here.  Please visit and leave comments!!

Now about your list. Don't forget that the short term memory can only hold 5-9 bits of info. So choose wisely and keep the list under 9 items. I like the ones you have so far, but wonder about number 1. Why can't it be 'I will not eat fast food again EVER'??

I suggest you add a goal to read one health-related book each month. I know for both Anna and myself, reading reputable sources of information has helped us to stick with our goals. It gives you a bigger reason than just a smaller pants size!

Now, if you don't keep blogging I WILL have to hunt you down!

Welcome Back

Good to see you back with us.  I had only just found your wonderful blogs before you disappeared!

Great contract!

I love the idea and I love the content!  

After this past weekend, I really need to lay off the fast food, too.  I think we could have had a pretty good time together.... except for the fact that our respective spouses would have been sitting there looking at us both, thinking, "How the heck can they eat that much of that crap?! "    LOL   :-D

Contract for Success

I love this contract you made with yourself.  I am just starting my journey here and I am hoping you won't mind if I "steal" your contract, tweak it to my own situation, and post it on my blog.  I know for a fact that I eat WAY too much take out and watch WAY WAY too much tv.  These will be huge for me to break out of, especially since the kids want to go to "Old McDonald" all the time!  Sigh.  Thanks for the inspiration!!!