And we have hit another plateau. Sort of. I mean, that Pioneer Woman chocolate cake that Big Daddy baked me for Mother's Day and proceeded to eat large portions of has not helped, but he's been pretty careful this week. Still, he is stuck at 296. So, we are going to decrease his calories just a bit, increase his water and green tea intake, and (hopefully) up his activity level. His jobs have kept him pretty active, but construction work is not the same as 30 minutes of sustained aerobic activity.
And, just because you might care to know, I have only gained 23 pounds so far this pregnancy. Yay! Of course, I still have 6-7 weeks to go, so there's still a chance for that number to get bumped up to 30 pounds. Especially since Big Daddy baked me that Pioneer Woman chocolate cake ...
So, here's the latest tally:
Starting weight = 312 pounds
Ending weight this week = 296 pounds
Weight loss this week = 0 pounds
Total weight loss = 16 pounds
Showing posts with label Big Daddy to Lean Mean Daddy Machine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Daddy to Lean Mean Daddy Machine. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
BIG DADDY TO LEAN MEAN DADDY MACHINE - WEEK 6
Big Daddy loves to cook. He's one of those people that intuitively knows what flavors go together, and he considers cooking an artistic release. I, on the other hand, am chained to the cookbook. Even then, things don't always turn out well, especially in the baking department (you may remember Dora and Pablo ...).
One pattern that we have noticed, though, is snacking. Big Daddy will often grab a little handful of this, a little spoonful of that, and little nibble of the other. There is typically some snack or another sitting out on the table that is accessible to the cherubs, and it often proves tempting to Big Daddy. Usually it's fruit, but it occasionally consists of peanut butter-y things or fruit snacks or something along those lines.
Big Daddy also snacks when he cooks. I guess it's pretty impossible when cooking to avoid helping yourself to the fruits of your labor. So, we're starting to work on becoming mindful of everything that Big Daddy puts into his mouth. It's so easy to snack mindlessly, and then not even remember it five minutes later. I guess that's one of the reasons that food diaries work so well: your mind is constantly focused on what is going in.
So, here's the latest tally:
Starting weight = 312 pounds
Ending weight this week = 296 pounds
Weight loss this week = 1 pound
Total weight loss = 16 pounds
One pattern that we have noticed, though, is snacking. Big Daddy will often grab a little handful of this, a little spoonful of that, and little nibble of the other. There is typically some snack or another sitting out on the table that is accessible to the cherubs, and it often proves tempting to Big Daddy. Usually it's fruit, but it occasionally consists of peanut butter-y things or fruit snacks or something along those lines.
Big Daddy also snacks when he cooks. I guess it's pretty impossible when cooking to avoid helping yourself to the fruits of your labor. So, we're starting to work on becoming mindful of everything that Big Daddy puts into his mouth. It's so easy to snack mindlessly, and then not even remember it five minutes later. I guess that's one of the reasons that food diaries work so well: your mind is constantly focused on what is going in.
So, here's the latest tally:
Starting weight = 312 pounds
Ending weight this week = 296 pounds
Weight loss this week = 1 pound
Total weight loss = 16 pounds
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
BIG DADDY TO LEAN, MEAN, DADDY MACHINE - WEEK 5
We are back on track with Big Daddy's lifestyle change. During the first half of the week, Big Daddy was a bit discouraged. No matter how hard he tried to watch his caloric intake, he couldn't seem to lose anything.
Then, three days into the week, he dropped two pounds! Some slight changes have been added to his lifestyle change:
1. He is drinking more green tea, which studies have shown help with weight loss (along with a plethra of other wonderful things for your body).
2. He pairs simple carbohydrates with acids like vinegar and lemon juice. Good Housekeeping's April 2009 issue had an article saying that acids ingested in combination with simple carbohydrates may slow the absorption of those simple carbs, allowing them to be converted into energy rather than fat.
3. He has upped his activity level with gardening, lawn care, and some more strenuous jobs.
And here is the tally so far:
Starting weight = 312 pounds
Ending weight this week = 297 pounds
Weight loss this week = 2 pounds
Total weight loss = 15 pounds
Then, three days into the week, he dropped two pounds! Some slight changes have been added to his lifestyle change:
1. He is drinking more green tea, which studies have shown help with weight loss (along with a plethra of other wonderful things for your body).
2. He pairs simple carbohydrates with acids like vinegar and lemon juice. Good Housekeeping's April 2009 issue had an article saying that acids ingested in combination with simple carbohydrates may slow the absorption of those simple carbs, allowing them to be converted into energy rather than fat.
3. He has upped his activity level with gardening, lawn care, and some more strenuous jobs.
And here is the tally so far:
Starting weight = 312 pounds
Ending weight this week = 297 pounds
Weight loss this week = 2 pounds
Total weight loss = 15 pounds
Monday, April 20, 2009
FROM BIG DADDY TO LEAN MEAN DADDY MACHINE WEEK 4
Well, the healthy lifestyle was thrown into turmoil last week when Big Daddy's twin unexpectedly landed in the ICU. There was a lot of hospital food ingested, and mounds of comfort food like chili and pasta. So, progress was not made. Big Daddy was so discouraged that he didn't weigh himself last week. He ventured on the scale this week, however, and realized that the damage was not as bad as he had feared.
Although Big Daddy didn't lose any weight over the past two weeks, he also didn't gain any weight. So, we're no worse off than we were two weeks ago. And now, back to the straight and narrow. We are back to watching portion sizes, and Big Daddy is on a job that will require a lot of physical exertion. We're hoping this will jump-start that last plateau and start the weight coming off again.
Oh, and Aunt Tracy is out of the hospital and recovering nicely.
I, on the other hand, gained five pounds in the last three weeks (thank you, Peanut). I know I'm only supposed to be gaining a pound a week right now, but Peanut loves her chocolate!
Although Big Daddy didn't lose any weight over the past two weeks, he also didn't gain any weight. So, we're no worse off than we were two weeks ago. And now, back to the straight and narrow. We are back to watching portion sizes, and Big Daddy is on a job that will require a lot of physical exertion. We're hoping this will jump-start that last plateau and start the weight coming off again.
Oh, and Aunt Tracy is out of the hospital and recovering nicely.
I, on the other hand, gained five pounds in the last three weeks (thank you, Peanut). I know I'm only supposed to be gaining a pound a week right now, but Peanut loves her chocolate!
Monday, April 6, 2009
LEAN MEAN DADDY MACHINE, WEEK 3
Well, Big Daddy has hit his first weight loss plateau. He knows that weight loss tends to plateau on occasion, but he's a little discouraged about it happening so soon, especially after such tremendous weight loss during the first two weeks.
My solution is for Big Daddy to begin an exercise regimen. We both know that sensible eating alone is not going to maximize weight loss. Big Daddy has a very physical job working construction, but that kind of exertion is different than a daily 30 minutes of controlled and steady movement.
Unfortunately, Big Daddy heard some chiropractor on the radio talking about cutting all sorts of foods out of your diet to make weight loss happen more quickly. Personally, I think those kind of self-depriving fad diets do more harm than good in the long run, but they hold some kind of strange appeal for Big Daddy. I'm all for moderation. I mean, if people really feel the need to deprive themselves of something for the sake of weight loss, I think they should look at it from the angle that they are already depriving themselves of all the junk food they would normally eat and of the portion sizes they would usually take.
So, I'll see if I can light a fire under Big Daddy to start in on the exercise, and we'll see what happens this week.
My solution is for Big Daddy to begin an exercise regimen. We both know that sensible eating alone is not going to maximize weight loss. Big Daddy has a very physical job working construction, but that kind of exertion is different than a daily 30 minutes of controlled and steady movement.
Unfortunately, Big Daddy heard some chiropractor on the radio talking about cutting all sorts of foods out of your diet to make weight loss happen more quickly. Personally, I think those kind of self-depriving fad diets do more harm than good in the long run, but they hold some kind of strange appeal for Big Daddy. I'm all for moderation. I mean, if people really feel the need to deprive themselves of something for the sake of weight loss, I think they should look at it from the angle that they are already depriving themselves of all the junk food they would normally eat and of the portion sizes they would usually take.
So, I'll see if I can light a fire under Big Daddy to start in on the exercise, and we'll see what happens this week.
Monday, March 30, 2009
LEAN MEAN DADDY MACHINE, WEEK TWO
And so, we enter week two of Big Daddy's transformation into Lean, Mean, Daddy Machine.
Big Daddy has done very well this past week. He's trying to keep his daily caloric intake at around 1800. Since he's limiting his calories, he wants to make sure that every calorie counts; so, he's trying to eat the most nutritious food he can that fits our budget and time constraints.
For the most part, Big Daddy continues to eat pre-portioned meals for lunch and supper, with a carefully thought-out breakfast. Occasionally, he will eat the same supper as the rest of the family, Googling the foods we are eating to find the exact portion size and calorie count of each food item. He hasn't really deprived himself of anything. If he wants dessert (which isn't often, as he doesn't have nearly the sweet tooth of yours truly), he carefully counts his calories throughout the day and indulges in a small but satisfying portion of sweetness.
We went out to eat, and Big Daddy picked out the healthiest choices on the menu, double-checking with the servers for calorie count.
Big Daddy also likes to gather as much information as possible about living a healthy lifestyle. This past week, we watched the Discovery Channel Special "What's Making You Fat?" Bob Greene laid out ten myths of weight loss:
10. You overeat because you love food.
Now, for me, that is absolutely the case, but for most people (Big Daddy included), eating is more of a self-soothing reaction to stress, boredom, etc.
9. Exercise makes you bulk up.
8. No more snacking!
Actually, eating healthy snacks and small meals at regular intervals (three small meals and two small snacks are what our GP recommended) can stave off hunger and boost metabolism.
7. Carbs are bad.
I've never gone in for the Atkins diet. I believe in all things in moderation, not in a lifestyle of deprivation. Choosing healthy carbs (e.g. whole grains, veggies, potatoes) provides necessary nutrients to the body.
6. Cardio is key; strength training is secondary.
Muscle requires four times the calories to maintain as fat. Therefore, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn.
5. You have to drastically cut calories.
Cutting calories too quickly actually makes your body think you're starving. So, your body automatically goes into self-preservation mode and holds onto all its fat stores. The best way is to cut calories a little at a time, increasing the calorie cuts as the weight comes off.
4. Avoid fats entirely.
The body needs fat to survive. The important thing is to eat the right kinds of fat, especially Omega-3 fatty acids.
3. You can't lose weight eating out.
We've already seen that it's possible to lose weight and eat out. It's all about making good choices as far as food and portion sizes.
2. Food alone is what's making you fat.
EXERCISE!
1. You'll be happy if you lose weight.
Skinny or not, you'll still be you. You need to be happy with who God made you to be on the inside, and do your best to take care of yourself both inside and out.
So, here's the rundown for the week:
Starting weight = 312 pounds
Ending weight this week = 299 pounds
Weight loss this week = 6 pounds
Total weight loss = 13 pounds
Big Daddy has done very well this past week. He's trying to keep his daily caloric intake at around 1800. Since he's limiting his calories, he wants to make sure that every calorie counts; so, he's trying to eat the most nutritious food he can that fits our budget and time constraints.
For the most part, Big Daddy continues to eat pre-portioned meals for lunch and supper, with a carefully thought-out breakfast. Occasionally, he will eat the same supper as the rest of the family, Googling the foods we are eating to find the exact portion size and calorie count of each food item. He hasn't really deprived himself of anything. If he wants dessert (which isn't often, as he doesn't have nearly the sweet tooth of yours truly), he carefully counts his calories throughout the day and indulges in a small but satisfying portion of sweetness.
We went out to eat, and Big Daddy picked out the healthiest choices on the menu, double-checking with the servers for calorie count.
Big Daddy also likes to gather as much information as possible about living a healthy lifestyle. This past week, we watched the Discovery Channel Special "What's Making You Fat?" Bob Greene laid out ten myths of weight loss:
10. You overeat because you love food.
Now, for me, that is absolutely the case, but for most people (Big Daddy included), eating is more of a self-soothing reaction to stress, boredom, etc.
9. Exercise makes you bulk up.
8. No more snacking!
Actually, eating healthy snacks and small meals at regular intervals (three small meals and two small snacks are what our GP recommended) can stave off hunger and boost metabolism.
7. Carbs are bad.
I've never gone in for the Atkins diet. I believe in all things in moderation, not in a lifestyle of deprivation. Choosing healthy carbs (e.g. whole grains, veggies, potatoes) provides necessary nutrients to the body.
6. Cardio is key; strength training is secondary.
Muscle requires four times the calories to maintain as fat. Therefore, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn.
5. You have to drastically cut calories.
Cutting calories too quickly actually makes your body think you're starving. So, your body automatically goes into self-preservation mode and holds onto all its fat stores. The best way is to cut calories a little at a time, increasing the calorie cuts as the weight comes off.
4. Avoid fats entirely.
The body needs fat to survive. The important thing is to eat the right kinds of fat, especially Omega-3 fatty acids.
3. You can't lose weight eating out.
We've already seen that it's possible to lose weight and eat out. It's all about making good choices as far as food and portion sizes.
2. Food alone is what's making you fat.
EXERCISE!
1. You'll be happy if you lose weight.
Skinny or not, you'll still be you. You need to be happy with who God made you to be on the inside, and do your best to take care of yourself both inside and out.
So, here's the rundown for the week:
Starting weight = 312 pounds
Ending weight this week = 299 pounds
Weight loss this week = 6 pounds
Total weight loss = 13 pounds
Monday, March 23, 2009
FROM BIG DADDY TO LEAN, MEAN, DADDY MACHINE
Big Daddy has a family history of being overweight. So, weight is something that he has struggled with since his teens. Now, he doesn't eat unhealthy things; he just eats a lot of healthy things. And he's a stress eater. And, owning your own business is pretty stressful.
We've tried several different weight loss strategies with limited success. We tried Nutrisystem for men, which was effective, but the food tasted terrible and it got pretty expensive. You have to buy the meals, but then you have to buy a bunch of supplemental food to go with the meals. The commercials say the plan costs about $10 per meal, but it ends up costing more than that in the long run.
We tried the Zone, but the strict eating schedule and menus provided were difficult for Big Daddy to implement in his line of work (which is construction). He had no available means of refrigeration or re-heating of his meals and snacks.
We tried raw and whole foods, but that got really expensive and required a lot of prep work. We just didn't have the time for all that food preparation. And we certainly had better things to do with our income than hand it over to Whole Foods Supermarkets.
We try to avoid fad diets, which usually don't pan out over the long term. But we always have our eyes open for do-able lifestyle changes that support healthy weight.
So, Big Daddy and I were talking yesterday, and we thought it would be a good idea to chronicle his weight loss journey in the blogosphere. We thought it could provide encouragement and accountability, and provide him with a tangible timeline of his weight loss. At a safe weight loss schedule, we figure he should be where he wants to be in about a year.
Since Big Daddy needs to lose approximately 100 pounds, we began his weight loss journey with a trip to the doctor. Our doctor advised starting simple. He said that the basic problem with obesity was that there was more input than output. Plain and simple, Big Daddy has to eat less. All the time. He told Big Daddy to eat three small meals and two small snacks daily. He suggested using pre-packaged meals (Lean Cuisine, Kashi, etc.) to take the guesswork out of portion sizes. He didn't want us to concern ourselves at this point with things like avoiding certain carbohydrates or eating only organics or going to a nutritionist to get a list of recommended vitamins or anything. At this point, he just wants Big Daddy to eat less. Besides, Big Daddy has done enough research on his own to know what's good for him and what's not good for him.
The doctor's parting words: "You're going to be hungry all the time for a while. And, it's going to make you grumpy. Can you get the weight off? Absolutely. Will you get the weight off? I don't know. That's up to you."
And so, we have just completed our first week of this new, lighter-eating-smaller-portions lifestyle. The result?
Starting weight = 312 pounds
Ending weight this week = 305 pounds
Total weight loss = 7 pounds
Yay, Big Daddy!!!!
We've tried several different weight loss strategies with limited success. We tried Nutrisystem for men, which was effective, but the food tasted terrible and it got pretty expensive. You have to buy the meals, but then you have to buy a bunch of supplemental food to go with the meals. The commercials say the plan costs about $10 per meal, but it ends up costing more than that in the long run.
We tried the Zone, but the strict eating schedule and menus provided were difficult for Big Daddy to implement in his line of work (which is construction). He had no available means of refrigeration or re-heating of his meals and snacks.
We tried raw and whole foods, but that got really expensive and required a lot of prep work. We just didn't have the time for all that food preparation. And we certainly had better things to do with our income than hand it over to Whole Foods Supermarkets.
We try to avoid fad diets, which usually don't pan out over the long term. But we always have our eyes open for do-able lifestyle changes that support healthy weight.
So, Big Daddy and I were talking yesterday, and we thought it would be a good idea to chronicle his weight loss journey in the blogosphere. We thought it could provide encouragement and accountability, and provide him with a tangible timeline of his weight loss. At a safe weight loss schedule, we figure he should be where he wants to be in about a year.
Since Big Daddy needs to lose approximately 100 pounds, we began his weight loss journey with a trip to the doctor. Our doctor advised starting simple. He said that the basic problem with obesity was that there was more input than output. Plain and simple, Big Daddy has to eat less. All the time. He told Big Daddy to eat three small meals and two small snacks daily. He suggested using pre-packaged meals (Lean Cuisine, Kashi, etc.) to take the guesswork out of portion sizes. He didn't want us to concern ourselves at this point with things like avoiding certain carbohydrates or eating only organics or going to a nutritionist to get a list of recommended vitamins or anything. At this point, he just wants Big Daddy to eat less. Besides, Big Daddy has done enough research on his own to know what's good for him and what's not good for him.
The doctor's parting words: "You're going to be hungry all the time for a while. And, it's going to make you grumpy. Can you get the weight off? Absolutely. Will you get the weight off? I don't know. That's up to you."
And so, we have just completed our first week of this new, lighter-eating-smaller-portions lifestyle. The result?
Starting weight = 312 pounds
Ending weight this week = 305 pounds
Total weight loss = 7 pounds
Yay, Big Daddy!!!!
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