Day Two Hundred and Seventy-Three - 75% Complete

I'm crossing a few different dates off my journey today.  As of tonight I will be three fourths of the way through my year.  That means I've completed thirty-nine weeks, or nine months.  For two hundred and seventy-three straight days I have tracked my food, exercised (with the exception of a few days), and blogged.  I can't believe I'm in the last quarter of my one year commitment.  That means I'm in my final lap around the track, and before I know it, my event will be over.  As I get closer to September 1st, I'll start making plans for what I'm going to do after the year is up.  I know I won't hit the two hundred mark by then, so we'll wait and see if I'm going to keep up the daily blog (it does take a good bit of time out of my evenings).  I'm so excited to be entering this last phase of my year, and I am excited to see the changes I'll go through over these next three months.  I'm excited to lose my butter half.

So my calories aren't great today.  At work this afternoon I started having some, um...stomach issues. I'm not sure if it is something I ate or a bug.  Regardless, I feel lousy.  My calories are way under today, but the idea of eating chicken and potatoes makes my stomach hurt worse.  I may have a few crackers or toast if I start feeling better.  I got another workout in, but with my neck still hurting I didn't do my individual arm planks and did my pushups from my knees.

Day Two Hundred and Seventy-Two - Losing Weight is Like Renovating an Old Home...You Can't Just Update the Exterior

I have been watching a few TV shows on DIY Network tonight.  From time to time E and I will watch a "house show" to relax in the evening.  We watched an episode of Yard Crashers (one of my favorites right now because there are a lot of things I'd like to do in my yard).  After that was over we got the kids to bed and I sat down and watched an episode of Nashville Flipped.  The host Troy buys really old houses around Nashville to renovate and flip.  He keeps the history and character of the house, even remaking different accent pieces to look like they're original to the house.  He does all of this while also fixing the structure of the house and bringing it up to modern code.  The point is, he does his very best to not only make the house look fantastic, but he fixes the houses insides as well.  This will allow the beautification of the house to last and not be a wasted effort.

Sometimes when people are attempting to lose weight (myself included) they will only focus on the external.  People simply want to be skinny or have a rock hard stomach and a tighter posterior.  If you watch TV you'll realize that a lot of people really don't care how they get there.  It's all about getting as hot as you can as fast as you can.  As long as you get to have that beach body, nothing else matters.  But what about the inside?  What about the structure?  Just like the old houses Troy renovates, our body's inside is meant to last.  If we work on that first, then it's a lot easier to rejuvenate the outside.  When we get our gut healthy, then we aren't just putting a fake shell on the outside.  That is why Plexus products are so import to me on my journey.  I know that all of my hard work to lose weight won't be in vain.  I also know that I'm not just changing an appearance, rather I'm just bringing the character out.  I'm getting close to the end of this body renovation.  I'm excited to know that through tracking what I'm eating, daily exercise, and some amazing Plexus products I'll be brought "up to code" and able to remain there for years to come.  This time is completely different than the past.  My focus isn't solely on the outside, my focus is strengthening the inside to support an updated outside as I'm losing my butter half.

My calorie intake today was good.  I did eat too many potatoes at dinner tonight.  I thought the calories per serving were for each golden potato, but it turned out it was for each half potato.  A careless mistake I'll be careful to avoid in the future.  I'm still dealing with my neck pain (usually it'll take four to seven days to completely go away), so I didn't do a full workout.  I modified my pushups to my knees, and only did my two arm planks.  I need to get better so I can get back to my full workout.

Day Two Hundred and Seventy-One - Memorial Day - Honoring Those Who Have Fallen

For tonight's blog I want to pay honor to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  I'm reminded that everything I do in my life revolves around the simple fact that I am free to do it.  I am free to work at a job I choose.  I was free to marry the woman I love.  I am free to choose where my child goes to school (public, private, or homeschool).  I am free to worship God and strive to be like Jesus.  I am free to write my thoughts each and every day as I choose to lose weight.  Each of these freedoms, and thousands more, I enjoy not because I am entitled to them, but rather because someone chose to lay down their life to fight for and protect them.  Their blood was shed so I can enjoy freedoms from the seemingly insignificant to the most critical.

I don't want to waste this freedom thinking about me.  I know that the lives that were given weren't simply so I can sit here on a king-sized bed with a TV on the wall watching other people looking at houses to buy.  I know that it wasn't so I can hold a mini computer in my hand filled with distractions from what really matters in life.  I want my life to make a difference.  I want to show my appreciation for those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.  I want to serve and honor my community, provide and care for my wife and kids, lead my family (and others) in following Jesus, and give out of what God has blessed me with.  I know that this wouldn't be an option if I didn't make a change in my health and weight.  I'm grateful for my processes I'm following and the benefits of the Plexus products I take.  I know that through this life change, I'll be able to avoid wasting my freedoms.  Tonight, it's in honor of those who have given it all for my freedom that I am losing my butter half.

My intake today has been good.  We went to a memorial ceremony and picnic honoring those who have fallen.  I love being able to attend events and not worry about overeating.  I had one brat and very few chips.  I added in some watermelon, carrots, and cucumber slices.  It was a great meal and I walked away satisfied rather than bloated and guilty.  My workout this morning was good.  I'm still fighting the neck/back/shoulder pain, but I didn't let it stop me from a nearly full workout.

Day Two Hundred and Seventy - Such a Pain in the Neck

Today did not go as planned.  I tweaked something this morning, and now I have a pain in my neck, literally!  I don't know if it is a pinched nerve or what, but my neck/back/shoulder is really hurting.  Advil and Tylenol have helped some throughout the day, I've applied Ease cream, and used heat on it several times.  Needless to say, my plans to get a few more things done around the house were changed.  I rested, watched TV, and slept.  Sometimes in life we can't do anything about our circumstances.  Typically we do one of two things when things happen that throw our plans off course.  We will usually complain about it, or we will pick ourselves up, and do the best with the situation we are in.  For me, the best was rest as much as I could, take my supplements, drink lots of water, and then try to workout some tonight.  My question for you is what type of person are you?  How do you respond when something isn't going your way?  When "life happens" and your plans are altered, how do you deal with it?  Do you find the nearest ear and complain, or do you fight through it and make the best of the situation?  

So far this week, my food choices and calorie intake has been the worst I've done in a long time.  I'm not exaggerating at all.  From the appetizers Thursday and candy on Friday, to the pizza last night and leftovers tonight.  It hasn't been a great week.  I'm actually worried about being up this Thursday at my weigh in.  So, even though Memorial Day is tomorrow, I'm going to do my very best to make better choices the rest of the week.  I'm praying my neck/back/shoulder pain is gone by tomorrow so I can do a full workout and get the next three days off to a great start.  I want to do better so I can continue to lost my butter half.

My eating today was alright.  I didn't go overboard or anything.  I may have eaten a piece more of pizza than I should have (but they are small, thin, irregularly shaped pieces, so I'm not entirely sure how much I had).  I made sure to have fruit and vegetables, but I probably didn't need the kettle chips.  I am glad to report that I was able to get a workout in tonight.  I really didn't think I'd be able to with the pain in my neck, but I realized that riding didn't make it hurt any worse, so I did a full bike ride.  I did my crunches (which were uncomfortable, but didn't make anything hurt worse), but didn't even attempt planks or pushups.  While I didn't do everything I wanted, I'm grateful I could get something in.

Day Two Hundred and Sixty-Nine - Chick-fil-A, Home Depot, Haircut, and Grilled Pizza

I really don't know what's wrong with me the past two nights.  I have been doing so much better about getting my blog entry posted earlier in the evening.  That has not been the case last night and tonight.  For some crazy reason I have apparently waited as late as possible to get my blog post written and uploaded.  This has to change.  There has to be some routine to my day so I can stay healthy and continue on this journey.

Today was a fun day.  We started out the day with Chick-fil-A.  I know you are probably thinking how is he eating Chick-fil-A?  Well, I am pretty sure I have told you about Chick-fil-A's Egg White Grill.  It is a fantastic breakfast sandwich, and it is a really healthy option rather than eating fried chicken for breakfast. We ran through Home Depot and then headed to get my hair cut.  This was the first time I've cut it short in years.  We also went and picked up a friend of ours, Sydney, to come watch our kids while Bekah and I finished mulching the flower bed.  I grabbed some groceries and then grilled pizza tonight.  I love grilling pizza.  If you haven't done it yet, head on over to the recipe here and make yourself some awesome pizza!  Days like this are a lot of fun!  It is for more days like this in the future that I am losing my butter half.

I did well for calories today.  I could have done better with dinner, but thankfully I can pick back up where I left off today.  I know I stayed under my max, but it is too close for comfort.  Since we left early this morning, I had to delay my workout until this afternoon.  It worked well, and I'm very thankful for another workout in the books.

Day Two Hundred and Sixty-Eight - Not My Best Start to a Weekend

So I didn't start out my weekend quite like I planned.  After an awesome buffalo chicken salad for lunch, I came home and mowed the yard tonight.  That gave me a great extra workout and helped me hit my steps.  I had a light dinner, and then came to bed.  That's what I wish I could say.  Instead, if I'm being honest, I'll say I had a light dinner and then proceeded to eat snacks (and snacks and snacks).  It wasn't a full on binge, but it definitely pushed my calories up over 1500 for the day.  Also, it was putting a lot of unhealthy candy and sugar into my gut (which I work really hard to keep out with Plexus products).  I'm not happy about it, but the awesome thing is that I know I have tomorrow to do better.  I can look forward to following my processes and making better decisions to keep on my path.  I can couple that with awesome Plexus supplements to kick out and replace the junk I just put into my body.  While it may not have been my finest moment along this journey, it won't stop me from losing my butter half.

My calorie intake was good until tonight.  I'm committed to doing better tomorrow.  That buffalo chicken salad for lunch was delicious.  My workout this morning was good, but hard.  Pushups are still a lot more difficult than I want them to be.  I guess it's just me being impatient.  I'm excited to have hit my step goal of 10,000 steps today.

Day Two Hundred and Sixty-Seven - Weigh In #38 - Don't Waste The Opportunity of Accountability

All new Plexus Slim! If you haven't tried Plexus, you are missing out!

It's a lot later than I had wanted to be writing this evening, but I had a social I needed to be at for a group of aspiring agents I'm part of.  Whatever your goal is, be it weight loss, promotion, self-development, or maybe education related, make sure you have a strong group of peers to gain accountability, advice, and encouragement from.  I have been part of this group for a while now, and I can say it has been a huge part of my development towards owning my own agency.  Much in the same way many of you have been a large part of my success with weight loss.  My point is if you are going at it alone, if you are just trying to hold yourself accountable, it's going to be very hard to succeed (not impossible, but far from easy).  The accountability and input we gain from mentors and peers help keep us on track.  If you don't have anyone like this for you, reach out to me.  I'll gladly help you as you seek to reach your goal.

So on to my update for today's weigh in.  Last week I weighed in at 246.6 lbs.  I had an okay week for my food intake, but not perfect.  I was a little worried I may actually have been up a pound or so, but thankfully that wasn't the case.  When I stepped onto the scale this morning I was happy to see that I had lost another 2.2 lbs.  This brings me to a current weight of 244.4 lbs.  My total weight loss since September first is now 121.8 lbs!  I was a little surprised I lost over two pounds.  I was hoping for at least a pound, so when I saw that it was over two, I was really excited.  This goes to show that discipline pays off.  My processes of eating a healthy amount of and tracking calories, working out daily, and relying on all of you for accountability are still working well.  I'm excited to see where this is taking me, and I have a lot of confidence about hitting my September first goal.  I'm encouraged and determined as I'm losing my butter half.

My calories today weren't my best.  I allowed myself to have too much (while still staying within my overall goal) tonight at my social.  Appetizers aren't the most healthy of choices (even though the flat bread at Bar Louie is AMAZING!), but one of them did have veggies on it.  My workout today was tough, but good.  I'm not adding anything this week, rather I'm going to get to the point that I'm doing ten solid pushups before I add more.  I know I can get there, it is simply going to take time and patience.

Day Two Hundred and Sixty-Six - New Goal is Set!

I'm finishing my thirty-ninth week today.  This means that I have ninety-nine days remaining.  I know that in all likelihood I won't be down to two hundred pounds at the one year mark.  I'm alright with that because, as I've said before, I have lost more now than I had hoped to lose in a year.  I would like to weigh two hundred and twenty pounds by September, which would leave me with only twenty pounds to lose (which I think I could drop by Thanksgiving).  So I'm making a new goal today.  I want to hit two hundred and twenty pounds by September first.  I know that by following my processes, and leaning on you all for accountability, I will be able to hit this goal.

Tomorrow morning is another weigh in.  These past two weeks I haven't felt super confident in my loss.  I've been working out really hard each day, but I just haven't felt like I was making progress on my weight.  When I feel like this it always makes me nervous about my weigh in.  So tomorrow I'm hoping for over two pounds lost.  I'd love to be under two hundred and forty-five pounds when I step on the scale.  We'll have to wait until the morning to see where I am.  No matter what it says, I'm not going to stop losing my butter half.

My calorie intake today was really good.  I was careful about not snacking and making sure to make wise choices at my meals.  My workout this morning was really good.  The push-ups are still really tough, but I'm getting there.  I think the process of building up to forty-five per day is going to take a while.