Weight Loss 3

I am down to 225 lbs from 265 in late 2012.  I started my diet and exercise routine in February, but didn't track my weight loss until March 12th using a free app called Lose It.  I believe I'm 100% free of diabetes, after suffering with high blood sugar for about a decade.  My cholesterol is perfect, and so is my blood pressure.  I will get a fresh bill of health in June.  My goal is to be down to 215 lbs by June 18th.

I hit a stumbling block when I went to Florida last week for my sister's wedding.  My family ate out three times a day for about 5 days.  I had a couple of decent exercise days, but nothing like I'm used to.  I try to exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, and most of that is running.  I wasn't able to do this while visiting Florida, and all of the eating out really impacted my weight.  I gained 5+ pounds.  I also wasn't able to supplement or give my body the right nutrition that it needs.  I got sick from the plane ride back, as well as did the rest of my family.  It was pretty discouraging, but most of the battle is in the mind.  I hit the treadmill double-time, and cut back on my calories even further.  I lost all of that weight, and am back in the game.

I just completed a two mile jog with no real difficulty.  I now have only two goals left.  Get down to 215 lbs, and run a mile in under 10 minutes.  Some people think these goals are easy, but they've always seemed impossible to me.  I never completed a mile (without walking) until I was 27.  My best time was just under 12 minutes.  The last time I weighed 215 was in 8th grade (yes, I was a big boy).  That was 15 years ago.  In some ways it feels like I'm going back in time to stop Biff from ruining the Enchantment Under The Sea Dance.  I never liked the story of the Prodigal Son, as I was always taught to "do it right the first time."  But in this case, redemption feels like it is within grasp.  Hard work pays off, results pour in, and I feel like I'm unstoppable.  It's the good kind of pride.  Beat me, if you can.

Weight Loss 2

I went to the doctor and he confirmed that my A1C (3 month blood sugar average) was high. After retesting me, it was a few points lower due to the diet and exercise regimen that I started in March. He prescribed some medication in the short-term and told me to keep exercising as I was on the right track.  My blood sugar is now under control.  I weigh 233 (down from 265 in November) now, and my glucose averages are under 140. My blood pressure is still perfect, and my cholesterol is great as well. I diet, exercise, and get the right nutrition on a daily basis. Dieting was the hardest part at first, but it's really a mental game. I'm finding that exercising for 30 minutes a day is my greatest challenge as I have a lot on my mind.  It's hard to exercise with emergencies at work, an active baby at home, and yard work.  But I've been consistent so far.

I was visiting in Moab over the weekend and was surprised to learn that I left some sweatpants there last year.  I tried them on and they didn't fit anymore.  I've lost a lot of inches in my waist. I've also lost some in my arms, and legs.  After doing some glucose tests after eating foods high in carbs, I noticed that my blood sugar stays under 160 without medication.  That being said, I'll stay on the medication until I drop some more weight.  My goal is to reach 225 by the end of May, and 215 by the end of June for my daughter's birthday.  Depending upon how I look and feel, I will probably stay at 215 and do a maintenance routine thereafter.  I'm 6'4", and most ideal weight calculator's have my frame being at 204, 205, and 215.  I'm dismissing the standards set in the 60's, 70's, and 80's as unrealistic.  180 pounds is not achievable, and is probably not healthy in my opinion.

Weight Loss

I bought a treadmill in February.  I was worried about buying one as I didn't want it to become a 200 pound dust collector.  Thankfully, I have been using it regularly.  I tried to get a life insurance policy a few weeks ago but didn't pass the medical test.  They wouldn't tell me why, so I requested the transcript.  It will require a doctor to decode it.  I'm pretty sure I know the reason why.  I have a history of high blood sugar.  I produce normal levels of insulin, but I am insulin resistant - my cells don't respond normally to my insulin.

In 2003, when I first found out that I had high blood sugar - I would walk regularly, and take a lot of vitamins, minerals, and other supplements.  The high blood sugar went away for about a year.  I could eat a cake, check my blood sugar levels two hours later and it would be within the normal range.  I thought I was cured.  Unfortunately, I went to college and picked up some bad habits.  After leaving high-school in 2002, I weighed 245 pounds.  That's a lot, even for someone 6'4".  The highest my weight ever went was an astonishing 315 pounds in 2006.  That was a bad year.  After that my weight averaged 265.  In addition to this, I've always had high blood pressure.

Thanks to diet and exercise, I now weigh 240 pounds.  That's the lowest I've weighed since I was a Junior in high-school   It's actually the weight that I have listed on my driver's license.  The good news to come from the medical test is that my blood pressure is normal.  I attribute this to regular exercise.  The recommended weight for my build is 214 pounds.  My goal is to get down to 225 pounds before mid summer, and then I'll set another goal.  I've been consuming only 1800 calories a day for a few weeks now.  To maintain my weight, they recommend about 3000.  Other than reaching my goal weight, I'm hoping that the high blood sugar goes away.  I never had it until I weighed around 240 pounds.

I kept injuring myself jogging on the treadmill and on the sidewalk.  I would take whey protein and consume a lot of water, but that didn't help much.  I found that the problem was my shoes.  They were isolating certain muscles, and causing strain.  I bought some exercise socks, and jog in them on the treadmill.  That problem is now gone.  I try to run/walk for one to two minute intervals for 25 mins a day which helps me build endurance.  Dieting is the hardest part.  Some days are frustrating.  I weigh in some mornings and it appears as though I haven't lost any weight.  But this is impossible as I have been consuming very few calories.  There are so many different variables at play.  Perhaps I am building muscle, or perhaps the food in my system from the previous night has not been fully digested.  I feel like a wrestler, constantly trying to make weight.

I don't have a support group, so I have to find the motivation...which is hard to do sometimes.  Especially, when the girl scout cookies we pre-ordered three months ago arrived when I am on this diet.  I've found some things are very helpful when dieting.  There's a free app called 'Lose It!' which keeps me honest about calorie consumption and exercise time.  I can also see my friends' progress on there.  Applesauce and string cheese have become my best friends now.  They are very low calorie and filling.  I will probably post an update in another two or three weeks.  Until then, I'll be staying healthy.  I've also scheduled a doctor's appointment, so I can get this blood sugar thing under control in the meantime.