Turbulence

I don't fly a lot but I have flown many times. It is rare that I have taken a flight with absolutely no turbulence. It has happened once or twice that I've had a smooth flight from beginning to end. However, on most flights there has been the occasional bumpy ride through portions of the flight. It usually comes without warning. Everything is going smoothly then bang, we hit the pothole in the air. It's unsettling and annoying but usually only temporary.

This past week I've run into turbulence with my diet. Everything was going so smoothly then, bump...bump...hunger pangs, cravings, fatigue, temptation to cheat... all suddenly appeared to rattle my smooth ride. I began to think about food all the time. I could smell the food that I saw advertised on TV. (Why are there so many fast food commercials on late in the evening?) I started to think of ways I could cheat. I even briefly entertained the thought of giving up completely. Briefly.

But I persisted. I didn't cheat and I didn't stop. I've stayed the course. The reward has come in seeing the number on the scale decrease ever so slightly each time I weigh in. I kept constantly reminding myself of my goal and the fact that I have made myself accountable to others to reach it. So, turbulence will just have to be endured on this trip even though it is unsettling and annoying.

Then today I broke into clear "air". The bumpy ride smoothed out as suddenly as it began. It started when I stepped on the scale and saw that I had dropped another pound. (I've lost 12 lbs in my first 10 days) Throughout the day I have experienced more energy and feelings of vitality than ever before. My mental state has turned to positive and I have regained the focus I began to lose. It short, today has been fantastic!

Will there be more turbulence? Probably. The ride has just begun and I'm still a good ways from reaching my destination. But today has taught me that it's only temporary and it's part of the journey. There are also some important lessons to be learned by going through the turbulence and that's the focus of my next post. Till then, thanks for reading and feel free to share your own thoughts about the kinds of turbulence you face on your journey and how you manage them.

The First Weekend

For me, the weekend means temptation. It is the treasured break from the working routine of the week and has always been the time to let go a little bit and have fun. My weekends aren't always full of fun but at least it's the myth I keep telling myself. It's usually time to go out and enjoy a meal at a favorite restaurant or watch a movie and load up on popcorn and the like.

How was my new Medifast routine going to hold up on the weekend? Would I have the strength to stay on track? Well, I have to report that the specter of diet failure never materialized for me and I had no difficulty at all staying the course. And yes, I was able to go out to eat with friends and still find food choices that were within my program. I didn't miss a thing! In fact I was able to eat some of my Medifast meals that are not possible to eat during my regular weekday routine, such as soup and stews.

After nearly a week on the program I have come to the conclusion that eating 6 small meals every two to three hours is the way to go regardless of what diet you may be on. It is a way of eating that is in tune with your body's needs and not being a slave to a paradigm of just eating three times a day, hungry or not. My body is good at telling me when it's time to eat, not the other way around. The small meals keep me satisfied and constantly fueled.

So where am I after my first five full days? I have lost 9 lbs...nearly two pounds per day! I know that this type of loss will be impossible to sustain because in the beginning there is a lot of fluid weight loss along with the fat. The loss will eventually slow down to 2 - 5 pounds per week or roughly 10 - 20 pounds per month. I'll take that! The journey continues...

Day 3 - Going Great

I am now in day 3 of my weight loss journey using the Medifast weight loss program. It is also my 57th birthday. (Does that sound old to anyone else?) Since I began on Tuesday I have lost just under 5 lbs. which has me really stoked. I haven't had any hunger issues and really don't expect anything seriously overwhelming at this point. I'm pretty much through the 72-hour adjustment period and I find that my energy level is increasing. Although the loss of 5 pounds isn't readily noticeable in my appearance, I can feel it. The trousers are ever so slightly more baggy than before.

I'm starting to discover which foods I like and which ones I probably won't order again. I have really liked most everything so the "dislike" list is very short. Of course, I haven't had a chance to sample everything that I've ordered so that list could very well grow. My favorites so far are the scrambled eggs and the Parmesan cheese puffs. My least favorite are the cinnamon pretzel sticks, probably because they are made of soy protein instead of bread. No worries though. My evening meals have consisted of lean meat and vegetables. Applebee's has a very good steak and vegetable meal with only 380 calories.

The Medifast meals are very small but filling. Eating six times a day keeps the hunger at bay. (Hey, that rhymes!) There's still some lingering feelings of deprivation, knowing that there are certain foods that I just can't have right now. But I'm confident that when I've reached my goal weight it will have been a very small price to pay for the benefits of better health. This, like other things we go through, is just a season.

Seasons of change, especially ones that bring positive change, are good for us even though they may be difficult to go through. There's always something to learn about yourself and about God in such upheaval. For me, the upheaval is welcomed. To remain on the path that I was on was only going to lead to more trouble and difficulty for me in the long run.

I must remember that it has only been three days and that I have a long way to go on this journey. There are things yet unseen that will challenge my focus and determination. The support of my friends and the power of Christ will enable me to prevail. On to day 4...

The Journey: Day 1

All in all, today was a very good day. For breakfast I had the scrambled eggs. They were surprisingly tasty considering it was a packet of "eggs" mixed with water and microwaved for about 90 seconds. They reminded me of the kind of eggs in a cheap breakfast buffet or the kind you used to get on an airplane. The taste and texture were appealing so I'm happy.

My meals for the rest of the day consisted of a chocolate "shake" drink, a chocolate crispy bar, cinnamon pretzels, a snack of ranch-flavored soy crisps, broiled chicken with asparagus and green beans, and a cup of hot chocolate.

I haven't experience a lot of hunger during the day and my energy level was about what it usually is. Just when the hunger started to come it was time for another small meal which was surprisingly filling. The meals are high in protein and fiber and low in carbohydrates which helps you feel full after eating. My biggest challenge during the day was cleaning the windows of one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. It smelled so good! I was glad when I was finished.

The approach to the Medifast program is to get your body into a fat-burning state. It takes about 72 hours on the program to achieve this. So, the first three days are probably going to be the toughest in terms of adjustment. I've been cautioned to expect some tiredness, headaches, hunger pangs and lightheaded feelings. I can report that I have experienced some faint hunger and a little bit of a headache this evening.

I think the mental aspect of this program will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge. There are many foods that I now can't have (at least temporarily) which makes me want them all the more. That's what happens in any effort at discipline which requires denial. It requires commitment and the focus on a goal to overcome the mental obstacles that crop up. Not only does my body need to be re-shaped, so does my mind. This is why support is so critical to any endeavor that requires great change. So in addition to changing what I eat, I'm trying to learn as much as I can about nutrition and support mechanisms that are available to me. Also, I certainly will count on those of you who are my friends to cheer me on. On to day 2....
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On the Eve of the Journey

I can't remember how long its been since I was "thin". I think it was when I was in college that my weight fell into the medically acceptable normal range for my age and height. I know it wasn't long after getting married that the pounds began to accumulate. Luckily (or maybe unluckily) I married someone who knew how to cook the foods that I liked and grew up on. The one thing I really didn't count on was the shift in my metabolism that came with age. In my high school and college years I could eat indiscriminately without fear of gaining weight. In fact, when I was a high school football lineman (offensive guard) I tipped the scales at an intimidating 165 lbs. I tried to gain weight so I wouldn't get pushed around so much by those bigger defensive tackles but nothing worked. Then sometime during my freshman year of college I "ballooned" up to a whopping 185 lbs. and never looked back. My weight yo-yo'd up and down for years until the yo-yo just became yo...up and not back down.

Now in my late 50's I've had enough. I feel as though my life is slipping away. My weight has created a host of problems, not the least of which is type 2 diabetes. I lack the energy I need to do my job effectively and I just don't like being fat. I'm telling the world that I need to change my life and lose weight and that I want to be held accountable for the outcome. No more excuses or blaming it on genetics, stress, circumstances, other people or anything else. I am responsible for my situation and I'm the only one who can do anything about it. Whew! I feel lighter already!

So, right now I am at 249 lbs. I am 5'11" so that puts my BMI (Body Mass Index) at 34.7 which is in the obese category. My BMI should be under 25. My goal weight is 175 lbs. which will give me a BMI of 24.4 and put me at dead sexy. (Austin Powers look out!)

From here on out I will blog on my progress and share my thoughts and feelings, successes and setbacks with anyone who cares to read them. My hope, as previously stated in yesterday's blog, is to be an encouragement to anyone else who may find themselves in similar circumstances. As an apprentice of Jesus Christ, I know He is with me and teaching me in every area of my life and He will also be my trusted guide in this particular journey.

Above is my "Before" picture taken today. I will update my picture on a monthly basis until I reach my goal. I can't wait to share the transformation! I welcome all comments and encouragement.

Blessings!

A New Journey Begins

Super Bowl Sunday, February 6, 2011
Ok. It's time. I'm ready to do something about my weight. This week (Feb 10) I will turn 57 and I'm basically in the worst shape of my life, physically. After seeing how much weight my good friend Kevin Hofer lost using the Medifast diet plan (check it out at www.medifast1.com ) I decided to go on the program myself. With Kevin's help, I've ordered the food, which is supposed to arrive tomorrow, and will officially begin on Tuesday.

At the suggestion of a friend, I've decided to blog about my weight loss journey. So beginning on Tuesday I will be blogging all about my experience in all of its detail and you can follow my progress right here. I can't promise a post every day but I will commit to at least twice a week. I'll start Tuesday's post with all the vital facts about my weight and physical condition. I'll post a starting photo and then update my pic periodically. I hope that my journey and my story will encourage others to lose the weight they need to or make changes in their lives that they know they need to make. I will also integrate elements of my faith journey in my blog as well.

I hope you'll support me in my efforts to find that smaller person inside me.