In It for the Long Haul

I'm genetically predisposed to live a long, long time.

I'm 31, and three of my four grandparents (ages 88 to 94) are still living. One of them, my grandfather, suffered a minor stroke yesterday and is currently in the hospital, where we discussed this long-living quality last night. His great-grandparents and great-aunts and -uncles lived into their 90s and 100s, decades beyond the average life expectancy of their time. On the other side of my family, it's pretty much the same story.

What Grandpa and I talked about was how I should keep up my current healthy habits for the long haul--because if I don't, I'll have to live with the consequences. For many years. He and Grandma (now in a hospice) both suffered multiple heart attacks and bypass surgeries, not to mention type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle-related conditions. That will be my fate if I return to my old ways of eating too much of the wrong foods and exercising too little.

So many things can motivate me to choose broccoli over brownies or to spend 10 more minutes on the treadmill. But what motivator could be more powerful than changing my destiny and making the rest of my (hopefully) long life as healthy, fit, and happy as it can be?

P.S. Please send good thoughts to my grandparents, Oscar and Mildred, as they both need a little extra good mojo right now.

The All-Day Meeting Trap

Yesterday, I slipped up. I couldn't help it, really--I was trapped!

I spent the entire work day at my clients' offices, including lunch (ordered in without consulting the attendees for dietary needs/requests) and an afternoon brainstorm (piles of discounted Easter candy sitting in front of us on the table for several hours). By noon when lunch was delivered, I was pretty darned hungry. I did have half of a Luna bar between presentations, but that was it.

When confronted with the limited lunch options, I chose two half-sandwiches, mustard over mayo, and Baked Lay's. Water to drink, naturally. Then there were these GIANT chocolate chip cookies ... I should have passed them up, but I didn't. They just looked so good, and I was trapped for the remainder of the day. So I ate one.

Post-lunch, I felt like a big slug. I wanted to get up, run around, do some jumping jacks. That might have come off as a wee bit unprofessional, so instead I sat calmly and brainstormed with everyone else.

Meanwhile, I stared at the piles of candy on the table. A well-meaning coworker brought the candy to help keep our sugar-fueled ideas coming. But all it did for me was distract my sweet-tooth brain until I gave in. A Starburst here, a "fun size" Butterfinger there. By the end of the day, I probably consumed about 350 more calories than I needed or intended to have. Son of a ...!

I decided to rectify my poor choices by only having a veggie salad for dinner (Mr. added fish to his plate). After I put our daughter to bed, I worked out: first, a 45-minute "burn and firm" Pilates video, then 25 minutes of cardio on the stationary bike.

I'm not sure that my evening's penance was enough to cancel out the earlier snackage, but I know it helped. Also, I felt like I started out today with a clean slate. One day's screwup does not equal "falling off the wagon." Today, there was another working meeting, another ordered-in lunch. But this time, a thoughtful coworker ordered me a special salad (thanks, Mandy!). And even though there were giant chocolate chip cookies, I passed them up. I'm still on the wagon, and hopefully will lose more weight this week.

Weekly Weigh-in #12: More of the Same

I hate to brag, but I'm feeling pretty good about the continued weight loss that Mrs. and I have managed to earn this week. We're still not working out all day and night, just 30-40 minutes every day, but we're slowly and steadily dropping the pounds and working to keep them off.

Last week I was a little depressed about losing only a single pound, so I decided to add 10 minutes to my workout every evening (40 minutes while watching TV rather than just 30 minutes) and the added investment in time and sweat paid off:

Jay
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Current weight: 264 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 4 pounds
Total pounds lost: 37 pounds

Susan
Starting weight: 238 pounds
Current weight: 210 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 1.5 pounds
Total pounds lost: 28 pounds

Mrs. and I have both noticed some positive body changes lately ... as we would hope after losing a total combined weight of 65 pounds! Susan was able to fit into a pair of pants that she hasn't been able to wear since before she was pregnant with our daughter (who is about to turn two years old in May). On Saturday I put on one of my old dress shirts that I bought last year when I weighed more than 300 pounds and that old dress shirt looks like a knee-length woman's dress on me now.

More importantly, we made it past Easter without over-indulging in tons of chocolate and fatty holiday foods. We did indulge "a little" on Sunday when Susan and I both had a single small chocolate Easter egg. But we avoided an overly fatty dinner thanks to some help from Susan's side of the family and a tasty recipe for Blackberry Peach Crisp.

We hope your holiday weekend was a healthy and happy as ours.

Telling Your Friends and Coworkers

Obviously, Mr. and I aren't keeping our healthy lifestyle choices a secret. Heck, we're telling the world how much we weigh!

Still, many people we know don't read this blog. If we want our coworkers, family members, and friends to know we're getting fit, we have to just tell them. Old school. "Hey, you know I'm working on losing weight? Yep, lost almost 27 pounds since Jan. 1."

I've been quite open (read: blabbermouth) about my weight-loss efforts with the people I know. I find it's really helpful to get their encouragement and support. Telling them gives them "permission" to compliment how I look slimmer and healthier. Otherwise, they might not want to say anything, just in case. Also, when they're aware of my lifestyle, they keep a lookout for me, such as choosing restaurants with healthier options or offering to workout with me.

But Mr., on the other hand, isn't quite so forthcoming. He still hasn't told his coworkers in his small office, so they don't know to steer him clear of giant cookie cakes or order him salad instead of pizza for work lunches. And he didn't tell his family, either--they had to find out by reading this blog! I feel like it would only help him to let people know what he's up to--but he's not game.

How about you? Do you tell people about your healthy lifestyle or keep it to yourself?

Treat Yourself and Win Free Chocolates

Even though we're eating healthy, Mr. and I both like to treat ourselves, especially me (with my ridiculous sweet tooth).

Back in the old, fat days, we would each down a pint of Ben & Jerry's or a whole tube of chocolate chip cookie dough (sometimes baked, sometimes not). Now, after dinner and a workout, we reach for things like a chocolate VitaTop or VitaMuffin, a small (but filling) bag of Kettle Corn SmartPop, or a Weight Watchers ice cream cone.

Chocolate, in particular, is a treat that hits the spot like no other. But of course, eating a whole regular chocolate bar or box of chocolate candies is way more calories or fat than we need right now.

That's when we turn to small, prepackaged servings of chocolatey delights, such as the new Ferrero Rondnoir. It's Ferrero’s new dark chocolates that feature a dark chocolate cream surrounding a crisp wafer and topped with crunchy dark chocolate morsels. One little gold foil-wrapped Rondnoir is only 1 Weight Watchers Point. Jay and I popped one in each of our lunch bags, to have a small "dessert" after lunch. They're quite tasty, and satisfying enough that you don't feel like eating the whole box at once.

Want to win a free box of these tasty treats for yourself? Email us at actionjackson03@gmail.com with the subject line "Chocolate Giveaway" by Wednesday, March 26. We'll randomly select one lucky reader to receive a whole box of Rondnoirs.

Fitter ... Fitter Still ...

Don't compare us to the contestants on The Biggest Loser. We're not working out all freakin' day and night, so we're not dropping 10-15 pounds a week.

No, we're getting fit the slow but steady way--a way we can sustain for the long haul. That's why you'll "only" see a few pounds gone each week. It's not dramatic or shocking. It's just sensible, healthy weight loss. This week is no exception--and we couldn't be gladder about it.

Jay
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Current weight: 268 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 1 pound
Total pounds lost: 33 pounds

Susan
Starting weight: 238 pounds
Current weight: 211.5 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 2.5 pounds
Total pounds lost: 26.5 pounds

Also, I found out last week at Speaking of Women's Health that my blood pressure, cholesterol, and waist-hip ratio are all within the healthy, normal ranges. More measures of my success! Yes, my BMI is still way too high, but I knew that. I'm working on it. At least the aspects that reflect heart health are good.

Where Have We Been?

Geez, I can't believe it's been almost a week since Mr. and Mrs. have posted an update. Guess that shows how crazy busy we are.

On Wednesday, Mr. had a business trip to New York and Mrs. went to an all-day women's health conference. The rest of the week involved catching up on work, laundry, time with our daughter, and even a date on Saturday night!

Now, it's Monday and I'm in Boston for business, while Mr. holds down the fort at home (well, at his office right about now).

I'm happy to tell you, we are still sticking with the get-fit program. I look forward to this week's weigh-in, because I have a good feeling I'll see a decent loss. I've turned down many unhealthy options in favor of fruits and veggies, and have worked out nearly every day. Even today, while staying in a hotel, I plan to get in some activity one way or another (perhaps a pre-dinner Netflix workout?)

Mr. will have to speak for himself, but I think he's been pretty good this week. (Right, Mr.?)

One thing I've been noticing is how impatient I get with my progress. When you're fat and not doing anything about it, you don't really think about the time it takes to put weight on or how slowly your appearance changes.

But when you're trying to get fit, it takes such a dramatic effort that you feel like it should instantly turn you into the thin, fit-looking person you aim to become. When I see myself in the mirror, I still see a fat person. When I exercise, I still feel like a fat person (though not nearly as out of shape as I felt in the beginning). I so badly want to be at my goal that it's hard to "enjoy the journey," as they say.

Reality bites, but that doesn't mean for a second I'm giving up. Neither is Mr. We often talk about what we'll do, look like, and feel like when we reach our goal weights. We also bring ourselves back to the present and remind ourselves how far we've already come. I think it's great to visualize success--but not at the risk of discounting your current progress. It was too hard to get here, and it's a long way to our goal.

Weekly Weigh-in #10: Triple Fives

This week marks yet another modest success on our gradual road to getting fit. Once again, Mr. and Mrs. managed to drop a few pounds by following the guiding principles that we established for ourselves late last year. Granted, we didn't lose jaw-dropping numbers but our weight loss has been relatively constant and healthy.

Exactly how much did we lose? Alright. Enough with the mystery. Here are the numbers:

Jay
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Current weight: 269 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 2 pounds
Total pounds lost: 32 pounds

Susan
Starting weight: 238 pounds
Current weight: 214 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 0.5 pounds
Total pounds lost: 24 pounds

Together we've lost a total of 55.5 pounds as a couple! We probably couldn't replicate three numbers in a row like that again if we tried.

Susan and I managed to exercise at least 30 minutes every day but we both made a few bad meal choices over the last week. I allowed hunger to get the better of me and ate an entire frozen pizza (although it was a relatively low-calorie pizza). Susan forgot to count calories this week and ate a few more snacks than she needed.

Combined, we only have 143 pounds to lose before we both reach our goal weights. The number might sound big, but it keeps getting smaller every week.

Healthy Airport Eating

I'm currently idling at the Miami International Airport, waiting for a flight back home that may never come. It's the winter storm of the year in Cincinnati right now, making incoming flights unlikely. Sure, I wouldn't mind chilling on South Beach right now, soaking up much-needed vitamin D. But here I am, plugged in and waiting, waiting, waiting ...

Which brings me to this post's topic: Finding healthy options in airports. I have some good news. Airports aren't completely devoid of nutrition. Sure, there's your typical Cinnabon, pretzel dogs, and candy candy candy (which I used to consider my God-given right as a hassled air traveler. I DESERVED it!)

But airports do offer options for health seekers. For example, last night I needed to eat before boarding my 7:40 flight to Miami. There was no way I could wait until I got to my hotel. So I scanned the signs in the terminal, and spotted a Subway among the Pizza Huts, McDonald's, and Burger Kings. Hooray for Jared! I was able to choose from the FreshFit line of eight subs with 6 grams of fat or less, along with a side of apples, raisins, yogurt, or baked chips. They even had Coke Zero!

During my flight, the healthy snacks I brought were packed away in my suitcase, so I succumbed to the flight attendant's offer of crackers. After checking the label, I decided 200 calories and 10 g of fat weren't worth it--so I ate half. Not too bad.

Today, we arrived at the airport around lunch time, so my coworkers (Kevin and Jonathan, who both have blogs) and I scoped out a decent place to eat near our gate. Hellooooo, Quizno's! I ordered up a Chicken Caeser Flatbread Chopped Salad, which totaled a low, low 330 calories, along with a couple of tablespoons of balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It was insanely good.

I still have a few snacks left to get me to my next meal, wherever that might be. But I'm happy that I've done this well so far, thanks to the luxury of choice.

Weekly Weigh-in #9: Still Losing

Last week we dropped some impressive numbers at our weekly weigh-in. I'm always happy when either of us lose weight, but I was a little scared since the human body typically tries to balance itself out after a major drop in weight.

On the other hand, Susan and I have continued to eat right and work out (despite the desire to sit in front of our new HDTV like a couple of couch potatoes). Was it enough? Would we continue on our downward trend or hit a plateau?

Enough suspense, here are the numbers:

Jay
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Current weight: 271 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 1.5 pounds
Total pounds lost: 30 pounds

Susan
Starting weight: 238 pounds
Current weight: 214.5 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 1 pounds
Total pounds lost: 23.5 pounds

Together we've lost a total of 53.5 pounds as a couple ... and we still have a long way to go in order to get rid of the 199-pound "third person" in our marriage made entirely of fat that we started out with. Too bad we can't claim that extra person on our taxes. That was a joke (please don't audit us, IRS).

After sticking with a lifestyle change for more than two months the hardest part has been continuing to exercise at least 30 minutes every day and avoiding the same bad eating habits (fattening desserts and giant portion sizes) that helped us become overweight in the first place.

We only have 145.5 pounds to lose before we both reach our goal weights, and as scary as that number sounds Mrs. and I both know that we'll get there.

Would You Want to Be the Biggest Loser?

Even though Mr. and I watch The Biggest Loser every week for its entertainment value, I definitely would not want to actually be a contestant on the show. The insane amount of exercise and extreme focus on fast weight loss are unsustainable, and I fear BL sets you up for rapid regain once you go back home. No amount of money is worth that.

But for those of you who do want to give it a shot, now is your chance!* You (and a partner--it's Couples again) can go in person to casting calls in Las Vegas, Mesa, Arizona, and Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, March 8. Or send in your videotape to the show (I can't believe they don't have online submission--can you say "old school"?) Applications are due by March 12.

Do you watch the show? What do you think of it? Would you ever want to be a contestant?

* Thanks to Cara, my friend and partner on my other blog, for the tip.