Weekly Weigh-in #17: Keep On Keepin' On

After last week's post-vacation weigh-in, we really hoped to do better this time. At least we both lost something! And as a couple, we've passed the 75-pound loss mark. Not too shabby.

I know I could have exercised more, but I did eat pretty well. Mr. was feeling a bit discouraged after last week's 1-pound gain, but he stuck to our guiding principles for the most part. Sometimes, success is just hanging in there. This week, I plan to kick back into Pilates gear for more weight loss.

Jay
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Current weight: 259 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 2 pounds
Total pounds lost: 42 pounds

Susan
Starting weight: 238 pounds
Current weight: 204.5 pounds
Pounds lost this week: .5 pound
Total pounds lost: 33.5 pounds

Hungry-Girl: The Book!

Mr. and I are big fans of Hungry-Girl, the website and daily email that always offer fun, fresh product reviews, recipes, and tips for eating well. That's why we're psyched about her new book, coming to a bookstore near you on Tuesday, April 29.

Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World by Lisa Lillien sounds like it's just up our alley! Get a sneak peek of the book's chapters, recipes with Weight Watchers Points and nutritional info, and photos. Plus, see if HG's coming to your town on her book tour. (Sadly, she won't be swinging by Cincinnati.)

Know any moms who are looking to get or stay fit? Hungry Girl could make the perfect Mother's Day gift! (Hint, hint, Mr.)

Stand Up for Weight Loss

I find it fascinating to learn about those seemingly "little" behaviors or habits that help people achieve or maintain a healthy weight over time.

The latest is this study that found obese women stand for two fewer hours a day than their healthy-weight counterparts. Just standing for those two hours can burn more than 300 calories!

I definitely try to stand a lot more than I used to. In my fat days, I'd always be looking for the chair in the room or the opportunity to plant my butt somewhere comfy.

Now, I try to stand up in meetings at work (as long as I don't make other people nervous) or when chatting with someone. When I'm out in the backyard playing with our daughter, I stand near her to watch and play, rather than lounge on the patio. Apparently, it's making a difference!

Weekly Weigh-in #16: Vacations, Good and Bad

Last week, Mrs. and I had a great week of weight loss (losing three or four pounds each in just seven days). We wanted to see good results on Tuesday this week, but our wedding anniversary vacation and my birthday conspired against us.

We both worked out at the hotel gym and did several hours of walking every day, but we also ate giant meals at a restaurant where the cook was more concerned about taste than fat content. I also enjoyed a piece of chocolate cake on my birthday.

Well, healthy weight loss requires a certain balance of nutrition and exercise. If you leave out one of those two essentials you probably won't see great results on the scale.

So, after vacation and birthday meals with high fat content the numbers weren't too impressive for this week's weigh-in:

Jay
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Current weight: 261 pounds
Pounds lost this week: -1 pounds
Total pounds lost: 40 pounds

Susan
Starting weight: 238 pounds
Current weight: 205 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 1 pound
Total pounds lost: 33 pounds

We still need to include updated measurements to see how many inches we've shaved off over the last several months, but in the meantime I've included a photo from our vacation.

Our First Fit Road Trip Together

To celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary and Mr.'s 30th birthday, we decided to take a little road trip this weekend, sans kiddo, and enjoy a little "us" time.

We headed to historic New Harmony, Indiana, for a little historical sightseeing and relaxing. Sometime during the four-hour drive here from Cincinnati, I realized this would be our first fit road trip together. What brought on this realization? Stopping at a gas station mid-trip, of all things.

I realized that in the old days, I would've gone right into that gas station and bought a bunch of candy and junk food. Probably to replace the candy and junk food we ate during the first two-hour leg of the trip. We always used road trips as an excuse to eat to excess and overload on sugary, salty snacks--including our last road trip over Christmas last year, right before we started getting fit. But this weekend, I packed some healthy snacks to tide us over during the drive. No need for a carbfest at the gas station.

I noticed more changes in our road-trip habits, based on our new fit lifestyle. We both packed workout clothes, assuming we would get in a workout or two during the weekend. Before, we wouldn't even have considered working out--on vacation?! Vacations are for chilling, not sweating, right? Upon our arrival, we immediately noted the whereabouts of the hotel gym, glad it was open 24 hours so we didn't have to worry about when to go.

Being that New Harmony is such a small town, there's really only one full-service restaurant: The Red Geranium. All I can say is, thank God it offers some fit food options! Otherwise, we'd be SOL. Nonetheless, the restaurant also offers plenty of non-fit options, too. We were careful to watch what we ordered and stop eating when we were full--even when there was food left on the plate.

Finally, I've noticed how much more adventurous we both are (especially Jay) with our newfound extra energy and openness to calorie-burning activities. Before, we would have shied away from walking so much or going so far without a car. This time, we spent nearly the whole day walking around town and checking out the Heritage Week festival, and even squeezed in a workout in the gym before treating ourselves to one-hour massages each. Who needs naps to relax? Give me a massage anyday.

Now, I don't know if the scale this week is going to reflect how fit we were on our road trip. There may have been a few slips before the trip that could prevent us from losing. (Stopping at Dunkin' Donuts "just for some coffee"? Bad Idea Jeans.) But I know we're succeeding in the long haul if we can maintain our fit attitudes and behaviors even when on a celebration road trip.

Three Cheers for Ali, the Biggest Loser

I finally got to watch The Biggest Loser: Couples season finale on DVR last night. So glad to see that Ali Vincent won!

Not only was Ali the first woman to win in the show's five seasons--she was like me in many ways, and therefore even more of an inspiration to me. She's close to my age (she's 32, I'm 31). Her starting weight was almost the same as mine (she was 234, I was 238). She used to compete as a swimmer, as did I.

And now look at her! She lost 122 pounds and at least appears to be incredibly fit. Sure, she worked out 8 to 10 hours a day for the last five months--which most regular folks can't possibly do and still make a living. Nonetheless, she looks fantastic--and I can, too. It's just going to take me longer to get there.

Sometimes Sleep Trumps Exercise

Yesterday, I was beat.

For the previous 10 days or so, I had cut into my nightly 8+ hours of sleep time for other things. Working out. Cleaning. Laundry. Work. Even over the weekend, I never found the time to make up for my sleep deficit. I just kept on "spending" energy without recharging at night.

It caught up with me, and as I drove home last night, I felt like I could just pull over to the side of the road and nod off. NOT GOOD.

So I decided at dinnertime that it was time to recharge. I cleaned up the dinner dishes, got Cassie ready for bed, and hit the sack around 8 p.m. No, I didn't exercise. But that's OK! Tons of research backs me up on this. People who sleep more tend to weigh less.

I figured it was better for my fitness to catch up on my z's than continue to fight exhaustion so I could exercise. Today, I woke up totally refreshed and energized. I will definitely get in an extra-efficient workout tonight. And hopefully, I can get back on track with 8 hours of sleep per night.

Weekly Weigh-in #15: Now THAT's More Like It

After last week's weigh-in, Mr. and I paid a lot more attention to our eating and exercise. We really wanted to see good results today.

Personally, I worked out harder and more consistently. I also stuck pretty close to our guiding principles of eating lots of veggies and fruits and keeping track of servings and calories.

Mr. missed a few couple of workout sessions over the weekend, but otherwise got on the bike most days. He also avoided his pitfalls (Trader Joe's rosemary bread with olive oil) and whipped up some tasty, healthy meals for us (tilapia, red beans and rice, and broccoli, for example--yum!)

As expected, this week's fit habits led to good numbers on the scale:

Jay
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Current weight: 260 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 4 pounds
Total pounds lost: 41 pounds

Susan
Starting weight: 238 pounds
Current weight: 206 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 3 pounds
Total pounds lost: 32 pounds

Next week, we'll include updated measurements (Tela's suggestion) to see how many inches we've shaved off over the last six weeks or so. And maybe even new photos!

Can't Wait to Enjoy Clothes Shopping Again

When I stopped by the mall today, I was reminded of one of the many activities that totally suck when you're fat: clothes shopping.

Practically speaking, most stores (at least the ones with the cute, fashionable clothes) just don't carry your size. You have to pass by all those trendy little places with mannequins that look as big around as your leg or sales that sound irresistibly good. If you're lucky, there's a Lane Bryant or Fashion Bug in the vicinity.

And God help you if you're shopping with skinny friends. My (skinny) mom said her (not skinny) friend just sat down and waited when they went into a J. Jill store the other day. Why? Not a single thing in J. Jill would fit her. Why bother looking around? I hear ya, sister. But sometimes you go just for the socializing and pretend like you're really, really interested in the accessories or shoes, because you can't wear the clothes. It's a bummer.

Even when you do find a store that has plus-sized clothes (a term I loathe), you still have to face what you see in the dressing room mirror. Unless you're a very unique and happy-with-where-you-are fat person, which I have never been, you dread trying on clothes even more than shopping at skinny stores with skinny friends. There's not a single full-length mirror in our house, so I never have to encounter the reality of my body's appearance--until I'm in a store dressing room. My reaction is usually, as good ol' Cathy often exclaims, "ACK!" And swimsuits? Let's not go there.

Though I've lost nearly 30 pounds so far this year, I haven't bought any new clothes for myself yet. Haven't needed to, really. I have plenty of sizes left from the past two or three years. I figure when I drop 50, I'll reward myself with some new outfits. And of course, at my goal weight, I'll need an entirely new wardrobe, since I haven't been that thin in more than 10 years.

But strolling through the mall today, I noticed a small twinge of hope inside that someday, I will be able to pop into just about any store I please. If a dress looks cute in the window, I might just pick it up and try it on. Instead of "ACK!"ing my way through the dressing room, I'll actually enjoy what I see in the mirror--even if I'm not crazy about the dress.

I am sooo looking forward to the day when I dump off all my old fat clothes at Salvation Army and head to the mall for a skinny-clothes shopping spree. I'll be like Eddie Murphy as Buddy Love in The Nutty Professor when he runs around campus screaming "I'm THIN! I'm THIN!" in spandex bicycle shorts. No kidding. I really will.

Cameo on The ELFF Diet

Last week at Camp Baby, I finally got to meet Carmen of The ELFF Diet and Mom to the Screaming Masses.

What a pleasure! She lost 80 pounds and has kept it off for a year--boy, does she look great. Amazingly, she manages to exercise and eat nutritiously while working and raising six kids. That blows my mind.

It's always an inspiration to see someone who's successfully lost and maintained a healthy weight. She also told me she hardly recognized me in person from my fat picture on the blog, which also scored big points with me.

Anywho, Carmen asked me to write a guest post for The ELFF Diet while she's out of town this week. I wrote about "The Power of Two" when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Check it out.

The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves

Last week was pretty rough for our family. As Susan mentioned, her grandmother passed away last Friday at the tender age of 94. Despite the fact that our schedules were thrown into complete disarray, and despite the fact that we both ate too much and exercised too little last week, Mrs. and I both became strangely recommitted to getting fit following the funeral.

For Mrs., it's a matter of wanting to be as healthy as possible because it's safe to say she'll be around for a long, long time. Most of Susan's side of the family has a history of living well past the average lifespan. Some of Susan's great grandparents and great-great grandparents lived into their 80s and 90s back when most Americans didn't live to see the age of 60. That's a sobering thought for Susan ... and for me.

The unfortunate reality is that I wasn't blessed with the impressive genetic legacy of Susan's family. Most of my relatives died much sooner than the average life expectancy for their generations. In some cases their deaths were attributed to the accumulative effects of "hard living" (too much alcohol or too much tobacco), and I suppose that offers me a glimmer of hope since I don't smoke and rarely drink. However, my family also has a history of high cholesterol and heart disease. Both of my uncles on my mother's side of the family passed away when they were still relatively young ... only just beginning to enjoy what most people consider to be their "mid life" years.

That's why I left the funeral on Tuesday with a renewed sense of purpose. The "odds" are that I will die before my wife. The "odds" are that, through no fault of my own, I will leave my best friend and partner, and our child alone. Those are the "odds" and I don't like them. That's why it's important for me to commit myself to getting fit and living a healthy life for as long as possible. I can't change my genetic history, but I can change my overall health by eating right and exercising.

Our precious time on this earth is already limited by things we can't control. It's up to each of us to choose whether we want to make the most of the time we have. I for one plan to be here for my wife and family for as long as possible.

Weekly Weigh-in #14: Hello, Plateau

We knew it was coming. The dreaded weight-loss plateau. Last week, we didn't do so hot. This week, still not hot. As I explained in our last post, we know why we're not seeing great numbers on the scale, and we know what has to change. Now, it's just a matter of doing it--which we will.

Jay
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Current weight: 264 pounds
Pounds lost this week: +1 pound
Total pounds lost: 37 pounds

Susan
Starting weight: 238 pounds
Current weight: 209 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 1 pound
Total pounds lost: 29 pounds

Personally, I'm getting excited about breaking the 200-pound barrier soon. Could I do it by the end of April? Maybe, if I work really, really hard. I'd love to be in the 100s to greet the summer.

Bad Feeling

Tomorrow's weigh-in day. I have a bad feeling it's not going to be pretty.

Why? Well, Camp Baby was not only flowing great information, products, and people--it was also flowing with wine, snacks, and tasty food. I haven't stuck to my daily workouts faithfully. My grandmother died on Friday, and that threw me and my fit habits for a loop.

Mr. also had his challenges--like me being out of town and not around to help with our daughter or keep him motivated.

Don't worry, we haven't thrown in the towel or anything like that. We just need to recommit ourselves and get our fit groove back this week. Just wanted to warn you about impending doom at the scale.

Postcard from Camp Baby

How many 31-year-olds get to go to camp? That's where I am right now!

I feel very fortunate that Johnson & Johnson invited me to spend a few days at Johnson's Camp Baby (on their dime) at the company's world headquarters in New Jersey. Three days hanging out with other moms who blog, meeting each other and baby experts, learning about all kinds of products and topics relating to babies. Pretty cool, huh?

Last night, we had a wine and food pairing seminar led by none other than Ted Allen of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame and currently a judge on Top Chef. As a longtime wino, I thoroughly enjoyed the evening--though I did actually ingest the wine rather than spit it out in the provided bucket.

Soooo, as good as the wine's antioxidants were for my heart health, the alcohol hushed up the "fit" angel on my shoulder so the "fat" devil could say "Order the duck! Get dessert!" Which I did. Whoops. At least I worked out with my fellow blogger and friend Cara in the afternoon!

I got a fabulous night's sleep in my comfy bed at the Heldrich Hotel and woke up ready to learn a lot about baby/mom health and beauty. Today, I'm getting the download on everything from skin care to germs, mom trends to kids' hairstyles. It's an awesome opportunity, and I plan to share the highlights and takeaways here over the next few days.

It's almost time for lunch--hope there are some healthy options. More postcards to come.

Weekly Weigh-in #13: Unlucky Numbers

Well, after 13 weeks Mrs. and I haven't gained any weight back, but this week wasn't very impressive in terms of weight loss. No, we're not joking ... but we did feel like April fools.

Last week I increased the amount and intensity of my workouts (40 minutes while watching TV rather than just 30 minutes) but this week I allowed myself to relax a bit more (back to a daily average of 30 minutes per workout). Let's just say that "taking it easy" didn't do me any favors. I still lost a pound, but it was only a pound.

Susan confessed that she made a few slip-ups at work this week and ate some things she shouldn't, but we were both surprised when she stepped onto the scale today without any change in weight.

Jay
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Current weight: 263 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 1 pound
Total pounds lost: 38 pounds

Susan
Starting weight: 238 pounds
Current weight: 210 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 0 pounds
Total pounds lost: 28 pounds

Mrs. and I aren't letting these numbers get us down. We both know that we're eating healthier and exercising and those choices are helping us make the transition from fat to fit every day. The scale might give us an idea of how many pounds we're dropping each week, but it doesn't tell us how much muscle we've developed or how much we've lowered our blood pressure and cholesterol.

We're committed to getting fit and living long, healthy lives together. We knew when we started this journey that we wouldn't be able to reverse our unhealthy lifestyle overnight. We're just going to have to keep working. I'm just glad we have each other for support.