Resolutions - Day 70 - Week 10

Down to 208 pounds. Another good loss for the week.

I am beginning to wonder if it is possible for me to fail at weight loss. Not to make light of the difficulty people have losing weight, but this week I cheated. A lot. Especially Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday I had part of a muffin, 3 peanut butter cups, and a bunch of cheezie-like things that the Wife got for K. Is it really this easy? 

My mother struggled with weight loss for years. Can just cutting down on carbs and exercising 3 times a week really allow you to lose 3 pounds a week? 

When I first tried this Atkins diet last year, I lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks with no exercise. However,  I very strictly followed it. Now I am not so strict, but have added 30 minutes of cardio, 3 times a week, with about 30 minutes of weight training with it. 

Were the last 40 years of diet information from the medical profession a lie? Is it true that calories are not the enemy, only certain calories? 

If that is true, a huge lie has been perpetrated on the public for years. I am skeptical about everything that comes from the government, but if the medical profession and the Canada Food Guide can be so wrong, who can be trusted?

Resolutions - Day 63 - Week 9

Another big change this week. Down to 211 pounds, four more lost since last week.

I am very happy with that. Three weeks into the middle phase and I am almost half way to this goal. Everything is on track.

I am a bit surprised, as my workout schedule is still being interrupted on a regular basis. Also, I have not modified my diet. I took the Atkins 2 week induction portion (from an old book, 1992) and did not bother to read how the diet is modified after the first 2 weeks. I have a new book coming, Good Calories, Bad Calories, which should give me a better and more up to date plan on what I should eat. 


Still on track, so things can't be too bad.

J is Home

No problems at the hospital. She was good all night and she is now home with us and resting on the couch and eating her lunch. It's good to have the family where they are supposed to be.

We are going out to eat tonight to celebrate.

Home from the Hospital?

I am about to go to the hospital to see if J is ready to go home. 

She was off her CPAP/BIPAP all day yesterday and last night. If she did well, they will discuss it at rounds and send her home right after. I am very confident she will be coming home today as they were sending signs. Yesterday, when she was off the CPAP machine, they sent it out to be cleaned. That is not something you do if you expect the patient has a chance of needing it again. (Keeping things clean is especially important in J's case, as she is positive for MRSA, which is a superbug, resistant to many drugs. Her room has to be sterilized before someone else can use it. Being positive is not a big deal, apparently half of everyone has this bug on their body, but they need to be careful at the hospital, as they are trying to control it and minimise its spread.)

Fingers crossed.

Weight Loss Exercise Plan

Here is the exercise plan I am following in conjunction with my diet. Key components of the plan are to improve my cardio and include some moderate to heavy weight training to improve my strength. I also include some yoga, because I used to enjoy it and I wanted to improve my flexibility. I use a 5 day plan because that works best with my daily routine. Due to commitments with the kids, I usually miss at least 1 workout per week.


Monday - 30 mins cardio; weight training: chest and back
Tuesday - Yoga
Wednesday - 30 mins cardio; weight training - legs
Thursday - 30 mins cardio; weight training - arms and shoulders
Friday -swim; recovery

My weight loss goals can be found here.

Another Great Column by Andrew Coyne

Where has conservatism gone? By Andrew Coyne

Hospital Update

J is doing well. She is still on Bipap, but they are trialing her off it 2-3 hours at a time, three times per day. They increased the hours today, so it looks like she might get out of there soon.

I really miss saying goodnight and putting her down to bed. I am hoping they will move her off of the PICU to the normal floor, so that I can stay overnight.

Resolutions - Day 56 - Week 8

No change this week. Still 215 pounds.


I guess I am happy with that. I thought the drop was a lot last week so I was concerned that I would not be able to maintain it. Also, J had to go into the hospital on Thursday, so that cut into my workout plan. Things are looking better and she will be out soon, I hope. 


So, not much to tell this week. Lucky not to gain, and need to ensure continued exercise continue to lose. I am not happy with my diet, I think Atkins is limited and there is more information available now. My book has not arrived yet, but I think it will address this and I hope I can set a bit of a stronger and more effective diet when it does.

Weight Loss Goals

The following is a timeline of my weight loss goals:

Stats: Age - 42, Height 6 ft, Starting Weight 228 pounds


220 pounds by Week 6 - Initial Goal (6 weeks to go from my starting weight)
200 pounds by Week 14 - Mid Goal (8 weeks to lose 20 pounds)
180 pounds by Week 22 - Ultimate Goal (8 weeks to lose 20 pounds)


This plan includes an Atkins type of diet and regular exercise (at least 30 mins of cardio 3 times a week and some weight training). 

The first goal was made to be a bit easy, to allow me to have the feeling of success and to ensure my goals were realistic. The second goal might be a bit ambitious. If I am able to meet the second goal, it will be the first time in at least 10 years (probably closer to 15 years) I will have been below 200 pounds. Anything after 200 pounds is gravy. I would be happy to be sitting at 185 at the end of this.

So far, my plan seems to be reasonable. I think I have set myself up for success.

Blog Designs

If you visit this blog on a regular basis, you will have noticed a number of changes in the colours, etc, over the last little while. I am trying to get a colour/style that I like. Unfortunately, I stink at that type of thing.


If anyone knows something about colours or blog design and wants to give advice, please leave a comment. It will be much appreciated.

Resolutions - Day 49 - Week 7

Big change this week. Down to 215, so I lost 4 pounds. Thirteen pounds lost in total since I started.

I was dreading today. I was sure I gained weight this week. I did some cheating and did not work out once. Life got in the way, including the kids school, dentist appointments, etc.

I do feel that I have reached a turning point in the diet in the last week or so. I am less interested in eating. It used to be the most enjoyable thing in my life, but with the restrictions on some of my most favourite foods, I am less interested. Even with the cheating, I am eating a lot less of the "bad" calories than before. Stealing a few crackers or candies from your kid is still a lot better than having the licence to gorge yourself on that stuff.

As I mentioned in last weeks post, my next goal is to lose 20 pounds in the next 8 weeks. I want to be down to 200 pounds by week 14. I am already 1/4 of the way there in one week. When I made this mid goal, I thought it would be difficult to achieve it. Although I don't think I can keep up the present pace (4-5 pounds per week) this goal may be reachable.

Back in the Hospital

J has been in the hospital for the past week. 

It is not as bad as last time, but he left lung is collapsed and she had a lot of mucus in that lung. She has not been intubated, so that is good and means that she may be out sooner. She has shown some improvement in the last few days, and, in my view, she seems like her old self. However, that lung needs to inflate, and the going seems to be very slow. 

Not much we can do but wait for her to get better. I had hoped that it would only be a week, but that is not going to happen. I think 1-2 weeks more.

Resolutions - Day 42 - Week 6

No change this week. Still at 219.

This is 2 weeks below 220 pounds, so this qualifies as meeting my first goal. My plan was to hit 220 six weeks in, so I made the time line. I am not really satisfied, as this was an wasy goal, 8 pounds in 6 weeks. My next goal is 20 pounds in 8 weeks. I am not sure I can make this one. 

Again, lots of cheating this week. The Wife and I went to a V-Day dinner/dance, and I failed. I will have to focus more on my diet. There are a few books that I am looking to get which may be of some help.

I missied yoga again this week. I signed up for 7 classes, I have had one and missed 2 in a row. It is the one thing I don't want to miss, especially because I am paying for it.

Resolutions - Day 35 - Week 5

Lost 2 pounds this week. Down to 219.

My first goal was to hit below 220 pounds. If I hold this for 2 weeks in a row, I will consider this goal met.

Otherwise, this was a poor week. Due to appointments and a dispute I am having with J's school, I missed all of my workouts and I missed yoga.

I am not happy. This dispute is stupid and is affecting my plans.

Wisdom of a Five Year Old - How was music invented?

The Wife: K, how was music invented?

K: Music began 50 years ago. Some man began banging a log with a stick and it made a nice sound, so music was born.

Two Months to the Baby

The Wife completes 7 months today. Two more months to go.

So far, everything has been good. I was a bit concerned, considering what happened last time (not that making it this far guarentees no problems). Anthing after 36 weeks is no problem, but thirty-two weeks is the big cut off. You can pretty much deliver anytime after 32 weeks with few problems. In truth, after 28 weeks the survival rate is still very good, although the baby may have to spend some time in hospital. Anyway, getting to 32 weeks with no problems usually means the baby will be healthy.


We still do not know the sex of the baby. I wanted to know, but she did not. I was bound to give it away, so it was just best not to know. Basic spy stuff: You can't give away what you don't know.


April 15th is the due date, and we are unlikely to go over it. With the Wife 40 years old and because she had a C-Sec last time, their can be risks. If you deliver naturally after a C-Sec, there is a 1% chance you can pop your scar. If that happens, it is unlikely they could get in there and close it up before you bleed out. We have not decided what we are going to do yet, but we will probably play it by ear. She may try to have it normally, but at the first sign of trouble, the knives will come out.

Resolutions - Day 28 - Week 4

No change this week. Still 221 pounds.

On the weekend, K's dancing class had a dinner/dance where she performed. We all went, but the food was Ukrainian. I like Ukrainian food, but perogies and cabbage rolls are full of carbs. I did quite well with the diet, sticking to the protein, although I did try one perogie and cabbage roll. I did have three drinks, which is a verboten. 


Considering the cheating, I guess maintaining is pretty good.

Resolutions - Day 21 - Week 3

Lost 2 pounds this week. Down to 221.

A good week. In addition to losing 2 pounds, I finally got my exercise program fully up and running. I was able to work out five days, including attending my yoga class.

I am looking forward to yoga. I did it for a bit ten years ago, and I find it very relaxing. I need the stretching, and I am always in a better mood after I am done. I feel more centered and calm, better able to face the day. The class is all women between their late twenties and sixties. I am a bit outnumbered.

On the right track. Hopefully things can keep going well.

Best Telemarketer Prank Ever

This call is perhaps the best telemarketer prank.

Resolutions - Day 14 - Week 2

A mixed week. 

The good news is that I finally started my exercise program, although due to factors beyond my control (doctor appointments, stuff at school) I was only able to get two workouts out of five.

My plan is to do something at least 5 days each week, in the mornings while the kids are at school. 

So far, I am focusing on getting back into regular exercise ( I have not exercised since the girls were born, over 5 years ago). So I am doing lots of stretching and 20 minutes of cardio (I will up it to 30), along with some random use of weight machines, just to get the feel of them. I plan to stick with the cardio and then add a weight training program once my cardio is up to a reasonable level, likely in about a month.


The bad news is the weight loss. There was none. I am still at 223 pounds. Disappointing, as last time I had lost 15 pounds by now (I was at 218 pounds after 2 weeks, so still within 5 pounds). However, considering I cheated a bit and I did not gain anything, I guess I should be happy. There really is no hurry to lose weight, as I am giving myself about 5 months (until May). They say that slower weight loss is more likely to stay off.


As long as I am ready for bikini season.