Biffster’s WeightJournal.com

I’ve been trying to keep this journal free from most everything but weight issues. I put anything related to my views on today’s world on my Point of View blog, and personal information on my LiveJournal. But there’s been one topic that I love that I haven’t really had a place for: technology. I’m a computer geek. It is one of my defining characteristics. And yet I’ve had nowhere to write about computer-geeky stuff. ’til now, that is.

I have created another ‘blog (‘cuz lord knows I don’t have enough to keep me busy as it is). Biffster’s Computer Geek ‘Blog is now open!

For those of you who read my journal via your friends page, here are the links to my various blogs:

Weightjournal.com (weight issues)
Biffster’s Point of View (current events and political)
Biffster’s Computer Geek ‘Blog
Personal journal
Audioscrobbler (music log)
Photo Gallery

Weight: 324
Difference from last entry: -1

Hmmm… Something I am doing is definitely working. One pound may not seem like a lot to shout out about, but it is. The best way to lose weight is to do it slowly. One to two pound a week losses are the best way to go. So a one-pound loss is good.

Looking back on the week, it could’ve been more. I’ve had times where I cheated just a bit. Nothing major. A donut one morning (because workmates brought them in to be “nice”), an extra bagel for lunch, a cafe mocha instead of water. Added all together, though, it is a pretty large number of calories that snuck in. If I can start getting rid of these, the weight will melt off.

I think I’m going to start carrying a food journal with me. It’s a pain in the neck, but can be quite effective. It adds a layer of accountability, and servers as a reminder to make the most out of calories.

No weigh-in yet this week, ‘cuz I’ve been lazy. My guess is that I stayed the same. If there’s any change, I might’ve gained a pound. It’s been a fair week, but nothing to shout out about.

My biggest problem this week was not drinks, amazinlgy enough. It’s workmates. People keep bringing in donuts and bagels. I even contributed to the problem, bringing in some bagels myself! It is very hard to eat well when there are many people around you who are not eating well. Those skinny bastards! [laughing]

I also didn’t do too well this weekend. Well, actually, it was mostly Saturday. Erin and I took Colin to the zoo, and we had a lot of bad stuff through the day. Actually, it was mostly the same bad stuff: ice cream. Though I didn’t actually get to drink my shake, now that I think about it. And I was able to resist a rootbeer float. Hmm… maybe I didn’t do as bad as I thought.

Oh, the zoo had one other detrimental effect on my weight: it ruined my sneakers! This is my only pair, so now that they are toast, I can’t work out at the local rec center. I will need to buy a new set of workout shoes ASAP. I think I’m going to get a pair of Reebok’s walking shoes…

On the plus side, I’ve been making better choices recently. Just today, I was in the car driving out to get something to drink for lunch, and talked myself out of it. I also made myself go to bed last night, when I really wanted to do some snacking. These are all very minor adjustments, but when added up together, can lead to some major changes.

Damn, my biggest problem is still drinks. I know that I should drink pretty much nothing but water. But that is so hard to do! I’ve gotten myself severely hooked on coffee. And it’s hard to let it go. So hard, that I actually drink coffee out of the machine at work. And you can probably guess how “good” that coffee is. It’s also probably fairly calorie-intensive, as it has cream and sugar and hot chocolate in it. I could be nice to my body and save myself some calories, if I would just forget about coffee and stick with water. But I … just can’t … seem to do it.

I’ve also started up with another addiction, but this one I’m less worried about. I got hooked on Jamba Juice’s smoothies. Specfically, their EnLIGHTened smoothies, which clock in at a little under 300 calories for 24 ounces. 300 calories might seem like a lot for a drink, but I don’t use it as a drink. I use it to take the place of my afternoon snack and about 100 calories from lunch. A 24-ounce smoothie is quite filling, and is packed with good stuff (including protein).

So my goal is to get rid of all drinks but water. And to replace two-three snacks a week with smoothies (I’ve mostly done this already).

Other than that, I think I am doing pretty well so far <knock on wood>. We’re a solid two weeks into my re-re-restarting, and I’m feeling pretty confident!

Weight: 325
Difference from last entry: -3.5

You know, I could swear that I’ve done a more-recent entry than the last entry showing here. I wonder if blogger swallowed one of my entries?

Anyway, this is a good way to start off a new month. I’m down enough weight to feel proud of it. It was harder work this time around. Each time that I screw up and have to start over, it gets a little harder. One would think that this would be enough to make me stop screwing around.

One weight-loss strategy that has worked for me in the past is to have an anchor. An anchor is some type of physical object that you can keep with you and use to anchor your will power with when you are tempted. For a long time, I had used a pendant on a chain that Erin had given me. But then that went away, and I’ve never replaced it.

I’ve been feeling that I really want an anchor for about three months. I had tried to buy a necklace for quite a while, but it is surprisingly hard to find men’s jewlery. I must not know where to look. Anyway, I had thought of using my wedding ring as an anchor. But I’ve been wearing my ring for so many years now that it’s like part of me. I don’t notice that it is there. And one of the ideas of an anchor is that you always notice it. Noticing it is what helps you deal with temptation. So my wedding ring would not work.

Last weekend, I decided that, instead of buying something new, I’d use something that I already had, but hadn’t used. Erin has given me two great watches in our years together. But I haven’t worn either in months – maybe years. I decided that this would be perfect. I proceeded to tear apart our house, looking for my watches (why can one never find something when one is looking for it). I finally tracked down the watch Erin gave me the night before we got married!

It took a bit to find someone who could replace the battery, but once I did, I was up and running. And I have my anchor! And so far, the anchor has worked well. For example, we were at Toys’R'Us to get Colin a toybox. As we were waiting in line, I noticed an asile full of delicious-looking candy. I started reaching to get one, but when I reached I felt the watch on my hand. And I then remembered that I don’t need candy. And I was good.

Anchors work. For me, anyway.