Biffster’s WeightJournal.com

Le sigh. Been a bad summer weight-wise. I let myself slip on our camping trip way back in May, started to get back on track, then totally went off-track starting on our anniversary vaca. I haven’t recovered since. I’ve been eating way too much. I haven’t been walking anywhere near as much as I used to. In other words, I’ve been slacking, big-time.  And it’s taken its toll: +10 lbs since the end of May. More weight to try to lose.

le sigh

This is the second year in a row that summer has kicked my ass weight-wise. The second summer in a row where I’ve gained a bunch of weight. And where I’ve stopped writing here. Actually, to be fair, I do this most every summer. It isn’t just the last two. It is just easier to concentrate on recent history. The amusing part of this is that, in Weight Watchers meetings, I always ignore the parts about Summer weight issues. I always go into summer with confidence that I have nothing to worry about, that I can get through the season without any issues at all. I can actually get kinda snobby about it, thinking, “oh, those people just need better self-control when the weather gets hot.” You know, they say that we dislike most in others what we hate in ourselves. That’s true here, most definitely.

So, if anyone was wondering why I’ve taken a break for both updating this journal and doing video updates, that is the reason. I plan on getting back into things soon. Video updates sometime soon, using my crappy webcam. Written updates? Well this is one, right here.

- Biffster

Current weight: 309.4
Difference from last entry: +0.2
Difference from 2009 starting weight (316.6): -7.2

This has definitely been a weird week. Most of it was because of schedule changes. I was off on Monday and Tuesday for spring cleaning and a birth within the family. I worked in the office on Wednesday and Thursday, but then worked from home Friday. My wife got off work four hours early on Saturday, so we went out to eat then.

It’s been wacky, for certain. And I haven’t been sticking 100% to the Weight Watchers plan. But I have been making at least some better choices, and I’ve been trying to watch my portion sizes. And so far, this is paying off: according to my scale, I am about a half-pound lower than I was at my weigh-in on Wednesday.

I learn and relearn some lessons, but some I take to heart: if you are going to splurge, make your self stick to good foods while you do so. Have a box of WW 2 Pt. Bars instead of a box of Twinkies. Have a glass of strawberry milk instead of a milkshake. Have a yummy, yummy tangelo instead of a pb & honey sandwich.

Splurge, sure, absolutely if you can’t help it. But minimize the impact.

Of course, one should also avoid Red Lobster’s Alotta Colada. But we won’t talk about that one….

Current weight: 312.4
Difference from last entry: ???
Difference from 2009 starting weight (316.6): -4.2

So another year, another beginning. I decided that I needed to stop depressing myself by seeing just how far off I went in 2008. That means wiping the slate clean. I am starting out a new weight chart (though I am keeping the weight chart I’ve had running since ‘97), and resetting my weight to my first Weight Watchers weigh-in of the year (316.6 pounds). From this point on, I am holding myself accountable.

The bummer is that, over the course of 2008, I gained back 18 pounds. Even though I am going to try to ignore that, I am not stupid. And my memory isn’t that bad. I’ll need to work at this a few months just to undo what I did last year. I hate that I once again let myself go. I am proud of myself for realizing what is going on, and forcing myself back to Weight Watchers, especially when I really don’t want to. I could’ve just ignored this and ended up heavier than when I started Weight Watchers at Work in 2007.

2008 is behind me, for better or for worse. 2009 is going to be my year!

Current weight: 303
Difference from last entry: -0.5
Difference from 2008 starting weight (290.5): +12.5

Well, I still dunno if I can talk much about the last couple of months. Other than the obvious. I have had a really bad summer, eating whatever I wanted, whether I was hungry or not. Making bad choice after bad choice. Eating. things I don’t even know for certain that I wanted to eat. But I ate them anyway. [sigh]

On the plus side, I have continued to get in 40 minute walks every work day. And I enjoy it. I actually look forward to my walk every day. Which is a big change within me. I attribute it all to the change in work environment, switching to both a job that I love at a location that I love. The combination has been refreshing.

So now I have to struggle to get my eating back under control. To stop being such an ass, basically, and get back on track. That turned out to be much, much more difficult than I thought. It’s easy to fall off track, much harder to reverse things.

Still, baby steps, I guess.

The photo here is the scene from the river I walk along on my lunch hour. Did I mention that I love where I work?

Do you know the Mountain Man
The Mountain Man?
The Mountain Man!
Yes I know the Mountain Man
Who brings the bags of sweets

Do you hate the Mountain Man?
The Mountain Man?
The Mountain Man!
Do you hate the Mountain Man
‘cuz when he comes I eat…

Damned friggin’ vendors selling big bags of candy, trying to tear down my willpower. I’ve learned, though, that I absolutely cannot get large portions (bags, boxes, etc) of candy, ‘cuz I’ll eat every single one.