It is pretty difficult to get 10,000 steps in during a day. Today I did a 2 mile walk, which I think is necessary to have any chance of meeting the challenge. During work if I could walk 3 laps around the office building twice a day I should be able to achieve the 10,000 step a day challenge. It will be difficult to make the time to walk that much, but I should really try.

On the healthy eating front today I did pretty good also. I had 2 waffles for brunch with low-cal Bisquick and low-cal syrup. For dinner I had a lean cuisine meal. All in all it probably added up to a little over 1,000 calories because I had a couple of glasses of juice throughout the day. I’m always so much more motivated to eat right when I exercise in the morning. Maybe if I do my first walk around the office building before lunch it will help to motivate me to eat right then.

I did some research on the YMCA before work this morning and was surprised by how expensive that is. $115 to start and $50 a month seems like it would be hard to justify. It is appealing though because of everything they offer. Of course they have the normal cardio machines, weights, and pool but they also have a number of other fun things at nearby gyms. The one in Alpharetta has a rock climbing wall, and the one in Marietta has a Racquetball court. Both of these would be fun to use if I could get someone else to go with me. I’ll have to keep an eye out and see if they ever have any discounted memberships available.

Since a gym wasn’t going to be my solution to getting back down in weight I need to start doing some other things right. First off I’m going to start posting on here more frequently. If I can document what I ate and what I did for exercise everyday I’m sure it will help to motivate me. So to start that here is what for lunch.

Dalia’s Grill (Alpharetta, GA)
Lamb Gyro with Hummus and Pita
Calories: 1066

Nutrition info from:

http://www.fitday.com/

I usually just say I’ve been eating less, and exercising more. That is accurate, however I think it lacks the detail most people expect when asking me how I lost weight. With that realization in mind, I’ve found myself thinking about just what I did to lose weight. I’ve come up with a few answers but I think the primary reason I’ve been so successful is that I made an effort to find an outdoor activity I enjoy doing. For me this was rollerblading, however the exercise wasn’t as important as my enjoyment of it. I am able to go outside and rollerblade every day without getting bored of it. There are ways for me to push myself further, either by increasing my distance or speed.

Another secret to my weight loss has been the lifestyle change I’ve made in my eating habits. For me that means not compromising on my fulfilling lunch; but being much more health conscious for dinner. I usually try to keep my calorie intake during dinner down to 300 – 500 calories. This lets my body digest most of my food before I go to sleep and my metabolism slows.

I know my entire success can’t be reduced to those two weight loss techniques. I need to think about it some more. Of course, but because it worked for me doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. I made sure I consulted with my physician during my rapid weight loss, and that is always a wise precaution.

The parking area was easy to find, located right off of Route 9. The entrance to the hiking path was slightly less clear. After parking, the first path I notice was actually more of a driveway than a hiking trail. I followed that up a hill and to another road. Right across the street was a mini-park with a monument in it. This was a memorial to the 400 mill workers who were deported during the civil war for invading the federal forces.

Civil War Monument

After spending a few minutes reading the monument, and pondering the correct location of the hiking trail, I decided to head back down the hill to the parking lot. Once I made it back to the parking lot the real trail was much more clear. Instead of going up the hill I should have gone the other direction. This time the path took me around a bend and onto a gravel walkway. This path looked to be ideal for joggers, bikers, and walkers.

I walked along a stream for about two miles when I found a surprise my hiking book didn’t mention; there was a waterfall and the end of this trail. Right where the Oxbo Trail met with the Vickery Creek trail was what looked to be an old dam. The resulting waterfall was beautiful, so of course I stayed for a while and listened to the rumble of of the water and took a few pictures.

Oxbo Trail Waterfall

The hike back was as relaxing as the hike in. This path was an out-and-back style trail, so there was no loop to walk around. There were a few small animals along the way; squirrels and birds mostly. I used this hike, along with the nice weather to motivate myself to start losing weight again. I made a deal with my girlfriend to encourage me to lose weight; if I could lose 10 pounds by the time she makes it back from her Florida vacation she would make a picture compilation with images that motivate me.

So the challenge is on, I have until May 20th to lose 10 pounds. Hopefully this will force me into a pattern of exercise and healthy eating again. I had taken a break from weight loss for the winter and just maintained my weight, but I’m ready to start burning the fat again!

It had been three weeks since I weighted in last because I knew I have been unhealthy. Today I found out the damages; I gained 7.5 pounds and am now at 137.5. This needs to get reversed right away. I’m going to do everything I can to cut out the unhealthy food for dinner, and maybe start waking up early to go to the gym at my apartment complex.

I’m not willing to ever go back to gaining weight, no matter what I have to do. It has been quite the process to get to this point. While I feel very accomplished at 230 pounds, I don’t feel like my weight loss goal has been met. I want to be thin, but just normal. I’ve come this far, and if I lost another 30 pounds I think I’d be almost there. My initial goal involved two phases; the first was getting down to 230 which is the weight I started college at. The second is being thinner than I’ve ever been before. I was never a fat kid, but I wasn’t thin either.

My second goal was 200 pounds, and I thought that would be my thin weight. Now that I’m down to 230 I’m not confident that losing another 30 pounds would put me at my ideal weight; I may not be thin. Before I start worrying about that I need to start losing weight again; I should try to get down to 200 pounds then make a determination at that point.

Lately I’ve also started to eat a little more unhealthy; I’ve made a few too many trips to The Cheesecake Factory, and but at the same time I’m not gaining so I’m not doing too bad. Instead of going out to the unhealthy places all of the time, my girlfriend and I have been frequenting Subway. My favorite sub is a vegie delight on Honey Oat with Honey Mustard sauce. It is only around 250 calories for a 6″ sub.

I’m looking forward to the spring like I do every year. It is always so nice to see the flowers start to bloom, and the leaves to come out on the trees. The leaves are really my favorite part, the way my apartment is situated I have a nice view of the Chattahoochee River when the trees are bare. However, when the leaves start to come out int he spring my apartment feels so much more secluded. I can barely make out the cars from the road, and it reminds me of camping when I sit out on my patio.