Don't start the revolution without me!

So, how goes the revolution? What revolution, you ask? The one that started a couple of weeks ago when 2010 expired and 2011 was born. The personal revolution that will see massive in your life over the coming year.

Oh. You haven’t started your revolution yet. That’s OK. The year is still fresh and you can actually launch your own personal revolution any time you want. If you’ve ever read my blog before, you know that last year I had a theme – 2010: Begin Again. I experienced some significant change in my life and want to continue with that in 2011.

I also want to attempt to keep each blog entry shorter, faster to read, but with interesting information. Some will be personal, some will come from sources I’ve been reading.

So, let’s get started.

Personal Stuff

Health

OK, confession time . . . or at least admission time. In the last few years I have become, shall I say, a tad over weight. And this weight is being carried around on my mid-section. If you’re a middle-aged guy, that is not good. It’s one of the issues that can lead to heart attacks. At the end of 2010, I decided to get serious about things.

It’s embarrassing to admit, but, as one goal for my blogging is to be open and honest and possible to motivate by sharing, I have to say that on Dec. 30, 2010, I weighed more than I have in my entire life. I tipped the scales at 203 lbs.!

YIKES!!! What was I going to do about that? Having a chocolate brownie with a bowl of ice cream came to mind! Food has always been a welcome friend when I’m depressed. At 203 lbs., I must have been really depressed! Not actually. But I did tend to grab a munchie if I wandered through the kitchen.

My first step was to simply stop eating crap. Junk food intake went way down. Healthier foods are now more plentiful at home.

My second step was to sign up for Deb Bixler’s Six Weeks to a New You program. It’s a great plan for weight reduction that takes a sensible approach to things. No vast numbers of hours spend working out. No pills or potions. No packaged meal plans.

Without going into details, it focuses on eating six times a day, with three meals of 300 calories and three of 100-200. All are healthy. Omelets. Chicken. Fish. Whole wheat bread. Yogurt. Nuts. Lots of veggies and fruit. Even some Triskets!

So, how have I done?

OK, Dec. 30 I was 203 lbs. Just before I signed up with Deb and started her program, I was down to just under 199. Actually it was 198.6. I began following the plan a week ago today. That’s when I weighed 198.6. At today’s weigh in, I was down to 194.2.

That’s a reduction of almost nine pounds from Dec. 30 to Jan. 15! Once I start getting more exercise, I anticipate further pounds will be shed.

My goal: 170 lbs by the end of June 2011.

Keep reading to see if I make it!

Dear God, my prayer for 2011 is for a fat bank account &  a thin body. Please don't mix these up like you did last year.  Amen.

What are you weighting for?

2010: Begin Again!

“Hi. My name is Derek and I have a weight problem.”

Sorta sounds like an AA intro, doesn’t it? Except, of course, this isn’t anonymous. It’s a confession, but it’s just between you and me. So keep it quiet, OK?

I never used to have a weight problem. When I was a teen through my 20s, I could eat just about anything and not gain much weight. That all changed in my 30s. Now, at 52, I have a weight problem. How much of a problem? Well, it’s embarrassing to admit, but I currently weigh 200 lbs. (Skipping the metric on this one. Pounds sound more ominous.) Two hundred frackin’ pounds! 2-0-0! YIKES!!!

As noted in yesterday’s entry, I was watching Dr. Oz right around Christmas and he was doing a show about men’s health issues. Weight was one of the issues. Men who carry excess baggage around the middle have a significantly greater risk of heart attack. I tell ya, the heart goes flat and that spare tire won’t do anything to get you back on the road.

So, what am I going to do about it? 2010: Begin Again! I’m committing to shedding pounds this year. Sensibly. Nothing too extreme. By Christmas 2010 I want to weigh 170 pounds. That’s a 30-pound reduction in about 12 months. Do the math and that averages out to less than four pounds a month. Like I said, nothing too extreme.

Reduced meal portion sizes, reducing the junk food intake and increasing physical activity forms the basis of my plan. Sounds fairly straightforward. But for me, it will be a challenge. See, I’ve looked at the appetite suppressors that are supposed to make you feel full so you stop eating. Problem is I often eat because of the sense of taste, not because I’m hungry. I LOVE ticklin’ my tastebuds! But I know I can make the changes necessary to get down to 170. Just watch me!

Today’s photos:
It was time to clean the mouse cage today. The photos show me holding Thelma (white) and Ripley (brown) while transferring them back to their cleaned cage. Louise’s photos were all blurry. She’s got to learn to sit still for the photographer! Funny thing is, I used to feed critters like these to pet snakes. Now the snakes are gone and I’m finding the mice are a hoot. I still like reptiles, but the mice put a smile on my face with their goofy antics. They’re small, easy to care for and they make me laugh. Can’t ask for much more! To see more pix of Thelma and Louise and Ripley, check out http://bit.ly/6nUBgH.

Had to throw in one of myself for the day, too. That's me waving to you. Thanks Mac Photo Booth.