Week 17 -- Not Bad for a Thanksgiving Week.....

Start Weight: 226.0
Week 17 Weight: 209.2
Weekly Loss/Gain (+): 0.8
Program-to-Date (PTD) Loss: 16.8
% Weekly Loss/(Gain): .35
% PTD Loss: 7.43
Program Goal Weight Loss: 36.0
Program Goal % Loss: 15.9

All things considered, this was a great week. We had Russell home for the holiday, had family over for Thanksgiving, went to family for feasting on Friday, and had some good time at the temple with the youth in the church tonight and a bit of dinner afterwards with them as well.


Only one slightly down note.... Arthur hooked us up with some tickets for the Kings this past week... we had our choice, vs the Spurs on Monday, vs Golden State tonight, or vs Houston on Saturday. Naturally, still being Spurs fans from our time in San Antonio, and finding not a whole lot to be real excited about the Kings since moving back here, we (Michael, Wendy, and I) jumped at the chance to see the Spurs kill the Kings. We talked about how we'd some of the very few who would walk out of Arco laughing and high-fiving while the other 14,000 faithful would be hanging their heads and muttering about the Kings' troubles.... we got the tables turned, Kings whupped the Spurs 112-99, and it wasn't even that close. We got down to the pre-game shootaround and got some good laughs in with Big-Shot Bob Horry, but the karma never came and we were left with no response to those 14,000 rabid Kings fans. Oh well..... it's a long season.... With all that and a double-double at the Truxel In-N-Out before the game, .8 lbs came off.... I know it's no where near where my goal has been, but it's the lowest I've been in this program.... so a little each week, I will keep at it. It was great to have Tim, Denise, Joel, Bonnie (and husband James , and toddler Sophia) over for Thanksgiving... I had sympathetic ears from James and Bonnie on the whole Gail wedding ring thing, I haven't laughed that hard for some time....

ROUTINE: The exercising is keeping me steady... I stayed away from the annual Turkey Bowl this year, opting for the work gym instead. I've got some sore achillies going, I think due to the treadmill, so I sat out the Turkey Bowl. I hear it was great though... Dean Thomson catching a TD pass for the 28th year in a row.... that man is the man.... that should be a subject of a whole 'nother post.


Anyway, the gym on Thurs, Fri, and Sat even though I was off work, tempered my appetite some as I didn't go too crazy with the feasting. I was up to about 35-37 minutes straight on the treadmill, but my heels are hurting now, so I'm going to back that off a bit. My goal is still to do 60 min straight by the first of the year. December is almost upon us, not too much time left to completely make good on all these goals.

ON THE BIKE: I did not go checkout yet that new Fuji 7100... I'll e-mail the guy from Craigslist again, I had a small window of opp to do it lat Friday, but the guy was out in Elverta and just didn't happen. I do hear my buddies are still out riding, I'm getting along quite well with the JaBen crowd, and the grief has lessened considerably on most of the biking front. Gail has got a great jump on all the Chrtistmas stuff.... and she seems to be sincere about making a bike happen for me.... but we might have to sell a kidney, or..... hey, what about gall bladders? I guess no one needs extras of those... I fear for my kids, Stacie and Wendy too have been having symptoms, guess it could be genetic somehow.... mine's at the bottom of Lake Eire somewhere along with all the other medical waste from our stay in Syracuse, NY. How can I spin that E-Bay auction??? I think I still have those pimento-like stones around here somewhere.

ODDS N' ENDS: I think it's all been said.... the Christmas tree is in the backyard, we're reluctant to bring it in for fear of Sara being all in, around, and on it. There's only one thing she's afraid of and that's the vacuum cleaner.... we've seriously considered going down to Goodwill and buying up all their vacuum cleaners... and place them strategically around the house... in front of the Christmas tree, by the kitchen cabinets, in the fireplace where she prefers to sit and ponder, and by every toilet in the house. Wonder if we can get volume discounts on those vacuums... I'll have to post some video of Wendy's beautiful Christmas piano music, we're trying to get her to agree to do a couple of concerts over here during the holidays...by next post we'll be well into December.....


FAQs:

Q. Have you scheduled your physical yet for the beginning of the new year?

A. I tried that a few weeks ago, but they only take appts up to four weeks out... yeah, that is part of the program goal... to increase my life insurance... see if I can get the best rates... wonder if they're all BMI-based....

Q. Um.... might not be a good idea to discuss life insurance here... some of the FOBS might turn into EOBS, and then into FOGS, if you know what I mean.....

A. Oh yeah.... you're probably right.... but the insurance amount not likely to get too many people excited...but not a bad idea to always watch one's back.


'Til next week... Brian

Week 16 -- Time for a Holiday

Start Weight: 226.0
Week 16 Weight: 210.0
Weekly Loss/Gain (+): (0.3)
Program-to-Date (PTD) Loss: 16.0
% Weekly Loss/(Gain): (.13)
% PTD Loss: 7.08
Program Goal Weight Loss: 36.0
Program Goal % Loss: 15.9

This really will be short, it is time for a holiday.... I have tomorrow and Friday off, that will be a nice break. The grooves of the rut grew a little deeper this week as the scales recorded 210 even. The exercise effort is still there, but I need a mind warp, mind meld, altered mind or something with the eating. I blame Russell for some of it... he was supposed to come in last night from Utah, but as Gail, her sister and brother-in-law, and the rest of us were sitting around chatting last Friday night at around 10:00, in pops Russell as a surprise to all of us. He and his riding partners decided to head home early. It was great to see him, he likes school a lot...he's dropped about 15 lbs...says he's low on funds, not eating much, studying hard, etc.... Gail then (and I'll use our Texan phrase "bless her heart") proceeds to bring on all the Thanksgiving gourmet out about a week early...man, just good stuff. Russell, of course, just plays along and eats it up. It is all good... we'll have Dad over and Tim's family too tomorrow and then be with the Morford crowd on Friday. I'm well aware this is week 16 of the 22 week plan... time to look at contingencies....

ROUTINE: Nothing new here, although after a few early holiday luncheons out, I realized the season is here. I just read the average American gains seven pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years... I'm determined that's not gonna be me. The gym has saved my bacon so far, I'll be at it in the morning, and it doesn't feel like a chore... just gotta get the brain in a new way of thinking.

ON THE BIKE: I'm going to look at a bike on Friday, this guy on Craigslist won a bike in a raffle and wants to get rid of it... a TREK bike, supposed to be easy on the rear and a comfortable ride, I'll see how it fits...

ODDS N' ENDS: Arthur came by... offered me three Kings tix for this next Monday vs the Spurs, I'll be on those... looks like me, Michael, and Wendy... I saw an article in the paper, another reason why I might live to 100, in addition to the extra 20 lbs I'm carrying, learned that was beneficial from last week's article... this week's article is titled:

Having Lots of Kids Helps Dads Live to 100

the authors said.... "we were surprised that having more than three children is beneficial to longevity..." they couldn't pinpoint why, just there was a very strong correlation. They said it was counterintuitive findings, conventional wisdom says the more kids you have, the sooner you go nuts.... it's conventional wisdom for a reason... now new evidence says otherwise.. go figure.

FAQs: None for the week... I should have some decent pics for next time. Everyone have a great Thanksgiving...when you put it all together...the blessings are overwhelming...

'Til next week..... Brian

(A thanks to Matt and Victoria Arnold for the Sara church pics...)

Week 15 -- A Little Movement....

Start Weight: 226.0
Week 15 Weight: 209.7
Weekly Loss/Gain (+): 0.8
Program-to-Date (PTD) Loss: 16.3
% Weekly Loss/(Gain): .35
% PTD Loss: 7.21
Program Goal Weight Loss: 36.0
Program Goal % Loss: 15.9

The hour is later than ever and I tried to get a ghost blog writer this week which in the end didn't work out... so just me with not a whole lot on the brain. Good news is I'm under 210 even though it is just by a few tenths... still at the gym, I've started to mix in some weights, but I haven't toned down the eating a whole lot. My awareness level kicked up a bit when I decided to put on a smaller size pants and tighten the belt a notch, literally. I am in between pant sizes so, I've got the smaller ones on, and let's say I'm more aware of the fit... I think that helped in not going full on at meal time. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I'll get through it, have a lot of fun and not get too crazy... I say bring it on. No good stories this week, we had a great day at the temple on Monday the holiday, my dad to the rescue on the clothes dryer, and the youth had a great activity at the church tonight.

ROUTINE: Just a little smaller portions this week... and I planned it out a little better. Sweets are still killing me though, but I don't want to get to the point where I say certain foods are definitely off-limits... that seems a little drastic, but the 100-calorie packs aren't working out too well either... so I'm caught in the middle. And I admit... I broke the AM/PM vow... I went in honestly for a refill of my diet Sobe cranberry/grapefruit drink..., my friend the manager comes over and we do a little small talk.... then he goes for it, says he's got a brand new food item that AM/PM has never seen before, he'd personally make me a free sample, he's just looking out for me, etc... I did, in the name of friendship, I took the sample... an Italian baguette stuffed with pepperoni, ham, mozarella cheese, and tomato sauce. It was good, but not great, I bought one from him... good news is I won't buy another one because they weren't that good. And, as the weather gets colder, the 44 oz iced diet Sobe doesn't sound great either...so I really don't have any business there. The exercise routine stayed the same... I am used to that. So, I've decided tight pants are the overall key to sustained weight loss.... who woulda thought?

ON THE BIKE: From now on, I'll just post when there is bike news. If someone out there can assist in getting me through the bike malaise, just speak up.

ODDS N' ENDS: Quite a bit here.... I'll be brief... we had the best letter from Steven, no mention of health issues... just about the contacts he's making and the progress of the investigators, does parents' hearts good. The clothes dryer stopped drying, would run but no heat... you'd figure the son of the best appliance repairman ever could handle that... taking apart is no problem, figured the heating element was bad... got that sucker out (even though when all said and done, didn't have to go to that much trouble), thought I'd call Dad to just confirm, he says he'll come over... he brings his electrical test kit... says the element is fine, thermostat is the problem... Gail goes down the next day buys a new one, we put it all back together and presto, it works. Gail was the engineer on the whole belt/pulley action, Dad got down and dirty with the take down as well... Dad, at 81 is still the man, Gail's always been the fixer-upper... I tear stuff down....We figure Dad's know-how saved us $229, but he got that back in a great home-cooked me from Gail...everyone called it even... what a deal. Kids had a great time at the church tonight... the YW leaders (pictured below... hard to believe two of the three are JaBen wives) came up with the idea of a "service" scavenger hunt....


....they sent the youth off to four different places in search of things, trying to beat other groups back to the church... what the kids didn't know was there were four "plants" (pictured).....


who needed help at these places, one lost a wallet, one had car trouble, one was on crutches, etc... the test was to see if the kids would stop to help... they came through pretty well... the point was that while we're rushing around in life, there will be people in our paths who need help.... we can't just rush on by.... a great activity. That's about all... football season now over.... I'll see if I can stay close to the wrestling and b-ball worlds...


FAQs:
Q. I see the People Magazine sexiest men alive issue is out. You and none of your FOBS made that list. Does that surprise you?

A. No, not really.... then again, I, and I think all of the FOBS, never set out to make the list... I hear it's highly political anyway. We're all pretty much comfortable (maybe too comfortable) in our own skin. As always... (to this anonymous FAQster)... thanks for noticing.

'Til next week..... Brian

Week 14 -- More of the Same....

Start Weight: 226.0
Week 13 Weight: 210.5
Weekly Loss/Gain (+): (0.1)
Program-to-Date (PTD) Loss: 15.5
% Weekly Loss/(Gain): (0.04)
% PTD Loss: 6.86
Program Goal Weight Loss: 36.0
Program Goal % Loss: 15.9

I must've set some sort of record, this is five weeks in a row with only fluctuating .1 or .2 lbs around the 210.5 lb mark. Not much to say tonight, it's getting late and the head is muddied. I did have some encouraging e-mails this week, one from my brother Tim, and one from Steve, my biker buddy, who is in Africa helping to build water filtration systems for the people of Uganda. I'll post a few of his comments below. He volunteered through his church to go..... if you happen to read this Bishop, how 'bout sending me to, say somewhere like.... Tahiti, where there is a need for conversational English teachers? It'd be a hardship, but I'd take one for the world's team. Also, a thanks to Tom Cadle who was in line with me at the Halloween chili and cornbread dinner...he had some encouraging words as well.... just be consistent, tortoise and the hare kind of thing. So, I'll just count my blessings and stick with it... we had Sara's birthday this week to liven things up a bit. Plus, an article in the paper boosted me too... excerpts... "Being 25 pounds overweight doesn't appear to increase your risk of dying from heart disease or cancer... the findings may comfort some who can't seem to lose those last 15 pounds. And they hearten backers of a theory that it is possible to be "fit and fat"... but overweight people have a higher risk of death from a variety of ills, including diabetes and kidney disease".... now I will sleep better tonight.... I don't see myself as fit or fat... wonder how that fits in.


ROUTINE: Not much new.... the gym most every morning and I did stay away from all the AM/PM activities for the week... I don't even know what the November monthly special is... I heard rumors they were throwing in a free two-pack of pop tarts with a purchase of coffee or hot chocolate... may be tempting on those cold mornings... but I have that advice ringing in my ears... "Brian.. you have no business ever of going into an AM/PM".... Looking back on it, I had too much of the birthday cake and ice cream... and other late night snacks. Appears I'm maintaining, albeit at a level 20 lbs higher than desired. A thanks to my buddy Harold at work who checks in on me daily at the gym... then comes by if he doesn't see me there... that does help.


ON THE BIKE: No thought on it this week... even though gas is $3.25 at the local Circle K. We have had some great weather here in Sacramento, mid-70s for most of the week. The bike momentum has slowed to a trickle... need a change of attitude there.... still keep those Craigslist ads coming, I've bought off there before and if I see something that looks good, who knows? If I go long enough, maybe Gail will take pity for Christmas... then again...


ODDS N' ENDS: Great news is Steven is feeling much better and has returned to almost a regular routine in Mexico. A thanks to those who have thought about him and prayed for him... We're (Gail) sending off a package tomorrow, the crown jewel being a 32 oz box of Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch... do they have real milk in the villages of the Yucatan?... Russell will be home for Thanksgiving, then Christmas too when Randy, Scott and his family will be here as well. Time to start thinking festive... last football game of the season this week vs Casa... hard to tell what the playoff picture is... BV is 7-2, Casa 9-0 and Del Campo 8-1. Steve, in Africa... "I am at the internet cafe in Gulu, which is like the wild wild west of Uganda. As I walked down the streets of this village this morning, there were kids carrying guns on their shoulders riding bikes down the street... I hope I do not look like anything they want to shoot. Other than that and the presence of some army troops, all is well... been working hard sifting rocks in a rock quarry for the water filters... lot of mosquitos... time to go."

Stacie's our awesome cake decorator and delighted us with these for the celebration.


That's it for this week.... no FAQS that are fit to print.

'Til next week... all the best... Brian

Week 13 --- Nothing to Show, Kicked the Scale

Start Weight: 226.0
Week 13 Weight: 210.4
Weekly Loss/Gain (+): 0.0
Program-to-Date (PTD) Loss: 15.6
% Weekly Loss/(Gain): 0
% PTD Loss: 6.90
Program Goal Weight Loss: 36.0
Program Goal % Loss: 15.9


A disappointing week to say the least... I almost went out and bought a new scale because I'm sure the one we have is broken. It registered the exact same as last week. I kicked it a few times and got back on, but still the same reading, so I scooped up Sara and got back on the scale and sure enough it registered 21 lbs higher to 231.4, so the scale must be in good working order, but I must not be. Even after the intervention of last week, and honestly cutting back on the AM/PM specials, still no loss. I may try varying the exercise routine and I will have to really watch what goes in the mouth. Thinking back on the week, I did consume some pretty big meals, and ate out too much.... so the numbers don't lie. The calendar has always been my friend, tomorrow is November 1st, and partly because of some e-mails I received this week and partly because I have a feeling some of you got to my AM/PM family, I am making a vow not to step foot in an AM/PM for the month of November and see if there's a corresponding weight loss. I know many of you may say that's a no-brainer, but I'm ready to see for myself and take the vow. I don't even know what the new monthly special is coming out tomorrow, but I must pay it no mind. Other than a no-weight-loss week, we all had a pretty good week... BV Freshman football game, Michael with his homecoming activities, and then the Halloween goings-on tonight made for a good week.

ROUTINE: Still at the work gym 5-6 days/week for about an hour.... about 15 minutes into it, it is all good. The first few days of the week I went back to the tuna delight, but I did do the monthly special a few times too. Here's an e-mail string... I'll conceal the names until the investigation is complete...

emailer #1: Hey Brian, I think a tuna sandwich with light mayo at Subway is a nice lunch alternative.... a very low cost and practical choice. You have no business in any AM/PM ever.

emailer #2: Good idea, and just think you can widen your social circle with new friends at Subway...

Me: thanks, but just a few issues:

1. a 6" tuna sandwich + 22 oz drink at Subway is $5.68 vs $2.29 for AM/PM special.
2. AM/PM is within walking distance, Subway is further away.
3. Clientele at Subway is a little too upper crust for me, me and the Harley mechanics got a good thing going at AM/PM.
4. No chance for a homemade Frito Pie at Subway

So... how do you explain the following events? I frequent the AM/PM on Monday, get my tuna makings and pay for my 44 oz refill (no sodas... 1/3 gatorade, 1/3 diet SOBE, and 1/3 lemonade.. not bad). Pat, the cashier, and the rest of the staff, greet me warmly... they invite me to the back (I decline) for some of Pat's birthday cake... we all exchange our usual pleasantries, and I'm on my way.... The above e-mail exchange takes place on Monday afternoon.... on Tuesday I'm back at the AM/PM, usual staff is there, but they all seemed to have cleared out when I got to the counter. They leave a newbie at the register... she gives me a cold-as-ice reception, then mumbles something about how I shouldn't be eating this stuff every day... that there are healthier alternatives....maybe Subway down the street....

I was not born yesterday.... I can connect the dots... but I do have a few questions...

1. Did my e-mailing "friends" somehow turn my AM/PM pals against me?
2. Do these friends have an interest in the Subway down the street?
3. Do they have my best interests at heart, or just messing with me?

So, my vow is no AM/PM or Subway for November..... maybe when December starts, I can maybe corner one of the AM/PM guys out back at the dumpster or something and get the real story... the things people think of...


ON THE BIKE: An honest thanks to those who send me Craigslist postings for bikes and for other accessories like different kinds of "bike tights" they wonder if I'll be using any time soon. I f gas prices keep rising for the forseeable, then I may be back in tights here real quick. Before I was blacklisted at the AM/PM, a guy at the counter in front of me pulls out not one, but two Benjamins for a full tank of gas in his SUV and for two cartons of cigarettes and gets back $2.92 in change. Biking was a great alternative to the car.... exercise, reduce my carbon footprint, save money, less wear and tear on the car, etc.... just one big drawback I can think of.... slipping on those spandex tights at 0545 on a 31 degree morning and hitting the road.....

ODDS N' ENDS: Michael had a great time at BV homecoming... a big thanks to the four other couples who went in the group and just had a good time together.... if any of you ever read this, Gail and I know you all are the best.


It is too bad though that the BV Freshmen lost to 0-7 Mira Loma.... varsity won and now faces Del Campo and Casa.... good luck. Arthur and Ro cheered me up with their eating adventures (veal brockwurst, hot vinagered German potato salad, apple struessel, peanut butter chocolate fudge, rocky road fudge, apple donuts, hot apple cider, and sour cream apple pie) at Apple Hill... said he had small portions though. Their boys are having great football seasons.... playoffs may be in the cards. Steven is about the same, long story there.... Gail will have to tell. Russell e-mailed a survey he took at school.... said he missed wrestling and Chinese food buffets as well spaghetti, lasagna, and pizza. Gail's getting a list ready for when he comes home for break. Here are some pics of the Halloween happenings.... all in all, a good week.


FAQ:

Q. I know you've done a weight loss program before... what worked?

A. It was too drastic, too fast, and I couldn't maintain. The goal this time is to keep the daily exercise going, but to develop good eating habits. One thing I'll go back to is keeping a loose food journal... I used to keep myself to around 1000 calories for breakfast and the work day, and then have a normal dinner... that was one thing to help monitor the intake. Thanks for asking. 'Til next week.

Brian

Week 12 -- Very Little Progress.....

Start Weight: 226.0
Week 12 Weight: 210.4
Weekly Loss/Gain (+): 0.4
Program-to-Date (PTD) Loss: 15.6
% Weekly Loss/(Gain): .17
% PTD Loss: 6.90
Program Goal Weight Loss: 36.0
Program Goal % Loss: 15.9


Very little to get enthusiastic about this week.... .4 lbs came off, was not a gain, but doesn't feel like any kind of victory at all. My spirits aren't suffering too much though after the "intervention" I had this morning with my biker buddy Steve at work. Well, as much as you can have an intervention one on one. Steve sees me in the gym every morning as he's finishing his bike ride in to work. He had me sit down, he tells me he sees me working hard in the gym every morning, but he sees from my posts that I'm not seeing results. So, after a few pleasantries, he guides me through the discussion... "so, if you're working out six days a week, at 45-60 min a pop, then Brian, what do you think the issues are?".... followed up with "tell me about your diet", and "are your reasons you started this whole thing still valid?", etc... It didn't bring me to tears or anything, but he had me transfixed. He even threw in a few tips, some I'll try, but can't divulge right now. So, thanks be to Steve for the shake up, it's only been a day but I'm feelin' it.... let's go day by day. Facts are there are 10 weeks left, and 20.4 lbs to go.. even my rudimentary math skills tell me how much I need to average to get there. Other than all that, a good week.... Wendy with volleyball, the Atens with Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution, and we're sending up a few extra prayers for Steven... he has typhoid in Mexico. Pictures aren't too good this week......

ROUTINE: Nothing real new here, good exercising, but horrible diet. I had to put in some extra hours at the office and I was at a number of off-site luncheons.... I didn't plan for any of it, just reacted to what was there. Good news was it cut down on the AM/PM runs.... I did meet some nice guys at ARCO from the Harley dealership next door. We were all doing the 2-hot dog special, lot of good jokes about the "cheap eats" and cast-iron stomachs. I did walk out of the AM/PM one day... fully intending to do the 2-hot dogs, but as I was getting ready to pull those dogs out of the warming area, I saw a lady open a 10 oz bag of Fritos, she went over to the chili dispenser, shot some chili in the bag, then shot some nacho cheese into the bag, closed the bag and then shook vigorously... paid for the Fritos, walked out munching on a ready-made Frito pie... I just turned around, headed out and went to Subway. Today I was back to the tuna delight. After Michael's guitar lesson with the Atens, they came for dinner, and they had a goodt time with Guitar Hero and DDR. Ryan needed to lighten up a bit, Arianna was a true rocker.... was a fun night. The video came out terrible, so I didn't put it up.



ON THE BIKE: The weather has just been great, the invitations are still coming in, and it looks like I'm going back to a Craigslist search. After the daily exercising and the hours at the office, the bike search gets on the back burner. My bike buds, while they've toned down the grief they've given me, still make sure I know what I'm missing. Could be what's ailing me after all....

ODDS N' ENDS: I'm glancing at the muted TV off and on... is that right, the Bosox are up 13-1 in the sixth in Game 1 of the WS?..... dang American Leaguers.... Wendy had a great volleyball tournament, they won the round robin pool, but got knocked out in the actual 1st round brackets... was fun...


...everyone is growing up..... in his last letter, Steven said he was feeling a little sick, both he and his companion. They took a bus ride (2 hours) to the mission home in Merida, had some tests done, and both he and his comp have typhoid... I've been looking that up, food-borne and all... even after he was immunized for it here before he left. Mission Assistants say that's no surprise as the last few sets of missionaries in that area have contracted it... they've narrowed it down to a certain lady who feeds the elders every day... Mission Prez says no more... Steven tells us not to worry, he's in great spirits, just has to take it easy for a week or so.... they're continuing to teach the on-going investigators, but the Pres has told them to tone down the active 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM schedule for a week or so... he's taking meds and feeling some better. That's it for now... got to check with Arthur on the Bulldogs, BV is doing all right, but Del Campo and Casa are coming up.

FAQs:

Q. I understand your being repulsed at the in-store Frito pie concoction, but isn't that somewhat like the condiment snatch-and-run you pull off at the same AM/PM?

A. Uh... yeah, but I don't mix it up right there in the store and start noshing on it before I get out the door. I discreetly package up the condiments and then take them to the car, where my open and drained tuna can is waiting. No one actually sees the mixing of the ingredients of the tuna medley... no one... so no comparison at all to the Frito pie.

Brian

Week 11 -- Halfway there, but not Halfway done

Start Weight: 226.0
Week11 Weight: 210.8
Weekly Loss/Gain (+): 0.7
Program-to-Date (PTD) Loss: 15.2
% Weekly Loss/(Gain): .31
% PTD Loss: 6.73
Program Goal Weight Loss: 36.0
Program Goal % Loss: 15.9

The halfway point has come, and I am found wanting. 0.7 lbs came off this week, but no where near my guarantee of 2.5 lbs. Ironclad guarantees on the weight loss program can no longer be a part of my motivational arsenal. The exercise was there, but the eating habits didn't change even though I wanted them to.... I got mentally roughed up by Dr. Laura during my almost daily five-minute drive to the AM/PM. She was going on quite harshly to a young lady who was complaining, whining actually, about not losing weight even though she really "wanted" to. The good doctor said if she really wanted to, then she'd do it, so quit crying about it, accept the fact that you really didn't want to do it... end of story. She then went on to say that in all phases of life we end up doing what we want to do... and the more time thinking, planning, commiserating, and fretting about things we say we want to do, but really don't, the better off you and your loved ones will be. I had no response, other than an "Amen" as I got out of the car.... have never been a huge Dr. Laura fan, but this one came through on God's radio dial for me. Liberating in a way...

11 weeks down, 11 to go, and 42% of the goal weight is lost. Means I've got some ground to catch up on. It was a very busy week, other than my eternal soul being in danger over the whole wedding ring thing, I had a good week. Wendy's volleyball games, Sara's getting into everything, some very good meetings at church, and a few nice evenings out with friends.... you have to call it good.

ROUTINE: About a quarter of the way through the morning workouts, it feels pretty good. I haven't done any weights really, even though my brother is waiting for me to be "cut and ripped" for our family portrait at Christmas.... I'll have to look up the definition of that. I've been doing the elliptical still, with the treadmill, and am starting to mix in some jogging. I can do about 20 minutes straight of jogging now, the goal is to get up to an hour by the first of the year. What's that, about five miles worth? It feels pretty good once you get going. No real diet change this week, we had a great dinner and entertainment over at the Hamners, with David, Sarah, and Gabe. Here are a few pics, and I'll attempt to put up part of David's clarinet solo:




Very nice people, those Hamners... that good food over there, and I chose to eat it all, did not directly cause my meager results this week, but it was a contributor... I made a good trade that night.

ON THE BIKE: With the colder and darker mornings, the bike enthusiasm has waned, but my biking buddies are at it none the less. I understand they've added a fourth, and also one more day of the week, now MWF. Still at 6:00 AM, the same trek on the bike trail. I told them I need to save face when I come back, one day I will show up unannounced and lead them down a dark and wet Madison Avenue to the bike trail. That, my friends, will happen....

ODDS N' ENDS: Other than the Dr. Laura revelation, I've got very little to comment on. The picture above of Gail, Sara, and me is a result of the best of a photo shoot Wendy did in the backyard... it was to be sent to the winning bidder of the wedding ring I put up on E-Bay. Turns out after all the grief I took over that whole story from friends, family, and random E-Bayers alike, my sister turned out to be the winning bidder. She and her husband, Bob, have hearts of gold, and the plan was to buy the ring and give it back to Gail.... how could I be so insensitive, etc..... we had an interesting phone conversation, her and I, after I sent her an e-mail*** (full text at the end of the post, if anyone cares). Let's just say, she didn't think the whole "scheme" was too funny.... I'm trying to figure out what to learn from it all.... her reply was "how 'bout telling the truth?".... she got me there. There are no FAQs this week, here are just a few random pics... Sara getting ready for Halloween.... well, 'til next week.... I'll do what I want to do this week.

Brian



***briansprague@comcast.net

To: Diane Lee

Subject: Winning Bidder -- Gail's Wedding Ring

Date: Sunday, October 14, 2007 8:21:56 PM

Diane.... just got home from a church meeting and checked the
auction.... neverknew during the whole time with the Q/A
and the bidding who would be family members or friends
or just random E-Bay folk.

Here is the whole story:

Gail's been doing some researching on how to get your name
known or how to create a social "buzz" on-line, with an eye
on someday marketing a product or an idea on-line.  She's
seen a number of stories where there's been a funny or a
heart-felt angle to it where people are then directed to a
website where something's being sold.  So, I said I've got a
lot of good stories and ideas that people might think are
good "copy".  I didn't tell her about this until I
was ready to post it at E-Bay, but we both thought it'd be
fun and kind of a test.

So... the ring here is not the one I got her when we got
married.  A few of her friends, and I think maybe one of
her sisters got these very large fake rings...I always said
I was not going to do that, my love was real, etc.  So, I
got her a real,very small diamond ring at the time.  Within
a year I think, she chipped it, didn't tell me about it,
then after a while told me, she was starting to outgrow it
anyway, etc, the ring came off.  As a joke, she got this fake
one (flea market) wore it a few times, we had our fun with
it, and that one came off too.  Truth is, off and on, we've
always talked about getting a new diamond ring, but there's
always something else to do with the money.   So, this E-Bay
ring is a wedding ring, but not the one I originally got her.
The rest of the story is completely true, a little embellished,
but true.  I  was not trying to intentionally mislead people,
but when the questions started coming, I didn't tell the whole
story.  Some of those questions were funny. The memorable
part was supposed to be we were having a baby after 25 yrs
of marriage.

With the "social tagging" Gail was doing, i.e. putting my
story on some other websites, we got a huge amount of visits
(5,381) for this item.  I really didn't care if it sold or
not, just a test to see if we could get any traffic to it. One
person (hey, was that you, Bob, or Miranda??) said, that the
story "was one of the sweetest stories" she'd (?) ever heard,
she wrote back, I didn't post it though, and said she would
buy a book of those stories if I compiled one.  So, maybe there
are folks out there who'd read some sort of a compilation.

So....  lots of people read it, I don't have anything to sell
yet, but the ideas are starting to come.... hey, I could have
got $45 for this ring from the next person down , if it wasn't
my Bishop or someone like that.... we'll have to catch up by
phone.  Dang, I should have had a rich friend of mine put on a
bidding war with y'all....now that woulda been fun.

Brian