SIS#28 - Plateau, Sweet Plateau

Self-Improvement Sundays

***27 weeks complete, Behind pace, 69 lbs - Goal 101 lbs in 1 year***

I lost the pound I gained last week, but I'm a pound behind pace to reach the 101 in 1 goal. So I've officially hit the plateau. I'm still not planning to change anything I'm doing. Sticking with the plan seems like the best approach. The big picture is this:

1. I'm down 69 pounds in just over 6 months.

2. I feel great.

3. I've got great clothes until I lose another 15 or 20 pounds. Then I've got nothing.

4. Life is happening on a dozen levels besides weight loss, with many positive developments.

So, yes, I'm a bit frustrated with being stuck. But I don't think I'll be stuck forever. The path I'm taking now is too focused to maintain status quo. I totally believe that.

Here's to perseverance.

SIS#27 - Halfway There, Livin' On a Prayer

Self-Improvement Sundays

***26 weeks complete, On pace, 68 lbs - Goal 101 lbs in 1 year***

I hit the halfway mark today toward my one year goal of 101 pounds. I gained a pound this week. A bit disappointing, but remember I dropped three last week. It's so up and down that my job is just to stick to the program: stay with the WeightWatchers points and walk/run seven miles a day.

No wet noodle slapping here. Out of 26 weeks, this is only the second that I have not lost. The overall chances of reaching my goal are still good. 68 pounds in the first 6 months, 33 pounds in the second 6 months. 

I want the goal, but if you've followed my blogs you know that my life focus is much broader than this. At this point, WW points and 7 miles/day are all I'm willing to do. Later on I might consider doing more.

So, God, thank you for a very exciting 6 months and for all of the health breakthroughs I've had since January. We're halfway there, and I've never been more fulfilled in walking with you.

SIS#26 - New Vans and Old Wagons

Self-Improvement Sundays

***25 weeks complete, Ahead of pace, 69 lbs - Goal 101 lbs in 1 year***

It's been a great week, and interesting.

Why great?  I hit another 3 pound week, which feels like the tipping point of success for the goal of 101 pounds in a year.  It means I'm ahead of pace, and 1 pound per week with few occasional 2 pound week thrown in will get me to my goal.  For the first time, I feel like I've got this.

Why interesting?  In a nutshell, people are starting to look at me very differently.  Several people at work told me they didn't recognize me right away and had to walk back down my hallway again to see who "that guy" was.  Kinda fun.

But the really interesting phenomenon is the kinds of looks that people give me now.  Last year, Colleen and I had two vehicles: a relatively new Pontiac Montana minivan and an older Mercury Sable station wagon.  I was always amazed at how other drivers treated me on the road depending on which vehicle I was driving.  When I was in the Sable, they tended to cut me off, tailgate, and generally be less respectful.  When I was driving the Montana, even though it's no Escalade, they tended to wait before entering, back off, and generally be more respectful.

I'm not sure I like it, but people are now looking at me like I'm a Pontiac Montana.  I guess it goes back to the old Bible verse that says God looks on the heart and man looks on the outward appearance.

I am renewing my commitment to not be that way.  It makes me angry when people butter up management and belittle maintenance. If I'm really a Jesus guy, I am here for the last, for lost, and the least.

SIS#25 - Tested by Travel

Self-Improvement Sundays

***24 weeks complete, On pace, 66 lbs - Goal 101 lbs in 1 year***

I've been gone for a week, traveling to see my family in Canada. My mom did a great job having good low-cal food around and the meals and snacks went very well. The fun part was pulling 8 or 10 family members at a time outside to go walking with me on my daily quest for 7 miles. They were great! We'd typically walk down the hill from my parents' place and circle the campground several times, often stopping to chat with friends.

I was able to get my miles in every day except the return travel day. Oh well. I made up for it with 10 miles today.

So, I managed to get a pound out of the deal, but I think it might actually be more. I didn't weigh-in on the trip, so today's reading was my first. It's possible I had a lower point during the week. That's OK. If I'm right then my week just gets a bit easier this week.

Most of my family hadn't seen me since Christmas...6 months and 65 pounds prior! My brother-in-law, Brad, kept saying, "Where's the rest of you?!"

I'm pressing now to finish of my seventh "decade" of weight loss: the 60's. Hitting 70 seems like stepping into the big leagues. Here's to a good week back in the routine.