Thank you! And final thoughts...

Thank you for reading and following along on our health challenge the last couple months! I appreciate all the kind words of encouragement and...sympathy? Just kidding!

Congratulations to all the others in the challenge, who far outperformed in the weight loss category. While others were in the 10 pound range of weight loss, I was in the 1 pound range.

So was my mission a failure? Two months does not a lifetime make!

As I look back, I have a trend...gain weight in the winter, take it off in the summer. I'm sure more of us are in the same boat. Maybe moving south would be the perfect weight loss method!

Not all is lost, though. I didn't GAIN weight!!! I was more cognizant of my eating, paid more attention to my activity, tried to make better choices, tried to get past the "clean my plate" syndrome, tried to take smaller portions.

Why I wasn't a bigger loser in the contest? I could list many reasons. But the facts speak for themselves.

I was amazed at the number of people who said I looked thinner! Thanks!

Now what? I'm going to keep going...and I'll have company, as my 11-year-old daughter and I will start a new journey of health. We'll see where I'm at in a year...and maybe a year later I'll be in the news again as a bigger loser!

Thanks again and stay healthy!

Less than 3 weeks...

We have less than three weeks to go...it's crunch time!!!

It was heartening to hear that there was a huge turnout of men for the talk by the dietitian. I'm not alone in my weight challenge!!

An update....

So where did January go??

Thanks to everyone who asks me "how it's going?"....and to Mick for pointing out that I shouldn't be carrying around a cup of coffee on the YMCA track!!!

I think it's human nature to have excuses....why something can't be done. Have I lost weight? I doubt it. Am I more aware of my diet and exercise? Yes. Can I do more? Of course.

So with about a month to go, I am under no illusions that I will be the standout victor in this challenge. The reality is that we challenge ourselves, more than each other. If we can help each other out in the process, that's great! If I can get down in weight by the end of February that's great. If not, then I can't think of this as a failure, but as a journey; a journey that really never ends.

Again, thanks to everyone for all of your comments and concerns! I'm doing ok....we'll see what the next couple weeks brings!!

Challenge doesn't say half of it!

It's January 15...already!.....and I'm often asked "How's it going? Gee you look like you've lost weight!"

Funny how looks can be deceiving!

Let me publicly say that this thing IS a challenge. Anyone who has struggled with weight loss issues KNOWS what needs to be done...for the most part. It's GETTING IT DONE that's the struggle....

So I have been trying to be good...smaller portions....no eating at 7 p.m.....my exercise program has been sporadic...you would think that putting yourself out in public would be incentive to TOTALLY CHANGE.....alas, that's not the case with me...

I get the munchies in the afternoon....I have a stack of Clif Bars that I enjoy and hope that takes care of it...but here's the most difficult part: I hate to waste anything. I had a GORP mix on my desk...do you think I could leave that alone? Do you think I could throw out some Christmas candy and, heaven forbid, see it go to waste?? I have been sneaking candy up to the front desk where I work for other people to enjoy...that's a start, I guess...

Anyway, I'm doing ok...not great....just ok....

Next week I'm in the Twin Cities for several days. That will be a challenge..eating healthy on the road!!

The Lab Tests...

Well, the results are back from the Doctor. They're ok...



OK! OK, what does this all mean? I think I have to research this a little and see...overall, I'm not bad?

Oh...the weight listed in the paper was 245...I'm now at 247.....honestly, I've been higher...so now the goal is to lose some weight and start exercising more....time to drink water!

Hey, I would welcome some suggestions..

The first of the year...

I hope the holidays treated you well. I have been surprised at the number of people who have come up to me and wished me well in my challenge! Thank you for all your support.

I received the bloodwork back from the doctor. As I knew, bad cholesterol is high, good cholesterol is high..do they cancel each other out? I'll get the numbers here soon.

I tried to watch what I ate over the holidays. And now through the first week of January, I have been attempting to keep portions under control. I have been trying to drink more water. I have been bicycling in my basement.

While I have had many people comment on this effort and I feel support from the community, getting healthy, losing weight, controlling one's eating...it all seems to be such an individual effort. I do have some friends ready to play racquetball, so I hope to schedule that this week. I use to play basketball some mornings, but a foot injury...I think they call it a "pump bump"...took me off the court. I do have support from my family and my wife, Kitt, is a nibbler. We both have had issues of commenting on other's eating habits; I bet we have heard that from our parents. That can have the opposite effects, especially with children.

We're meeting today as a group, the four challenged men!

Stay tuned...

OK...

OK...I'm starting December 26....

But I'm going to watch things over the holidays!!

Maybe I'll see you at "It's a Wonderful Life" at a Center for the Arts this weekend!