Touring Your Own Town

Today, Benjamin and I went to the Mitchell Park Domes. It was a scheduled activity for the Milwaukee Dads. It is a great group of stay-at-home Dads that try to schedule, cheap, usually free events within our own town. Today, going to the Domes was one of those free events. Many of our hometown attractions have a free day and Monday mornings happens to be the free day for the Domes.

What a great way to connect with other Dads and not stick out like a sore thumb among the many women that are usually at these attractions. What a great way to great a little exercise and enjoying our local treasures.

It had been several years since I had gone to the Domes and it was a great morning to do something inside since it is extremely windy and just plain ugly.

We shall try to attend a few more of these events as they do usually involve some type of exercise/movement, especially for the kids. Any cool local attractions you need to check out??

Shh...Don't Tell Anyone!!

This week, we have had an influx of tomatoes and raspberries. Alex and I have enjoyed picking them. The raspberries have filled a 2 cup bowl each day and he has rushed to the sink to wash them and eat them for lunch. I have been stuck with the tomatoes.

Not a big fan of tomatoes. I tolerate tomatoes cooked, added into things and as a sauce, but raw tomatoes have never been on my "favorites" list. This week, because we've had tons everyday, I've decided to give them another try. Well, seems that actually don't taste too bad. I wouldn't go as far as to eat them like an apple, but added to my salads, it has added some nice fresh flavor. Just don't tell anyone that I'm eating them or they'll make me try cucumbers next, or maybe even watermelon!!

Nothing planned for the weekend. Working 4 WW meetings tomorrow and enjoying the summer-like weather while cheering on the Packers.

Losing 150 Pounds in One Week

The Biggest Loser once again focused on the numbers last night. The contestants had to lose a combined total of 150 pounds or else two contestants were to be voted out. How in the world do 15 people lose 150 pounds in one week?? Won't tell you if they did it or not as some people like to watch it at later times.

Trying to lose weight as part of a team helped the contestants push each other. Instead of focusing so much on their own journey, they also had to help the weakest players. Their reward challenge was a balancing act and if anyone fell, the challenge was lost. I thought there would be no way the biggest members could balance on a 6-inch beam for a good 30 feet.

Often we think of others first, but actually in the weight loss spectrum, taking time for yourself is the only way you'll lose weight. I try to give my all during exercise and yesterday ended up exercising more than ever. Did the P90X Plyometrics and rode the elliptical for an hour while watching the BL. I was definitely taking time for myself as I pretty much said hello, goodbye, and goodnight to my wife without much other conversation, but I wanted to watch the BL and hadn't woken up early, early to exercise so I wasn't too tired.

I'm definitely looking forward to next week as it will be my 4th week with P90X and I'll be wondering into new workouts. I do enjoy them and it has definitely been a great workout so far, results?? Well, I'm moving a lot more than normal.


On another note, my youngest sister started college this semester and it seems my Dad has already replaced her...a parakeet!! No more "empty nest."

What are You Looking At?

Are you paranoid when it comes to people looking at you? Often when I was obese/overweight I thought people were always looking at me. Perfect strangers! Now that I have lost weight, I could care less if people look at me. Even though I'm a few pounds over my goal right now, I know I'm looking fine.

I used to look more at people who were overweight, but now if I do look at them I find myself feeling sorry for them or wondering if they know what they're doing to themselves. Now, I find myself looking more towards "normal" weight people. I compare myself to them and wonder if I could maintain a lower weight. The answer is probably no since I'm having a tough time right now with my high goal.

Friday, I received an email from my colleague at WW stating she wanted to quit WW because she doesn't like the way the members are "looking" at her. Would you mind if people were looking at you? Does it motivate you or get you deeper in a hole if you know people are looking at you? I'm doing this for myself and if I can be a good example or inspiration in a meeting, I'm glad to do so. My colleague has gained several pounds since last year at this time and she feels that she is not doing well enough for herself to justify helping members lose weight. Believe me, we are all human and definitely have ups and downs in weight, stress, life in general.

Don't worry about how others are viewing you, just take the right steps for yourself.

Fall Television

It is that time of the year when all the networks are rolling out their fall schedules. We have about 20 shows set to record on our DVR. Really?? We watch 20 shows each week?? This was very evident last night as I plotted my butt on the couch at 7:00 and didn't get up till after 10:30. Survivor, Fringe, Jay Leno's monologue plus, Project Runway minus commercials and the Models of the Runway. My goodness, I need to get a grip on this TV watching before I'm sitting idle in TV land 4 hours EVERY night. The shows last night did not disappoint, but why didn't I hop on the elliptical at least for part of the time? This getting up at 4:30 to exercise is wearing on my cardio routine.

Weekend of driving ahead. We are off the Black River Falls for a family birthday. It's a good 3 hour drive there and back, so I will definitely need a good plan for the day. Wake up early to exercise. I'll be riding the elliptical as it is a rest day for P90X. Make the best choices I can at the party limiting myself to one plate full. Eat breakfast and drink enough, but not too much that I'll have to stop 5 times along the way.

There's a Hero!!

"There are Heroes in this room!!!"

My favorite Bob Harper quote from the new season of Biggest Loser. What a bunch of stories behind the weight this season. I DVR'd it last night and also taped it just in case I decided to ride the elliptical and watch, but I've been wiped after my P90X workouts and have only ridden it a few times this week. Watching it put the 3 yr. old to sleep which was a plus, but it really has some nice story lines this year. From the biggest lady/person in BL history, to Abby who lost her two children and husband in a car accident. Daniel coming back for a second chance from last year and the firefighter who couldn't go back to help Tracey who was struggling after the 1 mile walk/run to start the show because he, himself was also struggling.

The losses are outrageous and usually bring WW member to want more from their "real life" weigh-ins, but I use it for what it's worth...a good reminder of why I chose to eat right and exercise and sometimes it provides helpful hints and motivation to keep on keeping on.

There are Heroes in this room!!! and they are all the awesome men and women who continue to motivate me to continue on with a healthy lifestyle. Thanks to all the heroes here, you know who you are ;)

New Pants

Last week I broke down and bought a new pair of Khakis. Why? It was not because I outgrew the old ones. Instead, my comfy old Khakis started looking pretty shabby and got a hole worn in the rear pockets. I have not bought a new pair of pants in my size for over 2 years. It felt good buying a new pair of pants not because I needed a different size, but because the old ones were wearing out.

Everything is great around here. Now that the little one is mobile, it's difficult to get time on the computer except during naptime, which it happens to be now. I'm into my second week attempting the P90X program. This week has gone much better than last week and I can definitely feel a difference in the amount of reps I am able to do. The Ab Ripper X DVD is still too hard for me, but I have attempted all the exercises and have started to get a few of each exercise completed.

The only downfall of waking up early has been that for some reason, my 3 year old wonders down usually right after I finish. Seeing that I'm finishing the exercises at 5:50am, that's a little too early for Alex to be awake for the day.

Time Keeps Ticking

My wife was home with our new baby, Elizabeth. Born August 19, she was less than a month old. I was working at the same nursing home that I have now returned to after a few years away. Getting into the car that morning, I remember running the daily list down in my head...get to work, sit through a LONG day of planning for the following month, get in the car, drive to school, attend class, quick go home for a bite to eat, then off to choir. It was going to be a jam packed day.

I was actually in pretty good shape since I had attended 2 sessions of 10 week at-work WW meetings. I had lost about 35 pounds and was feeling great. What happened during these 8 years? Well, I gained the 35 pounds back, plus another 20. I celebrated having 3 more children. Changed jobs and careers a few times. Finished going to school for Music Therapy and practiced MT for a few years. Decided it was time to do something.

My 8 year old, will be the last college freshman class to be born before September 11th. Hopefully, she won't remember me as that overweight, out of shape Daddy who couldn't go up a flight of stairs without breathing heavily and grunting all the way up. She will know how to eat healthy and the importance of exercise.

That day, 8 years ago, was the first time baby Elizabeth was brought to work with me. So much happened before I got to work, that my whole day was changed. Work was laid back, school and choir was canceled and I went home early to spend the day with my new family.

The Audition

I've been in a community choir for 10 years, directed by the same director that is in charge of the All-City Children's Choir. Yesterday, I coerced my 3rd grade daughter to go audition for the choir. Not only did she stress that she did NOT want to do this, she literally came kicking and screaming all the way to the car. Once we got to the school, it was a whole different story. Of course, she was nervous and scared and she had never done anything like this before. But by the end of the 5-10 minute audition, she was singing out loud and strong. On the way home I think I even caught her smiling.

Her audition consisted of three separate criteria: singing up the scale/singing down the scale (range), matching pitches, and the ultimate...sing a song of your choice. Wouldn't it be awful if we had to audition to lose weight? What would it entail? Eating as many asparagus spears as possible, staking Twinkies, walking up a flight of stairs?

My daughter will fit in either the soprano or alto section, she does know a few kids in the choir as it turns out and will enjoy it, I'm sure. So what sections are there in the weight loss "choir?" Fat, fatter, most festively fat??

Bring It!

My little one has had a fever since Saturday and hasn't slept quite as well as he usually does. Yesterday, he was wrestling around at about 4:00, so I brought him into my bed. Got him some more Tylenol and tucked him back in his own bed.

Since I was up, I thought I'd try the first day of P90X. It was tough, but I made it through the whole workout and was still upright at the end...barely, but I was upright. After the Chest and Back workout, the Ab Ripper X workout is supposed to be done. It's a totally ridiculous workout of ab exercises that I was lucky to be able to do 1 or 2 of each exercise.

This morning, once again I woke up early and felt the burn. The plyometrics DVD focused lots on the quads and there were many a squat and lunge. It was actually kind of fun. I didn't do the real tough high impact exercises, choosing to modify them rather than wreck my already bad knees. It was easy enough to modify and believe me, I still got a solid workout.

These workouts will be quite different from the elliptical which has been really my only form of exercise lately. So far, so good and I'm happy to be trying something new, but having a hard to cuddling with the baby since my chest and back are quite sore.

FEAR!!

Piano lessons or All-City Children's Choir!!!

I have given my 8 yr. old an option. Choose one. "You must try something, you are always complaining about not having anything to do, it's not fair that your sister has more girls to play with, blah, blah, blah. Now, pick...piano lessons or Children's Choir."

Little does she know that I'm going to drag her to both. Why does she not want to participate in choir? She goes to a private school with 13 kids in her class and will probably know no one in the choir. She's afraid. Why does she not want to take piano lessons? She loves plunking on the piano, but if she takes the lessons, she'll actually HAVE to play the piano.

Taking the first step is always the hardest. Deciding to lose weight was the easy part. Actually DOING something was the most difficult thing I've done in a long time. Learning what to eat was easy as well, but actually DOING was and still is hard. There are always excuses, but most excuses come from the fear we have inside. Fear in my daughter's case of not knowing anyone, not wanting to learn something new. Fear of failure! Fear of the unknown!

I have no doubt that my daughter will have fun at choir, and I have no doubt that she could be a successful piano player. Heck, if I can play piano, she should have no problem.

Lost and Found

On Tuesday, I lost Benjamin's milk cup. I knew he had it in the kitchen, then I lost track of where he took it. I thought he took it in the living room or dining room. I looked everywhere in those rooms. Looked in the bathroom, computer room, toy closet, everywhere I could think of on our main floor. No where to be found! I finally gave up and figured he would bring it back to me sometime.

Today, I followed Benjamin up the stairs and right at his eye level after crawling up the stairs(under my bed), there was the sour milk cup!

I had given up and it was easily found. Sometimes I feel that I have lost my ability to exercise. Wish there was a magic "milk cup" solution to exercise. Next week, I plan on trying the P90X program. I figure that I have automatically been waking up at 4:45 everyday and I might as well do something productive. I will definitely report on how it goes, but this weekend is just not the right time to start a new exercise program, so early Tuesday will be day 1.

A New Season

School has started and fall is definitely in the air. I am so glad that the kids are back in school, not because I don't like spending time with them, but because it is difficult to live a healthy lifestyle with them.

"I'm hungry!!"

"I'm thirsting!!"

"When are we going to eat???"

"What's for lunch???"

"What's there to eat???"

"Can I have a snack???"

My favorite is: "I'm hungry for gum!!!"

It's hard enough to have the willpower to not snack/eat unhealthy foods when I'm concerned only about myself, but when I hear these demands all day, it makes it even more difficult. So glad that it's me and Benjamin now!! He's running the house, but still can't talk enough to ask what's for lunch ;)