At home Day 5, eating out and not cheating!

Thoughts/Comments:
Today was a great day for food considering two of my meals were eaten at two of my favorite restaurants and with great company.  To cap the day off I took my wife shopping for her birthday/anniversary/valentines day present at the Kenwood Mall in Cincinnati and she got a purse she absolutely loves.  The cherry on top was that we came to an upgrade agreement on on Iphones that allowed me to get an Iphone 4 at the Apple store!  I am pretty excited, and played with the silly new device all the way home.  We also went Whole Foods and I got some great stuff to take home and cook.  We have no Whole Foods or Fresh Market in Richmond so it is always great to get some quality groceries when we can.

I got to catch up with some friends I have not seen since before I left for camp and that is always great.  Today was an amazing day, and tomorrow is "Unhealthy meal day" which means I get to actually indulge in some nice things in Indianapolis.  We are going there with a fairly big group to see the private premiere of my friend Zack's new movie Scalene (which was filmed here in Richmond.)  Full disclosure my wife and I are investors in it, and she actually got to do a little on screen work as a doctor in it.  Fun stuff!

Statistics:
I have lost my fitbit and worry for it's safety...  Come home little guy!  We miss you!

Watch Calories Burned: 690 calories for a treading class and dynamic stretch class

Exercise:
Today I was lucky enough to do a little training for my wife.  We did a treading class today, and she did incline instead of speed for difficulty.  She can job 5ks now, but the incline really helped challenge her today I think.  Also, I took her through a stretch class I would go to on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays at the resort that Sam taught.  I burned 690 calories and she seemed to be pretty close to that as well.

Food:
We were running very late today getting the kids ready for school so breakfast for both of us was a Lara Bar.    I also had about 8oz of skim milk, so it was all good.  Lunch was at El Rodeo mexican, and I was proud to not eat the chips and salsa!  I had 3 corn tortilla shells and chicken and veggie fajitas with some salsa on them.  It was great and I got to catch up with my friends Zack and Kevin.  Dinner was amazing at PF Changs, I was suprised to find so many good options calorie wise.  The sodium content is too high, but the taste to calorie ratio is off the charts.  I had 3 small cups of the soup (120 calories total,) and 1 serving of shrimp with lobster sauce on brown rice (315 calories.)  Splitting the dinner with Jen turned out great for both of us.

Pictures/Slideshow:
Added some more pictures to the weekly album!

At home Day 4, Thursday and my aching foot!

Comments/Thoughts:
Well today I went to the doctor's office for a weigh in and to check my blood pressure.  I have been weighing in every month since around September to qualify for a lap band procedure.  Surgery has never been what I wanted to do, but I am quickly approaching my 35th birthday and if I am unable to do this through will power I will fix it the other way (or attempt to.)  The good news right now is I am not going to consider the surgery.  The resort has put me in a great mindset and has set me up to succeed without the added risk.  My blood pressure was actually very good compared to the past and in another 10-20 pounds I may be off my medication for it.  My weight change since weighing in on the 4th of January is 30 pounds down.  I thought they would be more excited about it at the office, but I guess people hit 30 pounds a month in there all the time... sheesh!  It was a great feeling, and I wish we could afford both mentally and financially for me to do it all again.  I think Jen would shoot me if I tried to sneak away. =)

It was good timing to be at the doctor so I had her look at more cut/sore on my foot and fortunateness she said it was athlete's foot (yuck!) and that with treatment the pain would go away and it would heal.  Very annoying, and slightly gross!

Statistics:
I forgot to wear my fitbit!  ARGH!

Watch stats: Burned 315 calories during my 30 minutes of kettlebell

Exercise:
I did do my 30 minutes of kettlebells today sweat like a maniac.  It was good to get it done and my new 36 pound bell really kicks my a$$.  I did not feel up for treadmill action today because just walking around is killing my foot.  I have to get this healed up.  I went and got a ton of medication and bandages, I won't stay off this foot for more than a day or two.  I can't get out of the habit of my cardio.

Food:
Breakfast once again was a turkey sausage, egg english muffin.  I enjoyed meatloaf I made last night (from the resort cookbook) for lunch and had veggies with 1 cup of brown rice and some braggs aminos.  It was a pretty big lunch, and unfortunately Jen did not like the meatloaf so it is all me!  Dinner was a meatloaf sandwich on bread thins, and more veggies with 1/2 cup of rice and braggs.  I also had a bowl of Pacific brand low sodium roasted red pepper and tomato soup (low sodium) and it was great for only 100 calories!  Dessert will once again be.... chocolate covered strawberries, and I made a new batch of them tonight!  I had a 150 calorie snack today of Pop chips!  They are great and you get a decent amount for the calories and they really taste like a puffy potato chip.  Our dietitian at the resort, Jessica Hummel,  showed them to me on our grocery trip and I am very grateful!  Jen and the kids loved them too so they are going to be a good go to snack.  I ordered some through amazon, but I found them at Kroger today in the healthy chip area.  Why do they have to keep the healthy stuff separate?

Slideshow/Pictures:
There are a few new pictures in this album, but you probably have seen most!

At home Day 3, hump day and still going...

Thoughts/Comments:
It was a decent day except for the fact that my foot is a bit hurt.  There is a crack in the bottom of my foot that is quite painful, and amusing that I am home and not walking 6-12 miles a day and now my foot gets hurt.  Very annoying, but I am sure I can get past it.  I still managed a good workout today.

It was nice to have the kids in school and at parents morning out.  I was able to go to Starbucks and catch up on some reading after the gym and that is always nice.  I love going there and people watching and missed it quite a bit while I was at the resort.  I have switched drinks from coffee with cream and splenda to green tea and less splenda.  I think less calories and less caffeine will help me out.  It worked at the resort so no reason to rock the boat too much.  I also have not been drink diet cokes/coke zero except on my less healthy day of the week, and perhaps when I go to the movies.  I have been drinking plain water and crystal lite pure fit in my water as well.

Statistics:
I walked 7,045 steps and 3.3 miles and burned 3,443 calories via my fitbit http://www.fitbit.com/user/22B6S6


Watch calories burned: 615 during workout session


Exercise:
At the gym today I did a treading class, and then afterwards a did a Sam style dynamic stretch session.  For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about it is a session that first starts out warming muscles by using them (think lunges, squats, kicks etc etc) and then goes back through and stretches the warm muscles with typical stretch poses.  It is both a good stretch and workout.  I can get it mostly done in 30 minutes and it is 45 minutes at the resort.  My total calories burned was 615, and I did not get to my kettlebells since I woke up late and was beat after the kids went to bed.  Perhaps less Starbucks and more swinging is in order?

My foot is bothering me pretty bad and I may have to take it easy on the treadmill for a day or so to heal.  It is an open cut/sore on the foot and it hurts bad.

Food:
For breakfast I had a egg and turkey sausage english muffin, lunch was a turkey burger and veggies with leftover mushroom soup, and dinner was chicken bbq pizzas from the resort cookbook with chocolate covered strawberries as a dessert.  Have you noticed a theme for desserts?  I still think the resort should offer them as an option every night.

Slideshow/Pictures:

At Home on the new living plan.. Days one and two combined!

Monday-

Thoughts/Comments:
Today was a bit tough to get back in to the swing of things.  I noticed I was out of it trying to get the kids off to school.  Normally I am a fine oiled machine of efficiency, but a month off has really changed that.  Thank goodness Jen was home in the morning to help get us all moving.

I did work out today, but it is weird working out only 2 hours...  I know that sounds odd but I felt like I was slacking.  Does anyone else feel like that now that you are home?   I mean I really gave it my all for those 2 hours, but compared to a hike or my 3 afternoon classes it just was so far from what I am used to now.  My legs are burned out still from last week.  I guess I really pushed it to have them still fatigued.

Statistics:
None really applicable since I forgot my fitbit and forgot to wear my heart monitor during workouts!

Exercise:
I woke up before the kids were awake and got 25 minutes of kettlebells in.  I did 4 sets of 25 two handed swings, 4 sets of 25 on each single hand between the leg swings, 4 sets of 25 switching from handed to hand between the legs, and 3 sets of 20 single handed outside swings.  That was definitely a good start to the morning.  About 30 minutes later my wife and I were at the gym and I did a treading class (our treadmills go up to 15 incline here too..  Great huh?) and after I did the treading class I did a dynamic stretching session (like Sam teaches at the resort) and then just went out and watched my wife finish her arm workout.

I am really having a difficult time with thinking I am taking it easy.  I did have a completely wet shirt from my workout, but I am used to going through 3 shirts a day at the resort.  Spacing it out is kind of difficult mentally.

Food:
For breakfast I had a piece of turkey sausage, not the best breakfast, but it was all I could get in considering how slow I was with the kids.  Lunch was at Chilli's so I had a decent challenge in finding something I could eat.  After some quick intelligence gathering on my phone I learned a bowl of their Green Chile soup was 200 calories, and that just the skillet portion of their chicken fajitas was 330 calories.  I added one flour tortilla since they do not carry corn tortillas and that was another 130 calories.  It was an expensive caloric lunch, but well within my limit.  Dinner was simply a turkey burger, with veggies and 3 small chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.  I also had an apple and an 80 calorie Luna bar for snacks during the day.

Slideshow/Pictures:
*Note I am going to be adding pictures to the weekly album and describing them in the captions of the pictures, I will mention it in updates on twitter and facebook when I add the pictures. Also, Tuesday's blog post will be under this picture section.


Tuesday-
Comments/Thoughts:
Well I felt really weak yesterday in my legs so today I am taking a rest day.  I had thought I would just wait for the weekend, but I think I need it.  Wednesday I plan to hit the kettlebells and gym again while the kids are in school so that will be good.

Getting back in the swing of things here is difficult, especially with Jen on two night shifts in a row.  I am trying to get readjusted and adding in the new cooking routine.  It is a bit bumpy, but I think I will get it all together by the end of the week.  Just ordered a new blender for the soups I make, and ordered some stuff from amazon.com to help finish out the grocery pantry.  We can't get everything at the stores in this small town, but I can fill the gaps with online shopping fairly well.

Statistics:
Only about 4500 steps for the day today.  Taking it easy, doing some laundry and cooking a good lunch were the priorities.

Exercise:
Carrying laundry baskets up 4 flights of stairs and chasing children was all I got in today.  about 15k fewer steps today then a typical resort day.

Food:
Had a good tomato, egg, egg beater omelet this morning.  Followed it up with some mushroom soup from the resort cookbook I bought, with a turkey burger and veggies.  Dinner was left over Sushi, around 8 pieces and I would estimate it at 400-450 calories.  All in all a great food day.  Tomorrow I plan on making turkey meatloaf and also working on turkey meatballs for the rest of the week.

Slideshow/Pictures: See above...

Day 28, Homeward bound...

Well the formatting does not really fit a day like this, so I will just go freestyle.  I ate breakfast on the resort while I waited for my shuttle and ate eggs and toast once again.  I said some more sad goodbyes, and road in with 3 other guests.  The drive was easy going considering it was a Sunday.  I made it to the airport and through security with plenty of time and watch some TV shows on my Ipad.

I was very happy to be able to wear my goal outfit home.  I wore a shirt two sizes smaller, and jeans one size smaller (it could have been two,) and a brand new belt I haven't been able to wear for a couple of years.  It is amazing fitting into old clothes.  It is one of the most motivational things.  I would recommend bringing some near fits to the resort to go home in for motivation.  It worked out of me and I didn't think it was really possible to get into my shirt.  Needless to say my wife was pretty excited to see me in it when she picked me up at the airport.

As far as the flight went I did have a roast beef sandwich and I am sure it was at least 550-600 calories considering the bread and cheese.  I didn't have any peanuts or other snack foods.  I enjoyed a nice coke zero and I did not need a seatbelt extender on the flight and was finally comfortable flying home.  I watched three one hour TV shows and next thing I knew it I was landing.

It was so amazing to see my wife and she was surprised by how much I had changed.  I have missed my family so much and seeing her made my day.  We tried to go to a Thai restaurant but it was closed and found a nearby Sushi place.  I had some edamame, pot stickers, miso soup and some great sushi rolls.  It was very not diet, but great to have a treat with my wife.  Monday it is back on the plan 100%, and there is always my 10% of non-healthy food choices I am going to allow myself.

Anyway, the rest of the night was great, and I went ahead and gave my wife all the presents I bought even though I was supposed to save them for anniversary, valentines day and her birthday!  I was so glad to see her it was tough to hold out.

Hope everyone is doing well, and I miss all of my friends I have made back on the ranch and those people that are already back home.  Hope your Sunday went well.

Day 27, Last day before my flight home...

Comments/Thoughts:
Well I went ahead and weighed in on Saturday since I am not sure I can make my shuttle and weigh in on Sunday morning.  I will try to sneak an additional weigh in on Sunday, but not new measurements.  I lost 27.2 pounds, 5.5 inches around my chest, 5 inches around my belly and 3.25 inches around my waist.  I am not going to lie and say I wasn't hoping for more numbers wise, but it is an amazing jump start into going home.  I am much more fit and able to workout than before I got here.  I moved up from the slower vans to the fastest one here and kept up with my groups on the hikes.  Losing weight is a mentally challenging game because we are all caught up in the numbers.  One thing I will say is I got in my goal clothing while here.  The inches lost mean I have gained muscle while losing fat as well so that is great!

Once again, it was both a happy and sad event at graduation.  I am going to miss people here so much, and I am glad I get to keep in touch with so many.  Like I said last night at graduation it is hard to leave a place where you find a whole new amazing family every week.  That being said I want to again thank my beautiful wife and children for allowing me to come out here.  I know it was difficult on them and I will always appreciate that they helped me start this journey, and are supportive and loving in every way I could dream.

Statistics:
Fitbit stats were: 5424 calories burned, 21,450 steps taken, and 10.79 miles traveled

Watch calories burned: 2500 calories

Hike/Exercise:
We did the Paramount Ranch hike this Saturday and it actually was fairly strenuous this time.  It was great hiking with my hiking group from this week as well as some new friends I had made during the week.  I got a great calories burn for a Saturday.

As far as other classes, I did not make the stretch class post hike (I did do a 30 minute one by myself earlier) but I had a final kettlebell session with Michael and burned close to 600 calories.  I am excited to get back home and on with my kettlebell training.  Someone came out and video'd me throwing them around, and once I do a little editing I will post them.  It is kind of embarrassing because my shirt is way too big and I had to tuck my shorts bottoms into my underwear so I could move them between my legs.  So you have been warned!  I will post them though regardless of the embarrassment.

An additional bit of exercise occurred when I went to the mall with some of my new friends and walked around Thousand Oaks mall for probably 2 hours.  That was an additional mile or three.

Food:
Breakfast was eggs and toast, lunch was asian chicken wraps and roasted red pepper soup, and dinner was a cobb salad which I ditched in favor of a boca burger.

Pictures/Slideshow: