Off Mic With Dan Scott

Tuning Up

2009-11-29T10:57:00.001-05:00

Just a quick note to let you know the blog will return after the first of the year.

And with some stories to tell, for sure.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all.

Plugging Away

2009-09-15T09:46:00.001-04:00

Don't fret boys and girls. I haven't fallen off the wagon again.

Just been extremely busy and honestly when I've remembered that I need to update the blog I'm usually nowhere near my computer. One of the hazards of trying to do everything.

I'm hanging in there. The issue I've run into the last couple of weeks is having good results on the diet Monday through about 5 p.m. Friday. Then when my weekend of work and travel kicks in I've struggled. Big time.

So that's my latest challenge. Weigh-in day tomorrow, so we'll see where we stand and go from there.

Quick Off The Line

2009-09-02T08:51:00.002-04:00

Hit the scales this morning, and for the first time in a long time they didn't hit back.

Lost six pounds this week. Now the trick is to keep the momentum heading in the right direction.

Yet Another Scoreboard:

Week 1 - Lost 6

Back On The Scales

2009-09-01T23:07:00.002-04:00

Wednesday morning I weigh in for the first time in a week.

I've had a pretty good week. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but a huge step in the right direction. As long as I see something positive tomorrow, I'll be happy. Then we'll focus on the bigger numbers.

Tune in for the results.

How I Get Motivated

2009-08-24T21:28:00.003-04:00

Made it through my first workout back in the gym today.

Vernon took it easy on me. That's sure to change. I've also had a good day back on the Ultra Fit meal plan. So that's a start.

What is it I've said way too many times in the past? One day at a time. One meal at a time.

The problem, as I'm sure you're all well aware, is motivation. Or to be more precise, lack of it. Finding that extra gear I had for most of 2008 just hasn't happened yet, no matter how many different tactics I take.

Or no matter how much John or anyone else tries to motivate me.

John has been a God-send to me and so many others with his expertise, his caring attitude and his persistence. But the one thing that doesn't work on me is heavy motivational tactics.

They never have. I was never the type of athlete that needed a locker room speech to get me going. I had no problem being motivated to play when the time came, and I honestly thought most of those tactics by coaches were a little lame. That's being as honest as I can be.

That carries over here. John can only do so much. Vernon can only do so much. Ultimately it falls squarely on my shoulders, and no amount of rah-rah or finger-wagging is going to make one bit of difference.

I have to find motivation in other ways, and to this point in 2009 it's been maybe the biggest challenge I've had in my life.

Then, out of the blue, two seemingly innocent incidents - separate of one another - happened in the last two days.

The first, yesterday, was an email I received from a lovely girl named Billie who has been following me on this journey since Day One. She also has weight issues, has had success with Ultra Fit, and was thanking me for - in her words - all I've done for her.

Kinda drives home the point that there are others out there watching, waiting, hoping. Sometimes you feel like you're in this fight alone. Sometimes you don't want to hear from other people.

But Billie's email touched me, as many of her letters have in the past. Perhaps she's my guardian angel during this point of my life. I'm not sure. I just hope she continues to fight and fight and fight some more. Because she's been as much an inspiration to me as she says I've been to her.

The second incident took place this evening.

I was in line at the grocery store and a young man very politely spoke to me, inquiring if he could ask me something personal. It was about my weight loss, and how it was going.

I told him that the last seven months have been a struggle, I'm sure I've put at least 25 pounds back on, and that my shopping cart was full of Ultra Fit plan food, seeing as how I started back on the program today.

He proceeded to tell me that two years ago he lost 160 pounds, doing cardio at the YMCA (he has a heart condition that doesn't let him lift weights) and following a healthy diet. Great story.

Then one night after church, he tells me, he got a craving for pizza. Went and got one, and ate the whole thing. That began a downward spiral that has seen him put back on 250 pounds.

There was a sadness in his eyes as he spoke. He was near tears. He mentioned he enjoyed John's segment on the show, and again reiterated that he just wanted to know how I was doing.

As I left I wished him good luck, and drove home with an gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. Only this time it wasn't hunger.

It was motivation.

That young man, along with Billie, did more for me in a combined span of probably five minutes than I've done for myself in the past seven months. That's why I did this weight loss effort publicly beginning in Dec. 2007. I wanted to be held accountable. I wanted support. I wanted to share experiences with those going through the same struggles.

How long does the motivation last this time around?

I have no idea.

Again, all I can do is take it one day, one meal at a time. And so far, it's one good day in the books.

Back in the gym at 7:30 a.m. And for the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to being there.

Snooze Is Over

2009-08-23T16:29:00.002-04:00

You can all rest easy. The world can get back to its usual dysfunction.

I go back into the gym with Vernon Monday morning.

I know I chose to do this weight loss program publicly, and that's been a big reason for the success I've had to this point. But you folks also need to remember I don't live everything in public. And like many of you, there are things that happen in my private life which can upset the ol' apple cart.

That's been the case this past month. Lots of stuff going on that I haven't shared with anyone, other than the brief snapshot I gave Vernon. My focus has been elsewhere. The diet has been non-existent. I don't know how much weight I've gained back, but we'll find out Wednesday.

But I'm going back to square one with this thing. No guarantees or pronouncements.

Just a man struggling with his weight and, in many ways, himself.

Ugh!

2009-07-18T10:38:00.002-04:00

My weigh-in on Wednesday showed that I've gained 18 pounds back in the last six months.

Time to get serious.

Slight Momentum

2009-07-13T08:50:00.002-04:00

Went to workout this morning, and no Vernon.

It's possible that he told me he was going to be out today, but if so it completely slipped my mind. That sort of thing has been known to happen.

In any event, rather than packing up and leaving like I might have done in the past (and, truth be told, might do in the future), I stayed and walked for about 30 minutes around the indoor track. Got a nice little sweat rolling before I had to leave for this morning's radio show.

And while the scales at Coop's weigh on average about five pounds heavier than the ones at Clemson, I was at least able to see that I'm down about three pounds from this time last week. This despite a couple of bad meals over the weekend.

So, I'll accept it as a positive step forward. And I'll get a true weight on Wednesday, as long as the training room is open.

And awayyyyy we goooo....

No Luck At Clemson

2009-07-08T13:29:00.002-04:00

Well, as I've tried to restart things again, I wandered over to Clemson today to weigh in and see, exactly, how much weight I've put back on in about six months of fooling around.

The training room was closed. So, I will try again likely on Monday.

Fighting the jitters and urges that come with re-launching this thing (again). But if I can push through it, I'll be okay. Things have calmed down as far as travel and the like, so the atmosphere is right to get back in the groove.

Also, as usually happens with me, I woke up the other morning with the unmistakable feeling that it's time. And that's been the case anytime I've had success in this arena. No forcing motivation. No pep talks. Nothing along those lines.

Just a feeling that the time is right to go. So, I'm going.

And again, I'm taking you all with me.

Shhhhhhhhh

2009-06-30T11:19:00.000-04:00

Guess who's been back on his diet and back in the gym for over a week?

Back In Town

2009-06-10T20:19:00.002-04:00

Got back in from Arizona late last night. I was gone for six days covering Clemson in the Super Regionals vs. Arizona State.

Talked to Vernon today. We are hitting it hard again starting with Tuesday's workout. Time to quite messing around and feeling sorry for myself. Time to get down to business again.

Had a lot of time to think in the car going and coming, and I think I've turned a corner with my motivation. We shall see.

It's now 7 1/2 months until the Reds Fantasy Camp in Goodyear, Az. Can't do it in the shape I'm in now.

Focus, Dan. Focus.

Catching Up

2009-05-30T11:45:00.002-04:00

The quiet momentum I wrote about in my last post went to Hell in a Handbasket with my trip to Durham for the ACC Baseball Tournament.

Again, there is no consistency to be found. And there's still the overwhelming problem of trying to get motivated again. It just isn't happening.

I'm hoping that with baseball season ending sometime in the next 2-3 weeks, depending on how far Clemson advances, that some stability will lead to a routine I can follow.

Of course the bottom line here is that there will always be some obstacle to overcome. It's been true all 17 months I've been battling this thing. It's just that in the past I've been able to get through the abyss.

Now, for the last five months, it's been one step forward and two steps back.

And I'm certainly not going to get anywhere that way.

Sneak Attack

2009-05-21T09:35:00.002-04:00

Shhh.

Don't tell anyone, but very quitely I've put together about four good days in a row.

Not earth-shattering by any means. But it's a start. And at this point, any movement forward is good news.

More later. But wanted to let you know I'm around - very busy, but around - and that maybe things are looking up.

Back At It

2009-05-13T21:56:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the delay in posts. Baseball has cranked up, and the restaurant in smoking.

I resume workouts tomorrow morning with Vernon after a week away. Then it's off to Raleigh this weekend for baseball at N.C. State.

I still haven't been eating the way I'm supposed to. I have however been extremely active, and that's helped me sort of maintain the status quo.

For some reason, I just can't get the engine running again.

Maybe I need a tune-up.

Trying To Rally

2009-05-01T10:27:00.003-04:00

Went back to the grocery store yesterday and reloaded on the proper Ultra Fit-type food. Trying to drag myself out of the muck and get this thing moving back in the right direction.

I appreciate the direct comments from some of you in recent days. Trust me, I welcome all sorts of feedback. When you're trying to find motivation, anything and everything written, said or even thought can be used as a weapon.

However, the unfortunate truth in this situation is that the thing that has made the most impact of late is the death of David Poole.

Poole, 50, dropped dead of a heart attack at his home earlier this week. He was a popular, well-read writer and commentator who made his living covering NASCAR. He was considered the best in the business covering the sport.

Poole was also a very large man.

So to see another person lose the same battle I'm fighting...well, let's just say it got my attention.

I didn't know David personally. But I did, of course, know Anthony Bell. If you've read this blog on a regular basis, you know the backstory there.

Bottom line, it shook me up pretty good.

I don't want to be next. So I've got to find a way to get my head out of my rear end and get rolling again.

For all the good I've done in the past 16 months, none of it will matter if I don't finish the deal.

Sunday Musings

2009-04-26T17:14:00.002-04:00

It's becoming more and more apparent that my mind isn't in this thing the way it should be.

I've not had a good week. Only got to work out once because of travel/restaurant duties, and I'm finding it easier and easier to make excuses for making bad decisions with my nutrition.

It's mostly mental. I go back to Christmas Eve, when I did the 10-up and 10-down on the stairs carrying the 50 pounds in weights. Since then it's as if an internal switch flipped, and I can't get it turned on again.

No matter how much I beat up myself, no matter how much I encourage myself, no matter how logically or illogically I look at my situation, I can't find that same motivation.

I don't know what's going to happen, but something better. And quickly.

Because if it doesn't, all hell is liable to break loose.

Quick Update

2009-04-19T10:43:00.002-04:00

Just checking in before heading out to church.

Thinking perhaps I should be praying for strength to get me through these next few weeks. Because boys and girls, I'm tired. My feet hurt, my legs hurt, my back hurts...You name it.

Running around like the proverbial headless chicken on a concrete floor all day has been good for calorie burning, but bad for my physical condition.

Yet I think back to a year ago at this time, and there's no way I have done what I'm doing now. It would have been physically impossible.

So again, along with every bump in the road comes some type of encouragement.

It's just taking time to step back, pause a brief moment, and recognize the progress. And that's my issue. At it's core. I tend to look ahead and say, "Wow. I've still got a long, long road ahead."

Sometimes I forget I've come a long way, too.

Time

2009-04-16T17:25:00.002-04:00

One thing I've found in the last few days:

When you try to run a restaurant on top of having another job, you don't have time. No time to eat, no time to talk, and no time to waste.

We had our quiet opening Monday, then today had the official Grand Opening. It was a madhouse - which is good for the cash register but bad for any type of routine. It's been that way for the last four days, and though I haven't been able to get in all my meals or stay on any type of regular schedule, I've lost weight. I can feel it. It's all the running around, not having time to think about food.

Hopefully when we get through this week things will smooth out a bit and we'll settle into a workable routine.

In the meantime, it's possible all this has been a blessing as far as my weight loss goes. We'll find out Monday, which is the next time I can hit the scales over at Clemson.

Fighting Through

2009-04-12T21:51:00.002-04:00

Checking in quickly so you know I haven't taken the pipe or anything like that.

Trying to get myself geared back up mentally to hit this thing head on again. Spent some of tonight preparing food for the week. I need to keep good meals with me at all times, because now I have the added pressure of the restaurant - which opens at 11 a.m. Monday.

I will weigh in on Wednesday, assess the damage, and try to move forward.

I keep telling myself things are going to be just fine. I keep waiting for myself to believe it.

Naked Truth

2009-04-05T21:10:00.002-04:00

I'm scared. Mortified, even.

No matter what I tell myself, no matter how much I set my mind, no matter what John or Vernon say, I can't get motivated and get that edge back.

I'm afraid the switch has flipped off, and I can't turn it back on.

It's frustrating. Good day, bad day. Good meal, bad meal. Over and over again.

I've wasted three months, and I'm beginning to think that maybe this is as far as I'm going to get. The train has left the station, and I feel like I'm left standing on the platform.

How the hell does this happen? I wish I knew the answer.

All I know is I feel that wall building around me again.

And that terrifies me.

Consistently Inconsistent

2009-04-01T08:51:00.003-04:00

The scales at Clemson are fixed. I wish they were still broken.

Hit them this morning, and somehow over the past three weeks I've gained back about four pounds or so. Needless to say, I'm not going to get to that 32 pounds by my birthday in two weeks.

But, the only thing to do is to pick myself up and get back after it. As I wrote yesterday, I've got a week's worth of good food prepared, so there's really no excuse moving forward.

For the record I sit at 377 as of this morning, my total pounds lost in 15 months sitting now at 102. Since I peaked out at 112 in December, it's been a constant struggle to maintain the motivation.

But I refuse to give up, even though the thought crosses my mind every single day. I simply can't.

There's too much at stake.

Reappearing

2009-03-31T18:22:00.003-04:00

Hello again.

Sorry for the gap in posts, but after watching people around me drop like flies with cold and/or flu, it finally got me last week.

I'm in the press box at the University of Georgia's Foley Field waiting for the Clemson-Georgia game to get underway, and I'll be trying to call the game tonight with less than full voice. Should be fun.

The diet has been just okay over the past week. But last night my wife and I spent nearly three hours cooking Ultra Fit meals and storing them for the week ahead. So my plan is to bounce back strong now that I'm feeling better.

One thing that troubles me, though, is the continued malfunctioning of the scales at Clemson.

While some people are better off not checking their weight often, I have discovered over the last year plus that I feed off those numbers. When I don't have the access to get them, I tend to wander a bit.

So I'm hoping that tomorrow the scales are fixed and I can get a solid look at where I am. Probably a step or two backward, if I had to guess. But still looking for a strong push toward my birthday.

John DeFendis was in rare form during his appearance on my radio show today. His message was aimed at trying to convince people to take the first step toward better health, but it seemed to strike a chord with me, too.

He also sends these little motivational videos (he's big on Rocky movies), and Vernon keeps pounding us with tips and new ways to prepare food.

All the tools are there. Just have to get that consistency back.

Long, Long Night

2009-03-25T10:47:00.002-04:00

Catching up on things this morning after a long night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Ended up playing a doubleheader because of rain forecast today (and it is raining), so I didn't get home until after 1 a.m.

Finished up the chicken nuggets last night (and no, they're not McDonald's. They're an Ultra Fit recipe).

Did have one quick detour off the straight and narrow, but it was out of necessity. As you know, my wife and I are opening a restaurant and we are toying with the menu possibilities. She brought me a BBQ sandwich we're contemplating serving for me to try, so I did eat that last night as well.

Not on the diet, but chalk it up to research. Flimsy excuse, I know.

Anyway, the scales at Clemson are still on the blink. Hoping I can weigh in tomorrow morning. I feel like I've had two good weeks, but haven't been able to get tangible proof of the results.

But the workouts continue on a regular basis, and I continue to strive for the perfect week on the diet.

To that end, today began with two Ultra Fit style chicken fajitas for breakfast.

Will update the menu as we go forward throughout the afternoon and evening.

Tuesday Menu Continues

2009-03-24T16:58:00.003-04:00

Two more meals in the books today.

1 p.m. - Chicken and broccoli pasta and a salad

4 p.m. - Two more fajitas and a few chicken nuggets.

Rest of the evening will be hit and miss. In the press box for Clemson baseball, and because of rain expected tomorrow they've decided to play a doubleheader today. So, it's 18 innings (at least) on the radio.

Will be munching on chicken nuggets when the opportunity arises.

Tuesday Menu

2009-03-24T11:33:00.003-04:00

Began the day with a 7:30 a.m. workout with Vernon, then headed to the office. My meals today are/have been:

8:30 a.m. - Two Ultra Fit chicken salad sandwiches.

Monday Monday

2009-03-23T08:36:00.004-04:00

Popped over to Clemson to grab a look at the scales this morning, and they're on the fritz.

They are doing the same thing as last Monday - the digital numbers running up and down at a frantic pace and never settling on a final score. So I can't tell you what I've accomplished, if anything, over the last week.

But, in the interest of trying to make the best of it, I've decided on a new twist in the ol' blog:

Beginning today, and for the next few days, I'm going to log everything I eat. Good and bad.

My goal? To have as near a perfect week as I can.

Remember, on the Ultra Fit plan I'm supposed to eat five meals a day - four of them a balance of protien and carbs, and the final meal in the evening without the carbs.

So, the log begins here. I'll actually enter breakfast and lunch, because I know where I'm going today when the show is over and what I'm going to have when I get there:

TUESDAY

Meal #1 (8:30 p.m.) - Two Ultra Fit chicken salad sandwiches on low sodium Ezekiel Bread.

Meal #2 (1 p.m.) - Lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. Plain grilled chicken breast, plain baked potato, unseasoned steamed broccoli and the salad bar.

Meal #3 (4:30 p.m.) - Ultra Fit home-made popcorn chicken.

Meal #4 (8:30 p.m.) - Two Ultra-Fit chicken fajitas and a few leftover chicken nuggets.

Weigh-In Delay

2009-03-18T23:35:00.003-04:00

Couldn't weigh-in today. The training room at Clemson was locked up. The students are on spring break, which probably explains it. But it was open on Monday. So I don't know.

I do know that I had a good week. I'm going to pop over there tomorrow and see if maybe it's open. Regardless, I feel like I've got some good momentum going. My attitude is better than it's been in a long time.

Oh, by the way...Called a no-hitter on Clemson radio tonight. It came two weeks after they missed getting one by one strike vs. Furman.

Got my voice attached to a piece of school history. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

Catching Up

2009-03-13T18:41:00.002-04:00

Talked to Vernon about the last week, and told him that despite the trouble last Saturday I still was showing almost a two-pound loss Tuesday morning.

Did fine with the diet during the day Tuesday. But did drink quite a bit of water late (had a ballgame on the radio...gotta keep the pipes lubricated).

He figured it was probably temporary water retention, something that seemed to make sense once I hopped on the scales Thursday morning for a quick look. So no real frustration here. Just trying to keep everything between the white lines.

Another big challenge coming up next weekend, though. Clemson baseball travels to Tallahassee for a series with Florida State, so I'll be eating on the road for three days.

Preparation is the key. I'll be doing a lot of pre-cooking before we leave next Friday morning.

Anyway, the belated update is below. Thanks for continuing to check in. The support means more than any of you know.

The Scoreboard:

Week 1 - Lost 5
Week 2 - Lost 4
Week 3 - Lost 0

Weigh-In Day

2009-03-11T11:45:00.002-04:00

Checked in with the scales today. I'm exactly where I was last week. The weekend killed me. Will update with more details later.

Issues

2009-03-09T08:31:00.003-04:00

Not sure Wednesday is going to be a very good day. I've had some issues this week.

Most notably on Saturday.

We took off for Lexington, Ga. to visit a BBQ restaurant we read about in a book called Southern Belly. It's a guide to out of the way places around the South, and since Angie and I are opening a BBQ restaurant of our own we've been trying to visit other places when the opportunity arises.

I had anticipated being able to eat chicken while there, and took the necessary sides/condiments to make it happen. Only the place doesn't have chicken. Only BBQ and ribs. So I'm stuck.

Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, we were out so long that we ended up eating again. And I was thoroughly unprepared.

All of which brings up two very strong reminders"

- I still can't be trusted
- I can't allow myself to be put in those positions.

Anyway, had a good day yesterday and plan to close strong today and Tuesday. And if it turns out I get knocked down, I'll get right back up and start again.

No six-week funk this time.

Another Good Week

2009-03-04T08:51:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the week between posts.

As some of you know, my wife and I are in the process of opening a restaurant - a little BBQ place not too far from here. And it's taking up an incredible amount of time.

But my focus remains good. Today was weigh-in day, and the scales show I've lost four more pounds.

That's nine in the last two weeks, continuing toward my short-term goal of losing 32 pounds by my birthday on April 14. And it's back up to 107 total pounds lost.

Nice to have back-to-back weeks in the black again. Gotta keep pushing forward...

The Scoreboard:

Week 1 - Lost 5
Week 2 - Lost 4

Back On Track

2009-02-25T15:47:00.002-05:00

Quick update before first pitch of Clemson-Wofford here at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Weighed in today, and I lost 5 pounds this past week. Was almost close enough to round off to six, but not quite. Still, mentally seeing that crooked number on the right side of the scoreboard means a lot.

The motivation to keep it going has kicked back in.

So, that's five down on my attempt to lose 32 pounds by my birthday on April 14. It also puts me back to 103 total pounds lost.

The New Scoreboard:

Week 1 - Lost 5.

New Momentum?

2009-02-23T20:40:00.002-05:00

Not to jump the gun, but a courtesy look at the scales this morning shows I'm back on the straight and narrow.

It's good to see. I've been working out hard with Vernon, and I'm really enjoying the morning sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. Seems to help get the day kick-started.

Also, last week was the first time I've worked out the scheduled three days per week in about a month. And getting the early sessions is going to keep me from missing in the future because of schedule problems.

I should also mention that my wife has played a huge part in getting me back on track. She has really gone above and beyond of late to go deep into the recipes provided to us, helping me get significantly more variety that the past 2-3 months. It has made a huge difference.

It's nice to be back on the right track.

Remember, the short-term goal is 32 pounds by my birthday on April 14.

Right now, I'm feeling confident I can pull it off.

The Truth Hurts

2009-02-18T08:52:00.002-05:00

Well, hit the scales this morning. The results weren't pretty.

Weighed in at 381 pounds. That means since Christmas I've put on 14 pounds, which shows you just how quickly everything can go to hell in a handbasket. What's that, seven weeks or so?

Scary. And this is after dropping 2-3 pounds since Monday morning.

Oh well, there's nothing I can do about it except get back on the stick. Which I have been for the last two days.

So 381 will be the starting point for our second go-round. My short-term goal this week is to get 4-5 pounds off and get back above the 100-pound lost mark.

I'll begin with a new scorecard next week.

Back At It

2009-02-17T14:56:00.002-05:00

Started the Ultra Fit diet plan at 100 percent dedication again yesterday.

I've also had my first morning workout with Vernon. That was today. Didn't really like getting up earlier than usual, but by the time I was done it seemed to have a positive effect on the rest of my day. Had a lot of energy for my show today, and just seem to be more upbeat.

Don't know how much of that is physical and how much is mental, but I'll take it. Any forward movement is welcome at this point.

I hit the scales in the morning, and I'll be back on my regular Wednesday weigh-ins.

No more ducking and dodging.

Gonna try to meet my mistakes head on and get the momentum rolling in the right direction again.

Getting Back In The Game

2009-02-14T15:47:00.003-05:00

Had a long, long talk with John DeFendis late this week.

Just came out and flat told him what I've been dancing around here for the past few weeks. My motivation is waning. I'm struggling to keep moving forward.

I'm scared to death I'm going to undo all the good I've done and be miserable again.

Fortunately, as much as he likes to talk (and boy, does John like to talk), he's also a good listener. And during our two hours together he anticipated virtually every issue or roadblock I had. He had comforting, reassuring words for everything.

I can't tell you how much better I feel now. In the last six weeks or so I've gained back probably 7-10 pounds. Won't know for sure until Monday. But then I'll be resuming the program full bore, without excuses. My regular weigh-ins will resume on Wednesday.

One of the things we've done, at John's suggestion, is set some short-term goals to go along with my long-term goal - which is to be in great shape by late Jan. 2010 so I can participate in the Cincinnati Reds Fantasy Camp out in Arizona.

But the short-term goals are designed to keep me motivated along the way.

First up?

My birthday is April 14. He wants me to lose at least 32 pounds between now and then.

The game is back on.

Quick Update

2009-02-07T11:45:00.002-05:00

I know it's been a week since I last updated the blog, but I've been trying very hard to keep my nose to the grindstone.

First of all, I've had the best diet week in a month. I know I've lost some of the weight that I put back on, but I still haven't gone to the scales. As I said earlier, I'm trying to focus more on getting the process back on track. If I do that, the results will come.

I've also been back in the gym with Vernon twice after a two-week layoff. That has helped matters immensely, though I would be lying if I said it wasn't hard going back.

Amazing how quickly one can get "fat and lazy" again.

Anyway, I will probably resume weigh-ins this Wednesday. I really want to have a strong finish to the week and see how things shake out.

After weeks of talk, I feel like I'm finally headed in the right direction again.

Strikes and Spares

2009-01-31T11:03:00.002-05:00

If you've never had an issue with your weight it's likely you don't understand the mental ups and downs that come with an effort to drop major pounds.

And to be perfectly honest, I thought that aspect - the mental struggle - was rubbish.

I'd see people on television, or even come across them in public, who spoke with great emotion about the difficulties they were facing; about the feelings of failure that came with even one slip up, and how great was the temptation just to chuck it all and go back to that unhealthy lifestyle for good.

I can't tell you the number of times I wanted to grab one of those people by the collar, shake them violently, and yell "Get over yourself! If you want to lose weight, do it!"

All the while, mind you, I'm ignoring the fact that I'm slowly growing to the size of a small iceberg.

So to say I have a bit of a different perspective now would be something of an understatement. Those of you who have followed this blog for any length of time have seen me go through incredible highs and terrible lows - sometimes within the span of a week.

And many of you at one time or another have wanted to grab me by the neck and give me a good, hard shake.

Trust me. I've wanted to assault myself. And at times I have. There are times that pistol-whipping myself back in line has been effective.

But more often than not it's something smaller, significantly more subtle, that gets the message through my thick skull.

And last night was one of those moments.

Don't ask me how, but last evening my wife and I ended up "glow bowling" with a group of young people from our church. Glow bowling begins at midnight. They kill the house lights, get the disco ball and other such lighting fired up, and basically you bowl as much as you can until 2 a.m.

Flash back to about three years ago, which would be the last time I went bowling.

It was a disaster. We rolled three games, and by time it was done I could barely walk. I had zero stamina, my back and knees were killing me, and I got worse and worse as the day wore on.

It was embarrassing. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe and - worse - for someone who used to be extremely athletic and competitive, I was just awful.

I left the bowling alley that day both in pain and feeling sorry for myself.

So last night I wasn't sure what to expect. Besides the fact that it was so late (we old folks are used to getting in bed well before midnight), I just wasn't sure what that kind of physical activity would do to my body.

I was pleasantly surprised.

There were six of us confined to one lane, so we basically got 2 1/2 games in before the deadline. And I got stronger and better as the late night wore on.

Took me a while to get going. Couldn't find a consistent release point and I was horrible in the first game. But began to find something of a groove as the second game wore on, and ended up rolling a 143 despite the fact that I did get a strike the entire way. But I did pick up the spare in each of the last six frames.

It was during that stretch that I had my mini-epiphany.

It began to dawn on me that I was getting stronger as the frames rolled by. There was no pain, no shortness of breath. None of the things that made my last attempt at the game so horrible.

And best of all, to me anyway, my competitive juices started flowing again. One of the guys with us had blown all of us away in the first game, rolling something like a 170. And he jumped out to a pretty good start in the second game.

But as I hung around that old feeling came back. For the first time in a long time. I began to play mental games with him ("Hey man, don't think about all that open space to the left. You can get that single, lonely pin and pick up the spare"), and sure enough he started to think. And when he did, his game fell apart.

At the same time, mine was getting better and I came from about 30 pins down to beat him with the 143.

In the third game, I had gone 9/spare, 9/spare, 9/spare, 8/spare and 5/spare in the first five frames before we hit the time limit. Eleven straight frames over two games picking up the spare.

Folks, there was a time in my life when I bowled quite a bit. My high game is somewhere in the 190s. I'd never had a stretch like that in my life.

And trust me, the scores are irrelevant. I'm a horrible bowler, and I know it.

But it was the situation. The culmination of events. The fact that while all those young people - ages 17-24 - were wearing down at 2 a.m., I was getting stronger.

Seems like a little thing, but to me it was a bit of positive reinforcement that I've been sorely needing.

This morning I'm feeling better - mentally - than I have in weeks.

All it took was a good shaking.

Basics

2009-01-28T16:57:00.002-05:00

Still here kids. Just taking some time to reorganize myself.

Intentionally stayed away from the scales today. I'm trying to focus more on the process and less on the results.

Over the last month I've slipped back into many of my old habits. I'd be good for a day, then bad for two. Over and over. And I've picked up about seven pounds, as my corrected scorecard detailed a few posts back.

I'm happy to say that I've made better decisions and, hopefully, progress in the last 4-5 days.

I took notice a while back that the diet I started has morphed into something totally different. So, the focus this week is getting back to basics.

What do I say?

One meal at a time, one day at a time.

Gotta quit just saying it and start living it again.

Traveling Man

2009-01-22T22:52:00.002-05:00

Hello from Boston.

About 15 hours on the road today, dad in tow. And actually did very well in the food department.

I've had about three solid days in a row now, which is much better than I had been averaging over the last 3-4 weeks. If I could figure out why I go into these moods, and why I struggle so much with discipline, I'd be a rich man. But I'm sure everyone has the same issues.

I just hate taking steps backwards. And I hate how I feel when I fall off the wagon, even a little.

So, trying to be positive. Trying to be upbeat. Trying to keep things moving in the right direction.

In the morning dad and I are touring Fenway Park. Then it's the Clemson women's game at Boston College tomorrow night. Then on the road again toward home Saturday morning.

What's my mantra? One meal at a time. One day at a time.

Oh, incidentally, I didn't just skip the weigh-in yesterday. I was running late and didn't get to Clemson. Had to go directly to the studio.

We will cover it all next Wednesday.

Hopefully that will be good news.

Mathematical Error

2009-01-20T08:45:00.002-05:00

Math has never been one of my strong suits. This morning I got a stunning reminder of that fact.

Getting on the scales last week something didn't quite seem right, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Somehow the numbers weren't adding up.

So this morning I went back and started tracking previous posts and found the problem. In one of my last posts in December, I put the wrong number down on a weigh-in. It should have read 367, but I put down 377. Which caused me to operate off of that number in ensuing posts.

What does it mean?

Well, for starters it means that not only did I NOT hold serve for the three weeks over the holidays, I actually gained weight. Seven pounds, to be exact.

So the Year Two Scorecard actually should read like this:

Week 1 - Lost 3
Week 2 - No Weigh-In (Traveling)
Week 3 - No Weigh-In (Traveling and Holidays)
Week 4 - Gained 7 (Covers previous two weeks)

Pains me to write that, but facts are facts.

And the facts are that I've spent the better part of a month falling back into my old ways. And it's showing on the scales.

As you might imagine, this morning's revelation has been a smack in the face. However, I think it's a good thing.

It has brought home the fact - perhaps more clearly than ever - that I'm in a daily battle with this thing. And no amount of harping, yelling or supporting by anybody means a damn thing if I don't take care of myself.

I could be overly dramatic and say that I'm at a crossroads, or some nonsense like that.

But the fact is that for the last month I've simply been a slacker. And once the bad habits have crept back in, it's difficult to get back on the straight and narrow.

That's my focus.

That's my goal.

That needs to be my life.

Settling Back In

2009-01-18T15:50:00.003-05:00

Trying to get back into a good groove again on the diet, with mixed results.

Actually, it hasn't been a bad week so far. One or two little hiccups here or there, but nothing overly extravagant. Much better than the previous three weeks, to be sure.

But still not perfect. And while I may never have the perfect week, my mindset should be to strive to come as close as I can. And I feel like I'm getting back to that way of thinking, the way I attacked this thing in the first few weeks after the switch.

The proof will be in the pudding, though. Or rather, in the lack of pudding - and any other type of non-Ultra Fit meal.

My next challenge is coming up later this week.

On Wednesday after my workout I'm leaving for West Virginia. After spending the night with my parents, my dad and I are taking off for Boston for a women's game on Friday.

So, that means trying to eat well on the road again for an extended number of days, something I failed miserably at over the holidays.

But, it's a new opportunity for success. Let's hope I can take advantage of it.

In the meantime, it's going to be good spending the time with my dad. He seems to be getting along pretty well, although he has pretty much stopped his weight loss attempts. He got up to about the 60-pound mark and stalled. He's probably put 10 or so of those pounds back on.

Still, he's in better shape than he was a year ago. And dieting aside, I'm just looking forward to the time together.

Having lived away from home for nearly 20 years now, I don't get these opportunities very often.

I plan to enjoy every minute of it.

Back On The Scales

2009-01-14T08:32:00.003-05:00

Funny what just a few days back on the straight and narrow will do for you.

Hit the scales this morning, resuming my official Wednesday weigh-ins. And despite all the angst and emotion I put myself through the last three weeks, this morning I'm down three more pounds.

That's 115 total, and 58 since joining the Ultra Fit Plan. I've now lost more in 19 weeks on Ultra Fit than I did in just over nine months on my own.

Can't tell you how good it was to see that number this morning.

The Year Two Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 3
Week Two - No Weigh-In (Holidays/Traveling)
Week Three - No Weigh-In (Traveling)
Week Four - Lost 3

Confidence Boost

2009-01-12T08:51:00.002-05:00

Maybe I'm doing better than I thought. Or maybe I'm just lucky.

In spite of myself, I dropped in on the scales over at Clemson this morning. I figured enough was enough. Let's see how much damage I've done in the last three weeks, deal with it, and move on.

Well, it turns out that I weighed exactly as much this morning as I did at my last official weigh-in.

Haven't gained a pound, in spite of eating the way I've been eating since before the New Year.

I fully expected to see a 4-5 pound gain. Instead, I've held serve.

Holding serve isn't good enough anymore, but I'd be lying if I said I was both relieved and encouraged.

So it's possible that by Wednesday I can be down a pound or two. We'll see.

Right now, I'm focusing on getting in a good Ultra Fit lunch and a solid workout today.

Checking In

2009-01-09T17:22:00.002-05:00

I haven't gone away (much to the chagrin of many, I'm sure).

Just taking a break for a while. I didn't weigh in on Wednesday, but I'm happy to say I'm back on the proper nutrition plan.

I've just decided to take a couple of weeks away from the scales. I want to get my mind right again, focusing more on the proper eating habits.

As I'm sure you've noticed, when things go poorly I have a tendency to obsess. One bad meal becomes two. One bad day becomes two. And on and on.

A year-plus into the process I figured I'd have willpower the size of Gibraltar.

Instead, that part of the battle seems to be as tenuous as it was on Day One.

I guess that's why some say fighting a weight problem is akin to an alcohol or drug addiction. John even mentioned it in a reply to my last post. I never really believed that. In fact I thought people who said as much were being overly dramatic.

Shows what I know. Despite cracking triple digits in lost weight, I can't shake the habit of obsessing over each little setback. And with me, the obsession leads to bad decisions. And that leads to weight gain.

So, as mentioned I'm trying to refocus. Not worrying about the number of pounds for a couple of weeks, but paying more attention to the proper food intake and schedule.

It's worked so far. For the most part anyway. The last 2-3 days have been much, much better.

And so it goes. I've written it so often I should have it quick-keyed. But here it is again:

One meal at a time. One day at a time.

Ad infinitum.

Perspective

2009-01-04T16:49:00.002-05:00

If I sat down and made a list of my enemies, I don't know how many there would be.

That's always a dangerous subject anyway, because you really never know who hates your guts. Most folks don't have the cajones to tell you. They hit and run, so to speak.

Anyway, that's not the point.

If I could make a list of my enemies, I may not know how many to write down. But I do know who would be at the very top.

Me.

I am my own worst enemy.

Not in the breaking the diet sense. In the self-inflicted stress sense.

Here's what I mean:

When I started the weight-loss process in late Dec. of 2007, I finally came to the realization that I wasn't in a race. I wasn't going to take off all the necessary pounds in just a matter of months, because it took over 20 years to get to that 479 mark I topped out at.

I finally accepted the fact that it was going to be a long process to get it off, and then a lifetime of work to keep it off.

There have been ups and downs along the way. The good weeks are an incredible high. The bad weeks - some of them anyway - have been terrible lows. But for the most part I've been able to stay on something of an even, albeit unsteady, keel.

So this holiday season comes along, and for the last 10 days or so I've not done well at all. In fact, I'll have gained weight when I hit the scales Wednesday morning for my first weigh-in in two weeks.

And as each slip-up accumulated into this bad stretch, I allowed myself to slip back into the "I'm failing, I'll always be fat" mindset. Spent a good deal of time feeling sorry for myself, to be honest with you.

But no more.

Today, while driving from Clemson to Titusville, Fla. (I have a game to broadcast in Miami tomorrow), I had a long time to mentally hash things out in my head. It was quite the battle, me vs. my psyche.

But about three-quarters of the way through the trip - as corny as this sounds - I felt a sudden peace come over me. And within that peace, I determined that I wasn't going to mentally whip myself anymore.

I'm not in a race. I'm not on anyones time schedule but my own.

Yes, I know John and Vernon want the weight to come off me as quickly as possible. And yes, I know the closer I stick to the Ultra Fit program the better, more rapid success I have.

I also know they both read this blog, and guys, I promise you. I'm there with you. I want the weight off, and I'm going to see the program through, and I'm going to make you proud and be another shining example of your success.

But what I'm not going to do is kick myself all over the East Coast because I've had a bad stretch.

Beginning right now, it goes in the books for what it is. Black and white. Nothing more.

If I take eight more months to get the rest of the weight off instead of six, or even a year, so be it.

What's a couple of extra months compared to the rest of my life?

Now understand, I'm fully intending to get back on the straight and narrow and get this done based on the proven Ultra Fit timetable.

The point of this whole manifesto is simply this:

I'm finished beating up myself mentally over every bad meal or bad day.

If I screw up, I'll acknowledge it, get right back up on the proverbial horse, and take off again.

I keep reminding myself, just like others have reminded me in recent days, that I've done a hell of a lot of good in the first year.

Sometimes those accomplishments get obscured in the heat of the moment. And trust me, I'm still big enough to cast a shadow large enough to obscure pretty much anything.

But not where I've come from, and where I want to go.

Those destinations are more clear than ever today.

More Good, More Bad

2008-12-31T09:57:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the kind of day that drives me crazy.

Got up in the morning and worked out at the gym here. Had three good meals throughout the day. But then ruined it with one bad meal.

That, and dipping into my wife's snacks from time to time...My occasional lapses in discipline the last couple of weeks have been driving me nuts.

I had a friend text me yesterday and tell me to stop obsessing about such lapses. And maybe I should.

But I can see what's happening here. I can sense the same type of attitude that I've had in past failed attempts.

It's the, "I've lost this much. I can do this anytime I want" mentality, something that's plagued me for the past 20-plus years.

I suppose it's symptomatic of the whole issue here. For all the success I've had - and 112 pounds in a year is great success - it's hard not to view the stumbles as failure. I don't struggle with it as often as I have in the past, but it still occasionally gets a grip on me.

And right now I'm in a place and time where it's grip is strong.

All I can do is look at today as being another day. Another opportunity.

After my show I'll hit the gym again, and later take a long walk on the beach.

Maybe the salty air will clear my head.

On The Road Again

2008-12-29T22:08:00.002-05:00

Hello from Jacksonville, home of Thursday's Gator Bowl between Clemson and Nebraska.

Left the house this morning and took the scenic route all the way down, staying completely away from the Interstate. Took an extra couple of hours, but it was worth it. A nice, quiet, peaceful drive.

I used the time to try and work on my frame of mind. Christmas day was not a good one for me, food wise. Party at my sister-in-law's house and I couldn't resist splurging - especially where the fudge and Rice Krispie Treats were concerned.

I've also had a couple of bad meals along the way this week, which makes me thankful I won't be around to weigh in Wednesday.

The good news is I've pulled it together here in the last couple of days, and here at the hotel there's a gym where I can get in a couple of good workouts before we leave. Basically doing the same type of exercises I do with Vernon back home.

Plus, staying at the beach again, I'll be taking a nice stroll or two ocean-side.

Just gotta keep the diet running the way it's supposed to.

Seems this holiday season is much more difficult for me than last year, which is odd. I was just starting a year ago.

Sometimes, I wonder if I'm learning anything at all.

Then I remember yeah - I've lost 112 pounds. I've been doing something right.

Gotta keep that in mind.

10 Up, 10 Down

2008-12-24T16:06:00.005-05:00

Vernon got what he wanted.

I walked out of the Coop's Gym locker room this afternoon at 1:01 p.m., ready for my workout. I paused a bit to meet Billie, one of my listeners and a recent Ultra Fit convert. Got a big hug, which was nice.

Then it was three sets of leg-lifts to warm up. And then...

Ten up, 10 down. A 25-pound weight in each hand.

I was on my way to something else at 1:11 p.m.

And yes, it was hard. But by comparison, I did 10 trips today in about the same amount of time I did seven the previous time. So the progress is continuing to show.

I told Vernon afterwards that way back at the beginning, when we did three trips for the first time, that I'd have bet his salary that I'd never make it to 10 (notice I said his salary. I'm too smart to bet mine).

But I did it, none the worse for wear.

Now...on to the Christmas festivities.

Year Two Begins

2008-12-24T08:50:00.003-05:00

Hello. And welcome to Year Two.

Today is the first weigh-in day of my second year, and after last week's stumble I'm happy to say I'm back on the straight and narrow. I'm down three pounds from last week, which makes up for the two I had gained.

So now I'm officially at 367 - having lost 112 pounds. A total of 55 of those pounds have come off since I joined Ultra Fit.

Also, today is my final workout with Vernon for the year. I'll be traveling next week for Clemson's appearance in the Gator Bowl, and will work out on my own in the hotel gym on Jacksonville Beach.

But today is the day Vernon has been waiting on. From the first day he sent me up the stairs, he's been telling me I'll be doing it 10 times by Christmas.

Well, tomorrow is Christmas. So guess how many times he's sending up and down today?

Maybe I'll be recovered in time to open presents later this evening (we're a Christmas Eve family).

Anyway, beginning a brand new stat sheet for you...

Merry Christmas to all of you. Have a blessed, peaceful holiday.

YEAR TWO
The Scorecard:

Week 1 - Lost 3

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

2008-12-22T21:39:00.003-05:00

I know it's been a while since I've updated, but like many of you I've been doing the Christmas shopping thing.

Thankfully, it appears we're done.

I've also been working hard to get back into the swing of things on the diet, and so far so good. Checked the scales this morning for a post-weekend look-in and I was down a couple of pounds.

So, if form holds, I'll start Year Two on a positive step and - hopefully - start another long streak of consecutive weeks with a loss. Can't think too far down the road, though. Gotta keep reminding myself it's one meal at a time, one day at a time.

Easier said that done, sometimes. But I've gotten through a full year trying to operate that way. And while there have been stumbles, the entire body of work has been successful.

So far.

A year. It's still hard to fathom that I've made it this far.

And while I don't plan to get all weepy or sentimental, it's still somewhat emotional looking back over the previous 52 weeks.

When I started, my biggest fear was failure. And it still is. But now I've got a year's worth of experience to fall back on, and a plan I'm following - Ultra Fit - that has made me feel better than I have in years.

I think back to the small victories, such as walking pain-free around Six Flags, Kings Island and Cedar Point.

I reflect on the stumbles, and how mentally challenging each of them were.

I think of Anthony...Every single day.

It's been a whirlwind 52 weeks. And I know I'm not even halfway there yet.

But if I've learned anything to this point, it's simply that I have the power. The control. I'm the one who decides if I succeed. I'm the one who decides if I fail.

It remains a constant battle. Day after day after day.

The support I get from those of you who take time to post responses or drop emails is invaluable. Please, please keep them coming.

And hang on.

Year Two promises to be crazier than Year One.

One Year Later...

2008-12-17T09:37:00.004-05:00

Well, it finally happened.

After 14 straight weeks of losing weight since joining the Ultra Fit program, I had a slight stumble. In the eight days since I last weighed, I've put on two pounds.

Not the way I wanted to close the first full year of my weight loss effort. But there's nothing I can do to change it. I had a bad week. I let my comittment slip. And I paid the price.

All I can do now is pick myself up and keep moving forward.

I'll have more on the psychology of the whole thing later on. But for now, I've officially reached the end of year No. 1. And as of today, I'm 109 pounds lighter than I was way back last December.

So in the grand scheme of things, obviously I'm ecstatic with the year. I wish I had started Ultra Fit sooner, but trust me.

I plan on making up time in year two.

So here it is. The complete Year One Scoreboard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6
Week 43 - Lost 3
Week 44 - Lost 4
Week 45 - Lost 2
Week 46 - Lost 4
Week 47 - Lost 2
Week 48 - Lost 3
Week 49 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling (Thanksgiving)
Week 50 - Lost 4 (Covers week 49 as well)
Week 51 - Lost 3
Week 52 - GAINED 2
----------------------------
One Year Total - Lost 109

Unhappy Anniversary?

2008-12-15T09:23:00.002-05:00

As I approach weigh-in No. 52, signifying one full year on my weight loss journey, I've not had a good week.

Been a number of reasons for it. I've had a hard time finding certain elements of my diet that I have to have, mostly the specific kind of bread I eat. Three different stores where I buy my supplies were out (and still are).

I've been in a number of situations where I had to eat what was available this week, rather than what I should be eating.

And to be honest, a couple of times my discipline hasn't been good. So it's not just circumstances. I'm to blame as well.

On top of it all, I'm feeling awful today, too bad to go workout. Plus it's cold and rainy. Just a blah kind of day.

But I'm trying to take a positive outlook on it all.

Regardless of what the scale reads on Wednesday it has been a successful year. To have lost 111 pounds (to date) is more than I could have dreamed of when I began this process last December.

So, I regroup and refocus. I rely on Vernon and John to help get me through the dark moods that still pop up from time to time. And we keep plugging away.

In Dec. 2007 I set out with a new determination, stronger than ever before. But with plenty of unknown lying ahead.

Now, a full year later, I've got a track record to draw on and a pretty good idea of what I'm capable of doing.

I just have to strap on the blinders and limit the distractions.

Early Weigh-In

2008-12-09T21:11:00.003-05:00

Just found out I'm not going to be able to get to Clemson in the morning to weigh in, so we'll go with what I saw this morning when I took a sneak peek.

It showed I was down another three pounds. That's 111 overall, 54 in the 14-plus weeks I've been on Ultra Fit. My operating weight is 368 pounds.

Percentage-wise, I was very close to being able to roll the total number over to four this morning, and that might have been the case tomorrow. Still, I'm very happy with the three pounds and anything I might have picked up - or dropped - by the morning will just roll over to next week.

Speaking of next week, that weigh-in will be a cause for celebration. Not so much based on what I may lose between now and then. But because of the significance of the date.

Today was weigh-in No. 51. So next week will complete one full year of weekly trips to the scales.

That means I started my path back to health one year ago this week.

Time flies, doesn't it? When I began the journey, I did so with a dogged determination to finally get it right. But there were no guarantees. To have made it to a year...who really would have guessed?

More on that next week when it becomes official. For now, here's how the first 51 weeks have stacked up.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6
Week 43 - Lost 3
Week 44 - Lost 4
Week 45 - Lost 2
Week 46 - Lost 4
Week 47 - Lost 2
Week 48 - Lost 3
Week 49 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling (Thanksgiving)
Week 50 - Lost 4 (Covers week 49 as well)
Week 51 - Lost 3

Up And Down

2008-12-09T11:57:00.002-05:00

Steps.

That's what Vernon had in store for me.

The second exercise yesterday was up and down the steps carrying the 50 pounds in weights. This time it was seven trips, the most so far.

Vernon says I'll be doing it 10 times by Christmas. We shall see.

But I made it through the seven trips without too much distress. But it really takes it out of you. Holding those 25-pound weights down by your side while you go up and down the stairs really is a full-body workout.

So, we press forward. Weigh-in day is tomorrow. Hoping for a really good week.

Long Weekend

2008-12-07T22:22:00.002-05:00

In broadcasting circles, I had a long weekend.

Six games in four days, including three state championship football games on Saturday at Death Valley. In a row. Outside on the photo deck. In sub-45 degree temperatures.

Made for a natural refrigerator for the food I had to take with me.

Did pretty well, all things considered. There are always temptations around in the press box, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't nibble around here or there.

I'm a lot of things. Perfect ain't one of them.

My spirits have been boosted lately by the number of people who have seen me for the first time in a while and noticed the weight loss. It's amazing how a little thing like that has such a huge effect on the ol' psyche.

Meanwhile, back to the regular grind on Monday.

Wonder what Vernon has in store for me this week?

Back On The Scales

2008-12-03T21:08:00.002-05:00

Weighed in today for the first time in two weeks.

Officially anyway. I got on the scales yesterday, as I reported. And today's look was exactly the same. I'm down four pounds since my weigh-in two weeks ago.

That's an operating weight of 371, and 108 pounds lost. I've dropped 51 of those pounds in 13 weeks on Ultra Fit.

I suppose I'm more relieved than anything at the four pounds. Because, as I mentioned before, I didn't have a great weekend prior to Thanksgiving. So I'll take the four pounds. But I'm certainly not satisfied.

So, that was weigh-in No. 50. Two more to go and I'll have wrapped up a full year.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6
Week 43 - Lost 3
Week 44 - Lost 4
Week 45 - Lost 2
Week 46 - Lost 4
Week 47 - Lost 2
Week 48 - Lost 3
Week 49 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling (Thanksgiving)
Week 50 - Lost 4 (Covers week 49 as well)

Checking In

2008-12-02T14:14:00.003-05:00

Sorry I've been a little slow to update, but things have been a little crazy around here of late with the hiring of a new football coach and all.

Anyway, I stepped on the scales this morning for the first time since my last weigh-in day. One day before next weigh-in time. And I was down four pounds.

So, it looks like not only have I survived the past two weeks and a couple of really bad meals, but I've stayed on course and made more progress. Maybe I'm figuring out this thing after all.

I'm sure the walking helped. I mentioned the two miles I walked on Thanksgiving morning. I did another mile here at home on Sunday afternoon. I'll work out tomorrow for the first time in nine days, and should be able to get back to some semblance of a regular schedule.

It's just good to know that while I'm still not totally disciplined, my self-discipline is improving each and every week.

By the way, when I weigh in tomorrow it will be my 50th official trip to the scales.

Two weeks to go and I'll have been doing this for a year.

Hello From The Hills

2008-11-27T10:51:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving morning at the parents' house in West Virginia.

Many of you have been worried that I was going to have a setback today, or on this trip. And the worry is understandable.

Actually, my biggest issue of late was last weekend. Got caught out twice with large groups of people in the wrong restaurants, and the results weren't good. So I'm glad I didn't get on the scales at all this week. Don't know what I would have seen.

I know what I saw and heard, though. In my mind, that is. It was John DeFendis saying "commitment, commitment, commitment." And it was Vernon sending me up the stairs.

So, as you can see, I still have my moments of weakness. In fact, it remains a daily struggle. Even with the success I've had. I still fight the urge to chuck it all and settle back into that unhealthy lifestyle.

The one that was going to kill me.

Fortunately, my resolve is significantly stronger these days. And those dark moods don't last as long.

It's right at 11 a.m. as I write this. Already today I've had my good Ultra Fit meal and walked two miles. Yeah, I said walked two miles.

I feel good. I'm on track. And today isn't going to be a problem.

It's going to be good week.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Let The Holidays Begin

2008-11-24T22:32:00.002-05:00

Heading to West Virginia for Thanksgiving Tuesday afternoon. Won't be around to weigh in this week.

Probably not a bad idea. I've been obsessing a bit lately, and can use the mental break away from things. Not the diet. I'll be staying on that as strictly as possible.

But it's like one of those dark moods has been lingering, and my motivation has been challenged a bit lately. Odd, really, since I've had 11 straight weeks of weight loss.

What can I say? It's a process.

Getting away from the normal routine for a couple of days might be just what the doctor ordered.

I'll check in from the home front.

Weigh-In Day

2008-11-19T11:36:00.002-05:00

Hit the scales this morning. Down another three pounds.

It was very close - a few ounces, in fact - to rolling over to four pounds. In fact, I was tempted to go ahead and take the four. But I didn't.

So that's 104 total, and 47 since joining Ultra Fit.

Not upset though. I'll take almost four pounds every week. And it will only make next week's take even better.

The Scoreboard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6
Week 43 - Lost 3
Week 44 - Lost 4
Week 45 - Lost 2
Week 46 - Lost 4
Week 47 - Lost 2
Week 48 - Lost 3

Surprising Vernon

2008-11-18T17:11:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, during my workout, Vernon pulled something new on me.

We went through a "cycle" of exercises to start off the day. We did one set of incline squats (15 reps), one set of leg extensions (15 reps) and then up and down the stairs carrying the 25-pound weights. Completing all three exercises comprised one full set.

Vernon wanted me to do five sets.

So, off I went. Squat, extend walk. Squat, extend walk.

Getting tired? You bet. But not so exhaused that I couldn't spring a suprise on ol' Vern.

On the final trip up the stairs at the end of the fifth set I ran. Yep, ran up the stairs carrying the blasted weights.

Finished up breathing only moderately hard.

So for all the mock complaining I do about Vernon and the gym, it's working. The progress is noticeable in the way I feel, the way I move, the way I get around.

I haven't felt this good in years. And there's still much more to be done.

Answering Questions From Readers

2008-11-16T11:15:00.002-05:00

This post is in response to the two comments left on my last entry.

As I've mentioned before, "Ultra Fit" is a fancy name for good old fashioned diet and exercise. No supplements. No "diet food." None of that trash.

As I'm finding out, it's a proven system for getting the weight off quickly - and doing so in a healthy fashion - by combining a good diet with the proper strength training.

Marc, I try to limit my sodium intake to 80mg or less per serving, per meal. So if I have a protien, a carb and a salad, I try to keep each one at 80 mg or less. A total of 150 or less is considered low, but we're going for really low.

Cut out the fat and sugar with it, and the weight comes off.

It's really that simple.

I will admit, eating this way has taken some getting used to. And I'm still not over all my cravings for the other stuff (probably never will be).

But look at the results. I lost 57 pounds in just over nine months doing the low-carb thing. In 8 1/2 weeks on John's system - and with Vernon's guidance - I lost 44.

I can't tell you how much better I feel, and how much easier it is to function. Last night at Greenville High School's football game I found myself running up stairs, for goodness sake (hopefully Vernon quit reading a paragraph or two above...LOL).

Our anonymous contributor is correct. John is doing a great job. Not just with me, but with many, many lives.

I still have a long way to go, somewhere between 120-140 pounds I want to get off.

But my skepticism has been alleviated. If I fail this time, it won't be because of Ultra Fit.

It will be because of me. Again.

And now, maybe for the first time, I just don't see that happening.

Press Box Challenge

2008-11-15T10:07:00.002-05:00

Today is an example of the challenges I face on this "project" of mine.

Because my job has me on the run so much, it's difficult at times to keep ahead of the game where Ultra Fit-quality meals are concerned. It takes much preparation ahead of time to ensure I'm able to eat the right way - and on schedule - but even then there are roadblocks.

Today, for instance, I'm in the press box here at Clemson. Kickoff for the Homecoming game with Duke is 12:10 p.m. I ate before leaving the house this morning, but because the stadium frowns on bringing your own food into the facility, I get stuck trying to make the best of the press meal provided here.

Once I leave for the postgame show I host at Wild Wing Cafe in Greenville it's not so bad, because I can order what I need - chicken prepared with no salt/seasoning, plain baked potato and a salad. In fact, I'll be there so long that I'll do it twice.

But with the meal coming up here in the press box I'll have to make due with baked chicken or a turkey (deli meat) sandwich on wheat bread. Both of which have more sodium that I'm supposed to take in per serving.

The good news is I'll get at least two good meals on top of it before the day ends, which will help matters.

But the challenges remain constant. In January, for instance, in the span of a week I have to drive to Miami, back home, and then back to Tallahassee.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE : For those interested, I hate to fly. I'm chicken. I admit it. Well, let me clarify. It's not the flying that scares me. It's the slamming-into-the-ground-at-a-speed-so-high-your-brains-wind-up-in-your-shoes that terrifies me. I operate under this policy - If I'm driving and the engine bursts into flames, I can pull over and get out. That's not an option at 30,000 feet).

Anyway, I'll be doing all that traveling for Clemson women's basketball broadcasts. And then two weeks later I go to Boston.

Looks like I'll be toting around quite a few grilled chicken sandwiches.

Back On The Scales

2008-11-12T15:55:00.002-05:00

Weighed in today, as I do every Wednesday.

I lost two pounds last week. That puts me at 101 total, and an operating weight of 378. Now 44 of those pounds have been lost since beginning the Ultra Fit system 8 1/2 weeks ago.

Figured I would have lost more than two pounds, but it's still a positive step forward.

With five trips to the scales remaining before I hit the one-year mark, my goal is to get to at least 120 pounds lost by then. Reasonable?

We shall see.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6
Week 43 - Lost 3
Week 44 - Lost 4
Week 45 - Lost 2
Week 46 - Lost 4
Week 47 - Lost 2

Up The Stairs!!!

2008-11-10T16:44:00.002-05:00

I've written in recent weeks about Vernon sending me up the stairs at Coop's Gym in Anderson, a 25-pound weight in each hand.

Seventeen steps. Up and down constituting one trip.

First it was three trips. Then five, which I couldn't make the first time. The second time, I did it but felt like I had been run over by a cement truck. I was shot the rest of the day.

The third time? It was hard, but I got through it without the pain of the previous excursion.

Anyway, it had been more than a week since he had sent me up the stairs, so I had an inkling it was coming today. But I was wrong.

Vernon didn't send me up and down the steps five times.

He sent up and down the steps six times.

Nice of him, eh? But, I have to say, the six trips today were slightly easier than the last time I did five. It was still tough, but it's a sign I'm getting in better and better shape.

And that's the idea.

While I've still got a long way to go, I can't tell you how much better I feel. How much easier it is to walk. I even caught myself in a half-jog going across the parking lot at church the other day, and I haven't done something like that in years.

My energy is getting better, as well.

Just gotta keep moving in the right direction.

Milestone Achieved

2008-11-10T10:28:00.002-05:00

It's Monday morning, and now I can say officially that I've passed the 100 pound mark in weight lost.

It's not the end of the journey by any means. In fact, to reach my goal it's not even the halfway point.

But still, to hit that 100-pound mark is huge. Triple digits.

Never would have believed it was possible.

Now, on to the next 100.

So Close...

2008-11-05T08:52:00.002-05:00

Is it possible to be disappointed with losing four pounds in a week?

Perhaps, if the fifth pound would have given you a grand total of 100.

That's what happened. Hit the scales today and I've lost four pounds. Make me 99 total, bringing my weight down to 380. I've lost 42 pounds in 7 1/2 weeks since joining Ultra Fit.

Of course I'm not disappointed in losing four pounds. But I really wanted that 100-pound mark this week.

The good news is it will come by no later than Friday, and I'll have gotten there with still five weeks to go before my first full year is up.

So yeah, I'm a little bummed that I didn't get there this morning. But still, four pounds a week?

Sign me up.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6
Week 43 - Lost 3
Week 44 - Lost 4
Week 45 - Lost 2
Week 46 - Lost 4

Bearing Down On 100

2008-11-01T17:31:00.002-04:00

When I popped back over to Clemson on Thursday for a post-weigh in look, I had dropped another pound.

It won't officially count until next Wednesday, but in the immediate that made me 96 pounds lighter than when I started this process.

Four more pounds for 100. Four.

Not that I'm stopping there. Far from it. Ideally I need to lose another 120-140 beyond that mark (Vernon says with my body frame and the weight training I'm doing, I will carry a finishing weight of 240-260 very well).

But that 100 pound mark is a big deal for me. I wanted to get it in less than a year. And if I can swing four more by Wednesday, I'll have done it it with six weeks to spare.

So, I'm working hard to stay away from the bad meals this week. And so far, so good.

Getting to that number means a lot to me.

Consequences

2008-10-29T08:38:00.003-04:00

Weigh-in day today. I lost two pounds.

That's 95 total, bringing my weight down to 384. And 38 pounds since joining Ultra Fit.

Another positive step, to be sure. But still disappointing. Throw out my pizza meal over the weekend and it would have been a much better week.

Were I to rationalize, I could say that, well, how many weeks before did I lose zero or gain weight? And that would be accurate.

But it's not good enough anymore. Not since I've seen how this program works.

Discipline, discipline, discipline. Something I'm still working on. Something that has obviously been a problem for me, otherwise I wouldn't be in this shape in the first place.

When I sat down to write this entry, my mindset was - looking ahead - to strive for the "perfect week." But I can't think that far ahead.

One meal at a time. One day at a time.

The Scoreboard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6
Week 43 - Lost 3
Week 44 - Lost 4
Week 45 - Lost 2

Big Mouth

2008-10-27T21:23:00.003-04:00

Honesty may be the best policy, but as it turns out it's also a painful one.

Spent the weekend in West Virginia visiting with my parents while they were having a new roof put on their house. I did very well with my meal plan almost the entire weekend. Made the necessary provisions for eating while on the 5-hour drive up and back, and had the right kind of food at their house while we were there.

I say almost, because I gave in to temptation once. Saturday night. Pizza place. Not a good move.

Food was good. But telling Vernon about it today wasn't.

Just to show me he has a sense of humor - as well as a sense of purpose - once he found out I cheated Vernon promptly got out the two 25-pound weights and sent me to the stairs. Five up and five down.

Payback for the pizza, he said.

And while it was still difficult, it wasn't nearly as hard as it was two weeks ago. So I'm still showing progress.

Vernon just wants more.

And honestly, so do I. I have to quit rationalizing and stick to the plan.

Instead of saying to myself, "Well, I've eaten about one bad meal every week for the last few weeks and I'm still losing 3-4 pounds a week," I've got to make myself stay more focused. If I skip that bad meal, and the occasional picking at other foods I shouldn't eat, that total would be averaging 5-8 pounds per week on this system.

So, I continue to struggle with myself.

But I have a feeling as long as Vernon has anything to do with it, I'll end up getting it right.

Numbers Game

2008-10-23T14:53:00.002-04:00

Today ended the first six weeks of workouts with Vernon at Coop's Gym in Anderson.

As I noted yesterday, I've lost 36 pounds in that six-week time frame since beginning the Ultra Fit system, bringing my total weight loss to 93 pounds. Seven pounds away from 100, with eight weeks to go before I reach the one year point.

Anyway, today Vernon took a new set of measurements to see how many inches I have lost, how much body fat I've removed, etc. The numbers were pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.

At least to me, because it's tangible proof of results - something I don't see every day when I look in the mirror.

Besides the 36 pounds, I've lost 5.3 percent of my body fat in the six week time frame. And I've lost 23.75 total inches across my entire body.

By this weeked I'll have photos to post. Front, side and rear views from six weeks ago to compare with pictures taken today. They aren't pretty, but I will let you see them so you can judge for yourself.

Anyway, here's the breakdown of measurements on various parts of my body. The first number will be from six weeks ago, the second number from today. The measurements are in inches around the area:

Shoulders - 59, 54.5
Chest - 59, 54
Waist - 65, 62
Hips - 60, 57
Biceps (relaxed) - 15.5, 15
Biceps (flexed) - 16.5, 15.75
Upper thigh - 31, 28
Lower thigh - 27.75, 24.5
Calf - 21.5, 20.5

Note that the numbers are all supposed to be getting smaller. The weight training right now is helping burn the fat. The muscle build-up will come later.

It's amazing the difference six weeks has made. But Vernon and John DeFendis deserve most of the credit. Their encouragement and understanding has been invaluable.

Will post the pics as soon as I get them.

Meanwhile, it's off to WV to visit my parents this weekend. It'll be interesting to see what they say.

Continuing To Roll

2008-10-22T08:48:00.002-04:00

Weigh-in day. Another good report.

I'm down four more pounds, which makes 93 total. My weight is now 386. I've lost 36 pounds in less than six weeks since I joined up with John and Vernon.

I like this kind of momentum.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6
Week 43 - Lost 3
Week 44 - Lost 4

Pushing Forward

2008-10-18T11:38:00.003-04:00

Vernon, my trainer, thinks he's funny.

In the course of my workouts, one of the things he has me do on occasion is grab two 25-pound dumbbells and walk up and down a flight of 17 steps. We started with three trips - up and down, up and down, up and down. That nearly killed me.

The next week, he wanted me to do five. He stopped me at three, apparently because my breathing pattern had lapsed into something you might hear at a Lamaze class.

Then last week, without warning, he sprung the five trip thing on me again. Told me he had a "treat" for me, then handed me the weights.

And this time? I made it. Nearly died in the process, but I made it.

So there is progress being made.

Afterwards, Vernon was very encouraging, obviously proud of the strides I'm making. Like a good trainer should be.

But I guess he can't help himself. While I'm lying in a pool of my own bodily fluids, gasping for air, he smiles and says, very quietly:

"By Christmas we'll be doing 10."

"We," he says. Which means I'll be trudging my you-know-what up and down those stairs, lungs on fire, while he stands at the bottom and counts. "We" would mean he's walking with me, carrying one of the weights.

What is this "we" I keep hearing?

In all seriousness, Vernon is the perfect trainer for someone like me. If he were one of those super-intense, over-the-top, muscle-bound screaming idiots that fits the stereotype, he'd have lost me after the first week.

But his quiet intensity, his encouragement, his patience...it's a great fit with my personality, and is the reason I believe I've responded so well.

I also need to apologize to him here. It's Saturday, and I'm in the Clemson press box right before kickoff of the Georgia Tech game.

That means it was a bad meal this morning. But I'll be back on track this afternoon.

And I'm sure "we" will work it off on Monday.

Right Vernon?

Another Positive Week

2008-10-15T08:46:00.002-04:00

Hit the scales for my official weigh-in this morning.

I'm down another three pounds to 390, which brings my total weight loss to 89 - 32 of it since starting the Ultra Fit program just about one month ago.

Had a couple of meals that weren't in line with the plan during the week because I got caught away from home and had to eat what was available. And still, I lost the three pounds. So I'm pretty happy overall.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6
Week 43 - Lost 3

Big Day Today

2008-10-14T14:00:00.003-04:00

Big news today, and I'm talking about besides the Tommy Bowden resignation/firing which had us all in a tizzy for the last 36 hours or so.

Mr. USA John DeFendis and my trainer, Vernon, were in studio today to talk about the fitness/food program I'm on called Ultra Fit. We spent almost a half-hour talking about what they do, how they do it and why they do it.

It was a great deal of information, and more is coming. John is going to do a regular segment with me every Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. from now on regarding health and fitness. You can hear it online at www.wccpfm.com.

And more good news. For those of you in the Anderson/Greenville area or within reasonable driving range, here's a chance for you to get some free gym time and exposure to what Ultra Fit has to offer.

John has given me:

- A one-year gym membership
- A six-month membership
- Three three-month memberships
- And several one-time free sessions with a personal trainer.

If you want to try and get one of those - and you should - then sit down and email me your story. What challenges are you facing from a weight/fitness standpoint? Where have you been? Where do you want to go?

Tell me about it, and then John, Vernon and I will be picking the winners.

Get it to my be Friday of this week (Oct. 17), and we'll notify the winners early next week.

My email address is dan@wccpfm.com. And please, email your stories rather than leave them in the comment section of the blog.

Thanks, and tomorrow is weigh-in day. Here's hoping for a strong finish to the week.

Sunday Morning Musings

2008-10-12T10:24:00.003-04:00

Just a few thoughts this morning before heading off to church.

More and more people are telling me they are seeing a big difference in my appearance. I still have a hard time seeing it physically, but I have noticed it in other ways. Shirts that were tight are now loose. My belt has tightened several notches.

And the other morning when I put on a jacket I hadn't worn since last fall, it came down about three inches below my belt line. Previously, it didn't quite reach my belt line.

So it's those little things that I see.

And those things, along with the comments I'm getting from those who are noticing the change, is another form of the motivation I wrote about last entry.
------------------
One other note. Next week John DeFendis will be on my show to begin a regular segment on health and fitness.

John is, as I've told you before, the 1988 Mr. America and the man who designed the program - Ultra Fit - that I began about a month ago. And it's on this program that my progress has accelerated at a fantastic pace.

I'll post the date/time when we get it nailed down.

But for those of you who have been asking about the program, the man with all the answers is coming to Cruise Control.

Motivation

2008-10-09T08:23:00.002-04:00

As the new program takes hold and the weight loss increases, I've been thinking a lot of late about motivation.

Why am I doing what I'm doing? How and why do I keep going? Why have I made it this far, far beyond any other attempt to lose weight in my life?

The reasons are many.

First, without a doubt, is my family. I've touched on this in the past, but it remains true. I want to be around for my daughters. I want to grow old with my wife. I want my kids to see something they've never seen - a father who is in shape and active and can do things that I simply haven't been able to do for much, if not all, of their lives.

Then there's the personal motivation. I miss being able to play sports. I hate the way I've felt for most of the last 20 years. I'm tired of the back pain, the shortness of breath. From a health standpoint, I'm tired of being a walking time bomb.

And lately there's been an even darker motivation.

Not a day goes by that I don't have a mental image of Anthony Bell. And it's not the smiling, happy, pat-on-the-back Anthony I want to remember. The Anthony everyone loved, and still loves.

No. The mental image I get is of Anthony lying in that oversized casket, draped with a Clemson Tiger flag. Arms by his side instead of crossed over his chest. Clutching an orange flower.

Gone.

I can't begin to describe the impact that's had on me. And any time I find myself wavering, or if the weights at Coops are getting too heavy and I want to quit, that image of Anthony is usually what comes to mind.

Folks, there's motivation. And then there's motivation.

Anthony ultimately lost his battle.

I'd like to think he'd be proud of me for continuing the fight.

More Progress

2008-10-08T08:46:00.002-04:00

Weigh-In today. Another pound gone since Monday, making six for the week.

So that's 86 total, and my weight is now 393.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2
Week 42 - Lost 6

Quick Update

2008-10-06T08:52:00.002-04:00

It's not my official weigh-in day, but I always look at the scales on Monday to judge how things went over the weekend.

This morning I'm down five more pounds. That's a weight of 394, for a total of 85 pounds gone.

Fifteen pounds away from 100.

Gotta run because it's almost time for my show to begin, but I've been thinking a lot on motivation of late. And I'll have something along those lines for you before too long.

And as always, keep the comments and emails coming.

First Real Milestone

2008-10-01T08:45:00.003-04:00

When I started this blog back in December, at the beginning of my journey, I didn't tell you or anyone else my starting weight.

I said I would after a while, and had a couple of possible milestones in mind as the right time to do so. Well, I hit one of them this morning, and now is the right time.

As I expected, I had lost two pounds when I hit the scales this morning. I'm over my setback, and things are rolling again. Thankfully.

And if you've been keeping count, the two pounds lost means I've ditched a total of 80 pounds as of this morning. Why is that significant?

The 80th pound is the one that dropped me under 400 for the first time in almost a decade.

So do the math. The sad but true fact is that when I started this whole thing over nine months ago I topped out at 479 pounds. That's after graduating high school at 195 pounds in 1985.

Some had made a habit of openly guessing my weight on message boards. Well, now you don't have to guess.

As of today, it's 399 pounds.

And falling.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7
Week 41 - Lost 2

Whoops!

2008-09-30T08:41:00.003-04:00

Had my first setback in the new program.

It was really minor, but as I've found out even a small misstep can cause a slowdown in the weight loss.

Back to back days this week I got caught out, having to eat food I hadn't prepared for myself. And on the one hand, I did really well. Baked chicken, plain potato, green beans, salad, and whole wheat bread. Both days.

Sounds healthy, but because of the amount of sodium used in preparation of the foods, it caused a slowdown in my system. So, after 21 pounds in two weeks, I'm likely only going to be down a couple of pounds by weigh-in time tomorrow morning.

Still, it was a valuable lesson. And when I talked to Vernon about it at Monday's workout he told me not to get discouraged. Getting back on track will have me down another five pounds or so by the weekend.

And I'm not discouraged. More ticked off at myself than anything. And I am back on track, so we'll see how it goes.

And really, even if it is just two pounds, that's two pounds more I'll never see again.

As long as you're moving forward, you're not falling back.

Upping The Ante

2008-09-25T22:02:00.005-04:00

Today was the second of my back-to-back workout days with Vernon.

I do three days a week - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Each session lasts an hour.

Though I haven't actually gathered an accurate count, we generally do 9-10 different exercises each day. Seems to be blocks of threes, each block focusing on a different part of the body. It doesn't always work this way, but through three weeks of sessions that appears to be about normal.

For instance, today we worked on thighs, hamstrings and biceps. Three different exercises for each one, all at varying weights.

Yesterday it was chest, shoulders and triceps.

Apparently what's happening is I'm burning fat by building lean muscle. That, along with the eating program, has led to losing over 20 pounds in the first two weeks.

But it hasn't come without a price. Two of the three workouts Vernon put me through this week were tough (of course, when you've spent the better part of 23 years sitting on your whazoo, any kind of exercise it tough).

However, Vernon says my stamina is getting better, and that he's intentionally ramping up the intensity of the workouts. Bit by bit.

So literally, what doesn't kill me is going to make me stronger. At least that's the understanding I have.

The thing I like so far about Vernon - well, one of many things - but in this particular case is his soft but stern manner. He has a way of motivating without getting in your face and screaming at you. At least to this point.

What's surprising is that I haven't yelled at him yet...LOL. But seriously, I'm trying my best to take it all in stride and keep working as hard as I can.

Because make no mistake. I still hate going to the gym. But I've already seen the benefits of working with Vernon, so there's no way I'm going to quit now.

And maybe, just maybe, someday the gym and I will come to an uneasy truce.

Another Great Week

2008-09-24T08:38:00.003-04:00

Hit the scales again this morning.

Down another 7 pounds total. That's 78 overall since the third week of December.

Talk about positive motivation and reinforcement. This is the kind of thing that makes Vernon kicking my butt worth it.

One meal, one workout, one day at a time. Gotta keep that mindset.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10
Week 40 - Lost 7

Weekend Wrapup

2008-09-22T08:58:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the delay in updating, but it was a crazy weekend.

Weigh-in day isn't until Wednesday, but I took my usual trip to the scales this morning to see how I fared over the weekend.

I've lost another five pounds, which brings my total to 76. And still two days to go.

The meal plan is getting a bit easier, too. But I had trouble lifting my arms because of the soreness in my shoulders after last Thursday's workout.

Feeling better now. But I'm back in the gym today.

Can't wait to see what happens next.

Wednesday Follow-Up

2008-09-17T20:36:00.002-04:00

Worked out with Vernon again today. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

He turned the heat up on me just a bit, but it was good. I'm exhausted tonight, but it's a good kind of tired. It's been a while since I had that feeling.

This whole process continues to be a psychological study-in-waiting. Moods up and down. Motivation up and down. If there's an emotion out there, I've had it.

And yet you step on the scales today, as I did, and see that great number...Well, it makes it all worth while.

We can only hope I feel the same way after tomorrow.

Because while Vernon may not be out to kill me (he reads this...Hello Vernon), he apparently won't be shy about inflicting pain on my bloated body.

But it's a good pain. Right Vernon?

Weigh-In Day

2008-09-17T09:53:00.002-04:00

Okay. First time on the scales (officially) in two weeks. Been on my new program for a week.

And the results? I've now lost 71 pounds.

That's down 10 from the last posted weigh-in. But really in that ensuing week I had gained back four pounds. So in the last week I've lost 14 pounds.

But it goes in the official book this week as losing 10.

The new program is off to a good start. And note the line to indicate the beginning of the program.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 38 - No Weigh-In. New Program
Week 39 - Lost 10

Headed In The Right Direction

2008-09-15T14:56:00.002-04:00

Just got back from my workout with Vernon at the gym.

Today was a bit more difficult because we worked chest, shoulders and triceps. And as I intimated in a previous post, upper body strength is not my strong suit. Except for my right arm.

I should be somewhat embarrassed about my lack of strength, but then what do I expect? When you do your curls 12 ounces at a time, as I did for a long time, or do the fork lift too often you're going to end up a little weak. Throw in an almost fanatical lack of exercise, and you have the finished product I was displaying until last December.

But things are looking up. The food plan is working, though the adjustment has been a bit difficult. Still, I took a cursory look at the scales this morning for the first time in almost two weeks and the results were fairly startling.

I'll save the numbers for Wednesday, but it would appear I'm off to a running start.

Just gotta keep moving forward. One day, one meal, one session at a time.

That's what I keep telling myself.

One Day Down

2008-09-13T11:39:00.003-04:00

Had my first full workout with Vernon, my personal trainer, on Friday.

It went surprisingly well. Although, as I write this (Saturday, almost noon, from the football press box at Clemson) I know I'll be very sore tomorrow. The second day is always the worst.

I say it went well. I haven't really decided if I did okay or if Vernon is waiting a few days before he tries to kill me.

I suppose we'll know soon enough. All I know is that on Wednesday he put me through a quick 20-minute workout to gauge my strength (or lack of it) so he would know how much weight to start off with on each exercise.

Yesterday, my shoulder joints were so sore I could barely lift my arms. But I did.

Vernon also has discovered an interesting phenomenon that I knew would be an issue. What strength I do have is very right-handed.

Comes from never lifting any kind of weights, and at the same time all those years of playing and coaching baseball. My right arm is more developed - such as it is - than my left arm. So when I'm lifting weights during these drills, I have to make a conscience effort to keep my left arm from lagging behind.

Vernon says it won't take long for it to catch up. Vernon is a big man. I believe what he says.

My regular workout schedule is an hour three times a week - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

With just a shade more than three months left before I reach the year mark in this effort of mine, it will be interesting to see:

1. - How faithful I can stay to this deal. And,

2 - How successful it will be.

As always, stay tuned.

Starting Over

2008-09-11T21:45:00.004-04:00

Completed my first day on my new meal plan today.

Starting over ain't all it's cracked up to be.

Probably because I wasn't as faithful as I should have been, and also probably because a low-carb diet fits my love of things like steak, burgers, chicken, etc., today was a rough one. Pacing the floor rough, if you know what I mean.

This plan is low fat, no salt, no sugar - unless it's in the carbs I'm allowed to eat. They include baked potato, rice, pasta, oatmeal. I can eat green veggies. And for meats I can have chicken and turkey breast, london broil, 96 percent fat free ground beef, and tuna. I could eat more fish, but I don't like fish.

The carbs and protiens are portioned out over four meals a day. I can eat green veggies in every meal.

As for fruit, I can have strawberries and cantalope as a between-meal snack whenever I want. Apples, watermelon, oranges, etc. I can only have one of each every 2-3 days.

I drink water, unsweetened tea, crystal light and the occasional diet sprite or diet 7-up.

And I work with a trainer three days a week. Tomorrow is the first full workout day.

Should be fun, eh?

Meeting With Mr. America

2008-09-08T19:02:00.002-04:00

Had my meeting today with a guy named John DeFendis.

Turns out he was only Mr. USA in 1988 and considered a legend in the bodybuilding industry.

His list of accomplishments are too many to fill this page. His list of clients, the famous and the ordinary, too long to recite. His television appearances too numerous to watch in a short period of time.

And he is volunteering to help me.

John and I exchanged emails way back in the early stages of this whole deal, but at the time I told him that I wanted - needed, really - to do it on my own. I needed to prove to myself that I could start something like this and stay with it long-term. I needed to find the motivation to finally put the failures behind me and do something about my ridiculous weight gain over the last 22 years.

Now, however, roughly nine months into it, it's time for help.

As I've said recently, I am in unchartered territory here. I have kept at this program longer than any other. And though the last couple of months have been sketchy, by and large it's been a success.

But ultimately I'm not going to maintain long-term weight loss on a low-carb diet. And we all know that exercise - which I have shunned with a passion - is essential to getting all the excess weight off and then keeping it off.

So, Wednesday I go meet with one of John's trainers in Anderson. We lay down a meal plan. He begins training me 3-4 times per week. And, if all goes well, my goal to be half the man I was in December gets catapulted into a whole new stratosphere (I reason that if I'm twice the man I used to be, as I tell people, don't I want to become half the man I already am? Chew on that one for a while).

In any event, for the next couple of weeks I won't be posting weigh-in totals. It will take that long for my body to get acclimated to the switch in diets. But when I do start posting again, it will take into consideration the weeks I skipped.

I will also be drawing line - literally - separating Week 37 from Week 38 and below, signalling the start of this new phase of my program.

As much as I hate the idea of the gym, I'm actually excited about this. Talking with John and Vernon - his top trainer - today, I got the feeling I was important to them. That I mattered.

And most importantly that I'm not going to be taken advantage of by either of them.

In the grand scheme of things, you can't ask for any more than that.

I will keep blogging during the next two weeks. So keep reading.

And keeping offering up the comments and emails of support. I need all of them I can get.

A Little Help From A Friend?

2008-09-06T18:28:00.003-04:00

Hadn't intended on posting so infrequently this week.

But the schedule changes due to the fear of bad weather kind of threw everything into a frenzy. Plus my brother and his wife are in town.

And my youngest daughter broke her ankle earlier today at fall softball practice. Got called out of the press box at Clemson for that one. Nothing like spending a college football Saturday in the emergency room.

Thankfully she's okay, and remains in pretty good spirits.

Anyway, I mentioned in a previous post or two that I may have some help on the way. Well, Monday afternoon I meet with a professional trainer to see what we can come up with.

If all goes well, I'll be hitting the gym soon.

God help me.

Better Than Expected

2008-09-03T08:42:00.003-04:00

Just got to the office after weighing in this morning.

I was down three pounds this week, after being up four pounds on my bye week. I still have to think that the gain the previous week was due to finally being completely over the stomach virus. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

So anyway, I sit at 61 pounds lost. And maybe - just maybe - I've got some momentum heading in the right direction.

And as I'm writing this. I just got a phone call. Help may be on the way.

One other note. As of today, I'm 15 weeks away from doing this for a full year. Needless to say this is uncharted territory for me.

In any event, here's The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5
Week 36 - GAINED 4
Week 37 - Lost 3

Back In The Saddle

2008-09-02T20:23:00.002-04:00

I'm back.

Tomorrow I'll hit the scales again and see where we are. I expect to be up 2-3 pounds, because even though I didn't post a weigh-in last week I did hop on the scales. And I was up a bit, even after what I considered to be a strong week. What I figured was that my body finally bounced all the way back from the stomach virus.

In any event, I would like to tell you that there's been some big revelation this past week. That I found the Holy Grail. That the motivation I've been lacking suddenly came to me in a moment of devine intervention.

I'd like to tell you all that. But the reality is that I'm no more mentally stable than I was last week when I signed off.

And I guess that's to be expected as I try to get over this latest hurdle. I've been bouncing around between 57-62 pounds gone now for about two months, and can't seem to move forward.

The temptations are harder to ignore. The motivation is waning. The fight is getting harder and harder.

So, I've started looking for help. There may be something on the horizon. I'm not sure yet.

But as soon as I know, you will.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Bye Week

2008-08-28T10:47:00.001-04:00

I'm considering this a bye week. Schedule just picked up dramatically. Situation with Anthony. Mentally I just needed a break. Weigh-ins will resume next week.

Sad Evening

2008-08-26T19:10:00.002-04:00

Just got back from the funeral home in Liberty.

Anthony's family was receiving friends tonight. The funeral is tomorrow and I won't be able to go because of work, so I wanted to make sure I saw him this evening.

It was a difficult thing, as you might imagine. But I did get to meet Anthony's sister, Pam, and several other members of his family. And I'm pleased to report that there was a huge crowd there, people coming in and out the entire time.

Goes to show how well loved he was.

But it goes to one of my fundamental pet peeves. Often we don't show how much we care or appreciate someone until after they're gone. And then it's too late. At least for the deceased.

That idea - honoring and appreciating someone while they're still alive to enjoy it - is the genesis of a plan we're going to implement at Upstate Challenger Sports. If all goes according to plan, early next year we're going to pick out someone to honor and throw a massive dinner for them. Guest speaker. The whole works.

That's in the future, though. Unfortuantely, Anthony's future was cut short. But his memory lives on.

And as much as I hate funeral homes (another story for another time), I'm glad I went tonight.

Rest in peace, Anthony.

In Memory of Anthony Bell

2008-08-24T22:46:00.005-04:00

I just got off the phone with a guy named Joel Aiken.

Joel and his best friend, Anthony Bell, have both been fans of the station - and my show - for years. I've gotten to know both extremely well, and consider both friends.

Joel called to inform me that Anthony's family found him dead in his bed about three hours ago. Apparently he had been gone for some time, maybe as long as 12 hours before his body was discovered.

Body was discovered. Sounds so impersonal. So news-ish. Such an unfit ending for a young man who loved God, loved his family, and loved his Clemson Tigers.

For someone who was trying desperately to save his own life, Anthony deserved a better fate.

You see, Anthony and I are - or were - in a similar battle. A battle with obesity. But as big as I am, Anthony was - and I'm guessing here - probably 300 pounds heavier than me.

He and Joel were an odd couple. But a fun-loving odd couple.

Anthony and his beat up old van, lugging both Joel and himself around town. Be it to practice or to one of my show lunch stops. Here they'd come. Anthony always looking out for his little buddy Joel, who would either be on crutches or negotiating his way around in a wheelchair.

There were numerous times in the past three or four years that Anthony and I had talked at length about our weight issues. Everything from where to buy clothing that would fit, to trying to find the motivation to lose weight and get back part of our lives.

Ultimately we both found the motivation. But we chose different paths.

Whereas I began my current program in December, Anthony chose to have gastric bypass surgery. It was a long, excruciating decision for him I know. But ultimately he decided it was the best path for him to take.

He had the surgery in April, and when he last weighed in just a week or so ago Anthony had lost over 150 pounds. He'd had some minor complications, Joel told me. Things like dehydration and ulcers.

But the doctors apparently attributed it to the stress he was under not from the surgery, but from the constant vigil he held over his terminally ill father.

Anthony lost his father less than a month ago. The last conversation I had with him was that day, when he called to tell me his dad had passed away. We talked for probably 20-25 minutes, and at the end Anthony kept telling me how much he loved me, as only a Christian man could.

I told him that his dad wasn't suffering anymore, and that he had lived long enough to see Anthony take the step to extend his own life.

Whether that step - the surgery - was ultimately responsible for his death won't be known for a few days. An autopsy is scheduled before the funeral takes place.

Gastric bypass surgery is dangerous. It has a mortality rate with it. And it's because of those risks that I chose not to have it.

Again, I don't know what killed Anthony. I don't know if there were surgical complications that went undetected. I don't know if he lost too much weight too quickly and his heart couldn't take it.

I don't know if it was just his time. Time for him to be with his dad.

What I do know is that as I sit here writing this, it's hard to imagine that he's really gone. And, as you might imagine, it really hits home.

We shared a love of sports. We shared a love of radio, albeit from different sides of the business. And we shared a battle that some of you know well, but many of you never will.

And now he's gone. And I'm still here.

And I can't help but wonder why.

Anthony was a preacher, a singer, a foundation and a fan. An uncomplicated man, his loves were simple, and they were pure.

I can only hope he went peacefully. I can only pray he's at peace.

Keep his family in your prayers. Joel too. Joel likely will have to preach his best friend's funeral this week.

And on a much less important note, keep me in your thoughts and prayers, too.

This one hurts. And it's going to take some time to get over.

Smack Me, Please

2008-08-20T22:03:00.003-04:00

This is the kind of stupid thing I do.

I had a great weigh-in today. Back-to-back weeks with a loss for the first time in ages. I follow that up with a good day, food-wise. No overeating. Staying within my limits. Drinking the requisite lake full of water.

Then my wife comes home from church, carrying a pizza. Left over from the youth meeting tonight.

Initially, no problem. Just grab the top off one piece and leave the crust alone. Pepperoni and cheese. Fits into my low carb diet, and a nice little diversion from the norm.

Twenty minutes later, I ate a whole piece. Crust and all.

Now, an hour afterwards, I'm beating myself up over succumbing to the temptation.

Understand, one piece of pizza in the course of the week will mean little in the grand scheme of things. But it's that kind of action - that weakness - that has haunted me throughout the last couple of months.

And, really, for the last 22 years or so.

A piece of pizza here, something else there. No problem, I say. I've got it under control.

Next thing you know, BOOM.

Weight gain.

This is my quandry in a nutshell. Constant, daily small battles wrapped inside this huge war I'm fighting.

Welcome to my world, boys and girls. Keep your hands and feet inside the car.

Positive Momentum

2008-08-20T14:12:00.002-04:00

Been a couple of months since this has happened.

'Bout time. Now at 62 total.

The Scorecard:

Week One - Lost 9
Week Two - Lost 3
Week Three - Lost 3
Week Four - Lost 0
Week Five - Lost 9
Week Six - Lost 5
Week Seven - GAINED 2
Week Eight - Lost 0
Week Nine - Lost 5
Week 10 - Lost 1
Week 11 - Lost 3
Week 12 - Lost 0
Week 13 - Lost 7
Week 14 - Lost 1
Week 15 - GAINED 3
Week 16 - Lost 5
Week 17 - GAINED 3
Week 18 - Lost 4
Week 19 - Lost 3
Week 20 - Lost 0
Week 21 - Lost 6
Week 22 - No Weigh-In Due To Traveling
Week 23 - Lost 1 (Covers Week 22 as well)
Week 24 - No Weigh-In Due to Schedule Change
Week 25 - Lost 0 (Covers Week 24 as well)
Week 26 - Lost 1
Week 27 - Results thrown out due to scale malfunction
Week 28 - GAINED 1
Week 29 - No Weigh-In Due To Vacation
Week 30 - GAINED 1 (Covers Week 29 as well)
Week 31 - GAINED 2
Week 32 - Lost 6
Week 33 - GAINED 7
Week 34 - Lost 2
Week 35 - Lost 5

Post-Virus Update

2008-08-18T20:41:00.007-04:00

I popped over to Clemson this morning for my usual post-weekend gander at the scales.

No numbers here, because my official weigh-in day isn't until Wednesday, but I was down a fairly dramatic number. For me anyway.

I've had a very good week so far. And then there was the virus that wiped me out for 24 hours beginning last Wednesday afternoon. In fact, I can't help but wonder if I'm still showing some of the effects of that whole ordeal.

While in the past my weight would come back within a day or so after such an episode, it doesn't appear to be happening this time. At least through this morning. And up until yesterday I was still having a little grab in my calves from time to time, as if they wanted to cramp up on me.

Well, we'll know for sure Wednesday morning.

I just want another week with a loss. It's been a while since I posted back-to-back winning weeks.

By the way, those of you who started this with me back in December, where are you?

Talk to me.