Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Weight, No I Meant Wait...Yes Weight

One of my cyber running buds, Michelle, wrote on her blog about a weight issue and in writing a post to her it made me realize that maybe it's time to admit that I'm struggling, not so much with the running, well ok yes there too, but more so with my weight issues.

On August 5, 2006 I tipped the Weight Watcher scales at a mighty 246 and I could feel all the extra weight. According to WW calculations I should be no more than 179, a whopping 67 pounds away. Bonnie and I started going to meetings again and journalling our food and along with that, watching portion sizes again. We had both joined WW back in April of 2002 and I lost down to 191 then, only to gain it all back and more.

At my surgery in 2005 my weight then was around 225 I think, and by the time I left the hospital I was down to 212 or so. But you can see I didn't keep it off. Being the intelligent person I can sometimes be, I knew I had to make some changes in my life...thus our walking back into WW in August of last year....well since that time, Bonnie has re-attained her Lifetime weight level with WW...again....and I'm still struggling.

Since the beginning of the year when I started to run seriously....almost 300 miles ago....I've managed to "maintain" my weight in a 211-219 range. However, I'm not journalling as consistently as I should, I'm also not watching portions as much as I should...more or less eyeballing things...all the time...instead of just some of the time...I do try to eat better foods...that is some of the reason I've not allowed myself to launch back over 220 again.

I've found myself using running as an excuse...needing to carb up for the HM that I ran in April and such...but I'm not officially training for anything now...and I need to be losing more of the pounds.....I'm hoping that admitting this issue to all of you and anyone else that stumbles onto my blog will help me to kickstart things once again and get back into that groove of losing 1-2 pounds per week.

I want to do it...I know I can do it...I so want to see what it feels like to be in that 170-175 range again and I don't think it is out of reach....

Here is a photo of what Bonnie and I looked like last summer about a month before we started the weight loss journey again....this was taken during our summer vacation...a day or two before I took the photo of her with Richard Thomas...

Bonnie is the one in the blue shirt and long pants...she didn't run with us...this was last Saturday....she's at her goal weight, minus a few pounds, thus a Lifetime member of WW again...oh and that's me standing next to her...looking like the Heinz Mustard bottle.

So you can see I've got a ways to go yet.....I so want to be at or near 179 by the time I run the HM in Durango, CO in October. I know I can do it....I know I can....and I want to see how my times improve by not having to carry that extra 30+ pounds down the road.....


Let this be a warning to those pounds...they are going to be melting away......there will be a new image to be seen in the months to come.....stay tuned.....

12 comments:

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Mendy said...

Randy, I can relate so much, with all that you said. I'm on WW online, and have been doing ok with it, but not great. I am, also not in training right now - but will be in about 3 wks, and I wanted to (during my break from the half in Feb til marathon training) loose 20 lbs. Well, I've lost about 8. I wasn't totally committed in my mind until last month. Oh well... So, I'm using my blog as an accountability, and have it even posted for everyone to see my goal, and the lost weight. Plus, running to loose weight can work, but, training and loosing weight is difficult. So, I've got to put my mind to IT. So can you!!!

BTW, Bonnie and you look wonderful!!! You can definitely tell a difference in those pics.

TX Runner Mom said...

I can completely relate. I became a WW lifetime member back in 1999. I kept the weight off until 2004, when I let it creep up about 7 lbs over my goal weight. Then I got preggo. I've gotten back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but I've been struggling for 2 years to get that extra 7 lbs off..which has now turned into 9 lbs. I think we both know what to do...it's just a matter of doing it. Maybe we can re-commit and hold each other accountable. And congrats to Bonnie for just getting it done...she looks fantastic! (You look great too, by the way. So don't blow off the fact that you've made some progress too.)

Marcy said...

Randy I've gotta say you've come a LONG way from those before and after pics. I know you aren't were you want to be right now, but you've done GREAT!! I totally understand the whole struggling with losing weight. I had been dieting for 2 out of the past 3 years, trying to get off all those pregnancy pounds I tacked on so easily. You will get to where you need to be!! Just keep plugging away! It's not an all or nothing thing. Everyone has down times but as long as you keep picking it back (as you're doing now) up you'll get there!!

Gotta Run..... said...

Weightloss can be so tough. I once weighed about 40 plus pounds more than I do now. It was very hard to drop the pounds and I never want to feel as sluggish as I once did ever again.

Now I am at a great weight for me and I live by these words... Junk In Is Junk Out. Sure I have treats at times but if I eat bad than why would I think that my next run or workout would feel good.

Watch what types of foods you eat but mainly the portion of the foods that you eat. Your body can only store so much. Anything more than that is just stored as fat. Nobody wants that!!

With being in WW you have the tools you need and more. Jump into it and it will pay off.

teacherwoman said...

Randy,

I don't know a lot about losing weight, as I say I would like to lose some pounds, but don't work as hard at it as I should.

It is a lifestyle change. That is for sure. All I can do is inform you of a wonderful resource. Currently, I am reading a book called "Fast Track" by Suzy Favor Hamilton. Great book. It talks about the good foods to eat, for runners that is. Plus, it talks about food you shouldn't always eat, but can eat everyonce and a while. She also talks about how runners constantly think that they should load up with carbs, when it is not necessary. Protein, protein, protein! Check into it. You might learn something new!

I could never do WW... too much to keep track of...

J~Mom said...

Randy! First of all you have come so far already!! You should be proud of what you have done. Yes, we all have a path ahead of us but the important thing is that we WILL get there. We have to believe it.

I do weight watchers Core. I try to make sure that I have plenty of core food in the house. I recommend it if you haven't tried it. It's hard to stay on for long periods of time but maybe give it a try if you haven't already. I can't stand measuring and journaling and the core plan is how I have escaped it. Now I know many of the core foods by heart and go to them when I really need to eat.

Right now I am doing a combo of calorie counting and core eating. During the day I pretty much eat small 300 cal. meals/snacks. Then I try to eat a reasonable dinner and any snacks after dinner have to be core foods. Usually it's carrot sticks but sometimes cereal or something like that.

I didn't lose any weight at all while actively training for the half this last go around. My last four pounds have come off using the above dieting and increasing my exercise to five days a week.

The other thing I recommend is to check your fluids. I really only drink coffee and water. I drink tons of water. Make sure you are getting in your water each day. Every now and then I have fruit juice but I count that as a snack. Oh and a skim milk latte now and then. ;>)

I had a terrible weekend this past weekend and ate at every social event we went to. Bad me!! So now this week I am starting over. :<(

We can do it!!! Let's work to get it done!!

BTW congrats to Bonnie on being a lifetime member!! Tell her your blogging friends think she rocks! :>)

runliarun said...

It took me some time until I figured out the carbs needed to be the right carbs to lose weight. It's kind of hard, but you get used to it. After a while it starts to feel... wholesome. And it's so much worth it, when you start to be trimmer and tauter.

Backofpack said...

Randy,
You look great and have done really well. Think of this time period as a little vacation from dieting, and now you're back to work. My only suggestion in relation to running and dieting is to make sure you eat enough to fuel your runs. Think of all food as fuel and go for the premium. You'll do great!

Michelle said...

Randy, you have come such a long way!!! I know you have a goal weight, but look at how much you've already lost since last year.

I know you can do it! I must admit that having the two kids and aging (yeah, I'm only 31, almost 32, but I don't lose weight as easily as I did at 22) has really made it more difficult for me to shed these last 20 pounds. Although I am glad I've lost what I have, too. I still have some really bad eating habits from time to time and it's hard to stop those, too. But I am working on it. :-)

Darrell said...

Randy, excellent choice with WW. I lost 65 pounds in 2003, at lifetime for nearly 4 years now.

I'm at the other extreme from most people when it comes to fueling races. I think we need less to fuel those runs than we think we do especially when we are trying to lose. I think too many times we overcompensate with food for the exercise and do ourselves a disservice in the weight loss goals. Just my opinion, you will know what's best for you.

Be diligent, stay the course and I think you'll be happy with the progress you make.

Joe said...

Randy, keep at it.

Much support for you here, as you can read!!!