Cholesterol Check

Today, my company had a "Workplace Wellness Day" and we all got the chance to take advantage of a host of free health related services. I got the flu shot, a free pedometer, and took a free blood screening to check blood sugar and cholesterol. The pic shows the device they used to read the results.

Here are the results of the blood screen:

Blood Glucose = 80 mg / dl (Desirable Range = 60 -> 100)
Total Cholesterol = 177 mg / dl (Desirable Range < 200 )
HDL = 17 mg / dl (Desirable Range > 59)
Triglycerides = 76 mg / dl (Desirable Range < 150)

This is actually something I've been meaning to check. Before the weight loss regimen, I also scored some pretty bad cholesterol numbers. As you can see my total cholesterol and triglyceride levels are really down (you'd be especially proud if you saw the "before" numbers).

But the HDL, which has always been low for me, is still sticking in the low range. Anyone have any thoughts on ways to boost HDL? I don't want to resort to drugs (if there even is a drug for HDL).

Weigh In - Week 30!!!

Well...I've hit another milestone week...and I'm heading in the wrong direction folks...+1 this week brings me back to an even 40 lbs lost...I thought the "loop" road sign was appropriate as I am looping back from whence I came (a low of 191 a while back).

First...to celebrate the good...I did set an original goal to have lost 30 lbs by this time...and I hit that goal with room to spare (heck, if I hold this weight by my next milestone, I'll still be on track). That has to count for something, right?

But these last 10 weeks have sort of been a lost 10 weeks. Sure, I've kept the weight off, but I should be able to pull off at least 1 lb per week...I need to get back to it...

And the funny thing is that I stayed pretty much on point this week. I had one *very* bad day on Saturday (my college homecoming / 10 year reunion), but I got my 3 workouts done and my food choices were pretty solid...

As far as earning my 30 week milestone reward is concerned, I'm pretty much not going to partake in these rewards. Life with children has caused me to re-prioritize what I need to spend money on. I'm probably not going to get the laser eye surgery as well...

It's not a roadsign, but...

I've obviously been missing the weekly weight updates (will post one this upcoming Tuesday after Monday weigh in). But here is the excel chart I've been keeping. As you can see, doing very well against my original goal of 1 lb per week, but seriously missing now on the 2 lb per week...a 3 month plateau will do that to you, I guess...

Why do I have this "before" pic up?

Someone asked in comments, "Why do you keep this picture (->) as a permanent pic on the top right of your site?" Obviously paraphrasing, but that was the gist...

The obvious answer is...motivation! This answer has become even more apparent as I'm reaching my goal.

When I first started this quest, the results of my work were easily recognizable and it was easy to keep focused on doing the right things...And know I'm over 4/5's to my goal and everyone is telling me how great I look and my parents are essentially trying to make me gain weight...And perhaps I would be satisfied to sit back and say 40 lbs is enough of an accomplishment...And perhaps I would let myself go back to not exercising and hitting a McDonald's or Wendy's once or twice a week...And if I put back 10 of the 40 lbs then so what? I'm still down 30 lbs, right? I think you see where I'm going with this...

So, I keep the pic up to remind me of where I came from and where I could go back to if I don't keep my focus. As I've said from the beginning (check out one of my first posts), my goal is a lifestyle transformation, not just a quick weight loss to look better for a reunion or something (although I do have my 10 year college reunion this weekend....wait till they get a look of me! :)

Where's Jeff?

So...I've fallen off the face of the earth...

First...let me apologize to those who were regular viewers of the blog. I know what it's like to follow someone else's writings and to all of a sudden see a stop to everything...

I find that blog writing, like a weight loss program, requires a routine. The minute I'm thrown off that routine, it is very hard to get back on track. For me, the end of the routine really started with the Cape Cod trip. Once I stopped blog posting for a full week, it was very easy to find reasons to stop posting.

I appreciate the couple of comments from the dedicated among you to knock me out of my funk (esp. liked today's very simple comment of "WTF???" by Kim). WTF indeed...

While I haven't been posting weight, I'm content to report that I am hovering in the same area. When I came back from the cape, my weight bumped up to 194 and today stands at 195. While not great, my diet and exercise routine has been a mixed bag. Holding my weight at least tells me that the weight should stay off even if I have a slice or 2 of pepperoni pizza from time to time.

Of course, that is not what I set out to do...I set out to lose 50 lbs in 50 weeks! Right now, I am at 41 lbs in 30 weeks. While I am ahead of schedule, I still have some work to do...

So, I plan on re-engaging on this starting now. That includes stricter diet, more exercise, and more blogging...

To the small audience that still checks in...thanks for keeping on me...I won't let you down...

Weigh In - Week 25 & 26

Well, I finally got back to gym last night and the news wasn't great, but it could have been worse...

Only a 3 lbs gain from my last official weigh in...Of course, I was potentially less than 191 when I should have weighed in on 9/17 (remember I just started the vacation at that point). Still, I'm not too far off the 2 lb per week game plan at this point...

My body is finally getting back into rhythm and I hope to perhaps show a 1 lbs loss by Monday, but we will see...With all the crap that I've eaten over the past week and a half, I actually am somewhat happy that my body didn't do worse. Perhaps my body is getting used to the lower weight...

Cape Cod 2007 Pics

Taken during a biking excursion through the dunes...

Taken at the Truro Vineyards with AJ

AJ and I at the beach...as you can see, he likes being as high up as possible.

Another fun pic at the beach...this was taken right outside the beachfront place where we were staying...nice view, no?

I'm back baby!

Well...it has been a while, hasn't it?

Did I say I was going to write on Monday? If you guys knew me, you'd know that I'm late to everything! Heck, I was close to 4 weeks late for my own birth (My mother was none too thrilled with that one).

Anyways, I'm not giving up the weight loss goal and I'm not giving up the blog...Here's the deal:

• As I forgot to mention, I had a family vacation scheduled from 9/15 to 9/22 to Cape Cod (North Truro, MA to be exact). Trip was at a nice beachfront motel with my wife, her family, our son, and I. Was an overall good trip. Totally misplanned my wardrobe with the weather (Hint: Do not plan on hitting the water this time of year). Pretty lazy time actually.
• I brought my mountain bike with the plan of doing a LOT of biking. Got to do a decent amount of biking, but the crowd I was with was, shall we say, not in biking shape. So the biking ended up being much more leisurely than I would have hoped. A fun time and all, but not really the cardiovascular workout I had hoped for. I did do 40 push ups in the room (for whatever that's worth).
• Of course, since it is vacation, my food choices were somewhat relaxed. I actually did OK from a breakfast standpoint. Rooms had kitchens and I had Kashi cereal most days. Lunches were a mixed bag and dinners were all out in restaurants (read: less than healthy). There was also a decent amount of drinking going on throughout the vacation. Lots of wine and beer from my standpoint. Helps when you have so much family in somewhat tight quarters. :)
• So, when you add all of that up, we got back on Saturday night (10+ hour road trip when you count in baby feedings, etc...ugh!) and I got on my home scale for an "unofficial" weigh-in, I was 4 lbs heavier then my last weigh in...not good...
• But wait...it gets better...Stupid me plans a business conference trip immediately when I get back. So after I arrive home at 8PM on Saturday night, I have to leave for Chicago by 5PM on Sunday! Not much time for rest or relaxation...
• So, I've been in Chicago for the past 2 days on a business trip and all of the lack of exercise options and bad food choices that you are presented with in a business conference. I was supposed to get back last night at 10:30PM. Of course, when you plan a trip between 2 airports with the worst track records from a delay / cancellation perspective, you expect to be delayed...and I was...I got in at 2:15AM last night and didn't hit the sheets until 3:30AM...my body is all out of whack today.

So that's my story of the last week and a half...I'll hopefully have some photo's of the trip up soon, but make no promises. Heck, I told you folks I would write on Monday and you were pretty tough on me for not doing that! :)

I'll be posting some more on the need to get things back on track after a week and a half off the wagon...BTW...I can see how travelling salespeople and consultants end up getting out of shape...it's very easy to lose control of your regimen when you're in unfamiliar places...

Maintain Radio Silence

I should have mentioned this before, but I am vacationing on Cape Cod this week and have no plans to actively blog...Didn't weigh in either (hard to weigh in when the scale is over 9 hours away!)

Anyways...I haven't decided to stop blogging...Expect to see something from me this upcoming Monday...

Hope everyone is working towards their weight loss goals...because I am not (more on that later)

Pictures, pictures, pictures

Been a while since I've posted some, no?


These pictures were taken on 8/26/07 when my mother and grandmother (Nana) visited. My fantasy football draft was today and I am wearing my Jets retro jersey (Go Al Toon!) and AJ is wearing his Yankees bib. A sports themed picture for sure.




Here I am playing with AJ. My hair is ruffled because he likes to pull on it.


And finally a pic of my Nana with AJ. A nice picture to be able to show him of his great grandmother someday. It's amazing to get a pic like this...