Operation 40

And it begins anew ... meet Operation 15

2010-11-29T15:13:00.000-06:00

Losing weight is tough business. Keeping it off is tougher.

Life has a way of beating you down and most times it comes when you least expect it. Stress at work, stress in life and just general bad mojo led to me being a little lazy. Ok, a lot lazy.

I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and weigh 200 pounds. I am most unhappy about this. Mostly I am because I feel I've failed in a way, but then again I know we're all human and we can't always maintain things easily.

This is why I will be doing an Operation 15 starting on Wednesday, Dec. 1 and ending January 31. That's two months to shed 15 pounds and I have no doubts I can do it, just like I did with Operation 40, which I lost 62 pounds on from Nov. 2009-April 2010. For that I am still proud because I'm in a better place despite going up to 200 from 185.

A lot of the weight came when I added friend foods again. I also was lax on portion sizes. The list goes on, but I'm going to get more control.

I do think eating a good, fattening meal now and then can be good for you, if only to let your brain know you aren't neglecting yourself too much :) Seriously, I know I can gain control again and hopefully this time keep it off.

So here I go. Time to exercise and watch what I eat. And all of you are along for the ride.

Jumped on the scale and what did I see? .....

2010-07-08T15:07:00.003-05:00

It has been more than two months since I officially "ended" Operation 40 and started the new phase.

My eating habits haven't changed a great deal, mainly due to my lack of funds in the old budget to buy the "real good" stuff. I have had french fries here and there and have upped my portion sizes on occasion, but I figured it wasn't a big deal and recent results have proved the point. But, what I haven't done since April 30 is jump on the scale.

So on Thursday, July 8 I did just that. And much to my surprise I had lost another 6.6 pounds. My current weight is 183.

Since my last visit to the doctor (and another one is coming soon) I have lost 62 pounds (53 since Nov. 1). I'm becoming a new man and this newer, sleeker Milner body model is growing on me.

This calls for a celebratory milkshake!

It's been long enough - welcome to Operation 40 Phase 2.0

2010-05-19T18:40:00.001-05:00

Phase 2 will commence on May 20.

What's Phase 2 you ask? Well, it's the next step in my evolution. Plus I need to work off some excess energy that has been building up so why the heck not, ya know?

This phase is the toning and muscle building stage. I've notice places on my body that once were quite in shape that have since gone, well, a little astray. It's not major, but I know I can tone up and strengthen my legs, butt, shoulders and tummy, just to name a few.

This plan is going to be fairly haphazard. It will be what works into my schedule. It will be dependent on what exercises I can do at a given time.

I'll do some Wii Fit strength exercises. I also have a condensed 15 to 20-minute routine where I do a variety of simple exercises such as wall pushups, stretching, leg lifts, knee lifts and hip thrusts.

There also will be plenty of shadow boxing. There's nothing like getting the blood flowing with a little boxing.

Again, there will be more as I go. I will weigh-in to see where I'm at and make a "goal" based on that information.

This isn't about losing weight. I expect to gain some in muscle, which will be good. I'll detail more soon, just wanted to get this out there as a starting point.

The "final" tally

2010-05-01T00:04:00.000-05:00

I started this with a simple goal of losing 40 pounds six months ago and here I am at the "end" of Operation 40.

The tale of the scale on Friday, April 30 was I gained two pounds. My "final" weight is 189.

The total in the Operation 40 program was 47 pounds. The total since I last saw my doc in about late-September was 56 whopping pounds :)

I look at the last few weeks of Operation 40 as a positive. I had two weeks of gaining, one negligible week and a four-pound loss. The easier way to look at it is I am two pounds lighter now than I was 17 days ago.

This is a good thing and was kind of what I was going for, as I wanted to try and maintain my weight. Also, 189 is a good starting point for Phase 2, which I will start in about two weeks. This way I can work hard to tone and shape muscles while losing some more weight.

The muscle mass will bring me back up a bit and I figure I can be around 180-185 when it's all done.

I am more than pleased with how this turned out. I'd like to thank all those who supported me and all those who will continue to support me. It's been a fun journey, but it's not over yet!

Nearing "completion"

2010-04-29T12:26:00.000-05:00

I weighed in a few days ago. Work has been busy and hasn't allowed to post, but what can ya do?

Anyways, the result was negligent. I didn't gain or lose any measurable weight. This leaves me at losing 49 for Operation 40 and now sitting at 187.

I have one day left until the next phase begins. I have a business trip next week so i think I may start it in a few weeks.

In any case, I'll keep you updated.

10 days to go

2010-04-20T15:25:00.000-05:00

Six months doesn't seem like a long time, but when you embark on a quest such as mine it can seem like an eternity.

There are 10 days remaining in Operation 40. It's been a fun journey, has taught me many lessons and was a success. And, of course, it's not over yet.

I will go deeper into all that I felt, did and accomplished when this is officially over. However, I use the word "over" loosely, as this change in lifestyle will continue on in various forms. Plus, the toning aspect of the plan will be detailed on this blog as well.

But, the best part about Operation 40 has been the compliments. I get them all the time, from men and women. It's nice and I get to tell the story of how much I've lost and how I have accomplished my goal.

All of them have been positive. I've received only one "are you sick?" To that, I replied "No, I'm doing it on purpose."

Here's to a good 10 days.

Back on track

2010-04-18T20:20:00.000-05:00

Last week's little setback (though the pizza = OMG) was followed by a successful weigh-in on Sunday, April 18.

I lost four pounds and am now at 187 with less than two weeks to go in Operation 40. For those keeping score, that's 49 since I started in November.

My new goal weight of 185 should be no problem. Then it is on to the task of toning and figuring out the balance to maintain my weight.

That, my friends, will be difficult. I know I can do it, but it will take some hard work. But it will be nice to eat larger portions again, while not going overboard, of course.

A minor setback

2010-04-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

I am human, after all.

I gained two pounds over the past nine days. I am now back up to 191. I blame this on having pizza and also little to no exercise, so it's all on me.

However, this is the first time I have gained any weight during Operation 40. Part of it is due to me upping my calorie intake, and it will simply just take time to find the right balance.

In the past I was able to maintain my weight but not lose it. I know I can do the same now.

I still have a few weeks left in Operation 40. Let's see if I can hit 185.

Another day, another dollar, or pounds as it were

2010-04-03T20:28:00.000-05:00

Friday came and went. What's funny is I thought it was Saturday, but that's beside the point.

Anyhow, the scale weighed my wonderful self and told me I had lost two more pounds. That's 47 down with less than a month to go in the first phase known as Operation 40. My new goal weight of 185 is now four pounds away.

I have started to add more calories into my diet. Some of the ways I'm doing so is by eating a larger bowl of cereal or having a larger portion here or there. I was drastic with my calorie counts and can start bringing them back slowly.

Go me!

The changes in me

2010-03-29T13:40:00.000-05:00

I wouldn't call myself a vain person, but part of losing weight is about vanity. Dieting, or in my case, changing habits and changing the way I am was all about me and how I feel.

That's not to say the rest of the world doesn't mater, because it does, but if I am not happy with myself or the way I am living than no one else around me can be the same. So, in a way this has been a trip in vanity. After all, I wanted to look different and have a different attitude.

And boy do I ever.

Here are some changes I have noticed in myself. It may not be all-inclusive, but there's always another post or two for that down the road.

"The Remote Shelf"

There has been one glaring image stuck in my head as to why I started Operation 40. There was a time when I could lounge on the couch and place the remote control in the place between my chest and the start of my stomach. I started calling it my "Remote Shelf"

Well, the "Remote Shelf" is officially gone. Now I have to hold the remote in conventional ways, lol. I guess I can still lay it on my tummy, but you get the idea.

Not having my "Remote Shelf" is a great accomplishment. It was all part of watching my stomach shrink more and more over the past five months. It was a distinct sign of success.

No sweat

I have been one to sweat. A lot. I basically thought it was due to, well, me being a sweaty dude.

The more I think about it the more I realize that yes, while playing sports growing up I sweated, but that was normal. I was in better shape then. The weight, which ballooned up to around 260 or more at one point (never had an accurate measure) was part of the reason I sweat a lot.

Well, that hasn't been much of an issue lately. My body is cooling a lot easier. I can enjoy my time outdoors and also while working around the house. Heck, I've noticed I sweat less today than I did in November when I exercise.

Sweat isn't all bad, but it just wasn't an exciting thing to have, you know? I feel more confident now.

Oh yeah, I gots muscles

It's not that I ever stopped having muscles, but let's put it this way, I may have forgotten they were there.

I like how now I have a chest that is more muscle and less fatty susbance. And before you ask, no I did NOT have moobs, lol. They were just a little too flabby for my liking, but they are getting back to where I like them to be.

My legs have always been fairly muscular, but it's nice to notice the slimming on those limbs, too. I find myself feeling my legs and going "hmmm, yep, I can work some of that off." That, my friends, is a good thing.

My arms also are typically lean, but I'm working on those in time. I know Laura likes my biceps :)

Firming up

I also am losing my love handles. They are now more mini-love handles. In time there might not be much there, but that's OK. I also have noticed contours in my hips and stomach that were missing for some time.

The biggest area of change is in my face. My chubby cheeks are still so, but not nearly as much as they were months ago. I lose weight first in my face. And that's how people notice, since most of my clothes are still baggy and I can't afford new ones (no crying, tis OK).

I have received many compliments from women and men about the weight loss. Then I pass along what I've been doing and it feels great to spread the word.

And last but certainly NOT least....

Sexual prowess

I'm an animal, what can I say? Oh, and before anyone jumps me and says "how the hell can you talk about intimate moments with you and your beloved?" let me point two things out.

First, I'm not going into details and am staying in general terms. And secondly, I asked Laura about this before I wrote it. I wanted to make sure it was OK with her since this is a big part of the weight loss change.

Here's a little background. I am diabetic and for some in my condition sexual stamina can be an issue. I like to think now the weight also played a factor in that.

Well, based on recent results I now have no trouble with stamina. In fact, it was a concern, spoken prior to meeting and it is no longer an issue. It went away, just like the unwanted weight.

And this brings me back to the vain part of Operation 40. Yes, it was about me to change the way I am. But like I said, unless we can be happy with ourselves then we can't make anyone else happy.

This change and the stamina and energy and strength to provide pleasure is also about my partner and we are both happy in so many ways. And oh what a beautiful and loving partner she is.

..........

There you have it, for now.

Wastin' away again in Milnerville!

2010-03-27T23:37:00.001-05:00

I made the latest weigh-in a bit later. I stepped on the scales on Saturday and BAM!

No, I didn't break the scale, sillies. I lost 5 more pounds. That makes me down 45 pounds and now 191. My new "goal" is 185 by the official end of Operation 40. I may surpass even that.

I admit, that the cutting the calories way down has been good, but I need to start adding them back, slowly. I can't keep losing weight forever, and need to find a balance.

I also splurged on Friday and had four pieces of real pizza. OMG, it was great. I felt kinda guilty, though. But when I stepped on the scale I felt better.

Granted, pizza will remain a once in a while thing, but it shows me that I have worked hard and can reward myself from time to time. Some of you may think the pizza was cheating, and to some extent you are right. But, I don't think it was too bad.

SUCCESS!!!!!!

2010-03-17T11:42:00.000-05:00

I gave myself until April 30 to lose 40 pounds. It was a reasonable goal and more than attainable.

Well, as of March 16 I am 196 pounds and have reached the goal! Actually I'm a few ounces below 196 as of the weigh-in, but still the goal has been met and I will continue until April 30 to see where it takes me. Then it is on to toning and losing a bit more.

This journey hasn't been easy. It was difficult to change things early on and I still have times when I need support to pull through. However, it has been a great change for me. I feel good, I look better and have more energy.

Thanks to all who have supported me and thanks to all those who will support me in the future.

Oh, and I started exercising again yesterday. It took a little nudge but I did 35 minutes of cardio and it was just like riding a bike.

On the path ...

2010-03-11T18:20:00.000-06:00

I weighed in a bit earlier, this time on a Monday (March 8). It was only five days since my last check-in, but I still had decent results.

I lost one more pound for a total of 38 since I started. I am now 196 and two pounds away from the goal.

This was good news. More came on Thursday, but that has nothing to do with my weight loss.

I am on the path and this marks another weigh-in where I lost weight and didn't gain anything. Life is good.

This magic moment ....

2010-03-04T20:17:00.000-06:00

..... It was about 10 years ago. I say 10 years because it's a round number. It might actually be a few more, but still 10 years is a long time.

I weighed myself on Wednesday, March 3. I lost a little over one pound. That leaves me at 199 and three pounds away from the goal.

Why is this significant? Well, it has been 10 years since I have been under 200 pounds. This is a huge accomplishment for me and one i am quite proud of.

I intend to stay this way. So goodbye 200-plus pounds. It's been nice knowing you.

Closing in on the goal

2010-02-25T12:55:00.000-06:00

Little by little I am shrinking, and that's a good thing. Well, shrinking in some ways, but I won't get into that here, though I could. Anyhow, the latest weigh-in was Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Again I managed to NOT gain weight. I dropped two more pounds. This places me at a cool 200 pounds and down 36 from when I started Operation 40 nearly four months ago. I can smell the goal and it's like a nice Papa John's pizza. I only am using that as a metaphor, people :)

I figure I will hit the mark within two weeks. At that point I will keep going and see how much I lose by the end of April. Then I plan on starting another six-month trek to toning my muscles, but more on that later.

I'm getting my boyish figure back

2010-02-17T16:23:00.000-06:00

I dived (yes, that is the correct useage, lol) into my closet last weekend to see what I could see. What I saw were smaller pairs of pants, some 40-inch waist and another 38-incher.

For a while I had been in 44s, and some dress pants I believe were up to 46. I was typically in 36s while growing up.

Well, I tried the 40s and they fit nicely, but I knew I'd still need a belt. Then came the 38s and boom, they fit, too, with me still needing a belt. They were a bit more snug and I figure I am in between a 36 and a 38, or in other words a 37, which you can't find.

This is spectacular news. In time I can get rid of the big pants and buy new ones. For now, under my budget, the bigger pants work just fine.

Now to squeeze into that thong. Just kidding!

Another weigh-in and still successful

2010-02-17T13:43:00.000-06:00

Another Tuesday rolled by so it was time to strip down and weigh. Oh stop, you think I'd weigh in with a ton of clothes on? I wear boxers for crying out loud :).

The latest weigh-in wasn't as successful as last week's but still good. I continued my streak of losing weight each time and dropped just more than a pound. This brings me down to 34 pounds shed with six more to go to make the goal.

What's even better is I'm 202. I'll be below 200 really soon. That means it's party time. Well, as much of a party as I can have. Maybe some pudding. Ha Ha.

Weigh-in 13 (a little late)

2010-02-16T17:19:00.000-06:00

A lot has happened the past week, though on the good side. I have been so busy that I haven't had time to update the last weigh-in. I know, I know. Shoot me!

The latest weigh-in was on Feb. 9. I lost another 4 pounds. That brings me down to a wafer thin (haha, not quite) 203 pounds.

I have lost a total of 33 under Operation 40. I've also lost around 42 since the last time I visited the doctor in late-September.

Still no exercise, but I have the drive back :) There are obvious reasons for this, but I won't go into them here.

Think it's time to get back on the exercise horse

2010-02-06T11:43:00.000-06:00

In the interest of being honest and to better give you an idea why I haven't been exercising I'll give you a quick piece of info. I am getting a divorce, and that's all I will go into here. If you know me on Twitter you know the whole story.

That is a large reason why I have lacked the energy or motivation to exercise. It's not that I didn't want to, just well, I didn't feel up to it. You see, a divorce is never fun and there is a wide range of stuff that floats into your head. A lot of it just makes being lazy feel like the answer to get over things.

But, I feel the urge creeping in. That, and I need to start toning again because I'm experiencing some adverse effects on my legs and hip area.

The problem is since I am losing weight, the elasticity in my stomach, hips and butt is lessened. Therefore, the fat still there is drooping some. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not dragging the floor, but gravity is doing its job so there is more pressure on that area, and especially on my buttbone.

As a result I have found that bending over can sometimes be painful and I have noticed a few times when my legs get tired if I lay wrong. And before anyone jumps the gun, I know my body, so I'm not concerned. I noticed "pain" in my sides over the past few months as I lost weight. Those times it would go away totally when I exercised as I started to tone up the muscles that had been dormant for a while.

I can already feel my stomach being "tighter" and I really need to do that on other areas of my body. I honestly think my rear is a bit fatter now than it was a few weeks ago, simply because the fat has a way of finding its way there and without toning it will just reside there for a while. Also, the area around my buttbone is more meaty.

My goal is to start exercising either Saturday or Sunday and get back into my routine that I was so diligent on a few weeks ago. And as many of you know, as you see the changes and feel the muscles being defined it makes you feel better. Plus, the butt pain will go away, lol.

Halfway done and so close

2010-02-03T09:11:00.000-06:00

Tuesday came and I decided I needed to jump on the scale. The last week went without exercise, as I am still dealing with personal stuff and lack the drive.

But the eating plan has continued. So, I jumped on and found out I had lost two more pounds. This puts me at 29 down three months into Operation 40. I have 11 pounds to go to meet my goal and I figure when the exercise starts again I could reach the mark in about 6 weeks or less.

Here I sit, weighing 207 pounds and I feel great. I'll feel even better when exercise starts again. Lord I need that kick in the ass!

Fighting temptation

2010-02-02T13:58:00.001-06:00

The key to this whole quest was staying on track. There could be no wavering or else this wouldn't work. It was easier said than done, though I must say I have not cheated on the program.

Some people think it's too difficult to cut out the things you love. That really isn't a problem for me. Long ago, when I was diagnose with diabetes, I knew my lifestyle had to change or else I would be in trouble.

Of course, this meant the basics, no more sugary drinks, eating two meals a day, taking my meds, etc. My weight wasn't an issue for me until this year and even then I wouldn't say it was a major issue. It was just something I needed to get ahold of and the time was right to do so.

To this point, cutting out all the foods I loved, real pizza, burgers, fries, desserts, was what I had to do to be successful. The first couple weeks it was really difficult, as it always seemed that I saw a pizza commercial like every five seconds on TV or would drive by Sonic all the time.

Eventually this feeling went away to some extent. I still long for a tasty pizza, but I realize that if I cheat I can slide back to where I was. I don't want that to happen.

Weigh-in 11 ...

2010-01-26T20:58:00.001-06:00

Well hmm I may be hitting the wall. Or I may need to start exercising again. I am thinking it's a bit of both.

The 11th weigh-in was Sunday, January 24, and while I didn't gain any weight I lost a negligible amount of about .3 pounds. That leaves me stuck at 27 pounds, which is still a good number for now.

I need to get my ass in gear and start exercising.

10 weigh-ins down

2010-01-18T10:59:00.000-06:00

I still haven't found the motivation to exercise. However, I did weigh-in on Friday, Jan. 15.

The verdict: down 3 more pounds.

That means I am down 27 pounds and now at 209. At this pace I will be under 200 pounds in less than a month. Excuse me, it is now officially happy dance time.

OK, maybe not. But it will happen when I hit my goal. Only 13 pounds to go.

I am a weight loss god. Take that Nutrisystem. Ha ha.

I am a Lean Cuisine junkie

2010-01-18T10:56:00.000-06:00

There was a time when "health" food was tasteless, drab, boring and downright depressing. So, you can imagine my hesitance to try Lean Cuisine, but I gotta tell ya, I love the stuff.

I had it on good authority that I would like them, and you know who you are :). Everything I have tried, from pizza, to pasta to paninis have been tasty and filling. And what's even better is they are cheaper than eating at Sonic AND low in calories.

That, my friends, is what they call a win-win.

So next time you see me in the grocery store I'm probably in the frozen food aisle pondering all the choices. Stop by and say hi. We can break panini bread together :)

Weigh-in No. 9

2010-01-12T11:07:00.000-06:00

Like I said in the previous post, exercise has gone out the window for now. I can't muster the energy with everything that is going on.

I did manage to make sure to hold weigh-in No. 9 last week on Jan. 6. This was a lot like the last one in 2009, as I was worried that the lack of exercise would have an impact.

Instead, I lost close to 4.5 pounds. My total lost is now 24 pounds since Nov. 1 (now 212). This marks the ninth weigh-in where i have not gained any weight. That, as they say, counts as success.

Lot going on, but still on track

2010-01-12T11:02:00.000-06:00

I have recently had some personal issues crop up, which have caused me to slow Operation 40. Those who follow me on Twitter @BradMilner know the details.

I have had little motivation to exercise, but I am keeping up with the good eating habits. That's important as i move forward. It will be even better once I get my motivation back.

Thanks to all for the support.

Weigh-in 8 and last of 2009

2009-12-30T18:24:00.000-06:00

I was nervous about the eighth weigh-in.

I watched what I ate over the holidays and did a little bit of exercise, but not nearly as much as I did when I was home. Naturally, I feared I had either not lost much or possibly gained a pound or two. I was so hoping I didn't have a set back.

Well, my fears were out to rest when I found out I lost another 4.5 pounds. That puts me at 19.5 pounds in eight weeksand down to around 216. I am more than pleased with the progress.

Now let's see when I hit the wall.

Holiday eating, and I was good

2009-12-30T18:21:00.000-06:00

I made it through Thanksgiving unscathed, which was the first accomplishment in Operation 40. Then came the Christmas season, with the lure of all the goodies and food.

Going without egg nog for the first time wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I may have missed it, but it was good I didn't have any.

Steering clear of candy and baked goods wasn't difficult, either. In fact, there wasn't much around so there was little temptation.

Holiday food on vacation was a little different, but I maintained small portions and still was able to eat salads, chicken sandwiches and the like. My heaviest meals included turkey on Christmas, though meats aren't the enemy of Operation 40, and some Krystal burgers and Baked Lays. I know what you are thinking, and it wasn't that bad as I only had three mini burgers.

The holidays came and went and with the weigh-in upon returning home awaited.

Seventh weigh-in missed

2009-12-30T18:15:00.000-06:00

I was rushed away on vacation so I missed the seventh weigh-in.

I decided it was best not to use a different scale as it would not be calibrated the same as the Wii Balance Board. So, I went without the weigh-in and had reservations as the holidays approached.

More on that in the next post.

Week 6 weigh-in results

2009-12-14T13:57:00.000-06:00

I stood upon the scale and for the sixth straight week I hadn't gained any weight. That, my friends, is the good news.

The scale told me I had lost a half a pound. That brings the total to date to 15 pounds in six weeks. I have made it through 25 percent of Operation 40 and am still ahead of schedule as far as the weight loss.

One thing I noticed is my workout schedule changed a bit. I had been doing simple stepping for 30 minutes. And while I was going heavy and "walked" about 3 miles, it didn't burn as many calories. I have gone back to switching up between straight stepping to the ones involving movements from side to side as well as adding kicking and other movements.

There ya have it. Things are going well.

The fifth weigh-in sayeth

2009-12-07T11:46:00.000-06:00

Weigh-in No. 5 has come and gone. The result? Down one pound.

I was slacking on the exercise big time last week. I was busy at work and did get a few walks in and some light exercise at home but nothing to the extent of what I had been doing. I need a swift kick in the ass for that.

Total down is close to 15 pounds in five weeks, which is still good. I just need to keep on keepin' on.

Some of what I am eating, what I gave up

2009-11-30T15:38:00.000-06:00

If I had half a brain, and sometimes I doubt I do, then I'd be keeping a log of what I eat every day. I know, I know, I'm a slacker. I'll start this month charting the food, how's that sound?

Anyhow, this post is about the things I have eaten and some of the things I have cut out of my diet. Everything is in the name of achieving the goal of 40 pounds in six months.

Operation 40 is a work in progress. So, inevitably the following is not an all-inclusive list, as more items will be added later.

I'll start by noting some of the changes. I have cut back from 2 percent milk to 1 percent. I love me some milk and am not ready to drink skim, which is like milk-flavored water, nor will I entertain soy. At least, not at this time.

Cheese has been lessened in my diet and soon may go bye bye altogether. Also, diet drinks, while not bad for you in general, haven't been part of the deal, either. Water has been my drink of choice, aside from juice or milk during meals.

The holidays are here so, and it pains me to say this, I won't be partaking in the egg nog this year. That is, unless I find a really, really light version to drink. But, it's all part of the cause.

I've eaten only one egg in the last month. That's more to help my cholesterol than anything else.

Oh and I have cut out all fried foods.

Ok, as for what I am eating, I am doing well with portion sizes and good choices.

Many a lunch has consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich, banana, apples and milk from Sonic. I also have chosen several grilled chicken salads with light dressings (120 calories per pack), along with the fruit.

My "heavy meals" have been a turkey dinner from PoFolks, which I asked for light gravy and had plenty of veggies, grilled fish meals with broccoli, bread and rice.

I've also eaten a lot of pasta with fresh tomato sauce, homemade soups and bread, and plenty of green beans with home-cooked meals.

That's all I can gather off the top of my head. I wanted to get this update on the blog, so excuse me for not being too in-depth.

I promise I'll keep better track starting on Tuesday :)

Perils of weight loss for a sports writer Part II

2009-11-30T15:22:00.000-06:00

I won't lie. Being a sports writer offers nice perks, namely in the area of food.

Reporters who cover college games are fed big meals before the game and have ample access to soft drinks, water and snacks during the game. This is on top of yummy ice cream at halftime.

Coverage on lower levels, such as high school sports, which I mainly do, also has its tasty temptations in the form of press box food and hospitality rooms.

I always have access to food at football games, as well as big wrestling tournaments and holiday basketball events. The food offered is usually not stuff one would need to eat if they are trying to lose weight, as it ranges from sandwiches to chicken wings, chicken fingers, quesadillas, assorted platters with cheese, crackers and other fattening items and desserts such as cookies, cakes and more.

Needess to say, this will be something I will shy away from during Operation 40. Heck, it probably will leave my life for good, because these "buffet" type items attract you to eat. To this, I'll say no, but it won't be easy.

Then again, nothing is easy with Operation 40. This has been a change in the way I approach food and exercise. I find myself looking at everything I do and that's a good thing.

Hospitality rooms and press box food are two of the bad things. Others can enjoy it. I shall not, unless the food offered is safe enough to use for a lunch during those busy times. If not, then I'll bring my own food, thanks.

Weigh-in No. 4

2009-11-30T15:10:00.000-06:00

Weigh-in No. 4 was on Sunday. It wasn't as good as the past two weeks, but I lost 1.5 pounds.

Total to date is 13.5, which puts me at 222.5. My simple math tells me I have 26.5 pounds to go.

Last week was difficult. I lacked motivation and didn't exercise much. I worked out on Sunday and plan to do so again Monday and Tuesday, at least. I need a little nudge, sometimes, but I'll pull through.

Results of first three weigh-ins

2009-11-22T20:13:00.000-06:00

I will do one weigh-in per week throughout Operation 40. So far I have done three weigh-ins on Nov. 7, 15 and 21.

As a side note, I researched the accuracy of the Wii Balance Board and went with 236 as the official starting weight. The area I use to weigh has soft carpet and the risers for the board were sufficient in my view to bring back a valid weight. I also conducted the Balance Board test and everything checked out.

So ........................ the total weight loss to date is 12 pounds, leaving me at 224. Simple math tells you I have 28 pounds to go.

The first weigh-in yielded one pound and I was not surprised, nor was I disappointed. I was up-front in saying that if I didn't lose 40 pounds I wouldn't consider this a failure. And I figured if in the least I lost one pound a week then that would be 24 by the end.

The second weigh-in was the biggest surprise. I was down another seven pounds. I was quite pleased and pushed myself to one of my longest and best workouts to date.

The latest weigh-in, after not a lot of working out but still eating well, had me down another four pounds. This shows me that if I exercise more it can be even better.

Twelve pounds in three weeks is a lot, and is double the recommended number of two per week However, this accelerated weight loss is OK and I'd rather have it this way than slowly for when I hit the wall, which I expect to happen about three months in.

It will be easier to push through if I've lost a lot of weight than if it wasn't much. The fact I've lost 12 pounds so far is tremendous motivation.

Perils of weight loss for a sports writer

2009-11-22T19:32:00.000-06:00

There are some professions that allow for ample time to work out. Sports writer is not one of those.

I won't bore you with the details of my job, with some of those mundane. The short and sweet of it is in addition to covering area sports I also handle all the online stuff for the sports department. The short and sweet of it is I often have odd hours and sometimes work more than 10 hours in a day.

What this does is put a cramp in my workout regimen. The first two weeks went well, as I only missed two sessions with Wii Fit. However, I replaced it with a brisk 30-minute walk.

I missed four days the third week, but had a good workout on Saturday, Nov. 21. The slacking led to "only" four pounds of weight loss, which will be detailed in another post here shortly.

Basically I need to do a better job of fitting the exercise into my schedule. If this were summer time then it would be easy. But, football season, which is pretty much over thankfully, is the busiest time of year for me.

I knew Operation 40 would be a work in progress. I have little doubts it will be successful, as it already is. But I am learning as i go and thanks to those who have given me helpful tips along the way.

And so it begins ...

2009-11-01T18:39:00.000-06:00

Nov.1 has come and almost gone and Operation 40 is under way. This was the day for the official weigh-in and exercise.

It also is about portion size and being smart with food. I started some of this earlier in the week already to get myself prepared for what was to come.

Lunch on Sunday was turkey sandwiches, no mayo, half piece cheese on each, OJ and milk. I decided on the cheese since our diet still calls for some fats, though in time I will eliminate most fats. Figured it was good to work up to it.

Dinner is going to be pasta with chunky tomato sauce, bread and milk. For now it is 2 percent milk because that's all I had. I hasten to think about drinking skim, but it's something I might need to do.

The weigh-in was Sunday afternoon. I couldn't find the scale and realized the Wii Balance board measures weight with Wii Fit. I weighed in at 236, though this may not be completely accurate given the carpeting.

I will find a more sturdy placement for the board and weigh myself again on Monday. I'll report on those findings. If I'm starting at 236, nine pounds lighter than when I was at the doctor's office a month ago, I will be quite happy

Exercise on Sunday consisted of mainly cardio with a few balance activities in Wii Fit. I was killing it on some step aerobics. After 35 minutes and cool down and stretching I felt better than I thought I would.

We'll see how I feel in the morning.

Introducing Operation 40, my weight loss quest

2009-10-29T14:08:00.000-05:00

There's a lot in the word we can't control. We can't control other people. We can't control how life will place obstacles ahead of us and we can't control the weather.

But, one thing we can control is ourselves. To this point, I give you Operation 40, my journey to lose 40 pounds over the next six months.

This is awful ambitious you may say. I say, yes it is, but then again when you are out to change yourself you have to be ambitious. There are no baby steps here.

Forty pounds is well within the recommended parameters of two pounds per week given to me by my doctor. This is feasible, even after i hit the expected wall soon.

Operation 40 is not just a simple diet plan. In fact, it's less of a diet than a change in the way I am.

This won't be crazy. I am diabetic, so I have that to consider, so there won't be any low carb meal plans or anything like that.

The biggest change for me in Operation 40 is "'Cise and Size" Or, in other words, exercise and portion size. I don't do much of the former and have trouble with the latter.

The plan? At least 30 minutes of exercise a day. And, following the meal plan size and calorie guide my doctor gave me.

There are other changes I will make, such as choosing better foods to eat and cutting out unnecessary items in the diet. There will be more on that in a later update.

I believe this is possible due in large part because I have been steady in weight for the past two years. I'm actually seven pounds lighter (245) than I was 16 months ago. With more exercise and eating better I have no reason to not believe this won't happen.

Of course, if I don't lose 40 pounds this will in no way be a failure. I have a strong support group with several Twitter followers who will help me along the way and I'm confident I will lose weight.

Operation 40 begins on Sunday and ends April 30, 2010. The official weigh-in is on Sunday.

I will update with that as well as my progress. Hopefully I can serve as inspiration for some people.

Follow me on Twitter here. Look for the #Op40 hashtags, too.