March 06, 2005
Weight for Me
For the first time in my life, I moved down a size in clothing. I slipped on some older jeans I haven't been able to wear in about five years, and they actually were a bit loose for me. Weight Watchers and exercising every day has resulted in about a 25-pound loss for me in two months, and I'm steadily losing more. I was inspired by a fellow educator's experience of losing 86+ pounds.
Two things prompted my dedication to shedding pounds: Molly and medication. Molly's birth underscored my own mortality and gave me pause to realize how long I'm gonna have to live in order to see my grandchildren, and the stress from teaching put me on blood pressure medication for the first time.
Weight Watchers is a really clever program of points. Foods are rated according to fiber, fat, and calories and given a single number, which add up to your daily total, making for a high-fiber, low-fat diet. The good news about that is we were already basically eating within our limits, so it wasn't much of a lifestyle change. The real change occurred with exercise. We invested in a treadmill, which sits in our living room. I've worked my way up to 30 minute sessions every day by starting at 20 minutes and adding 15 seconds per day. In addition, because of my military history I guess, I am working toward 30 pushups and 30 situps a day. I call it my 3-30 plan (applause).
Denise does aerobics, but I can't bring my self-conscious self to do them. I just feel silly and, well, unmanly. Call it chauvinism, but there you go.
My ultimate goal is 180-200 pounds by December, which is about right for a 6-footer, at which time I will be devastatingly attractive and probably leave teaching for a modeling career. :)
Posted by tat at March 6, 2005 11:16 AMBryan, your Dad & I are super proud for you!! Your 3-30 plan is a great achievement--keep up the dedication to shedding the pounds and improving your health!!!
We celebrate your 25 pound loss in two months.
The Weight Watchers program of points was used by an orthopedist at Christus St John Hospital and I witnessed the health gains and weight loss he was able to achieve.
We agree with you for your ultimate goal by December.
Congratulations, Bryan! I lost about 35 lbs on weight watchers when I was in vet school. Over the last couple of years I gained it back, but only because I love my own cooking and I got lazy. :)
I, too, began in January - again - and am down about 25 lbs as we speak. WWs is the easiest way to control your diet and I recommend it to anyone needing to lose weight. It truly does work if you stick to it.
We, too, invested in a treadmill. My god, we are all going through our midlife crises, no???? HA!
When you guys come out to visit, be sure to bring a baby backpack - we'll go hiking in some pretty areas and we know we'll all be able to do it because by then, we'll all be 40-50 lbs lighter. :)
We miss you guys.
Posted by: Deb at March 7, 2005 03:41 AMWay to go Bryan!!!! Yes, Molly needs you alive and well as a Daddy! (and not to mention the appeal of your new "self" to Denise). And yes, an emergency room doctor told us that losing weight improves everyTHING....if you get my drift.
You can do it!
Proud of you.....
Aunt Susan
Posted by: Susan at March 8, 2005 06:38 PM