"Me and Julio down by the school yard..."

My phone rang this morning and as i was half asleep and as the number was private I ignored it and went back to bed. I woke up an hour or so later and checked my voice mail only to be greeted by a voice from my not so distant past, offering me a ticket to see Paul Simon in Tahoe tonight with himself and another friend that I haven't seen in over a year! i said yes... and then proceeded to do a happy dance.

For those of you who've been reading for a while you know I like my folk/ acoustic music. Let me just tell you that this is a dream come true for me. I loves me some Paul Simon. I think I wore out Graceland like 3 times in tape format before buying the CD. It's just one of those albums that needs to be listened to 87,000 times.

(Oh, by the way if you still haven't checked out my friend Justin farren's web site at Justin Farren.com please go because, like graceland, this is the only other Cd I've ever worn out. It's simply one of the best listening experiences you're likely to have...so please go check out his site and look him up on iTunes for samples of all his songs from his CD "Sound of Flight")

Anyway. I'm stoked and I'll let you know all about it tomorrow! have a good sunday everyone or whatever day it is in your lovely part of the world! I'm off to Lake Tahoe!

Sean-crest out!

July 29, 2006 Meals and Workout

Meal 1: oatmeal and 1 large apple

Meal 2: chicken breast w/ marinara sauce and 2 slices of whole wheat bread

Meal 3: 1 half of a large togo's turkey sandwich, wheat roll, mayo, mustard, lettuce, pickles

Meal 4: 2nd half of earlier sandwich w/ bottle of sobe lean

Water and Vitamins

********************************************

Workout:

series 1:
Standing/raised arm crunches w/ light resistance: 3 sets 20 reps

Kneel downs holding bar for support: 3 sets 10 reps each leg (only 5 reps on the first set for the left leg. I was affraid of the strain but found my technique by the second and third set)

Standing chest flys w/ medium resistance: 3 sets 10 reps each arm

series 2:

Standing turning pull (i have no Idea what to call it): 2 sets 12 reps each arm

"I used to walk in the shade..."

Little Note****

If you'll direct your attention to my picture at the top of the page you'll note that if you click on the image it will take you to my theme song which is now in mp3 format for anyone who would like a clean copy of it. =0)

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A few people have mentioned my positive outlook in the face of a seemingly daunting task. I guess it may seem odd. I mean...losing 20 or 30 lbs is often a task that people find overwhelming or at the least difficult. 250lbs is definitely a scary proposition and I don't want people to think that I don't have a clue what I've gotten myself into. Quite the contrary. I know how long it took for me to get where I am and I live with this excess weight every day. I've been depressed over it and I have let the sheer enormity of it all paralize me into complete inaction. So for all of those who think that I should be humble in the face of this enormous challange...just remember. I have been and that's why I am where I am today.

My entire outlook now hangs on the fact that I know how hard this is going to be. That's no shock. I know that in order to reach my goals I'm going to have to work harder than I have ever worked for any one thing. I know that I'm going to stumble and get back up and stumble again before this is all over but I also realize that no minor set back will end the process. It will only end when it's done. There are no expectations other than that I eventually achieve my goals. No arbitrary time lines no tricks or traps and no forks in the road. There's just a straight path from here to there and though I can't yet see the finish line I'm on the road and I'm headed in the right direction. The only thing left to do is walk until I get there. It's this simplicity that makes it possible for me to take on my task with a certain amount of ease and optimism.

In the past I've always built road blocks. I set too many goals like, "I want to lose this much by this date!" Or, "oooh if I just lose 20lbs a month I can get there by this date." It may sound too simple but if the only goal we have is the end goal and we just focus on that instead of chopping the journey up into little sections our task becomes much clearer.

Let me try to make a simple analogy...when I first began with my trainer he would give me an exercise to do and a certain amount of reps, for arguments sake let's say: Squats. He'd have me do 10 squats and the next set I'd be on the 8th squat and he'd see that I was getting through them eaiser this time so he'd say ok I want you to go to 15. Well that may be all fine an dandy in practice but I had paced myself to go all out to 10 and now I was expected to use the energy that I had stored up for the final 2 to give him 7 more? We have an agreement now that he tells me before the set how much he wants. I may not want to do that many but, at least, I can plan ahead and pace it out. And, as it turns out he knows exactly what I can and can't do so I trust him to make that decision and we get through it.

I guess my point is that it's all about pace. If we set up all of these little check points or road blocks along the way to our main goal we may find that we only save enough enthusiasm and energy to get to that next check point and then what do we have left for the rest of the race?

July 28, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: out of protein powder (note to self: pick some up) Toast w/ peanutbutter and 1 apple

Meal 2: turkey sandwich (home) 2 slices of wheat bread fresh spinach, mustard mayo, apple

Meal 3: Chicken breast, small green salad, whole wheat noodles w/ marinara sauce

Meal 4: no meal went to movies and had small popcorn w/ a little drizzle of butter flavored food stuffs and sobe lean (ok not good but...good! if you know what I mean) ;)

Water and Vitamins (almost out: Note to self post review and contact ryan at naturegreens)

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Workout:

Treadmill: 30 min

Crunches: 3 sets 20 reps

I went to the Dr and the Dr said...

OK so I went to the Dr today. I told him about my foot and he agreed that it was most likely Plantars Facitiis and recommended that I get a foot support from the pharmacy and see how that works. I guess I'll try that if it comes back. As for the Insomnia he referred me to an Insomnia class...I hope they aren't teaching how to get insomnia because if they are they'll be preaching to the choir. I did get my hemoglobin A1C test results back...for those of you not familliar with it. The hemoglobin A1C is a blood test that is meant to give you a 3 month average of your blood sugar levels.

A reading anywhere between 4.0 and 6.0 would be considered normal (non-diabetic) range. Diabetics are thought to be doing well on their treatment plan if their reading falls below 7 and some feel 6.5.

in feb of 2006 my Hemoglobin A1C was tested at 7.1 and I spent much of the beginning of the year feeling really ill. I missed a lot of work. And while that may not be that high and some people function rather well at much higher levels the combination of my blood sugar, my weight, sleep apnea and some minor anemia I was experiencing was enough to put me out of commission. It was the at this point that I finally decided to take charge of my health.

Well as of today, after 7 weeks of diet and exercise, my Hem A1C is sitting at 6.5 which means (to me at least) that there is a fair chance of reversing my diabetes... huzzah!

Oh and my work out clothes feel like a tent on me. I'm gonna weigh in next week and may take some pictures so you can tell me if you notice a difference... cool?

July 27, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: Protein shake

Meal 2: Chicken breast sandwich on whole wheat roll, lettuce and tomato, mustard and mayo

Meal 3: (you'll be so proud) Lagre salad w/ tomatoes etc. and sliced turkey/ italian dressing

meal 4: 2 chicken breast soft tacos/ lettuce and tomatoe and 1 large apple

Water and Vitamins

***************

Workout

standing over the shoulder pull down aprox 55lbs each arm(alternating arms): 3 sets 10 reps each arm
Standing across body medicine ball toss: 10lbs ball: 3 sets 15 reps to each side

standing press alternating arms (low weight): 3 sets 12 reps
Squat while holding a bar, holding at bottom of squat for 3 seconds: 3 sets 10 reps

no cardio today/ had to take brother to airport/ will go on off day tomorrow for cardio

My day in a nut shell..

Going to the Dr to talk about whay my foot has been hurting lately and about why I can't seem to sleep at night. I've missed a lot of work this year due to my health issues and even though I feel healthier because of the whole gym and diet thing I still have other issues especially related to fatigue that make getting things done difficult.

I did get some of my blood tests back from yesterday's tests and everything looks good. I always like to brag about this because it seems so contrary to my weight but my Cholesterol result is really good. While it's recommended that people's cholesterol be under 200 to be healthy my Cholesterol sits firmly at 138 for the second testing cycle. Thank you. Ok it's all genetic but still I brag! ha-ha *doin' a dance*
I'm still waiting on my Hemoglobin A1C to determine what my 3 month average blood sugar has been. I'll keep you posted because this is the one that lets us know if the Diabetes is getting better or worse. I have a feeling that it will have gotten better.

On a less self aggrandizing note I'd like to extend my respect and best wishes to my older brother P and my younger brother's girlfriend S. They are both in the middle of taking the State Bar Exam in their respective states (NY and CA). I wish you the best of luck and the least of frustration and I send my love and admiration for all your hard work!

Blogger acting up...

I'll try posting again a little later today. Blogger is acting twitchy...

July 26, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: Slept in

Meal 2: no meal had to fast 12 hours so That I could go to the Lab for routine blood tests

Meal 3: Protein Shake, 1 apple, peanutbutter sandwich

Meal 4: Large Togo's Turkey Sandwich (normal config) (bottle of sobe)

Water and Vitamins

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Workout:

Treadmill 30 min
incline crunches: 3 sets 20 reps

I'm full of it...

Quick edit***

I want to take a quick moment to send a huge thank you to the 3 latest contributers to my Diabetes fundraiser. I can't believe how many wonderful people are really stepping up and laying it down for the cause. I personally thank each and every one of you for your generous gifts!

Brooke O'dell
Robin L.
Charil Lorenzo

New Total $521.11
Thanks eveyone!

**********

"it" being Ideas or big dreams and schemes!

As I mentioned in a previous post I "run" a non-profit music education program here in my home town (I use the quotation marks because the program was kind of on auto pilot last year but I'm hoping to have more time and energy to dedicate to it this coming school year). So far the money we need has been raised through Show's that we put on in local venues with local bands and through grants that my partner Clay writes. We have dreams of making the program a big deal and expanding our student base or at least being able to reach a lot more children than we already do. All of which takes money.

I've been thinking lately about doing something fun on the internet like this blog that could raise money for not only our Music Ed Program but could raise Awareness about the lack of Music ED in public schools and maybe raise funds for us and other programs like ours out there doing good work.

I don't want to give away the whole project because I the last thing I need is for someone to snag it and do it before I even get it off the ground. I'll give you the jist though and maybe you can let me know what you think.

Ok, So I have a 1975 mustang II that is in need of a new engine and tranny as well as a good paint job and interior. Actually the paint and the interior are ok but I'm looking to really pimp this thing out like on that MTV show. My plan is to find a custom shop who will quote me a price to completely rebuild the car...maybe even donate some of the work but quote us a price and write us a letter of promise to do the job at that price. (under our parent non-profit our program has 501c3 status in the US so any work or parts they donate would be tax deductible) Then I have a product in mind to sell for $1 each (an extra 50 cents if shipping is needed) and we could sell as many of those as it took to raise the funds to rebuild the car. Once the car was complete I would use it for 1 year for publicity purposes for the non-profit and then I would Auction off the car and all the proceeds would go to music education...our project and maybe one or 2 nationally known programs like "Little Kids Rock"...

I'm expecting the bill to be around $20,000 maybe less (anyone out there familliar with rebuilding clasic cars let me know how far off I am. the body is very sound and only has minor dents) and I think it could be done. I may even be able to get the "product" I want to sell donated as well otherwise I'll have to tack on another $3,000 to cover that...

I've wanted to use the mustang for something charity related since I'm begining to think I may never rebuild it for my own use. Also I would really like to push the premise that you can make a $1 dollar donation and make a huge difference.

I'm not sure when I would start but I'd like to get it going this year if possible. It's a matter of getting the right shop to deliver the right quote and getting the product lined up to sell.

So, what do you think would you pay a dollar to give a child the gift of music?

July 25, 2006 Meals and Workout

Meal 1: Protein Shake

Meal 2: Chicken Breast Sandwich and garden salad

Meal 3: Half of a Large Togo's Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat Roll, mayo and mustard, lettuce and pickles and 1 apple (bottle of sobe lean)

Meal 4: second half of sandwich from meal 3

Water and Vitamins

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Steps on 9"? Step /turning to step up and then turning back to step down: 3 sets 10 reps each leg
Seated rows unknown weight: 3 sets 15 reps
Seated squats with 2 X 25lbs dumbells (curled upon standing): 3 sets 15 reps

Chest Flys with heavy resistance band: 2 sets 20 reps

no treadmill. Waited 15 min but none opened up and I was getting stiff/ will get in half hour on wednesday

Watch My Loss Goes Public...

...WAAAAAIIIT!

Before everyone runs off to your stock broker with your piggy banks, flower jars, sock drawers and those soup cans with the false bottoms hoping to buy up 51% controlling stock in my blog so that you can show up to the board meeting in a mink coat smoking one of those really thin cigarettes on an extra long filter hoping to fire me an take over the blog so that you can balloon up to over 500lbs and then try to lose it all so that you can get on Oprah and jump on her sofa like some sort of Tom Cruise Wanna-be..... stop.

All I mean is that Today was the day that they let me set up a table at my gym so that I could bring my message to the glistening masses. And that's just what I did. There I sit...laptop and print-outs in hand smiling like a dieter who has just been told that the FDA has reclasified pizza as a fruit.

There they were..my public! Just waiting to line up and listen to my touching story....or maybe they were lining up for the drinking fountain. But, i wouldn't let that deter me. I'm at least half as clever as a drinking fountain and I would soon have their attention.

Turns out that that drinking fountain was the freaking Einstein of drinking fountains. I was clearly out witted...I don't think anyone even saw me. ;)

But seriously. It was slow at first until I realized that I was just going to have to speak up....'here goes'...."Padone me ma'am?" I spoke timidly at first. "How do you feel about finding a cure for Diabetes?"...she stopped and came over...! Sweet my first person...I was in business! I repeted, "How do you feel about finding a cure for Diabetes?" Her Hand flew up to her chest and I thought that I had really touched on something with that question...She then replied "Oh thank God! I thought you said something else...nooo no I don't have Diabetes. I'm not interested!" and walked away quickly.

Uuuuuuunhhh?

Lets look at that play in super slow "analogus" motion..."do you want to donate to the World Trade Center victim's families?" "Wahh? Oh...Thank GOD! I thought you said something else....!No thanks. I didn't live in N.Y during the attack! Tra la la!"

Well...Ok it wasn't as bad as all that but it was a strange response. As if the only people my information should go to were people with Diabetes. *sigh* lol

After that it got much better. I eventually spoke to about 20 or so really thoughtfull people. I collected emails and received a $10 donation! All in all i had a productive day and met some very nice people (Who I hope read to the bottom of this page so that their first impression of me, on line, is not that of a whiner)

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table at 24HR Fintess on 7/24/06! I hope you enjoy the blog and any donation the the American Diabetes Association would be greatly appreciated!

July 24, 2006 Meals and Workout

Meal 1: sleep

Meal 2: turkey Sandwich on whole wheat bread w/ mustard, mayo, fresh spinach and 1 large apple

Meal 4: Chicken breast sandwich on whole wheat bun w/ lettuce tomato and mayo

Meal 4: Chicken burrito w/ rice and beans (bottle of sobe lean)

Water and vitamins

**************************************

Workout:

Treadmill: 30 min varying speeds from 2 to 2.5 mph

Oh Dear God The Heat...

This is getting to be too much... *sigh* I swear it was over 110 degrees again today and right now as I lie here and type this it is currently 84 degrees at 1:30am. Augh...when will it end? It looks like we have 3 more days of this before it cools down to a nice balmy 100 degrees...*sigh* I feel like I'm going to wilt.
Thank God for AC but still...

On a lighter note my trainer has arranged for me to set up a table at the gym Monday afternoon and put out info about my website and fundraiser so we may be getting some company soon. I guess I'll print out some info and my web address...I'll probably take my computer along as well so that people can get a look at the site right there at the table. We'll see. It could be fun...maybe I'll raise some funds as well. Wish me luck.

July 23, 2006 Meals

Meal 1: Slept in again (finally sleeping)

Meal 2: Protein Shake, Peanut butter on whole wheat bread and 1 apple

Meal 3: Chicken Breast Sandwich on Wheat bread w. small garden salad and Itallian dressing

Meal 4: Regular Togo's Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat roll w/ mustard and mayo, lettuce and pickles (sobe lean)

Water and Vitamins

Mommy...I'm scared of the spandex monster...

I just realized today that not only am I getting great physical benefits from the gym but it's turned out to be an environment that I truly enjoy.

Going in, my expectation was that it would be a place full of judgment and discomfort. Seriously. You've seen the commercials for fitness gyms. Bunch of skinny or muscle bound people running around in spandex or less, slappin' each other's butts with towels...with their biceps and their triceps and their quads and their gluteus minimis all flexin' about almost mocking you through the screen. All the while sipping on some high protein, low carb, super blugreen algae shake delivered to them in the sauna or at their shiny workout station between reps of 7,000lb leg presses or their third circuit of Hungarian dead lifts while they're spotted by their own personal trainer cloned from the combined DNA of Mr Atlas and Sheena queen of the jungle! Meanwhile, I'm sitting there, gluteus maximus firmly rooted to my slowly shrinking sofa, couch or davenport for those of you up north, munching on a day old pizza wondering why I can't look like that! Anyone else...I know I'm not alone in this...

What I've found is quite the opposite. It really is terrible how much many of us make of our own perceived sort comings, so much so, in fact, that we expect everyone else to pick up on it and react a certain way. It can be very unsettling or at the least confusing when our expectations are not met and we are, instead, treated with...*GaSp* respect... "Wha? huh? Respect? But I'm not worthy of respect am I?!" "Just look at how I feel about myself...I don't respect me why should others?"

Since I've been at the gym What I've found is that, first of all, people are generally much too into what they're doing to take time to be judgmental of others. Then there are the folks who take out one ipod ear plug long enough to ask you politely, if you are almost done with (insert equipment name here). And the ones who do really acknowledge you are the type of people who are typically genuine in nature and will often toss a sincere smile your way or ask you how your workout is going or if they have spoken with you before they may feel comfortable enough to jokingly scold you about not wanting to "catch you slacking on your workout". Women, who I know would not give me the time of day on the street engage me in genuine conversation as if there were none of the stereotypical physio-social boundaries that exist in the "real" world. Just being there and putting in effort brings with it a certain respect and even camaraderie that one might not expect until experienced.

I'm not sure why I wanted to bring this up except that I know that people can be afraid of taking that first step and getting into some sort of public/social exercise arena. I say do it! It'll do worlds of good for your self esteem and worlds of good for your health!

July 22, 2006 Meals and workout

Meal 1: Protein Shake and 1 apple

Meal 2: peanutbutter on 2 slices of wheat bread (rushing off to the gym)

Meal 3: Subway chicken sandwich on whole wheat roll, lettuce, pickles mayo and mustard (bottle sobe lean)

Meal 4: Chicken, rice and bean burrito (large)

Water and Vitamins

Workout:

series 1:
Squat and toss with 10lbs Ball (granny style): 3 sets 15 reps
Standing inclined pushups with alternating knee lift: 3 sets 20 reps

Series 2: (resistance machine)
standing twist (at the waist) minimal weight: 3 sets 20 reps
standing resistance press w/ unknown weight: 3 sets 15 reps

Treadmill: 15 min

July 21, 2006 Meals and workout

Meal 1: Skipped/ over slept again

Meal 2: Peanut butter Sandwich on 2 slices of whole wheat bread and 2 small apples

Meal 3: chicken breast sandwich w/ mayo and mustard and lettuce on whole wheat bun and about 15 mini carrots

Meal 4: Large Togo's turkey sandwich on whole wheat roll with extra lettuce and reg. Pickles/ mayo and mustard (bottle of sobe lean)

water and vitamins

************************************************************

Workout:

Treadmill: 30 min changing between 2 mph and 2.5 mph every 5 minutes
Incline crunches: 3 sets 20 reps

Are You My Wife?

Gather 'round! This one's for the single ladies!

Have you ever thought to yourselves, "There are just no good men out there..." Well you, my friends of the fairer sex, are in for a treat today! Now before you get your hopes up I'm not anouncing my eligibility or anything like that so don't all jump up at once...heh heh...ooook no one's moving. How many of you did I just scare off? lol

Noooo my friends what I have for you is of much greater appeal. I would like to direct your attention to this here link Are You My Wife.com!

My name is Allan Wills and I will go anywhere in the world for the right date.

This is where all your wildest dreams could come true...or you could just meet a really nice guy who has decided to shun tradition and throw his fate to the cyber winds.

Meet Allan Wills. Writer, actor, photographer, lover of life and one heck of a handsome guy! Ask him on a date or ask him to complete a task. He's game for the game and he's playing to win.

So, if you are up for adventure and you think that convention is just some place you might find shriners in funny hats. This is the place for you. Allan asks "Are you my wife?"...well...are you?

July 20, 2006 Meals and workout

Meal 1: Protein Shake

Meal 2: Turkey Sandwich on whole wheat bread w/ fresh spinach/ mayo and mustard and 1 apple

Meal 3: Chicken breast sandwich on whole wheat bun, mayo, mustard, lettuce and garden salad

Meal 4: Peanutbutter sandwich on whole wheat bread and 1 apple

water and vitamns

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Work out:
series 1:
Boxing while holding resistance rope following trainer from side to side: 3 sets 1 minute

Free squats, squating enough to touch an upright dumbell set between my legs: 3 sets 20 rebs

series 2:

standing one arm rows/ pulling from elevated incline: 120lbs 3 sets 10 reps each arm

Inclined crunches side to side and lifting each knee while holding out 10lbs weight: 3 sets 10 reps each

treadmill: 15 min

Raw Scale Data...

I was near the hospital today and decided to weigh myself even though I'm not sure if I can trust the scale. I've decided that as long as I'm using the same scale and that same scale doesn't seem to fluctuate with regard to readings taken against it's own previous readings then I can at least trust it to give me accurate progress even if my actual weight is not 100% accurate. Meaning if the scale says I weigh 100 lbs (for argument's sake) and say I lose 2 lbs...as long as the scale then tells me that I weigh 98 lbs I can trust it to give me my accurate loss...even though I may weigh 530 down to 528. It's still an accurate assessment of progress... Does that make sense?

Given that here are my figures from my first weigh in on June 8 through Today July 19 (41 days)

6/08/06
Total Weight: 527.6lbs (239.8kg)
Body Fat: 51.5% or 271.7lbs (123.5 Kg)
Fat Free Mass: 48.5% or 255.9lbs (116.3kg)

7/04/06
Total Weight: 533.8lbs (242.6kg)
Body Fat: 50.4% or 266.7lbs (121.2 Kg)
Fat Free Mass: 49.6% or 262.5lbs (119.3kg)

7/19/06
Total Weight: 532.4lbs (242.0kg)
Body Fat: 46.8% or 249.2lbs (113.3 Kg)
Fat Free Mass: 53.2% or 283.2lbs (128.7kg)

Now again I show an over all weight gain of 4.8lbs
but if you look at the Body fat...
on 6/08 My body fat was at 271.7 lbs
on 7/04 My body fat was at 266.7 lbs loss of 5lbs of fat
on 7/19 My body fat now at 249.2 lbs Total loss of 22.5 lbs of fat

You can go ahead and do the math...the Fat Free Body Mass numbers even out as well and show a gain of 27.3 lbs

27.3 lbs Muscle Gain
22.5 lbs Fat Loss
=4.8 lbs weight gain

So there you are! I think that's real progress. It appears that moving this large body around just happens to build muscle at a very efficient rate.

Like I said, until I find a scale that I know is calibrated and as long as this scale seems consistant against it's own readings I'll continue to post my progress from it. Now as soon as the muscle gain plateaus it'll really start eating the fat and then I'll see the number's start to drop!

So what do you think. It's never easy with me folks...seems like my body wants to do this the hard way...

No one said it was gonna be easy...

July 19, 2006 Meals

Meal 1: Protein shake

Meal 2: Peanutbutter sandwich on whole wheat bread and 1 apple

Meal 3: Large Togo's Turkey sandwich on whole wheat roll w/ lettuce, pickles, mustard and mayo (bottle of sobe lean)

Meal 4: Turkey sandwich on 2 slices of whole wheat bread w/ fresh spinich, mayo and mustard and 1 apple

A little Perspective...

I have another donation to mention! A huge, Watch My Loss, thank you to

Alain Lapalme

For a generous donation to diabetes research! You gift brings us up to $481.11 (2 donations pending entry)! Thanks Alain!

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Ok! I thought tonight that I'd give everyone a little perspective on just what 250lbs looks like. Trust me I didn't really understand what I was up against until I started searching the internet for "Things that weigh 250LBS!"

the first item on our list tonight is a really good way to illustrate 250 lbs of fat... I give you...


250 Lbs of Silly Putty
Can you say eewww? I know I can. Good gravey that's a lot of silly putty. Imagine carrying that around with you every day...

Ok...next we turn to the animal kingdom for a cute and fuzzy if not dangerous in a "don't corner me or my cubs or I'll scratch your eyes out and eat your splean while wearing your entrails for a hat" sort of fashion. Seeee 250Lbs can kill you in more than one way... I give you...


250LB Mountain Lion (cougar)


The subject of our next image not only weighs 250lbs but is named after a tasty treat that if eaten on a regular basis could cause someone to gain 250 extra lbs...I give you


250lbs of rockin' Meatloaf



And last but not least a child hood idol of mine. I guess it goes to prove that when we mature we must sometimes lose childish things...I give to you...


Mark "Mr. 70 home run in 1 season" Mcgwire
Big Mac
Agent Orange
One half of the Bash Brothers



That's right folks I'm acctually carrying around the equivalent of Mark Mc-freaking-gwire on me in addition to my own lean body mass...Yikes...

I guess I have my work cut out for me... ;)

July 18, 2006 Meals and workout

Meal 1: Protein Shake

Meal 2: skipped

Meal 3: Turkey Sandwich on sourdough bread, lettuce, pickles, mustard and mayo and bowl of cubed watermellon

Meal 4: Large fresh Chicken, rice and pinto bean burrito, hand full of tortilla chips and salsa

Water and vitamin

**********************************************************************

Workout:
series 1:

Standing create a figure 8 with arms while holding one end of a resistanace band and the instructor holds the other and turns in the opposite direction! I call it "GIVE ME MY ROPE BACK...DON'T MAKE ME RUN AFTER YOU...TRUST ME!" 3 sets 20 reps

One handed side toss with 6 lbs medicine ball: 3 sets 15 reps

Standing bench press on resistance machine 3 sets 15 reps

series 2:

Squats holding onto a bar for support: 2 sets 15 reps

bent over barbell row: 2 sets 15 reps

15 min on treadmill

Proud, relieved, intrigued...

It's 12:10am where I live and a moment ago my page counter click over to 7,000 hits since made my very first post...in 53 days...7,000 unique clicks! You guys are the best! Your continued support and encouragement through my first crazy month and the days that preceded...nothing but great replies and emails from really wonderful people. Of course I can't forget Kyle from One Red Paperclip.com for shining the light and showing everyone the way here. Thanks Man and Nice House my friend! I can't wait to see what you have planned next! I still have a long row to hoe butit's only bigger and better and smaller and thinner things from here on out!!

Next...If you had a chance to check out my Food and Workout post for tonight you'll be happt to note that I was able to get in and get 1/2 treadmill time and 100 crunches...more importantly...very little heel pain! Wahoo...I think that a lot of you folks were right...I may have "Plantars fasciitis". I did some of the indicated exsecises and took some Ibuprofin this morning and Wha-lah loads less pain! Oh yeah....After I pushed myself like that I feel like something missing had just popped into place. I dunno..I feel like this thing is about to kick in big time. It's hard to explain but I feel really good right now and am looking forward to tomorrow's work out. We may just be on our way. Stay tuned!

Lastly...

I received an email today from a young writer who is working on a novel and he asked me if he could interview me about my experience being severely over weight. It seems that one of his characters is roughly my size and since he has no personal experience being my size and since he read my blog and feels that I'm able to be candid about my experiences he thinks that I may be able to give him some good character development info.

I love the idea and I plan to write him back and accept his request.... (by the way if you are the guy that sent me the email and you read this...consider it my response and start getting your questions ready because i'll be in touch sometime within the next 48 hours. I'd email you right now but I need sleep!)

So there she dear watchers...another day and a positive outlook....all in all a good thing..no? :0)

July 17, 2006 Meals and workout

Meal 1: Protein Shake

Meal 2:Apple

Meal 3: Turkey Sandwich w/ lettuce, mustard and mayo on Whole Wheat, bowl of cubed watermellon

Meal 4: Chicken breast Sandwich on whole Wheat Bun, lettuce mustard, mayo

I know I knwo but it was sooo flippin hot out today that I couldn't eat a thing

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Workout:

Treadmill 30 minutes

Crunches on a incline : 5 sets of20

I'm your puppet....

So, I've been thinking about what I'm going to do for my pod cast... I haven't forgotten. I've just been busy trying to figure out what I want to do to make it interesting. I think I've decided to make a puppet of myself like the one that I showed you in that earlier post. I've been really interested in getting back into puppet making. I figure I can use it from time to time in the video podcast and if I make 2 I could even auction one off on eBay with half of the proceeds going to Diabetes Research. Would anyone be interested on bidding on something like that? I wonder... ;)

I think I'm going to start gathering materials this week and I'll show my progress as I go. It may be ambitious but it could be really fun. Heck I may even be able to extend the idea if I get good enough, with enough practice. Maybe one day I'll be able to offer to build custom puppets for people maybe even hold workshops and teach people how to make them. Ok, I know I'm way ahead of myself. I've built one puppet in my life...I'll get to work on the Me-puppet and see if it actually looks anything like me first.

July 16, 2006 Meals

Meal 1: Slept in

Meal 2: Chicken breast sandwich on whole wheat bun w/ mayo and lettuce and 1 large Apple

Meal 3: 1/2 large Togo's turkey sandwich on whole wheat roll, lettuce and pickles, mayo and mustard
(took sandwich to the movies and had a small popcorn w/ NO butter and bottle of sobe lean)

Meal 4: the other half of my turkey sandwich...

Water and Vitamins

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Still resting heel... *sigh*

Clear a path! I'm bigger than you are.

Again! Let me first thank the latest watcher for his wonderful and thoughtful donation to the Diabetes drive!

Steve Kleinsmith

Our hats are off sir! The best to you and yours!

Also due to My Kleinsmith's request I will soon be posting my Paypal and mailing info for those of you who would prefer to use those methods instead of using a credit card through the ADA Donations page I have set up. Please remember, If there is a method of donation that you would rather us please let me know and I'll make whatever arrangements are needed and IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OR PERSON WITH A VERY GIVING HEART AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO MATCH ANYONE'S DONATION OR A DAY'S, WEEK'S OR MONTH'S WORTH OF DONATIONS please contact me and we'll get you the recognition you deserve. I'm also willing to posts company or personal banners for the durration of the matching period as well...let's talk!

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I was hanging around at my friends Justin and Kerry's house today and we were all talking as they hung drywall in their soon to be kitchen. The topic of body size came up at one point and Kerry asked me something about whether I find that my size intimidates people or not and it caused me to think a little. I mean, it's not that I hadn't given it thought before but I don't think that I've ever thought about in the context that one day (in the close future) I won't be as big as i am today.

To answer the question...Yes. I do find that my size intimidates some people. Although I'm not always sure if it's just my size or if it's a combination of size and race at times. By the way, because I know that it's hard to tell by looking at me and for those of you wondering my ethnic back ground is rather simple. As I'm told my biological mother was Caucasian and my Bilogoical father was Black. I was, however, raised in a completely Caucasian family. I only mention this because my size has often given people to believe that I am of Samoan or some other Islander heritage.

Back to size... I guess I've always been conscious of people's reaction to me. And, I have generally gone out of my way to make people feel more comfortable around me or at least done what I can to aleviate their concerns if I suspect they may have any. Example: walking down a street and an elderly person is approaching. If I sense discomfort or even if I don't I'll make sure to make direct eye contact and smile and knod which will generally suffice. If I feel it's not enough I'm not above crossing a street in an effort to mitigate their fear. I've done the same on dark streets for women and children as well.

Now, being intimidating is not always a bad thing. Not that I frequent bars much as i'm more of a coffee house type person. I have had the occasion to happen upon a physical confrontation or two and through sheer spectacle of size have been able to negotiate a peacefull outcome. I've also given people pause when the may have normally acted out physically against myself. Case in point: I went to a bar one night to see one of my favorite performers "Jonathan Richman" perform. I was waiting for the show to start and the bar was really crowded. I found a great spot to stand where I had a good view of the stage but someone decided to force his way through the crowd and stop directly in my line of view. On top of that he was wearing one of those brimmed fishing hats that made him a couple of inches taller than he would be normally. Well, I figured no harm and tapped him on the shouder and asked him to scoot over a couple of feet. His reaction was to NOT look over his shoulder but rather to stand up taller blocking more of my view. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and again I politely tapped him on the shoulder and asked him to please scoot over a foot or so so that he wouldn't block my view. Again he ignored me so I did the only thing I could think to do...I grabbed him by the shoulders and I moved him over about a foot. It was then that he decided to turn around and you could tell he was about to...well... give me what fer but then he saw me and stopped abruptly and all he could get out was "Geeeze man all you had to do was ask!" To which I replied..."I did man. Twice!"...to which he came back..."Alright man Alright" and turned around and a little later moved to a different spot. In this situation I found that my size was definately a benefit. Oh by the way if any of you know John McRea, the lead singer from Cake...tell him hello from the big guy he stood in front of at the old Press Club in Sacramento a few years back. I like your music man...uh...don't be an ass!

Another thing that I've noticed but try not to react to is the sound of people locking their car doors as I cross the street in the cross walk in front of them. I know that a lot of men and especially men of color get this from time to time but I don't remember the last time I didn't hear the 'clunk' of a door lock or see someone reach quickly across their car to hit the passenger door lock as I crossed the street. Oh I also love the people who hit their remote car alarm and extra time if they see me getting out of my car near theirs. Like I said though I've tried to not let these things affect me too much. As for the car door locking, I get it. It's a matter of safety. You don't know me and you have no idea what my intentions are. Might I perhaps suggest that you lock your door upon starting your car. Then you're safe for the whole trip and you won't go giving the big but kind hearted guy in the crosswalk a complex... ;)

So, I guess I have mixed feelings about the benefits of being big. On the one hand I don't generally get challenged physically but on the other I feel , out of personal responsibility, that I can't walk down the street without making constant calculations regarding others and their comfort.

I honestly think that I may miss some of the benefits of my size when I lose the weight but I also have a feeling that just blending will be a nice change of pace...

July 15, 2006 Meals

Meal 1: Protein Shake and 1 large Apple

Meal 2: Turkey Sandwich on whole wheat bread, mustard, mayo w/ fresh Spinich, bowl of chicken vegitable soup and 1 apple

Meal 3: sesame chicken over rice w/ steamed broccoli

Meal 4: peanut butter on 2 slices of whole wheat bread and 3 cellery stalks with salt

Water and vitamins

**********************************

Normal work out day but trainer is out of town and mu heel is killing me today. I'm starting to wonder if I have a heel spur. I'm going to the Dr next week if it doesn't stop hurting by wednesday.

I do plan to go tomorrow morning and try to get in my cardio and some crunches.

I really want to add some extra time and days to my treadmill but this foot is holding me back and i'm just not ready to make the move to swimming just yet...no matter what you say I just can't get past the block i have about taking my shirt off in front of people...not yet.

Fortunately I am able to do all of the conditioning and muscle strengthening exercises that My trainer gives me and so i do get some cardio benefit from that. As son as I can put it all together I have a feeling things will pick up.

Paris Hilton plans no sex for one year

Friday July 14th, 2006 at 12:08 pm by LucyLastic

Paris Hilton announced last month that she wanted to stay single for a while but now it looks like she's going to take it a step further: she's planning to be steer clear of sex for a year in order to "rediscover" herself.

In a recent tv interview, she revealed: "I'm doing it just because I want to. I feel I'm becoming stronger as a person."

"Every time I have a boyfriend I'm just so romantic, and I'll put all my energy into the guy, and I don't really pay attention to myself."
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Damn! And right when I was fixin' to make my move!!

July 14, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: Protein Shake

Meal 2: Sliced turkey on a garden salad w/ Italian dressing from the lunch truck

Meal 3: Half of a Large Togo's Turkey Sandwich Wheat, Mustard, Mayo, lettuce, pickles, tomato

Meal 4: 2nd half of togo's sandwich and 1 large apple

Water and Vitamins

*****************************

Workout:

Ankle felt a little better so I went in for,
Treadmill 20 min
70 crunches on an incline bench (35 with 25 pound weight pressed to alternating knee on each crunch)

I think I saw the sand man...

I have a feeling that if I act right now I may be able to catch that old sand man and get some much needed sleep...so I'm gonna do that.
G-night ya'll! Sweet dreams...w/ splenda for those of us with the diabetes!

July 13, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: Soy Protein Shake

Meal 2: Chicken breast sandwich on Whole Wheat bun w/ lettuce and tomato, mustadr and mayo and 1 apple

Meal 3 and 4: Large togo's Turkey sandwich w/ letuce and pickle, mustard and mayo

Water and Vitamins


***********************************
Workout:
Rowing w/ weight "unknown" but heavy 3 sets 15 reps
Arms extended circles w/ 10lbs medicine ball


Tricept press w/ 40lbs dumbell: 3 sets 10 reps
Standing barbell press and alternate leg lift: 3 sets 20 reps
Sitting squats: 3 sets 20 reps

Treadmill: 10 minutes/ Heel still in pain but wanted to give it a try. feeling a little better...will try again tomorrow!

Who's Sammie??

I would like to take this opportunity to give huge concratulations to a few friends of mine who were recognized tonight for their dedication to their craft and their passion for performing some pretty great music! For those of you not from my home town and even for some of you who are but don't travel in the same circles. This evening at the Historic Crest Theatre in Downtown Sacramento, The Sacramento News held it's 15 annual Sacramento Area Music Awards! Better known as the S.A.M.M.I.E.S.

This is a local muisc awards show that recognizes the best of the best in area Independant Music and musicians!

This year was especially important to me because, although I technicaly ' know' many local musicians, seven of my very closest friends were nominated for various awards and all but two of them won in the respective catagories!!!!

Of course you know my Friend Justin Farren . Justin was the writer and primary singer of my theme song Well, Justin was Nominated in the Folk/Acoustic catagory for the second year and WON his first SAMMIE for BEST Folk/Acoustic performer! Go Justin!

Please Click on THIS HERE LINK to read Justin's Sammie's Profile and to listento a couple of his wonderful songs!

Also to my buddies Brian Rogers, Andre Fylling and Sam Phelps who form the fabulous "Four Guys From Reno"! Con-frigggen-gratulations for your 3rd win in a row as Sacramento's BEST Jazz Band. This third win now cements them in as SAMMIE'S Hall OF Fame Members. Hall Of Fame Vets and all in their early 20's! I love you guys! Please visit THIS LINK RIGHT HERE! to learn more about this amazing band and to get a taste of what they do!

I want to also give mention to my good friend Dean Haakenson from the band "Be Brave Bold Robot" who was also up for the Folk/Acoustic award with Justin farren. Dean is the only person in that catagory that i would have been ok with if he had beaten Justin. Dean is a Lovely, bearded, Sweaty beautiful man who put on one of the fiersest performances on record tonight! He received the much deserved ONLY standing ovation of the evening and not to mention the most gracious gesture of covering one of Justin's Songs and then calling Justin up on stage to perform sing along on one of Dean's originals later in the set! A friendlier competition there has never been and it was an honor to witness! I love you too man! They don't come much better than you!

And lastly I want to give my congrats to My friends in Compadre for getting their first nomination in the R&B/Funk catagory...Uhhhh who are the Benny's anyway? I don't know either but You'll get them next year..just keep on doing what you do that get's them dancing the dance that they dance!

***********************************

I also want to make sure that I remember to thank
Tommi H.
My good friend Brian Rogers
and My Fitness Trainer Kendrick
for their recent contributions to my Diabetes Fundraiser!
I can't tell you how much i appreciate it! Thank You all!

Brian and Kendrick I'll be posting your donations later today!

July 12, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: Protein Shake

Meal 2: Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread w/ mayo, mustard, fresh spinich and 1 Apple

Meal 3: took a nap in the mid afternoon

Meal 4: Chicken and Broccoli over steamed rice

Water and Vitamins

July 11, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: slept in

Meal 2: Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread w/ mayo, mustard, fresh spinich and 1 Apple

Meal 3 and 4: 1 Large Togo's sandwich Whole wheat roll, turkey, lettuce, Pickles, mustard, Mayo
1 half bowl whole wheat spagetti with home made marinara sauce

Water and Vitamins

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Workout

Standing reclined pull-ups: 3 sets 15 reps
Reclined barbell press w/ 35 lbs: 3 sets 15 reps

Standing (lat?) pull down: 3 sets 15 reps each arm w/ 20 lbs
Romanian dead lift
( standing with barbell in each hand, bend at waist then stand straight and curl) w/ 25lbs each hand 3 sets 15 reps

No cardio today but feeling a little better, will try tomorrow to walk a little

Frustration and pain...

I don't want folks to worry that I'm becoming discouraged but I am frustrated. Because of my size I guess i was really expecting some dramatic changes right away from working out and dieting. Ok so my clothes fit a little better and my posture is better and I know that i've put on muscle but I honestly don't think the fat is really comming off. And to top it all off my heel has been killing me the last 2 days which has provented me from getting any walking in. I had just decided to push myself to doing at least 1/2 hour of treadmill every day and the moment I made that plan my heel acts up and I can't do what i want.

Just for info's sake I fractured my growth plate in my left ankle when I was 13 and from time to time it hurts for a few days. I know it will eventually go away but at the time when I would really like to push myself I can't so it only serves to magnify the difficulty I'm having with what I expected to be my progress at this point.

Fortunately I can bare the pain enough to get through anything my trainer throws at me during our work out so at least I can do that. And I know someone will suggest it but i'm still too heavy for the stationary bike or the eliptical trainer.

I hate to complain. It's just a minor problem but with the scale troubles and all this...uuuugh! Besides without showing some sort of progress this blog is just me rambling about doing nothing. I just hope everyone will give me a little time to get this all humming like an oiled machine because I promise that I will get to my goal but instead of humming along and then hitting a rough patch I seem to be starting in one...

July 10, 2006 meals

Meal 1: Soy Shake

Meal 2: Chinese food/ Sesame Chicken over rice w/ Steamed broccoli

Meal 3: Turkey sandwich on Whole Wheat bread w/ mayo and mustard and fresh spinich and 1 apple

Meal 4: 3 celery stalks w/ peanut butter

Water and Vitamins

Wish me luck...

I'm off to try to sleep.

july 9, 2006 meals

Meal 1 and 2: I don't know if i've mentioned my horrible insomnia lately but today i was able to sleep in until really late in the day so I skipped my first 2 meals. I know that a lot of you have been concerned about my diet lately but I assure you that this sleep was very important to me as I have been unable to get to bed some nights until 5 or 6 in the morning and then have only slept for 2 or 3 hours before starting my day. I'm hoping to get some sleep over the next few days and start to resume a better diet so please bare with me and thank you for your messages of concern.

Meal 3: Sliced turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread w/ fresh spinich, mayo and mustard. I apple

Meal 4: Grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat bun w/ lettuce, mustard and mayo

Water and Vitamins

H20

"My Water Bottle" (The Creed of the Dieter)
rewritten by Sean Perkey

This is my water bottle.

There are many like it, but this one is MINE.

My water bottle is my best friend. It is my life.

I must master it as I must master my life.

My water bottle without me is useless. Without my water bottle, I am useless.

I must fill my water bottle true.

I must drink more than my fat who is trying to kill me.

I must out drink it before it out drinks me. I will...

My water bottle and myself know that what counts in war is not the brand we drink,

the cost of our water, nor the gulping sounds we make.

We know it is the volume that counts. We will drink deep...

My water bottle is human, even as I, because it is my life.

Thus, I will learn it as a brother.

I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories,
its lid, and its capacity.

I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.

I will keep my water bottle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.

We will become part of each other. We will...

Before my Trainer I swear this creed.

My water bottle and myself are the defenders of my health.

We are the masters of our fat.

We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until there is no fat, but rather a sexy and slimmer me.

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We all know that water is one of the most improtant factors of getting a staying fit. It's simple math. We are made of water. We must drink water. Unfortunately it's not the easiest thing in the world to do. Take me for instance. For years I drank nothing but sugary sodas. Nothing else. And I don't mean just a couple of cans a day. I would seriously drink gallons daily. It took me developing diabetes to make a change and even then I just changed from sugar to diet and kept on drinking gallons of artificialy sweetned soda daily.

With the start of this process of losing weight and starting to exercise my trainer asked me to consider giving up soda all together and just drink water. Or at least cut out drinks with fake sweetner and caffeine. I can proudly say that for the most part I am drinking nothing but water now (I do have the occasional flavored water and sobe lean) and I'm finding that I really like it. As a matter of fact I sometimes get the same rush from a sip of cold water as I used to get from my first swig of soda in the morning. There was a transition, don't think it was as easy as that. For quite a while I could never quite quench my thirst no matter how much water I drank. Oddly enough my mouth would dry out soon after drinking which really made me doubt the whole water thing. But I stuck with it and now water is amazing...like nature's fruit juice! I get it now!

For those of you out there that need to drink more water. You should really give it a shot. Stick with it and you'll eventually be won over. Another thing you can do is get yourself a really cool water bottle. Something stylish or just fun to carry and it will encourage you to fill up! I, personally carry a Nalgene plastic bottle like you see below. It fits my hand well and has a great rubberized lid that makes it easy to open. Nalgenes are very durable and they don't retain odors so if you want to carry water one day and soup the next you can do it without worry! Plus I think they just look cool and I bet even your friends will notice and want one as well...you might even start a trend amoung your friends and then you will all be happier and healthier! How sweet would that be? And, all because of a kick a** water bottle!

July 8, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: protein Shake


Meal 2: Homemade grilled chicken sandwich, 1 chicken breast, 2 slices of wheat bread, light mayo, reg mustard, lettuce, 1 large apple

Meal 3:Protein Shake and 1 large apple

Meal 4: Can of Hearty Chicken Soup and 3 celery stalks

water and Vitamins
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Workout:

sitting row: (unknown weight) 3 sets 15 reps
sitting squat and medicine ball chest throw: 3 sets 15 reps

bar bell lift from waist to chest then from chest above head: (45 lbs) 3 sets 10 reps
(not sure what to call it) modified running in place 3 sets 60 reps

had to leave without doing cardio for a prior commitment/ was going to go back but ended up taking brisk walk around neighborhood for 20 min

One red Paperclip = One Rad House!

It's official! The wait is over. If you haven't been living under a rock for the last year you know about Kyle McDonnald's quest to trade up from a simple red Paperclip until he bartered for a house. Well almost one year from the day he started his amazing journey he has his house. This is truly one of the best stories I've ever witnessed and I'm so glad to have been able to follow along while it happened!

I'm proud of you Kyle! W all are. You are a true inspiration and One hell of a guy!

I hope everyone will make their way over to Kyle's page at One Red Paperclip , click on the house at the top of the page and give him a heart felt congratulatory post!

Oh and don't forget to read today's post below this one!

cheers everyone!

Diabetes

For those of you who have been following my blog you know that part of my time here is devoted to raising money for Diabetes research. When I first decided to go public with my weight loss story I wanted to do something else that would benefit others as well. Having had some experience raising funds for other non-profit intrests with which I'm involved I figured that using this forum to benefit diabetes research was as important as anything else I could do here.

My goals for this blog then became to chronicle my journey and methods as I attempt to lose 250 Lbs, or roughly half my bodyweight, and to attempt to raise $50,000 (US) to fund Diabetes research.

Since starting this blog a little more than a month ago I am happy to report that while I am having difficulty accurately measuring my exact weight I am exercising regularly and have dramatically changed my eating habits for the better. I feel better, my cloths fit better and I am very optimistic about what the future has to bring. And, as soon as I loose a bit more weight and find a trustworthy scale I will resume updating my weight loss progress. This being a long process I hope everyone will bare with me until I can get the technical issues worked out.

On the fund raising front I haven't really gone all out yet with the promotion of that part of my mission but from the few mentions i have made and through the amazing generosity of the find folks I endearingly call "My Watchers" we have been able to raise a grand total of $381.11 with the last donation being a fantastic $100 from Chris B.! Thank you Chris for your incredible gift!


Goal: $50,000 (US)
Achieved: $381.11

With this post I want to take the opportunity to, not only, thank those who have already donated and encourage those of you who, are able, to consider donating a couple of dollars or even $1 if possible. I know it's been said a million time before with regard to fund raising but it's so true. If we were able to collect 1 dollar from $50,000 people we would reach our goal within a matter of days. I wonder if we could try something like that. Im putting out a challenge to everyone reading. I'm asking everyone to find $1 that they can donate and if you feel up to it ask 5 friends if they will donate $1 and let's see how much we can raise during the month of July.

Oh yeah something I forgot to mention. I'm not exempt from this and I wouldn't ask you to do anything that I'm not willing to do myself. I have pledged to donate $100 of my own money each month that it takes me to lose 250 LBS. I Just made my first $100 donation Today for the month of June 2006.

I'm also looking for business or individuals who would be generous enough to do a matching donation. I'm willing to post your company's logo or your picture in a prominant place on my site for the duration of your matching period plus you getto be part of something special that a lot of people will get to see on a daily basis. What I'm asking is for a pledge to match incoming donations for a day, week or month of your choosing! What do you say? Are you game? Oh and it is tax deductable for those of you looking to maximize your giving dollar!

In a future post I will go over my own personal experiences with Diabetes but for now if you want to learn more about where your money is going I urge you to go to The American Diabetes Association for more information and then if you feel compelled please make your donations HERE: Diabetes Donations

Thanks everyone!

P.S. the donations page takes Credit Cards and goes directly to the ADA but if you would like to donate and you wish to make an alternate type of payment such as Paypal or by mailing a check Please email me at ukefoo@earthlink.net and I'll tell you how to do that. I will then make the payment to the account on your behalf and make sure that you get credit for the amount donated by name!

July 7, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: protein Shake

Meal 2: peanutbutter sandwich on wheat bread w/ 1 large apple

Meal 3: Homemade grilled chicken sandwich, 1 chicken breast, 2 slices of wheat bread, light mayo, reg mustard, lettuce, 1 large apple

Meal 4: (got home late and wasn't too hungry) peanutbutter sandwich on wheat bread w/ 1 large apple

water and Vitamins

A little about me.

I thought that with this post I'd try to give you wonderful return visitors a little back ground on me. I don't intend this to define me but rather to give you a little info about who sean is and what he does...

As you may know I live in Sacramento Ca in the US. Our city is the Capitol of our state and is a great place to live. It's culturally diverse. We have a solid art community as well as a thriving music scene. One of the best things about our city is that we are so centrally located. We are less than an hour from the Pacific Ocean including places like San Francisco and other coastal destinations. And in the other direction we are about an hour from Lake Tahoe and some great snow sports. It's a nice place to live and honestly as much as I'd like to travel and one day will I think I will always return here.

Ok...'bout me. I'm 35 years old and will be turning 36 in October. I was born in Pittsburg PA in 1970 and was subsequently adopted at the age of 8 months by a woman and her husband in Indiana. The woman who adopted me is who I call my mother as she is the only mother I've known and as she raised me and provided me with the love and nurturing I needed I feel no reason to slap an additional title on her like (adoptive). No matter what difficulties we had as I grew up (all parents and children have their issues) from the moment she first held me to this moment, even though she passed last November, she is my mother.

Anywhoo...moving on. My mother divorced and remarried while we lived in Indiana and when I was 5 we all packed up and moved out to California because of her second husband's work. I should mention that I was eventually adopted by her second husband and he became my Father. He also had 2 children from a previous marrige, one older than myself and one about 1 year younger. He and my mother would also eventually have a son so I have 3 brothers. We'll Call them P, D, and T from oldest to youngest. When we got to Ca P lived with us for a while and then went to live with his brother D and their mother and her new husband (whole lot of marrying going on in the seventies).

I'm going to skip ahead quite a bit because I want to go over my adolescent years at another time because I think my issues with weight are rooted there and I just want to give you a little info now and explore that later when I've organized my thoughts a little better.

Ok...what to tell...? Well, as it is now I live with my youngest brother T in the home our mother left us last year when she passed. We were also the lucky recipients of her seven cats. Now here's my deal with cats...I honestly love them. I'n not one of those guys who's too much of a man to like cats...I think they're great but I am allergic to them although I do believe that I've built up a tollerance to them since living in the house and haven't had any really bad allergy attacks (Knocks wood) but then there's the hair... oh and one of them has no bladder control so that's a constant battle. But, the hair. I just can't deal with it. I feel really bad too because I feel like I'm neglecting my brother by not hanging out with him in the living room when we're home. You know...watching a movie or just having a good conversation. It's like the moment I get home I go straight to my room and close the door. My room and the bathroom are the only 2 cat free zones in the house and I flit between those two rooms like a...I don'r know...name something that flits.

T, if you're reading this...I'm sorry dude. I know I've gotta make more effort to get out of my room and hang out. I love ya man! But it's the hair! It gets everywhere....ugh! but enough about that...

My 2 other brothers, P and D live in New York and Los Angeles. P, my older brother just graduated Law School. Lets have a round of applause for that! GO P! and My brother D is a teacher and Union rep in LA! My brother T works in a leadership capacity for a local enviornmental non-proffit and I work for a advice and appointment call center for a national Medical Care Provider. Oh yeah...I think I hate my job. I used to love it but if I could find anything at this point that would bring in some money and pay for health care i would jump ship. Anyone know about making a lot of money on ebay??? I'm serious at this point. I feel like I could be far more productive if I can getthis weight off and I can find some work that will allow me to maximize my free time so that I can focus on things that I really want to do.

And what are those things sean?
Well I'll tell you. First i'd love to travel. I've really never been anywhere and a lot of that has to do with my weight. I'm not whining. I just have a hard time fitting on airplaines...can you imagine? And if the flight is longer than 6 hours forget about it because i'm damn sure can't fit into most airplaine bathrooms... It kind of restricts me a little.

Next, a couple of friends and I started a Non-profit music education program a couple of years ago that could use some serious hands on time and I feel that I have no time to devote to it any more. The purpose of the program is to provide at risk youth with musical instruments (primarily guitars) and then bring in teachers to teach them. At the end of the class the original Idea was to give the children the guitars at no cost to them or their parents. The first year we saw aprox 50 students. I was able to negotiate low prices for guitars with a couple of local music stores and we hooked up with the local branch of a national non-profit (Concerts4Charity.org) who became our fiscal sponsor which allowed us to collect tax deductible donations and grants. The director of the non-profit, Clay, who is now a good friend of mine has worked with us every step of the way. He wrote grants for us. Organized and threw fundraisers for us, mostly consisting of putting on shows where local bands would play and all proceeds would go to the charity. The whole thing is perfect because of my and his close connection with the local music community.


If you'd like to learn more about our program and Concerts4Charity.org please go here C4C and click on the button marked Programs and choose "FireChild". That's our program!

My main point being that I would love to dedicate a lot of my time to this program so it can grow in to the powerful educational force i think it can be.

Let's see.. I have a great group of friends. Several of them are musicians and amazing ones at that. I think in our small group at least 6 of them have been nominated for Sacramento music awards this year and a few of them are looking for their 3rd win in a row which would cement their place in the Sac Music hall of fame. Thems braggin rights right their my friend! lol
To answer a couple of folks who asked...I am single. I really don't even put myself out there any more. It's mostly me. I've just found that it's a lot eaiser to be social and honestly to allow myself to be as open as I can be without opening myself up to that kind of dissapointment. Someone once remarked that it's funny that I seem comfortable speaking to anyone yet I never seem to be dating anyone. The only reply I could think of was. It's easy to talk with anyone if you're not trying to get in their pants. I know that may be vulgar but seriously. My social skills aren't really in question as far as I'm concerned it's mainly my objective that determines my fate. If that makes any sense. But, who knows, give me a little more confidence and a positive body image and I might be dangerous. It may sound weird but I'm kind of grateful for the humility that comes from being this over weight for so long. You really get to see people for who they are rather than for what they can do for you. I'm sure that that's something that will stick once I lose the weight and decide that it's time to re-examine that part of my social life.

Well dang that's a lot of stuff I just wrote. And, please don't worry. I know I glossed over several large life changing events such as the death of my mother and my feelings regarding her. I promise that I'll go into that another time. I just didn't think that I could do it justice at this time.

July 6, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: Skipped

Meal 2: Peanutbutter sandwich on whole wheat bread, 1 large Apple

Meal 3: Large Togo's Turkey Sandwich on wheat roll w/ mayo and mustard and lettuce & pickles

Meal 4: Grilled chicken burger on hamburger bun, small amount of potatoe salad (maybe 4 0r 5 spoonfulls)

Strawberries after dinner, aprox 6 or 7

water and vitamins

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Workout:

standing rowing (unsure of weight) w/ opposite knee lifts: 3 sets 10 reps each leg (alternating)
standing 3 part wood chop w/ rubber band resistance: 1 rep = lifting up then to the right then to the left: 3 sets 10 reps


standard bench press w/ free weights 115lbs: 2 sets 15 reps
step workout/ standing sideways to step-step up and lift opposite knee for full set then reverse: 2 sets 10 reps each leg

Treadmill 20 min

"The Crush"...on the need for personal connection in order to achieve real pleasure from physical intimacy...

Once again I would like to thank another Watcher for her generous donation to the American Diabetes Association!

Virginia S.

Thank you so much for your contribution!
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I was going through some old live journal posts that I made a couple of years ago and came across something that I wrote in response to a friends musing about the nature of lust as apposed to the intimacy of a commited and developed relationship. She was struggling with the fact that she had what amounted to a serious "Crush" on someone but was reluctant to act upon it because, as she put it, she had always needed a deeper personal connection with a partner before she could experience any meaningful pleasure from physical intimacy.

Having had my fare share of crushes and not acting on them for reasons usually connected to my weight and personal body image I couldn't relate completely but I could give her the benefit of my own experience from the sidelines.

so...this is what I wrote...
~snip~

The "connection" conundrum is a mechanism of self-preservation for people like you and me. I walk around skin starved. bare to the bone mal-affectioned, fiending for intimacy. Real intimacy, connection-affection, tenderly affected connection. However I have one aegis you do not have, one shield that keeps me from bellying up to the banquet of self-indulgence. No matter how rapacious my craving, how excruciatingly desolate my condition I am constrained by an overwhelmingly stupid negative body image. I'm cursed, it seems. But, that's not the issue here at all.


All things being equal and self defeating negativity aside I fear that I would glut myself to disolve the pang, gorge myself on the most intimate of confectionery pleasures. But connection is what we seek. Problematic? Almost...the requirement of connection should be enough to engender strict selectivity however we are forgetting one very important and overriding factor. The Crush. The archenemy of discretion...our Achilles heel. The crush is a betrayer of the most cunning order, imitating intimacy, approximating affection, consisting merely of vague impressions and hormonal blinders distracting enough to transform even Milton's "Dire Chimeras" into visions lovely enough, enticing enough to make one take leave of nagging, protective senses, long enough to satisfy the hunger and sooth the flesh starved beast.

~snip~

I'm not too sure what this has to do with anything except that my mind has stuck on the subject of what I have denied myself because of my weight. It always seems to come back to personal relationships...what could have been, what might not have been. I have no trouble admitting that I have regrets but I'm hoping that soon I won't have to consciously create new ones.

July 5, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: Protein Shake

Meal 2: Homemade grilled chicken sandwich, 1 chicken breast, 2 slices of wheat bread, light mayo, reg mustard, lettuce, 1 large apple

Meal 3: Large Subway grilled chicken teriaki sandwich on wheat roll, mayo and mustard, lettuce and pickles

Meal 4: peanutbutter sandwich on wheat bread w/ 1 large apple

Water and Vitamins

*********************************

Treadmill: 20 min at 2.5 mph incline of 1.0
( I would have done 30 min at 2.0 but was running late to meet a friend for a movie so I shortened the time and increased the intensity)

Weigh in day! Houston we have a problem...

Well it's wednesday and that means weigh in day. But, as my title stated we have a problem. I happened to go to the dr's office on Monday for my 3 month routine diabetes group meeting and thought I'd stop on to the health ED office and weigh myself. The health ED scale being the one that I've been checking my weight on for the last month. Well I didn't get to far because the power in the building was out and I guess they don't allocate emergency power to scales.

Figuring that the power would probably be up by the time I got done with my group meeting i headed up stairs to check in. While checking in I happened to ask if I could use the scale in the dr's med station and they graciously said "sure thing" . Well I stepped on the scale and was excited to see that I had lost 14 lbs! Freakin' A! That's great. I went to my group and I was beaming the whole time. I met with my Dr and told him that things were going great. I was quite proud of myself. But, I couldn't leave well enough alone. Inoticed that the power had returned to the rest of the building so I wondered back down to health ED to double check my results on the scale that i was used to. I stepped on the scale expecting it to be a little different but when the result came up I just got sick to my stomach. 534lbs!! That's 6 lbs more than 2 weeks ago and 7 lbs more than I weighed 1 month ago when I started this whole thing. Well, needless to say i was not a happy camper and even if I had been camping it would not have lightened my mood.

I walked over to an official looking gentleman in a near by office and asked him how accurate this scale was. He told me that it should be pretty accurate, that seeral people use it daily and that they say that it seems accurate to their home scale. I couldn't understand it... I asked him how accurate the ones in the dr's office were and he said that he wasn't sure. I explained to him that I had been working out for a month now and told him that i had cut my caloric intake down about 3000 calories a day and by that alone I should be losing something by now. He agreed with me and insisted that he wasn't sure why I wasn't losing weight. We talked for a little while longer. Mostly it was me trying to figure out why in the world i was gaining weight when he got this look on his face like he had just remembered something.... "Oh! Hey wait a minute! I just remembered something!", he said.

He proceded to tell me that the manuel stated something about the scale, while having a capacity of 700lbs, can have an error range of up to 10% under weights of 500lbs or greater.

10%...and this little fact just slipped his mind. That's an error range of up to 50 lbs! 50 LBS what the hell am I gonna do with a reading that can be up to 50 lbs off? Of course I don't know what to believe now. Plausibly thescale could be very accurate for someone who weighs 150 to 350 lbs so of course no one has ever complained but when was the last time they got someone my size to check their weight regularly...um maybe never? So for someone my size the scale could be way off and with the other scale reading 514lbs who knows?

He assured me that he would try to get someone out there to calibrate it soon. But until then I'm reluctant to rely on it so I'm back to the drawing board. I have to admit that I don't know exactly what I weigh and until I lose a dramatic amount of weight and or find somewhere that has a very accurate scale for weights as much as mine i may not be able to accurately report my weight on this blog. I'm going to stick with 527 as my starting weight just for records sake. I figure that by the time I lose enough to get me near that 250lb goal a couple of lbs either way shouldn't be a huge issue. Maybe I'll lose 260 before I declare it a success. Just to be safe...

What I may do in the mean time is start posting some measurements. That way you can still "watch" my loss. I guess I'll be shopping for an extra long measuring tape today.

I tell you what though. It just adds to the drama right? It also goes to show another aspect of being this size...it's difficult to measure progress because the equipment available is not trustworthy.

july 4, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: Slept in

Meal 2: Soy protein shake and peanut butter on 2 slices of whole wheat bread

Meal 3: 1 Grilled Chicken breast, 2 small apples, 2 slices of Whole wheat bread

Meal 4: 1 sliced grilled chicken breast, 3 stalks of celery, chopped tomotos, 2 medium tortillas


water and vitamins

******************

Workout:

Wood chop with 10lb medicine ball: 3 sets 10 reps each side
pull down with light weight (aprox 50 lbs) 3 sets 15 reps


Standing pushups and squats holding onto chest high bar: 3 sets 10 reps (1 rep = 1 push up and 1 squat)
standing row w/ light resistance: 3 sets 15 reps

Treadmill 15 min

Eating habits and calories

I got a lot of ideas from your posts last night and I thank you for that! I thought that tonight I would discuss my old diet versus my current diet. The following listing would have been a typical day's food for me over the last year. of course I didn't eat the same thing every day and somedays I ate more or less than this but I would say that represents at least the average calorie intake so it should give you an Idea of what I was doing to get to this point.

Meal 1: McDonald's 2 sausage biscuits (820 calories) / 2 hashbrowns (200 calories)/ meduim diet coke (0 calories)
total meal calories: 1,020

Breakfast - Sausage Biscuit
Serving Size: 112 grams
Calories: 410
Calories from Fat: 250
Total Fat: 28 grams
Saturated Fat: 8 grams
Cholesterol: 35 milligrams
Sodium: 930 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 30 grams
Fiber: 1 grams
Sugars: 2 grams
Protein: 10 grams

Breakfast - Hash Browns
Serving Size: 3 oz
Calories: 100
Total Fat: 3 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 30 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 17 grams
Protein: 2 grams

Meal 2: McDonald's 2 double cheeseburgers (490 cal x 2= 980)/ Large fries (580 calories) and Large Diet Coke
total meal calories: 1,060

Sandwiches - Double Cheeseburger
Serving Size: 173 grams
Calories: 490
Calories from Fat: 240
Total Fat: 26 grams
Saturated Fat: 12 grams
Cholesterol: 85 milligrams
Sodium: 1220 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 38 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Sugars: 8 grams
Protein: 25 grams

French Fries - large
Serving Size: 198g
Calories: 580
Calories from Fat: 250
Total Fat: 28 grams
Saturated Fat: 6 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 960 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 77 grams
Fiber: 6 grams
Sugars: 0 grams
Protein: 6 grams

Meal 3: Pizza (240 cal per slice x 12 slices=2,880) and Diet pepsi
total meal calories: 2, 880

16" Round Pizza - Pepperoni (1/12 pie)
Serving Size: 102g
Calories: 240
Total Fat: 9 grams
Saturated Fat: 5 grams
Cholesterol: 20 milligrams
Sodium: 450 milligrams
Carbohydrates: 27 grams
Fiber: 1 grams
Sugars: 2 grams
Protein: 12 grams

After dinner snack: large bowl of buttered Popcorn 500 calories and diet pepsi
total snack calories: 500

Diet soda intake for the day was generally 3-4 liters/ I rarely drank water

TOTAL DAILY CALORIC INTAKE= 5460

Wow...I was eating like crap. I guess it's not like I didn't know it but I never really broke it down like that before.

Ok now you've seen what I used to eat and if you've been following my daily diet blogs you know that my current intake has been roughly 1600 to 1800 calories a day.

Some of you have expressed concern that such a dramatic change in my calorie intake is not healthy. First of all I agree. I'm supposed to be eating about 2600 calories a day meaning that I'm missing anywhere from 800 to 1000 calories. I want to assure you that this is not by choice. I am not by any means trying to starve myself in order to lose weight. My trainer asks me about it and I tell him that i'm trying. I don't want to make any excuses but the honest truth is that before I started this I ate food that was very high in calories and fat and the calories came fast and easy. I have looked at the reasons I'm not taking in the calories that I'm supposed to and the conclusion that I came to is that other than maybe 1 meal maybe 2 per day (usually the last meal of the day) the volume of food that I consume is only slightly less than it used to be just healthier. Take, for instance, my lunches... 2 double cheeseburgers and fries versus 1 large turkey sandwich on wheat roll, really the volume of food is about the same and I'm quite full on the turkey sandwich and bottle of water. And breakfast...I really don't like to eat before 11am. I never really have but I got used to eating crap just to eat it so it doesn't really phase me to miss breakfast and once I eat lunch and become full breakfast is just an after thought. I know very well that I'm supposed to eat breakfast but I just don't like to. I'm not a morning person and with sleep apnea and insomnia i rarely get any substantial sleep to begin with so if I can get 20min more sleep and skip breakfast I'd honestly rather do that than force myself to choke down 300 or 400 calories.

That leaves dinner. What I used to do was just glut myself and now I eat a sensible dinner that usually fills me to the point that I'm not hungry and I'm finding that that is enough. Sure I get hungry from time to time but I'm trying to not act on impulse like I used to do. Rather I try to determine if I'm really hungry or if it's just a craving...I'm still working that out.

My trainer has suggested supliments as an alternative to not only add calories but to give me energy. I do have a soy protein shake that I try to work in daily but honestly it's only 110 calories a serving and that's going to do little to get my count up. It does however give me 25g of protein so I do like it for that reason. And again, please understand that this is not an excuse but ligit reasons why supliments are difficult for me...most supliments are high in sugar which I can't have due to the diabetes and high in dairy which I can't have because I have a milk allergy. Diabetes is also why i can't just go around eating fruit all day. I would love to throw a bunch of apples and whatnot into a bag to snack on but I cant. Oh yeah also bananas are somewhat deadly to me as well... see what I'm working with here?

Anyway. I am constantly on the look out for foods that I can add to my daily routine, foods that are good for me and that I can enjoy. What i don't want to do is just eat for eatings sake. That's where I get in trouble.

july 3, 2006 meals and Workout

Meal 1: Soy Protein Shake 110 Calories / 25g protein

Meal 2: 1/2 Togo's large Turkey Sandwich on whole wheat roll, mustard lettuce and pickles 400 calories
1 medum apple 70 calories

Meal 3: 2nd 1/2 of Togo's sandwich 400 Calories

Meal 4: KFC grilled chicken sandwich w/ lettuce and tomato, NO sauce 400 calories
KFC grilled sliced chicken salad (lettuce, chicken, light Italian dressing 45 calories) 225 calories w/ dressing

Water and vitamins

1600 calories

Workout

Treadmill 30 min 2.0 to 2.5 mph

Incline crunches: 40

Blog Topics: A Call To Arms!

Hello Watchers!

The last couple of day I have been struggling for Blog topics and was wondering if you good folks might be able to help? I'm asking for your questions or areas of interest regarding myself or anything that I may be able to shed a little light on. Anything that you may be wondering etc. If you would leave your questions as a reply to this topic I will try my best to answer them in post form or if I need any more clarification i will let you know by responding to your post. I'm just kind of curious to know what you are interested in. I think this will help me open up on topics that I may be holding back on subconsciously. Feel free to be personal if you like and I'll do my best to answer as candidly as possible.

This ought to be interesting... :)
*********************************

Also, to anyone who has written an email within the last week and hasn't received a response, I promise I'm working on it. I'm a little be hind (well..I have a big behind but...you get my drift ;) )
Your emails are very improtant to me and I will get back to you all as soon as possible!

Thanks everyone! I can't begin to express how grateful I am to all of you for your continuous support and inspiration!

July 2, 2006 meals

Meal 1: Protine shake w/ soy milk: 110 calories/ 25 grams of protein

Meal 2: Small Togo's turkey Sandwich on Wheat roll w/ mustard and lettuce: 600 calories

Meal 3 & 4: went out to Chevy's had Chicken Burrito (tortilla, black beans, lettuce, salsa)
Small Garden Salad w/ Salsa vinegrette dressing and a side of beans w/ rice: aprox 900 caories

Total calories: 1610

Water and Vitamins

20 min walk brisk around neighborhood

I'd Like you to meet Bob...

I really couldn't think of anything on topic for today so i thought I'd share one of my hobbies with you. This handsom devil to the right of the post is Bob. Bob is the product of my boredom. I often dabble in different things when I get bored. One day I came across a website that had information on puppet making and thought it looked interesting. I ordered a book called "The Foam Book" which is all about making puppets from laytex foam.

The moment I received the book it was off to the fabric shop for materials. Did you know that that there are like 15 different type of spray on Glue and that not all of them will adhere foam to foam? Well now you do!

I worked on him for about 3 weeks or so. I shaped his head and torso, I gave him hands lined with wire so he can hold objects. I even found him a wig in a thrift store. Bob had just about everything he needed but a purpose.

Well...Bob sat on my vacuume cleaner handle for a couple of weeks while I tried to figure out what I was going to do with him. As opportunity would have it my team manager at work would supply the perfect purpose for Bob's unlikely existance. As it turned out our team at work was in need of a project highlighting "Work Place Safety" or as our company calls it "Systems of Safety"! I seized my opportunity during the next team meating and pitched my Idea for a Video Starring none other than Bob. "Mild mannered call center associate by day but when co-workers suffered the ill effects of poor ergonomics he transforms into 'Systom's of Safety Guy'!"

Needless to say the idea went over swimmingly! I was put incharge of writing a script and two talented women on our team set about sewing a costume for Bob. And of course my friends and I came to the rescue with his Theme song! Which, I wrote and sang..thank you very much! the lyrics went something like this...

He's an average guy like you and me
Taking calls at the Kaiser AACC (the name of the place where I work)
But When bad ergo makes his co-workers cry
He becomes Systems of Safety Guy!

(break down)

Chair too high?
Ouch my back!
Wrists feel tight?
Carpal Tunnel Jack!
What you gonna do when you're neck's out of whack?
Call Systems of Safety Guy!
That's right...call Systems of Safety Guy!
(replys sung by female back up singer)



Everything was in place...the puppet was done. The script was funny. The premise was that bob would stroll into the call center to start his day's work and regular people would greet him as he walked down the hall way to his desk. (keep in mind that Bob was the only puppet but no one seemed to notice.) Bob would get to his desk and log on to start taking calls when all of a sudden he hears a cry of pain from a cubicle in the distance. Unable to resist this cry for help Bob spins around in his perfectly adjusted ergonomic chair and when the chair stops spinning Bob pops out in full costume as Systems of Safety Guy! He runs down the hall passing co-workers who insist on still greeting him as Bob even though he is in full costume (you see the problem is that Bob is not really a super hero...he's more like the hall moniter back in grade school that everyone picked on...he just happens to wear a costume and insist that people call him Systems of Safety Guy. People love to tease him by calling him Bob anyway and he always reacts with frustrated professionalism. He politely corrects them and heads off to complete his task)
When Bob reaches his injured co-worker he finds that due to poorly arranged ergonomic equipment on her desk ie: wrong keyboard, mouse too far from keyboard, desk too high etc. she has wrist pain. Anyway..to make a long story long...in a series of funny clips including a game show motif he shows her the proper way to set up her ergo equipment so that she will be comfortable and protect her wrists...yadda yadda yadda. Then we end with one of those public service announcement type endings where the main characters sit facing the camera and tell you if you'd like to learn more about ergonomic equipment see your manager blah blah blah...

We were all set to film that bad boy! Ahhhhhh......then my manager got transfered and the project got scrapped and someone made some posters or something instead...

-The End-

July 1, 2006 meals and Workout

First off I blame a discussion I had with my trainer Kendrick for today's transgression! I ate Pizza today and it was Damn Good! Then the guilt set in. Then I counted my calories for the day and while Pizza was not the best choice I could have made to make up my missing calories I still fell within my daily allotment!

Meal 1: nothing (I will be trying to at least get a protine shake in the morning from now on but I over slept today and there was no time)

Mea 2: Protine shake w/ soy milk (the can is in the other room and I'm tired so I'm going from memory here)
aprox 250 calories

Meal 3: Roasted Chicken Sandwich from KFC w/ lettuce and tomato, NO sauce
400 calories

Meal 4: 1 slice of Pepperoni Pizza from a local pizza place that sells by the slice (Compare w/ Sbarro) aprox 10oz
Aprox 750 calories

Total callories: 1400 (still considerably less than my alloted 2600)

Workout:

First Circut:

Chair Squats while rowing with light weight: 3 sets 10 to 15 reps
forearm pull downs w/ light weight 3 sets 10 reps each arm
Chest fly's: 3 sets 15 reps

Second Circut

Inclined crunches with small medicine ball for weight/ alternating sides 2 sets each side 10 reps each side

inclined crunches regular: 1 set 20 reps


Treadmill 15 minutes 2.5mph

Nature Greens Smells Good!

First:

I am late doing this and I am soooo sorry for that. I have to thank Kacey Swann for her generous donation to my fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association. With her donation we have reached $161.11 !! Thank you Kacey!

Oh and I haven't forgotton my promise. I will make my First $100 donation on July 1st as I have personally pledged to donate $100 each month it takes me to lose 250lbs.

Anyone feel like Matching my pledge...hmmmm? Maybe for one month or pledging to donate a certain amount each month?

ok, so on to today's post!
************************************************

So, here's the deal dear watchers!

A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from a Number that I did not recognize. I did not answer. I went back to sleep. Upon waking I checked my voice mail and found that I had received a phone call from none other than Ryan Kiel!!! Yeah I know! That's what I said! Ryan Kiel!!! Sweet! ...uuuuh whose-at? Well fortunately after telling me his name he told me who he was. Remember folks. Take a note from Ryan. When calling people who don't know who you are...uh...tell them. It works...try it.

Anywhoo...Mr. Kiel is with a company called Vibrant Living Intl. and they happen to offer a product called Nature Greens. Now I'd heard radio commercials about this product and was naturally intrigued. What was really cool was that he was calling because he had seen this blog (Watch My Loss) and wanted to help me get to my goal by offering me some of his company's fine products that he felt would benefit me and be a great addition to my current diet and exercise routine. After I called him back and we discussed my goals and what his company was all about I decided to take him up on his generous offer and he promptly shipped me a month's supply of not only Nature Greens supplement but bottles of Calcium, a daily Multi-Vitamin and an adrenal Balance supplement offered by his company. I told him that I'd go ahead and try them for a month and let them know how I feel.

So far I've only been taking them for about 3 days so nothing to report except that the Nature Greens smells like a really nice tea and all of the supplements come in an easy to swallow capsule which is nice for those of us who don't like to swallow huge pills.

I do encourage anyone interested to check out their website at:

Nature Greens

for those of you in a hurry this is some of the information you will find on their site regarding Nature Greens:

"Is Your Diet In Balance?

Nature Greens Plus MSM is a powerful formulation 40 health promoting ingredients including, green grasses and vegetables, sprouted grains, herbs, fiber, and MSM. Ingredients in Nature Greens Plus MSM help balance your body's pH naturally, while providing you with the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and plant proteins you need for cell support, abundant energy, and increased vitality!

Nature Greens Plus MSM is for anyone who is concerned about his/her health and the deficiency of alkalizing nutrients in the average daily diet. Research shows that most of our population does not obtain the recommended 3 to 5 servings of vegetables per day. The phytonutrients found in Nature Greens can help balance your diet.

Try Nature Greens today, and within two weeks you will begin to feel the positive effects. Depending on your state of health, most people quickly begin to notice effects such as:

Increased energy
Clearer thinking
Decreased water retention
Improved skin appearance - Decrease in food cravings
Increased metabolism
Weight loss without conscious dieting"


So I would like to thank Mr. Kiel for this generous offer! And, I'll let everyone know in a couple of weeks how this is going!