Week 2

Well, I have successfully tracked my food intake for two full weeks. I weighed in today at 258, which puts me down another pound, for a total of 5 pounds. I went a little nuts last night and ate four or five pieces of pizza.  That's probably why I am up a pound or so from my midweek check in.  Oh well - still losing, but just not as much as I would have hoped.

I am going camping this weekend, so that will be fun. I think I will track on paper and then enter it in on my phone later so as to save battery...

How are you guys doing?

Down 6 pounds!

After a week and a half of doing WW, I am down 6 pounds (to 257).  That feels pretty good!  Their new Points-Plus system is odd -- it doesn't seem very different from the old system, but the fact that you don't include calories in the calculation makes it harder to estimate it in your head.  Also, their Android apps are HORRIBLE.  They crash all the time, you have to re-log in every time you open the app, and the scanner app doesn't seem to be able to send results to the tracking app, even though it claims to be able to.  Their database is still really small, too.  Unfortunately for me, the points tracking system seems to work too well for me to not use it.

One app I have found that's actually a lot more useful is MyFitnessPal: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/  Their app is free, as is access to their database.  They have a thermodynamics-based system with target caloric intake, and they include exercise as a way to get more points.  Might be worth a try if you're looking for something free to play with.

Back at it

The blog is back! I mentioned a few things in a comment on Alex's post but I wanted to throw out a few of my goals and thoughts as well. I've developed some really bad habits and justifications over the past few months.
    I have been blaming moving and stress and so on and so forth for eating out/ordering in more frequently than I can ever remember over a two month span. I've put on 10-15 pounds from my low of 215 (I'll get on the scale in the AM).

 My short term goal is to drop 10 pounds over the next month or so. My long term goal is a target of either 200 pounds or 215 with 15 pounds of added muscle. I'm woefully out of shape and need to get active. It will start with the gym twice a week (more if I want, of course!). From there, who knows? Hopefully biking and outdoor activities will increase with the outdoor temperature.

On the nutrition end. I need to cut alcohol consumption immediately. I'm going to start counting points again as well. I like the idea of getting into a nutrition, not caloric based diet but for now I need the structure of the WW points system. I don't have the discipline to categorically deny things so I might as well track them.

That's all for now

Resurrection

So I am officially tired of being fat.  I am resurrecting this blog to track my progress -- you guys can join in if you want, although Adam hardly qualifies as a Fat Guy any more.

I joined Weight Watchers tonight for their online-only program.  It's about $20 a month, and if nothing else, the fact that I'm paying that much should help me make sure that I'm doing my tracking like I am supposed to.  I am currently weighing in at a hefty 262 pounds... WW says I should be in the 180 - 195 region.  That means I need to lose something like 25% of my current weight in order to hit the top of that range.  That will be fun.

So, to keep myself motivated, here's my plan:

• Track food intake and exercise every day.  For every full week where I track, I get some sort of treat.  Not sure what yet, but I will figure that out.
• Increase my physical activity.  This doesn't necessarily mean going to the gym (even though we have  a free one at work), but my goal to start is to do three things a week.  Walk for 30 minutes, mow the lawn, go for a bike ride, etc.  Two weeks in a row of three things a week = small reward.
• When I lose 15 pounds, I get to use my "new every two" thing and upgrade my phone.

That's a good set of goals for me for now.  I will try to post regularly so that I have a record of how I am doing on my goals, so feel free to ignore my posts!