Splurge Friday and a Little Reflection.

This is Labor Day weekend.  I had a big goal set this weekend.  I planned to weight 170 lbs.  Why that weight on this date?  When I set it in the winter, it seemed a reasonable goal to obtain.  This morning I am 15 lbs. above that. Earlier in the summer when I suspected that I would not get to 170 lbs by Labor Day, I readjusted to be happy with somewhere in the 170's.  That did seem reasonable back in June and even that easier goal I missed.

Still, I am not down.  I did hit 185 lbs this morning.  I finally got off the 186-187 mark, if only by a pound or two.  I seem to have at this weight for an eternity.  Well, OK, not eternity, but for a too long anyway.  I continue to get compliments from people on my weight loss.  That feels great. I get lots of questions on how am I doing it.  Eat less and exercise I say. That always gets a funny look and the question, "that's it?"  Yep.

I know several people who have had some sort of operation to tie up their stomach as a way to lose weight, lost weight, and then gained it all back.  I am not sure how that works, but I bet it's uncomfortable.  We me I just want to develop the right habits to get to the right weight and stay there.

The Charming Mrs. SWMBO asked me the other day if I am going to keep getting up early to exercise when and if I lose all the weight I want to lose.  Yes was the answer.  I don't exercise now just to lose weight.  I exercise to stay fit.  I don't like to exercise, really, and in a perfect world I could just roll over and go back to sleep instead of getting up to peddle my bike.  It's not really bad once I start.  It's nice to plug in the iPod, peddle and get into that zen zone. The time goes by pretty quickly.  When I am done I feel great.  Why stop? 

My final goal was to get to 150 lbs. by my birthday of 2011.  That's in February.  Will I get there?  I hope so, but I don't know.  With the proper habits I will get there sooner or later.

The numbers for today:

• Blood Glucose:  119 mg/dl.  OK, nothing to write home about. 
• Weight:  185 lbs.  Not 170 lbs. but better than 186  lbs. 
• Exercise:  45 minutes on my bike. 
• Mood:  8.0.  It's Friday before a long weekend, I am meeting my good friend Bob Miears for lunch at the Mason Jar Restaurant, the Charming Mrs. SWMBO and I are going to Tony's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina for a meal and some strong margaritas with friends and I have the the reasonable expectation of going back to work on Tuesday.  Life's good. 

Menu:

• Breakfast:  Fruit salad of a banana, strawberries and blueberries and one slice of leftover pizza. 
• Lunch:  The grilled portobello mushroom sandwich with a side of butternut squash at the Mason Jar.
• Dinner:  Leaning to the fish tacos at Tony's and two margaritas.  I have been waiting all week for this moment.
• Snacks:  Pretzels.

The Doctor is Pleased

Yesterday I went to my doctor for my six week follow up, about six weeks late.  Oh, well.  He didn't seem to notice.  The good news is that he is pleased with my progress, almost as much as I am frustrated by it.   I wanted to substantially lower on the scale and substantially lower in blood glucose level. 

My blood pressure, glucose level and weight were all good.  My heart rate was 50 beats per minute.  That's great.

Yesterday at work we had a little celebration for Kathy Cane.  I had three, count 'em three, pieces of pizza and one slice of ginger/spice cake with caramel frosting.  Very good cake and my glucose level dropped from yesterday (144 ml/dg).  Must have been due to the carrots I had last night. 

My numbers for today:

1. Blood Glucose:  121mg/dl.  Better then yesterday's 144
2. Weight:  200 lbs.  My body likes it here I guess.  I don't.  
3. Exercise:  45 minutes on the trainer.  It's getting humid in the mornings here in Houston now and I really sweat.  Feels great. Also watered the flower beds in back. Lots of energy.
4. Mood.  Determined.  It's all I can do and be right now. 

Menu:

1. Breakfast:  Oatmeal infused with blackberry herbal tea, banana, grapefruit, coffee
2. Lunch:  If I am lucky, some left over pizza from yesterday.  Always best a day later.  If not, pinto beans.
3. Dinner:  Salmon on the grill. 
4. Snacks:  Soy yogurt and maybe some baked chips. 

Since I am pumped up on exercise, saw this on the benefits of walking,  or how to avoid the metabolic syndrome.  That's good, avoiding the metabolic syndrome.  It's a lot of walking, though.  Makes me think it is the sort of activity we are designed to do.  I wonder if riding a bike counts?