How I lost 10 lbs during the Holiday Part 1

So I decided to conduct an experiment - with me as the lab rat.  I just weighed myself and I am 190.3 pounds.  My goal is that on January 1st I weigh 180.3 pounds or less.

If you look at a calendar - that is 5 and a half weeks.  10 divided by 5.5 equals 1.818181818 . . ..  So basically I need to lose 1.8 pounds per week.  Not an end of the world goal except that the goal is over one of the most difficult dieting, behavior modification seasons of all time.  Starting with THANKSGIVING!

The thing that is interesting about weight for me - is that I spent the first 35 years of my life trying to gain weight.  My ideal weight goal has always been 175 pounds.  Up until I was 35 I hovered around 155 pounds.  Here are some earlier pictures (back when I had hair).  This gives you an idea at least in my face how thin I was.

When I was in college (see first picture) I would work really hard to gain weight.  I would work out eat as much as I could.  Slowly I would inch my way up 155, 157, 160 - Yay!  Then the end of semester and finals would hit and boom - back down to 150 or 152.  

You can imagine how excited I was when I reached 160 pounds and held it pretty steady this was from 35-40 years old.  And then it happened - the scale tipped and the next thing I knew I was 180.  Oh no - I had gone past my goal.  Oh well - at least it was holding solid there.  

Then one morning I woke up and I weighed 195!?  What - how did that happen.  I quickly focused on my habits and was back down to 180-183.  

And now the last couple of years I really have to work to get myself back down to close to 180.  It does not happen quickly.  So - I figure - if I can find a way to actually lose 10 pounds during this difficult time - maybe just maybe I can reverse the trend and take back control of my weight.  

Well, at least it is fun in theory.  Let's see how my experiment goes.

Before:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

My own pace - it's not a race!

I have about two posts pending that I realized I never clicked the "publish" button.  At first I was very discouraged.  But then I realized this is my blog, my experience.  It is for me.  If others enjoy it or benefit from it that will be great.  But that is not the purpose - at least not right now.

I do want to write.  I do want to blog.  And I will.  And I will do it at my own pace.

This is a picture of a snail I took waiting for the bus in Orlando, Florida last June when I was at a national safety conference.

Action Cures Fear

So this last weekend I was in Golden, Colorado.  I was participating in a leadership conference for the American Society of Safety Engineers.  It was a wonderful experience both because I got to participate in some very dynamic discussions and because I got to go to my favorite place right now; Colorado!

While I was there I visited a museum - the Astor House Museum - an old boarding and rooming house that was built in 1867.

Walking through the house was like entering an old western movie.  I could imagine it being filled with all kinds of savory characters.  

Some of the rooms looked pretty nice!

It would be interesting to actually live during a time when you would use the little pot you see tucked under the bed in the picture above.  

Then I came across the room below.  I loved the image.  I suddenly was transported back in time and imagined myself to be traveling the world from one boarding house to the next; collecting and writing the stories I came across on my journey.  

The bed across from the desk fit what I was seeing in my mind - a simple bed (I don't require too much.)  And my boots beside the bed ready to jump into action.

I stood in the room for a few minutes and then I left.  But the image did not leave me.  I have always wanted to write.  I have even started a blog - and still no writing.  

As I walked around more of the town, I asked myself over and over; "Why don't I write?"  I mean, I do keep a journal, but I am talking about the kind of writing for others to read.  Writing to entertain, to inform and sometimes just to fill the time.  

Why don't I write?  One simple answer - I am terrified - I am scared - I am afraid. (I guess that is really three answers but they all mean the same - he he)  As I came to this realization - I was reminded about three words from a book I am reading - The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz.

Action cures Fear - 

So here I am- moving into Action - I am writing!  And I am going to do my best to write every week.

And one day, I will travel the world collecting stories.  

So here it goes - The beginning of all journeys start with a single step !

I have contemplated blogging for some time now.  I came up with the idea for the title of my blog several years ago.  There is no time like the present.  I figure some of my blogs are going to be random with very little editing.  Others I will spend more time to make sure I communicate the best I can what I want to say.

OK - I have started.  (Some steps might be very small-)