No More Mr. Fat Guy!

Same weight, different day.

I just got back from an hour walk using my Exerstrider poles.  Nice weather for a walk.  I was planning on just going out for about 30 minutes, but it felt so good that I made it a full hour.  I’m still eating better than I used to, but not really health foods.  And I’m eating less than I used to.  And I’ve been able to maintain my greatly reduced intake of Pepsi.

I’m feeling overwhelmed with a lot of things that are going on in my life, and I’ve been neglecting my walking and blogging, among other things.  But I’m still here, and I’m still at it.

OK. I weighed myself immediately after getting out bed and using the bathroom. This was before I ate or drank anything, and without any clothes on. I’m not sure how much my jeans, shoes and other clothes weigh, but I’d guess it’s about three pounds. But 280 it is.

I’m still here.  Just got back from my weigh in, and the scale says 286 pounds.  The weather was too bad to take any pictures, and when we take pics inside, the scale dial won’t show up due to the light.

I’m thinking about taking Cron’s advice, and weighing every day, and posting it.  That would give a truer picture.  Like today — 286 is probably high, because I had just eaten.  Having my scale at someone’s else’s house means that I can’t just weight whenever I feel like it.  So I brought it back to my house, and I’ll just take it over there once a week or so for pics.

Well, I made my radio debut on Sunday night.  I was on Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy.  It was a lot of fun, and you can listen to it here. (Click on the doodad in the top right corner.)  I guess I should have weighed in on Sunday, as it looks like I’ve put on weight this week.  I’ve been very busy working, and I didn’t walk at all, but I find it hard to believe I put on 8 pounds in a week.

I just knew when Britney shaved her head that it wasn’t going to be my week.

Boy, I guess there’s something to that comment someone left a while back. It said your weight can vary by as much as 8 pounds on the same day. From 279 to 287 in a week?

I’m gonna go get drunk.

If anyone is considering gastric bypass, I’d suggest you read this article first. It’s a balanced look at both the benefits and the severe risks and drawbacks of weight loss surgery. Here’s an excerpt:

The procedures can offer astonishing benefits for people with obesity-related health problems. According to a recently published research review in The Journal of the American Medical Association, 77 percent were cured of diabetes, 70 percent lowered their cholesterol, 78 percent bid adieu to high blood pressure, and 86 percent no longer suffered from sleep apnea. For obese but otherwise healthy patients, a respite from society’s judgment is often reason enough to go under the knife.

Yet the potential downsides are also astonishing. The risk of death, depending on which study you’re looking at, ranges from 0.2 to 2 percent — arguably high for an elective procedure. The popular Web site ObesityHelp.com hosts a memorial page listing 132 members who have died since 2000, a mere fraction of the total post-surgical deaths. Up to 20 percent of patients require subsequent operations to address complications. Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lactose intolerance, signs of nutrient deficiency such as anemia and hair loss, agonizing stomach pain, and shockingly pungent gas and stool. And those who lose weight successfully often have huge folds of excess skin to deal with.

These post-surgical ordeals, and the accompanying emotional adjustments, can persist for many years. Then there’s the cost: Even if insurance covers the initial surgery, the price of subsequent cosmetic procedures and myriad dietary supplements required for optimal health can add up quickly. To top it all off, there’s no scientific evidence that weight-loss surgery makes people any happier in the long run.

Mom always said I have a great face for radio, and I guess she was right. This Sunday at 6pm Central Time I’m going to appear on the Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy Internet Radio Show. Tune in and check me out!

It’s a salad dressing. Salad is very healthy, and we should all eat more of it. But if you’re like me, you tend to cover it in so much high calorie dressing that it kinda defeats the purpose. And I’ve tried a bunch of different “low fat” dressings, and I really haven’t found any that taste all that good. But I tried a new kind of dressing the other day, and I really like it. It’s from Kraft, and it’s their Good Seasons Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette With Roasted Red Peppers dressing. (That must be some kind of record for the longest salad dressing name…) It’s not marketed as low fat, but a serving of 2 tablespoons has 60 calories (45 from fat), compared to many dressings which have 120-160 calories per serving, with most of that being fat. I got mine at Wal-Mart. Everyone’s tastes are different, but I think it’s delicious. So if you’re looking for a lower calorie dressing, give it a try.

It doesn’t feel like it, and I can’t see a difference in my pics, but the scale says I’ve lost 24 pounds since my high of 303.  Seventeen since my first pic, down from 296.  I must say I’m surprised at how much I’ve lost, and a lot of it’s probably water.  But it’s 24 pounds I’m no longer carrying around anymore.  I’m not eating great, but I’m eating better most of the time.  And I’ve done some walking, and need to do it every day.  I think the biggest difference is cutting out pop (Coke for Southerners!).  I used to drink 5 or 6 Pepsi’s a day, and now I have one every couple days, if that.  I do drink some sweet tea, but not nearly as much as I used to drink pop.

That’s what the scale says.

I find it hard to believe. I certainly don’t feel like I’ve lost 24 pounds. And I haven’t even lost two inches off my stomach. I’m still straining to get to 53 inches.

So where did the 24 pounds come from?

It certainly wasn’t my chin(s)!

Not long ago I mentioned that I’d gotten something in the mail that I’d ordered, that might help me burn even more calories as I walk. They’re called Exerstriders, and they’re a pair of adjustable length walking poles. When I first heard about them, I wasn’t too impressed. Number one, I thought I’d look weird or goofy walking with a pole in each hand. But as my friends Deb and John pointed out, I look weird and goofy anyway, so what harm could using the poles do? Second, frankly, I didn’t think they’d really add much to the walking workout. It just didn’t seem like two lightweight poles would help you burn many more calories. But the more I read about them, the more I thought they might be worth giving a try. And the creator of Exerstriders, Tom Rutlin, is a great guy; he answers emails right away and takes a real personal interest in helping people get in shape. So I went ahead and ordered them. I still wasn’t expecting to be all that impressed with them, but there’s a sixty day money back guarantee, so I figured what the heck.

But, boy was I wrong. I just got back from my first Exerstrider workout, and man, do they make a difference. A big difference.

Remember the old Nordic Track exercise machines? For a while, they were very popular, and very expensive. Most people didn’t use them, because operating them was extremely boring, and thousands of them are just gathering dust, or selling for a few bucks on eBay. But for those people who actually used their Nordic Track, they worked very well. They produced excellent results because they gave you the same workout you could get with cross country skiing, which burns more calories per hour than just about any other form of exercise.

Well, Exerstrider Nordic Walking Poles give you the same workout, but without the boredom. Exercise machines rarely work; because using them is drudgery. But if you’re walking, and you want to really ramp up the calories you burn, and tone your upper body, you should check out Exerstriders .

As I said, I was extremely surprised at the effect these two light weight poles had. As I type this, I definitely feel a big difference in my arms after using my poles today, compared to my normal walks. Walking is great, and I love it, but by itself does nothing for your upper body at all. But the Exerstriders involve your entire upper body, even your abs. Tom Rutlin, the inventor, is a former cross country skier who designed them to simulate the effects of cross country skiing.

I took my hour and a half walk around my rural back roads. And my concerns about feeling self conscious were entirely unnecessary. Several cars passed me, and I doubt if any of them even noticed the poles, and many people walk with hiking sticks, anyway. And the motions you use are entirely natural; it’s not much different than plain walking by itself. They do come with an instructional video, but I had no trouble picking it up. (There’s a short video on the website that shows a couple using Exerstriders.) Now, I didn’t use the Exerstriders for the whole 90 minutes. It’s going to take a while before I can do that. But I’d walk for 10 minutes with the Exerstriders, and then I’d carry them for 10 minutes. Believe me, Exerstriders don’t look like they’d do much, but I defy anyone who’s never tried them to go out and use them for a half hour straight without stopping.

They’re also adjustable for different heights. I’m six feet even, but I’m still experimenting with a couple different settings. They’re easy to adjust, and storage is no problem-stand them in the corner. And they’re collapsible for traveling.

According to the website, Exerstriders will enable you to burn anywhere from 30% to 70% more calories. And I believe it. I’ll be using them from now on whenever I walk outside. You can use them inside, too, but the track at my gym is so narrow I don’t know if it’s a good idea.

Anyway, if you’re walking, but frustrated with your slow weight loss, I’d recommend you check out Exerstriders. The website has tons of information, and they’re very reasonably priced, especially compared to an exercise machine that you’ll probably never use more than a week.

Boy, for my weight loss plan, I sure hope this is a hoax, but rumor is that Ben and Jerry’s is coming out with a Stephen Colbert ice cream-Americone Dream. I love Stephen Colbert. That guy’s a trip, man. I don’t have a satellite dish, so I can only watch clips on the internet, but he cracks me up. And I love ice cream, too. Boy, I sure hope this is just a prank!

I’m not eating right, and I’m not walking, and I’m smoking.  Sometimes it’s hard to believe that at this point in my life it’s possible to make significant changes.  It’s hard to stay motivated, and it’s far easier to just keep living the way I’ve been living that’s gotten me to this point.  I have no idea how I dropped any weight recently, except that I’ve managed to cut way back on pop.  But for the most part, I’ve not been eating well for the  past couple weeks.  I had a few good days, but most of them were not so hot.  Every day I plan to walk, but it’s been quite a while since I did.  Every day I plan to eat right, but I rarely do.  Self discipline has always been a problem for me.  I’m not really lazy; I can work hard for long hours, and often have.  But that was when I was working for someone else.  Now that I’m self employed, I find it difficult to stay on task without an employer to answer to.   And the same goes for lifestyle changes.  And it’s hard for me to keep believing that I can change.  I can believe it, and often do; it’s just that it’s difficult to sustain the belief.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not looking for sympathy or fishing for  “hang in there’s”.   And I’ve lost around 15-18 pounds since 303.  When I stick with it, the pounds come off fast.  I know several of my fellow fat fighting bloggers would love to have lost that much since late December.  And I’m not quitting.  I know I’m in a rut, but it’s not going to be permanent.   I’m not even thinking about quitting.  I am going to lose 100 pounds.

I gotta get back to walking.  Walking, for me anyway, is the key.  Not just the calories burned, but it also keeps me focused on my health goals, it makes me feel better, and I get to listen to my Coast to Coast AM podcasts.

I gotta get back to walking.  Every day.

Before this became an all goats all the time blog?  I feel as if the past week I’ve been living in a TV drama, CSI: Goat Town.

Oh yeah, losing 100 pounds.  So let’s get back to that!  In a comment the other day, Cron mentioned an interesting site with lots of inspiring stories of people who’ve lost significant amounts of weight.  And it’s got a cool name-The Weigh We Were. 

And if you missed my interview with Deb from Natural Health Co-op about my plan to lose 100 pounds, you can check it out here.  There’s other interesting podcasts about health there, too, and they’re all free.  Check ‘em out!

Mildred didn’t make it, and I’m taking it worse than I thought I would. I don’t think I’m cut out for farm life.

She was one of the two goats we milk. You sort of get attached to a goat when you milk it every day. When John bought her two years ago, I went and picked her and Nan up in my little pickup truck. They bawled all the way to the farm. Then when I let them out into the pasture, they took off running like scalded cats, and it was a day or two before they’d come up to the barn.

Then, when we tried to get them to the milk barn, that was an even bigger ordeal. We tried to coax them with the leash, but they wouldn’t budge. Then we tried dragging them. But they weren’t going anywhere, and that was that. Finally we had to pick these two full size goats up and carry them. I guess that’s when I really bonded with ‘em. But after a few weeks of carrying them, they finally realized that there was lots of feed in the milk house, and they started coming out willingly.

In her two years, Mildred gave us four babies that lived. We’ve still got Li’l Orphan Annie in the house where we’re bottle feeding her. She also gave us hundreds of quarts of fresh goat milk. Now, it’s all up to Nan.

I feel bad that we didn’t get any pictures of Mildred the other day. After she gave birth she was listless, and I was worried about her. Then yesterday she was even worse. We brought her in the milk house to keep her warm, but she wouldn’t eat at all. We did get some water down her with a syringe. I was pretty sure last night she wouldn’t make it, because she didn’t bawl when we shut the door and left her. Goats hate to be alone, and normally she’d have been wailing like mad. But she didn’t. Whenever I’d go check on her, she’d just be standing, with her face buried in the corner. We knew she loved apples, and around 11 last night we got her to eat a couple. I’m glad her last meal was her favorite.

John got up around 7 and checked on her, and she wanted out, so he let her out into the yard. Around 10, he asked me to take her to the vet. She was sitting by the barn, and when I went to load her in the truck, she couldn’t walk, or even stand up. I knew it was all over then. I was angry at myself for not getting her to the vet yesterday.

When I got to the vet, he told me what I already knew, that there was really nothing he could do. He said it was just a matter of her being old and worn out, and bringing her in the day before wouldn’t have helped. We thought she was around 3 or 4, but the vet said she had to be around 8 years old. He gave her a shot, and she was gone instantly.

He couldn’t dispose of her, because the rendering plant won’t take sheep or goats anymore due to mad cow disease concerns. Whatever. So when I got home, I had to bury poor old Mildred. John helped me load her into the wheelbarrow, and we took her collar off, and then we made the long trip down past the pond and into the woods.

I’m glad she’s not suffering anymore. And now I feel bad for all the times I cussed her and called her Mildew. And man I wish we’d taken her picture.

I’ll be back to writing about losing 100 pounds soon. But I wanted to say goodbye to Mildred.

Rest in peace, old girl. I hope the apples were sweet.

What a past couple of days. Nuthin’ but goats, goats, goats. Sorry for being gone so long, but it’s been one barnyard crisis after another. I’ll have to write about it in more detail later. But the short story is that Nan had two, Mildred had three, Tipper had one, all in the past two days. One of Nan’s died, two of Mildred’s died, and then we discovered three dead kids out in the middle of the pasture that Lucille had delivered and we had no idea, because they usually give birth in the barn. And now Mildred, one of the two goats we milk, is very, very sick. And the one kid of hers that lived was on death’s door, but we’re nursing it back to health. The good news is that all the pregnant females have kidded. The bad news is that a bunch of them didn’t make it, and we’re not sure Mildred’s going to make it. The score right now on the kids is The Grim Reaper 8, Me 7. I hope that’s the way the score stays.

In the past couple days I’ve buried six kids, we’ve got Mildred staying in the milk barn to keep her warm and we’re praying she turns around, and we’ve got the miracle survivor kid in the house in a box, and we’re bottle feeding it. We may have to take Mildred to the vet in the morning.

I did weigh in. I’m at 285. I’m not sure what Deb did, but there are now some pics of baby goats, and my weigh in, in the post below. I’ll try to edit things tomorrow, and get all the pics up in this post.

So to celebrate, I’m going to the gym tomorrow in my birthday suit. Nah, not really. I don’t need the mental trauma lawsuits. But they’re doing it in the Netherlands-a gym over there has introduced “Naked Sundays”. What the heck is wrong with people?

Today was weigh in today. My scale is over at my friend Deb’s house, since she has the digital camera. Late this afternoon I was heading over there to weigh in and get pictures taken. Just as I was getting into my truck I heard a strange noise from the barn. It sounded like a goat in severe pain. So I went out there to check on it, and there was Nan, heaving and bawling, with a kid about to drop. I went and got John (it’s his farm-I stay here to take care of the animals because he’s gone on business about two weeks a month). By the time we got out there, there were two little ones on the ground, covered in blood and straw and that film that baby goats come wrapped in. We held them up and let Nan and Jasper (the goat shepherding dog) lick them clean. Well, cleaner than they were, anyway.

Then we took Nan into the milk house and gave her some feed while we tried to get the kids to nurse. When Nan and Mildred have kids, they have trouble nursing because their udders are so full the teats are almost dragging the ground.

    (We call them Pamela Anderson and Dolly Parton). The kids’ instinct is to reach up to nurse, and when the teat is about an inch off the ground, they can’t find it. So while Nan ate, we coaxed the two little ones into nursing. It took a while, as they were twenty minutes old and scared and bewildered, but we finally got some milk down them, and then gave them nutrients.

By this time, of course, I was filthy, and I had to go back in and change clothes and clean up. By the time I got done it was too dark to take pictures, unfortunately. So John and I headed into town to celebrate my birthday. We went to Trotter’s in Fedvulle (the local pronunciation of Fayetteville), and, since it’s my birthday, I had what I wanted, and as much as I wanted. And it didn’t cost me nuthin’!

Anyway, hopefully, we’ll get the weigh in and pics done tomorrow. And I’m going to try to get Deb over here to get some pics of the baby goats, as lots of people want to see them. All four from the other day are doing fine; in fact, they’re so lively that I had trouble catching them to give them their nutrients. When I last checked the barn tonight, Nan’s newborns looked fine, too.

Six baby goats and my birthday. Not a bad week, no matter what the scale says tomorrow!

At my place we got an inch or two of snow between midnight and 4am. I was still up, and just before going to bed at 4:30, I went outside and it had turned to rain. So when I got up at noon, almost all the snow was gone.

As I walked out the door to feed the animals, I wondered if we’d gotten any new baby goats overnight. Sure enough, before I left the porch I heard a newborn crying. Turns out we have four new kids-Mary had two, and Cali had two. (Goats almost always have twins.) Mary’s are all white, just like her, and just like every kid she’s ever had. She’s got some real dominant genes! She’s also the dominant goat, so go figure. Cali’s looked like most of the rest of the goats-white bodies, brown heads. One’s a lighter brown, and one’s darker.

Mary’s had just been born-she was still eating the afterbirth when I walked out. Seeing that’s quite an appetite suppressant, believe you me. Cali’s two look strong and healthy, and are standing up with no problem, and I think they’re nursing pretty well to look that good. Mary’s two are pretty scrawny, and are having trouble standing up. I’m worried about all the new kids, but especially Mary’s two. They’ve both been nursing, but they’re quite weak. Hopefully they’ll be alright. I gave them all nutrients twice, and I check on them every hour or so. Usually, if the kids can make it past the first couple of days, they’re in the clear. I’ve got my fingers crossed. And there’s still four more goats due any day now, and I think Mildred may be about to pop at any time, since she doesn’t want to leave the barn.

Maybe I’ll put some pics up of some baby goats? Let me know if you’re interested in seeing them. I think they’re cute as all get out, but this is technically a blog about me losing 100 pounds, and I’m not sure where the baby goats fit into that. Of course, this does mean that soon I’ll be milking Nan and Mildred, the two milk goats, and I’ll be drinking some raw goat milk. It’s actually much better for you than cow’s milk, from what I understand, and it tastes just like it. Especially when you add Hershey’s Chocolate syrup!

Well, I’m working and keeping an eye on the goats, and with the weather I didn’t walk. But I’m still eating better than I had been recently, and weigh in day’s coming up fast.