News Flash update!!!

This week has proved a real struggle and to stay motivated I had to go and have an interim weigh in. The struggle really took place Wednesday night where I really want a takeaway. My wife was strong and after initially agreeing to the takeaway said no. Following this I went into a sulk......(what a baby!). This made me realise a couple of things, first I'm quite sneaky as I suggest a takeaway knowing my wife has yet to eat and the chances of her agreeing are high. Second when I'm denied I sulk, so its a form of game where my wife is the nasty persecutor for not letting me have what i want and i'm the helpless victim, in this game i can then blame my wife for being mean and get lots of negative attention and recognition. 

That event was the big event this week, so I came through it and felt good the next day, if I had had the takeaway then I usually feel full and bad afterwards as I know it doesn't help with me losing weight. But with my wife staying strong I made it through the night.......hoorahh. 

So I had an interim weigh in as things are a bit tough this week and well, what a shocker, I have lost an AMAZING 12LBs, since Monday, what a great result. My weight today is 390lbs (27st 12lbs) and my BMI is now below 47. This weigh in has given me great motivation to spur on when I was ready to scoff on some junk food. 

I'm also aware that this is a lot of weight to lose in a short period of time and I believe this is the result of better diet but more importantly me being much more active, I have walked the dog daily at a sharp pace and been the gym, so these are new factors and I believe they are having an impact. 

So here I am, below the 400lb mark and now my motivation fuel tank is topped up after a positive weigh in. 

Thanks 

Joe   

Exercise week

Well, this has been an interesting week full of good stuff and not so good stuff, which has led to my weight being exactly the same. Bummer! I'm not to downhearted however as I have been very good at the beginning of the week and then went to Developmental Transactional Analysis conference where food and drink entered my diet in a different way. So considering I indulged, I'm still feeling good about continuing to lose weight.

Also, I did something new this week in going to a gym....TWICE. I generally hate gym's, full of fit people who like to preen and who are not embarrassed about getting in the pool, that's my negative view of them, my reality checking tells me of course they are fit, they are down the bloody gym all the time, and my self conscious part goes, "look they are all starring at me" as I lumber through the exercises at the pace of a lame mammoth. However, this was different, it is at a small community centre so it was not mainstream, there were only a couple of other in the gym so I did not feel like gym outcast as I do in other gyms and the instructor was very supportive and this all helped. The truth is when I'm there and my lungs and muscles feeling like they are about to burst from my body and I'm sweating enough to create a large pond. Truth is I actually enjoy it and more importantly the feeling that I'm doing my body some good. There is a feeling that I'm giving my body a jump start as I have been physically inept the last few years. 

I stated in my first post that would also share my emotions on my journey and I would like to share with you how I got to this size and all the things that are P&$%ing me off with it. 

The physical inept part is one element, I'm a person with a strong sense of adventure and I naturally like to explore and also do things differently. I have found that I due to my size those things get less and less as you physically cannot do them and you also then start to build up metal discounts about what you can do, so even if you might be able to do something you start saying "no I'm to big" or "I'm not fit enough". There are loads I'd like to do, like travel to places Parachute jump, get a motorbike again and not kill the shock absorber or my knees, take on a driving day in a sports car and fit in it and also general outdoor pursuits. Most importantly I would like to be more active with my daughter and play games with her with out being tired or physically in pain. This is one of the key drivers for me in losing weight and I have given my self permissions such as:

• You can be more active
  
• You can have fun with exercise
  
• You already have physical ability
  
• You can get fitter and feel better  
  
• You can exercise at your own pace
  

By focusing on these permissions I ensure that I do not listen to the injunctions and discounting messages (messages that look for you to discount your ability) that try to drag me down and keep me in the place I have been for may years, messages such as:

• Don't be fit
  
• Don't be healthy
  
• Don't look after yourself
  
• You're incapable of of being sporty
  
• Sport is hard work (and not fun)
  
• Stay on the sofa (metaphorically, finding any excuse to not doing anything physical)
  
• You're crap at sport so don't bother
  
• Anything physical is hard work
  

Lets face it its these discounting messages and injunctions I have been listening to for bloody years about being physical. And rather than taking the approach of sticking two fingers up at them I understand why they have been there and there purpose and I respect that they have always, in the wrong way, tried to look after me by not putting me in situations of ridicule, shame and where I would be embarrassed. So, I'm now replacing them with my permissions and what I can do and what I will be as a result. To be fair its not as easy as just replacing the messages, yet they are the catalyst, I still have to change my behaviour and remind myself daily of my permissions and also, seek out positive messages and compliments for my new behaviours to replace the ones that used to keep me inactive. I also have to be real and dig in as those old injunctions and messages are powerful and this is a long haul change, however, every time I walk the dog, go to the gym, get on my exercise bike or do something of this ilk I diminish those outdated hooks trying to keep me where I am. 

There are also other reasons for getting fitter, such as, feeling better, having more energy, being more spontaneous, better sex (yep thats right, better condition you're in the better it can be) especially with my sense of adventure!, not getting out of breath, shying way from talk of sports etc, being judged by others. 

So a new chapter in terms of getting into shape through exercise which I'm moving into. For future blogs I will update what exercise I have participated in the past week. 

My next blog will look at the permissions and emotional elements liking to being a overweight giant, as I missed my 5lb target I will go for the same loss this week. 

Joe

Contact: lessmass@gmx.com 

 

Today I'm feeling great I have managed to beat my target of 5lbs and have lost a fantastic 7lbs, half a stone, in a week. Bravo. My current weight is now 402lbs (28st 10lbs) and my BMI is down to 47.5. Lets be real here there is still along way to go but a great start and there seems to be a psychological boost when I moved into the 28st bracket. 

I've had good and bad days this week, I started well with 4 days on the cambridge diet, then I had to get a 5 am train to London and to be honest the thought of a shake or soup at that time of the morning was not working so I didn't and with the hectic day in London planned this also meant that I would not have an opportunity to stick the kettle on. Therefore I had lunch on the fly form a deli and a dinner. Saturday was also a day of normal food with a picnic in the lake district, its not often that there's a weekend of good weather so a day out with the family was great. Also, I found when busy in London or out exploring somewhere new that appetite and food does not dominate my thinking and therefore its easy to stick to healthy food. Sunday was a great opportunity to lapse into bad habits, however I stayed strong and did well. 

I have also ensured that everyday I walk the dog for a couple of miles, ensuring I get some exercise. 

All in all its been a good week, the motivation is still high and I'm energised by the fact I lost 7lbs. 

Unfortunately clothes are still tight and I look forward to when they stick to me less and I look better in them.

My target for this week is 5lbs again, however a conference at the weekend will prove a big challenge.

Joe

My weight loss Journey

Hi, my name is Joe and I'm writing this blog to capture my journey of losing weight, between today and 1st September 2009 I am aiming to lose 129lbs (9st 3lbs). So quite a weight, I current weigh in at 409lbs (29st 3lbs) so well over weight and my BMI is 48.4 again far from desired levels. My aim is to have less mass and to be thinner and healthier as a result. 

I will be updating this blog weekly to track my weight loss. I plan to kick start things by using the Cambridge diet and then moving to healthy eating so that I make some real lifestyle changes. In addition to this I will be looking to improve my fitness, right now my exercise levels are poor. 

Naturally the process of weight loss is both physical and emotional and i will ensure both elements are recorded here. The most difficult part of this whole experience is the remaining motivated to continue losing weight and not giving into temptation or weakness. especially when this manifest itself as a few pints and curry or a meal out and a couple of bottles of wine.

My reasons for doing this are varied, theirs the obvious health reasons, also I would like to feel fitter, improve my image, do sports and not always have to compensate for my size.I would also like to be more active with friends and family and do more with the kids. In addition my size can also impact my ability to get work (I'm a personal and business coach) as there is an expectation on image with this that I do not portray. However, I have only noticed this once and have otherwise been successful in gaining business. 

I hope others in the same position will be inspired to either share in my journey or to make affirming decisions to become healthier and thinner and reduce their mass. 

Getting to this point (again) has been awkward I recently lost 54lbs (4st) but then soon fell into bad habits and increased my weight. This time is to be different, I have had conversations with people who want the Joe the way he is, that I will be making changes, I pleased to say most are supportive, some are indifferent, and thats up to them. I will also make sustainable changes, such as doing a sport that is fun and physical and not a chore(this is down in my tough to do column) and I will seek this out actively in the new year when I have lost a couple of stone.  

I will also use this experience to understand the key frames of mind that both help and hinder and use this to develop and programme for others, my belief is that its not the type of diet that is important but the mental and emotional state that deems whether a diet will be successful. I will be looking at ways to keep that positive frame of mind that I'm currently engaged in and not give into the voice that says "just one won't hurt" knowing that it leads to much more. I have also devised a list of affirmations to support me and will included them in my next blog, in addition I have identified a lot of the messages and behaviours that have got me into this situation and will also include those in the next blog. 

I am happy for people to contact me during my journey at lessmass@gmx.com, it will be good to hear your stories and gain your support. 

Well,I'm hoping for 5lbs this week so will update you next monday. 

Joe