Week 02 Me and the Evil Nutritionist

Week 02

January 11th, 2010 -

January 17th, 2010

Beginning weight: 322 Pounds

Ending Weight: 317 Pounds

Loss for the week: 5

Total loss: 17 Pounds

I just arrived home from the gym and thought it would be a good opportunity to share my thoughts from this week. I was still a bit nervous about stepping on the scale this week, I still ate under my Target calorie intake, but this week I missed 2 days at the gym, all due to those helpful people at insomicorp. I get insomnia real bad to where I just can not sleep and then when I finally do I crash, and miss an entire day. But hey if I am asleep at least I can't eat right. Woo Hoo for small victories. At the gym I had to take a double take at the weight I lost, now I know it wasn't no 12 ponds like last week but I was still surprised at the 5 pounds I lost. Honestly I was only expecting to loose 1-2 Maybe 3 but 5 wow that just floored me.

Eager to up my workout by another 5 minutes this week I climbed on board the treadmill and went for 30 Minutes on a .5 incline (I added the .5 last week) wow once I got off I found out some evil genius replace my legs with jello, but ahh the relaxing Jacuzzi tub solidified them a little bit more. I am still trying to push myself but not overwhelm myself, So far so good

On the 13th I had to meet with the Evil nutritionist in preparation for my surgery. She was actually a really nice lady who thought my current plan is more then adequate and told me to keep it up. Wow like 2 months of worry for nothing. I thought for sure I was going to get a lecture I hate lectures. Funny thing is about being a fat man everyone out there seems to want to tell you how to eat and how to loose weight, sometimes I just want to scream to the top of my lungs "I know I am fat now shut up and pass the fried chicken."

Another thing I hate (I am sure most overweight people will join me in this) clueless empathizes, the skinny chick who always chimes in and says "I know what you mean I need to loose 5 pounds, I am so fat right now I hate myself" You have absolutely no idea what 62% of Americans are going though so shut up and eat a sandwich.

Okay I am done ranting for now This weeks plan is 2840 calories or under and 30 Minutes a day at the gym till next week peeps later gators

Week 01 In the Beginning

January 4th, 2010 - January 10th, 2010
Beginning weight: 334 pounds
Ending Weight: 322 pounds
Loss for the week: 12 pounds
Total loss: 12 Pounds (Hey it's only been a week!!!)

Wow,

I started off this week totally and utterly discouraged, I was bound and determined to start my diet and excersises routine on Monday the 4th. The cards seemed to be stacked against me. I was sick with a stomach virus, and when I went to the gym they were closed. Grrrrr!!!! I had to go home and dust off my gazelle (Pictured above, and no that 80's reject with the pony tail is not me). I was on the right track my calorie goal was roughly 3,000 calories a day, which most of the time, I went under without trying. I set this goal by consulting http://www.fittracker.com/.

Between my insomnia and late night cravings I didn't think I would make a single dent in my weight. But I wasn't going to give up, I figured 20 Minuets a day of excesses and 3,000 Calories a day in food were such attainable goals how could I not achieve these goals, so I pushed on.

On Saturday, my wife told me she wanted a treadmill. I was already on craigslist so I did a quick search, and found one for $70.00, which I would have gladly paid, but I low-balled him for $50.00 bucks and it is supper awesome, tons of features and worth more then the asking price, I would have paid $150.00 but hey I wont look a gift horse in the mouth.

Well still worried about my small goals, I woke up today and went to weigh in at the gym. I stood there in disbelief. The machine told me I lost 12 pounds. It wasn't very nice for the machine to lie to me like that, so I went to the machine off in the corner and weighed myself again. The first machine was telling the truth I lost 12 pounds. Hip Hip Hooray!!! What a week. This week I am lowering my calorie intake to 2,900 and upping my cardio routine to 25 Minutes. Still focused on doing what I can do, and trying desperately not to give up. Till next week later Gators

The Plan

Okay I adopted the name "Chunky" because let's be honest here (Hey a new concept - honesty about ones self on the Internet) I am a big man. Calling myself Chunky is being polite. My true nickname is "Tank", which sounds a lot cooler but that story is for another reality. I bring this up because a Denny's in San Diego named a breakfast special after me: T-bone Steak smothered in butter, 3 eggs over easy, hash browns doubled covered and smothered, a bagel with butter (not cream cheese) and ... (Wait for it) .......A DIET COKE. Seriously I am a big man. :)

So "Cutting Chunk" is my goal. I came up with that at like 3 a.m. and that is about as clever as I can get at that God forsaken hour.

Well for a goal to be obtainable one needs a solid plan with steps. The next 2 steps I am taking are ones that I have implemented today.

Step 1 eat 3 meals a day! Believe it or not this is one of the hardest things for me to do. The only time I have ever eaten that many meals a day was when I have been camping and have planned for 3 meals a day. I have always only eaten when I have been hungry, which hurt me in 2 ways, I would eat to much (is eating a whole pizza still to much - I mean it comes on it's own plate, why move it to a smaller one) and apparently (News to me) my doctor just told me 2 weeks ago that insulin is created when you eat. When eating reasonable meals more often you create more insulin and your body uses more energy that way. I guess this entire time I should have been eating while wearing the pants that came with the Medical Doctorate. So this morning I had 2 eggs with cheese small sirloin steak, some peppers and and a tortlia... Okay fine ya got me I had a breakfast steak burrito from Carl's junior. and also I just realized it is 3 o'clock and I haven't eaten lunch... not good Chunky. If it's weird to refer to yourself in the 3rd person try doing it when it's a made up nickname it's down right freaky!!!

Step 2 a Healthy Diet I have been consulting with a fitness instructor and this afternoon (After my yummy burrito) we came up with a diet plan for me. a 3000 calorie a day Diet. I was shocked, to me that sounds like a lot of food but apparently I maintain my weight on 3,500 calories a day. This plan will help me loose about a pound a week on diet alone. 10% from carbs 70% from protein and 20% from fat, I just got done e-mailing my Doctor the current plan and I will let her make modifications as she sees fit.

Step 3 See scary machine up top I have never done well with excersise (Duh) which is step 3, and that step will start tomorrow 15-20 Minutes on an elliptical machine, DAILY!!! Once again it sounds easy but a lot of other hard things sound easy to. I was told to try and do as much as I can without overdoing it well see. If I don't blog tomorrow call the police and put out an A.P.B. for an Elliptical machine with a relay big man in a fetal position underneath it, till then Lates Gates

Gastric Bypass Surgery

In my previous blog titled "The Journey" I stated that I will be getting Gestural Bypass Surgery sometime this year. My real purpose for writing this blog is because from all the research I have done I can not find anyone who decided to share their story form start to finish. Well that is my intention!!! Now granted I am not exactly starting form day 1. Kaiser has a lengthy proses before you are even considered for Surgery. There are several steps

1. Referral From your primary physician
2. Introduction Class
3. 10 Week nutrition and awareness class
4. Psychological Exam
5. Interview With a Nutritionist
6. Interview with your surgeon
7. loose a goal weight (10% normally)
8. Schedule Surgery

Now everything here seems like a lot to do and your right it is! They want you to be completely informed of what your getting in to all the health risk, the lifestyle changes you need to make. Once you have the surgery that's it your stuck, buyers remorse sucks because they wont undo it!

Some of the life style changes I have had to make so far were I had to give up carbonated beverages, caffeine, and alcohol. I still need to give up fatty foods and sugary foods. As a matter of fact last night my wife and I went to our favorite restaurant, and yes I had a 16 oz. Prime Rib, Potato all the fixings, Bowl of clam chowder, and 1/2 a serving of bread pudding. I just had to say goodbye.

The reasons I must make these changes now (and there are more of them) is after the surgery my stomach will be the size of a golf ball, carbonated beverages will make your stomach expand (and yes you can increase the size of your stomach and essentially undo the surgery over time) alcohol caffeine and sugar will effect your body differently after the surgery.

Those of you who think GBS is an easy answer are wrong, it's a quicker one yes, but the work must continue throughout your life. I can still back slide.

So why am I giving up everything, and facing the possible risk associated with GBS. As I said before I want to be around for my wife. I have been diabetic now for 12 years and it ain't getting better, in fact I am getting worse, GBS improves Diabetes, and in 90% of Diabetics who have the surgery, it reverses it (type 2 diabetics) I would rather have an extra 20-40 years of life with my wife then a 4 course meal.

I have already done steps 1-4 and on January 13th I complete step 5. Since your surgeon goes back through your history for up to 1 year to find your highest weight, I am trying to loose weight now. My highest weight I believe was 350 I weigh 330 now so in 15 - 20 pounds I'll Be there. Monday I will be starting with the gym and I plan to start posting my weight progress at the begging of my blog, so readers can see how I am doing.

I have a great suppoort crew. Number 1 is my Wife, she is also getting the surgery for her own reasons. But the way I figure it, if I must face a life of food denial, whom better to face it with me, also a good friend of ours just had the surgery 3 days ago, so I get to see her progress.

Currently my next step is getting over this heart burn I have earned last night. Yikes!!! Latter Gators

The Journey

So Long 2009, the worst year of my life, no seriously let me sum it up for you.

January 09 - My loving wife, shares in front of the congregation at my church, that we are not medically insured and is worried that something horrible will happen to one of us. 3 days later I have several blood clots shoot up from my leg and wind up in to my lungs, I pass out in my bathroom and nearly die.

March 09 - My wife looses her grandmother, whom lives on the east coast.

April 09 - I am currently out of a job, and my wife becomes a victim of cutbacks at her work and looses half her income.

May/June - 09 just when I thought I would survive a month unscathed I developed an ulcer on the bottom of my foot (yes I am diabetic) and also suffer from Diabetic Ketone Asidoses (DKA) and wind up in the hospital again. The ulcer on the bottom of my foot gets infected and the Doctor removes my pinkie toe on my right foot.

August - 09 We thought I was getting better, then my 4th toe on my right foot got infected (they didn't get the infection the first time) So they cut off the 4th toe.

September - 09 Infection is still there so they cut off more of my foot.

January - 10 1/2 a foot removed, yet officially healed!!!

Okay I am the worlds worst diabetic. I have 4 things working against me

1. I love food - I love the way it taste, the textures, the smells. I experience my food.
2. I am an awesome (yes I said awesome) cook, I consider cooking a form of art. I am that person when you tell me to hold the onions, I get seriously offended, would you tell Da Vinci to make the smile on the Mona Lisa Wider?? NO of course you wouldn't. At one point I considered continuing with my passion and becoming a chef, but then I realized that I would have to give up my weekends and night life and holidays, and well that's just not something I am willing to do, so I will settle for being what I have dubbed a "Ghetto Chef"
3. 3. I have a serious sweet tooth.
4. I have no willpower

If anything this past year has made one thing glaringly obvious

If I want to be around for my wife things must change.

I intend for this blog to document my journey,

My Plan: Learn to eat better, Learn to cook healthy, yummy alternatives, control my diabetes, excesses, and gestural bypass surgery. I saved the controversial one for last.

Since the is my inaugural blog I will end it now, stay tuned for my next blog which I will discuss my reasons For my GBS