264

I'm still stalled out, just going up and down between 263 and 264. I think I'm "turning the corner" though, just need to keep going. I've been doing the basic things that should result in weight loss, but I haven't been pushing myself as hard as I could. And I know that it takes that extra effort to see results in the short-term.

I was doing well when I was running daily, so on Saturday I went for a hike/trail-run. I was feeling a burst of self determination that back-fired a bit, as I did a 6 mile route, running non-stop the entire downhill portion. The result of that 3 mile downhill run was some serious leg pain. Today is the first day since then that I haven't been limping. But it was a victory in the "mind over matter" battle. It just prevented me from starting back on a daily running routine.

But, those 3 days lost will not matter in the long run, I've just got to get back out there.... tomorrow. My legs are still killing me today.

263

So, I stop counting calories as carefully and skip the gym for a few days and............. my weight goes down. I guess that makes up for some of the times I felt I should have lost weight and didn't.

264

Not sure what's going on, probably just not getting in enough cardio. For 2 weeks I measured everything and didn't eat a single thing that wasn't part of my planned out diet. I had a calorie deficit of over 2,000 every single day. But the scale didn't budge.

For the last few days I've given up and have eaten much worse, but haven't gained anything. I'm trying to get back on a set gym schedule, but having a much harder time mentally than usual.

264.5

I got a cheap new scale, so I don't totally trust it yet. But regardless, I seem to be holding at 263.5 to 264.5. I'm changing my schedule so that I get in 30 minutes of cardio in the morning, then at least 45 minutes at night. I've always found that working out in the morning seems to have a bigger effect than working out at night, but if I can get in both every day the results really start showing.

263.5

Things are moving along nicely so far. It's annoying to be working off weight that you recently regained, but it's a little late for that. I'll be very happy to be back in the low 250s and making real progress again.

264.5

Did 2nd HCG injection yesterday. I can't say I notice anything directly from it, but I have been feeling more up-beat lately. But I've also been eating better and hitting the gym for the first time in months, so it's hard to say what is causing it.

I've had a 2,000+ calorie deficit for the last few days. I was feeling pretty rough after each cardio workout, but I increased my protein intake yesterday and already feel much better. In the last several months, while I wasn't working out, I was basically eating a vegetarian diet (having chicken maybe once a week). When I first started working out this week, I was still eating like that because it was all we had in the house. So I got some tuna (which I make a very low calorie tuna salad with) and whey protein powder.

I'm pretty much back in the swing of things, hoping to see 4+ lbs a week come off.

Here's a photo update

This is from Joshua Tree in October. I think the all black outfit helps me look a little thinner than I deserve, and it makes it look like I'm standing in front of a fake back-drop, but oh well. My head also looks extra stout.

266

Looks like the "easy weight" is coming off. I need to average 4 lbs a week to reach my goal of 220 before March 24th. So I'll take this early jump start and try to keep below the line (I keep a graph by my scale with a red line drawn for the weight I have to be at or below each day to reach my goal).

Tonight and this weekend I need to get in some serious cardio, as I haven't actually worked out in a while. I've been going to BJJ classes a couple times a week for the last month, but it isn't ideal cardio.

268.5

Ok, so I've gained back 18.5 lbs since my lowest weight in mid-2010.

That sucks, but I'm getting back in full swing. My new BodyBugg arrived in the mail yesterday and I took my first HCG shot last night (I'm still not comfortable with the whole idea of it, but I'm not going to lie about having done it).

I haven't hit the gym yet, but I'm working on that next. My plan was to join the new 24 Hour Fitness that is opening up very close to my house, but they pushed back the opening date from January to March. Actually the scheduled opening date is March 25th, the day after my birthday, which has been my target date for getting below 220. So the exact date was kind of a slap in the face, but I'll live.

I'm going to try to use the gym at my mom's condo building, which is on the way home from work. If I can get back into the mind frame I was in last year, I'll soon be back to actually running outside.

Happy New Year

I've obviously fallen of the wagon in recent months. Well, I've maintained the same weight (generally speaking, as I haven't weighed myself in a while), so that's at least one good thing.

I'm around 260 right now, with 3 months until my 30th birthday. My original goal was to be at 220 before then, with hopes of being down to 205 by then. The 220 goal is still easily within reach if I focus. The 205 goal is unknown, as I don't know what I will look like at 220. I'm not sure if 205 is super-fit or just average, as I've never weighed that much while also having a decent amount of muscle on me.

Anyway, I just ordered a new Bodybugg. The last one only worked for a few months before dying on me, but in that time I lost about 60 lbs.

I've also been prescribed HCG, which I'm supposed to inject twice a week. HCG has become known recently as a diet plan, but it's original purpose (for men at least) was to support testicular function. About 2 years ago I got a blood test and had very low testosterone. After losing a bunch of weight, my testosterone numbers increased, but are still low. A recent doctors visit to address this resulted in a prescription for HCG (not HGH, which everyone seems to think I'm talking about even when I try to explain that they aren't the same thing).

I haven't filled the prescription yet. I was raised by health-nut/vitamin freak parents and never went to regular doctors as a kid. I never took asprin or cough medicine or any of the "regular" stuff that most people do. Even though I've researched HCG and feel fine with it, there is some part of me that doesn't want to rely on any supplement or drug or anything else.

But I've decided to go ahead with it for a few months. I'll feel like I'm cheating, but we'll see if the results are worth it.