Plateaued! Weight Loss Update

I have been stuck in the 280's for three weeks now.  I hit a low 284 and have been basically hovering right there.  It's not a lot of fun to be sure, and it is certainly frustrating.   However, I know what I have to do to break through it.  I need to simply start doing the things I was doing when I was losing several pounds a week.  The plan is simple--the execution of the plan--not so much.

When I started my journey, I know I wanted a plan I could live with.  This  means my plan had to be something simple, because I am a simple guy and I like "simple".  I developed some simple guidelines for my journey.  First, I would give up the obvious bad stuff like sweets, sugared pop, and cakes.  Second, I would give up bread and really limit my pasta.  This of coarse sounds simple, but was not easy for a bread/pasta addict like myself.  Third, I would incorporate more fruits and vegetables into my diet.   Finally, I reasoned I would eat many of the remaining foods, just with smaller portions.   I made a rule of just having one bowl or one plate for a meal-- no going back for seconds.  I think by and large I have been pretty successful in the first three areas.  However, I think know the portion sizes have been slightly creeping up.  My one plate rule did not allow for a plate piled up with food three feet high!!!  I knew this, but either consciously or unconsciously didn't adhere to my plan.

Maybe I got off track with the holidays.  Perhaps I could blame it on the nasty weather.  Regardless,  of why I am off pace, I know I am off pace, but am officially getting back on track and back in the game.  How about you?  Are you doing anything to perk up your weight loss game?

I like to wind up on a positive note and with a smile.  So here is a video I made when I was starting my journey.  I try to show just how tiny portions look to the eyes of this fat guy.  I have 30 weight loss related videos you might like to check out on my channel at http://blip.tv/virtualpaul

You Asked For It

Marsial over at Eyes of the Sun asked some great questions.  Although it has taken me forever to answer, here it goes:

Q.  Describe how you met your spouse/significant other/love of your life (even if you are no longer with that person).
A.  I met my wife in our high school chemistry class.  We were lab partners.  I was teasing her and ended up slightly burning her with steam.  (OOPS!)  A funny way to start over 20 years of marriage.


Q. Describe anything from your childhood you still own -- a book, a toy, article of clothing, etc. -- that you hope to pass down to someone 
A.  I don't have anything from childhood.  However, from my youth, I bought a Gibson Les Paul guitar that I still have and would like to pass down someday.


Q.  Describe your billfold or wallet.  French purse?  Clutch?  Snap or zip closure?  Color? Leather or fabric?  Why did you choose this particular wallet?
A.  My wallet is a bright yellow fabric that velcros shut LOL.  I used to carry a leather wallet, but lost it one day mowing grass on my tractor.  My  wife bought me this thinking if it ever fell out, it would be easy to see.  I love it as it is so much softer to sit on.


Q.  Describe one extravagance you have for which you will never apologize.
A.  The time I spend on the internet.  I really enjoy my blog and making videos. I have 31 videos on weight loss, cooking, and RC cars at http://blip.tv/virtualpaul

Q.Which author do you admire so much that you have read more than one of his/her books.
A.  Michael Perry.  Two good ones are Population: 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time and Coop:a Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting.  You can see more of him at http://sneezingcow.com/

Q.  Who is your favorite newscaster and why?
A.  I don't watch the news.  I prefer to read the news.  I do watch CNBC for stocks.


Q.  Is there a movie you once loved but years later felt you outgrew or it didn't "speak to you" anymore?  Which one?
A.  No, its funny I still like preety much the same stuff from my younger days.  That either means I am young at heart or I need to grow up?


Q.  In as much detail as possible, describe your kitchen.  Tell me not just how it looks, but how it makes you feel when you are working in it.
A. Well you can see my kitchen in all my cooking videos.  I also talk about how it makes me feel at the end of this one.  



There are a few more questions, but this is as far as I have finished so far.  I would love your comments.

Little Changes

I have made a few little changes around here.  First, I have added a Facebook link on the right.   I also added a spot for video on the right.  I currently am calling it Paul's Diet Tip 'O the Week.  (silly, right?)  This is where I want to share a diet tip that I am currently using.  It may be a product or simply an idea, just something that has been helping me in my journey.

Here is my Week 18 Weight Loss Vlog.  In it I talk about two non-scale victories I have experienced.  I want to say thank you for stopping by.  I really enjoy this blog and realize it would not be fun if no one read it. Not only do I get the accountability aspect from you all, I get motivation and inspiration from you as well.   I also am out and about reading your blogs and trying to comment if I can think of anything to add.

Potstickers!

My son and I look forward to Saturday nights.  The usual routine is my wife and daughter go shopping first for fun girl-time, then for the week's groceries.  This leaves my son and I a bunch of time to do what we want to do!!  Plus, eat what we want to eat.  (YAY!!)  Well, my son Ben, loves both filming as well as being a ham on camera, so Saturdays we like to film ourselves cooking fun foods.  Last night it was Chinese pot stickers.  They may not be best for weight loss, but they sure were good and fun.  The first clip is Ben's review of them, the bottom clip is me making them.  Enjoy!!

Two Birds--With Two Stones

I am such a busy (and somewhat lazy) person there has been several things in the housekeeping department that I need to do.  First, on 12/30/11 Debbie from The Emptynesters Daily awarded me the Liebster Blog.

Liebster means “dearest” in German, and the award is intended to help up-and-coming blogs get the attention they deserve. As with any award, there is a bit of ceremony involved. In order to accept the award, we must do the following:

1. Copy and paste the award on our blog.

2. Link back to the blogger who gave us the award

3. Pick our five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award

I just want to say thank you so much!!  I will try to find several blogs that have not yet received the award.  

Next, I was tagged by Julie from Taking the Fat Out of Skinny.  So to start, I need to answer her excellent questions...so here we go:

1. If you could go back in time would you change anything?        Yes, most of us would change many things I suppose.  However, we don't really know if the changes would work out the way we want them to.  So, I try not to live in the past because what is the point.  The only thing we can change is today.

2. What book are you reading right now?    Forty Acres and a Fool By Roger Welsch

3. What is your greatest accomplishment?    Surviving as a parent for 14 years!!!

4. Where do you see yourself this time next year?     Here blogging, but 30 lbs lighter.

5. Name one thing on your Bucket List.     Buy a boat again.

6. Are you a winter or summer person?  SUMMER

7. What truly annoys you?   People who think they are better than others.

 8. What is your dream car/truck?  I never was into car/trucks--I am happy with my '05 Ram pickup 

9. Do you have any hobbies?    Yes, I think of my blog/videos as a hobby.  I also like to paint and play fiddle and guitar.

10. Are you a morning person?  Sure

11. Tea or coffee?  COFFEE

Next I am supposed to tell you 11 random things:


1.   I have 2 kids...a son and a daughter.
2.   I like to watch the stock market.
3.   I used to live on 30 acres.
4.   My wife still owns a horse.
5.   I have cable TV, but only watch maybe an hour worth a week (I think I am going to quit it)
6.   I find watching Youtube videos, more fun, interesting, compelling than cable TV.
7.   I am active on Facebook on the "YouTube Weight Loss Community" page.  Check it out at   
http://www.facebook.com/youtubeweightloss
8.   I like all kinds of music, but favor country and rock.
9.   My old laptop that is about 5 years old seems to have finally died.
10.  I have never owned an Apple computer...guess I'm just too cheap.
11.   Some people don't like to be tagged.  I like answering questions myself, but understand why some others don't wish to play along, so I hesitate to tag  others.


This post may be a contender for the "longest blog post of all time".  I really appreciate all my readers and am grateful that you choose to spend a few valuable moments of your time with me!!!  Thank you so much!

Weekly Weigh In A Beautiful Day

A Beautiful day...for a weight loss report.  As far as January in Michigan goes, it doesn't get any better than this!!!  I have no complaints, this has been a great winter so far!!!  Now, if we could slid right into spring!!

This old dog is trying to learn a few new tricks.  I just started a twitter account.  I am not sure exactly why, but I thought I would try it.  I think I even managed to put a follow me button on the right.  If you would be so kind to follow, I would really appreciate it since I am new to it and not following anyone LOL.

In this video, I discuss starting to count carbs.   I guess I figured with four months in, I may as well try something.  Let me know what you think?

Weight Loss Comedy A Fun Look at Portions

I have been on my weight loss journey for four months now and I am starting to learn the ropes so to speak.  I remember when I first started to take note of the number of calories.  You know the drill, turn the food item over to look at the nutritional information..  Of coarse if you are getting older like me this means you have to look over your glasses to read the fine print because I refuse to get progressives (a nice name for bi-focals).  Then you see the number of calories.  But it doesn't stop there.  If it's a can of soup that you plan to eat, you must now do the math!!!  Multiply the number of servings in the can (usually some odd number like 2.5) times the calories.  Wow, to a fat guy like me with a life long habit of overeating, it seems the little can of food has about half the calories I should eat for the day. LOL!  So in this sense, I made this video a while back that is looking at proper portions from the eyes of this fat guy.  Remember, it is just a joke and not serious...hope you enjoy!

A New Year -- A New Look

Well, a new year calls for some changes...so I thought I would start with a fresh look.  First, I thought about moving the blog, but I think this will work for now.  I also felt it was time for a name change.  Maybe 2012 will be a year of changes, who knows?  Although the focus of this blog will still be weight loss related, I often felt kind of restricted in thinking that this blog should only be about weight loss. Let's face it, life is far more than just dieting.  My thinking is I am dieting to live, not living to diet!!!  So fair warning, I plan to put some variety into the mix.  I want to do some posts on cooking and some of my other hobbies along the way.

By the way, this is also my four month anniversary. Yep four months since starting my weight loss journey. In this video, I talk about my latest week on my journey.  Was I able to shed the weight gain from the holidays?  Please, check it out.