Summer Exercise for HART needed

I’m still “Battling Obesity” … It was my birthday July 11th and I finally weighed in again. My last weigh in on May 2, 2007 .. I was at 272.5 lbs.

Last Wednesday, on my birthday .. July 11, 2007 … I weighed myself to be 273.0 lbs.

I pretty much stopped counting points, or even watch what I was eating since about April 30th, although I was consciously trying to be aware of what was going into my mouth and if I could, I would eat the healthier choice. But, all I did was sit in a chair - stressed out - trying to catch up and get ahead with all my work in progress of my offline Accounting and Income Tax Preparation business. And, now I am on “summer hours” - well, at least my wife is. She takes off every Friday now, and every couple of weeks both Friday and Monday. We will be taking a full two weeks holiday next month. It’s quite hard for me to conduct my business - which, I’m trying to cram 8 days work into 7 days in the first place .. now have to cram it into 3 or 4 days.

But - I do have a few new toys for the summer … so - if my offline business is going to struggle this summer .. my physical well being and weight should not suffer.

At the beach, I am trying to ride my bike a lot, we walk the dogs when we can .. and weather permitting I am like a fish out of water. I have a few new water toys … like, this inflatable kayak pictured below. I bought two of them - one for me, and one for my wife. My wife loves it!

me? I like it.. it’s okay - but, the weight restriction is 300 lbs. I am finding that the way I sit // correction - there’s no excuse to explain it. My belly sticks out in such a way, that I can’t really sit in a 90 degree angle with my feet close together to fit properly inside the kayak, and because I’m already on the heavier side .. with lifejacket, canoe, and the way I sit in the kayak .. water spills inside. This just compounds the problem, giving more weight in the kayak and then more water comes into the kayak.

It’s a humbling experience - and great motivator to lose more weight and be able to kayak with my wife. At the moment, I can kayak for about 15 minutes, then I have to empty the water out. And, I have to do that on shore, as it’s difficult to get back in these inflatable kayaks without letting more water in!

And what do I do after my “laps” in the water, while I’m waiting for my wife to go kayaking by herself? I just sit around.. you know~ in the water!

~~~

Click on the little Kayak if interested in buying this from Canadian Tire (affiliate link) .. it’s quite cool, and folds up into a suitcase that you can carry with you in your trunk of your car. Oh, and it takes about 15 minutes to pump up with air with a foot pedal, and about 2 minutes to deflate.

               

THE HART-SERIES: May 1, 2007 to May 12, 2007

News, Updates, and Reflections

Nothing new here … after the April 30th deadline and adrenalin rush slow down occurred, and I was getting trying to get all of the “wakeup” pills out of my system too .. I found that I had problems getting back into the swing of things. Then, to make matters worse .. I suddenly realized that I should never have stopped because I am STILL super busy, and pounding to be meeting all of my deadlines before June 15th. I’ve got work deadlines of May 31st and June 30th that I think is under control .. if you call control having the work sit in a box next to your home office desk with a piece of paper stapled to the box with black in text .. “DO ME BEFORE MAY 31st” on it!

Yes .. I’m still battling my obesity problems. I’m not losing weight. However, I am not gaining weight. That in my head is stopping me from losing weight, because in my own very mind - I have been successful in the opposite of ways, by not gaining weight.

After May 1st came and went .. I finally got back to my early morning exercising routines, if you can call it that, with my stationery bike and rowing machines in the basement .. but I stopped after about a week. I’m getting these muscle locks in my legs - where I pull a muscle and it’s like a jolt of electricity has been turned on and there is great pain while I dance around the room walking off the pain, trying to get feeling once again.

Since this past Monday after Mothers’ Day, I have been out walking as an alternative. My dogs Maxxie and Sophie hate me, because I am not taking them with me. It’s just that I don’t feel I am getting exercise with them when I walk. And, I’m just walking down about 6 streets to the local bank, post office or Tim Hortons - and I always end up inside the place where dogs are not allowed anyway. I don’t feel guilty, because my wife has been taking them for the odd walk every couple of days (Whew!). Where do you draw the line? I need to get back into shape. I know they want to go outside, but they will survive and get their share of outside this summer!

This May Long Weekend .. we are heading out for the first time to the cottage out in Victoria Beach, Manitoba .. (here’s pictures from last year). It’s supposed to be cold .. about hi of 11c and low of 0c .. with possibility of rain this weekend. A little chilly, but we will only be doing ‘day’ trips and not staying over. I imagine I will be on leaf and raking patrol this weekend and I’m sure Maxxie and Sophie will be getting lots of walks around this weekend!

Yvonne’s Corner

I created a new category here, and have been trying to get my wife to part-time blog on this blog (translation: begging!). She’s in great shape, and I’m so proud of what she accomplished and continues to do to maintain and be healthy. I believe she books approximately 8-9 hours during the week at Shapes Fitness Center, (1 hr or 2hr sessions) and wants to share some articles she receives about fitness training. I hope to encourage her to write more but I will gladly accept less, if anything! She’s been gearing up for the summer cottage routine, by foregoing a few hours at the gym and instead going jogging for a spell, then taking the dogs out for a short walk. I hope that my readers will leave her lots of comments, to get her motivated to write more and get hooked on blogging! I know, that’s sneaky - but Shhhh! I know she would love to help me with my blogging ventures .. if only she didn’t like blogging! But, she’s passionate about being healthy .. it’s almost like blogging, isn’t it?

Yvonne’s corner .. watch for it .. staring before the End of May!

Pictures Between May 1-12, 2007

Basically, this is what I have been eating .. I must upload them to clear my camera memory or fear of accidentally deleting them for a better picture of something else. I will try to place adequate descriptions with the image, so all you have to do is mouseover them. Throughout this period, I believe I have been eating healthy foods, although I can remember days eating at the following places, with no pictures:

(1) Palatal Restaurant for Mongolian Stirfry x 2. No pics
(2) A&W Restaurant for Double Mozza Burger Super Sized Meal *sigh .. I was weak*. No pics
(3) I took my brother out on his 50th birthday to AppleBees Restaurant but, had the Oriental salad. No pic.
(4) Mothers Day. BBQ. Appetizers. Desserts. need I say more? No pics.

And .. yes .. I seem to be eating a lot more Blueberry Bagels now .. instead of Whole Wheat bread.

               

THE HART-SERIES: April 14, 2007 - May 1, 2007

Wow. Has it been that long?

Thank-you for your patience during my slowdown, and starting tomorrow I should be back and running on this blog. More of what I do and have been doing will be centrally located on the 1 - 8 0 0 - H A R T blog.

As for my daily meals and counting points .. I had all the best intentions since my last April 14th weigh in and partially kept points and memos about what I was eating. The only thing that affecting me, is that I wasn’t really working 24 hour days .. I was working 28 hour days trying to squeeze a 6 day week into a 7 day week! (I know that sounds kooky). You see, I have been sooooooo busy with my work - it all had to get done. I was working around the clock, sometimes sleeping only 2 hours at a time and, it wasn’t always at night. Some morning at 3 am I would make me supper. Some days at about 4am I would make some breakfast pancakes. I know I certainly wasn’t eating 3 square meals a day, and some days all I was eating was snack food.

Counting points and keeping track was the farthest from my mind. Tomorrow morning, I am planning on weighing myself, and start a-new once again. In the meantime, I don’t feel like I’ve been overeating and probably lost some weight .. although I have been in a chair sitting at a desk in front of this computer for almost 20 hours every day for 2 weeks straight.

I’m not even going to try to describe what I have been eating, except .. a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Here are the pictures of what I was eating and when .. as I post the pictures in here - I’ll try to remember what I was eating and add a few comments - just do a MouseOver to read them.

So.. what do you think? Did I pig out? Or do you think I’ve lost weight since April 14th?

               

It’s nice to have a place where we can walk the dogs

I took my camera out with me last weekend while we were out walking the dogs. Behind our condo complex, is the Sturgeon Creek. On both sides there are sidewalks and fields, and we can walk for miles and miles in either direction. The snow is just melting, and there is no green grass yet .. and the water levels are a bit high .. but it’s still nice to get out and walk the dogs. So, here are some pictures! I should be doing this more often, but the pictures usually end up on my Pet related blogs instead
* Google Map: This is general view of my backyard .. I live on the left side where the arrow is

* Google Map: Here is a close up of above under the “Sturgeon Creek Parkway” notation is, bottom right side of the above

* This is a picture of what that looks like closeup .. it’s at Cuthbert Grant’s Mill

It’s a little history in our backyard …

The watermill known as Grant’s Old Mil occupies the site of the Red River Settlement’s first mill built in 1829.

It was established by Cuthbert Grant who was the leader of the Metis at the Battle of Seven Oaks. Grant’s Old Mill is on a tributary of the Assiniboine River and is the final incarnation of multiple previous mills that were washed away by frequent floods.

The mill is open to the public and provides a glimpse of a real working water powered mill. Samples of stone ground wheat can be tasted. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the area surrounding Grant’s Old Mill is perfect for picnics or just laying out in the sun. Located directly behind Grant’s Old Mill is the Grace Hospital.

SOURCE

* Here are some more pictures of the walkway and area .. nothing really that exciting, except open space to walk our dogs Maxxie and Sophie .. who like to sniff everything and pee at every corner marking their way home!

               

THE HART SERIES: Weigh In: Week 15

Saturday April 14, 2007

271.0 lbs

>> Down 2.5 lbs
>> YTD Down 11.0 lbs

Reflection

I don’t get it. Yes - I have been doing ’some’ exercise - but, I still have not put it into second gear. This week, I seemed to have been eating MORE junk food, eating out MORE .. LESS exercise .. and I lost weight!

~wait~ I think I’m on to something! haha .. // Eat more! Excercise Less! Lose Weight!~

Well, maybe it’s because I’m eating less portions than I normally do with the large salad meals that I have been eating (you’ve seen the pictures!). Maybe it’s the stress from my work burning off calories sitting at a desk all day and all hours of the night or worrying that I haven’t been blogging that much? Maybe it was the new Melaleuca Nutritional meal replacement bars, or nutritional weight-loss fat burning bars I happened to come by, and been snacking on instead of Thinsations and Pringles. Maybe I just pigged out late at night on the night before last week’s weighin and my weight wasn’t really representative of what it should be .. don’t forget - it was a short week and I changed it up from a Monday morning weighin to Saturday morning weigh in.

I’m believe in the weigh in number, because we have a good scale. I think it’s just a timing issue, because bottom line - it doesn’t feel like I’ve lost 2-1/2 pounds this week .. mentally.

               

THE HART SERIES: Counting: April 7-13, 2007 (Summary)

Saturday April 7, 2007

* Brunch: Pancakes on my Family size Griddle .. it’s great! (PS> pancake on top row, far left=1 point)
* Supper: Salad, with turkey
>> Total 22 points - UNDER .. 35 splurge flex points remain untouched

Sunday April 8, 2007

* All Day Easter Dinner with family
* homegrown Chickens from the Hutterites (about 2.5lbs each, for 4 people)
* Add chocolate, donates, stuffing, potatoes, and cake
>> Total 42 points today .. OVER BY 10 .. 25 splurge points remain

Monday April 9, 2007

* Breakfast: Cereal, etc
* Lunch: Leftovers stuffing, potatoes, salad, cake
* Snacks all day, no real supper
>> Total 38 points - OVER BY 6 POINTS .. 19 splurge flex points remain

Tuesday April 10, 2007

* Breakfast: Toast and peanut butter - I didn’t notice my cat’s noseprints on my camera lens until a few days later ..
* Late Lunch: With Client at Salisbury House. I have a Texas Meat Western Skillet (hash browns, bacon, ham, sausages, covered with 2 over easy eggs and cheese) Mmmm and 2 Salisbury donuts
* Supper was Ice Cream with syrop
>> Total 44 points - OVER by 12 points! .. 7 splurge points remain

Wednesday April 11, 2007

* Brunch Client meeting at Schmeckers Restaurant - had Apple Pancakes
* Dinner: Salad and (new) Melaleuca Nutritional bar
>> Total 33 points - OVER by 1 point .. 6 splurge flex points remain

Thursday April 12, 2007

* No picture today .. because I didn’t eat today
* Although I did snack on 2 Nutritional Bars from Melaleuca and Thinsations and Cereal
* Supper Snack: A&W - 3 chicken Strips with Sweet & Sour sauce
* Supper Dessert: Low Fat (Skinny Cow) Ice Cream sandwich
>> Total 28 points - UNDER .. 6 splurge flex points still remain

Friday April 13, 2007

* Luncheon Client Meeting: Chicken Gyros on 7″ pita
* Snacked on Nutitional Bar, Kelloggs Oat Bran bar & Sweet & Salty bar
* Supper: Toasted turkey breast sandwich, with mayo with Pringles
>> Total 36 point! - OVER BY 4 POINTS .. I end the week with 2 unused splurge flex points

               

THE HART SERIES: Weigh In: Week 14 (Short Week)

Saturday April 7, 2007

273.5 lbs

>> UP 1.5 lbs
>> YTD Down 8.5 lbs

Reflection

Well, I seem to have lost my book after this weigh in was taken, and that pretty much says it all, right? When I lose track of my notebook that I write all my meals down .. you know something is wrong! I could say that there was also chocolate bunnies involved sometimes during the week, since Wednesday!

But - Up 1.5 lbs. NOT GOOD. My timing has been off and I’ve been eating supper in the afternoons, breakfast at night and snacking at my computer. The more I’ve exercised the more pain I get from exercising that yes.. yes .. “No Pain No Gain” but, it’s hard to exercise fully when you are in pain.

Honestly - I know I should get back on schedule, back to routine - but, work comes first at this stage for me, at least until after April 30th. So, I try - but I also know I am not as motivated as I should be. But, the weather is warming up here in Winnipeg (around 0c) .. rather than snacking on food during short breaks .. I plan (and starting to) include the dogs in my breaktime and going outside for a ‘romp’ by the river, behind our condos, and walks to the bank and post office (about 8 blocks away)

               

THE HART SERIES: Counting: April 2-6, 2007 (Summary)

This was a short week, from Monday to Friday to re-shift my weigh-ins to Saturday Mornings now….. I accidentally threw out my little notepad that had all my meals on Sunday afternoon .. I will have recreated Saturday and Sunday .. but, all I have this week are pictures that I hardly took!

Monday April 2, 2007

Well, didn’t have any pictures of food but I took pictures of Maxxie and Sophie

Tuesday April 3, 2007

Didn’t take any pictures

Wednesday April 4, 2007

Didn’t take any pictures

Thursday April 5, 2007

I took a picture of these new Thinsations my wife bought yesterday during Shopping Day. Peanut shaped peanut butter cookies and some little shortbread cookies. The Peanut Butter Cookies are quite tasty!

Also, I bought this new dressing from my mother on Tuesday, who purchased it at Costco. It’s called ‘Vidalia Onion Dressing’ and tastes a lot like that Kraft Poppyseed dressing, with a touch of onion and I suppose butter? But, the Poppyseed dressing is 2 points per 1 TBSP and this one is 3 points per 2 TBSP .. so, not as great as the regular Blue Menu Caesar dressing salad which is 1 point for 2 TBSP, but much tastier. Now that I think about it, I’ve been using it every day this week whenever I can.

Friday April 6, 2007

This is those Restaurant style grilled cheese sandwich, but I added a fried egg inside it with extra cheese.

SUMMARY

I still had many client meetings this week, including a few lunch meetings, and Tim Hortons outings .. and I felt like I was eating too much snacks, and my timing was off. During the week I had worked a few nights and took power naps during the day as I try to stretch this 5-day period into a 4-day week! To prorate the weeks 35 splurge flex points by 5/7 - I should have been allowed 25 splurge points for the short week. Based on the upcoming weigh-in Saturday April 7th .. I probably had more than 35 points this week!

One thing that I do know .. while my ‘mini’ exercises on my exercise bike and rowing machine every morning (i.m.o.) got my heart rate going and was turning into a ‘mini routine’ .. (every morning) .. my wife continued to MOCK me for calling it a routine because it was turning to be AT MOST 20 minutes each time. So .. I upped my routine to double time - and, by Thursday my legs and body has been aching greatly. Today as I write this, (April 11th) I am still aching and haven’t exercised since Saturday PM (although, the weather has been warming up and I have been walking the dogs)

               

THE HART SERIES: Weigh In: Week 13

Monday April 1, 2007

272.0 lbs

>> Down 1.5 lbs
>> YTD Down 10 lbs

Reflection

I was also sickly Monday morning, and didn’t eat anything solid since suppertime Sunday Evening - taking shots of Crown Royal Whiskey and jumping under the covers. It’s Thursday morning now at the time of writing this, and I’m back up to .. well, the week isn’t over yet and I shouldn’t be weighing myself during the week - but I was curious as I reached my FIRST 10 POUNDS ~! I know, after 13 weeks it’s not that great. But, I could be at ZERO or even gained weight.

My Excercise routine has been steadily becoming a “routine” instead of the “whenever I go downstairs and get a file I should jump on a machine and do a few minutes of something” method! In the morning, before coffee and again at lunch time - I do two sets of the excercise bike and in the morning I’ve been adding the rowing machine routine. The amount of time I spend may not seem that much to many (1/2 hr at most each time or less) but I am getting my heart rate up, putting up a sweat and I think it counts :p

The temperatures went back down to a deep freeze here in Winnipeg (-20c) and haven’t walked at all outside. If I’m not meeting clients, I am sitting at computer all day and all night and not even taking breaks. My knees are starting to bug me, and um, you know that flabby area between your legs when you ride bicycles or do lots of running or walking and are out of shape? yah .. it’s soft and hurting~

               

THE HART SERIES: Counting: March 26-April 1, 2007 (Summary)

Monday March 26, 2007

* Breakfast - toast etc
* Client meetings x 2
* Tim Hortons x 2
* No Lunch
* Pancakes for supper
* Thinsations during the day
* No meal pictures
>> TOTAL 33 POINTS … Over by 1 point - 34 splurge flex points remain

Tuesday March 27, 2007

* Breakfast toast PB & Jam
* Snacks during the day
* No Lunch
* Dinner salad, orange and I found these Weight Watcher Snack cakes 1 point each
>> TOTAL 27 POINTS … Under - still have 34 splurge flex points remaining

Wednesday March 28, 2007

* Breakfast cereal
* Lunch and Snacks the rest of those Weight Watcher snacks!
* Other snacks Thinsations and Singles Pringles
* Dinner soup and salad
>> TOTAL 31 points … Under - 34 splurge flex points remain

Thursday March 29, 2007

* No pictures today
* Client meetings and deliveries
* Tim Hortons including Muffin (9 points for muffin)
* Breakfast cereal
* Late Lunch - Home Made Chili Fries at Steve’s Restaurant (took 20 points)
* Snacks during day, Sweet & salty, pringles, thinsation
>> TOTAL 48 POINTS .. - Over by 16 points - 18 splurge points remain

Friday March 30, 2007

* Breakfast Cereal etc
* No Lunch today
* Snacks oranges, thinsations, pringles
* Dinner salad and chicken fingers (took 14 pts for 6 pcs)
>> TOTAL 34 POINTS .. Over by 2 points - 16 splurge flex points remain

Saturday March 31, 2007

* No Pictures
* Breakfast Melba Toast
* Lunch & Dinner at Relatives
* BBQ 2 hotdogs, 1 hamburger, treats, and sample chocolates! (took 36 points for this)
>> TOTAL 41 points .. over by 9 points - 7 splurge points remain

Sunday April 1, 2007

* No Breakfast - Slept in, and was sickly today
* Lunch Toasted Turkey Sandwiches
* Dinner soup and salad and an orange
>> TOTAL 20 points - UNDER .. 7 splurge points remain for the entire week.

               

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