New Year, New Me

Howdy!

Happy New Year!

Last year at this time I weighed well over 300 pounds. I’m so excited to enter the shiny, New Year at only 215 pounds.   

That seems to be my steady weight over the last month or so. Sometimes I go a little above that and sometimes I dip a little below. Pretty cool. I have been eating a little bit more like a normal person now and my weight doesn’t suffer since I still try to go to the gym at least three times a week. Over the holidays, I ate pies and lots of chocolates and cookies! I also ate favorites such as sausage lasagna and chili-cheese-dogs. My weight didn’t budge!!! YAY! It is a constant tug-o-war between eating and exercise. The sweet treats without the guilt made the holidays that much more enjoyable.

The winter months are upon us in full force. It’s tough to go out and exercise in a natural environment when it’s bitter cold or raining/snowing and going to the gym everyday is also tough. I make it a point to get in there at least three times a week. Life is good. Spring will be even better.

Love,

Vanishing Steve

Getting ready for the holidays.

Hey!

Figured I’d post my progress which is minimal as far as weight loss but improved as far as muscle-building. I’m still weighing in at or around 219 pounds. One day in October I weighed in at 215 but, that was after running a bunch that week. I haven’t been pushing myself to walk and/or run everyday anymore. I am really just maintaining a healthy lifestyle at this point and enjoying not having to do BUST ASS to do it. I am simply eating healthy and working out in the gym at this point. The weather has turned more wintry and much cooler and rainier so, it is time to sweat indoors! 

We have an elliptical machine at work that I use to get my blood pumping and I also follow a muscle workout program that I have kept up over the last three months or so. It is really paying off! My entire body is leaner and meaner and I look so much better because of it. I dropped to a 34 inch waist about a month ago!!! I remember being a 36 inch waist in high school.

I am in the best shape I’ve been since perhaps middle school. I have wasted so much of my life ignoring my health. Now I can do 36 crunches in 60 seconds and max out at 38 push-ups in one set!!! I am working out with 3 sets benching 100 pounds on my chest and 3 sets of 35 pounds on my bicep curling. 

What a difference from a year ago when I was out of breath from climbing the stairs!!!!!!!!!

Doctor’s Visit – 85 POUNDS LOST!

Howdy!

I had a visit with my doctor a few days ago. He congratulated me on the weight loss and stated “you made my day”.   

When I visited him in February (when my doctor put me on high blood pressure medication which inspired me to continue this blog), I weighed a whopping 304 pounds!

I hopped on his scale in the examination room and weighed in at 219 pounds. GIGGLE GIGGLE

That means I’ve lost an incredible 85 pounds since seeing him in February!!!!!!!!!

He was very impressed. I am so psyched!!! Also, my blood work results came back. The doctor stated that from October of 2010 to October of 2011 my total cholesterol has gone from 236 to 176 which in his professional opinion is “REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT”.

I’m still getting out in the morning to walk and/or jog. I’m hitting the gym for more muscle-mass on a regular basis now and continuing my great, healthy diet. Everything is clicking!    Also, I have to mention my triglycerides have dropped in the past year from 482 to 156. How sweet!!!!!!!

My doctor wants me to stay on the high blood pressure medication for now even though my blood pressure is back into a normal range but, he assures me that I may not need it in the future. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Vanishing Steve

Staying focused

Howdy!

I’ve been slacking a bit on my workouts lately and running/walking less. One night I needed to do laundry, the next night I was pooped from work… there always seems to be an excuse on hand. I also had two restaurant meals with my family last weekend which I loved but, you can’t control the ingredients at times like those. They were higher in fat and salt than my usual diet. As a result, I gained a few pounds. A day after that I hurt my back at work but, I forced myself to go walk two or three miles consecutive mornings. I also worked out my upper body one night in the gym. I’m trying to stay focused.

There will always be some kind of excuse readily available. I just need to stay focused. I need to exercise before I talk myself out of it. 

I got my hands on the Insanity workout. Guess what? It’s completely insane. Something new to try.

Also, I’m seriously considering registering for a 5K run around Thanksgiving. Something to strive for and keep me…. FOCUSED!

Thanks for staying in my corner!

Love, Vanishing Steve

Ran two miles!

Howdy!

Just had to share the fact that I ran two miles yesterday. BAM!    

I thought of three excuses not to, but I did it anyway.

Peace!

Broke the 80 pound mark! I achieved what I set out to do! Amen to that.

Howdy friends!

My weight loss has slowed over the past month or so. Recently I’ve become more determined since I’ve been so close to the 80-pounds-lost marker. I ran three or four times over the past week and accomplished a mile at a time. My diet has been great. I’ve continued the gym workouts. I guess you could say I kicked it up a notch all around. Today I saw the results…

Today the scale read 221 pounds.    

That means I’ve met my initial goal of losing 80 pounds in 8 months in just 6 and a half months! I thought 8 months would be aggressive to lose 80 pounds, but I HAVE MANAGED TO “EXORCISE” 83 POUNDS WORTH OF FAT DEMONS FROM MY FAT SUIT IN 6.5 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!

I achieved what I set out to do! Amen to that.

Remember when I started my weight loss crusade back on February 21st? I posted that day and stated “perhaps my original goal of losing 80 pounds in 8 months was a bit extreme?” I hadn’t really pushed myself to lose any weight at that point. I hadn’t truly battled for a healthier lifestyle at that point. I now realize I can accomplish whatever I am determined to do. You can too. We all have hidden strength. I simply tapped into mine. Again, you can too.

My journey doesn’t stop here folks. I’m feeling too good to stop now. This is a healthy lifestyle that I’ve chosen, and I’ve worked hard to accomplish. I hope to continue being healthy until I’m old and somewhat feeble. 

Thanks for sticking with me!

Love,  Vanishing Steve

Six Month Update

Howdy y’all !

Since I just passed the six month mark, I figured you deserve an update.

I haven’t had fast food in six months!

I currently weigh in at 227 pounds.    I’ve lost a total of 77 pounds so far!

My family, co-workers and friends all say I really do look like a different person. That’s because I am! I’m not just 77 pounds lighter… I am truly changed forever. God bless!

My exercise is a nice balance between cardio and weight lifting. I try to do either one or the other each day and usually alternate between the two.

I ran one and a half miles with my brother Kevin on Cape Cod last weekend. That was truly surreal, emotional, memorable and spectacular. I never thought I’d see that day come and it did. That makes me really, really happy. 

I get choked up when I think of all the accomplishments I’ve made over my journey the past six months. Life is good and it keeps getting better everyday!

I’m looking forward to achieving more goals down the road.

Thanks for staying in my corner.

Love, Vanishing Steve

 

75 pounds lighter

Howdy!

Feeling great. Weighed in yesterday after my workout and the scale read 229 pounds. 

After exorcising 75 pounds from my fat suit, I have now dropped into the 220 pound range. The last three pounds I lost took a while, but I think that’s because I’m gaining muscle mass too… muscle weighs more than fat.

My workouts in the gym have become much more fierce, fiery and fantastic. I’m doing push ups, jogging, working my biceps, triceps, shoulders and core. I’m shaping up nicely and enjoying looking in the mirror for a change. 

The journey continues onward. Stay tuned!

Love, Vanishing Steve

Ran One Mile

Howdy y’all!

Just had to tell you in the midst of an hour-long workout today, I ran my first complete mile. That rocks!

Love you,

Vanishing Steve

Broke the 70 POUND marker!

YES!

When I weighed myself the other day I was a little discouraged because I had gained two pounds. That made me try even harder!!!

This morning I went for a true jog for the very first time. I walked a few steps out of my house then I jogged for about 5 minutes and rested for about 2 minutes then jogged for about 5 more minutes, rested for about 4 minutes and jogged around the block for another 5 minutes. I was feeling slight pain in my lungs, but in general, I felt amazing. 

Today I weighed in at 232 pounds. I just crushed the 70 POUND marker!!!

I’m now down 72 pounds from February 21st when I started to keep track of my progress… and I’ve made progress by leaps and bounds!

I was misty-eyed when I read the scale today. I was mystified and amazed. I’ve been wanting to reach this goal for weeks. I am unbelievably psyched.

I was looking at some online BMI (Body Mass Index) calculators which generally calculate if someone is fat. Let’s face it, I definitely was and still am according to their calculations. I have journeyed from what they call OBESITY III from weight 304 and above down to 280 pounds. I have journeyed from what they call OBESITY II from 279 down to 250 pounds.  I am now passing through what they call OBESITY I from 249  pounds way, way down to 215 where my status would change to simply OVERWEIGHT. At that point, I’ll be dancing an Irish Jig up on a stage somewhere. I’m feeling dazzled at my current weight of 232. I weighed 225 in high school, so I’m a mere 7 pounds away from that. Even that could take a while, but I’m on the right path. HELL YEAH!

~Vanishing Steve