Monday, April 30, 2012

How Do You Say 'Healthy' in Canadian?

Every now and then, I get excited about getting in shape. Well...let me rephrase that. Every now and then I get disgusted about being out of shape. This, in turn, gives me (a little) motivation, to want to do something to fix it. Trial and error have proven to me that the following methods do not work.
  • Taking smaller bites to reduce the number of calories consumed.
  • Pre-planning your meals does not mean get larger portions to avoid having seconds
  • Eating every 2 hours to reduce the amount eaten - yeah, right!
  • Formulating an exercise plan - apparently, finishing the plan does not count as exercise
  • The same for reading a diet book - it doesn't burn many calories
I recognize the value in exercise and eating right. I have nothing against these things. It is just not part of my routine and I have never had success in changing this. The only time I remember getting into really good shape was when I was in Tae Kwon Do with my son.

The instructor talked me into taking the lessons with him. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I went to a childrens' martial arts class with Christian. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he accompanied me to the adult class. It was something we did together and kept each other motivated. Plus, it was fun and I got to see the results of what I learned each week. The purpose of this was not to get into shape, but it is what happened.

A few years ago, I took some of my tax return money and bought a gym membership. I pre-paid for the entire year. I think I went four times. That breaks down to $75 per visit. Not really worth it.

I have decided that what I need is a person to go to the gym with me. Someone that I have a standing appointment with that I have to keep. Whether that is every morning or just 3 times a week, that would be enough to make me go. Plus, having that person there screaming, "COME ON, YOU PANSY! GIVE ME 10 MORE!" might be the extra incentive needed to not stop when I start to get tired.

PishPosh
Click picture for more info
Ken Degner at ken-inatractor was just writing about the goal he has of losing 10 pounds before the end of June to fit into his suit for a graduation ceremony. He has jumped in on the Pish Posh Get Fit! Challenge.

I stated the challenge I have when it comes to motivation without a workout buddy and he offered to be that person. This is a bit different than what I had in mind since he lives in Alberta, Canada, but told him that this could work.

Even if he is not right beside me telling me that I need to push harder or swinging by the house to pick me up to go to the gym, just having someone to keep me accountable gives me extra boost to get it done. In fact, it has already started. Knowing that I have someone to answer to started the process of finding a gym today.

So, here's the deal. I will post what is happening on here as well. Not for every post, but I will keep my readers updated. Encouraging words or even insults about me being fat should both push me to work harder. I now weigh 223. Ten pounds off, as Ken suggested, would bring me to 213. I know this because I am studying to be a math teacher, so trust me. However, I am going to try for those extra 3 pounds as well. I believe that is very realistic. That give me a full 2 months to lose 13 pounds. That was more math. I haven't yet done the conversions from Canadian pounds to American pounds, so my numbers may be a little off.

Cheer me on or call me mean names. In fact, whoever comes up with the most creative or brutally cruel name to call me, I will send the doughnut I chose not to eat that day because you hurt my feelings. Let the games begin.

65 comments:

  1. For two years I did ju jitsu with my boys. It was probably the fittest I've ever been in my life. Somehow the most relaxed as well. By most relaxed I mean least bitchy.

    Good luck with your goals. In my experience men lose weight much easier than women. Some evolutionary thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. In the past, it has come off pretty quickly with very little effort. I want to push it past that first weight drop and keep going. I would love to get all the way down to 180. I will focus on this first step for now.

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  2. ALright preach I don't think standing by the counter at Taco Bell today asking for all the mess ups helps this weight thing.....(Our Taco Bell never gets anything right!!!) LOL

    Thanks again for everything...

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    1. I was able to score all the free food today, but I ate none of it. I gave it all away. I just ate the stuff I paid for. I just like people to be impressed with all the free stuff I seem to get all the time.

      We will check out that gym tomorrow.

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  3. Training partners do make it all worth while.

    I did a half marathon yesterday with a mate of mine. I don't think I would have made a good time without him.

    Keep at it mate. We'll all be watching now... so make sure you shut your curtains :p

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    1. it will be a while before I could do a half marathon. Partner or not. I would just crawl in a ditch and die.

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    2. Yep that was me at the end

      It was the furthest I had ran in a year and a half

      And it was the slowest I have ever ridden to work this morning

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    3. Either way, you finished. Maybe I should try to be at a point where I could do it in a year.

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  4. Great goals! That is more than enough time to get the pounds off. Just remember it is 95% food and only 5% exercise! Sad but true!

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    1. Yeah. I have already decided that I will not drink sodas. I know that is a lot of sugar and empty calories. I will do some intentional grocery shopping tomorrow.

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  5. So, one of the driving forces behind me doing this was that early last week i weighed myself and was at 190 lbs. I had never wanted to be at 190 again, yet there it was. That prompted me to try on the suit, which sadly, didn't fit anymore. Then Thursday, Pish Posh's get fit post came out and i decided i had to do something, so i jumped on board. (mostly because she had extended the ending date.) Anyways, Sunday morning weigh in put me at 187! That's 3 lbs already. the problem is, i usually start eating junk again after a week and a half, I expect a virtual kick in the butt before that happens. Also, if you do the extra 3 lbs, i will too.

    Oh, 13lbs Americian is just less than 6 kilograms Canadian. That may be an advantage for me.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I was just thinking 3 more pounds to get the round number, but why not? I actually want to go lower than the 210, but I will take it in phases. How about we check in with each other once a week?

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    2. I also just noticed that after 2 nights of rearranging my blog page, turns out i have inadvertantly copied your layout exactly. Either we are both extraordinarily gifted designers or i may have subconsciously plagerized your brilliance. Sorry.

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    3. I like the brilliant designer theory.

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    4. once a week is good with me.

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  6. LET'S DO THIS YOU PANSY!!

    I mean, awesome, so glad you are joining up.

    Okay I can't say the number I am because when you're a guy and you say you're 223 people go oh okay, you want to lose 10lbs, cool. You want to stay that weight, also cool. But when you're a woman and you say you're 110 or 140 or 180 people say "well what's wrong with that? real women have curves!" no matter what the number. Suffice to say I can't fit in my pants and I look 4 months pregnant.

    I WILL LOSE 10LBS this month! I WILL. But only if you guys routinely call me a Pansy. Do it for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can do that. I am very good at name calling. Some would say too good at it. I don't know if that's possible, but I enjoy it.

      Pish, we will call your number x.
      At the end of next month, your number will be x-10.

      It's the math teacher in me. I can't help it. Plus, who says we never use algebra in real life?

      Pansy

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    2. Haha I really do need the names. I miss my coach.

      He treated me like a man, and I appreciated that. Even when he flipped me on my back really hard and yelled me at me because when I do rolls I look like an egg roll. Dumb and just lying there waiting to be eaten.

      X-10 works for me.

      Tomorrow starts some serious shiz.

      Delete
  7. I could blow on my nails right now and gloat - but I won't because I'm nice that way. *end false modesty*

    I'm losing two lbs a week! I feel so much better now - it's amazing... I'm sooooooooo excited to be approaching an almost normal weight! In fact, by local standards I have already arrived. Yesterday a lady said to me:

    "Bozoinde vannam poyi - eepum nallada"

    Which translates roughly to, Bozo's weight is gone - now you're looking good.

    The Pish Posh challenge is great stuff :-)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Congratulations on your success. Two pounds a week would be great.

      In 2 weeks, I want to hear, "Brettindi vondo poi nom nom - eatum allup."

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    2. Oh wow... you make me laugh!

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  8. hmmm, they Canada does have their own bacon, but USA gobbles down mcdonalds and pink slime, like we're trying to keep our arteries clogged

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    Replies
    1. And I love Canadian bacon. I think the U.S. is ranked at the most overweight in the world.

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  9. Oh, I gained quite a few pounds over the winter, so you are in much better shape than me. Good luck!

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    Replies
    1. Quit hedging and hawing Tracy and join up!! Or hire me to cook for you :)

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    2. Thank you and join us if you wish. We're doing it anyway.

      Pish, I'll take the cooking.

      Delete
  10. The Transformed Transformed Non-Conformist.

    Good luck dude. I have also not loved the beer gut I have been sporting this past year or two and am looking forward to eventually developing the motivation to get back to my sexy self once again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Come on fine sir. You don't want Justin Timberlake to be the only one bringing Sexy Back do you?

      Wow I really just said that.

      Wow, I really am hitting publish on this.

      Delete
    2. We'll root for you when you start. Hopefully, this time, I will do more than get started.

      Pish, that was bad. Bad.

      Delete
  11. I'll definitely be cheering you on. Exercise is the best drug in the world. It's like Lays. You can't have just one..workout. Three days on, one day off usually works for me. I believe in you! That doesn't mean anything to most people.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. Having people believe in you does mean something and I am glad your in my corner. I just need to stick with it long enough that it becomes a habit and I get that high. Then I will keep doing it.

      Delete
  12. Ditto on the 'getting disgusted at being out of shape" - I just blogged about this same thing, though for me I have some unappealing health issues that result when I don't take care of myself. Why can't we just eat ourselves silly on junk and never get fat or die young? Why does life have to be so haaaaard :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I spent years just not worrying about it. For a long time, it had no effect. I can't say that anymore.

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  13. So I have been working on a diet as well to try to loose some weight before I go to the Miss Arkansas pageant in July. I am not IN the pageant, but I don't like feeling like a fat old hag around all those tight fit twenty somethings.

    I will support you and at least give you sufficient harassment to promote initiative.

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  14. I'm a little disappointed in the lack of harassment in these comments. Y'all are being tremendously supportive and nice here. Or are you just waiting for Brett to actually start his workouts and THEN you're gonna harass him?

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. I gave them free reign for fat jokes and any other mean comments they wanted to make and no one jumped on it. We'll see what happens.

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  15. I will cheer you on, Brett! Losing weight isn't easy, but I think you have the stamina to do it. 13 lbs in two months is an attainable goal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I feel more motivation than I have in the past already.

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  16. GOOOOOOOOO BRETT!!!!! i'm doing it with ya!!!

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    Replies
    1. All right. Maybe all the people participating can add the weight lost together and get this astronomical number.

      "We lost more weight than a Greyhound bus."

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    2. "we lost more than yer mother"

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    3. Ooh. Yo' mama jokes. Haven't heard one of those in a while.

      Delete
  17. Come on, Fatty McDonaldsButt!! You fat tub of lard. Get your ginormous hippo ass off that couch and move those chunky thunder thighs onto a treadmill instead of running for the border!!

    Yeah, that's the best I've got. Sad, huh?

    But you asked, and I felt obliged to at least attempt to comply with your wishes.

    Plus, it's like throwing stones, which is quite dangerous for me, sitting up here in this big glass house. I've been trying to get rid of my "baby weight" for years now. My youngest will be 4 on Thursday. Pretty sure that this "baby fat" is just plain ole FAT now. :( I need to get moving, but I just can't seem to keep up the motivation to be good with eating and working out more than my once a week Zumba class. Not really doing it. I've avoided talking about it on my blog as of yet.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Oh, and good luck on your challenge, Brett!! You can do it.

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    2. There we go. You are the first person to throw out the mean stuff and I see you couldn't resist the encouragement at the end.

      Thank you for both. So far, you get the doughnut.

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    3. Misty, that was an awesome insult!

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    4. I am still nursing my bruised ego.

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    5. Dang, and that wasn't even my best stuff. I was trying to keep it tame for my audience. Plus, I don't wanna go to hell for yelling at a preacher. ;)

      Oh, and keep the donut. I definitely don't need any more of those. Maybe tie it to a string dangling off a stick and put the whole thing on your treadmill. Maybe it will make you run faster!!

      Delete
    6. That will work. The last time I had doughnuts in the house, they got covered with ants. I had to give them to the neighbor kids.

      I appreciate the restraint. I try to keep my site fairly clean, even in the comment section. But, feel free to yell. I can take it.

      I am joining a gym this week. I wonder what the reaction would be if I took in a box of doughnuts for all the customers.

      Delete
  18. Well obviously I'm not going to insult you. I will jump on the bandwagon though. I ate A LOT in the last few weeks of goodbyes, but managed not to gain any real weight. However, that means I didn't lose the winter weight.

    ...and I'm in a wedding in June and don't fit the dress! So I have a dress to fit. I don't care about the pounds, but I *think* that will be about 12 pounds, depending on my workouts slimming me down. I have until June 16. That's what...6 weeks?

    Okay, math teacher, is that about 2 pounds per week? I'm gonna aim to start at 3, because after about 3 weeks I'll plateau.

    But you and Ken have to both ask/harrass me about it in your comments on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, it probably wouldn't be good to start off throwing fat jokes at each other.

      I am not so concerned with the pounds either. I would would just like to see the gut diminished. But, it is the extra pounds that keep it there.

      We'll get there. It seems more and more people are jumping on board. I'll be happy to stay on you in the comment sections.

      Delete
  19. Damn it! I was looking forward to holding one of your tie ropes for this year's Macy's Parade.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I wouldn't have needed more than three or four guys. I'm not that big.

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    2. denial--not a river in Egypt

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    3. I feel like watching the first hour of "Full Metal Jacket" now, Private Pyle.

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    4. HA! He found a way to lose a few pounds really fast.

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  20. You'll be fine once you get in the habit. Do anything for three weeks and it becomes routine.

    I don't have any creative names for you. But when I don't want to work out, I find swearing at my stationary bike helps.

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    Replies
    1. Adam and I are joining a gym together. We start on Thursday. Between my blogging friends and him in person, I should not be able to fail.

      Delete
  21. AllI can say, is good for you! Your dad weights in under 200...so go for 23#.

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    1. Thank you, Mom. I am going to try to get to 180, but am taking it in steps. This goal is 13 pounds by June 30 and then I will set a new goal.

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  22. Replies
    1. Thank you. I missed your comment for some reason. I didn't make it during the challenge, but kept at it and hit the goal a month later.

      Delete

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