Thursday, January 31, 2008

Weight Goes Up And Down

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 183-pounds.

I am not worried about this because it's late, and I just stepped onto the scale weighing in at 181.6-pounds.

So the weight is going up and down.

I am trying to figure out what happened to my post for yesterday. I think I accidentally deleted it. It wouldn't be the first time I boo-booed that way.

Well, It's late, and I must go to sleep.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Can I Drink Beer And Lose Weight?

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 181.4-pounds.

Huh? What's that? How is it that I can gain weight so fast? It's not what you think.

Last night I went to bed early around 8 PM. My hope was I would sleep all night and then wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 4 AM.

Well, I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 11 PM, with three hours of sleep. I tried to fall back to sleep, but I was raving hungry.
As a result I tried to get rid of the hunger with a cup of green tea and some honey. Nope, that didn't work. I drank a second cup. That didn't fix the hunger. Finally, I scooped out a tablespoon of chunky peanut butter and ate that off the spoon.
Today's weight is a result of retained fluids, and the peanut butter I consumed late last night.

I woke up at 4 AM, there wasn't enough time to digest and pass out what I drank and ate. So, there is the explanation for that.

Yesterday I did go over the 1,300 calories by about 400 calories. I don't think this is going to make me gain weight. It's only one day going over.

Can I Drink My Beer?
The other day I was talking to a man. I was telling him I lost 60 pounds. He told me that he used to be thin until he got married. He admitted that he has to lose 60-pounds.

He told me that he is going to have a hard time losing weight because he likes to drink his beer at night. I told this man that I was drinking beer and losing weight. I told him I added the beer to my total calorie count for the day.
I also told him that there really isn't any harm in having one or two beers at night. He told me he usually drinks more than that.

Here is my thought. Is he trying to escape his wife, or the child that his wife had 7 months ago? Is he trying to escape life period?

If it's more important to drink 3-4 bottles of beer a night, instead of concentrating on losing the weight, then maybe there is a problem there. I'm thinking a mild addiction to alcohol.

When I started losing weight I discovered I could get away with drinking one bottle of beer a night. If I drank more than that, then I found my weight loss progress slowed.

Now, having dropped 60-pounds, I can't drink more than two beers. If I do then I begin to get a buzz. Not only that, I also start getting sleepy. I find it very difficult to stay awake after drinking two beers.

I used to drink a beer, or a shot to go to sleep at night because of my weird, wacky work schedule. Lately I leave the stuff alone.

There isn't any harm consuming a beer at night. That is, only if you make sure you add those calories to the total calorie count for the day.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Monday, January 28, 2008

Coffee Flavored Oatmeal?

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 178.6-pounds.
This is my second day below 180-pounds.

Did you ever have one of those days when you've done something completely thoughtless?
No harm came to anyone because of my thoughtless actions, but it makes me wonder some days, "Am I even awake at all?"

I woke up early this morning at around 3:30 AM. I meant to get up around eight. Well, I tried to go back to sleep; I was too hungry.
I laid in bed for an hour trying to go back to sleep. Finally I couldn't handle it anymore. I got up, and made a cup of green tea with a teaspoon of honey stirred in.
I went back to sleep after that.

When I woke up, my head was in a fog. I went to make my coffee. As it was brewing I bathed myself in the bathroom. When I went back into the kitchen to get coffee I realized that I had left four tea bags in the coffee pot before I brewed it.

For you who aren't coffee drinkers, coffee and tea don't mix in flavors. These fluids are in a whole different world when it comes to flavor. You just don't mix tea and coffee.

Well I sucked it up and decided to drink this ookey flavored elixir. That was my first waking blunder for the day.

I took my ookey coffee and sat in the living room drinking it and tried to read something. I got hungrier as I sat there. I decided I was going to eat a packet of oatmeal for breakfast. Note I wrote ONE packet.

It didn't turn out like that at all. I was making instant oatmeal. I had a bowl of water on the counter next to my full cup of coffee. I was going to pour the packet of oatmeal into the water, then place that into the microwave oven.
I opened the packet and instead poured it into the coffee. My mouth dropped open at my stupidity. I thought, "What the hey, you dummy." I couldn't believe that I did that without even thinking about it. This was my second thoughtless blunder for the morning.

I took the coffee and oatmeal and dumped the mix into the bowl. Next I added a second packet of oatmeal to that because it was too runny. Then I put it into the Microwave to cook. When I pulled this now very brown looking mess out of the microwave I stirred into it a tablespoon of honey. Then I stirred in a quarter cup of chocolate protein powder.
I sat down to eat this mess.

I was surprised that my mistake had actually made a very tasty, filling breakfast meal.

For you who want to try this in the future just take your oatmeal and add a cup of hot coffee, a tablespoon of honey, and a quarter cup of chocolate protein. And for the kiddies toss in a quarter cup of chocolate powder.

I am not big on sharing recipes. However I made this one mentioned above completely because I blundered into it. It certainly makes me glad I wasn't mixing rocket fuel today. Phew...

My Second Day Under 180-Pounds
Yesterday, and today are my second days under that 180-lb.-target.

I didn't get here by accident. I had to make a dramatic change over two weeks ago with my total caloric intake. I reduced my total intake of calories from 1,500 calories to 1,300 calories.

Initially I really had to suck it up. The hunger was back again with a vengeance. The cats were in my stomach clawing my insides.
Then I got sick. I tossed all caution to the wind because I couldn't do both: resist hunger pain, and suffer with all the aches and pains from my illness.
I began to pump in the calories when I got hungry.
On one Sunday, by the time the day was over, I had consumed over 3,000 calories.
Monday wasn't much different than this, I ate when I felt like it. I ate anything I could get my sticky fingers on.

Back To The Battle
When I was feeling better I put my head down and got back to "The Battle Of The Bulge."

It's War. HOO WHAA!

I don't know why my metabolism had slowed to such a pace that I have to eat so little food. Today I was listening to a program that mentions this generation is obese not because of our food consumption, but because of fluoride put into the public water system.

I don't know if this is true. I am sure that environmental factors have had something to do with it. I do remember when I was younger in the army I could eat large meals and not gain a pound.
In the army I was more active. As I got older I found that I couldn't eat just anything anymore.
I wish I could eat more.
I Can't.

My motivation to lose weight wasn't because I really knew what I was going to do. I didn't have a written plan. I had no diet program laid out in front of me. There wasn't a blue-print.

I knew that I was sick and tired. I couldn't button my uniform shirt. I couldn't button my uniform pants.

Something had to be done. I had to get this weight off. It was killing me. I was deeply depressed because of it.

I get angry when I read or hear these smiling individuals who sell their positive plans for weight loss. I resent that people think they can cut up their stomach and solve their problems. And I get really angry when I find doctors, who should know better, endorse cutting up the stomach.

I know that there are illnesses out there that people struggle with. I have an in-law that has an illness. She can't help herself.

However, as far as I know, I don't have an illness. I had to suck it up. I had to determine to get this weight off. I had figure out what to do.

I put my head down, I sucked it up, and got to work. I had to cut back down my total calories. I suffered as a result of it. I had hunger that consumed my thoughts. I had to resist my impulses.

As a result, I got here. Don't congratulate me. I am not looking for applause. I am just telling you that you can do it too.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Today: Let The Numbers Speak For Themselves

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at: 177.4-pounds.

Goodbye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Are We Meant To Graze?

Hello weight losing fans....

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale Weighing 181-pounds.

This morning I awoke a 4:30 AM. I meant to wake up at 5:30 AM, however I punched a button on the clock that set the time zone to the East Coast. I didn't have my glasses on when I set the wake up hour. So my clock went off an hour before I wanted it to.
I got up, made breakfast, and went out to my car an hour before I wanted to.

When I got into my car and looked at the time on the car radio, I was surprised by my error.
I was already heading down the road, and turned around to head back to my home.
I didn't want to get to work any earlier than I had to.

I was out one hour of rest. Whoops...

I had to go to another city today. As I was driving down the road I was thinking about this blog.
I was wondering what I should write. Seeing as I know I have such a big audience that just hangs on every word I write, I had to think carefully about what I would write. (Oh, I make myself laugh.)

As I was thinking, I couldn't help but feel in my stomach that tug of hunger. I was already slightly hungry after I ate some oatmeal and a banana for breakfast at around 5:15 AM. Here it was 9:30 AM, or so, and I was really beginning to get hungry.

I had to stop at a rest area, and when I stopped I ate a granola bar.
It helped for a little while.

As a result of this, the thought popped into my head, "Are we meant to graze?"

When I write that we should "Eat Less Food," I can't determine how much is right for you.
When I decided to lose weight, I actually started out dramatically low for my proper calorie count. This is because I started out eating "Lean Cuisines" three times a day.

Each "Lean Cuisine" meal was around 300 calories. I upped the calorie count from there.

As I was getting hungrier and hungrier I was thinking, "Man it's a long time until my next meal."
When I stopped I found I had to eat something. I felt a temporary cut of the hunger.

This got me to thinking, "Should we eat more than three meals a day? Are we meant to graze like animals in a field?"

As I experiment more and more with my nutritional intake, I keep wondering how can I fix this insatiable hunger.
It only makes sense to me that I should think through what I want to eat throughout the day. I should have my calories already predetermined, and the food ready with me.

It's a hassle to keep packing up food and carrying it with me. I have found it's cheaper than buying food in a restaurant. I have found it's better to have it handy when I get hungry, even if it's just a small snack.

I am determined to get down to 160-pounds. My friends say, "I would be too skinny."

In order to get there I am actually experiencing all the symptoms of someone going into a diet for the first time. It is not easy for me to put the brakes on at 1,300 calories.

The only way it seems to work best, is to learn to graze a little throughout the day.

Bye for now....

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Friday, January 25, 2008

I Warned You About The Government

WATCH THIS:
Government Control

You are foolish if you don't believe that the government intends to control you. This is America, and we are electing in officials who want to give away our freedom.

Wishful Thinking Won't Get Those Pounds Off

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 182.4-pounds.

Well, today I am breathing better. My fever broke a couple of days ago. I had one on Sunday, and on Monday. I don't know what my temperature was. I know I had a fever because even with a blanket on, and tightly wrapped around me, my teeth were chattering. I was cold even in my 80 degree F. home Sunday night. Phew, I thought I would never get warm.

I am much better. So this has been one of those seven day colds. I consider myself lucky because a lot of people around me have it worse.

For the last six days since Sunday I haven't been overly cautious about my food consumption. I ate when I felt like it, and I ate what I wanted.

I did continue to keep a written record of what I consumed. Yes, I still had to do that even though I felt bad physically. Again, I think I got through this better than many.

My airways are clear, my body aches related to the cold are pretty much history.
So, I am back at "The Battle of The Bulge."

It's War. I have another 20-pounds that I "wish" to get off here. So, I am back at it.

HOO WAH!

As a result, for you unlucky enough to stumble upon my blog, you get to read my dribble. Yes, you can read my witless writings and tell me what you think. Although I am not doing it for you. It's therapy... Oh I make myself laugh.

OK, so what words of wisdom does the Guru have for us today?
Well let me open my black bag full of thoughts here. Hmmmmm.... Let's see...

Wishful Thinking Doesn't Get The Pounds Off
Oh, oh, here we go, David is going to philosophise us to death here. Run! Quick click off that blog. Well, feel free to tune me out.
You got my weight for the day, if that's what you wanted to know.

Years ago I was involved with a Multi Level Marketing Company. It was a financial service company that I was involved with for many years, and I wasted tons of money paying expenses and fees on my own in order to keep my licenses, and go to RAH RAH meetings that were absolutely worthless.

Their meetings were worthless because they never ever touched onto the reality of how things work. Their philosophy was to sell a dream. I being naive and wishing things were different in my life bought into their philosophy.

Now, mixed in with their DREAM was enough truth to capture peoples imagination and suck a lot of unwitting people into their business.
Like everything in life eventually it gets polluted by crooked people who mess with the system.

One of the things that was taught at the RAH RAH Sessions was, "if you'll make a decision then your whole life will change." "Yes, if you'll make a heart felt decision then you'll get rich." I never forget those words.

It was akin to the song that Jimmy Cricket from Walt Disney fame sang, "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true."

Many of the speakers who would get up at these Rah Rah sessions were slick, mouthy, boasting con people who got rich off of the people who followed their hollow blustering.

People were sold a dream, or a wish. They were never taught how to put it into action.

The same may be said about a lot of what's being sold today to people. A lot of what is going on out there in the real world is hype. It's wishful thinking.

Many of the weight loss programs out there are wishful thinking. For example, there is a diet program out there that teaches people to eat food that fits their blood type.
It's a completely impractical way to approach weigh loss. But, people buy the program, wishing that they will lose weight.

There is a weight loss program out there that tells people to cut up the stomach. This will fix their problem. It's wishful thinking. The doctors don't tell you that you will still have to fight with hunger. Hunger starts inside the hypothalamus inside of the brain, not inside the stomach. The doctors don't tell you that you will have to portion down your food after the surgery. That's right. You'll have to portion down your foods.
And, guess what? After your stomach is chopped up, you'll still get hungry. Go figure.
Explanation Of How Hunger Starts

Why am I telling you this? Well, I am trying to get you to realize that wishing something to happen doesn't mean it will happen.

Wishing yourself thin doesn't mean that you will get thin. Making a decision to get thin doesn't mean that you will get thin.

Events Happen As A Result Of Action
I am not knocking the thought processes that lead up to a change in the life of one person. Making a change starts with the realization that something isn't what we want it to be.

In my case, it was that I was overweight.

But, a wish doesn't change anything. Realizing that someone should be at 160-pounds doesn't mean that he will get down to 160-pounds from 300-pounds.

In my case, losing weight was a process. It started with the desire to lose weight. With that desire I had to take a course of action. My course of action was to reduce down the amount of food that I consumed each day.

With The Course Of Action Came The Uncontrollable Events
I started reducing the amount of food that I consumed. This was an action. As a reaction to my action, my body responded by consuming up fat, which resulted in weight reduction.

Along with the action, and my body's reaction came along a lot of things that I had no control over.

I couldn't control the amount of hunger that I was going to feel. I couldn't control the fits and temper tantrums that my body put me through with dizziness, and depression, and constant thoughts about food.

What I could control was that food that I put inside of my mouth. I had to take my will and apply it along with the process. My thought, then the action from the thought, then the results came along later.

Well, what does all this have to do with wishful thinking. My father had an expression, "wish in one hand, then pick up dirt in the other, then see which one weighs more." (He wasn't that clean with words dirt. I changed some of the wording.)

There is no harm in having the desire for things to be different. Don't be so willing to jump onto the wagon with every idea out there that promises weight loss.

There is one sure fire way to lose weight. It works like this: EAT LESS FOOD. That's it.

Eat Sensibly of course. Don't think you can go out and eat sweet rolls three times a day for months on end, and then remain healthy. It won't work.

Can you have a sweet roll for breakfast? Yes, but not everyday for breakfast. Can you have a piece of cake? Yes, you can eat cake. Don't think you can continue to eat dessert everyday, and then expect to lose weight.

Your wishful thinking is going to have to be followed by a plan for action, and then that action has to be taken. It will be a course of action you will have to implement day-in-and-day-out. It's a course of action that you will have to take every-hour-of-every-day. It will be a course of action you will have to implement every-second-everyday.

Your course of action will have to be a result of persistence. I mean stubborn persistence.
Your course of action won't be a Sunday picnic in the sun at a local park.
Your course of action will test your "will" to get at what you want with your body.
Your course of action will be met with stubborn resistance from a human body that wants things to stay the way they are.
Your body will throw fits.
There will be people who think that you can do it differently. There a lot of people out there who don't know how to give up anything.

Food is important. We have to have food to survive.
There is a big difference between eating to survive, and eating to satisfy hunger.

Don't think for five seconds it's going to be easy. What are you kidding? I have a word for the people who tell others it's easy to lose weight. (...........................)

I will keep it clean. You get the idea.


Let Me Make This Easy:
  • Go buy yourself a good quality weight scale
  • Go buy yourself two notepads.
  • Put one notepad in the kitchen, and put one by your scale
  • Go to the bookstore and purchase a good quality calorie counter
  • Figure out your height and weight
  • Write down that height and weight
  • Make up your mind you are going to make an honest attempt to hit that target weight
  • Make up your mind you will not be foolish trying to hit that target weight
  • Start looking at food as a source for energy, instead of a source for personal comfort
  • Start writing down every thing that you eat and drink
  • Measure what you eat and drink, and then write it down
  • When you have gotten into the habit writing down everything you eat, begin to figure out how many calories you eat.
  • When you have figured out how much you eat everyday in calories, take action to reduce down those calories.
  • Many days ago I wrote a formula: 7 calories times your current weight.
  • This formula could be a starting point for your total calorie count.
  • Each day figure out how to reduce down your calories, steady as she goes
  • Pray for the will, strength, and desire to lose weight. It will take an external power to engage that will power. I am talking about the creator of the Universe as that external power.
  • And don't get excited when you lose more than 2-pounds a weak. I think that's too much. I averaged about 1-pound each week.
  • If you weigh 100-pounds over your weight, then expect to take two years to get down to where you belong.
If you will be careful with your food consumption, and stubbornly persistent with your plan, then you will eventually lose weight.

Please keep in mind I am aware of diseases such as Cushing's Syndrome Disease that has an effect on how our bodies respond. Cushing's Syndrome Disease if the result of micro-tumors on the thyroid, or on the Pituitary gland, or even on the Adrenal glands.

In my case, I don't think I have any disease. OK, I have lazy disease. So, in my case, getting off the weight is a matter of reducing my food consumption.

I hope this helps someone who was like me. I was overweight, and feeling desperate as a result. I have other things to deal with. This is why I pray my head off.

Finally, Why haven't I Mentioned Exercise? Exercise is impossible when you can't get that fat body off the couch. Someone may be able to lift the arms up and down and break a sweat if he/she is really out of shape.

Exercise increases the appetite. Until the body has actual muscle that is solid protein muscle, the body doesn't have a real fat burning machine. Fasting for long periods of time actually reduces down the muscle. So, if someone is fat, and they exercise, the body responds by kicking up the physical hunger response. Remember: The unconditioned body immediately wants to meet its energy needs.

Exercise should be used to add muscle, and to condition the body for many different reasons.

You don't have to exercise to lose weight. You should consume more protein along with green vegetables of all kinds to lose weight.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane








Thursday, January 24, 2008

Recovering Sick Person, And I Can Careless About Weight Now

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 182.6-pounds.

I am recovering from a winter cold. As a result I have gone off my careful food consumption regimen.

I really don't have any thoughts for today. Sorry.

I know that so many people hang on my absolute words of wisdom regarding weight reduction. (Oh, I make myself laugh.)

I am recovering. Naw,the cold virus didn't kill me. So, you will be able to continue to look in to see if I am continuing to write dribble.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

I Am Sick, I Am Gaining Some Weight, So What?

Hello weight losing fans....

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 183.4-pounds.
I truly haven't been concerned about what I am consuming.

The runny nose is gone, but now my chest hurts. I don't know if it's because I have dried air breathing passages from this dry winter air, or because the cold has shifted to my chest. I am still achy, and weak. I am tired, and will go home to sleep after I post this.

I will be recovered from this illness soon enough. I just have to put up with it for now.

I had a big lunch of Chinese food. I spent some time with a friend.

That's all for now...

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Winter Cold; Just Living With It

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 182.6-pounds.
That's up from yesterday.

As I wrote yesterday, I'm not even attempting to be careful with my food consumption while I have this cold.
I thought yesterday it made it's turn around because my nose dried up temporarily. And my joints stopped aching. Well, I have had a relapse. All the symptons are back this morning with a vengeance.

It doesn't help with this incredibly dry air we are experiencing. It's very cold outside, and the air has lost most of it's humidity. My skin is dry, and my nose is raw from blowing it every second. Boo Hoo Hoo...

Don't worry, I have been sicker than this in the years past. I think I am lucky it's not worse.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Monday, January 21, 2008

I Am Sick; I Am Going To Eat When I Want Too

Hello weight losing fans.

Today I stepped up the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 182-pounds.
That's up a pound from yesterday.

My weight may very well have been much less today; not by much. I have contracted a winter cold. Along with that cold has come the symptons a cold produces: chills, runny nose, soreness in the joints, headache.
Well, I was suffering with all of those last night. With all that came my incredible hunger because I stopped eating anymore food around 2 PM.

I wasn't going to suffer with the hunger and with the cold. Since I couldn't dump this cold at a whim, I decided until I get well again, my diet can be shelved. I am not going to try to consume only 1,300 calories right now.

Also, my cold might have been spurned on by this remarkably low calorie consumption. So guess what? I am going to eat when I feel like it.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Sunday, January 20, 2008

No Comments For Today

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 180.8-pounds.
That's down a little.

The weight is hanging on. These last two days I went over my 1,300 calorie target. Someone invited me over for lunch. I had ribs for lunch. If I didn't have the second helping of ribs (290 calories) I would have been spot on my 1,300 calories for today. As it is I overshot.

Will I see it tomorrow? I don't know. I am having a hard time keeping the calorie count at 1,300 calories.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Saturday, January 19, 2008

I'm Still Not Losing Those Pounds, And I Am Not Cheating

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 181-pounds.

Yesterday I awoke at 3:00 AM to be at work by 6:00 AM. I tried to sleep that last hour, but hunger kept me awake, so I got up, weighed myself and ate an early morning meal. Yesterday I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 182-pounds.

What in tarn-a-shun, dad-gum, liein' to us again David? Come on now... You mean to tell me you cut back down to 1,300 calories, and you are gaining weight? Sum-tin-is-sure wrong with this here picture you are paintin' for us Mr. Dane.
Why... I get the feeling you are cheatin' somewhere.

NOPE.... I am not. Yesterday I woke up and consumed two hard boiled eggs, and two sheets of graham crackers. For lunch at around 11 AM in the morning, I consumed fried catfish, three small muffins, some French Fries, and cole slaw. A friend gave me a small chunk of chocolate (80 calories). That was all I ate for the remainder of the day, which was another 9 hours without food. When I got home at 9:30 PM from work, I drank a bottle of ALE and then went to bed. I was wiped out tired.

Yesterday's total calorie count came in at just about 1,800 calories. I looked everything up in my calorie book and figured out what I had consumed. So, I came in yesterday at 500 calories over my 1,300 calorie allotment.

This doesn't explain what happened yesterday morning. I stepped up onto the scale at 182-pounds. I really expected to be at or below 180-pounds. I really have been sticking to around 1,300 calories for the three days before.

This has me scratching my head, perplexed. Honest, I haven't been cheating. I have no explanation for this phenomenon.

Here is something else that is making me perplexed. My Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale is beginning to tell me there is a turn around in the wrong direction of my "Body Fat."
A few months ago, I was just hitting between 20-21 percent body fat. This is the time I neared that 180-pound target range.

At this time my percentage of Body Fat is going up. The range is now consistently between 24-25 percent. This is in spite of the fact I am drinking protein powder. It's in spite of the fact I have reduced down the calories.

I have leaned out. My waist if down six inches. My shoulder muscles and arms are beginning to look cut again. My legs are leaner. (My cousin said I have chicken legs now.) So, what is going on?

I am perplexed for sure. I am trying to figure out how I went from 20 percent body fat up to 24 percent body fat in only a couple of months time.
Why is my scale telling me that I am actually gaining fat?

I don't have an answer for it at this time. I may be dealing with a phenomenon that is peculiar to people who are actually eating way to few calories. The body may still be going after the muscle tissue, instead of the fat. It's easier for the body to break a protein molecule than for it to break up a fat molecule. (Don't ask me why, it just is.)
I am beginning to think this is what is going on.

So, how do I combat this? Hmmm... I may have to deliberately eat more tuna, chicken, and meat products. The protein powder may not be enough protein.

Exercise may be a factor too. Let's face the facts here. I haven't had a strenuous work out routine. I have been losing weight without exercise. My muscle may be depleting because of inactivity.

You know what? It's hard to get an old machine to run properly. Yep, my joints and muscles pop, and snap more than they ever have before. I was throwing snow balls a couple weeks ago at my young cousin, and thought I was going to throw my arm off. I try to do push-ups, and my shoulders make popping sounds. Argh....

So, what am I going to do? Well, I am going to eat more protein, and more green vegetables for sure. I will continue consuming the protein powder.

I am slowly adding some excercise in everyday. Phew... I feel like the "Tin Man" out of the movie "Wizard of Oz." Remember the part where he was found standing with his axe up in the air? All he could do was "Eke" out the words "Oil" from the corner of his mouth. He was all rusted up.

Well, that "Tin Man" is me. I am all rusted up. I, because of my size, and the weird wacky schedule that I keep, am rusted up from inactivity.

I am not a fan of running like I was. There was time many years ago when I couldn't wait to go run. I would get off work from my military job, and go run for miles. I would get off work from my regular job and go run for a hour or so. That was a time "LONG AGO." Now, it's a fairy tale.

Now, my body asks this question, and it runs through my mind, "Man, what the H...... are you doing? Are you crazy? Stop this, or I'll kill you dead right here and now dude..."
This is what goes on in my mind.

So, it's tough to deal with for sure; losing weight, trying to get fit again, trying to change all the old habits that have worn in over time. It's all tough.

It's not easy to change. It has to be day-in-and-day-out. Let me tell you it can get very discouraging for sure.

This is one reason I am writing this blog. Maybe someone like me will find it. Maybe someone like me will get some insiration.

We are all human. We all have different events that life throws our way. You, like me, can roll over and die. In my case it was a slow agonising death.
Or, we can say, "This sucks. Look out, I am pissed off now.... I am going fix this, or die doing it."

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was distressed. I was fat and getting fatter. I wasn't permitted to die out right. God wasn't going to let that happen. So, I had to find the heart that would fight for a different way.

You can too...

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Will Tomorrow Be The Day I Say Goodbye To 180-Pounds?

Hello weight losing fans...

This is my second post for today.

I thought that I would share that I am sticking with the 1,300 calories.

Even though this morning I awoke with incredible hunger, I am still sticking with it. I ate two Ginger Graham Crackers (130 calories), coffee, a square of saltine crackers (70 calories), a chicken quesadilla platter (400 calories), diet coke. So I have a few more calories left for today.

I have to be up extremely early to work tomorrow so I may just drink down some protein and then hit the hay.

This morning I mentioned something about a friend of mine. It wasn't done to embarrass anyone or to subversively preach. I was giving an example of real life. This is so others may see and realize that something can be done to change their lives.

I feel for people who are struggling with their weight. I have many family members who are preponderant (they tip the scales in the wrong direction). As a result some have developed Adult Onset Diabetes.

It gets tough to deal with the issues of being overweight. I am writing that I was getting close to becoming one of those people who would suffer serious repercussions from being overweight.

It took me getting sick and tired, to take action. You can get off that weight. I did. It's made all the difference in the world.

When I came into the library this evening I was running up the stairs like it was nothing. One year ago at this time in January I would have been lugging up the stairs and holding the rail all the way up. At the top I would have stopped to get my breath.

Now, I fly up the stairs. My pulse rate is down to 60 beats per minute when I wake up in the morning. My blood pressure dropped from this time last year. My cholesterol has dropped over 40 points. My waist line has gone down over six inches. My over all disposition has improved because I feel much better most of the time.

This morning I stepped up onto the scale weighing in at 180.4-pounds. We'll see if tomorrow I will see a drop below 180-pounds. Will tomorrow be the day I say goodbye to 180-pounds?

I Don't Make This Complicated
I don't make keeping my weight records complicated. I have a note pad that I keep handy that I write down my morning weight on.
Under that weight I write down what I have eaten or drank, the amount that I consumed. Then I make an effort to estimate the calories that I consumed.

I could use a spreadsheet or the computer to keep records, but I found that is not convenient when I am out and about. I usually scratch out what I ate on paper and then add it to my log book when I get home. Not too long ago I lost my log book and three months of records when I left the book on the deck of my car. (Note To Self: Don't leave items on top of the car, and then drive away.) (Note To Self: Maybe A spreadsheet would work better.)

I also have a very small calorie counter hand book that has a general listing for food. I have been watching my food intake for over a year. I can pretty much look at the food and guess what I am eating. Most of the time I just look at the package the food came in.

Seeing as I am now down to 1,300 calories a day. I have found that I don't have to eat too much food to get to 1,300 calories. If I had three regular TV dinners a day, then I would be at that 1,300 calories.

I can eat three cans of chunky soups per day and hit the 1,300 calories that way as well. With this low of a caloric intake I have to make sure I pump in the extra vitamins.

Now, many people who eat more calories than I do, may actually still be deprived of the proper amount of vitamins.

As I mentioned I have prayed about what to do. I have read many books about weight loss. I have gone to different web sites and read about weight loss.

I could have gone to a doctor to get advise. However, I don't believe many doctors are really in tune with the proper way to lose weight.

I found a web site that says if someone will eat six meals a day, and eat specific foods during those six meals they will lose weight. I am not going to link to it because in the end all they really want is your money. I didn't want to pay the people who own the web site, and the advice to hear the end of their story.

It really comes down to one thing. How much food are you eating? It's food consumption measured in calories that is the issue with weight control.

I have been writing "EAT LESS FOOD." You can eat six meals a day, or you can eat nine meals a day. When tallied up at the end of the day, did you eat more calories than you need to survive.

You can actually live by eating candy bars. That's right, you can live eating candy bars. However, it won't be long before you will suffer from the effects of a low protein consumption. There are vital nutrients in proteins that the body uses. Most Candy bars don't have enough protein.
That is unless you eat nut covered candy bars.

So, you really have to think through your food consumption. It's more than reducing the calories. Most people have the intelligence they need to figure out what to eat. However, how many times do we know what to do and not apply it?

Initially I made it easy on myself. I ate TV dinners. That was a quick fix for my meal planning. You can get some real yummy TV dinners for cheap. When I write cheap, I mean $2.00 a dinner.

There is no need to invest big money in a food program like what you see on Television.

If you absolutely crave more of my wisdom, then see what I wrote earlier today on my first post. Also down on the left of this post is a list of archived writings. If you'll open up some of those you will find writings there that are absolutely filled with more wisdom than all the blogs and web sites put together. (Oh I make myself laugh.)

I'll give you all the wisdom you need in a paraphrase. It's easy: EAT LESS FOOD.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Who Controls You? Is It You?

Ahhhh, Ahhhh, Ahhhhh, the cats are clawing my insides. I am going to die in pain.

(This is only a dramatization, and should not be considered a real cry for help. 911 should not be called, and the FBI should not be notified to jump onto the Internet to find this persons location. The local mental hospital should not be contacted, or any authorities notified that this individual is trying to commit suicide. Remember: The above statement is only a dramatization. No persons or animals are being killed or injured.)

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I woke up hungry... I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 180.4-pounds.
Yes, even at 1,300 calories my body is stubbornly hanging onto those pounds.
This is going to be a real wrestling match of my will for sure.

Well, it has only been two days now that I have cut down my caloric intake. So, what should anyone expect? Not much I think.

As, anyone can see 180-pounds is now back in sight. I don't think it is going to be to many days before I drop below 180-pounds.

A Friend Came To Visit, And Needs To Change
I have written before that no one can change anyone. No, if you are popping in on my blog today and you are seeing this one post, I am here to say, "You can't change anyone."

You know what? I can't even change myself. You can't change you.
What? I can change myself, I am in control. NO, you aren't.
Somethings in control, but it's not you.

Hey, look at your waist line. Is it thicker than it should be? Are you chucking the food into your mouth like there is no more tomorrow? Hey, I am just asking.

My friend who came to visit is around ten years younger than I am. He (If it's in God's will) has a long life that he can live. Here is the problem: He's heading for a miserable, unhealthy existence.

I mentioned God's will. First let me explain I don't mean Allah the Muslim God. I don't mean the many Buddhist, and Pantheistic gods that are out there. I mean the God that is written into the words of the Bible. I don't recognize any other god.

This isn't a class on theology, or religious belief, so I am not going to get real deep here. (One friend of mine said years ago, "There you go opening up a can of worms.")

I don't think God intended for people to get preponderant (tipping the scale in the wrong direction). I don't think God is looking at my friend and saying that it's a good idea to be 150-200-pounds over his normal body weight. I don't think God is saying hey stuff yourself and get over weight so you can sit inside a wheel chair for the rest of your adult life.

My friend has gotten overweight. He has more poundage on his body than he ought to have. He stands up around 6 foot 2 inches tall. He admitted to me that he weighs in at around 415-pounds. OUCH...

He said, "I am stable at this weight." Yeah, stable, and primed up to have a major heart attack.

According to a height weight chart that I looked in on: for his body frame, and his his height, his maximum weight ought to be 197-pounds. So, this young man is 215-pounds more than he should be.

Let me tell you what can happen to my friend:
  • One; he could suffer from an enlarged heart, which results in congestive heart failure.
  • Two; he most surely will develop Type-Two Adult Onset Diabetes.
  • Three; He could suffer a stroke from high blood pressure, and blocked arteries from the constriction of blood flow.
  • And the list goes on with the complications he could suffer.
  • Not to mention; it's hard as h...... can be to move with that much weight.
I don't live inside of my friends skin. I only live inside my own skin. I have enough to deal with in my own weird and wacky thoughts, and life.

I can't make anyone do anything they don't want to. Oh, I guess I could use threats and manipulation like the people I work with, or a neurotic boss. I could keep harping on him about his weight. I could do that. It won't change anything until he finds it inside of his heart and mind to change his habits.

Which brings me back to that Question; "Who is in control?"

One Prayer That Was Answered For Sure
When I decided to get off this extra poundage I had inside of my mind an image from many years ago. When I was in the military I was thin. With the regimen that the Army put me through I lost poundage and leaned up.

Because I was in the Military reserve for 13 more years, I was forced to maintain a certain body weight. When I left the military, things went to pot.

My motivation then was to keep the folks in the military happy. When that motivation was gone, along with it went my motivation to keep my weight down.

That's part of the story. It's all to much to write in one post.

I got fat. I was getting fatter.

Here is the difference between me, and the rest of the people out there. I was under no delusion that I had a problem. I knew I was over my normal body weight. I didn't lie to people and say this is where I should be. I wasn't telling people I am normal. It would have been a lie to say so.
And, like so many people who are delusional, I would have been perpetuating a serious problem.

I did lose hope. I did give up. I thought that there wasn't any hope for change left.
I turned to God in prayer. I confessed to God I had a serious problem that I could not fix.
Yes, I had lost weight in the past, but back it would come with a vengeance. I was regaining weight fast.

One day last year I said, "Jesus I need your strength, and wisdom to get off this weight."
Slowly the answer came. It came on Thanksgiving day when I was almost in tears when I tried to button my uniform pants and I had to suck in my gut. I tried to button my shirt and the collar squeezed the fat around my neck.
I was feeling distressed for sure.

As I was sitting sideways on the couch at a family members house I saw a television program that advertised a weight reduction program with food.
I thought, "Could it be that easy?" "Could this be it?" "Huh...?"

Not long after that I purchased a freezer full of "Lean Cuisines."
I ate those TV dinners three times a day.

From there the rest is history. Here is what I believe. God answered this one prayer. He answered it because I have no doubt that it was smack dab into the middle of his will.

I don't think it's God's will for any of us to walk around ripping out our clothes because we're fat, and getting fatter. I don't think it's God's will for us to stuff our faces and turn into balloons. I don't think it's God's will for any of us to get sick because we are out of control with our eating.

I think God will give anyone the strength he or she needs to lose weight. He says, "I give wisdom without finding fault." Why would he do such a thing? It's because when he gives the wisdom to someone he wants him/her to have an "Ah Ha moment."

God wants us to realize we can't control ourselves. We can turn to him for his control. This is what I did.

Now, is everything perfect? No it's not. This is only because I am nothing but a child living inside of an adult's body. Compared to God, I am only a child.
I cry, sneer, rage, rag, piss and moan. I am just like a child.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Maybe Tomorrow I'll Be 179-Pounds

Hello weight losing fans...

This is my second post today.

I went home after I posted. It was in the evening. I weighed myself just for giggles. I weighed in at 180.8-pounds.

I did drink down another 300 calories of fruits, vegetables, and protein powder. This ended the day at about 60-calories above 1,300 calories.

I am waiting to see if tomorrow isn't a day that I wake up and weigh in under 180-pounds.

Maybe enough of the stuff I drank will be gone by morning, or I am actually consuming fat, and I'll see that 179-pounds.

Let's see.

I Don't Have Much To Say Today

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 180.2-pounds.
OK, that 180-target is in sight again. Let's see what happens tomorrow.

Today I ate two scoops of protein (200 calories), and two small Lean Pocket Egg Ham rolls (280 calories). For lunch I had a Quizno's Chicken Sub Sandwich (520 calories) and a couple chunks of raw fruit. There aren't that many calories left of the 1,300 calories I allow myself now. (300 calories left for the day.)

I will be glad when I get to where I want so I can go up to a normal calorie count. I am so hungry.

Quizno Sub Sandwich Has Updated It's Web Site
Quizno Subs has added nutritional information to it's web site. Now you can look up the nutritional information for their food products. I have added a link to their web site on the left column of my posts.

I like Quiznos Sub sandwiches. They offer a yummy product that is comparble in price to Subway, and Jimmy John's. I highly recommend you try Quiznos subs the next time you get hungry and are out on the road. You may find the subs very tasty indeed. I do.
Check out Quizno Subs

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Count Up The Vegetable Calories, Especially Those Carrots, And Starches

Hello weight losing fans...

This is my second post for today.

I decided to separate it from my other post.

Here is what I have consumed today:
  • Ginger Bread Grahams Crackers-2 each (130 calories)
  • Protein Powder (300 calories)
  • Pureed Vegetables (200 calories)
  • Eggs-2 each(140 calories)
  • Hamburger Patty (280 calories)

Be aware that every thing we consume may have calories. There might not be a lot of calories, but they should be counted.

Some people might think that vegetables like carrots can't have a lot of calories in them. However, I chopped up four average size carrots to toss into my vegetable puree that were 200 calories for the four of them.
In other words, each carrot was about 50 calories.

Why is a carrot a problem? There isn't a lot of sugar in a carrot. However, like apples and oranges, the calories can add up. Carrots aren't real high up on the carbohydrates list, but they are there none the less.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Eat Protein So The Body Will Keep It's Muscle

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 181.8-pounds.

OK, that's down some.

Yesterday I said that I would drop my total calorie count for food consumption from 1,500 calories to 1,300 calories.

Now, my body is going to begin the process to readjust to a lower calorie intake. (200 calories less)

Here is what is going to happen:

  • I am going to experience again the gnawing hunger that I did when I started losing weight last year. I usually describe this as cats clawing my stomach inside.
  • I am going to struggle with the mood swings again. I am going to wrestle again with new and powerful temptations. HUNGER...!!!!!
  • I may experience fatique again, as my body tosses another temper tantrum.
  • I will have to be even more cautious counting my calories.

It's not going to be easy to consume less food than I already am now. But, I have decided to drop another 20-pounds.

Someone Told Me That I Would Be Too Skinny
Today a friend of mine told me on the telephone that I would be too skinny. She hasn't seen me since July 2007. I told her I lost twenty pounds since that time.

Well, I have a flap of fat that still hangs just below my belly navel. Yep, just on top of the muscle that is in my stomach area is 20-pounds of fat.

That fat can't be tightened up like some people think. No, fat has to go back to sugar. There is only one way to do that. The body has to absorb the fat as an energy source.

The only way to get the body to go after fat is to make it kick in the fat burning process.

First; I have to make sure I have a source of protein that the body can absorb out of my stomach. Second; I have to get my calorie intake down to a point that my body is forced to seek an alternative food source besides the carbohydrates that I would normally eat.

If I have protein my body won't go after my muscle tissue before it goes for the fat.

This is one of the biggest problems with low calorie consumption diets. People unknowingly lose body muscle before they lose body fat. This is why when they have lost so much weight the skin is hanging on a skeleton.

Think about how many people you have seen who may have lost a tremendous amount of weight. They lost it because they reduced down the calories to way below what the body needed. Their body reacted and they started losing the weight. Only when they have finished the weight loss they look like skeletons.

They have fasted away all the muscle and structures that give the normal body shape. Then when it's over all there is left is hanging skin and fat.

My Family Member Has Done Low Calorie Diets
I have a family member who for most of her adult life has been doing low calorie diets. She now has fat that hangs off of her arms like the waddles on a chickens chin. She has fat that flaps around different parts of her body. Here is why: One; she is old. Two; and more importantly, she has no muscle left for the support of here skin. She lost all the muscle during her years of dieting. Now, she has a slow metabolism, and she struggles because of it.

Hey, if you are going to lose weight, go get some protein powder to drink down at least once a day. You have to have a source of protein that the body can consume. If you don't have enough protein then your body will go after it's own muscle for the protein it needs.

I consume at least two scoops of protein powder each day. I provide my body with a source of protein that it can consume.

When I have lost this extra poundage, I don't want to look sickly. Some people think that my eyes will be sunken into my head, and that I will have this skinny looking body.

Well, I will look slender for sure. But, it won't be a sickly kind of slender.

Let's just see how long it will take for me to get there from here. I am not in a hurry per say.

My 1,300 calorie count is low for sure. I am taking vitamin supplements, and fish oil as well.

I assure you, I am looking forward to the day when I can up my total calorie count for the purpose of maintaining my body at 160-pounds. Oh, that will be such a relief.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane


Monday, January 14, 2008

Second Post For Today

Hello weight losing fans...

After I posted this afternoon, I went home and for giggles weighed myself. I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 181.6-pounds.
This is one pound less than this morning's weight. It's not because of dehydration either.

Perhaps tomorrow I will step onto the scale weighing in around 181-pounds; maybe less than that.

Tonight I had to figure out what I could eat that would cap my total food consumption in around 1,300 calories. This is the new calorie count that I am sticking to. It's because I have plateaued in my weight losing efforts.

I took a large cucumber and tossed it into the blender and made mush out of it. I added left over lettuce, celery, carrots, an apple, and two scoops of strawberry protein powder.

I had to keep removing some of the concoction because it kept filling up the blender. When I was done I drank down about 1 1/2 blender cups full of pulverized vegetables.

This probably put back on to me about four pounds of stuff that's in my tummy.

Now, what will I weigh tomorrow after eating this? Who knows. I did manage to keep my total calorie count to just above 1,300 calories.

I counted up the vegetable calories which were very slight. The three carrots were actually the highest calorie count compared to the green vegetables. The protein powder was the highest calorie count of this whole messy concoction that I blended.

So, let's see what I weigh tomorrow.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

What Should I Do To Lose Another Ten Pounds?

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 182.6-pounds.
OK, I'm walking a tight rope here with that 180-pound number.

Will I Ever Get To 170-Pounds?
Many people have been commenting to me lately they notice that I have lost weight. I have actually been asked if I have been sick.

It's only because there really is a highly noticeable difference in my physical size, as compared to last year, that people are commenting. I have lost at least six inches from my middle waist size.
That is a lot.

I didn't lose all this weight so I could get noticed.

Along with the comments about my weight, some people are saying that I should not lose any more weight. It's said, "I look good where I am now."

I have been tempted to stop here at 180-pounds, and then maintain it.

I am not going to stop at 180-pounds. Here is why: There is still 20-pounds of fat over the tummy area. Yep, I can grab some fat there with my hand.
My scale is confirming that I still have a high amount of body fat. I have a 23-24 percent body fat. I want my body fat to be at 15 percent.

Will I look skinny? Yes, I will look lean. This is only because I really do have a very light bone structure.

There is a difference between being lean (skinny) and being sickly looking. I don't plan on letting myself get to the point where the skin hangs on my bones. That's not healthy, and it looks terrible.

I have seen some of these runway models, and their skin hangs onto their bones. They have skinny legs, and no hips. They are gross. I don't know how anyone can be impressed with them.

Many of these models have neurotic eating patterns. I won't go into what they do, but I am here to tell you, "That's not me."

I am careful to eat when I should be eating. I don't eat like I used to though. This has made all the difference in the world with my managing the body weight.

I keep writing, "Don't kill yourself trying to lose weight."
I keep writing, "Don't fast yourself into a size 6 dress, down from a size 12 dress."
I keep writing, "Eat Less Food."
I keep writing, "Monitor your weight."
I keep writing, "Monitor what you put into your mouth."


I am not writing, "Skip a meal."
I am not writing, "Get that calorie count down so far that you make yourself sick."
I am not writing, "Lose that weight fast, as in, "Lose 2-pounds a week." That's not smart.

If you could see my weight loss progress over the year, you'll see I lost about 1-pound a week. It was actually a little more than a pound loss during some weeks. But, it wasn't much more than a pound.

It was "easy does it" for my weight loss progress. I did that deliberately. And, I didn't start out that way. It was trial and error at first.

It's because I am careful about what I eat, (Most of the time.) that I am now stalled at 180-pounds.

To be honest, I am looking back and saying to myself, "Wow, I am actually down 60-pounds."
My mind is still trying to grasp that reality.

Where did that fat guy go to?

I want to get down to 160-pounds. Only, I am wondering just how I should do that. I could increase the exercise. It's cold outside now, and I don't have a gym membership.

I also preach that exercise really is for conditioning the body. Exercise should be used to maintain, or increase body strength. Burning calories is a by product of expending energy during exercise.

So, what am I going to do to get to 170-pounds? I have no choice but to push down my total calorie intake for the day.

I have made up my mind that I will drop my total calorie count from 1,500 calories per-day, down to 1,300 calories per-day.

In doing so, I have to make sure that I keep taking my protein powder, and my vitamin supplements.

I realize that I can't get all the vitamins and nutrients that I need by eating 1,300 calories a day.
I am going to push up the green vegetables that I consume also.

I can get a lot of bulk out of a half pound of beans, and not a whole lot of calories. It's safe to eat greens as part of a diet program. I am not a rabbit either...

I am really going to be careful with the cookies and cake. Yep, I will have to watch out there.

When will I get to 170-pounds? I don't know. I am sure I will get there using only 1,300 calories a day.

That diet book I mentioned had a formula: 7 calories times my weight. Seven calories times 180-pounds is 1,280 calories. I am going to round that to 1,300 calories.

I am not going to enjoy this either. I like food just like anyone else does. I am not so happy about trimming off another 200 calories.

But, I must do what I can to get to where I want to be, and that's 160-pounds.

Trust me, I don't plan on killing myself to get there. There will be those days coming up that I will bust the food bank too. So don't worry about me.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Hanging Onto 180-Pounds

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto that Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing at 183-pounds.
That's not bad considering I had no idea what I weighed yesterday.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Eat Some Honey, It May Suppress Hunger

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at ????? I don't know.
I forgot my scale at home.

I know that I was sitting at around 182-pounds yesterday. That's good. I think so.

I suspect today I am around the same. I know because I didn't eat anything yesterday that would pack on the pounds. Also this morning, I had a real good, healthy .......! I am sure that knocked off some weight. (Oh, I am so uncouth and gross.)

Today, I was reading Kevin Trudeau's book about "Natural cures." He mentioned in the last chapter a story about bread that his wife made. This bread that she made apparently had the ability to suppress the appetite. One of the ingredients was honey.
Kevin mentioned that honey spikes up the sugar levels and suppresses hunger.

I thought, "Wow, I had already figured that one out." I figured out that by eating honey before I go for a real big meal, I end the meal with eating less food.

I have been posting this in my blog now for many months. If you take a tablespoon of honey before going to that big meal, you may end that meal eating less.

When the body is sending out a signal it's hungry, all the nerves start jumping in the brain. The mind says, "Hey, I am hungry." Then the brain starts to signal the stomach to begin to hurt.

One of the causes of hunger is low blood sugar. If before eating the blood sugar can be spurred on to rise, then hunger will dissipate faster. Honey, which is a natural sugar, starts the blood sugar to rise.
If the blood sugar is up, then the chances of feeling hungry are lowered.

The next time you are raving hungry, try a tablespoon of honey. If you have a big meal ahead of you, then try consuming a tablespoon of honey one half hour before you eat. See if that doesn't help you eat less.

Yesterday I wrote about saying goodbye to sugars. Well, I meant saying goodbye to the things we eat regularly like cookies, sodas, and sweet rolls for breakfast. I didn't mean saying goodbye to honey.

What's the difference between honey and sugar. Studies are finding that honey is a natural anti-biotic in some respects. (Don't ask me to foot-note this. Go Google what I wrote and see if I am nuts.)
Honey also has some other things in it that are thought to help slow the growth of cancer.

Sugar, on the other hand, doesn't have anything that helps the body. It seems to cause cancer, or exacerbate it. There are a bunch of other things that sugar does that make it less of a healthy choice.
It sure does taste good though.

So, try honey before you go out to eat.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Friday, January 11, 2008

I Found A Book Written By The Doctors On "The Biggest Loser"

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 182-pounds.
See, I told you that there wasn't anything to worry about.

Yesterday I found a book that was written by the doctors responsible for the TV show "The Biggest Loser." I myself am glad that I didn't end up on the show. I don't want the whole world knowing that I am so inept. Although I am.

Well, then Mr. Dane, why are you writing this blog? I have several reasons. I am hoping someone who was like me, and is struggling with his or her weight like me, will realize that something can be done to fix the problem. And, writing is therapeutic, it's fun.

That fix is "Eat Less Food."

The doctors who wrote this book didn't have much advice about how to lose weight. In other words; they don't have any magical diet plans. They actually made most of this book into a calorie counter. Thank you... I have had such a hard time finding books that count calories for ordinary foods. They have a more in depth book available, but this book was a calorie counter.

The doctors also advised the same thing that I have been posting all along. It's the amount of food we consume, which is measured as calories, that really matters.

These doctors advise is this: If you want to lose weight, then reduce the number of calories that you consume. Voila, you will lose weight if you "EAT LESS FOOD."

They also had a very simple formula to follow to help give a general idea about how many calories should be consumed until the proper weight is attained.
It works like this: 7 calories times your current weight. So for me, I was once 240 pounds, I would have had to consume: 7 x 240 = 1680 calories. Gee, I wish I knew that before.

I actually consumed much less than that 1,680 calories. It's because I was eating Lean Cuisines three times a day. After that I was eating TV dinners. I figured out how many calories I would consume by trial and error.

Now, according to the formula I ought to be consuming 1280 calories. Phew...
It's tough now eating only 1,500 calories a day.

The same doctors wrote that a written food journal ought to be maintained to keep a record of food consumption. They said, all liquids that contain calories, and foods should be measured precisely and the calorie consumption recorded. Gee, what have I been writing? I am oh so profound.

In the end they say when you or I have attained our desired weight we can boost our calorie count up to 14 calories a pound. For me that will be just about 2,200 calories a day that I will be able to eat to keep a stable weight. Is that all? Ugh...

I saw the book over at a local book store. You can get it at Amazon.com by clicking here: Biggest Loser Calorie Counter

Along with that book you can get the whole story about losing weight in this book: The Biggest Loser Diet Plan

Like I have written before: It's how much we consume that gets us into trouble with our weight.

I am just like you, I over ate too much food. In the end I gained weight. I kept gaining weight because I kept eating.

When I was eating before I would actually purchase a 14 inch pizza and eat the whole thing in one meal. In October just over one year ago, I actually ate a big bag of Oreo Cookies in one day.

This is the way that I used to eat. When I was doing the Doctor Atkins's Diet, I would eat a 3-pound roasted chicken for one meal. Is it any wonder why I wasn't losing weight? Of course not.

Well, What Can I Do When I Am So Hungry?
All that said, not only will you have to count calories, but you will have to switch out the foods you regularly consume.

Yep, it's time to say good bye to chocolate donuts, candy, and sugar. What, What, didn't you say, " Eat that donut?" Yes, I did.

If you are so absolutely neurotic about eating a donut, then for goodness sakes eat the donut. But, don't you dare eat anything else with it. I mean you can't even drink down a cup of orange juice with it.

It's a whole lot better for anyone to consume green vegetables of all kinds, along with proteins. For example it's better to eat a 3.5-ounce piece of chicken along with green beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, etc., than to consume a 3-ounce donut.

Sugars whip up the appetite. It's because when consumed, sugar spikes up the Insulin. In the past I have recommended eating a table spoon of honey. I still do it before going out to eat.
And, as a result, I don't over eat.

It's because the bodies sugar levels start peaking up when sugars are poured into the system. When the sugar is gone then the body suffers a sudden let down.

It's like popping a drug to get high when sugar is poured into the system. I know when I have eaten too much sugar; I get fidgety, and my nerves start jumping. It's a weird feeling.

So, it's safe to say, if you are going to lose weight then eventually you will have to chuck the sugars and candies.

Can you lose weight while consuming them? Of course you can. I did. Only, I didn't live on cookies, and candy.

You shouldn't either.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Oh..., I Don't Know... Am I Emotionally Hungry, Or Am I Physically Hungry? OH....?

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 184.2-pounds. That's up 2-pounds from yesterday. And that's up 6-pounds off the record set almost one month ago.

Am I worried? No....

Someone was posting about the difference between Emotional Hunger, and Physical Hunger. I commented that I am lucky; I know when I am hungry physically, and I know when I am Emotionally Hungry.

Does it really matter which feeling is making you or me over eat? Honestly? Think about, in either case, if you are feeding yourself because your stomach hurts, or you are emotionally hungry, the damage caused by over eating is the same. In both cases we get fat, and fatter.

In both cases of overeating it comes down to careless, thoughtless action that results in a response which creates overeating. We eat like a hog in both cases.

Someone might say, well if I could understand the motivation that causes me to over eat then I would control myself. Oh, Please...

Come on here. You mean to tell me if you know you are eating too much food, but you don't know if you are physically hungry, or emotionally hungry, you are going to deliberately stuff yourself until you figure it out? What kind of thinking is that?

Here's a thought, I'm in a boat with you and it's sinking. Let's drill a hole in the bottom of the boat so we can stick a camera below to see if it's another hole causing us to sink, or a wave that's swamping us. If it's a hole causing us to sink, we'll try to plug the hole. If it's a wave swamping us, then we'll get a bucket and bail out the water.

I'm fat, and everyone can see I'm getting fatter. I don't know if I am hungry in my stomach, or I have emotional pain. So, I am going to eat more food here until I figure out which one is causing my problem. Phew....

OH, it's emotional pain, now I can stop eating so much. Oh, it's physical hunger, now I can stop eating so much.

Hey, it doesn't matter. You are eating to much food there. Stop, or you'll get worse. That's it.

How hard is that to figure out?

Here the difference between me, and the rest of the gang out there.
It sucks trying to lose weight.
It's hard just eating one Christmas Cookie, when the fat boy, or girl next to you seems to be enjoying that fistful of cookies.
It's hard to say no when every stinking fiber in you is screaming feed me. It doesn't matter what the cause is.

Here is what I say.
Hell, eat that donut for breakfast.
Yep, that donut that comes in at 400-calories; Eat that thing.
Then don't eat anything else until lunch.
Let's have more fun.
Eat that pint of ice cream for dinner.
Yep, that Haagen Dazs Pint of Chocolate Fudge,
Eat that 600 calories of ice cream.
Don't you dare eat anything else.
You had your dessert.
You didn't deny your sweet tooth.
Don't you dare eat that hamburger and French Fries.

Or, you can pound down the green vegetables, which have very low calories, and the high proteins. And, then have just a little bit of dessert.

Oh, don't forget to write it down.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Sweets Rack Up Those Calories

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 182.2-pounds.
OK, that's up 1-pound from yesterday.

Have I gained 3-pounds of fat since my record? I am not sure.
Am I worried? NO.

If this were you, wouldn't you be happy that you lost 60-pounds in less than one year? I am.
And I am monitoring my progress. This is so I will be able to keep myself from regaining all the weight that I lost.

Last night I went to the grocery store and purchased some Christmas Cookies that were on the resale rack. I love Ginger Bread Cookies, and of all the Christmas Cookies that I gobbled up, I missed the ginger cookies. I purchased some that were reduced in price. I also purchased ginger graham crackers.

These little delicacies (cookies) are 150 calories for five ginger bread men. The ginger graham crackers were 130 for two crackers.

Be warned that when eating cookies and sweets that it doesn't take too many of these delicious little delicacies to rack up the calories, and to spike up that insulin level.

Today I am going with a friend to lunch. Let's see how I do...

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Outta Thoughts, And Out Of Commentary

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 181-pounds.
Well, I think that's pretty good.
It just goes to show that I was right. It was stuff waiting to leave.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Losing Weight Sucks, Don't Believe Anyone When They Tell You It's Easy

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 183.8-pounds.
I was right, it's just stuff waiting to leave the barn.

Anyway, I was talking to a friend who was giving me advice about how to exercise. Mind you this person is overweight, and doesn't exercise. But, I am supposed to consider the advice.
Hmmm?

We were talking about how slowly my knees are healing, and hurting less and less. I move faster and I am more mobile than I was. He said, "Well it's because you lost weight." Well Dah... Golly, I didn't make the connection.

Isn't it strange how people can insult the intelligence of another person, and not even try? Gee, I didn't know taking ten 6-pound bowling balls off my body would have a good effect. I am so stupid, don't you know? Phew...

You are going to run into people out there who think they can help you with your weight loss program. These are the people who are fat, and out of shape, but have brilliant ideas about how to lose weight.

In the end these same people won't take on there own advice. There is an expression that's been floating around for years: "Talk is cheap." It doesn't cost anything to hand out advice.
Putting that advice into action is what costs something.

My friend means well, and so do many of the people you will encounter seem to mean well. However, remember this, "Good intentions won't get that mule and the wagon out of the mud." You'll have to pull them out. That will take physical effort to do it.

All the talk in the world won't get those extra pounds off of your body. You'll have to take action that will be physical, and mental. You'll have to deny yourself food, especially when every fiber and cell inside of you wants food. Of course, there is the exercise too which takes effort.

I don't care what the experts tell you. I don't care what the neurotic con men and women tell you. You know who I am talking about. These are the people who will tell you that it was easy to lose weight.

Oh yeah, it's so easy? Bull!

Tell me it's easy to say no to that extra brownie.
Tell me it's easy to say no to that stack of pancakes that you're staring at in the Menu.
Tell me it's easy to eat an egg and a piece of toast for breakfast when the stomach is screaming feed me more.
Tell me it's easy to eat one hamburger at the family picnic.
Tell me it's easy to eat only a couple slices of Turkey and some vegetables at that Thanksgiving table.
Tell me it's easy to avoid eating when you wake up in the middle of the night and it feels like cats are clawing your insides because of hunger.
Go ahead tell me how easy it is to deny those cravings and that hunger.
Go ahead and feed me some more of your stupid lies.
Go ahead, I am waiting.

Here is the cold hard truth, which makes me so darned unpopular. "It Sucks Trying To Lose This Weight." And, "It Sucks Trying To Keep The Weight Off."

Go ahead and tell me more advice on how to lose weight. Tell me how diet and exercise is the key. Go ahead try to pump me up.

Pass out your awards for the most change. Fill the blog-o-sphere with your suggestions about how to lose weight, and do it without pain. It's so easy to lose weight after all.

NO, it's not. It sucks.

I like sitting down and eating a whole pizza. Well, I did. I like eating three pieces of fried chicken. Well I did. I like eating until I am stuffed. Well, I did.

I hate having to avoid desserts, and candy, and all kinds of foods. I hate not eating when I am hungry as the devil. I hate losing weight. I absolutely hate it.

There, are you satisfied oh wise ones?

Tell me more of your pompous bull! Go ahead and feed me your crap.

Let's just say you managed to get this far reading my post; then bare with me for a couple more lines. Then when you're done you can go wander off to someplace else on the Internet.

Losing weight isn't fun. It's not easy. You will have to go through mental and emotional anguish to lose weight. Yes, you can have activities that will make it fun. Only, in the end, "when the rubber meets the road," you will have to give up many of the things you cherish. Food, will be one of the things that we fat ones cherish.
You will have to deny yourself that extra donut.
You will have to deny yourself that sugar.
You will have to deny yourself that extra helping of potatoes.
The list goes on of things you will have to deny yourself.
Believe me, it's going to be like trying to get a dirty pacifier out of the hands of a baby. You're going to want to cry like a baby.

Oh, OK, you have an "Iron Will." And you never cry. Excuse me. You're so disciplined?

If that's true. Answer me this one question: Why are you so fat?

Pardon me while I end here. I have to go eat a rice cake. Don't bother me. I'm trying to lose weight.

Bye for now....

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Friday, January 4, 2008

No Commentary Today

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 185-pounds.
That's up 7-pounds over the record.

Am I going backwards? No, I am not. I am convinced this is food that's waiting to make it's exit. As I said before, with all the protein powder that I consume, things tend to back up.

Unfortunately, I have no commentary today. There isn't enough time.
Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Don't Overeat, It's Only Overloading the body

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 183.6-pounds.
Didn't I tell you yesterday, "It's stuff waiting to leave?"

Yesterday I was talking with some lady who lives in Chicago. She was telling my how she is so fortunate that food doesn't stick to her. She is so active, she says, that she can't gain weight.
OK. She is about 30 years old. As she ages, let's see if she can still claim that.

On the other hand, she said her mother is getting fat, and has a very fat gut. She said her mother wants to lose the weight but can't figure out what to do.

I started giving her suggestions. I asked her how much food does momma eat? The woman's reply was, "She doesn't eat that much food. I have watched her, she doesn't eat that much."

Did you ever hear of this expression, "The hand is quicker than the eye?" Illusionists use tricks and illusions to deceive us into believing what we are seeing is real.

This woman's mother who is fat, and getting fatter, is unwittingly using tricks and illusions to make her daughter believe something isn't what it seems. However, look at that mommas fat body, and then reason will tell anyone with some sense she's overeating.

Just because I didn't see what someone was eating doesn't mean they haven't eaten something.

One thing many people fail to realize is a person doesn't have to eat solid foods to pack on the pounds. Drinking sodas, fruit juice, milk, and some other drinks that may have corn syrup, and maybe even a couple cups of coffee with sugar dumped in, can add to the calorie count for the day.

I don't believe people anymore when they tell me they don't eat that much. I can look at your body and tell that you are lying to me.

And, I did know one woman who was thin like a tweedy bird. She truly didn't eat that much. What she ate made all of the difference in the world. One of the things she made a very intense effort to do was to avoid sugar at all costs. Which made her diet very limited indeed.

So, anyway, I finished off my suggestions and was told this: "Well, not all diets work the same for everyone." I realized there I wasted my breath with this woman. She had no intention in sharing what I told her with her mother.

My reply to the woman before she left my presence was this, "Tell your mom to EAT LESS FOOD." She was snooty enough to say, "That may not work for her." To which I said, "Let me lock you mother in a room and not feed her. She'll lose weight then."

At that logic she had to conceit that I was right. I am right. If anyone is deprived food, they will lose weight. That's it.

Here is the challenge, what should anyone eat? What can anyone eat, and not kill themselves in the process of trying to lose weight?

Hmmm, what has the government been publishing for years? How many servings of fruits and vegetables should we eat? How much meat and dairy should we eat?

Then, what have we been warned about time, and time again? Avoid sugary foods, and soda, and fats, hasn't this what we have been told?

Hey, preponderant one - yes you - the one who's pants don't fit anymore, what have we been told? What have we been letting go in one ear, and out the other?

The information is out there. The solutions to our weight gaining issues are out there. The problem is we want a real quick fix. So, in desperation, we turn to the ghouls and vampires who call themselves doctors. These are the guys who in a flash will cut up your guts and charge you $30,000. Then they will leave you living for the rest of your life with a body that can't function properly.

Let me make this real easy for you. Are you ready for an easy lesson? Try to follow me here:
  • If you must eat that chocolate; eat just one
  • If you eat a hamburger; eat just one
  • If you eat an Egg Mc Muffin, eat just one
  • If you eat a piece of pie; make it a small piece
  • If you eat that fried chicken; eat only one piece
  • If you must have that stack of pancakes for breakfast; consider eating salads for the rest of the day

Do you understand what I am getting at here? Eating moderately is the best way to go. Over consuming food only gets everyone in trouble in the end.

Don't overeat. You're only overloading the body. In the end you'll get fat like a hog.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Losing Weight Is Worth The Effort

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 186-pounds.

It's only food that's was getting ready to leave. I won't get graphic. I had a large New Years Day Dinner yesterday. Does that give you any idea there?

Anyway, today I was talking to a friend. He was wondering about what he was going to do about the fact he is getting noticeably bigger. He is now beginning to realize he must do something about it.

In our conversation he admitted that he is used to eating big meals. He even admitted he eats food because he feels comfortable eating. He likes to eat.

Yes, most of us do like to eat. There are a lot of companies out there that make food delicious for one reason, "So we will eat as much of it as they can sell."

The companies that make snack foods and candies aren't worried about the fact people overeat. These companies want to make money. And the only way they make money is people have to buy their food.

I am not knocking companies that make yummy food. I am not knocking chocolate factories and candy makers.

When I gained weight. I didn't blame the food makers. I had to blame me. It wasn't any one's fault but my own.

I wasn't tied down to a table with a funnel forced into my mouth. Then some mad man poured food into me until I burst.

My family didn't do things that got me emotionally upset for the main purpose of making me eat, eat, and eat, to soothe my feelings.

Nope, the responsibility for over eating came down to me. This is the way it is with you too. No one is forcing food down your throat.

No one is standing in front of you with a loaded gun threatening to kill you if you don't eat.

The opposite if true. I am now hearing commercials from the Nanny State of Illinois telling people to teach children to eat responsibly.

There are shelves full of diet books in the book stores, and the libraries.

The News Media is publishing story after story about obesity.

So what is the problem? Me, and you are the problem.

Until you resolve in your head and your heart that the problem is with you and no one else. You won't take the necessary steps to resolve the problem. That's it.

And all the diet books, and doctors, and news stories about obesity can't fix you until you decide you want to fix the problem.

Can you lose weight? Yes, I did in less than one year I lost 60-pounds. Do you have to starve to death to do it? No, you won't starve if you do it right. All you do is reduce your portions sizes that's all.

We eat more food than we need to live, and survive. We could do with less food and do just fine.
You have to get over you, and your need to fill every square inch of your tummy.

If you do, and you take the steps, sooner or later you will lose weight. It's well worth the effort.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is...I'm David Dane

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Well, Have You Made Any News Years Resolutions?

Hello weight losing fans...

Today I stepped up onto the Magical-Mystical-Digital-Scale weighing in at 183-pounds.
This is only because I had some late night snacks with my family as we welcomed the New Year?

It's The New Year, What Are Your Resolutions?
I know, we've been listening to the crowd that harps about making goals. Yes, I heard the message yesterday that mentioned the Yale and Harvard study about the class where 3% of the students had written goals and 20 years later were more successful than the peers of the class.

Ok, it's the New Year and some of us are thinking we're going to change something. Well, I am going to be a nicer person. I'm going to try to not get angry as much. Well, I am going to get a better job. I am going to the gym more often. I'm going to lose 20 pounds.

Yep, we all have it in our minds that the year 2008 will be different than the year of 2007, or any other year in the past.

Since this isn't a goal setting class. Honestly, I don't have a list of New Years Resolutions that I have made for 2008. I am thinking well, what ever happens, happens. Yep, I am not going to even attempt to make 2008 any better.

I will do more of one thing this year than I did. I will pray more. That's the one thing I will do.

Did You resolve to lose weight this year?
I am going to make this easy.
Go get a good quality digital scale. Go get a pad of paper you can have handy by that scale. This is so you can write down your weight.
Go get another pad of paper so you can keep a record of what you are eating. Go get a calorie counter.
Find out what your height and weight is supposed to be. Any standard height weight chart will do.
Now, when you eat, write down what you ate and approximate how much you ate.
When you climb out of bed, weigh yourself and see if you are anywhere near where you should be. If not, it's time to get off those pounds.

Here is how you lose the extra pounds: Eat Less Food. That's it.

At lunch don't assume you can walk into McDoanld's three times a day and eat a Big Mac, Fries, and a Chocolate Milk Shake and then lose weight. It won't happen.

Don't assume you can eat two fried chicken breasts for lunch and potato salad and lose weight. It won't happen.

You are going to have to start cutting back on the food consumption.

EAT LESS FOOD in 2008. With that, you will lose weight.

Bye for now...

And that's the way it is... I'm David Dane

 Hello Weight Losing Fans,  Today I stepped up onto the Digital Scale weighing in at 208.2-Pounds. My heart is very heavy with pain since my...