down 1.6 lbs this week!
Total weight lost - 8.4 lbs.
Down to 235.4
No meeting this coming week because of Labor Day, so 2 weeks between weigh ins and I am going on a 3 day boys trip in Ft. Lauderdale...hmmm...still looking to drop 2 lbs. and pass the 10 lb. mark.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sorry for the lack of posts, life should be more normal now...
We have spent the last week up at my parents' house while the hardwoods were being done in our place. It worked out really well but things were definitely disjointed from a time and usual routine standpoint.
Today we head to the house for a walk through and I believe we move back in this afternoon! It will be so nice to sleep in our own beds and the girls' are excited to going back into their own rooms and their own beds.
I missed last weeks WW meeting because of the house thing but I'll be back this afternoon. I don't think I've done tremendously well in the last 2 weeks so hopefully I will have at least maintained my current losses.
Busy week all the way around plus I leave for Florida on Thursday.
Football is about to get into high gear, just 5 more days until the Gators begin defense of their National Championship and 12 days until the girls get their first taste of the SWAMP!
Today we head to the house for a walk through and I believe we move back in this afternoon! It will be so nice to sleep in our own beds and the girls' are excited to going back into their own rooms and their own beds.
I missed last weeks WW meeting because of the house thing but I'll be back this afternoon. I don't think I've done tremendously well in the last 2 weeks so hopefully I will have at least maintained my current losses.
Busy week all the way around plus I leave for Florida on Thursday.
Football is about to get into high gear, just 5 more days until the Gators begin defense of their National Championship and 12 days until the girls get their first taste of the SWAMP!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Monday's Random Thoughts
I guess Monday's will be a good place to dump these thoughts, especially since they build up over the weekend.
1. Chaos in the house! I am NEVER moving again if I can help it. The last time we moved I got a 'hall pass' as I was already in Atlanta so the task of packing up was left to Ilene (who was 7 months pregnant, I know...nice husband!). Anyway, this weekend we did a 'mini-pack' as we have to move for a week or two as they are installing new hardwoods in the house. Man does this SUCK, and we are staying! On the positive side, once this is done not only will the house look great but we can sort of start over fresh and get rid of the junk that has been collecting, sort of a forced 'Spring Cleaning'.
2. Boy does the Phillies Bullpen BLOW! Yesterday while I was schlepping stuff from our house to my parents I was listening to the Phils' game on XM (I love the XM). They are up 4-0 going into the 7th and as a Phils' fan I just know the wheels will come off. One, I think Charlie Manuel must think he is managing a different team. I have never seen (or more often heard) a Manager so quickly yank a Starting Pitcher than Manuel. I mean if we had a the Boston bullpen I'd yank these guys in the 6th too but we're talking Alfonseca, Romero, Geary and Flash Gordon here...I'll roll the dice with the kid who has only given up 4 hits in 6 1/3...
3. I hate to go back to the Vick thing but two things are REALLY irking me:
a. The 'DUE PROCESS' thing - let's get this straight, Mike Vick is getting due process. Let's see, he is facing multiple felony charges, has 3 co-defendants lined up against him and his team is working on a plea deal. Where is Mike right now? He is sitting at home free to do almost anything he likes. He's NOT locked up, he's NOT on house arrest. No, he can't play football but that is not the Court's decision it is his employer's. And by the way, I don't see his Union fighting that decision. I could be wrong here but I also think he might be getting paid during this suspension. Regardless he has NOT been fired! So that's 3 big NOT's. Put me, you or Uncle Al in Mike's place and I bet you we are sitting in jail waiting for trial, have been fired from our jobs and our entire world would already been ruined. Start using the correct terms people - and by people I mean the media as well as the unabashed Vick supporters. Mike is getting due process from the only place where due process means anything - the courts.
b. Could there be more...yes there is. I keep hearing, specifically on Atlanta radio that we care more about dogs than we do people apparently. Really? I have now heard that Mike is being treated worse than murderers are treated. Again, really? We now know that his co-defendants have plead guilty to KILLING 8 dogs in a really disgusting manner. I also think they will do less than 5 years. In fact, each killing is worth 5 years on a sentence so they would do 40 if they went to trial, were convicted and sentenced. So, let's see how does that compare to killing people? If I go on a murderous rampage where I kill 8 people by electrocution and drowning will I get 5 years per murder? Will I get to plea this down? Ummm, I think not. In States where the Death Penalty is available I am frying, where it is not I am ROTTING in prison wasting taxpayer money where I am serving 8 consecutive life sentences without parole (that's 25 years x 8 folks). This argument is stupid!
4. Now that I got that off my chest, this weekend did have a football related bright spot. On Saturday night we had the annual picking of the cards for my Fantasy Football Draft. Unlike many leagues this one is unique. First it has been around since 1989 and I have been in since 1992. We also have stuck to only 8 teams and we have our own unique scoring system, which we still do on our OWN, no website. We also do a complete random order throughout the draft - no snake, no traditional, completely random! So I get the #7 pick in round 1 and the #1 in Round 2. Not horrible but my picks stay pretty bad. Last year I won the whole thing with the #8 pick so there is hope. The other great thing about this league, like all leagues is the draft. For this one I go to South Florida every year for the draft (or almost every year, I've done a couple via conference call). It's a great weekend with great friends, I'm sure you'll hear plenty this year :)
5. I am admitting it here to the 'unwashed masses' - I like soccer and not just coaching Cydney and Rachel's teams. I like soccer on TV. I have the Fox Sports Soccer channel and I like watching English Premier League, the Bundeslega, Argenitinian Soccer and even MLS (gasp). I watched the LA - NY match and Beckham is just amazing! On top of that Landon Donovan is a true superstar in the making, he needs to go to Europe and let the world see it!
OK, that's a REALLY long post. I have more but my fingers are hurting!
G
1. Chaos in the house! I am NEVER moving again if I can help it. The last time we moved I got a 'hall pass' as I was already in Atlanta so the task of packing up was left to Ilene (who was 7 months pregnant, I know...nice husband!). Anyway, this weekend we did a 'mini-pack' as we have to move for a week or two as they are installing new hardwoods in the house. Man does this SUCK, and we are staying! On the positive side, once this is done not only will the house look great but we can sort of start over fresh and get rid of the junk that has been collecting, sort of a forced 'Spring Cleaning'.
2. Boy does the Phillies Bullpen BLOW! Yesterday while I was schlepping stuff from our house to my parents I was listening to the Phils' game on XM (I love the XM). They are up 4-0 going into the 7th and as a Phils' fan I just know the wheels will come off. One, I think Charlie Manuel must think he is managing a different team. I have never seen (or more often heard) a Manager so quickly yank a Starting Pitcher than Manuel. I mean if we had a the Boston bullpen I'd yank these guys in the 6th too but we're talking Alfonseca, Romero, Geary and Flash Gordon here...I'll roll the dice with the kid who has only given up 4 hits in 6 1/3...
3. I hate to go back to the Vick thing but two things are REALLY irking me:
a. The 'DUE PROCESS' thing - let's get this straight, Mike Vick is getting due process. Let's see, he is facing multiple felony charges, has 3 co-defendants lined up against him and his team is working on a plea deal. Where is Mike right now? He is sitting at home free to do almost anything he likes. He's NOT locked up, he's NOT on house arrest. No, he can't play football but that is not the Court's decision it is his employer's. And by the way, I don't see his Union fighting that decision. I could be wrong here but I also think he might be getting paid during this suspension. Regardless he has NOT been fired! So that's 3 big NOT's. Put me, you or Uncle Al in Mike's place and I bet you we are sitting in jail waiting for trial, have been fired from our jobs and our entire world would already been ruined. Start using the correct terms people - and by people I mean the media as well as the unabashed Vick supporters. Mike is getting due process from the only place where due process means anything - the courts.
b. Could there be more...yes there is. I keep hearing, specifically on Atlanta radio that we care more about dogs than we do people apparently. Really? I have now heard that Mike is being treated worse than murderers are treated. Again, really? We now know that his co-defendants have plead guilty to KILLING 8 dogs in a really disgusting manner. I also think they will do less than 5 years. In fact, each killing is worth 5 years on a sentence so they would do 40 if they went to trial, were convicted and sentenced. So, let's see how does that compare to killing people? If I go on a murderous rampage where I kill 8 people by electrocution and drowning will I get 5 years per murder? Will I get to plea this down? Ummm, I think not. In States where the Death Penalty is available I am frying, where it is not I am ROTTING in prison wasting taxpayer money where I am serving 8 consecutive life sentences without parole (that's 25 years x 8 folks). This argument is stupid!
4. Now that I got that off my chest, this weekend did have a football related bright spot. On Saturday night we had the annual picking of the cards for my Fantasy Football Draft. Unlike many leagues this one is unique. First it has been around since 1989 and I have been in since 1992. We also have stuck to only 8 teams and we have our own unique scoring system, which we still do on our OWN, no website. We also do a complete random order throughout the draft - no snake, no traditional, completely random! So I get the #7 pick in round 1 and the #1 in Round 2. Not horrible but my picks stay pretty bad. Last year I won the whole thing with the #8 pick so there is hope. The other great thing about this league, like all leagues is the draft. For this one I go to South Florida every year for the draft (or almost every year, I've done a couple via conference call). It's a great weekend with great friends, I'm sure you'll hear plenty this year :)
5. I am admitting it here to the 'unwashed masses' - I like soccer and not just coaching Cydney and Rachel's teams. I like soccer on TV. I have the Fox Sports Soccer channel and I like watching English Premier League, the Bundeslega, Argenitinian Soccer and even MLS (gasp). I watched the LA - NY match and Beckham is just amazing! On top of that Landon Donovan is a true superstar in the making, he needs to go to Europe and let the world see it!
OK, that's a REALLY long post. I have more but my fingers are hurting!
G
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
An Open Letter to Michael Vick
Dear Mike,
I am not your PR person or in your circle but I wish I were. Today you stand alone against the world but you have an AMAZING opportunity through all of this.
I believe that not only can you resurrect your football career but also your name.
Here is my plan, feel free to use it:
1. Go into court and take the plea your attorney's are negotiating.
2. Speak for yourself and from your heart. Here are some high level bullets
a. apologize - to your family, your fans, the City of Atlanta, Va. Tech and especially pet owners.
b. admit what you did was wrong, however limited your involvement (but don't say that)
c. Talk about change - how you will use the time to be a better person, how you can help people understand that violent and poor treatment of anything living is wrong. Discuss how your role as a high profile athlete can now be used for the greater good and to educate those that feel that dogfighting is a 'cultural thing' need to re-evaluate that culture.
d. Donate, donate, donate! You still have a lot. Give 1 MILLION dollars to PETA now! Give a million to the NFL Charities and go to Arthur Blank and ask him to distribute a million through the Blank Family Foundation and the Falcons Charities.
3. Serve your time well. Take the time to re-evaluate your life and come out better because of it.
4. Cut the PSA's we know you will have to but do more! When you get out there will be even more opportunity to do good.
Mike, you are young and still have so much to look forward to. We all make mistakes and in America we love it when someone makes a mistake, takes accountability for their actions and then makes a change.
Twenty years from now you could be more of an icon for what you have done for society than you ever would have been for football.
Sincerely,
Gil Wolchock
*On a personal note, I am not a pet owner, I'm a fairly moderate guy. I do live in Atlanta but I am not a Falcons fan per se so none of this is motivated through what is going on, simply one guys take on what could be done to help out so many :)
Just my .02 cents I guess
I am not your PR person or in your circle but I wish I were. Today you stand alone against the world but you have an AMAZING opportunity through all of this.
I believe that not only can you resurrect your football career but also your name.
Here is my plan, feel free to use it:
1. Go into court and take the plea your attorney's are negotiating.
2. Speak for yourself and from your heart. Here are some high level bullets
a. apologize - to your family, your fans, the City of Atlanta, Va. Tech and especially pet owners.
b. admit what you did was wrong, however limited your involvement (but don't say that)
c. Talk about change - how you will use the time to be a better person, how you can help people understand that violent and poor treatment of anything living is wrong. Discuss how your role as a high profile athlete can now be used for the greater good and to educate those that feel that dogfighting is a 'cultural thing' need to re-evaluate that culture.
d. Donate, donate, donate! You still have a lot. Give 1 MILLION dollars to PETA now! Give a million to the NFL Charities and go to Arthur Blank and ask him to distribute a million through the Blank Family Foundation and the Falcons Charities.
3. Serve your time well. Take the time to re-evaluate your life and come out better because of it.
4. Cut the PSA's we know you will have to but do more! When you get out there will be even more opportunity to do good.
Mike, you are young and still have so much to look forward to. We all make mistakes and in America we love it when someone makes a mistake, takes accountability for their actions and then makes a change.
Twenty years from now you could be more of an icon for what you have done for society than you ever would have been for football.
Sincerely,
Gil Wolchock
*On a personal note, I am not a pet owner, I'm a fairly moderate guy. I do live in Atlanta but I am not a Falcons fan per se so none of this is motivated through what is going on, simply one guys take on what could be done to help out so many :)
Just my .02 cents I guess
Week Three - Did I use 'performance enhancing' techniques?
No, I didn't rub on the 'clear'...at least the trainer told me it wasn't a steroid :)
First the stats:
Weight Loss in Week 3 - 1.8 lbs
Total weight lost - 6.8 lbs.
New Weight - 237 lbs.
So, I think I ate too much this week. I didn't feel great and I knew I stretched the POINTS a bit. Yesterday I was not looking forward to weigh in. In the past I'd have just blown off the meeting and convinced myself that I would make it up net week. However, there is a new Sheriff in town and his name is Reggie Hammond (name that movie...). Actually it's just the new me! So instead of blowing off the meeting I took off from the office at 4:45, ran home, changed and got to the gym at 5:15 with the meeting at 6:00. I set my Nike+ system for 30 minutes and the treadmill at 5.7 MPH. I steadily increased to 6.5 MPG and banged out 3.11 miles in 30 minutes. I dashed to the car, changed t-shirts and got to the meeting. I LOST 1.8 lbs. So, did the extra 3 miles cause it? How much 'water weight' does one lose from 30 minutes of running? Regardless, I am still on track and I also realize I need to be better. On a side note, a 3 mile run is getting easier and easier. On another side note, I also went to a new Allergy and Asthma Specialist yesterday. My breathing has been shitty at best in this heat. My lung function was between 46% and 74%. I made a comment that maybe I'll run better if my lungs are in better shape and the Doctor said at least you'll be able to run...to which I replied, "I'm doing 3-4 miles, 4 times a week" and he seemed a little surprised. Maybe there is hope for a marathon in my future!
G
First the stats:
Weight Loss in Week 3 - 1.8 lbs
Total weight lost - 6.8 lbs.
New Weight - 237 lbs.
So, I think I ate too much this week. I didn't feel great and I knew I stretched the POINTS a bit. Yesterday I was not looking forward to weigh in. In the past I'd have just blown off the meeting and convinced myself that I would make it up net week. However, there is a new Sheriff in town and his name is Reggie Hammond (name that movie...). Actually it's just the new me! So instead of blowing off the meeting I took off from the office at 4:45, ran home, changed and got to the gym at 5:15 with the meeting at 6:00. I set my Nike+ system for 30 minutes and the treadmill at 5.7 MPH. I steadily increased to 6.5 MPG and banged out 3.11 miles in 30 minutes. I dashed to the car, changed t-shirts and got to the meeting. I LOST 1.8 lbs. So, did the extra 3 miles cause it? How much 'water weight' does one lose from 30 minutes of running? Regardless, I am still on track and I also realize I need to be better. On a side note, a 3 mile run is getting easier and easier. On another side note, I also went to a new Allergy and Asthma Specialist yesterday. My breathing has been shitty at best in this heat. My lung function was between 46% and 74%. I made a comment that maybe I'll run better if my lungs are in better shape and the Doctor said at least you'll be able to run...to which I replied, "I'm doing 3-4 miles, 4 times a week" and he seemed a little surprised. Maybe there is hope for a marathon in my future!
G
Friday, August 10, 2007
A fun day at work
Yesterday at work was a blast! I always enjoy when I get to go on a shoot. Usually when I go it entails international travel so that is always fun, but yesterday was great here in the ATL.
We always have 20-25 projects in motion but yesterday one of my passions was on display, The Davis Academy (www.davisacademy.org). Davis is the Reform Jewish Day School in Atlanta. It also happen to be where Cydney and Rachel go to school, Cydney going into 1st Grade and Rachel beginning Kindergarten. Thanks to a friend of mine we approached Davis on a short form piece for a single event and the idea grew into building a longer piece that will highlight the school, the kids, faculty and staff, the parents and the alumni. We are shooting lots of personal interviews that will be overlayed with b-roll from the Fall. In the end we should have about a 6 minute video that will capture the spirit and 'soul' of Davis.
Yesterday was our first day of filming and it was the Alumni. Now when we are talking alumni we are still talking 'kids' as the school has only been open for 15 years now and the first classes were Kindergarten and 1st Grade. Also, the school only goes to 8th Grade so graduates are younger at this point. I got to meet and interview some of the brightest, funniest and talented kids who are so well grounded. As a parent of young kids you want to know that the things you are doing for your family pay off and after yesterday I feel pretty good.
What made me even prouder was our TEAM from EventStreams. The crew was awesome as always but when you mix your business life with part of your personal life you are always acutely aware of the 'vibe'. Yesterday it was spot on! Bryan, Ryan and of course Nate rocked and the ladies we worked with were blown away. From the moment when they walked in and said, "wow, this is like a real movie set" to the e-mail I got even before we got back to the office thanking us for the day it was perfect.
The project will take a long time, most of the Fall in fact, but I look forward to updating the happenings with stills as well as some rough cuts of video.
Have a great weekend everyone!
G
We always have 20-25 projects in motion but yesterday one of my passions was on display, The Davis Academy (www.davisacademy.org). Davis is the Reform Jewish Day School in Atlanta. It also happen to be where Cydney and Rachel go to school, Cydney going into 1st Grade and Rachel beginning Kindergarten. Thanks to a friend of mine we approached Davis on a short form piece for a single event and the idea grew into building a longer piece that will highlight the school, the kids, faculty and staff, the parents and the alumni. We are shooting lots of personal interviews that will be overlayed with b-roll from the Fall. In the end we should have about a 6 minute video that will capture the spirit and 'soul' of Davis.
Yesterday was our first day of filming and it was the Alumni. Now when we are talking alumni we are still talking 'kids' as the school has only been open for 15 years now and the first classes were Kindergarten and 1st Grade. Also, the school only goes to 8th Grade so graduates are younger at this point. I got to meet and interview some of the brightest, funniest and talented kids who are so well grounded. As a parent of young kids you want to know that the things you are doing for your family pay off and after yesterday I feel pretty good.
What made me even prouder was our TEAM from EventStreams. The crew was awesome as always but when you mix your business life with part of your personal life you are always acutely aware of the 'vibe'. Yesterday it was spot on! Bryan, Ryan and of course Nate rocked and the ladies we worked with were blown away. From the moment when they walked in and said, "wow, this is like a real movie set" to the e-mail I got even before we got back to the office thanking us for the day it was perfect.
The project will take a long time, most of the Fall in fact, but I look forward to updating the happenings with stills as well as some rough cuts of video.
Have a great weekend everyone!
G
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Weight Watchers Report Week 2
First the nitty gritty details, I lost 1 lb. this past week.
New Totals:
Starting Weight - 243.8 lbs
After week 2 - 238.8 lbs
Weight lost - 5 lbs
If that's all you are interested in you are dismissed. If you want to hear about the inside 'skinny' on a WW meeting stick around.
I guess you stayed...I thought you might. First, you walk into the door and wait on line to stand on the scale. People, predominantly women, shed everything but their clothes to make sure they are as 'light as possible' and then hop on. This part is pretty rudimentary and has little comedic value.
From there however, we enter the 'meeting' portion where the wheels fall off into absolute hysterics! Number one, there is a sign that says, "Members who stay for the meetings are 3 times more likely to lose weight than those that don't". I guess this is suggesting the 'power' of the meeting. To me it means if you stay for the meetings you are probably more committed that the person who shows up, weighs in and walks out. I mean really, why pay $39 a month to step on a scale? I get the accountability crap and all but really $39 a month for that...sorry I digressed.
OK, so we are sitting and bought in (OK, I'm not bought in but I do want to lose weight and like I alluded there is great comedic value here). We have a group leader, a really nice woman. I believe the credentials to be a leader is you must have reached your GOAL WEIGHT through WW and maintained it. Our leader is very Southern as are many in the room...duh, it's Atlanta. She is sugary sweet and starts with asking folks if they deserve 'Bravo Stars'. Bravo Starts are literally the little gold stars we got as kids. These folks LOVE them! Next we go into the topic for the night. Tonight's theme is around food in the house and followed up on last weeks what have you replaced in your house or gotten rid of. I have to veer of course here for a second. Nothing in MY house has changed! I love my wife but we will not be getting rid of the kids junk food and the stuff she likes. Is she supportive of the weight loss? You bet, but my kids need there snacks and there is usually home baked cookies, cupcakes or something else around. Personally I have had NO problems with this thus far. I am sticking with Weight Watchers ice cream bars (actually quite good) and jello for snacks. Bottom line, asking my family to remove the junk food from the house is like discussing military with drawl from Iraq, in principle it sounds good and both sides agree to something but at the end of the day I'm the Democrats asking for a firm withdrawl date and Ilene is George Bush saying, "It's not the prudent thing to do, not at this juncture"...
OK, back to the meeting I think you got the picture up there...
So we go around the room discussing what items are in the cupboards and what isn't and every once in awhile the Leader sticks in a shameless plug for Weight Watchers measuring items, a POINTS calculator or even the food they sell after the meetings. I assume everyone in the room realizes that this is all shameless self promotion but maybe not. Then the real fun begins, she starts asking folks for what they make and do. I LOVE it! Here's the analogy that works for me...I play golf. I love golf. I'm not half bad. On a good day I break 90 and can hit the ball pretty far. I would never tell Tiger Woods how to hit a 300 yard drive around a tree onto a fairway with a tournament on the line. However, I am sitting in a room of FAT PEOPLE telling me what they make to lose weight! Maybe if I saw a before and after picture I might lend some credibility. There's one GUY in the room who is no less than 350 lbs. I have heard him discuss his Personal Trainer and yoga! Last night he raised his hand 5 times to talk about what he eats and makes! Unless he used to weigh 900 lbs. I can't really get too excited. Then there's the 50 something rural woman who substitutes eggs with pumpkin! Now, maybe it tastes great, but I'm more than a little scared about the twig of an Oak that is her family tree!
So we wrap up the meeting with more 'awards' this time for achievements. I get my FIRST star for losing my first 5 lbs. The Leader asks me how I feel. My first mistake in WW! I told the group I don't feel different yet! The room got downright frosty. Word of advice, "losing the first 5 pounds felt like the world has been lifted off my shoulders and I can now accomplish anything". I think that would have gotten a rousing applause. I must admit I was impressed with the woman who last 65.8 pounds in less than a year. That deserves the accolades. Five pounds off of 243.8 is pretty insignificant, but it's a milestone.
This week I am going to try and stick even harder to the points and not eat out as much. I'm only eating chicken and vegetables when we go out but I know they are sneaking in butter and stuff like that to make the food taste better and the portions are probably too large.
If you stuck around for the whole post, thanks. Let me know what you think.
G
New Totals:
Starting Weight - 243.8 lbs
After week 2 - 238.8 lbs
Weight lost - 5 lbs
If that's all you are interested in you are dismissed. If you want to hear about the inside 'skinny' on a WW meeting stick around.
I guess you stayed...I thought you might. First, you walk into the door and wait on line to stand on the scale. People, predominantly women, shed everything but their clothes to make sure they are as 'light as possible' and then hop on. This part is pretty rudimentary and has little comedic value.
From there however, we enter the 'meeting' portion where the wheels fall off into absolute hysterics! Number one, there is a sign that says, "Members who stay for the meetings are 3 times more likely to lose weight than those that don't". I guess this is suggesting the 'power' of the meeting. To me it means if you stay for the meetings you are probably more committed that the person who shows up, weighs in and walks out. I mean really, why pay $39 a month to step on a scale? I get the accountability crap and all but really $39 a month for that...sorry I digressed.
OK, so we are sitting and bought in (OK, I'm not bought in but I do want to lose weight and like I alluded there is great comedic value here). We have a group leader, a really nice woman. I believe the credentials to be a leader is you must have reached your GOAL WEIGHT through WW and maintained it. Our leader is very Southern as are many in the room...duh, it's Atlanta. She is sugary sweet and starts with asking folks if they deserve 'Bravo Stars'. Bravo Starts are literally the little gold stars we got as kids. These folks LOVE them! Next we go into the topic for the night. Tonight's theme is around food in the house and followed up on last weeks what have you replaced in your house or gotten rid of. I have to veer of course here for a second. Nothing in MY house has changed! I love my wife but we will not be getting rid of the kids junk food and the stuff she likes. Is she supportive of the weight loss? You bet, but my kids need there snacks and there is usually home baked cookies, cupcakes or something else around. Personally I have had NO problems with this thus far. I am sticking with Weight Watchers ice cream bars (actually quite good) and jello for snacks. Bottom line, asking my family to remove the junk food from the house is like discussing military with drawl from Iraq, in principle it sounds good and both sides agree to something but at the end of the day I'm the Democrats asking for a firm withdrawl date and Ilene is George Bush saying, "It's not the prudent thing to do, not at this juncture"...
OK, back to the meeting I think you got the picture up there...
So we go around the room discussing what items are in the cupboards and what isn't and every once in awhile the Leader sticks in a shameless plug for Weight Watchers measuring items, a POINTS calculator or even the food they sell after the meetings. I assume everyone in the room realizes that this is all shameless self promotion but maybe not. Then the real fun begins, she starts asking folks for what they make and do. I LOVE it! Here's the analogy that works for me...I play golf. I love golf. I'm not half bad. On a good day I break 90 and can hit the ball pretty far. I would never tell Tiger Woods how to hit a 300 yard drive around a tree onto a fairway with a tournament on the line. However, I am sitting in a room of FAT PEOPLE telling me what they make to lose weight! Maybe if I saw a before and after picture I might lend some credibility. There's one GUY in the room who is no less than 350 lbs. I have heard him discuss his Personal Trainer and yoga! Last night he raised his hand 5 times to talk about what he eats and makes! Unless he used to weigh 900 lbs. I can't really get too excited. Then there's the 50 something rural woman who substitutes eggs with pumpkin! Now, maybe it tastes great, but I'm more than a little scared about the twig of an Oak that is her family tree!
So we wrap up the meeting with more 'awards' this time for achievements. I get my FIRST star for losing my first 5 lbs. The Leader asks me how I feel. My first mistake in WW! I told the group I don't feel different yet! The room got downright frosty. Word of advice, "losing the first 5 pounds felt like the world has been lifted off my shoulders and I can now accomplish anything". I think that would have gotten a rousing applause. I must admit I was impressed with the woman who last 65.8 pounds in less than a year. That deserves the accolades. Five pounds off of 243.8 is pretty insignificant, but it's a milestone.
This week I am going to try and stick even harder to the points and not eat out as much. I'm only eating chicken and vegetables when we go out but I know they are sneaking in butter and stuff like that to make the food taste better and the portions are probably too large.
If you stuck around for the whole post, thanks. Let me know what you think.
G
Monday, August 6, 2007
Random thoughts from the weekend
1. I LOVE the NFL Hall of Fame speeches! As my friends know, I am not a Michael Irvin fan per se, he did go to UM and them played for the Cowboys, but his speech was great. While I don't love Mike I have grown to respect him. He has made mistakes, many in fact, but has pretty much taken accountability for them. His speech last night showed a man humbled by his surroundings and his own place there. The Charlie Sanders moment saying 'Hi Mom' was awesome and the son of the Hall of Famer speech was amazing him being led out by the 3 running backs that he led into the Hall was cool.
2. More inspiration? How about the job NBC does with rebroadcasting the Ironman? Al Trautwig has a perfect voice for it! The way they profile athletes makes you think anyone can swim, bike and run in that heat. It's the 2nd time they broadcast the event and I got a lump in my throat again when they showed the John Blaise story.
3. Tiger Woods, need I say more?
4. Back to football...training camps are open, the preseason started last night and I am psyched. 26 days until the Gators open their season and 33 until we take the girls to the SWAMP for their first game at the University of Florida!
5. Tennis - on Saturday night we played mixed doubles with another couple. I am NO tennis player. In fact, it's only the 2nd time I've played in a 'competitive' match. Of course I won :) but I REALLY enjoyed it. So now I'm thinking of maybe getting a coach and trying out this ALTA deal. Ilene plays on a Ladies' Team and really enjoys it. I don't think it's that easy for guys. I'm very competitive and I realize I pretty much suck! Where do I start so I don't look like an ass is pretty much what I am trying to figure out :)
6. Lastly, but now first is the word POSITIVITY! For the most part I think I'm a pretty positive person but it is so easy to get caught up in the negative bullshit that swirls around. I am taking a conscious effort to the see the glass more than 1/2 full. Tomorrow will be the 6th anniversary of my father's death, enough of the self deprecating shit, I will try to think of the good times we shared, the love he had for his kids, and how proud he would be of myself and my sister of the people we have become and the children we are raising!
Stay tuned tomorrow to see if I dropped any weight in week 2!
G
2. More inspiration? How about the job NBC does with rebroadcasting the Ironman? Al Trautwig has a perfect voice for it! The way they profile athletes makes you think anyone can swim, bike and run in that heat. It's the 2nd time they broadcast the event and I got a lump in my throat again when they showed the John Blaise story.
3. Tiger Woods, need I say more?
4. Back to football...training camps are open, the preseason started last night and I am psyched. 26 days until the Gators open their season and 33 until we take the girls to the SWAMP for their first game at the University of Florida!
5. Tennis - on Saturday night we played mixed doubles with another couple. I am NO tennis player. In fact, it's only the 2nd time I've played in a 'competitive' match. Of course I won :) but I REALLY enjoyed it. So now I'm thinking of maybe getting a coach and trying out this ALTA deal. Ilene plays on a Ladies' Team and really enjoys it. I don't think it's that easy for guys. I'm very competitive and I realize I pretty much suck! Where do I start so I don't look like an ass is pretty much what I am trying to figure out :)
6. Lastly, but now first is the word POSITIVITY! For the most part I think I'm a pretty positive person but it is so easy to get caught up in the negative bullshit that swirls around. I am taking a conscious effort to the see the glass more than 1/2 full. Tomorrow will be the 6th anniversary of my father's death, enough of the self deprecating shit, I will try to think of the good times we shared, the love he had for his kids, and how proud he would be of myself and my sister of the people we have become and the children we are raising!
Stay tuned tomorrow to see if I dropped any weight in week 2!
G
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The Pitbull comparison
OK, so I know I will get flamed for this one but it's on my mind after reading this NY Times Article about the dogs from Michael Vick's Kennel, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/sports/golf/01vick.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin.
Basically, the 60+ dogs from the property are 'evidence' and are being kept as such at various locations. In the end they will be euthanized because they can NOT be rehabilitated from the years of abuse.
All of this got me to thinking about our Country's youth and in particular the disadvantaged. They live in horrible conditions, see violence in their homes and on their streets. They live with murder, rape, robbery, drug addictions and homelessness. After 18 years of this, if they are lucky, they are out on their own. In many ways I see them like the Bad Newz Kennel dogs and we as SOCIETY are the Humane Society left to deal with things. Fortunately, euthanizing is not an option, but what is? How do we change a mindset or behavior that has gone on for so many years. Enough people have trouble eating well or stopping addictions like nicotine, alcohol, gambling etc...imagine trying to re-train yourself to trust in others and have self esteem that was long ago destroyed?
I don't know the answer, and I could be way off, but it was in my head.
G
Basically, the 60+ dogs from the property are 'evidence' and are being kept as such at various locations. In the end they will be euthanized because they can NOT be rehabilitated from the years of abuse.
All of this got me to thinking about our Country's youth and in particular the disadvantaged. They live in horrible conditions, see violence in their homes and on their streets. They live with murder, rape, robbery, drug addictions and homelessness. After 18 years of this, if they are lucky, they are out on their own. In many ways I see them like the Bad Newz Kennel dogs and we as SOCIETY are the Humane Society left to deal with things. Fortunately, euthanizing is not an option, but what is? How do we change a mindset or behavior that has gone on for so many years. Enough people have trouble eating well or stopping addictions like nicotine, alcohol, gambling etc...imagine trying to re-train yourself to trust in others and have self esteem that was long ago destroyed?
I don't know the answer, and I could be way off, but it was in my head.
G
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