Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year, New Habits

Writing this in my living room, on my phone, will not generate my usual long-winded, self-indulgent, although witty discourse.

I weighed myself this morning and am somewhat relieved that my body has adjusted and am now losing weight at a less dramatic rate. The expectations after such a comic first weigh-in, left me feeling more pressure than normal. My goal on myfitnesspal is 2 pounds a week and I am pleased to say I am on that healthy weight-loss track now.

Last two weeks, 5 pounds. Total 24 pounds.

Again, if you want to donate as you go, here is the website to my fundraising page.

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12GW?px=9921451&pg=personal&fr_id=38763

Thanks for being my accountability and support!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

P90...

I hope that P90 does not mean, Puke90. I just did the first circuit workout and I feel nauseous. Maybe I shouldn't have walked for 30 minutes prior. Maybe I should've worked out a little more, or any, the last few years. Or maybe it will just get easier as long as I stick with it. Yeah, let's go with that one.

Monday, December 26, 2011

New Me, New House


For the few of you that did not know, this tree fell on me while I was sleeping just over a year ago at one in the morning. If you have not heard the whole story, ask next time I see you.

An adjustor, or adjuster (both spellings are correct), came to my house today to start the process of fixing it. Yeah!

And by my house, I mean the Baer family house that I rent. Anyway, awesome!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Holiday Cards and My Sincere Appreciation!

This time of year the United States Postal Service gets a boost from the Christmas and Holiday Cards that people send to friends and family. I know I appreciate getting them. I love to see my friend's families gathered together for a portrait to send, but the kids are usually poking each other, or looking at the cat across the room and not paying attention to the person taking the photo. Eventually the mom or dad gives up and says, "That one is good enough, use it!" It's the effort I love.

Then there are the people that take the time to write a family letter updating each family member's year, and giving its readers a glimpse into the ups and downs of the past 12 months. I love reading these. I feel like I am reading a novel about people I know and am already invested in. True, I usually know most of what is written in these letters, but who hasn't read a book more than once.

Then there is me. I have never written a family letter. I have never sent a Christmas card with my picture on it. If I love receiving them so much, then why not take part in delivering them as well? I don't have an answer to that, but I do know that I have a lot of people in my life that I am thankful for, and appreciate. Hopefully, I have told each you how much I appreciate you, and how you have made me a better person. Hopefully, you saw it my eyes that I was sincere.

I have almost 200 people on my email list when I send out updates, and I know it gets forwarded on to others(I know because I have 56 views from Russia. Whoever is reading in Russia, send me a message so I know who it is...). Each time I send out an update I get 50 or so replies, so if I don't email you back, it's because I have to work, eat and sleep. :) But I want all of you to know, that I wish you the Happiest of Holidays, the Merriest of Christmases and Healthiest of Habits!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Before picture pressure


I have been asked by many, and I mean many people about my before and after pictures. I did not want to have before and after pictures. I find them a bit silly. In the before picture, the person always looks sad. Like someone just told them that they are not getting a Christmas bonus, or that the next installment of Twilight has been delayed 6 months. Aww...sad. They stand there sticking out their belly as if trying to win a contest for the deepest belly-button.

The after pictures crack me up even more. Especially for the guys. They usually stand against a white wall that has an overhead light. That way the shadows around their new abs with stand out more in the picture. Then they hold their arms out while they suck in their stomach as far as they can, but it's the arms that get me rolling my eyes. Are you telling me that your lats are so big that your elbows can no longer retreat to your body? If so, then I do not want to use whatever product you are so excited about. They also flex their pectorals, biceps and traps. Like the rest of care if you have bigger neck and shoulder muscles after you lost weight. How's your mile time? Tell me that and quit flexing!

And do people that lose weight always need to go tanning? If tan people are so much more beautiful, then why was Marilyn Monroe so famous? I guess I can see how TV and magazines could make people think that tan equals beautiful. I just don't understand it, and it is natural to either fear, or find humor in what we don't understand. Since I don't fear tan people, I will find humor.

So here you go people. This is not a typical before picture, but it is one that when I first saw it, made me throw up a little in my mouth. I am thicker than most people are wide, and all of that pink and purple does not help the situation. This is at last year's Relay For Life of Northshore. I was the Co-Chair, organizing an event to save lives, and I obviously have been killing myself with food and inactivity. The irony is palpable.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Holidays with 64

Have you seen the commercials for MGD 64? One person orders MGD 64 and the person next to them wants their drink to be only 64 calories, so the server hands them a new drink in a tiny, misshaped glass. I would have never tried a 64 before I started this journey, and when it is all over, I probably never will again. For now, it will have to do.

Holidays mean social events, and social events usually involve, for me anyway, adult beverages. I would consider myself somewhat knowledgable about various drinks. I could speak with some confidence about Scotch, Vodka, Washington Wines and Beer. I have taken a Whiskey class, and have spoken extensively with the owner of a local Vodka maker. I live in a Wine Maker's home, and organized a couple wine events. I have brewed 20 + beers on my own, or with a friend, and understand the workings of that art.

The calories are a killer.

Scotch: 3 oz with a splash of water = 210 calories
Vodka: 1.5 oz with mixer = 220 calories
Wine: 4 oz of Red Wine = 125 calories
Beer: 12 oz of "Good Beer" = 170 to 280 calories

This is one serving!

It's not water. It's not what I am used to, but it has 64 good reasons to make it what I reach for this Holiday Season!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Put Life In Perspective This Time of Year

It's Not Easy Being Santa
By Rick Reilly

It's that time of year again, when our thoughts turn to that lovable plus-sized elf with the ruddy red cheeks, the white hair and the belly of jelly, the one who never needs an airplane.

John Madden.

No, actually, Santa Claus.

This holiday season the morals of a lot of athletes are lower than flounder droppings. The other day I heard a worried announcer say, "What must kids think of the way we adults are behaving?" But you really can't ask kids because when a kid is asked a question by an adult, the only thing the kid thinks is, How huge are this man's nostrils?

Kids trust Santa, though. They'll tell Santa anything. So I set out to conduct the Santa Sports Survey. Disguised as Saint Nick, I would spend 90 minutes at each of three Boys & Girls Clubs in metro Denver. I loaded the trunk with toys and trinkets, borrowed a Santa suit from the Cherry Creek Mall and called Susen Mesco of Amerevents.com, which runs one of the best Santa Schools in the country.

"Don't play Santa," she advised. "Be Santa."

She also said something odd. "Never ask what the children want for Christmas." Huh? "Ask, What would you like to tell Santa? Because a lot of times, what they want has nothing to do with toys. For instance, what will you do if a child says, 'Santa, I want you to bring my mommy back to life'?"

(Silence)

"You say, 'Sorry, Santa can't do that. But you know what? Sometimes our sleigh flies so high, we pass right by heaven. What do you want to tell your mom, and I'll give her a message.'"

I wasn't sure I was ready for this.

The clubs were all in poor sections of the city. At each club I was given a room and about 70 squirmy kids, ages six to 10. And right away I learned something -- I make a lousy Santa.

"Who are you?" one girl asked.

"Since when does Santa drive a sedan?" a boy said, suspiciously.

"Uh, that hurts," another girl said as I tried to tickle her.

One kid wanted to know how old I was. "Just turned 1,310," I said. He went Frisbee-eyed. I said, "I know, I don't look that old."

"No, you do," he said.

One little girl wanted to know where Rudolph was. "Rudolph pulled a hammy," I said. "This year the sleigh is going to be guided by Sylvester, from the temp agency."

(Blank stare)

I kept trying to ask my state-of-sports questions, but I might as well have been asking about pork-belly futures. Not one of them knew about Barry Bonds's BALCO connection. In fact, if I were running baseball, I'd be worried. Not one kid had a favorite ballplayer. Not one of them wanted a bat or glove. Few of them even had favorite pros in any sport: Local hero Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets was mentioned the most, followed by two Philadelphia stars, Terrell Owens of the Eagles and Allen Iverson of the Sixers. The athletes the kids most wanted to spend time with were their dads.

"Could you bring me a fishing pole so my daddy will take me fishing with him?" one little girl asked. Another wanted a soccer ball, "'cause I think my dad would play soccer with me then."

I kept trying to hit them with survey questions like, "Do you view athletes as role models in this age of ...," and they kept hitting me with real life.

"Santa, for Christmas could you make the bill collectors stop coming?" one boy said. "It makes my mom cry."

A little girl said, "Santa, could you bring us a new house? The one we have now leaks all the time."

Lots of kids wanted hats and shoes and coats. "I want clothes," said one boy. What kind? "The warm kind," he said.

Another kid wanted to be an NBA star and make "a million dollars."

"What would you spend it on?" I asked.

"Doctors," she said, "for my cousin. She's four. She has cancer."

I told one seven-year-old boy, "Last year I came by and you were still awake, so I had to go do Dallas first until you fell asleep. So this year I want you to go right to sleep."

And he said, "That's not true, Santa. Last year you forgot my house."

I learned nothing new about sports, but plenty about how spoiled my life was, how Scroogish my spirit, how narrow my vision.

One somber eight-year-old girl was making her first visit to the club. She'd been sent from another state to live with her uncles because there were "issues" at home. She looked as if somebody had just sat on her birthday cake.

"What can Santa make you this Christmas?" I asked her.

She turned and looked at me with huge, hopeful eyes.
"Happy?" she asked.

Be Santa.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

1st Weigh in today...

I have been thinking about this post for two weeks. Will I have to put a positive spin on a bad weigh in? Will I write about not getting my hopes up if I have a good weigh in? Should I even include an editorial and just let the number speak for itself? Will people believe what I tell them?

That's the one that stuck with me this morning. I would hope that all of you know me well enough to trust that I am being truthful. Even so, I have a friend that is either present at my weigh ins, or on the phone with me each time I step on the scale. I have taken pictures of the scale while I am teetering on top to maintain proof, but I don't think the numbers are what will be questioned.

This could be coming so far out of left field that most of you will think that I am even crazier than you ever imagined.

During the two week period between my initial request for help and my start date of December 1st, I had many people offer to help me shop, cook, workout and the like. There were also more than a few people that offered to help me bulk up before the first weigh in so my initial weight would be bigger, I could lose more, and then raise more money for the American Cancer Society.

At first this seemed appealing. I mean, I am doing this for myself and for charity. Would packing on a few more pounds before I begin be that big of a deal? Would eating salty food and drinking a lot of water the day before be that big of an advantage? How big of an impact could it really have on my weigh in? 3 pounds? 5 pounds? What is that, $3-5 more for more most of you by the end of this thing? For one person, $30-50!

I thought about all of this and more. Then I realized, that would not be me. I want to earn my weight loss. I want to earn those fundraising dollars. I want this to be a genuine experience. And it has been.

Some people have asked if they could donate as they go, so the end result does not bust their bank account. Of course. The easiest way will be to donate to my online fundraising page. Their is no processing fee, and it is very quick with a credit/debit card. Use the link below, or wait until the final number. I am not going to hound anyone for the donations. If you sponsored me, it will be on your honor to donate along the way, or at the end.

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12National?px=9921451&pg=personal&fr_id=38763

Thanks for reading my mind-puke, and thanks again for supporting me through this life change.
Happy Holidays!
Ryan

Oh yeah. My weigh in. I lost 19 pounds!

And BOOM goes the Dynamite!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

College Acceptance Letter

I remember when I was applying to colleges, and the wait time that lingered after the deadline passed. Did I get in? Did I have enough extra-curricular activities? Was my GPA high enough? Were my SAT scores too low? Will being a student athlete help me with the admission board?

I waited to hear from schools like University of Washington, Linfield, Pamona-Pitzer and Whitworth. I felt scared, but confident that my accolades would speak for themselves. I felt eager to know, but apprehensive to find out. I looked in the mailbox daily hoping to find the letter, but relieved not to find it.

I am having similar feelings as I approach my first weigh-in. Confident, but scared. Eager, but apprehensive.

Thursday morning is going to speak for itself...

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Pizza Monster



Everyone remembers the Cookie Monster on Sesame Street. That blue fur-ball with the big wobbly eyes that would devour a whole plate of cookies faster than Kim Kardashian can pose for a butt photo. The object of many parent's blame for their child's obesity problems, because it was not the fact that you gave your child the cookies, it was the cookie monster convincing your child to eat them. That makes sense...

Well, I have considered myself the Pizza Monster at specific moments on my life. This summer, good friends of mine had a 10 year anniversary party in which they hired Veraci Pizza to bring their Brick Oven Wagon and cook pizza for the 30 or so guests. If you have not tried Veraci Pizza, you must. It is on 55th in Ballard and is the best thin crust, brick oven pizza I have ever eaten. So it was no surprise to myself that I was the Pizza Monster at this party.

Of course, the first time to the pizza table it is not that crazy for a person to take four slices of pizza with their salad, bread and wine. Right? Umm...right? Oh shut up! I'm fat. If I had stopped there, I wouldn't be the Pizza Monster, so I continued. And since I am not a muppet on a children's show, I needed to be more stealthy in my devouring of the pizza. Once I went back up and nonchalantly looked around, and acted surprised, "Oh they made one with black olives. I gotta try that one." I took three and scampered back to my seat in the yard. A little while later I walked inside the house to "use the restroom" but I used that as a excuse to grab to two slices on the way inside (hoping that no one noticed), and then eat them alone. Because in my mind, if no one saw you eating it, then it didn't happen. On the way out of the house, I grabbed one slice, but since I did not have a plate in my hand, it was a snack and not part of the meal. I am insane right? Then a little later, I went back up and grabbed a few slices and walked them down to a friend in the yard and said, "They brought out the kind you were asking about so I grabbed you some." And I already knew what his answer was going to be, "Oh thanks, but I already had some of that kind and now I am full." Well, I can't let them go to waste. I will eat them...

Welcome to the mind of a food addict.

Once all the pizza had been consumed, my total can only be described by a compound inequality. 11 < x < 16
Let me translate, the amount of pizza I ate (x), was greater than 11 slices of pizza, and less than 16 slices of pizza. I ate so much I couldn't even keep track. The truly sad thing is, I was bummed out when by buddy gave the left overs to someone else, because I probably would have eaten a couple slices as I drove home.

What does this have to do with my current progress? You would think, "You better not eat pizza, because you'll end up eating too much." And I would agree with you, but I also know myself. This life change will not work if I remove all the food I love to eat. I need to make a change, but I will not go to the extremes.

The other night while shopping at Top Foods, I came across a rather large, whole wheat, flat-bread pizza crust. I looked at the nutrition label and it appeared to be pretty decent. Good amount of fiber, no bleached sugars or fructose and the calories were not out of control like the white pizza crust next to this one. I placed two in my cart. I continued to shop for pizza toppings that were not out of control with fat or sugar. I bought tomato paste for the base, not marinara. I bought two types of low-fat cheese, and a red bell pepper. I also cut up some roasted turkey lunch meat from Costco.

While my new pizza creation was cooking, I was writing down the nutritional information for each item, and started loading them into myfitnesspal. I was not finished loading everything in when the pizza was done cooking, so I took a break to eat. I was a little distracted and distressed over putting my dog down just hours before this, so I did not care about my calorie in take for a bit, and I ended up eating half of the pizza. Realizing I ate half of what would be considered a large pizza, I felt I had let myself down, but then I finished entering in the nutritional information. I was surprised at the results. Half of the pizza totaled under 600 calories. Well, I know what I will be eating at least once a week.

I guess the Pizza Monster can live on! (In a healthier way)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Home Sweet Home, Boston Sweet Boston



The fires of Las Vegas are extinguished and I have conquered that town! Well, not conquered. I mean they did take a lot of money off of me, but I remained under my calorie goal each day. And that was not including all of the walking I did, which would have given me some calories back...so pretty good I hope!

Day 1 back in the grind of school has been tough. I did not have time to go shopping before I left, or last night when I got home. I was able to make due for breakfast and lunch, but I have to hit the grocery store tonight.

I am gonna ask for some positive thoughts and vibes tonight. Please don't text or call, as that will be a little overwhelming. I have to take my dog Boston in to be put down today at 5:15. He has a slipped disc, and has been on steroids for 5 weeks. He appeared better for the first couple weeks, but as he was weened off the steroids, he has gotten worse and worse. He is in so much pain, and has been for a couple months. Surgery is not an option and I don't want to see him suffer any more.

Boston is 7 years old and he has been my side for the last 3 years. He is one of my hiking buddies, my watch dog and my companion. He is too smart for fetch. He just looks at me like, "You go get the ball if you want it!" He knows not to beg, not to jump on people and to be nice to my Mom's little dogs even when they drive him nutts. He was going to be my walking pal as I begin my exercise plan, and now, my home will not feel the same without him.

Home is just not going to be as sweet without Boston by my side.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Last day in the Fire

With all of the walking one has to do in Vegas, I am definitely below my calorie goals for each day! I guess the best indicator of my success will be the one that can't lie in weight loss, the scale. Not that I am lying, but I did have to estimate some of food from restaurants that were not in myfitnesspal.

I am not going to weigh in for 10 more days, because if I did not lose weight after working this hard in Vegas, I will be discouraged. So I will wait.

Thank you all for the encouraging texts and comments. I hope the American Cancer Society reaps the benefits!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Vegas and the Missing Bun

My first day limiting myself to 2470 calories was easy. I measure my oatmeal, my brown sugar and almonds for breakfast. A friend and co-worker hooked me up with a healthy lunch made up of turkey on whole wheat, string cheese and a whole tomato. Dinner was a salad at a cafe in the Luxor in Vegas. According to myfitnesspal.com, I was 104 calories under my goal in take.

Day 2 was a bit different in Vegas. I slept in til noon (thank you Poker Room for keeping me up til 3). Then did not get down stairs til after 1. I decided to combine my breakfast and lunch calories by having a 'normal' sized meal. Veggie omelette with hash browns and whole wheat toast equals 1200 calories. Almost half my day's take. My snack was a 32 ounce Bud Light. Hey, it's Vegas! Then dinner was out with some marathoners and my bro. I ordered the low-carb burger(no bun), which comes with small salad, cole slaw, grilled portobello mushrooms and peppers. At the end of the day I was 238 calories over my goal, but I did walk several miles. You pretty much have to here to do anything.

Overall, I am pleased with my food, exercise and goals. Let's keep this train rolling.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Here we go!

Day 1: I weighed in and good news, I am still under 4 digits! (That means under 1000 lbs for you non-math types)

As I shared in my original email, I am not going to share my actual weight, but I do have people checking to make sure I am not being deceptive. I bought a new scale yesterday for the occasion. It is pretty fancy compared to what I am used to, but I was used to the spinning wheel scale that looked like the Tea-Cups at the fair when I stepped on it. It was old, like a rotary phone. Kids today would not know how to use it. But this new one is cool! I can input my height, age and activity level, then when I weigh-in, it tells me how many calories I can eat to maintain my current weight.

This morning it said that I could eat 3940 calories a day to maintain my weight. Thanks for the advice Scale, but I think I will dial that back a notch or two.

At the recommendation of several people on my distribution list, I am using MyFitnessPal.com. Again, I can input my height, age, activity level and weight and then it tells me how many calories to eat in order to lose 2 pounds a week. 2470 calories a day. Listen closely, if you really listen right now, you can hear MyFitnessPal is laughing at my scale.

I am excited, nervous and eager for this new chapter in my life. Thank you for being part of it.

Here's to the Tea-Cups and only 3 digits!