Today is the first day of my new diet. I'm using this word, not as a short term way to lose weight, but instead for what it really means: the way I eat regularly.
I talked with JR, my trainer, and he made some recommendations. I started last night and we're gonna see how it goes.
He recommends two weeks with no "bad carbs". "Bad carbs" are the delicious ones. You know, bread, pasta, potatoes, rice. Then slowly introduce one carb a day, per week. For instance, after the first couple weeks, if I want a sandwich, I can only have one piece of bread.
He also recommends not counting calories unless I'm already eating healthily. Since I have not been, he thinks this has been an issue. If I only limit my intake via calories, I can still eat junk, just a limited amount of it. Unfortunately, junk is still that - junk.
So, we have come to a crossroads, it seems. I started this blog to track my calories daily, or as near to daily as possible. Now that I'm doing things differently, should I still blog everyday?
I want some feedback from those of you that read this blog regularly. I joke about it only being 7, but seriously, if you read this, do you want me to continue blogging about general things regarding my weight loss? I will also continue with faith and general life issues, if people are genuinely interested in what I have to say (and I would contend that many are not).
So please let me know via comment here or on Facebook if you'd like to keep reading my thoughts.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
I am too lazy...
Sorry I've been lazy about posting since I started back. I missed this weekend because... well, I just didn't feel like blogging.
Anyway, I didn't track my calories this weekend, because I'm considering changing the diet up a little bit. I read lots of material that said if calories in is less than calories needed, I would lose weight. But now, I'm reading that it depends on the type of calorie. Is there an easy answer? No, of course not. If there was, everyone would be fit and healthy.
So, I'm checking out some options, based on my body type, blood type and family history. What I came up with is lots of protein, veggies, fruit and very little bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. Which is great, because my favorite types of food is Italian (bread and pasta), Mexican (rice and tortillas, which is like bread only flat), and diner food (you know, sandwiches on bread, fries which are a delicious variety of potato, fried chicken that is breaded...). So obviously, I'm in trouble.
This is also the type of diet that my trainer, JR recommends. What to do?
Today I wanted to track calories, but we went to the Cardinal ball game. Seriously, once you eat a burrito at Busch Stadium, counting calories is like using a ping-pong paddle to face Roger Clements post-HGH injections.
Well, it's late and I'm tired. I'll leave you with this:
"The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night."
— John Piper (A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer)
Anyway, I didn't track my calories this weekend, because I'm considering changing the diet up a little bit. I read lots of material that said if calories in is less than calories needed, I would lose weight. But now, I'm reading that it depends on the type of calorie. Is there an easy answer? No, of course not. If there was, everyone would be fit and healthy.
So, I'm checking out some options, based on my body type, blood type and family history. What I came up with is lots of protein, veggies, fruit and very little bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. Which is great, because my favorite types of food is Italian (bread and pasta), Mexican (rice and tortillas, which is like bread only flat), and diner food (you know, sandwiches on bread, fries which are a delicious variety of potato, fried chicken that is breaded...). So obviously, I'm in trouble.
This is also the type of diet that my trainer, JR recommends. What to do?
Today I wanted to track calories, but we went to the Cardinal ball game. Seriously, once you eat a burrito at Busch Stadium, counting calories is like using a ping-pong paddle to face Roger Clements post-HGH injections.
Well, it's late and I'm tired. I'll leave you with this:
"The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night."
— John Piper (A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
My last post was almost a month ago.
Well, my faithful 7 readers, I'm back! (don't worry - no pea soup or spinning head).
I took the month (roughly) away from blogging because I was generally frustrated. I felt like I was making zero progress in several areas of my life, the weight loss one being the area this blog is most concerned with.
During that time, my wife and I have talked and she has been an amazing support to me. We have made valiant strides in several areas of our lives that needed work (including general organization of our house, finances, intense Bible study) and I feel like I can blog again without getting so down.
Today I consumed 1613 of 2488 calories and worked out (actually got my hindquarters kicked by JR). The calorie count is low because I fasted until after lunch.
Which brings me to the next thing that inquiring minds want to know... I am currently pursuing a position at a different employer. Not just any position either. It's a specific position at a specific university that will help me get a foot in the door to what I really want to do. I know what I want to do for my career. I'm tired of jobs, I want a career.
When I looked at all my options, everything that interested me, or seemed like a career I could pursue and not only enjoy, but bring God glory with, I always came back to teaching. Now, I know what you're thinking. Teaching college really is the most glamorous job available. I mean, grumpy frat boys who partied the night before, girls who think they know everything because they have daddy's credit card... seriously, I remember these kids in college. But I also remember people like me. And Chad. And Jonathon. And Trina. We were people who worked full time during the day and went to school at night because we had something pushing us to do it. A dream. Thoughts of something better than the craphole we worked in currently.
And so, come January, I'm starting work on a Master's. I'm going to apply in August or September and even though Dave Ramsey would yell at me, if I have to use loans, I will. Then, I will teach part time since very few colleges or universities will hire you full time straight out, then full time college instructor. Who knows, I may end up a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration). Dr. Francis has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Only I'm way too awesome to be that stuffy. Dr. Josh sounds way better. Or maybe just Doc. Great Scott!
Finally, I have also decided, much to my wife's chagrin, that I want to learn Biblical Hebrew and Greek so I can read the Bible in it's original language. The way I look at it, if I learn it in 10 years, I'll only be 40 and if I live to be 85, that's 45 years of better study of the Word of God. She's convinced I'm going to get the Master's of Christian Ministry at MoBap after I teach a few years and become a preacher of some variety. If that's where God leads, I can't really say no, can I?
In closing, if you go to my church you may have noticed that I'm now a Prayer Partner. My first week was last week and I can tell already that God needs to pour out grace and mercy on me everyday for me to be effective. But really who doesn't need that?
God bless.
I took the month (roughly) away from blogging because I was generally frustrated. I felt like I was making zero progress in several areas of my life, the weight loss one being the area this blog is most concerned with.
During that time, my wife and I have talked and she has been an amazing support to me. We have made valiant strides in several areas of our lives that needed work (including general organization of our house, finances, intense Bible study) and I feel like I can blog again without getting so down.
Today I consumed 1613 of 2488 calories and worked out (actually got my hindquarters kicked by JR). The calorie count is low because I fasted until after lunch.
Which brings me to the next thing that inquiring minds want to know... I am currently pursuing a position at a different employer. Not just any position either. It's a specific position at a specific university that will help me get a foot in the door to what I really want to do. I know what I want to do for my career. I'm tired of jobs, I want a career.
When I looked at all my options, everything that interested me, or seemed like a career I could pursue and not only enjoy, but bring God glory with, I always came back to teaching. Now, I know what you're thinking. Teaching college really is the most glamorous job available. I mean, grumpy frat boys who partied the night before, girls who think they know everything because they have daddy's credit card... seriously, I remember these kids in college. But I also remember people like me. And Chad. And Jonathon. And Trina. We were people who worked full time during the day and went to school at night because we had something pushing us to do it. A dream. Thoughts of something better than the craphole we worked in currently.
And so, come January, I'm starting work on a Master's. I'm going to apply in August or September and even though Dave Ramsey would yell at me, if I have to use loans, I will. Then, I will teach part time since very few colleges or universities will hire you full time straight out, then full time college instructor. Who knows, I may end up a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration). Dr. Francis has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Only I'm way too awesome to be that stuffy. Dr. Josh sounds way better. Or maybe just Doc. Great Scott!
Finally, I have also decided, much to my wife's chagrin, that I want to learn Biblical Hebrew and Greek so I can read the Bible in it's original language. The way I look at it, if I learn it in 10 years, I'll only be 40 and if I live to be 85, that's 45 years of better study of the Word of God. She's convinced I'm going to get the Master's of Christian Ministry at MoBap after I teach a few years and become a preacher of some variety. If that's where God leads, I can't really say no, can I?
In closing, if you go to my church you may have noticed that I'm now a Prayer Partner. My first week was last week and I can tell already that God needs to pour out grace and mercy on me everyday for me to be effective. But really who doesn't need that?
God bless.
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