by Mike Vifquain on February 17, 2010
Where did I go? Did I give up and binge on Twinkies and Double Fudge Sundae’s?
No, nothing crazy or drastic like that. I was out of town on business last week, in LA actually. I was too busy to get on the computer, and when I did have time I was working out with 100 pushups or doing crunches. I tried to stay active, whether walking around town or fitting in some physical activity daily.
Upon my return Friday, I was stuck overnight in Charlotte, NC as the snow rolled in. US Airways was nice enough to put me up in the roach trap called Red Roof Inn, where I must have picked up some form of GonaSyphaHerpelAids (Get it?). Fast forward to now and I feel like death warmed over. Or what I imagine death would be like. My sinuses are clogged, insane headache, cough, fever, stomach pains and nothing I eat wants to stay inside my body. I’ll let you use your imagination with the rest. Hooters has nothing on this!
I’ve been sleeping for a few hours, then awake an hour, then back to sleep for a few hours. The only good coming of this is the forced change in my body and I’m sure to lose a few pounds!
So bare with me, my friends. Positive Mike will be back soon. I’ll post some progress pics tomorrow if I feel any better.
How has your week been? Are you making the losses you expect this month?
by Mike Vifquain on February 7, 2010
This week was a wash. I missed 3 days of workouts due to either sick kids or too much work to do. I found myself just hoping to maintain loss rather than add weight-loss.
I had to skip Mondays workout due to work issues, but I did manage to bust out some crunches and leg lifts. Tuesday was a solid workout. Wednesday was a scheduled miss as I had to take time off for my 9 year old, Hailey, to get her cast off – Yay! It turned into one long day at the walk-in clinic that ended with my 4 year old son, Harrison, being diagnosed with strep throat. Needless to say, Thursday was a wash. I managed to workout on Friday, but ruined that with a trip to the Sate Fair on Saturday.
Yes, I had a corn dog and some great tasting red beans & rice at the fair. It tasted wonderful and I rationalized my eating with the tons of walking I did that day. SShhh! I don’t need your chastising. I know I was wrong.
Fast forward to today, Super Bowl Sunday. It’s Drew Brees and Who Dat Nation against Peyton Manning and the Colts. This is The Man’s Holiday filled with beer, wings and tons of carbs.
What am I to do?
I am going to a friend’s house, so I cannot control the menu. I can control my choices though. I will do my best to make the right choices and stay away from beer. I know I will give in some, but just how much?
On a positive note, I hit the gym this morning and pulled off just under 700 calories in 35 minutes.
Next up, I’m heading to Hollywood, CA for another tradeshow. The good thing is it’s California where there is plenty of healthy food choices! The bad is staying on track with my workouts. I leave Monday and return Friday, hopefully I can fit in a few workouts during the week.
How was your week?
by Mike Vifquain on January 31, 2010
I attempted to do the impossible, again. This time I had to attend a tradeshow in South Beach Miami.
How did I do?
Well I didn’t hit the gym, as the little Art Deco hotel I was staying in wasn’t fitted with a gym. I did manage to walk a ton, including several miles on the beach and boardwalk. I think my cardio was fine.
Eating, on the other hand, was a little more difficult than Vegas. I managed to eat healthy, when I ate. I didn’t have much time to eat more than 2-3 meals a day. Breakfast just didn’t happen. The seminars started at 9am, and I was out until at least midnight each night. I managed to eat well for lunches, as they were catered by the event and had plenty of healthy choices. Dinner was either Sushi, Italian or Mediterranean. Yeah, I had a roll before the meal or rice with my sushi, but my portions were in check, I never cleaned my plate and drank plenty of water.
So why did I not losing any weight?
Confession time
On the drive home from Miami, I stopped by Hooters and ate 10 wings + fries and water. As if the water made a difference at this point. Why did I do this? I have no clue. I was hungry and Hooters was right off the Interstate. Why didn’t I order the blackened chicken sandwich like I have in the past? I have no clue. I wish I did, but I didn’t. In all honesty, the wings didn’t satisfy me like they have in the past — but I still ate them.
Did I mention the ass-killing, atomic explosion of greasy liquid and random shart chunks I felt this morning while dropping my morning poo? I know, disgusting but a damn reality of eating Hooters wings. It was like a muddy Niagara Falls flowing out of my ass. My body was clearly even more unhappy with my food choice than I was.
Where do I go from here? I get back on the wagon and work even harder this week to offset this indiscretion. I know, I have to work out a full week, to burn the surely 3000+ calories that I ingested last night at Hooters.
I’m starting to feel like one of those fat guys that complains about not being able to lose weight, while he is downing a 2-liter bottle of “Diet-Rite” cola. I mean, it’s diet – right?
Here I am, day 51 of my journey and frustrated with myself. I’m down only about 18-20lbs, instead of the 30-40lbs I should be. I’m way off target-pace and need to make a change.
by Mike Vifquain on January 26, 2010
Airplane Food
As you already know – I travel A LOT with work. In addition to the setbacks, there are some nice fringe benefits. Like airplane and hotel miles, frequent flyer upgrades and so on. With the economy the way it is, I’m happy to use any and all of these extra benefits!
On my recent trip to Vegas I was upgraded to first class. Usually the food is crap and nothing to write about. However, on this flight I was pleasantly surprised. The menu was really healthy, and tasted great!
US Airways First Class Meal
- Spinach Salad with grape tomato and candied pecans
- Grilled chicken breast with artichokes and roasted tomatoes
- Polenta
- Sesame seed roll
I’ve been on many of these flights and usually its an unappetizing sandwich, some sort of fish or pasta. The rest of my flights didn’t have the same luck as this one, but i figured I would give kudos where kudos is due. Even if it is only 1 flight out of 100. Maybe they will read this and get the hint for future meals.
Motivation
I’m already pretty motivated in my weight-loss goals. I’ve blogged about it before, so it’s no secret. I am a very positive person and try not to focus on the negative in life’s situations. I realize everyone isn’t like me. There are many people so traumatized with low self-esteem and being overweight that they tend to see the negative in everything. I want to let you know that anyone can do this!
Nomatter your life situation, you can lose weight. There is no miracle pill or quick diet that will do it for you. You have to make a decision to change your life and work towards that goal. It’s no different than the Average Joe who decides to save money to buy the car or house of his dreams 10 years from now. Start by cutting out late night snacking. Make a pledge to yourself not to eat within 3 hours of bed time. Next, walk more. Take a stroll around the mall, or choose the stairs over the elevator one day. In this case baby steps can mean a lot!
Progress
I was 358lbs less than 5 years ago. I know what it’s like to be morbidly obese. I know how much it sucks to hold your breath to tie your shoes. I know the intense knee pains you get after walking from the car to the grocery store entrance. I know how fat people are treated by general society.
I also know how much of a struggle it is to maintain weight loss. Several years ago I lost an amazing 152lbs in just under 8 months, only to gain back 100 over the next few years. In December, I made a pledge to myself to drop the fat for good, and do it right. As of my last weigh in I am 288lbs, 70lbs less than my highest weight all those years ago.
My progress is much slower this time. I am making better choices with my food, while still enjoying what I eat. If I have pasta one night, I know the next day I have to eat super lean protein and plenty of leafy greens. I don’t get bent out of shape or down on myself when I do stray. I start over the next day and forget about the past.
You can too!
I know I’ve rambled on quite a bit in this post, but I hope you understand that you aren’t the only one struggling. Keep your head high, stay positive and accountable to yourself. You can do it!
by Mike Vifquain on January 23, 2010
I am still sleeping … kinda.
After returning home late Wednesday night I have been trying to catch up on sleep and work. It hasn’t left much time for anything else. I’ve made it to the gym every day, and even managed a lifting session with my training buddy on Thursday.
Blog posts have been few and far between, as you have seen. I promise to get back on track next week once I’m not so beat.
On to the good news! I managed to lose weight on my trip! I weighed in Thursday morning and was surprised to see a drop in my weight!
Weight: 288.3lbs (-2.7lbs)
I dropped almost 3lbs on my 11 day trip. While this isn’t the 3lbs per week I would like to lose, this is still a raging success! I can lose weight while I travel!
While this is a success, I don’t consider it a victory. I have a long way to go. I know I can make better choices. I still enjoyed pasta, steak and the bread and butter that is served before meals. I look back now wishing I would have ordered the grilled chicken instead of the kobe flat iron steak. I wish I would have only had 1 piece of bread with butter rather than the 3 or 4 pieces before each dinner. While I only had a “taste” of the 3-cheese macaroni and scalloped potatoes, I could have skipped them. The key here is I am still living my life and losing weight. If I tighten the reigns a little more for these first few months, I can accelerate my weight-loss and then let up a bit once I hit my target.
I am reminded once again that exercise is only 20% of the battle. A proper diet really does make a difference.
On a side note, I while on my trip I stopped at a local Starbucks and found a great tasting snack!
Sahale Snacks - Soledad Almonds with apple flax seeds, date, balsamic vinegar & red pepper
They tasted great and were very light on the calories. I plan to search for these online and order them in bulk!
by Mike Vifquain on January 20, 2010
Adios Vegas.
I’m in the airport eagerly awaiting my flight home.
I am excited to get back to my normal routine and proper eating habits. Overall, my trip was a success health-wise. I could have done a lot better, but I think I at least maintained and didn’t gain. I did drink, but had Bicardi & Diet coke – a zero calorie drink. As I mentioned before, I had a single beer. I went to quite a few fancy dinners, but stuck with proteins and only a mild amount of carbs. I nibbled on bread, had some pasta and even ate a baked potato at one meal. I didn’t stuff myself, and never snacked at night.
I can do it.
I didn’t work out as much as a should have, but did a ton of walking. Way more than I do at home. Does that offset my workouts? No way, but it certainly helps.
So, does “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” really hold true? We’ll see if I leave the pounds in Nevada or bring them with me to Florida!
