sunsetpar’s BodyBlog

This past Saturday, March 29, 2008, my oldest daughter Leslie gave birth to her first child and my first grandchild.  Edwin Holt Lang, Jr. was born at 9:52 p.m. at St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.  He weighed in at 8 pounds and 2 ounces and was 20.5 inches.  Back in December, 2007, sitting at almost 34% bodyfat and feeling awful, I decided that I wanted my first grandchild to know me as a fit person, not the slob I had become.  I have worked hard the last several months, and am well below20% bodyfat, and now weigh the same as I did the day I got married 34 years ago.  BUT…this is not the end of the road, it is just the beginning.  Just before I left the lake to drive to Houston for the birth of my grandson, I went and joined the New Braunfels, Texas YMCA.  Over the next several months, my road will take me to a leaner better proportioned body.  I will look to this site for education and inspiration and want to thank each and every one associated with or on this site for their help.  The road awaits!  Tom

Well, today I got brave and posted my first progress photos.  The first two were taken thirty days ago and I took my second set today.  I feel like I have made much more progress than the photos show.  My clothes fit better, I have lots of energy and each morning when I wake up I can’t wait to get on the treadmill.  But when I saw today’s photos, I realized that even though I have made a little progress, I still have a long long way to go.  I have eaten clean now for thirty days and have overcome tempation on numerous occasions.  CT’s thoughts in her blog about feelings of deprivation have helped me….I refuse to deprive myself of the best body I can have.  My blood pressure has been amazing…this morning was 102/67.  This week I started doing ab work and light weights along with my daily treadmill.  This morning I did 60 crunches (3 sets of twenty), 10 perfect push ups, and thirty bicep curls (2 sets of 15 @ 12.5 pounds).  I realize this regimen is meager, but I had to start somewhere.  I am looking forward to the time when I can justify joining a gym and start to really hit the weights. 

I am excited about the upcoming week and expect to lose some more weight.  For six days straight I stayed at 181.6!  It seems like every 5 pounds I hit a liittle barrier, so I am looking forward to the next one at 175.  I was joking to my wife that I am now getting into the fat cells that have been around for about four decades……these guys just don’t want to let go!  To anyone who might bother to read this-  good luck and good health!  Tom from Lake McQueeney

I am proud to report that I have maintained my eating and exercise regimens since the last post.  As of today, Tuesday, January 29, I now weigh under 185 pounds for the first time in a long while.  It seems like I have gotten my "second wind" in life…..I have so much more energy and enthusiasm.  I finally got my camera back from Olympus yesterday (they have had it since Dec. 27) and went out this morning and took a few pics to post on my profile.  As you can see, I am proudly wearing one of my new "WWCTE" t-shirts.  I have an appointment with my internist this Thursday and can’t wait to show him my recent blood pressure readings-  they have all been excellent.  Yesterday’s (Jan. 28, 2008) diet and exercise:

Treadmill:  60 minutes, 4.46 miles, 552 calories burned

Breakfast:  3/4 cup egg whites, 3 TBS fresh Salsa

Snack:  Large Braeburn Apple

Lunch:  3.5 oz Chicken Breast; 3.25 oz brown rice (1/2 cup)

Snack:  4 oz lowfat yogurt (Activa)

Dinner:  Two slices turkey meatloaf, 1 ear of fresh corn

Blood Pressure: 113/79

Hope this note finds all well with anyone that happens by my little space.  Take care, Tom from Lake McQueeney

I finally said goodbye to 191.  It seemed like my weight was stuck there for eternity.  I respect you 191, but I have said goodbye to you forever.  There have been times in my past when I would have been elated to weigh 191….but no more.  Last week was a good one.  My three WWCTE t-shirts came in and I wear them proudly as I do my cardio.  My treadmill faces a big mirror, so for at least an hour each day that acronym is burned into my brain.  I did not miss any days with cardio.  It is odd though, how some days my legs feel like lead and others I feel light as a feather with boundless energy.  I have yet to figure out what causes this or if it is just a normal cycle.  After reading an article on this site, I started varying my speed (four minutes at 4 mph; one minute at 6 mph…ditto…ditto…ditto for an hour.  That resulted in an increase in sweat and calories burned and, of course, it helped me say goodbye to 191.  Varying the speeds also seems to make it go by much faster (that four minutes between the one minute runs seems to fly by). 

I also had a good week with diet.  No alcohol, no sweets, no fried foods, only a couple of diet cokes and lots of chicken, fish, turkey, vegatables, fresh fruit and protein shakes.  I am starting to feel good about my eating habits and quite frankly, am very proud of myself.  Two benefits I have encountered in addition to the weight loss.  First, my blood pressure appears to have completely normalized (today it was 112/77…..in months past it was not uncommon to see readings like 145/105).  I have a doctor’s appointment next week and am really looking forward to it…..no high blood pressure meds or statins for this guy!!  Second, my skin has cleared up and my face is not ever greasy…outstanding. 

Our camera malfunctioned while we were in Jamaica in December and I had to send it back to the manufacturer.  I am looking forward to getting it back so I can begin posting progress photos.  Take care, Tom from Lake McQueeney.

Hello from the beautiful Hill Country of Texas!

About Me:  I am a semi-retired lawyer who turned 55 last September.  I have never been serious about eating right or working out, but began thinking about it after (1) learning that my oldest daughter Leslie was pregnant (due March 13) and (2) a series of less than stellar doctors appointments (my internist is determined to get me on lipitor and high blood pressure meds….I am determined not to go that route).  This past December my wife and I vacationed at an all inclusive resort in Jamaica.  We had the good fortune to meet a young couple from Canada on our first night there.  Throughout the week we talked and socialzed.  I noticed right away that (1) they ate much differently than I and (2) they both had fantastic bodies.  I asked lots of questions that week and got educated, but more importantly, got inspired.

We got back right before Christmas so I started in earnest cleaning up my diet.  Since that time I have lost about ten pounds.  This last week has been tough, since our Mountain Cedar Pollen counts have been at record levels and I have felt awful.  I am proud to report, however, that I have remained determined and not eaten anything I am ashamed to report.

Today has been a good day, as follows:

Treadmill:  I did 60 minutes, 4.1 miles this morning.  Walk:  after lunch I walked to the post office and back (approx. 2.5 miles).  Misc. Exercise:  push ups, rope jumping (just beginning with those, can only do four push ups at a time…awful!

Diet:  Breakfast was 1/2 cup egg whites and a small tomatoe; Snack:  BraeBurn Apple.  Lunch:  chicken breast and steamed broccoli.  Mid Afternoon:  Chicken breast and a banana.  For Supper I will have a chicken breast and a salad.

After signing off here, I am going to do some light treadmill (30 minutes) before dinner.

I am proud of myself and hope to continue along this path.  This site has been a great inspiration for me as well as a great source of information.  I am in the process of looking for a gym, but don’t want to rush into signing up with one until I am sure it is the right place for me.  I live in a somewhat rural area, so there is nothing real close…but I am confident in time I will wind up where I belong.

Take care, Tom