LOST MY THIRD TURKEY

On December 24, 2014 I woke up and visited my doctor for a 'wellness' exam. I weighed 309 lbs.

On January 21, I reported my weight loss was the equivalentof the weight of one turkey.

On February 15, I reported my weight loss was the equivalentof the weight loss of two turkeys.

Today, March 15, I am reporting that my weight loss is the equivalentof three turkeys.

As of yesterday, March 14, I have now lost 69.5 lbs in 80 days.
I must admit that I am gobsmacked that I have lost nearly one pound per day for 80 days.

69.5 lbs = THREE TURKEYS

Naturally, I needed to return to the supermarket to take a new picture.  Photographs don't always have sequels.  This one does.  It is Turkey III.

These three turkeys that I appear to be struggling to hold weighed about 65 lbs. (close enough to approximate the 69.5 lbs that I have lost so far) It is not just that I appear to be struggling, I was struggling!  (Believe me, trying to hold 65 lbs of frozen turkey is not so easy - which of course, is the point.  I was carting around an extra 69.5 lbs, 24 hours per day prior to December 24, 2014, and that's not so easy either!)  I am wearing for the very first time, a pair of 42" waist slacks.

This picture is for my Mom.  She has 'complained' that she can not see me in my 'turkey' photos.

Hi Mom!

FEBRUARY 14, 2015   Back this date, I weighed myself

and discovered that I had lost 46 lbs since December 24.

I had wanted to hold two turkeys that weighed 46 lbs, and 

the two turkeys that I did find only weighed 42 lbs.

For the purposes of the photo - that was close enough!

(I was wearing my 44" waist blue jeans at the time.)

JANUARY 21, 2015  Way back on that date, I had lost 24 lbs and posed with a 23 lb turkey to visualize my accomplishment.  On that date, I was happy to wear my size 48 waist blue jeans.  They have long since been donated to Goodwill. 

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My 'fitness consultation' appointment at the YMCA took place on Friday. It was less than I expected.  I came dressed to learn about the various types of equipment that the Y offered. This meeting was more to explain various options with personal trainers. Although this sounded somewhat interesting, I am not sure that I need it.

I did make one appointment with personal trainer to do exactly what I wanted.  That is, to explain each piece of equipment and to make sure that I have the rudimentary knowledge to know how to use them. That meeting will be in approximately 10 days.  

On Saturday I visited my CHICAGO YMCA for the first time in order to actually use the equipment.  The elliptical machine was absolutely the finest machine that I have ever encountered. It had an easy to read and understand video screen so that I could select the type of workout that I wanted: FAT BURN.

It had an embedded television screen with nearly 20 different channels.  I didn't watch any TV as I was way to busy listening to my latest addition to my Rolling Stones collection: ROLLING STONES: FROM THE VAULT: L.A. FORUM (LIVE IN 1975)

I set the machine for a 45 minute workout, and I even stayed on the additional 5 minutes for the 'cool down.'    After working out, I made use of the sauna, took a shower and returned home feeling absolutely fantastic.   I was still 'mentally bathing' in the new knowledge that my weight loss in 80 days has been nearly 70 lbs!  Never in my wildest imagination could I have foreseen that my progress would have been so quick.  Even so, I still have 45 pounds more to lose to get to my target weight of 195 lbs.  I am more than halfway to my goal. 

The YMCA ELLIPTICAL machine displays very complete information once your workout is complete.

SATURDAY MENU

breakfast cup oatmeal w/prune, two poached eggs, two strips turkey 'bacon' 355calories

lunch      Spring Mix Salad w/Roma Tomato, one cup sirloin burger soup         185 calories

dinner    Turkey Burger, Spinach salad w/Roma Tomato, potato pancake

              Dole Carrot Ginger Soup                                                                 390 calories

total calories consumed 930 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED

11AM YMCA ELLIPTICAL MACHINE 50 minutes      700 CALORIES

TOTAL NET CALORIES  230 CALORIES

dinner: Costco Turkey burger, Spinach w/Roma Tomato, Carrot Ginger Soup, potato pancake   390 calories

and one more thing...

Yesterday I did something that I never would have done prior to December 24th.  My daughter, Sara, had a Bat Mitzvah party to attend in downtown Chicago just 1.1 miles from our home.   Normally, we would have taken her by subway, or perhaps by car.  Yesterday, Sara and I walked together to the hotel where the party was, and then I walked back home.  For pickup at 11PM, I walked back to the hotel, and Sara and I walked back together.  That I walked 4 miles yesterday is hardly a big deal. From everything I have read, successful weight loss comes not just from the 30 or 45 minutes spent working out - but emanates from those that 'keep moving.'  People that 'keep moving' are those that purposely park far away from the front door of whatever store they have visited.  People that 'keep moving' are those that take the steps instead of the escalator.  People that 'keep moving' are the kind of people that have successful weight loss.  I am striving to be a person that 'keeps moving.'

Sometimes it is really difficult to obey traffic signs, but when in doubt....KEEP MOVING!

YMCA

Right after my appointment with my doctor on Friday, my wife and I drove to our local 'Y' to re-activate our family membership.   We had an active membership for a number of years which we cancelled a couple of years ago.  Many years ago, our daughter went to 'Y' day camp for one summer, and prior to that she was enrolled in some pre-school programs.  Nearly a decade ago, when I lost also lost weight I made use of the 'Y' membership to visit out-of-town locations. Recently, I have been booking hotel rooms with 'fitness rooms' which are not always in good shape. (I am remembering that there have been more than one occasion when my head was nearly bumping up on the ceiling while on an elliptical machine - and I promise that I am not exaggerating.)   I will have much more flexibililty in the hotels that I can book if I have a nearby 'Y' as an option.

The 'Y' that we joined that is closest to our home is at 3333 N Marshfield Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Apparently it has been there for quite some time. With some quick searching on the internet, I found this picture of a postcard that was postmarked 1931. The outside of the building looks pretty much the same today as it did 75 years ago. The inside of the building was recently renovated, as I am sure it has been at least a couple of times over its 75 year lifetime.

The back of this postcard has this information:  'This is the newest department of the Y.M.C.A. of Chicago.  The building was dedicated October 7, 1928.  It contains residence accommodations for 253 men, 2 gymnasiums, swimming pool, 4 hand-ball courts, special exercise rooms and a cafeteria...'

The very first thing that I am going to use the 'Y' for is a FITNESS CONSULTATION.  I expect that this will happen next weekend as I have already called to request an appointment.   This will be a good opportunity for me to learn about other exercises I should be considering aside from the elliptical.  I don't know anything about weight training, so that will be a good place for me to increase my knowledge.   I am looking forward to this experience.  I have never spoken with a trained professional regarding my exercise routine.

SUNDAY MENU
breakfast  1 cup STEEL CUT OAT MEAL w/SUNSWEET PRUNE       175 CALORIES
lunch        3.5 oz Salmon Filet, asparagus spears, Chicken Noodle Soup 330 CALORIES
dinner      Jimmy John's Bootlegger Club Unwich, Pumpkin Soup         380 CALORIES

total calories 885 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED
7AM   elliptical 32 minutes       440 calories
3PM   elliptical 60 minutes        800 calories

total calories burned  1240 CALORIES

NET CALORIES   355 CALORIE DEFICIT   

My week which begins on Saturday is off to a roaring start.   So far, with two days now history, my net caloric consumption (CALORIES CONSUMED MINUS CALORIES BURNED) is NEGATIVE 220.   It is now Monday morning, time to drive to the Detroit area in Michigan for a week.