Weight Wars # 6

It has been a year since I last wrote about my weight struggle.  I changed my injectable from Victoza, to Trylicity and now Monjauro.  The Monjauro seems to have been a bit more effective as I have lost 8 lbs with it after being stuck at about 223 for some time.  I am now under the 220 mark which was a goal.  Now my goal is to actually get below 200.  At 215 I am still in the obese range (but no longer grossly obese).  At 196 I would no longer be obese but only over weight.  Here is watching that things continue in a positive fashion.  I am exercising more.  I try for 5x a week.  However I still have binge eating episodes.  My sugar is a bit better this wick.  A1C Monday was 6.8.  Under 7 was my goal.

Weight Wars #4. 2/25/25

 My previous weight post was during the middle of Covid, April 2021.  At that time I weighed 240, obese. Now I am hovering around 220.  My eventual goal is to be under190 overweight instead of obese.  My wife blames the weight loss on continued use of Victoza.  I feel this helps but it is more.  I don't eat quite as much.  I could exercise more.  I developed sciatica in 2022 which really limited my exercise.  But to be honest it has resolved enough I could be exercising more.

Weight Wars #3.   4/19/2021

 I have posted twice before, but not for the past two years.  I saw my weight go from 298 in 2003 to 248 in 2019 and 245 in 2019.  My weight has not dropped much more.  Now I weigh about 240.  I am no longer grossly obese but just obese.  However I have been stagnant in any further weight loss.  I was able to take pills to help with weight loss, and then Victoza shot.  Victoza helped me lose about ten pounds but then no more.  However it is going to take something more to get me below the 240 line and continue my trek to 190 which is my ultimate goal.   I was doing better before Covid made everything be work from home.  Then I did not walk near as much as I no longer took the train to work.  I have not gotten into a pattern of exercise since having retired.  I keep thinking something will change.  I guess that something will need to be myself.  I need to lose that last 50 lbs to be as healthy as I can be.  

So I commit to a half hour walk or activity everyday.  I commit to doing exercises to help my frozen shoulder.  I commit to watch my food intake.  I commit to no food after 8 p.m.  

Weight Wars #2. 4/11/2019

I published a previous post about my weight and being half way to not being obese, down from 298 to 248.  I can now say I am down another 5 lbs but still only half way.  The difference is an adjustment in my height.  I guess I am shrinking, which means I have another 10 pounds to lose before escaping the obesity line.  So down 55 pounds with a goal of 55 pounds more.  I hope this sharing will motivate me, as my life is at stake.

Weight Wars. 9/29/2018

I came across something really scary: a record of my weight from 2001 through 2003.  I started at 292 in December of 2001.  However I was down to 285 by mid January; only to blossom back up by the end of the year.  My last recorded weight in 2002, early December, was 292.  Then I became my heaviest.  I started 2003 at 298.  That is just gross.  That is the most I have weighed my entire life.  That is 100 pounds above the obese line.  I recorded that by the end of 2003 I was back to 285.  I have continued a mostly downward spiral, with significance periods of getting stuck.  I am half of the way to the obese line--in other words I am 50 pounds lighter than my heaviest with another 50 to go.
What have been the consequences.  I have diabetes and tinnitus, and sleep apnea and high blood pressure.  Weight is a contributing factor in all these areas.  I hope when I am no longer obese--some of these health issues will be resolved.  I would be grateful if just one or two  would improve and I not have to take so many medications.

Weight Wars #5

 Checked my weight today and noticed it hasn't really changed since February.  However several other things have changed.  We moved to Nebraska and now have a home with stairs.  This requires more work getting up and down stairs.  I also no longer take Victoza as they told me it was no longer covered by insurance.  I changed to Trulicity.  This is similar to Victoza but it is a weekly shot instead of daily.  However when I moved I had to change insurance.  Now they are telling me my insurance no longer covers Trulicity.  Could be shortly I will be without an injectable.  I run out in a about three weeks which is when I have my next doctor appointment.  So the only variable I have here is to pick up the pace on exercise.  I think increased walking is in order.  

Weight Wars #4. Feb 2025

 My previous weight post was during the middle of Covid, April 2021.  At that time I weighed 240, obese. Now I am hovering around 220.  My eventual goal is to be under190 overweight instead of obese.  My wife blames the weight loss on continued use of Victoza.  I feel this helps but it is more.  I don't eat quite as much.  I could exercise more.  I developed sciatica in 2022 which really limited my exercise.  But to be honest it has resolved enough I could be exercising more.

Weight Wars #3.   4/19/2021

 I have posted twice before, but not for the past two years.  I saw my weight go from 298 in 2003 to 248 in 2019 and 245 in 2019.  My weight has not dropped much more.  Now I weigh about 240.  I am no longer grossly obese but just obese.  However I have been stagnant in any further weight loss.  I was able to take pills to help with weight loss, and then Victoza shot.  Victoza helped me lose about ten pounds but then no more.  However it is going to take something more to get me below the 240 line and continue my trek to 190 which is my ultimate goal.   I was doing better before Covid made everything be work from home.  Then I did not walk near as much as I no longer took the train to work.  I have not gotten into a pattern of exercise since having retired.  I keep thinking something will change.  I guess that something will need to be myself.  I need to lose that last 50 lbs to be as healthy as I can be.  

So I commit to a half hour walk or activity everyday.  I commit to doing exercises to help my frozen shoulder.  I commit to watch my food intake.  I commit to no food after 8 p.m.  

Weight Wars #2. 4/11/2019

I published a previous post about my weight and being half way to not being obese, down from 298 to 248.  I can now say I am down another 5 lbs but still only half way.  The difference is an adjustment in my height.  I guess I am shrinking, which means I have another 10 pounds to lose before escaping the obesity line.  So down 55 pounds with a goal of 55 pounds more.  I hope this sharing will motivate me, as my life is at stake.

Weight Wars. 9/29/2018

I came across something really scary: a record of my weight from 2001 through 2003.  I started at 292 in December of 2001.  However I was down to 285 by mid January; only to blossom back up by the end of the year.  My last recorded weight in 2002, early December, was 292.  Then I became my heaviest.  I started 2003 at 298.  That is just gross.  That is the most I have weighed my entire life.  That is 100 pounds above the obese line.  I recorded that by the end of 2003 I was back to 285.  I have continued a mostly downward spiral, with significance periods of getting stuck.  I am half of the way to the obese line--in other words I am 50 pounds lighter than my heaviest with another 50 to go.
What have been the consequences.  I have diabetes and tinnitus, and sleep apnea and high blood pressure.  Weight is a contributing factor in all these areas.  I hope when I am no longer obese--some of these health issues will be resolved.  I would be grateful if just one or two  would improve and I not have to take so many medications.

Weight Wars #4

 

Weight Wars #4

 My previous weight post was during the middle of Covid, April 2021.  At that time I weighed 240, obese. Now I am hovering around 220.  My eventual goal is to be under190 overweight instead of obese.  My wife blames the weight loss on continued use of Victoza.  I feel this helps but it is more.  I don't eat quite as much.  I could exercise more.  I developed sciatica in 2022 which really limited my exercise.  But to be honest it has resolved enough I could be exercising more.

Weight Wars #3.   4/19/2021

 I have posted twice before, but not for the past two years.  I saw my weight go from 298 in 2003 to 248 in 2019 and 245 in 2019.  My weight has not dropped much more.  Now I weigh about 240.  I am no longer grossly obese but just obese.  However I have been stagnant in any further weight loss.  I was able to take pills to help with weight loss, and then Victoza shot.  Victoza helped me lose about ten pounds but then no more.  However it is going to take something more to get me below the 240 line and continue my trek to 190 which is my ultimate goal.   I was doing better before Covid made everything be work from home.  Then I did not walk near as much as I no longer took the train to work.  I have not gotten into a pattern of exercise since having retired.  I keep thinking something will change.  I guess that something will need to be myself.  I need to lose that last 50 lbs to be as healthy as I can be.  

So I commit to a half hour walk or activity everyday.  I commit to doing exercises to help my frozen shoulder.  I commit to watch my food intake.  I commit to no food after 8 p.m.  

Weight Wars #2. 4/11/2019

I published a previous post about my weight and being half way to not being obese, down from 298 to 248.  I can now say I am down another 5 lbs but still only half way.  The difference is an adjustment in my height.  I guess I am shrinking, which means I have another 10 pounds to lose before escaping the obesity line.  So down 55 pounds with a goal of 55 pounds more.  I hope this sharing will motivate me, as my life is at stake.

Weight Wars. 9/29/2018

I came across something really scary: a record of my weight from 2001 through 2003.  I started at 292 in December of 2001.  However I was down to 285 by mid January; only to blossom back up by the end of the year.  My last recorded weight in 2002, early December, was 292.  Then I became my heaviest.  I started 2003 at 298.  That is just gross.  That is the most I have weighed my entire life.  That is 100 pounds above the obese line.  I recorded that by the end of 2003 I was back to 285.  I have continued a mostly downward spiral, with significance periods of getting stuck.  I am half of the way to the obese line--in other words I am 50 pounds lighter than my heaviest with another 50 to go.
What have been the consequences.  I have diabetes and tinnitus, and sleep apnea and high blood pressure.  Weight is a contributing factor in all these areas.  I hope when I am no longer obese--some of these health issues will be resolved.  I would be grateful if just one or two  would improve and I not have to take so many medications.

Personal Weight Wars

Weight has much to do with health.  I am noting my weight currently compared to what it was in the past, about 15 years ago.  I have improved, but have much more to accomplish.  Mine has not been some fancy diet but watching what I eat, and carbs, and walking more.  

4/11/19  

Weight Wars #2

I published a previous post about my weight and being half way to not being obese, down from 298 to 248.  I can now say I am down another 5 lbs but still only half way.  The difference is an adjustment in my height.  I guess I am shrinking, which means I have another 10 pounds to lose before escaping the obesity line.  So down 55 pounds with a goal of 55 pounds more.  I hope this sharing will motivate me, as my life is at stake.

9/29/19

Weight Wars

I came across something really scary: a record of my weight from 2001 through 2003.  I started at 292 in December of 2001.  However I was down to 285 by mid January; only to blossom back up by the end of the year.  My last recorded weight in 2002, early December, was 292.  Then I became my heaviest.  I started 2003 at 298.  That is just gross.  That is the most I have weighed my entire life.  That is 100 pounds above the obese line.  I recorded that by the end of 2003 I was back to 285.  I have continued a mostly downward spiral, with significance periods of getting stuck.  I am half of the way to the obese line--in other words I am 50 pounds lighter than my heaviest with another 50 to go.
What have been the consequences.  I have diabetes and tinnitus, and sleep apnea and high blood pressure.  Weight is a contributing factor in all these areas.  I hope when I am no longer obese--some of these health issues will be resolved.  I would be grateful if just one or two  would improve and I not have to take so many medications.

Visualization and Weight

Does it help to visualize yourself skinnier.  I have been writing over and over my target weight for the year.  If I write the weight enough, will my body naturally force me to do the things I need to do to get to that weight.  That is my hope.  It may take more than that, but at least it is a start.  I notice there is a book on this topic, called the Gabriel Method.

Habits that Can Make You Fat

this is from an article by Everyday Health.  I hadn't considered some of these things.
1. Late Night Television Watching: Of course with television comes snacking and this habit can lead to a couple pounds a month.  After dinner munchies should be limited to health food, vegetables, frozen fruit, sir-popped popcorn etc.
2. Traveling for Work:  Sometimes this is beyond your control.  Traveling leads to unhealthy snacking.  Most travel is by car, so keeping a cooler with healthy snacks is important.  Choosing healthy foods when eating out is also important.  A six-inch sub on whole grain bread with lots of vegetables is better then hamburger eating.
3. A Cardio Obsession: This one doesn't seem right, but they say too much cardio burns muscle rather than fat.  You should have interval training, a minute cardio and then slower and then back and forth.  You should also not forget weight training, no more than every other day.
4. Blasting the Air Conditioner:  Never thought of this, but when you are cool you eat more.  Also you don't have to work as much to be comfortable.
5. A Jam-packed Fridge:  What?  The idea here is with a full fridge you forget what is in the vegetable crisper, it then goes bad and you throw it out.  Fruits that need processing should be washed and processed when they are brought in, and then placed in containers at eye level.  Counter fruits should be left in plain site.
6. A Daily Diet-soda Habit:  I have never had this problem, but drink too many sugared drinks, especially for diabetes.  For some reason, those who drink artificial sweetener drinks have a higher BMI than those who drink sugary drinks.  The theory is artificial sweeteners wet off you sweet tooth which results in eating other sugars.
7. Constantly Multi-tasking:  When we are busy and doing many things, the thing that is left out is healthy eating.  there is just no time to prepare healthy foods.

**Weight Loss Saboteurs

This is a list from Everyday Health of things which can sabotage weight loss.  Some of these things you would not suspect, while others make sense. 
Love of Late Night Television: Now here I have a problem.  I don't stay up late on week days, but I do on the weekend.  I don't watch television however.  I watch movies, or once in a while I get working on a project.  However the snack craving can sometimes hit on this nights.  The advise from this list is to tend towards healthy snacks, which is easier said than done.
Traveling for Work: I thought I was sunk, as I travel five hours daily.  But they are talking more about business travel, where you are away from home, and prone to eat at unhealthy restaurants, or snack as you travel by car.  I don't travel for work, but when I travel for visiting this is something to be concerned with as those gas station foods can pack on the calories fast. 
A Cardio Obsession: I have no worries here.  However the reason for this is because too much cardio breaks down muscle, not fat.  They suggest a combination exercise, one minute cardio ad then a minute at a slower pace, like running sprints between walks. 
Blasting the Air Conditioner: If we are forced to use mechanisms of our body to cool down, then we burn calories and can better control our weight.  Also a cooler environment seems to encourage you to eat more.  (Actually the opposite is what the say, we eat less when we are hot.)  I think resorting to a salad on hot days, or something very light, are defenses against heat.
A Jam Packed Fridge: An overloaded fridge not only leads to spoilage of food, it also seems to hide foods.  The vegetables in the cooler seem to be forgotten and we grab the easy fattening foods.
A Daily Diet Soda Habit: This one seems weird.  Diet sodas save calories.  However research shows those with the diet soda habit gain more weight.  Perhaps the reason is you later satisfy the sugar craving with other snacks.  I for the most part avoid sodas, except when I get the craving for rootbeer.
Constantly Multitasking:  This one also is a paradox.  You would think being more busy would lead to more calorie burn.  However it does lead to less thought taking towards our diet, and more ikely to choose unhealthy foods which put on weight.  Also exercise is one of the tasks that often is thrown out when people are busy.

**Eight Ideas to Lose Weight

Here is another bit of advice from Everyday Health.  This is some key pointers to losing weight and keeping it off.  1. Portion Control.  This is a big one for me and can sabotage and diet.  2. Eat slowly, it takes a while for your body to tell you you are full.  3.  Eat your vegetables first.  Never tried that.  4. Don't ski[ meals.  If you do your body will think it is starving and it is hard not to overeat when you are starving.  5.  Drink plenty of water.  6. Switch to healthy snacks.  This is something our family struggles with.  7.  Exercise as often as you can.  Exercise is key, and the only way to get fit.  8.  Keep a record.  What and important art of the whole process.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/food-and-mood/lifestyle-changes/adopting-healthier-habits.aspx?pos=1&xid=nl_EverydayHealthDietandNutrition_20140618

**Staying Motivated to Exercise

My exercise pattern has really been erratic lately.  I do know the more I exercise the better able I am to control my weight, and I need to lose; and the more consistent are my sugar numbers.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-specialist/excited-about-exercise.aspx?pos=4&xid=nl_EverydayHealthHealthyLiving_20140327
This article gives some pointers, do something new, don't call it exercise, join an outdoor club or group like hiking, biking, trail running, climbing, etc., get involved in a team sport, get a buddy and have dates a couple times a week.   The most important part is his last statement, if you have problems staying motivated "Then ask yourself this, "Which do I hate more — exercising or being uncomfortable in my own body?” I think you know the answer to that?"

I could lose 60 pounds

Ten Fitness Tips from Everyday Health; and My Thoughts

http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-fitness-pictures/10-everyday-tips-for-diet-and-fitness.aspx?pos=1&xid=nl_EverydayHealthManagingDiabetes_20140524#/slide-1
Ten ideas for fitness (I am not very fit but would like to be) from Everyday Health:
1) Exercise at the right time of day for you.  I am not sure when that would be.  One thing I noticed just Friday.  When I walk to the light rail station after work (about a mile) rather than take the bus, my blood sugar is 20 points lower in the evening.  However other than that, It is hard to squeeze in exercise.  However, I should take an after dinner walk.  Two times around the park would be about another mile, and maybe that would put me over the top.
2) Develop a fitness plan.  This section suggests someone at a gym, or a personal trainer.  However, I have never done that.  The key here is knowing your aim, your goal for fitness.  I have my very clearly in my mind, to get below 200 lbs.  However, the steps are lacking.
3) Find a favorite exercise.  My favorite is basketball.  However I have not played much since developing locked shoulder.  However it is probably time to take it up again.  The issue, just shooting does not make you work very hard.
4) Vary your exercise.  It suggests aerobic one day, then weight training then Pilates or Yoga, and then a day off.  I could handle that, with slow walking daily, but more two days a week maybe.  However I need to find some method of strength training.  Instead of Yoga or Pilates, I could do stretching.  My mobility is so poor I need to do something.
5) Exercise with a friend.  Miranda walked with me a couple times, but maybe she coul be a walking partner again.
6) Enjoy east snacks.  By this they want you to avoid processed snacks, but fruit, nuts, yogurt or turkey are recommended items I like. 
7) Factor in fluids.  Especially water.  Avoid caffeine.  Watered down Gatorade is OK if you need to replace electrolytes.
8) Skip the soda.  Soda is bad.  Bad for you teeth, your bones, your insides and your out.  Even diet soda is bad.  I have a root beer occasionally, but don't usually drink soda. 
9) Cook more than you eat.  Having leftovers the next day will help avoid fast food, to come home to something you can just pop in the micro wave but is nutritious and delicious.
10) Get active after eating.  A light workout is recommended.  Since I ate late, this goes in with the walking around the park.