Getting Happier and Healthier '09/10 entry 3

Yes Yes yes I did it again, I said weekly updates but yet again this is a two week update. I do however promise over the next little while more regular updates.

So since I last checked in with all of you I have unfortunately gone up 1 lb from 194-195 that moves me to an even 10lbs away from my goal of 185 but I am still down 12 lbs from my starting weight of 207lbs. The past two weeks have been harder for me to stay healthy, as I have done quite a bit more mindless snacking, and overeating at meal times, not too mention just making less than healthy meal choices at times. I can however say that I have though been doing my best to try and stay as active as possible by walking when and where possible, though sometimes a bit of a challenge when your entire city is a winter wonderland, frozen and snow covered ha ha, but I've been doing my best. Also I have been for the most part been balancing out the bad eats with good eats and drinks. I have been eating a lot more fresh fruits and veggies these past few weeks (especially greens) and certainly in the past week my water consumption has gone up from very minimal to adequate to very good water consumption.

These next couple weeks, but this week especially will be a big one for me in the challenging department as I have 3 Christmas/Christmasy dinners that I'll be attending on The 24-26 all sure to be filled with yummy foods, and great wines/beers. For me this will be the big test of my self control in my weight loss/healthy lifestyle challenge, but I'm very optimistic that so long as I maintain the right mindset I'll be able to succeed.

Wish me luck, just as I wish all of you doing the same luck this upcoming week, and beyond.

One final thought in the spirit of being happier: Take time this Holiday Season to spend time with friends and family and take comfort in one another, take time to enjoy rather than stressing over the little things in life.

To all reading this:
Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season

-Ben-

Getting Happier, and Healthier '09/10 entry 2

Now I know I said in my first entry on this topic two weeks ago that over my weight loss, and healthy lifestyle period I would update my progress every week, but in fact it has been two weeks since my last post and for that I am sorry, it's just been kinda hectic these past couple weeks, but here I am. Now on with the blog, ha ha!


When I first wrote two weeks ago I said that my goal was to lose 22lbs in 12 weeks. Going from 207lbs to 185lbs. In the first two weeks of my challenge/endeavour I have already lost 13lbs; going from 207-194lbs which according to the BMI (Body Mass Index) calculator has me at a BMI of 24.2 which puts me back into the healthy weight category for a male of my age and height. This leaves me with only 9 more pounds to lose in the next ten weeks to achieve my weight goal.

While I have lost 13lbs in the first two weeks I haven't done it by unhealthy, or illness means. I have done this by means of upping my cardio activities, such as walking more places when in the past I would have opted for either driving, or taking transit places, also I have done a couple training runs these past couple weeks, and done some aerobic style cardio workouts, and yoga as well. Also I have monitored better what I am eating as well as how much I'm eating, and ensuring that as much as possible I am getting healthy well balanced meals, and choosing nutritious and energy filled snacks to cut back on food grazing. Thirdly I have been cutting back on my alcohol consumption, as we all know that there really is minimal to no goodness that you'll get out of the booze, as all you're really doing to yourself is filling your body with empty calories. Finally the last and perhaps biggest thing I have done to help myself is maintain a positive can-do attitude.
I hope that thus far I might have inspired others who were looking to do the same or similar, to get up off that couch and get started, if not I hope to be able to through these next 10 weeks.

Happy Holidays, and Happy Healthy Living :)
-Ben-

Getting Happier, and Healthier. '09/10

Weight and weight loss are two things that are constantly on all our minds. How much do we weight, and how much should we weigh are two of the most common questions we ask ourselves. Did you know that according to stats can roughly 60% of Canadians are either "overweight" or "obese"

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-620-m/2005001/article/adults-adultes/8060-eng.htm

and

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_Canadians_are_overweight

and over 55% of Americans are overweight as well

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_americans_are_overweight

These facts are very worrysome to me but not suprising. While most of us (myself included) know we are overweight, we still

seem to do little to nothing about it at least not till its too late.

I am writing this because a couple years back I had made a choice to loose weight, and over the next 18 months I had lost 23

pounds, but in the last 6 months I have been on the weight rollercoaster, culminating with today when weighed I have

gained all but one pound that I lost back. I first really started noticing about a month ago with the fact that my clothes

were not fitting as comfortably as I would have liked, and then I really realized this a couple of weeks ago when I went

to wear my suit and noticed throughout the day that it was very much straining against my body.

Today when I weighed myself I was alarmed to see that I am at a weight of 207lbs with a BMI of 25.9. For me a healthy

BMI would be between 18.5 and 20.

http://www.nhs.uk/tools/pages/healthyweightcalculator.aspx?tag=

This has sparked me to lose 22lbs in the next 12 weeks, over which period of time I will weekly update through blogging

my success, or lack of success as it may be. To help me achieve this goal I will be using a web site:

www.sparkpeople.com

and a series of healthy lifestyle techniques such as: tracking my food consumed, my fitness, living a more active, healthier,

more stressfree life, as well as a more positive, and health conscious life.

I invite all of you to follow my progress, and also to live a happy healthier lifestyle for yourself, your family, your friends, and

yes even for those clothes in your closet or dresser that may not fit as well as you'd like them to, not too mention acting on this issue, and

other similar health and body issues in the early stages will help prevent serious health complications later on in life ;)

-Ben :) -