Well, I think I will try this again.  It is now July 2010 and I see the last time I posted any information on here was. . . . . May 2008.  That is pretty sad on my part.

I am still waging the war on obesity.  4 years ago (04-2006) I started a journey to change my life and I am still on that journey.  I am happy to say that I never completely gained back all the weight that I lost 2006.  I have managed to keep off 70 of the over 100 pounds that I lost.

In January of this year, 2010, I ended up in the hospital which was a shock to me.  I was having horrible problems catching my breath so when I went to the doctor it was decided that I needed to be put into the hospital.  I was admitted that afternoon and was there for the next week.  They discovered that I had Atrial Fibrulation or A-Fib for short.  What that means is that the upper part of my heart and the lower part of my heart are not beating at the same time. Nevertheless, a few prescriptions later and a week of “rest” (NOT) in the hospital life went on.  Since I am/was so anti doctors who knows how long I have suffered from this heart issue.  Along with all of that I was finally able to be tested for sleep apnea.  I was told that I have it.  Wow, big surprise.  Do you suppose that is why I was only getting 1-2 hours of sleep per night?  What a concept.  Again, nevertheless, after several months of going through the system. . . I now have a C-pap machine.  It’s amazing what life can be like when you are not sleep deprived.  I was so delirious from “no sleep” that literally all I could do was exist.

However, I have said all of that to say this. . . I am now sleeping and I am back on the road to conquering obesity!!!!!  :-)

Yesterday was the first day I was able to exercise in the pool.  I decided that walking in the pool was much better for me than taking a walk around the block.  Not to mention that I detest hoisting this fat body up and down the street.  It is just too difficult and frustrating at this weight.  I am very thankful to God for the pool.  Yesterday I walked around the pool for 10 minutes.  I would do 2 laps one way and then I would turn around and do 2 laps the other way.  This way I was always walking against the flow of the water giving me more resistance.  After that I set the timer for another 10 minutes to which I held on to the side of the pool and did kicking. . . and I might add that I did this without stopping.  Who knew that you could tire yourself out so much in 10 minutes?!  :-)

I have decided that for this week I will do these sets for 10 minutes each and then move on from there.  As I see it. . . I have two good months of hot weather to do this.  So I plan on being in the pool everyday and I am expecting results.  For now the results that I have are a red body from too much sun and a pair of legs that feel like noodles.  Praise God for sun and noodles.  :-)

Remember you are never too big to do something.  If I can keep going so can you!  Let’s win this battle together.

Believe it or not. . . I have wrestled with writing an entry.  I always want to have a positive spin on things and it doesn’t seem as if that is happening.  Well, at least not to me anyway.  Friday, May 23rd will mark yet another birthday that is here and another year of promises that I made and have not achieved.  Nevertheless, Happy Birthday to me because I am still in the race and I am still not giving up the fight.  I am still maintaining for the most part the amount of weight I have lost.  I would be lying if I said that it has all been roses because there has been a LOT of manure in the rose garden.    I know that you are all familiar with the ups and downs of weight loss. 

I am taking a new look at the phrase “weight loss” or “losing weight”.  What happens when you lose something?  Don’t you usually want to “find” it again?  There in lies a problem. . . once I lose a pound I certainly DO NOT want to find it again!!!!!  Therefore one promise I am making for myself for this coming journey of my new year is this.  I plan on “taking off weight” this is weight that I don’t want to find again.

For the most part I remain positive as to the things that God is doing in my life.  He is giving me many opportunities to grow and learn more how to lean on Him.  In this past year I came across a really good website to help people with addiction problems.  It covers all types of addictions like, drugs, alcohol, food, gambling, etc., etc., etc.  The website is called Setting Captives Free.  It is a very good Bible Study that is intensive and there is absolutely no charge at all to join and be a part.  It really helps you to get in touch with some real issues that we tend to bury deep down inside of us.  I encourage you to at least check it out.  The web address is:  http://settingcaptivesfree.com/home/our_courses.php    The study that deals with food issues is called THE LORDS TABLE.  I pray that you enjoy this as much as I did.

I have many new stories to tell about a new experience I have embarked on in my life.  I have had the opportunity to meet with an Addiction Counselor.  This has been a real eye opener.  Remember I have always said that when you become Obese, it is not necessarily what you are eating; however, it is what is eating you that is the problem.  Well, I have really found this to be true.  I am delving into things that are absolutely mind blowing.

In the coming days/weeks I will share some of my experiences and insights with you.

Thank you all for taking this journey with me.  I pray that you stay encouraged and inspired as God takes us through this journey together.  Be blessed and keep getting healthy.  This is the only life and body we have let’s use it wisely and treat it good.

Blessings to all of you my “taking off weight” buddies.

Much love,

Bo

First off I want to say “thank you” to all of my family and friends that sent such lovely “Happy Birthday” messages.  It really means a lot to me to know that there are so many cherished people in my life.  Each one of you make every day a little bit brighter.  Thanks for your love and thoughtfulness.

Well, this past month has been eventful in many stressful ways.  Some people that are very dear to me have lost loved ones, and others have had to put loved ones in a board and care facility due to Alzheimers.  This keeps me even more focused on learning more about health and how to get healthy and share with others what I am learning.  There has been other drama going on that is just NOT worth mentioning other than the fact that I have used it as an ‘EXCUSE’ to blow my plan.  Believe it or not I even tried to take a two week ‘vacation’ (another excuse) from going to the gym and working out with my trainer.  Thankfully, she saw right through me and said in no uncertain terms ”NO”.  God Bless her.  I can honestly say that I made it through the week and I feel as though I am headed back in the right direction.

This one thing I know for sure. . . . . this journey is definitely filled with unbelivable ups and devastating downs.  A friend of mine told me that mountain top experiences are great; however, where we need to remember those times is when we are in the day to day valley.  I guess I figured that I had it all ‘in control’ while I was on the mountain top; forgetting that the valley walk was inevitable.  Valley experiences are not bad I just need to be prepared to go through the valley to get to the next mountain top. 

I do have to say that even with the ups and downs of this past year I have managed (totally with the help of God) to keep off what I have lost.  Overall, I feel much better than when I started a year ago.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I pray for each of you as we take this journey to health together.

Losing with His help,

Bo

I will just tell you that the past few months have been rocky. I have basically maintained my weight loss. I still go to the gym at least 4 times a week and work out with the trainer.  She is wonderful!  She trys to keep me on the straight and narrow and believe me somedays it is an awful task.  Nevertheless, she takes the challenge and she does get results.  

I really need to hear from each of you to know that you are still out there. I got a very encouraging email today and it really lifted me up.  The author came to the site, was encouraged/inspired and was going to contact my Life Coach and check out what she had to offer to help get her on the right track again.  That was exciting to me because you all know (if you have read the front page of my story) how passionate I am about Life Coaching.  I can’t say enough about dealing with the issues we have inside.  I told you all that I have been really struggling so one of the things I have done that is so very important to me is to continue on with my Life Coaching sessions.  I encourage you to contact Deborah.  She is awesome and well worth the investment. 

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

There will be some new video clips of me at the gym (that’s definitely a sight to behold).   

I am going to start adding a new recipe every week.

Journal entry once a week.

Also, I would like to add at least one of YOUR success stories each week.  Sooooo, I NEED to hear from you.  Remember we are in this to help each other.  This isn’t just all about me. 

I forgot to tell you. . . I had a goal this year to be able to lose enough weight and get healthy enough to take my little cousin to Disneyland and actually be able to walk the park.  Well, if you can believe this, in February we went to Disneyland.  Not only did we do Disneyland, we also went to California Adventure which is right next door.  There were many of my “fellow fatties” there and lots of them were riding the motorized carts.  I was very blessed and excited to be able to walk BOTH PARKS with no help from a wheel chair or motorized cart.  I had a blast and I was most excited because I achieved a goal.  It was an awesome experience.    

Please let me hear from you so I know you are out there.  May God Bless each and everyone of you on your journey to health.

Losing with His help,

Bo 

For whatever reason. . . this afternoon I started going through some stuff that needed to be cleared out.  I NEED to finish getting organized because I can’t stand clutter and dismay.  Nevertheless, I came across some stuff that brought up LOTS of memories both good and bad.  Instead of just experiencing those moments I resorted to my old ways of dealing with pain by turning to comfort foods.  I must tell you that at least  I am coming clean with these experiences faster and more honestly than I ever have before.  I WILL make it to my goal and I WILL be successful.  I just want you all to know that I struggle just like you do.  Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I do you.  Together we will be successful on this journey to health. 

Tomorrow is a NEW DAY.  I am a new creation in Christ Jesus all old things have passed away and behold all things are new.  Praise God for forgiveness and newness.  Greater is He that is in me. . . . .

Thank you for your love and support.

By now, most people have already set their goals for the new year and have begun working on them in earnest.

Unfortunately, less than half way into January, many people have also hit their first snag or setback as well, and as a result, have slipped in the mental focus and motivation department.

There are many fantastic ways to get focused and motivated, but often the most difficult thing to do is keep that drive and ambition alive for more than a few weeks and see your goal through to completion.

Setting goals in writing is an essential step to success, but how do you stay focused on them?

One technique I have used ever since my very first bodybuilding competition 18 years ago, is the “contest countdown calendar.”
I have used it ever since, through 28 competitions and it will work for you too, for any fitness goal.

I purchase a desk or wall calendar – the type that shows each week stretching horizontally across the page with an open block of space for each day.

After I set my goal and place a deadline on it, I do NOT stop there.
I take out my calendar and start counting backwards from my target goal deadline to the present day.

T-minus 117 days….

T-minus 116 days…

T-minus 115 days….

I also fill in my workouts for the entire 3-4 month period, which is the typical length I allow for my mid-range goals like contest prep.

you would be shocked – pleasantly so – just how focused this keeps you.
Even better still, you get MORE and MORE motivated with each passing day you countdown because the deadline is getting closer

Deadlines are absolutely critical to your success. Little gets done without deadlines.

There is a saying in management and psychology that “work will always expand to fill the time allowed for it’s completion.”

Remember term papers in school? when you were given a term paper assignment and you had the entire semeseter to do it, did you run home that first night and get crankin on it? 

How about after a week? two weeks? A month? TWO MONTHS?

probably not, eh?

If youre like most people, you put it off until the last minute and you barely got it turned in on time. In fact, there are always a few people who pull all nighters the night before!

alas, the power of the deadline!

In your fitness endeavors, if you dont have IMPENDING deadlines that give you that twinge in your stomach that says “take action now, or else!”
then you find it very easy to say to yourself, ‘ I have plenty of time so this one cheat meal doesnt matter… it doesnt make much difference at this point if I skip this one workout… I have time to make it up…”

And then, just like the term paper, you are scrambling at the last minute to reach your weight goal. But in the case of your body, the consequences are more severe and painful than just a bad grade or late penalty.

Inevitably, you succumb to crash dieting and overtraining or other unhealthy fast-weight-loss madness, which eats up your own muscle like a hungry cannibal and sends you spiraling into the dark pit of metabolic damage and the inevitable plateau and weight gain that follow.

But the solution is so simple: Count your way down to success!

Don’t stop with setting goals. Set a deadline for your goal. Then put your goal countdown on paper, review your goals every single day, AND know, every single day, how many days there are until your target goal date.

You will stay more consciously focused and even better, your unconscious mind will go to work for you in keeping you motivated, on track, and on schedule.
You’ll come in for a landing on your goal deadline date like an fighter pilot on an aircraft carrier.

I just did my countdown calendar earlier this week… T minus 115 days til my next bodybuilding competition, and thanks to this simple but powerful technique, I’m already focused like a laser beam and have been making steady progress without so much as a hiccup…

Put this simple tip into use today… it’s often the simplest little techniques that are the most powerful ones of all.

Never before in my life that I can remember did I pull myself up out of a difficult situation.  I have always been prone to just give up and throw in the towel because it was too hard to do the right thing.  This time was different.  I knew in the back of my mind as I was blowing it that I needed to get back on track.  I kept telling myself that on January 1st I was going to just STOP THE MADNESS and do the right thing.  Well, on January 1st I did just that.  I knew that I had come too far, made too much progress, and too many people were depending on me to keep going.  I decided that I was important enough to go the distance for.  I like the person that I am becoming and I finally am starting to feel good about myself. 

Let me tell you on Tuesday, January 2nd my next hurdle was to get myself out of the chair and get my big behind back to the gym.  I know that I had a bazillion EXCUSES of why I couldn’t go.  One of the best ones I had was that I needed to watch the funeral for the President.  After all he was at one time the President of the United States and I needed to show my respect.  It didn’t matter that I had already set it up to record. . .I was just looking for any excuse to NOT go to the gym.  You know it’s hard to get back at it when you have missed for a week or two.  Here was another instance where I overcame and pushed through to VICTORY. 

I am exicted for what is happening and I know that this coming year is going to be good and successful because that is my plan.  There is an old cliche’ around that says:  FAIL TO PLAN. . . PLAN TO FAIL.  I am planning to be successful and be an overcomer. 

I plan on helping as many people as I can while I am on this journey.  I know that together we can all conquer our issues if we just put one foot in front of the other and move forward.  The past is behind us and all we have is right now.  I am going to make “RIGHT NOW” a good place to be and a very fond memory.  I am pressing forward toward the mark. . . . . I AM A SUCCESS AND I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE SUCCESSFUL!

Thank you God for bringing me this far.  I know that I am closer to heaven in 2007.

December was a very trying time for me eating wise.  I did fine after Thanksgiving and even into the beginning of December then KABOOM!!!  I’m not quite sure what hit me nevertheless it hit me with a big KATHUD! 

I got my front yard decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving and I was really in the spirit of the season and all that was left to do was to decorate the house.  All of a sudden I just lost all interest.  I ended up not even getting my house decorated until the Friday BEFORE Christmas.  I think the only reason that I went ahead and decorated was because I was expecting people on Christmas Day for brunch.  Well, lest I digress.

Something happened inside me and I just lost all control.  I ate everything in site.  I ate junk food like there was no tomorrow and I even fell back into the fast food nightmare.  On a positive note. . . I am pleased to say that as low as I got I DID NOT fall all the way backward and order a pizza.  THAT would have been the absolute worst. 

With all being said and done I believe that I have put on 30 pounds of the 155 that I lost.  I hope and pray that I have not totally lost my way and am headed backward again.  I MUST figure out how to get through this and get back on the right path.  I know I haven’t come this far to totally throw in the towel.  I MUST make it back on track.  I MUST!!!!

One thing I have always and will always promise to do is to be totally honest.  What is the use of me being anything else?!  I am here to tell you that I am definitely having a real struggle this past couple of weeks.  I must confess right here and now. . . . about a week ago I was giving someone (name withheld to protect the identity. . .) the whole speech about the negative attributes of caffeine, excessive and otherwise.  Well, I said all of that to say this. . . the very next day from giving that wonderful, heartfelt, speech. . . I found myself at the local Starbuck’s drive-thru ordering (you guessed it) not just a latte, NO, I was getting a Caramel Frappacino’ Venti.  For those of you who are not up on the “yuppy coffee lingo” a Venti’ is the largest size of beverage that you can get.  It has the MOST calories, etc., etc., etc.  So, I must confess and clear my conscience here and now. 

I am having a tough time keeping it together during the holidays.  I have lost my energy and I am eating things that I know I shouldn’t.  Basically, I just want you to all know that I am human and very flawed.  However, I do know that God is STILL IN CONTROL!!!  I know that I will get through this time.  I am welcoming this experience because from it I will learn that I am more than an overcomer and I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  Thank you for your continued love, support, and prayers.  Together we can achieve health and better lives from being healthy.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!!!