Coaching

One thing I've discovered as I work to lose weight and build our home-based business is the value of coaching. I truly believe when I think I can do this on my own, I'm fooling myself. A friend agreed several months ago to be my accountability coach. How this works is I summarize to him in email about 2-3 times a week what I've eaten and how much I've exercised. And it helps since when I think about eating a Big Mac, I know I will have to "fess up". My friend has been away on medical leave for awhile and unavailable, but he is coming back and I look forward to working with him.  His most common advice is to eat apples, which helps curb the appetite and are a great source of fiber.

Coaching is so very important and is for people no matter how successful they are in life. I know people who are wealthy and very successful who have people that mentor, coach, and help them remain accountable.  Perhaps some of you have a coach or mentor. If not and you want one, remember, find someone that has your best interests in mind, but is also very tough. Enablers make very bad coaches. My friend cares about me and wants me to be successful. He cares enough to be upfront and tough with me. 

So far, I'm doing OK on my weight loss plan. I had a major lapse on Monday, eating a great deal of food late in the evening. This came about when I reduced my allowable calories by 200, which led to hunger and cravings. A good lesson is to be patient and to let the weight come off slowly but safely.  I've calculated my allowable calories based on my Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), using a great calculator on the Fat2Fit Radio site. Yesterday I ate within my calorie budget and I feel good today. No exercise this week, but I will visit the gym tonight and through the rest of the week. 

Monday is my weekly weigh-in.  I'll post my weight loss for the week and since February, when I began this journey.

I hope you all are healthy and happy. 

God bless,

Jeff

Three years between posts!

My last post was almost three years ago to my old blog, which I've moved to this site. I guess I've been busy. When I began blogging five years ago, it was because I was going through the phase that many of us go through. In an egotistical moment, we decide that the world really must know about our incredibly important and interesting lives. Then we realize that maintaining a blog is almost like work, which is why most hardly ever get updated.  I think the ones that are active have a purpose.

So, what is my purpose? I am losing weight and changing my life.  I've weighed as much as 380 pounds in the past years, but I'm down to 316 today. I've been on several medicines for diabetes, cholesterol, BP, etc, but I'm down to three now. It is important to me that I get off all my meds.

I just want a place to post how I'm doing. In May, I walked a 5K and got beat by two old ladies. Our town is having its annual Festival of Leaves in October and I want to do another 5K with friends and family.  I have a business trip to Orlando in October. I want to be under 300 pounds before then.

February 17, 2011 is my darling wife's birthday.  I want to have lost a total of 100 pounds by then.  I'm down almost 30 pounds now, so I have 70 more to go. How do I plan to do this? What is working for me is this crazy fad diet where I eat healthy foods and work out. I eat protein, carbs (gasp), and healthy fats.

My ultimate goal is to be back to my old Navy weight, as is pictured below.

Camping in Spain in the early 1990s.

I have many goals that I will accomplish and I will record my progress here, as well as other observations I have on my life.

I hope you all have an amazing week!

Jeff