It's funny how I see someone I haven't seen in awhile and they are shocked by my appearance. Having been getting used to my smaller self for months now, when I have the opportunity to talk to someone who has no idea what I've done, it's quite invigorating. I used to always joke that I was the go-to-guy on questions about drinking and eating.

During my chat Sunday night at Zack's hockey practice, I became a source of info for someone in regards to weight loss, and weight loss tips. Understand that in no way do I think I have anywhere near the info necessary to properly guide anyone, but to be able to give him info that he found helpful gave me a pretty good feeling. While we were chatting he pulled out his smart phone and began looking up "swaps" that he could make to see how tough it would be to cut 500 cals/day to lose one pound for a week. Suffice to say, he was able to cut over 500 cals and he didn't even make any dinner changes.

The 5K training has resumed outside with a nice 6K walk to the bank. I am really starting to realize I enjoy walking/running outside way more than on a treadmill. Having another helping of snow has made it difficult to get my walk into the gym, but I know it won't last. Having the gym be almost 6K roundtrip is a great bonus but there are not sidewalks the whole way there so the mud on my shoes makes it less than enjoyable right now.

So it's another week in the books and as always there were successes and some failures. Life is always going to be an up and down adventure but you will learn everything you need to know about yourself by how you come back from the downs than by how you enjoy the ups...although the ups can be pretty awesome.

Where Ya Been?

Has it really been two weeks since I've written anything? What the hell have I been doing? Well, not going to the gym is a quick answer. Before this goes any further, I will say that I have really over-hauled my diet in the last week - The Blues Fundraiser Dance not-withstanding!! That night got sideways in a hurry....I am, however, a phenomenal dancer and my weight-loss allowed me to stay out there longer AND with a drier shirt!! - and after a trip back to the gym I was able to weigh myself in at 340.5lbs. All this means I have managed to maintain my weight for the last six weeks.

What does all this mean? Is this something to be excited about, or should I be disappointed that I didn't lose weight? I have not missed out on anything in the last 45 days. I've had cake at birthday parties, treats with the kids, drinks with friends and all the while I've managed to keep my weight. I haven't had a fast-food burger in at least two weeks - major accomplishment in the Burmaster household!! - but I have had a salad for lunch, everyday during those two weeks.

I've also been adding some salad before dinner to cut down on how much food I need to put on my plate. As I learned, human beings lose weight through diet, not exercise. One pound is equal to 3500 cals. As a big guy a good workout will burn a lot of calories. I was on the treadmill for 45 mins this morning and it burned 575 cals. I would need to do that six times to LOSE ONE POUND!!! Conversely, it is extremely simple to find 500 cals/day to take out of your diet. Switch the cream in your coffee to milk, look for low cal versions of your favourite products or leaner cuts of meat. Switch from 2% to 1% milk, and other small, minor changes can help you cut out 500 calories/day, helping you lose one pound for the week.

All of these changes are easily accomplished and it's in your grasp. I am getting back into the game, although, I don't think I ever left. I wasn't as aggressive as I could have been, but it seems like I've learned enough to keep myself afloat. 

Valentine's Day

I want to take some time to thank everyone who sent some words of encouragement. They definitely mean a lot to me. There seems to be an inner clash of the old Russ and new Russ, kind of like George Costanza and his world's colliding  - although my clash is fat Russ and less fat Russ, but I get to put a really funny clip in here!! Everyday is a battle to make good decisions and following through feels like an impossible task, mostly because my focus has widened too much.

When I started the journey, by week 3 I realized that I had begun to see each shake as a small battle, and I would try and win that battle and not think about nine more weeks of four shakes per day. It was a daunting task and thinking about having almost 200 shakes left would have ended me right there. Now that I'm back on food, I am spending way too much time thinking about the next six months instead of devoting all my energy into making a great dinner choice. I'm not the greatest planner - in contrast my wife has filled TWO notebook pads with multiple itineraries for our trip to Florida....of course it will be fun!! On May 9th, from 3:46-5:18 miscellaneous fun is penciled in....I'm only half-kidding by the way; she's crazy!! - so being that far ahead completely messes me up, so back to the basics for me.

As you no doubt are aware - and if I am breaking new ground here, you are screwed!! - Valentines day is Monday. As a man who will be married for 16 years in May these are always tricky days. My wife and I rarely buy presents for each other anymore - mostly because I am awesome at it, and her, not so much!! - but we are going to head to see a movie on Tuesday in the afternoon while the kids are at school.

As one of the driving forces behind my desire to lose weight, there-by living a longer, healthier life, my wife has been in my corner from Day One. With subtle reminders and small admonishments, her love and support have been front and centre in my race to a new (old) me. Sometimes it may seem like I am not the most appreciative guy in the world. Also, I am pretty sure that I have given her the greatest gift I could ever think of - I DO NOT SNORE ANYMORE!!! Top that. 

Hiding in Plain Sight

There was a time, not that long ago, when I thought drinking the OptiFast shakes for 12 weeks was going to be the hardest thing I would ever do. I was starting a program that would require discipline and perseverance that I hadn't shown in over 20 years. For those 12 weeks, I continually surprised myself by making it through each day. I had tremendous results and began to see myself in a different light. There was no better feeling than putting in a full effort and being successful.

Which brings me to today. For the past two months I haven't lost any weight; in fact I've gained about six lbs back. Coming back to food is now officially the hardest thing I will ever do - until the next hardest thing I will ever do - and there is no easy answers. I have all the knowledge I could ever need but my problem is I am not always putting it to use.

My mental state is significantly better than it was in August so I truly believe that with some renewed effort I can get back on track. All my major motivators are still intact and I have all the proof that I can do what needs to be done. This blog started as a way for me to tell my friends that I was taking my health serious for the first time in a very long time. It blossomed into an honest account of how things went for me on a per-week basis. No matter what happened I always wanted to be up front with everything that was going on.

So I write to you all today to say that my struggle has become considerably more difficult. By no means am I giving up or going to offer any excuses. I can do better and the only way for it to happen is through a concerted effort. Everyday, every meal, is another opportunity to go where I want to go. I have never had any illusions about giving up everything I like; I have always been honest about that. Now is the time to go with a little more moderation, a little more exercise, and a lot more motivation. 

Snow Day and No Food

My life isn't completely consumed with losing weight. I go to work and ferry my kids all over the place just like everyone else. Fitting in all the new changes has required some extra work on my part. For that matter my family as well. There are days when a quick trip for fast food would speed the process of getting to two different arenas - and don't get confused, it still happens some of the time - but we are trying to use the slow cooker more often.

As a family, we are not great planners and this lack of planning is what is our undoing. Shopping to a meal plan will always mean that there will be something nutritious to eat. When we do this right it is a healthy eating day; when we don't, well, we hunt for the pizza menus!!

Which brings me to today. As most of you know, we received a decent amount of snow in Hamilton today. The street we live on won't snow a snow plow for at least two days so getting out of our driveway will be a challenge. As we did not do any grocery shopping this week, it will be a day filled with fending for yourself. Ang and I made our way down to the freezer to do some hunting but it was a bit sketchy; although, Ang was able to procure a chocolate Easter bunny!!

Obviously there is no way I'm making it to the gym so shoveling the drive-way will have to do....seeing as I'll probably be doing it more than once, my arms should be sufficiently "Popeye'd" by the end of the day. I wonder how many times you have to walk to the end of the driveway to constitute 5k.....yeah, that's probably unrealistic. 

Super Party in One Week

Is there anything better than chili-dogs, beer and football? Sure, some of you will say commercials - seriously?!?! - but next Sunday is one of the best sports-themed parties of the year. I have had some epic Super Bowl Sunday's - the road outside Eric and Michelle's is still not the same - and this year will be no different. Well, maybe a bit different.

There will be no need to start drinking at noon - in fact, plans are being put in motion to take the kids out before the festivities for some fun in the snow. The other big thing will be to make sure I eat something before heading over. As it stands right now, we are ordering some pizzas and everyone is supposed to bring one snack. The question I have for you is, what is your tastiest, healthiest, snack? Now remember, this is a Super Bowl party, so don't give some tofu, foofy thing - I can't get laughed out of the place!!

As far as the game goes, gimme Steelers, 27-23 - my head will explode if Aaron Rodgers is a Super Bowl champ!!

Managing my Life

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"  - Eleanor Roosevelt

Today we spent the hour of our class talking about how you manage your moods and dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life. Anytime something bad happened to me, I used that as an opportunity to feel bad for myself, which would generally be followed up with some combination of bad food. There is a downward spiral that was created and would lead to more food, which made me feel worse about myself, which made me eat more and on it went.

As I've mentioned before, I really see things on a different level now. I can recognize that good things actually do happen to me. The quote at the top rings so true for me because I had a low opinion of myself and assumed everyone else did too. The human psyche is a wonderful thing. Having some small success at the weight-loss thing has transferred to so many other areas of my life. I'm more confident now - hell I said I was going to enter a 5k and started doing them on the treadmill!! - and I'm generally more positive as well.

Learning to forgive yourself can be a grueling process and it means you really end up taking a hard look at yourself and what you've become. Many times I would look at people and think how lucky they were that their weight was something they never had to worry about. There is another quote that really puts that into perspective for me; "When the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it may be that they take better care of it there" - Cecil Selig