Weight Loss Watcher

Weight Loss Watcher is Back

2009-03-12T11:02:00.003-05:00

This is one of those posts where somebody apologizes for the long time since the last post, and promises to post more often. In this case, the promise is for health purposes. As of this morning, I am weighing in at 190 pounds. Time to lose weight in case the sun ever shines on Chicago again.

Great Weight Loss Research Resource

2007-11-12T09:26:00.000-06:00

I just read a press release for a weight loss research resource with no affiliation. Of course, the positive here is they are not selling anything, so there information should be unbiased. Below is an excerpt from the press release:

While Rapid Empowerment does endorse other resources that it believes would benefit its readership, there are no links or affiliations with any other company in the weight loss industry. This allows idealweightresearch.com to be an independent source of information, with the only aim of making their visitors experts on their on own body.

The site is Ideal Weight Research. The site discusses all techniques and pills, but always relates them to its mantra: If you burn more calories than you take in, you lose weight.

Janet Jackson Writing a Weight Loss Book

2007-10-16T09:51:00.000-05:00

As a fan of the beautiful Miss Jackson (if you're nasty), I'll be looking forward to her book in which she discusses frequent weight loss and weight gain. I've been stuck in the same fluctuation boat since she was Charlene on Diff'rent Strokes.

Below is an excerpt from a recent interview:

I'm in the midst of writing (about) my journeys of weight loss and weight gain and weight loss. ... It's just really coming from my life, what was going on in my life, from my soul. So many people have asked me about it and how did I do it. Everybody has a story to tell so this is my little story about that portion of my life.

Weight Loss Pills Under Fire, Again!

2007-01-16T09:09:00.000-06:00

I would guess that the number of weight loss pills that receive "over the counter" status is an incredibly tiny fraction of the number of weight loss pills that apply for it. Even those that achieve the status seem dangerous (just my opinion), so I can't even imagine what the rest are like.

Anyway, the fight is far from over for Xenical, which is a weight loss pill that can be is sold over the counter.

THE weight-loss drug Xenical is again under scrutiny, with the federal drugs regulator set to consider returning the medication to prescription-only status after a much-criticised advertising campaign.

Weight Loss Tools at About

2007-01-15T10:38:00.000-06:00

About Weight Loss has a great list of weight loss tools. It's a great page to bookmark, as the free tools cover many topics. I refer to the Calorie Calculator quite a bit. Enter your weight and duration of workout, and it will list activities and calories burned in that timespan.

Article About Fellow Weight Loss Watcher

2006-12-04T15:28:00.000-06:00

Here is a good article about a guy who lost 55 pounds in 54 days. If his weight remained the same after the next day, I would have opted for 55 pounds in 55 days. I think that sounds much cooler. Anyway, he has his own site. Below is an excerpt from the article.

Ray Bartley’s shocking day-by-day weight loss of 55 pounds in 54 days is captured on film in the new DVD, 55 Pounds in 54 Seconds. The documentary title comes from a special feature where the 54 days it took Ray to go from 275 to 220 pounds is accelerated to take place in 54 seconds.

The video sounds pretty cool. I'll link to it if he adds it to the site.

Losing the Thanksgiving Weight

2006-11-30T11:22:00.000-06:00

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Mine saw me gain a pound. According to Oprah's friend, Dr. Oz, that's the national average.

The combination of celebration, abundant food, and the stress of travel and spending time with family makes overeating seem nearly impossible to avoid. Dr. Oz says not to focus on losing waist during the holidays. Instead, work to build muscle and keep stable so that you can lose waist after the gifts have been unwrapped, the decorations are back in the attic, and your cousins are back at their houses.

Good advice from America's Doctor. I have lost 2 pounds since Thanksgiving, bringing my new low to 178!

If You Are Cancer, Obesity Equals Smoking

2006-10-06T09:07:00.000-05:00

The American Cancer Society just released a study with some surprising results. Just as many people die from cancer as a result of obesity as from smoking. Below is an excerpt from the CNN coverage:

One-third of the more than 500,000 cancer deaths each year are attributable to poor diet and inadequate physical activity, including overweight and obesity, the cancer society said. That's about the same number of cancer cases caused by smoking.

Wow! I can't tell you the dollar amounts associated with each, but I'm pretty sure that a lot more money goes into warning people about smoking than inadequate physical activity. It looks like Morgan Spurlock was on to something.

179 and Holding

2006-07-14T09:42:00.000-05:00

Damn it!

I guess the good news is no weight gain, but the bad news is no weight loss. Like anything else, momentum is such a huge factor. For a while, it felt like the weight was just falling off. Now, I get on the scale and just hope that I haven't gained any. I just need to ride the storm out. If I can avoid weight gain, I'll get back in the groove.

Weight Watchers Points Calculator

2006-06-30T09:54:00.000-05:00

For those Weight Watcher readers who also happen to be Weight Watchers, here's a good tool for you. The main thing that keeps me from being a Weight Watchers guy is my lack of desire to do the math. So if you hate crunching numbers as well, check out the Weight Watchers Points Calculator at Alex Nolan's site. Alex also has other cool tools here.

Do Weight Loss Pills Work?

2006-06-23T11:08:00.000-05:00

I would guess the answer to that question is no. I can see that some weight loss pills will make you lose weight, but how healthy can that be. Trimspa seems to be the most famous, and its most famous client/spokeswoman, of course, is Anna Nicole Smith. As gorgeous as she is once again, she does not strike me as a spokeswoman for healthy weight loss. That being said, her weight loss was impressive, and if that and that alone is the goal, then Anna Nicole Smith is definitely your spokeswoman.

Here is a good article on the Anna Nicole Smith Trimspa story.

And here is a good forum on whether weight loss pills work.

Neither make a definitive statement about weight loss pills, but both state that healthy eating and exercise are essential to any weight loss strategy.

Throw 3 More Pounds Out!

2006-06-19T10:02:00.000-05:00

Gotta love momentum, when momentum is working for you. So I dropped 3 more pounds, doing not much other than loving the weather. Lots of cookouts. Bean Bag Toss in 90 Degree heat = weight loss. 170's (just barely) for the first time in 6 years. Glad to be here!

Lost 6 More Pounds!

2006-06-14T08:07:00.000-05:00

I won't question it. Mysterious weight loss continues, thankfully. Lately, our treadmill has only been used to hang clothes and towels. At least, I think that is what's under those clothes. Hmm.

Anyway, I continue to eat better, play basketball occasionally, go on walks with wife and child, and not really think about losing weight. Somehow, it seems like the right formula.

Weight Loss Links at Anne Collins

2006-05-24T10:18:00.000-05:00

While searching for Weight Loss Links, I ran into Anne Collins. Not too surprising, as she is the number one result for the search. Anyway, it's a good starting page if you are looking for more information on weight loss. She offers lots of info, and she links to many other sites with further weight loss information.

Great Weight Loss Tool

2006-05-22T08:46:00.000-05:00

3 fat chicks have a great site for weight loss and some pretty cool tools like the one above. Check it out if you are overweight, blogging, and want to be reminded how inferior your overweight blog is (compared to these fine ladies).

Inexplicable Weight Loss

2006-05-19T17:24:00.000-05:00

Now I'm not sure how this happened. My goal was to focus on weight loss here, and lose weight. Something in the formula is really screwed up, unfortunately. Well, the last time I actually ran on the treadmill, my weight had ballooned up to 208 pounds. That was right around Easter, for those of you keeping score at home. At that point, I just decided to forget about it for a while.

So I started playing basketball regularly and eating way less. By way less, I mean the amount that I should be eating. Anyway, I have dropped 20 pounds since then. As I type, I weigh a cool 188!

So I got that going for me, which is nice.

Desperate Housewives

2006-03-27T13:35:00.000-06:00

Prologue
Guess who's been gaining weight?

Celerity

3 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.5 miles

Diversion

Desperate Housewives: Could I Leave You?

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
Thanks, Teri Hatcher, for getting me back on the treadmill! Your recent misadventures (not to mention beauty) got me through the first half hour back!

2/15/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-02-15T20:19:00.000-06:00

Prologue
Damn you ambition! Why do you smite me, O Mighty Smiter?

Celerity

3 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.5 miles

Diversion

2006 Olympic Games: Luge

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
How does one become a luger? What does a parent say when a young child shows an interest in luging? I cannot think of a sport that is more inconvenient to practice than luge. Olympic Hide and Seek, perhaps.

2/10/6 Weight Loss Watcher Weigh In

2006-02-10T09:21:00.000-06:00

Prologue
I dropped one more pound! And I really haven't pushed myself yet. I'm excited about the weight loss, but I really need to commit myself to this.

Origin

200 lbs

Position

195 lbs

Destination

170 lbs

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
My baby is smiling constantly these days. My plan for the weekend is to just enjoy her beautiful smile.

2/7/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-02-08T15:15:00.000-06:00

Prologue
What was I saying about motivation easily found?

Celerity

2.7 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.3 miles

Diversion

Scrubs: Her Story II

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
You can't beat 2 episodes a week of Scrubs. It's up there with Arrested Development as one of the most underappreciated shows on television. Speaking of Arrested, here are other great shows that were cut short.

2/3/6 Weight Loss Watcher Weigh In

2006-02-03T09:04:00.001-06:00

Prologue
Once again, I didn't gain weight. I started the week like a bat out of hell. Apparently, the bat then turned around and went home!

Origin

200 lbs

Position

196 lbs

Destination

170 lbs

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
Same ole story. Still just trying to find my routine.

1/31/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-31T11:33:00.000-06:00

Prologue
Day 2 on the treadmill for the week. Motivation was easily found this morning.

Celerity

2.7 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.3 miles

Diversion

Announcement of the 78th Annual Academy Awards!

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
Oscar Night is one of my favorite holidays, and I look forward to the build up in a way that most Midwesterners look forward to the Indy 500. My wife and I make it a goal to see all the Best Picture nominees, though it rarely happens. We have only seen Brokeback Mountain and Crash so far.

1/30/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-30T23:11:00.000-06:00

Prologue
I'm back. I'm going to try to get 3 solid days on the treadmill this week. I want to focus on making it a regular part of the routine, which obviously hasn't happened yet.

Celerity

2.7 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.3 miles

Diversion

Medium: Time Out of Mind

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
Everything was really convenient in this episode. The nature of the show requires some sort of greater power to guide action, but that greater power was working overtime here. Still enjoyable though.

1/27/6 Weight Loss Watcher Weigh In

2006-01-27T11:04:00.000-06:00

Prologue
Well, I didn't gain weight. My workout schedule wasn't exactly aggressive this week.

Origin

200 lbs

Position

196 lbs

Destination

170 lbs

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
I have a weekend of further laziness ahead, and then I'll start fresh Monday.

1/24/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-24T23:51:00.000-06:00

Prologue
I'm no longer just beginning the weight loss. After actually losing some weight, I am now in full swing!

Celerity

2.7 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.3 miles

Diversion

Scrubs: My Way Home

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
In Seinfeldian fashion, Scrubs created an entire episode of film reference. What a brilliant episode!

1/22/6 Weight Loss Watcher Weigh In

2006-01-22T08:55:00.000-06:00

Prologue
Success! Maybe it's the result of hard work. Maybe it's the result of a brand new scale that senses my need to see (better) results. If the latter were the case, I appreciate your sensitivity, scale.

Origin

200 lbs

Position

196 lbs

Destination

170 lbs

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
We are in motion! Hopefully, I'll be able to keep the weight loss momentum rolling.

1/20/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-20T17:38:00.000-06:00

Prologue
It's Friday! Maybe I will be motivated to strengthen weight loss efforts this weekend.

Celerity

2.5 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.25 miles

Diversion

Days of Our Lives

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
Sorry to acknowledge that I watch this show, but it's great for turning off the brain. I wonder if soaps have always been this ridiculous or if they evolved into this lowly state.

1/19/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-19T08:58:00.000-06:00

Prologue
Consistency is key, I guess. I have not yet dared to breach my starting workout pace.

Celerity

2.5 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.23 miles

Diversion

Wedding Crashers

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
It's being haled as the return of the R rated comedy. God bless Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, et al.

1/16/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-16T22:27:00.000-06:00

Prologue
Back to it after a nice, relaxing weekend. Still pushing through, looking forward to the time when working out just feels like part of the day.

Celerity

2.5 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.23 miles

Diversion

63rd Annual Golden Globes

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
The career of Sir Anthony Hopkins flashed in front of me as I braved the treadmill. That's a pretty long "flash," considering he has made over 100 films. I realized the first time I ever saw this incredible actor, he was John Merrick's doctor in The Elephant Man.

Was it my exhaustion, or did Gwyneth continually refer to him as Antony?

1/14/6 Weight Loss Watcher Weigh In

2006-01-14T08:57:00.000-06:00

Prologue
Let's say this one's just for those keeping score at home, since I have not lost weight yet (sorry to spoil the surprise). Origin documentation, I guess.

Origin

200 lbs

Position

200 lbs

Destination

170 lbs

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
And let's just call the picture motivation (what a huge understatement).

1/12/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-12T15:59:00.000-06:00

Prologue
A nice long walk with wife, baby, and dog. It doesn't get much better than that!

Celerity

unknown

Tenure

unknown

Scope

35 minutes

Diversion

Natural Phenomenon: beautiful weather in the Midwest during Winter!

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
Good weather breeds motivation. It was great to be outside!

1/11/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-11T23:37:00.000-06:00

Prologue
A late night run. Some find it strange that I run (euphemism for walk - I promise that's the last time I use that joke) before I go to sleep, but sometimes it's the only option.

Celerity

2.5 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.23 miles

Diversion

Rounders

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
You can't go wrong with actors like Malkovich, Landau, Turturro, Norton, and Damon, and character names like KGB, Worm, and Grama! The intensity of the movie made the workout easy. And what a great ending!

1/10/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-10T19:10:00.000-06:00

Prologue
2nd verse, same as the first. Almost no difference in today's workout. If anything, it was a little tougher.

Celerity

2.5 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.2 miles, sadly

Diversion

Seinfeld: The Baby Shower

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
As I ran (euphemism for walk), I tried to think of whom was "unequivocally the worst date of my life," like George did in the episode. Maybe that's why today's workout seemed so torturous.

1/9/6 Weight Loss Watcher Explication

2006-01-09T16:31:00.000-06:00

Prologue
Wow, I actually feel motivated. I removed the clothes hanging from the treadmill and went for a run! Please note that run is a euphemism for walk.

Celerity

2.5 mph

Tenure

30 minutes

Scope

1.22 miles, barely

Diversion

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Weight Loss Watcher Epilogue
Just as I turned on the TV, I heard Ron Burgundy discussing a new fad called jogging. That has to mean something, doesn't it?

Stay Classy, San Diego

Weight Loss Watcher Information

2006-01-09T12:13:00.000-06:00

New year, right? I spent the previous year talking about getting into shape. That hasn't helped. For the second time ever (first = second semester, college) I weigh an even 2 bills. So now I'm blogging about it - maybe that will work off more calories.

My goal is to use this platform to keep track of my activity and weight loss. This extra dose of accountability just might be what it takes to remove the excess weight surrounding the area known formerly as my stomach. For those of you keeping score at home, my goal is 170. I can't remember the last time I saw that number!

Enjoy the ride. Go to the main Weight Watcher page to see my most recent post.