Week B8: Sick & Thinner

I've been nasty-sick for several days -- which may or may not have helped me lose a couple of extra pounds. Either way, I'm back on track! Just a couple of pounds down from my lowest weight on this whole journey ... just in time for the holidays. *GULP*

248.0 lb.

Weekly Loss: 4.4 lb.

Total Net Loss Since March 1, 2011: 45.6 lb.

See you next week! Hopefully down closer to where I want to be.

Progress In Pictures

If you want to see where I am on this long haul toward being healthy and feeling good about the way I look, here's some perspective.

At the beginning of 2004, I had not yet begun treatment for sleep apnea--and I ate all the time simply as a way to stay awake. Over the years I slowly crawled my way up to borderline morbid obesity. I seriously considered having my stomach stapled. I topped out at 327 pounds.

After I began treatment for my sleep disorder, I dropped about 30 pounds virtually overnight without even trying -- just because I didn't need to eat all the time simply to stay awake. But bad habits -- snacking, nightly dessert, drinking Cokes all the time, low activity, etc. -- caused my body to settle at about 295 lb. and stay there for years. This is what I looked like all the way until early 2011:

I decided at the end of 2010 that I was going to make some changes, and that this was the year I would get a lot healthier. I wanted to look in the mirror and not hate what I see. I wanted to feel better, be more active, and have more fun. The first change I made was to give up soda. The only time I allow myself a Coke is once in a while when I'm watching a movie and eating popcorn. (I believe in treats, definitely!) I drink water, and get my caffeine fix through coffee and tea. On March 1st I began a diet on Weight Watchers, and since then have dropped it but used the habits, food, and portions I learned to keep me on the right road.

The following pictures were taken with my webcam, in my office, this morning. As of this morning I'm at 255 pounds.

Got more ground to cover. I'm not done, and even after gaining a little back in the last few weeks, I'm gonna keep working at it. If I'm not healthy, I won't be around to do all the things on my list ...

Week B7: WTH?!

Ugh!! Some of you know that the last few weeks have had two conventions and ridiculous amounts of stress -- including stuff related to my ex, money worries, and the death of our family dog of almost ten years. I let myself fall into the trap of stress-eating, fueled by the generosity of friends and family who've treated me to big meals. Add in a few special occasions that included tasty dessert and (un)healthy amounts of drinking, and, well ...

255.0 lb.

Weight GAINED since last weigh-in: 8.6 lb.

Total Net Weight Loss Since March 1st: 38. 6 lb.

OUCH. Holy crap what three weeks can do to a guy. Well I'm back, thinking about what I'm doing, and focusing. Hopefully I'll be able to shed most of the short-term gain right away. I can't let myself slide in the wrong direction.

Week B4: Blazing Ahead!

I'm in a hurry this morning, so I'll just cut to the chase. I'm at my lowest weight in more than thirteen years! I've done GREAT this week.

246.4

Weekly Loss: 4.4 lb.

Total Net Loss: 47.2 lb.

I'm within spitting distance of the 50 lb. milestone ... and to say that's exciting is an understatement!

Week B3: Almost Caught Up With Myself

This is my third week back on the ol' diet after falling off the wagon for a while. I managed to lose over a pound and a half, and I'm less than two pounds from reaching the lowest point I was before I started to let myself go. I want to keep the momentum I've built up and get down toward my goal.

250.8 lb.

Weekly Loss: 1.6 lb.

Total Net Loss: 42.8 lb.

My goal, by the way, is just as much psychological as anything else. Back in 2004, before I started treatment for sleep apnea, I had reached a huge 327 lb. and was considered morbidly obese. I want to get down to 225 lb. so can honestly say that I'm over a hundred pounds lighter than my heaviest weight. I will feel like I've really achieved something at that point!

Thanks, everyone, for your encouragement and support!

Week B2: Back on Track!

I'm doing good again! I'm hoping to be under 250 next week.

252.4 lb.

Weekly Loss: 2.6 lb.

Total Net Loss: 41.2 lb.

Thanks!

Week B1: Once More Into My Breeches

Without necessarily planning it, I took a little time off from my weightloss. I gained some back during the summer con season, not to mention a little unhealthy stress-eating. So I'm re-focused and trying to do better. Once I again I'm logging my food and watching my activity. I want to get down another 20 pounds from where I am now. Now I'm back to reporting to you fine folks.

So as of today ...

255.0 lb.

Net Loss Since March 1, 2011: 38.6 lb.

I'm hopeful that I'll be back over 40 lb. (where I was before I fell off the wagon) by next week. Thanks for your support, all!

Week Twenty-Five: Haven't Given Up, and Gaining Ground

Okay, so travel and LIFE (all capital letters for emphasis) caused me to fall off the wagon (a bit) and gain a little weight (about seven pounds), and those were unofficial weighings. But I worked last week to get my eating to back the way it's supposed to be and I'm back to logging my food and all that jazz. Weight Watchers billed me again, so I might as well use its tools, right?

I did my first official weigh-in for several weeks and I'm happy to say that I'm back on the right track:

249.2

Weekly Loss: 1.2 lb.

Net Total Loss: 44.4 lb.

So I'm about half a pound away from being able to say that I've lost 45 pounds since day one. That ain't too shabby, and I'm not planning on stopping. I think (I hope!) life is about to get more predictable and that we'll be eating less takeout.

Thanks all! I appreciate the support of my friends and family. I don't think I look half bad these days, but I still haven't reached my health goals.

Week Twenty-One: Yay, Almost On Track!

Busybusybusy ... but ...

251.8 lb.

Weekly Loss: 2.2 lb.

Total Net Loss: 41.8 lb.

Week Nineteen: HOLY CRAP I'VE LOST FORTY POUNDS!!

Boy the difference one week makes! Now that I'm home and not hitting the buffet at the Drury Inn & Suites every morning and evening, not drinking every night at the Big Bar on 2, and failing my Will check against gaming snacks, the weight I gained on the road has just vanished! (I love you so very dearly, Origins, but you are BAD FOR MY DIET!) But I've been doing better and the scale had some great news for me ...

252.4

Weekly Loss: 5.6 lb.

Total Net Weight Loss: 41.2 lb.

When I did the math it hit me. In four months I've lost over forty pounds. Woohoo!!!! I will cheerfully assume that all the celebrations and fireworks today is the entire nation is happy for me. Have a great Fourth, everyone! In the words of my friend Tommy Cage, salute the flag ... and then thank a soldier.

Week Eighteen: Damn You Jeni, Whoever You Are

I was at the Origins Game Fair this week and the combination of free Breakfast Buffet, the North Market, the Big Bar on 2, and Jeni's Ice Cream (ohmygod Bourbon Butter Pecan is soooo good!) and I managed to gain a pound. D'oh! I'll do better now that I'm home ... promise!

258.0 lb.

Weekly GAIN: 0.8 lb.

Total Net Loss: 35.6 lb.

Week Seventeen: Week of Fail

Well ... dammit. Bad habits picked up on the road along with some eating out and indulging in some less-than-healthy snacking at home as led to this. I stepped on the scale this morning:

257.2

Weekly GAIN (!!!): 2.2 lb.

Total Net Loss: 36.4 lb.

Poop. Well, I've reaped what I've sewn. There is no mystery as to why this happened, but I know what to do in order to fix it. Tricky part is that I'm leaving town again in the morning so I need to be on better behavior while in Ohio this week. I want to have better news next week. I'll definitely be walking more and will journal my food carefully.

Feel free to chastise me. Bad Jamie!

Week Sixteen: Back in the Saddle

Stress, stress, travel, stress!!!

The last month has been "interesting" in the Chinese sense. I've traveled all over the country, worked odd hours, attended a family wedding, and have otherwise neglected my diet. I didn't pig out or do anything too terrible—with the odd big meal or indulgence here or there. When I dared to step on the scale again almost a week ago I had found myself dead even with my last "official" weigh-in at Week Thirteen. So I spent the last week being more careful about my eating habits and I've hit another official Monday-morning weigh-in. Didn't take long to lose! Here is my current weight:

255.0 lb.

Loss Since Week Thirteen: 3.6 lb.

Total Net Loss: 38.6 lb.

It's crazy to realize that I have lost nearly forty pounds since the end of February. This week I return to food journaling and thinking more carefully about what I'm eating. Will also be taking the pooch for some walks and doing some lovely yardwork to sweat away some more!

Week Thirteen: Aiiieee!

Only a week left in the über-stressful month of May. Fortunately, even with my mother's wedding (and accompanying cake, rehearsal dinner, etc.) I managed to lose nearly two pounds! Here's this morning's weigh-in:

258.6 lb.

Weekly Loss: 1.8 lb.

Net Total Loss: 35 lb.

It's hard to believe that in three months I've lost a full thirty-five pounds. I'm still eleven pounds ahead of where I had hoped to be at this point on the journey.

Week Twelve: Quickie

Too busy for a long post! I lost less than a full pound this last week, too many special occasions and a bit of over-indulgence but at least I didn't slide in the wrong direction! I'll try to do better this week. Monday's results were:

260.4

Weekly Loss: 0.8 lb.

Total Net Loss: 33.2 lb.

See you next week!

To My Friends ...

Since this is strictly personal and nothing to do with my career as a writer or publisher, I wanted to put this here instead of my main website. It's not about my weight loss (though an unofficial weigh-in this morning puts me down into the 250s!), but there is something worth saying.

Last afternoon, I got a phone call from a friend I've literally known over thirty years—someone who I used to speak to every day and saw almost as much during the time we were neighbors. This morning I ran into a friend that was really there for me during the early separation from my ex-wife, who went out of her way to help me in ways both practical and emotional. And today I had to turn down an invitation from someone I adore—a woman I dated for a while and with whom still want to maintain a friendship, someone who also has gone out of her way to help me and my family. I absolutely want to keep her in my life.

It's not important that all three of these women share the same first name, even if it's an odd coincidence.

I know that in at least one of the friends mentioned above, there are hurt feelings and at least a little resentment that I'm ignoring or rejecting them. And they are not alone. I've experienced some of the same emotions from other friends who I used to chat with online more, talk to on the phone, or see out and about.

My feelings? Awful. I hate the feeling that I've let anyone down, that I'm not returning the attention, kindness, and favors that have been generously given to me. And I don't like the fact that I'm missing out on good times with some of my favorite people.

I hate making excuses, but there's not a lot of help for it in this case. For a while at least, my situation is what it is and there is less of me to go around than there ever has been before. In less than a year my life has taken a number of crazy turns. Currently ...

I'm a Single Dad. I'm now taking care of a thirteen-year-old girl and a ten-year-old boy, both in school. I live in a home with no other family, so I have to get everyone to/from school, cook meals, clean, do laundry, etc. on my own. And while they don't need 100% supervision at all times, I can't just go out like I did while the children were with their mother. I have to arrange for them to stay somewhere or get a babysitter.

I'm Working. I'm self-employed, and as anyone who's done this knows it's even more stressful than having a "regular" job. I have flexibility, but in return that means I'm always behind where I could be. I'm simultaneously pushing forward as a game publisher and freelance writer while tip-toeing my way into eBook publishing as well. I maintain a professional office in Marietta and have set up a desk in my bedroom so I can work from home whenever is necessary. Which is a lot. Right now I'm behind on several important projects—both for me and others, and I'm scrambling to catch up. (I should be working on those instead of this, but I really want my friends to understand.)

My Family Needs Me. Things are a little nuts in my family right now. My Mother is getting married a little over a week. (Congratulations, Mom!) We are still in the process of shuffling three households around (Mom's, my sister's, and mine) between Woodstock and Canton. My kids have needed plenty of extra care, including my son getting his tonsils out recently and still not quite back in school yet. And my youngest sister is having so many complications from her knee surgery over a year ago that she's not sleeping and on heavy medication, preventing her from being able to drive herself to work—so several days a week I spend extra time in the car for that purpose. None of this is easy, but we take care of each other in my family.

Travel! I've got a busy convention season coming up. I've been invited out to a lot of shows this year and it's a great opportunity to show off my new games and projects. I'm already going to have to figure things out with my family so that my children are taken care of when I leave town. Just see my schedule to get an idea of how nuts the next few months are going to be. Also means that more than a few weekends are just gone.

I Have a Girlfriend. For just a little while longer it's long-distance, but I've been blessed to find love again in my life. I don't get to talk to my girlfriend as much as I'd like and see her even less, but I try to take advantage of what opportunities we have with each other. Things are changing on that front soon, and when she moves I can't wait to introduce her to my circle of family and friends.

To my friends who've felt ignored, rejected, or neglected: I apologize. I have no doubt I could have done better to stay in touch, figured out better ways to manage my time or handle my schedule. (These are some of my weakest areas!) But please understand that I didn't just decide you weren't worth my time. I love you, care for you, and miss you. Things won't always be this complicated and crazy, and I hope that you'll stick around long enough for the dust to settle and be a part of my new life.

** Jamie

Week Eleven: Holy crap ... over thirty pounds!

This has been another crazy week. I've done a lot of exhausting, physical labor as I continue the process of moving three different households around. Lifting furniture and heavy boxes has left my body a knot of sore muscles covered in bruises. All the hard work paid off in results—even if I was a bit naughty at my daughter's birthday dinner yesterday.

Here's the official weigh-in:

261.2 lb.

Weekly Loss: 2.8 lb.

Net Total Loss: 32.4

Yep, I'm now officially down over THIRTY POUNDS. That's very exciting, but I've got a ways to go until I hit my next goal. People keep telling me how good I look and it's very exciting to see how my clothes fit these days, but I've still got a lot of work to do before I reach the destination on this particular journey.

It's exciting to think that by this time next week I'll be down into the 250s ... a weight-range I haven't seen for at least 12 years. Thanks for your support, everyone!

Week Ten: Sweating!

The air conditioning has been on the fritz right as mid-Spring kicks into full-gear ... in Georgia. That and there's been more furniture to move and rooms to clean as we begin a two week process of shuffling my mother, my sister, and I into our permanent homes. I got so busy that I didn't track my Weight Watchers carefully this week (though I tried to stay within my normal small portions and better choices). Resulting weigh-in this week:

264.0 lb.

Weekly Loss: 2.4 lb.

Total Net Loss: 29.6 lb.

All I have to do is lose one-half pound and I will have hit the 30 lb. milestone--which is exciting to say the least! My clothes fit differently and I feel like I'm more attractive for my girlfriend. Thanks for your support, everyone!

Week Nine: Easter Basket Temptation

Don't worry, I only permitted myself one Cadbury Creme Egg. I did indulge slightly in the family meal but nothing compared to the old days. Regardless, the weight loss trend continues! As of this morning I weighed in at ...

266.4 lb.

Weekly Loss: 2.8 lb.

Net Total: 27.2 lb.

Getting over the 25 lb. mark is really exciting! I'm hoping that in a few more weeks I can be down into the 250s. We're going to be moving over the next few weeks, and once settled in I'm going to join the gym and build up a workout routine. For the meantime I think I'm going to start taking my dog for a more brisk walk every day around the neighborhood.

Thanks all! See you next Monday.

Midweek Update

As of this morning I'm over twenty-five pounds down from where I began. Can you see the difference?

Week Eight: Shedding the Pounds

I was so frantically busy over the last week I lost track of several days worth of Weight Watchers points. I still stuck to my lighter portions and healthier selections (yesterday's ice cream was the exception!)--but I still weighed in this morning and was pleasantly surprised!

269.2 lb.

Weekly Loss: 3.4 lb.

Total: 24.4 lb.

Less than another pound down and I will have lost twenty-five pounds! I am well over a month ahead of my 2 lb. per month plan. I'll snap some pictures later today so you can see the difference. Thanks all!

Week Seven: ... And Then Some

The kids' spring break is over and it's going to be back to the school-day routine. I did my weekly weigh-in this morning, and I'm happy to report that I not only have weight loss this week, but I made up for last week when I didn't lose anything at all.

The scale had this to say:

272.6 lb.

Weekly Loss: 4.6 lb.

Total: 21.0 lb.

That's right, folks. I've officially hit my initial goal of losing TWENTY POUNDS (and then some). I'm really excited! Thanks for all your support and encouragement.

Week Six: Flatline

Hmm ... A days ago my unofficial weigh-in had put me down to 275 lb., but as of this morning the scale tells me that I'm ...

277.2 lb.

... which I'm sorry to say is exactly the same as last week. I stayed mostly on-track, diet-wise, this week. I only splurged once and stayed within my usual WW guidelines. But I'm not too discouraged. For one thing, I've been doing a LOT of physical work this week, including a bunch of heavy lifting and dragging. The sore feeling in various muscles tells me that this could be muscle weight.

Either way, I'm going to push on and try to get down to 275 lb. by this time next week! Hopefully this won't be a difficult plateau.

Week Five: Still Going ...

It's been a crazy week filled with lots of stress and I didn't always track things and eat quite as well as I should, but I still followed the basic tenants of my diet and I was doing lots of cleaning and moving furniture -- so a bit of an exercise boost helped me out, I believe.

As of this morning, butt-naked on my bathroom scale, I've reached ...

277.2 lb.

Weekly Loss: 3 lb.

Total Net Loss: 16.4 lb.

Not too shabby! I'm going to watch and log my food this week and work in a bit more exercise. Soon I will be adding a gym membership and structured exercise into my bid to get healthy and look better!

Thanks, as always, to my friends, family, and loved ones for their support.

Week Four: Return from Sin City

I confess that I was a little bit worried about how my week-long trip to Vegas would affect my diet. Not only is it a town known for its sinful buffets (and I indulged in two of them, at the Cosmopolitan and The Paris) but I knew I'd be having cocktails each and every day with my friends in the Diamond Lounge. And we all know that alcohol is pretty much a great source of nutrition-free calories, not to mention potential for a wicked hangover.

To counteract, I conserved both my food and calorie budget when I wasn't indulging. I had small, sensible breakfast most days and either had a light lunch or dinner when the other was heavier. My first morning back, and exactly one week after my last weigh-in, I find myself here:

280.2 lb.

Net Loss: 13.4 lb.

So that's almost three pounds down even while out in Sin City. Not bad! I should be able to keep up the pace now that I'm back in Georgia, and hope that my next weigh-in will see me down in the 270s, a weight I haven't manage to lose down to in several years. Then I hope to bust down into the 260s, where I've never managed to get down to since I gained all the weight in the first place.

Thanks for your support, everyone! See you next week.

Week Three: A Day Early and 10.6 lb. Short

I'm flying out to Las Vegas tonight for the GAMA Trade Show. (I currently serve as Vice President on the GAMA Board of Directors.) So I'm logging my weekly weigh-in a day early. I've been watching my points and logging everything I eat, even budgeting things in so I can still go out for drinks and stay on track. Weight Watchers Online is the perfect plan for a gamer-geek like myself; if you get the right amount of points you "win" (i.e. lose the lard).

So far, so great! Here's where I am one day shy of two weeks:

283.0 lb.

Net Loss: 10.6 lb.

I'll be watching what I'm doing while out in Sin City, because I don't want to lose any of the ground I've gained. Thanks everyone!

Week Two: Wherein our hero has a rocky but successful start.

This first week was all about managing the food, which was easy on some days and more difficult on others. I had a special occasion dinner that I totally splurged on, but tried to make up for it. (The day after I had an awesome buffet and I chose a tofu stir-fry and salad with water for lunch.) And I went out for drinks twice during the week which is a great way to get empty calories, so I have to factor all that in.

But, despite a few hiccups, I have managed to lose some weight! Here are this morning's results.

288.8 lb.

Net Loss: 4.8 lb.

Not a bad start if I do say so myself! Next weigh-in will come a day early (Sunday) since that evening I'll be hopping on a plane for Las Vegas. How will I fare in Sin City?!

Getting Started (Again)

Well, it's 2011. In the last few years my life has drastically changed and I'm now facing life as a single professional geek. I want to live long enough to see my children grow up, feel better, and in general be less of a tub of lard and more attractive to the opposite sex.

To that end I've started Weight Watchers Online, a program I've had success with in the past, to help me monitor my intake and lose weight at a healthy speed. After my next trip I'll be joining a local gym and adding structured exercise to the program.

This blog is separate from my regular stuff so that only people interested in my weight loss and fitness need hear about it. I need friends to help cheer me on.

In fact ... If any of you want to give me some weight loss incentive, you can volunteer to give me a "reward" for achieving one of my 5 lb. milestones. Could be a small gift or even just a nice gesture -- nothing that has to cost anyone money. Comment or e-mail me if you'd like to be a "sponsor" of my weight loss!

In the interest of full disclosure, here is my initial weigh-in. I will be doing official, weekly weigh-ins on Monday mornings and posting them here.

293.6 lb.

I didn't think I'd creep back this close to 300 pounds but here I am ... but not for long! I'm hoping to lose 2.5 pounds per week so I make a 5 pound milestone every two weeks if I stay on track.

Thanks to all my friends for their support and encouragement. I'll be posting here at least once a week to keep it fresh and honest.