Round 2... FIGHT

[Sparhax]

Ordered my used refurbished Life Fitness 9500HR Next Generation last night! It was expensive but I think it will be worth it in the long run. I'm so sore from basketball that I'm limping around the office lol. My fast twitch muscles are screaming.

[Sparhax]

Waiting for my new elliptical to arrive, I need it badly! I'm finally healed up from the basketball game I played. Weight loss has halted. I think I need to start cutting back. I've never had this much trouble losing weight while not cheating? Still, I'm not too concerned as this is my lifestyle now and not a diet.

[green team]

Originally Posted by Sparhax

Waiting for my new elliptical to arrive, I need it badly! I'm finally healed up from the basketball game I played. Weight loss has halted. I think I need to start cutting back. I've never had this much trouble losing weight while not cheating? Still, I'm not too concerned as this is my lifestyle now and not a diet.

Maybe the exercising has been turning fat into muscle. It makes it harder to lose weight for a time, but in the end it pays dividends.

But who gets injured playing basketball? Or was it Kung-Fu basketball?

[Sparhax]

Originally Posted by green team

Maybe the exercising has been turning fat into muscle. It makes it harder to lose weight for a time, but in the end it pays dividends.

But who gets injured playing basketball? Or was it Kung-Fu basketball?

It wasn't an injury so much as all my fast twitch muscles were very sore. IE Juking left and right and jumping for rebounds put a lot of pressure on my feet and knees. And we didn't play basketball, we played a game called knockout which is basically non stop running. On my elliptical I exercise my major muscles (no directional muscles) and also there is no impact on my knees.

[Sparhax]

My elliptical arrived, let me tell you it was worth every penny. The action is so smooth and you hardly realize just how fast your are working out till you get off of it! I am so excited, nothing will stop me NOTHING!

[Sparhax]

So I played basketball with the co-workers today and it was a lot of fun! My confidence is up and I was making shots instead of passing all the time. Also I found that I didn’t get tired… at all! We were playing 3v3 half court but it was still surprising that I wasn’t winded the whole time. Running on a elliptical for the past 2 months have really paid off, my co-workers noticed too.

[Sparhax]

So I've been doing good for the past two months and lost 19lbs. With two more months to go till the end of the year, I realize now that my goal of 250 by New Years is not practical for my situation. I would be ecstatic if I lost another 19lbs in the next two months which is very possible! That would put me at 263 (the weight I was when I met my fiance!). Wow just typing that got me really excited!

[Sparhax]

Played basketball today full court without getting tired or sore! A lot of my skinnier co-workers were dragging behind but I was running around the whole time. Hazzah!

[Sparhax]

Just added a signature, is this thing working?

There we go! Yarrr, there be weight to be losing Carb Lubber!

[rice paddie]

I came across your journal and wanted to stop by and show some support. Sounds like things are going well for you and that you're killin' it in the exercise department. KUTGW and best wishes on your continuing weight loss journey!

[Sparhax]

Originally Posted by rice paddie

I came across your journal and wanted to stop by and show some support. Sounds like things are going well for you and that you're killin' it in the exercise department. KUTGW and best wishes on your continuing weight loss journey!

Thank you for your support
My personality is always optimistic and it shows through in these journals but in reality it is only half of the story. I never acknowledge weakness or failure so it's hard for me to put those thoughts it to paper.

[Sparhax]

I had a fun hosting my first Thanksgiving but I got food poisoning or a stomach bug on the Saturday afterwards. I was sick for 4 days eating only soup and a few saltines (sorry!). No working out either. Gurrrrrrrrrr. Needless to say when I started feeling better certain aspects of my LC way of life slipped. I am back track but that was a bloody week ago! Work out tonight!

[Sparhax]

Monday's workout wasn't very good, I could only bust out 25min on the elliptical. I think the cold is making me sluggish and thoughts of holidays make me want to relax. I plan on doing the full work out today as soon as I get home from work. Also Basketball tomorrow.

[Sparhax]

Had to dig deep to finish my workout when everything else told me to stop and go relax and play videogames. I was feeling down and out and scared to step on the scale after my week of weakness.

BUT GUESS WHAT! Didn't gain a thing! I muscled up some courage and stepped on the scale this morning, it was the same as before my Thanksgiving mess up. I just got a nice boost Wooooooooooooo. hooooooooo.

[Sparhax]

I'm still alive HA! I'm going to stay away from the scale and just feel good and workout.

[Sparhax]

Dear Journal, I hate your face. I don't want to write in you today. Check back in 2 weeks.

[Sparhax]

I attempted to make low carb Pho last night. I used the miracle noodles, it wasn't half bad! I am still missing a few ethnic spices to make the dish authentic, but overall I was very impressed by the miracle noodles.

[Sparhax]

Reality sucks, I wish I didn't quit this journal. A whole year has gone by and I have nothing to show for it but +10 lbs. It's safe to say that I lost round 2. But what do we do when we fall down? We get back up, we try try try again and again. Round 3 began 3 days ago.

New weapons in my arsenal:
1) Brand New Gym opened up next to my house and I hired a personal trainer
2) Got checked out by a doctor, blood-work is good, blood-pressure is very bad.
3) A Christmas present from my girls family: Djembe (hand drum) has awoken latent musical talent. I plan on channeling my carb cravings into my drum
4)Atkins frozen meals are delicious.

[Sparhax]

Work out day today! Let's do this thing! My new goal is to master the stair climber because of how much it kicked my but last week.

[Sparhax]

Did 10min on the Star Climber at Level 4, wow was that quite a work out. Afterwards I did 15min on tredmill and some ab crunches. Then I worked out again on Wednesday doing 20 min elliptical and Chest and Shoulders. Today I think I will do biceps & triceps and some more abs.

[Sparhax]

Busted out 40min on the Elliptical last night at level 8. I'm very proud and shocked that I was able to do it. I wanted to quit at 20min but I said go for 25. At 25 I was like well you did 25 might as well do 30. At 30 I was like screw it I'm going for 40. No weight training since I was still a little sore from my Friday and Wednesday workouts. I'm fully healed now however after the 40min of elliptical my abs are sore from being kept tight the whole time! I started using breathe-right strips at night and I think I am getting a better night sleep. I am certainly dreaming more.

I have an appointment with a sleep specialist. I suspect my lack of good sleep is slowing my weight loss goals down to a crawl. I have all the signs of sleep apnea, large neck, large stomach, large tongue, ect. I've woken up several times gasping for air when I sleep on my back. Hopefully I can get some help and be more rested and energized from sleep.

[Sparhax]

Going in for a sleep study next Sunday, I believe I have OSA. Hopefully I can get it treated and help me sleep better. Then I will have less stress and more energy. Seems pretty win win.

[Sparhax]

Scale Movement is always great! Doctors appointment tomorrow for a check up.

[Sparhax]

blood test results are back. My Cholesterol levels are all within optimal ranges
5 Months ago my Triglycerides were High and my HDL (good Cholesterol) was low. Now everything is spot on! Wooo, some good news.

[Sparhax]

Ok I've been through 2 sleep studies. SO I have 2 kinds sleep apnea Central and Obstructive. I'll be getting a machine to help me breath easier at night. I am hoping getting this treated will turbocharge my weight loss. The side effects of sleep apena are telling. Stress, weight gain, fatigue, depression..... everything that triggers someone with an eating disorder.

[Sparhax]

Why the EFF does it take a month to get a CPAP Machine when you already been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. Frustrated!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sparhax]

Hahah to my last post. I got my CPAP Machine the very next day and my hang drum the day after that. I've been getting the best sleep! My bp is significantly lower, I'm not tired all the time, and the weight seems to be coming off easier. I'm in the 280s now!

Also funny Story. Due to my Central Sleep Apnea, my sleep doctor ordered a sonogram of my heart. I went it had it done but my follow up with my sleep doctor was before my follow up with my cardiologist. In other words my sleep doctor got to go over my results before my cardiologist did. When the sleep doc saw the results he said my heart is already showing damage due to my high blood pressure; Heart was thickening. This is bad because if you heart thickens, it can cause the inner volume of blood to be reduced. BUT when my cardiologist reviewed the results he said yes my heart is thickening, but it is also larger than average and the inner chamber volume bigger. He said I have a classic case of "Athlete's Heart". And I was just like whaaaaaat? He then went on to explain how it usually occurs in long distant runners and ect. I was like do I look like a long distance runner?!?! LOLOL