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WEBSITE ON HOLD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO

TIME CONSTRAINTS, I'M STILL AT IT.

-First Started: Feb 3rd 2007: 379lbs, 48.8BMI

-Last Updated: Mar 17th 2007: 327lbs, 41.3BMI

STATUS: MORBIDLY OBESE, 52lbs LOST

-Day 58 Sunday April 1st: Journal

Your Jeans are Burning

Ever wonder why all the junk mail you get from gyms offer a free week, perhaps a month?

And all those flyers and newspaper ads promise you can lose "up to 20lbs" or some such number in 8 weeks?

The answer is simple: weight loss is fun in the short term.

It's a new horizon to explore, results are impressive and apparent. And people you know start a buzz about you.

But as soon as you dropped down the dough for the full year gym membership, or told got a couple of friends to sign up to the weight loss boot camp or whatever, the honeymoon's over.

This sucks, it's loooong term, and people start to nitpick instead of praise.

Yes there are results, yes I'm going to lose it all, but you can take your trite promises and add them to you digestive track, the hard way.

As for me, I might not be so chipper but I still am attempting to do something, anything, about my morbid obesity.

-Day 58 Sunday April 1st: Diet Log

Captain's Final Log

My journal here is a joke, I don't record what I actually eat I just throw in whatever sounds good at the moment.

So I'm putting my online diet log on hiatus.

Instead I'm going to concentrate on a pad a paper and pen throughout the day, hopefully I'll do better.

-Day 58 Sunday April 1st: Exercise Log

Kneed a Rest

282 stairs and a 4k walk outside.

Sweet car. I wish my body had that type of suspension, my knees ache, but I want to finish the 106,000 stairs that are a part of my challenge.

Day 57 Saturday March 31st: Journal

I Look Like a Fool

[Takes off glasses] I give up, I give in, I can't win! I finally get down to a size where I can fit back into my patriotic crime fighting leotard and that retard "Captain America", goes and GETS SHOT! Good! But now even in death that podium stealing, thunder pilfering corpse is eating up all the press. Only the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (yawn) showed up to my "I'm back" press gala. And I even served my spinach puffs!

I mean come on! The guy doesn't even have any powers OR gadgets. Okay sure he had a shield, fat lot of good that man-hole cover did him, did I mention the guy with the shield and "really-quick-but-not-super" reflexes got SHOT!

And I bet he's not even dead, he's just stealing a page from the Superman book of how to be popular again. And don't even get me started on him. He's from another planet and at a time where America is overrun with every sort of two-bit crime fighter wanna-be that can blow giant snot bubbles, or can make anything they touch turn to liquid HE SPENDS ALL HIS TIME DOWN THERE. Would it be so much to ask for a little help with the Quebec ice storms? Oh yeah, one last thing, for a guy who's faster than a speeding bullet and apparently treats border crossings like they were made of kryptonite WHERE WAS HE during the shooting. Eh?

I mean I'm a true patriot. I stand on guard for the True North strong, glorious, and free. And what do I get, free healthcare (now there's something Cap could've used). I could be making some serious multi-colored money as a firefighter, cop, soldier, or even a CEO bodyguard/chauffeur, how many chauffeurs can FLY! But it's not worth it. Our money is just about as valuable as rights to televise hockey in the US.

So I'm giving up, I'm going to eat myself to death. Hopefully that'll get me on CNN.

-Day 57 Saturday March 31st: Diet Log

Hunger

I feel it again. My old adversary. There were many a year when I ran or bowed before it. But mainly I didn't know what hunger was, I was either full, or VARY RARELY empty (usually while playing video games). Hunger gave up on my body, it was useless. But once again it eats away at me. I'll call that a small victory.

Now only if I can modulate it, tame it, defeat it, I'll call that a win.

2 servings oatmeal crisp w/ 1 cup of 2% milk: 530 calories, 10 points

Footlong turkey subway sub, no cheese or bacon, only mustard: 560 calories, 10 points

Chicken caesar salad wrap: 350 calories, 7 points

-Day 57 Saturday March 31st: Exercise Log

Hewn & Ported Stone

As much as I am in awe of this wonder, it's because of the men who had the vision, intelligence, determination, skill, and persistence to build it. And no doubt in doing so they chiseled their own bodies as they ported not only the stone but themselves as well in their task. The rest is just old rocks.

Walked a half Marathon (13.5 miles) with my wife.

Day 56 Friday March 30th: Journal, Rule & Quotes

I Can Taste It

I know. I know I'm only supposed to be concentrating on the next pound. And rest assure that I am squarely fixated on it. I don't even have a goal weight posted anywhere in sight on the site. (I figure that sort of thinking is like kryptonite to me).

But every now and again a deep mummer, a rumbling, comes form both behind me and in front of me. Both my fit past and future stand forth and goad me on. And it feels like that picture looks, both of them determined and working together. Fixated on "the goal".

I'm 6'2", the same height as Batman, only he's 210lbs. Superman is an inch taller and 15lbs heavier (how does he work out?).

Now I know that these are fictional portals of the extreme ends of human (and kryptonian) physiology, but I look around at some friends my height: they're 180-240 and look "right".

But the goal for me is not a number, not a look, not even the ability to live life (and keep on doing so). The goal is that I keep on trying, and inch by inch, succeed.

That's what I want.

-Day 56 Friday March 30th: Diet Log

Water Water Everywhere, And All of it to Drink

Big picture, little to say so use the empty space to think this one into yer head. It's so obvious I won't even make it a rule, like "eat" isn't a rule.

DRINK WATER! LOTS OF WATER! EVERY DAY! DRINK YOUR FILL WHEN YOU WAKE! DRINK TONS BEFORE EACH MEAL! AND DRINK LITTLE, IF ANYTHING, ELSE! (Maybe don't drink so much before bed).

Dihydrogen Monoxide, one of the top 10 discoveries of man. Get yer fill.

-Day 56 Friday March 30th: Exercise Log, Quotes

Fiddler on the Roof

I'm having trouble with my all or nothing thinking so besides the usual 1410 stairs and a 4k walk outside. I want to link these two quotes:

A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, [at Morbidly Obese], you might say [I'm] a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask 'Why do [you] stay up there if it's so dangerous?' Well, we stay because [we don't like the other options]. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in [three] word[s]: [I DON'T KNOW]!

& from Three Kings:

The way it works is, you do the thing you [don't want to do], and you get the courage AFTER you do it, that's how it works.

Day 55 Thursday March 29th: Journal

In Their Shoes

I am not special. There are those that have gone before me, and there will be those that will go after me.

So here's the rub: the International Journal of Obesity says 95-98% of people who lose 75lbs or more regain it ALL within 3 years (2/3rds within the 1st year). But it gets worse:

According to the World Health Organization almost than 57 million people died in 2002. About 2.7 million in Canada and the United States. The US National Center for Health Statistics reported that the #1 killer at 28% is heart disease, it even beat out cancer.

I'm in the 99th percentile when it comes to being obese. A male living in my province can expect to live 79 years on average. I therefore have about 50 years left in me if I can get to around 50th percentile range. Otherwise I'll most likely be dead before 2025.

They say you should change your shoes every 300 miles or 6 months AT MOST. I'm a bit heavier so I figure it should be more often.

The National Weight Control Registry is tracking over 5000 individuals who have lost 30lbs or more and have kept it off for at least a year. So it is doable. ~5% succeed.

The thing is I don't want to do it in their sojourn worn shoes,

I'm going to do it in mine.

-Day 55 Thursday March 29th: Diet Log

Day 55 Diet

2 servings oatmeal crisp w/ 1 cup of 2% milk: 530 calories, 10 points

Homemade Cheeseburger: 500 calories, 10points

5 Cookies: 250 calories 5 points

-Day 55 Thursday March 29th: Exercise Log

The Weakest Link

1410 stairs and a 4k walk. Outside.

Despite my best efforts my knees are starting to tell me to lighten up. Darn.

-Day 54 Wednesday March 28th: Journal, Events

Beyond Hope: Trans-Canada/There & Back Again Challenge Update

I'm now officially beyond Hope ;-) I've walked 322 kilometers (200 miles) and that happens to take me from the start of the Trans-Canada Highway past the wonderful town of Hope BC. Not only is it the chainsaw carving capitol of Canada, but I once worked as a summer camp program director there, and it's where the original Rambo was filmed. Nowadays everyone takes the new toll highway resulting in many dwindling towns like the one in Pixar's movie "Cars" but I'm sticking with the TC. Which leads me to where I am now: Hell's Gate (a tourist attraction between Boston Bar & Spuzzum). This spot is where 1,100 miles of the Fraser River is squeezed into a 110 foot wide thundering passage where 200 million gallons of heart stopping rapids hammer through!

On the other hand if I were to start out a Hobbiton and walk with Samwise Gamgee along with Frodo on his quest to destroy the One Ring, we would have picked up Aragorn in Bree at the Prancing Pony Inn a while back. We've just now made our way through the Midgewater Marches North of the main road East (to avoid detection) and off in the distance we can now just barely see Weathertop, a hill that served as a watchtower many eons ago for a great kingdom of men. We're going to make our way towards it taking us even further East.

-Day 54 Wednesday March 28th: Diet Log, Rules & Quotes

Day 54 Diet

2 servings oatmeal crisp w/ 1 cup of 2% milk: 530 calories, 10 points

Footlong turkey subway sub, no cheese or bacon, only mustard: 560 calories, 10 points

Chicken caesar salad wrap: 350 calories, 7 points

Good food eh? Rule #9: Make it Not Hard. Otherwise you won't stick with it.

-Day 54 Wednesday March 28th: Exercise Log

Just a Waypoint Not A Stopping Point

1410 stairs and a 4k walk. Outside.

It's hard to pull myself away from my rig. But outside in spring is where it's at.

Day 53 Tuesday March 27th: Journal

"Medicine"

Sibutramine, orlistat, phentermine, diethylpropion, fluoxetine, and bupropion, or even amphetamine and methamphetamine are prescribed to patients with obesity issues. There's now even an over the counter one.

These expensive drugs suppress appetite, block absorption, or increase metabolism. They do not increase your willpower or persistence.

Some anti-obesity drugs have severe and often life-threatening side effects in addition to the normal list of fast-talking-guy banter such as oily stool leakage.

And the results? The results are meek at best, very meek. Appetite and fat storage are complex and we just don't know enough to make a good enough drug to properly aid weight loss. All the above "are not a practical long-term solution for people who are overweight".

But billions are being spent to develop that magic bullet we can pop.

I say take a Flintstones multivitamin while eating a calorie reduced diet and concentrate on not putting things in your mouth,

that'll be good for what ails ya.

-Day 53 Tuesday March 27th: Diet Log

Fire in the Hole!

2 servings oatmeal crisp w/ 1 cup of 2% milk: 530 calories, 10 points

Footlong turkey subway sub, no cheese or bacon, only mustard: 560 calories, 10 points

2 pieces of lasagna 900 calories, 18 points

I got both barrels from my nutritionist today; I showed her my diet log. I'm to:

-Eat 50% carbs, 30% fat 20% protein. -Eat a fruit after each meal. -Move after each meal. -Spread my eating out over 12-16 hours. -Eat no less than 2 no more than 5 hours apart.

-Day 53 Tuesday March 27th: Exercise Log

1 Day Left Until My Trans-Canada/There & Back Again Challenge Update

1410 stairs and a 4k walk. Outside.

I'm really starting to build up some of my leg muscle now that my cardio has got to the point where it can keep up. I'm wondering if I should balance that out with a little bit of weight training for the rest of my frame.

Day 52 Monday March 26th: Journal

Life is Like a Screen of Dots

Everything I needed to know about losing weight I learned from Pac-Man:

You need to consume or you won't be able to move and you'll fail.

Keep track of how much you've eaten. Every bit counts.

Move around lots, stay in motion, sometimes you'll find extra strength that way too.

You can't leave, if you find yourself on a path out just come right back in the back door.

Eat all the fruit you can, it really counts!

Stay away from things that make you fail.

When you're feeling really strong go do something extraordinary or overcome adversity.

It's easy early on, but gets hard later. However if you find it fun you'll never stop.

And no matter how much you play, the game seems to just keep on going.

-Day 52 Monday March 26th: Diet Log

Green

2 servings oatmeal crisp w/ 1 cup of 2% milk: 530 calories, 10 points

Footlong turkey subway sub, no cheese or bacon, only mustard: 560 calories, 10 points

2 pieces of lasagna 900 calories, 18 points

And you'll note I don't record all my veggies or 'greens' if you will.

Speaking of greens, I've found that even though I'm eating less I'm spending more. WHY IS DIET FOOD SO EXPENSIVE?

-Day 52 Monday March 26th: Exercise Log

And Again

1410 stairs and a 4k walk. Outside.

I figure it's good to be away from the couch, computer, & fridge.

I figure it's even better to be outside.

I don't know why, it's just a hunch.

Day 51 Sunday March 25th: Journal

Power

In grade 12 physics we all tested our personal horsepower. I was the only one over 1hp.

Useless.

I have access to a privet gym with it's own 25m lap pool and recliners in the change rooms to watch the HDTVs. Businesses succeed or fail over deals made between guys on the treadmills that are worth more than my car.

Useless.

I have a personal trainer, a nutritionist, a physician, the latest motivational books, a new pair of shoes, etc, etc, ad nauseum.

It's all useless. I could hold the stars in my hand like so many marbles and I would be no closer to my goal. I have many tools, some rusty, some with bells and whistles. They are useless if they don't get used however.

The power I hold, I the power I choose the wield, is that to do something ANYTHING. Because at the end of the day anyone can write any blog, read any book, listen to any expert, wear any product, or gloat over any past memory.

But only I can put one foot in front of the other.

That's power.

-Day 51 Sunday March 25th: Diet Log

Diet Day 51

2 packs of instant noodles: 800 calories, 16pts

1 piece of lasagna 450calories, 9pts

You could yell at me for not eating enough but you'll have to leave a message.

I'm out to Lunch :-)

-Day 51 Sunday March 25th: Exercise Log

No Rest for the Wicked

Considering I only did 10mi as my weekend workout, I'm not giving myself a break today.

1410 stairs and a 4k walk.

Only 12 more kilometers until I update my Trans-Canada / There & Back Again Challenge.

I'm still 16,680 stairs short of emerging from the depths in my Marianas to Everest "Endless Stair" Challenge. But don't worry, I'll get there; one step at a time.

-Day 50 Saturday March 24th: Journal, Rules & Quotes

Sleeping Giant

My dad was a private man but one day he called me over and sat me down. "Son," he said "there are two things you need to know: Shut-up, and don't poke the bear". He then got up and walked off.

To my detriment I have never heeded either piece of advice. Although it has made for an interesting life thus far.

An older gentleman by the name of Isaac Newton had another observation: "Every body perseveres in its state of being at rest or of moving uniformly straight ahead, except insofar as it is compelled to change its state by forces impressed."

The more massive the body the more it's going to stay at rest or continue moving.

I'm a massive body.

Which is fine if I happen to be moving, but there are times when I'm compelled by forces impressed to "get stuck".

This would be a good time to poke the bear. And maybe even yell a bit at it.

Then run. Because I'm going to.