I love Matt

This guy never stops! I'm talking about Matthew McNutt, from the Biggest Loser season 3. I'm currently involved in the Youth Specialties biggest loser competition. It is a private site but has a forum.

McNutt, who is helping us, left this gem today:


Okay, so we're well on our way to losing some weight here, and by now, people are starting to deal with their expectations vs. what they're actually seeing on the scale.

Unrealistic expectations can be one of the biggest killers on any diet.

Here is the reality: without exercise and only counting calories results in about 1-2 lbs a week weight loss for women, and 2-3 lbs a week for men. That's a good week. Adding exercise to the mix can add another pound or so of loss a week.

Here's the problem: we hold ourselves up to shows like the Biggest Loser and call that the standard for weight loss. I'm going to clue you on something - that's not all real weight loss. Well, not in the time frame you think it is. If you dig deep, you can find on the NBC site blogs from the show Doctors actually giving away the fact that some of those "weeks" on the ranch are actually ten days long. So if you're wondering how they can lose that much weight in a week ... it's because they can't. TV has to be bigger than real life, so they misrepresent time to make it seem more amazing.

The truth is, in season three when I was competing from home, I was holding myself up to the numbers that had been delivered in season two. I was KILLING myself. Exercising two and a half hours a day, absolutely militant about my calories, and losing about 8-10 lbs a week (remember, I started at 366 lbs; when I was around 250, I was lucky to lose five pounds a week with that same level of effort). And I was completely depressed, because I knew based on the numbers of season two that there was no way I could even compete.

Even the lowest guy would probably be ahead of me. At that point I had no idea about the actually time spent filming each "week." So when I flew out there for my on camera weigh in, I was absolutely stunned to find out that not only was my weight loss - which based on what I had seen on the show and the website should have been respectable, but certainly not in competition with anything on the ranch - was actually ahead of everyone. My percentage of weight loss and and my number of pounds lost was ahead of everyone! And yet I had been feeling like a failure because my expectations for myself were so unrealistic!

All this to say, do NOT let yourself lose momentum because you aren't hitting the numbers you see on TV. It's impossible. If you are losing weight, or if the scale is even just staying the same ... you are succeeding! You are making positive change in your life, you are modeling a healthy lifestyle that reflects the value of your body as the temple of God and that is a shining example to the teens in your youth groups and your families!

Over 30% of kids are obese or overweight, and the number is going to be closer to 50% by 2010. By making change now, whatever the rate of progress, you are showing the people around you that it is never too late, and that honoring God through the care of your body is something that can be accompished!

Keep it up! Don't ever be disappointed with any weight loss!


McNutt...who doesn't love this guy?!

Another 5 pounds! Woo Hoo Part Deaux

Alright! I dropped another 5 lbs! down to 263! After having a crappy weigh in last week I was really actually hoping for more, but still, a 4 pound average two weeks in a row is good.

Two thoughts:

1. I'm still hacked that I lost over thirty pounds last year. So far this year I've lost 29 lbs in 5 weeks. Pretty good. But, had I kept off the weight I lost last year...I would be down to 231!!!! I can't believe I'm working off fat that I gained last year! And at this rate, it'll take me two more weeks to simply get where I was last year! At least I'm not going back. so that's good.

2. On Sundays I weigh in and take the day off. I don't count calories and I don't exercise, allegedly giving myself a break. Which is true. The other has become an excuse to eat whatever I want. And I don't freak out. I've probably eaten 2500 calories today. The problem? I think probably all but 40 grams was carbs and fat. That's the kind of eating that gets you fat. And it's tearing my insides out! not a good feeling!

Woo Hoo!!! New "old" Pants!

It was just a few months ago that I blew out my last pair of 42 inch jeans. I was getting so fat that even those HUGE jeans were getting tight. Then...they ripped. CRAP!

So I had to choose...get another 42 to squeeze into, or bust out the 44's. I've NEVER had 44's before.

Well, I've been eyeing some 40's that were in my dresser that I probably only wore a handful of times when I was ballooning up. I put them on last night and guess what?

LIKE A GLOVE!

There is nothing like fitting into skinnier clothes. So I'm sporting one of my new "old" pairs of pants today and I feel GREAT! All the coutning calories, packing up gear, sweating....it is all soooo worth it!

Eat more to lose weight

Matthew McNutt, former Biggest Loser contestant has a GREAT post today on his blog about the need to eat more in order to lose weight. This single piece of advice has been so helpful for me! I never feel hungry (unless I go long stretches without eating) and there is so much food to eat.

sidebar: One difference is that I never feel absolutely full, either. This goes back to my childhood and how I just never felt like we had any food, so whenever I got something good tasting to eat, I would gorge and gorge and gorge. I had no boundaries. The feeling of not being full did take a while to get used to.

For my weight (268) I am supposed to eat a little more than 1800 calories. And I hit it. The harder part for me is keeping my percentages to 45% carbs, 30% protein, and 25% fat.

Nevertheless, check out his blog. It's full of GREAT stuff.

Talk about Comfy...

So the other day I was cold and I grabbed my NYWC track sweatshirt that my sweet wife has been wearing around the house and I put it on. Which made me think, when I'm skinny, will I wear my old clothes around, like my wife wears my gargantuan clothes now?

3 lbs and some crappy scale

So after another tough week, I weighed in this morning...I "only" lost 3 more pounds, taking me down to 168. I cannot weight for 11 more pounds! that will be more than I lost last time.

And I say "only" because in reality, 3 lbs is really good.

This week our scale we were using broke so my sweet wife got another one. But there is no way I only lost 3 lbs. I did absolutely great with food and exercise. So it weighed me heavy (which I'll take because it will mean that next week will be even bigger!).

After church today, I ran to walmart and bought 3 other scales. Weighed myself 6 times on each. One weighed me heavy, one weighed my light, and the other two were in between them. In the end, we went back to the one we started with.

For the curious, the one we like is the Health-O-Meter scale (pictured) that holds memory for 4 people ($40). The one that weighed heavy was one by Weight Watchers.

My Life Saver

I love Orange Julius!!! But I am too cheap to buy them. So when I started watching my calories last year I quickly fell in love with smoothies. Here's my killer recipe! I have one every morning, and it, along with my cereal, make me feel like I'm eating so much!

3/4 cup Dole frozen fruit

1 serving of Whey Protein Powder

4 oz. dannon light yogurt (some fruit variety)

1/2 cup OJ.

It's 270 calories, 37.5 carbs, 30 protein, and 2 fat. Lots of carbs...tis true. That's the fruit and OJ. The protein is almost all the powder, along with 110 calories. And it tastes soooooo stinking good!!!!

Another 5 pounds! Woo Hoo

Meant to update this all week. I lost another 5 pounds last week which takes me to 271. I think the most I got down to last year was 258. I can't wait to surpass that!!! I need to get down to something insane like 229 by the start of April in order to qualify to win the Biggest Loser Championship.

What is that? Another 40+ pounds in two months!!!! I just don't see it happening. that'd be an average of 5 pounds a week. That's a lot. But I'm exericising and eating really well. So we'll see.

The Youth Specialties Biggest Loser Contest

Marko announced through email and then on his blog the start of a new Biggest Loser contest! Marko has gained some pounds (I believe truly in honor of the late great Mike Yacconelli) and he's tired of it.

And I hear it! So Marko and the kind folks at YS are putting together a Biggest Loser Competition (the details of which you can find on Marko's blog) along with loads of prizes. The other cool thing is that Matthew McNutt (super great guy and youth worker) from Biggest Loser Season 3 fame, is going to help with it. McNutt is the man and has a great blog full of tips for losing weight.

Since I'm doing the local competition here, this will help me continue the hard work a little longer. My buddy Sean is doing it as well, and he could easily win it! Although I told him that if there's a tie between himself, Andy (a great youth pastor in Illinois), and Marko, then I think they should all wrestle for it, and I volunteer to film it.

My new cereal trick

In the mornings I eat either one serving or two. I like to have two! There is something about having cereal in the morning, even when I'm limiting my calories.

Anyway, I was using a big bowl for my cereal because I was eating a cup and a half of Total and it's too much for my small bowls. But being in the big bowl....it was just....I dunno....it seemed like I was not getting a lot.

So I switched it out and am using the small bowls and filling them up to the top! I like it cause it's like I'm eating a FULL bowl of cereal and I'm probably shorting myself on both servings. I'm eating less, but it seems like more.

What do you think? Cereal in a small bowl or big bowl? Or if you have any other tips/tricks I'd love to hear them!

Brush with Biggest Loser Fame, part deux

Well, I rushed from work and got there at 10 after 5 pm. Evidently they closed the line at 5 pm, even though they were allegedly going to be there till 6 pm. It was bittersweet. While I felt bad for Jim and Julie, both noticably tired of meeting people (but still great attitudes), I really wanted to say, "Hey!"

I tried to bargain my way into the line, or at least some swag, but it wasn't going to happen. Everyone in line was able to choose either both DVD's or a copy of the new Fitness book. Pretty sweet deal! And although the crew wouldn't part with either of those, they did hook me up with two BL water bottles and, SURPRISE, two packs of EXTRA sugar free gum!

With only one couple left to greet, Julie (without shoes) still gave the coupole a great big hug and Jim was more than happy to meet them and kid around.

One thing I didn't notice in yesterday's setup is that on one side of the booths are the before pictures, and on the other side are the afters. Jim and Julie were standing right next to Bill's before pic, and it looks like Jim took some artistic license during his stay with Bill's pic.

Jim and Julie still look great, and though it's a giant marketing blitz, it's still a pretty cool deal.

4 more pounds!

Down to 276! I still have to average more than 5 lbs every week to win the biggest loser. Man, that is going to be tough!

The Biggest Loser Comes to Wichita

Being a Biggest Loser junkee, when I heard the "show" was coming to Wichita, one of the fattest cities in America, I knew I had to check it out. I took some pics, but I was upstairs. Sorry they aren't better. And no, this isn't me or my family in these pics.

Today "they" were at Town East Mall here in town. The two "stars"? Julie and Jim from last season.

They are at the mall today and tomorrow from 11 am - 6 pm (I think). We got there after 1 pm and man, talk about lines!!! They were set up kind of in four different stations or quadrants with long lines for three of them.

The biggest line, of course, was to meet Jim and Julie. It snaked around and was filled with a bunch of people. Jim and Julie seemed really great. They took pictures with people, gave people hugs, and talked and talked and talked. It didn't seem like there was anyone really pushing the line. People could talk to them as long as they wanted to.

And props to Jim and Julie! With all kinds of people coming up to them, hugging them like long lost friends, they seemed, as long as I was there, to genuinely greet each person with a smile, handshake or hug.

The show had a couple photographers up to take pics of people meeting Jim and Julie. And they had a table of autographed pics from the Finale, along with the two new DVDs (tried to find them afterwards at Best Buy and Target but had no luck) and the new BL training book.

Jim (still looking slim) and Julie (in a slimming black outfit) were autographing the DVDs, book, and pics and it seemed like they were just giving them away to the people who got to meet them. I thought that was pretty cool. I had my whole fam with me and we weren't going to wait 90 minutes, which is why I don't know for sure they were giving them away.

The other stations consisted of three notebook computers set up back to back to back (like a triangle) on a bar table so people could sign up for the Million Pound Match Up. For those of us tired of product placement, you'll appreciate this. What was between all three notebook computers in the center of the table? A big bucket of Wrigley Extra! Neil would have had a hey day!

The other two stations consisted of a table with some staff who were taking people's height, weighing them, etc. The last station was taking the "before" picture.

Pretty cool. I hope I can make it back tomorrow. I have to work so I doubt it. I'd LOVE to get my hands on those two new DVD's and be able to chat with Jim and Julie. Eh, there's always myspace, I suppose.

This has never EVER happenned before!

Tonight Jen and I went on a date and we saved up all of our calories for dinner. We ate out at what may be one of my new fav restaruants, Cheddars.

We split a Texas Cheese Fries, and then I had a rack of ribs with mashed potatoes and southern style green beans, and two croissants with honey butter. Oh....it was sooooo good.

But I couldn't eat all my food. After two weeks of counting calories...I left half the rack and took it home. And...I felt like puking. I was so tempted to bust out some bulemic action, but didn't. but I could see wanting too!

then we went to Cold Stone Creamery, where we'd never gone too before. And I got the smallest Mint Chocolate Chip thing. ah...I love mint!

anyway, I got halfway done and I through in the towel! I love ice cream and I don't think I've ever ordered the smallest size of ice cream and then I couldn't even finish it!

Then, this morning, still stuffed from our HUGE dinner, I could barely force down my breakfast!

And to think I used to eat like this ALL THE TIME! dude!!!

Back to the Biggest Loser

Sorry for the lack of posts....I am alive.

And i"m back to losing weight and working out! There is another constest in town to lose weight. I really blew it last year...and I'm not going to let it pass me by again. I weighed in nearly two weeks ago at 309! Whew! that's a lot of weight!

Last Sunday I was down to 280.

I weigh in every Sunday so I'm pumped to see what week two will bring. If it gets me 5 lbs...I'll be so grateful.

I'm making it one of my major priorities for the next 90 days. Just to see what I can do to get started. Since then, i haven't missed a day at the gym, which has not been easy and I've been counting my calories.

Anyway welcome back!

The Heart Rate Monitor

So back when I was really working out I was using my heart rate monitor. I really thought it was cool to really see how hard I was working out.

After I work out I would take off the heart rate monitor (super sweaty) and put it in a baggy so it wouldn't get the rest of my stuff all gross.

After a few months it wasn't nearly as responsive. Probably needed a new battery.

Nevertheless, I never planned on not working out for like months and so I put it away sweaty in it's baggy and there it sat for at least 6 months or more. Pretty freakikng gross.

So when I broke it out earlier this week it had all this calcification of sorts on the electrodes. I did my best to scrape them off hoping it would still work.

It WORKED!

Or so I thought. For some reason it keeps track of my heart rate tons worse than it did before. I changed out the battery. I need to take it to the Y for the ultimate test...working out on the machines. The machines there pick up on the HRM really well. So if it works there I'll chalk it up to maybe the watch battery or something, before I go out and buy another strap. I'm so dumb.

Here's the monitor I have in case you are looking at purchasing one: Polar F11

(btw, mine fits small. I thought I was getting a manly man size one, but I think it's gender neutral and I have it on the last hole on the watch band and it's uncomfortable. When I lose some pounds it'll feel better. Until then...wish the strap was bigger)

Another Workout IN!!!

Walked my kids to school and Charis and I kept going...4 miles total in one hour. I figure that's pretty good. I remember in high school if you were going to walk a mile in PE it had to be within 20 minutes. So 15 minute miles walking seems okay especially considering that I would probably run one in 12 minutes...

One interesting thing is that when I work out at the Y on the eliptical trainer or some other machine, after an hour I am a sweaty SWEATY mess and I work out hard. After walking for an hour, I am tired but not nearly as sweaty. Wierd.

Walking the track

alright! Did my first work out today since joining Traineo. Didn't do it after work like I planned, but I did do it after dinner. We took the kids down to the high school and walked a mile around the track. Good times.

dude, something has to change

I signed up for Traineo and have a bunch of GREAT motivators. But I still haven't worked out. I'm still overeating. Dude....this can't go on.

I feel so pressed for work I stay up late doing work. Then I wake up late. So I skip exercising. And I'm tired at work. So I don't get enough done. So I take home work. And then I feel so pressed for work I...you get the idea.

Every day it's the same.

I got to break out of this horrible habit!!!!

Tomorrow, I'm exercising no matter what. Of course, I'm so fat nowadays that maybe my karaoke counts as aerobic exercise...

My morning revelation

so...I wrote a couple books and got some cash and I'm going to take my kids on a surprise trip to Walt Disney World in December. I'm driving to work this morning when IT hits me.

"There is no way I'm going to spend THOUSANDS of dollars taking my kids to WDW and be too fat to ride the rides."

This has already happenned to me at two other theme parks. I was too fat for the safety latch to close. How sad.

Well, I'm not going to stand outside rides at Disney World and watch my kids enjoy it because I was too out of control.

I have three months.