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July 18, 2006
Day 193
Mired in progresslessness
I am basically treading water right now, putting together some good days of eating with some not so good days of eating, never really totally fucking up.
In short, I am doing enough to maintain my weight or, at most, lose just a little bit here and there.
For the last month I have gone back and forth between 280 and 276, never really making a huge breakthrough, but always staying under the dubious 280 mark.
But it is safe to say that this diet has lost momentum since I came back from Detroit.
What that means is that it is no longer the most important thing of each day. It has become routine. I know exactly what I am going to get at the grocery store. I know exactly what I can have for lunch and I know exactly what I can cheat with.
Bagels are a very guilty pleasure. At restaurants I almost always order a salad, but don’t hesitate to use all of the dressing. I think I could go on eating along these lines for a good long while, but of course I am thinking there will be at least one more major push towards 240. When that push will come, I don’t know. Hopefully it will be soon, but in a week I will be embarking on one of the biggest unknown adventures of my entire life.
This move is bigger than college, but similar in many ways. First, I will be moving in with people I don’t know, in a setting I am not familiar with. Second, I won’t know anyone at all, save for two friends who each live an hour away in different directions. Third, different things will be expected of me in my studies/job. Fourth, at the end of a period of time (three years in my head) I will know where I stand as a professional.
This is a big stepping stone job for me. It will either kill my career or propel me into the big time of sports journalism. What I have on my side is what I didn’t know during college: hard work will eventually pay off. I didn’t do a journalism-class assignment for my last three years of college. I flunked two easy classes just because I didn’t feel like doing the homework. But now, I understand that if I might have done those things, then the last few years of all around near-depression may not have ever happened.
So all I can do is go out there and work hard and make sure I am one of the best writers they have ever had.
But at the same time, I have to remember to work hard in other aspects of my life. Namely, the weight loss. To be what I want to be, I need to be under 250. That’s all there is. And I need to do it soon. I don’t need to go back to 1200 calories per day, but I have to be much more careful about what I put into my body.
So really, that’s where I am right now. I started packing my stuff today and I have a lot of work to do before I get done.
Posted by Dan Nied at 02:08 AM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2006
Day 188
Cleaning is not my specialty
With eight day left before I begin the move to the greater San Francisco area, the hard part has officially begun.
Now, to make everything clear, the hard part is not the saying goodbye to the countless friends I have made here in Colorado. I don’t have that many. Nor is the hard part trying to do all the stuff I always enjoyed doing in Sterling. Actually, I didn’t enjoy doing anything in Sterling. Nothing here is conducive to anything. You know how most towns have at least one cool thing? Like a town will have an awesome park with a bunch of trails that you can walk around for hours? Or it will have a sweet sports complex with batting cages and stuff? Well that shit doesn’t exist here. Nothing in this town is top notch. Everything is below standard. Everything sucks.
Nope, it will be easy to tear myself away from this town. But that hard part is cleaning up my apartment. See, I am gonna be poor in California. I need every damn cent of that security deposit back. Unfortunately, in the nearly two years that I have lived in this space, this is the first time I ever actually cleaned.
The concept of cleaning is quite foreign to me. It wasn’t until I moved into this apartment that I realized the difference between cleaning and straightening up. I am pretty good at making the place presentable. Of course, I haven’t had company since Feb. 2005, so I predictably fell behind in the straightening up department. But anyway, I used to think that clearing the floor of debris and straightening out the coffee table was sufficient cleaning. Same with doing the dishes and taking out the garbage.
Well, apparently, something called dust collects all over the place. Also, something along the lines of grime just accumulates in nearly-impossible-to-get-off deposits on all kinds of surfaces. Who knew? Not me.
To my credit, I began a few days ago, cleaning the kitchen counters and the stove. So I got a head start. But then I couldn’t carry over the momentum to subsequent days. So that kind of sucked. Thursday night I decided to attack the bathroom with a passion. The bathroom, because I am generally a dirty scrub and because I have neglected it for a long, long time, figured to be the most daunting task of cleaning.
My attempt to clean my crapper was comedy at its finest. First, I decided to use the all purpose cleaner WITH BLEACH. I didn’t really figure that it might almost make me pass out, even with no windows open. So imagine my surprise when my eyes started watering and I got so dizzy I almost fell down. I think it was the fumes. I know this because it was definitely the fumes. What else could it have been? Certainly not the effort, since that was lacking.
I had to scrub every inch of that fucking bathroom. And still, it wasn’t totally clean. Perhaps the most embarrassing part, which I will enthusiastically recount here, was the mopping. See, I don’t really know how to mop and I think that sort of came back to bite me in the ass. I read the Pine Sol directions and everything and I tried my best to figure out how much to use and how to do it. But I think I did it wrong. I ended up with puddles of dirty water all over the floor. Is the mop water supposed to be brown? If so, then I am a natural. But really, somehow I don’t think it is.
So it became apparent to me that I had to sop up this water somehow. I really had nothing to do it with except for me last clean (read: only) bath towel. So I sopped up all this filthy water with the towel. I did one of those things where you throw the towel on the floor, stand on it and dance your way to clean tiles? I was listening to the Arctic Monkeys at the time, so the floor got extra dry. All in all, the bathroom doesn’t look too bad right now. So I guess I did ok. Perhaps a little unconventional.
Anyway, that is my first adventure with cleaning this week. I am sure there is more.
I need a little help here. Since I am about to embark on a three-day road trip halfway across the country, I am looking for music to burn. I want to make about 10 mixed CDs. At least two will be comedy-based. The others will be music-based. So, I need some suggestions that I might not think of. So, if you people have any ideas feel free to post them in a comment below. However, if you want to be super awesome, then you can attach the MP3 file in an email to nieddan@yahoo.com. There is an example of what I am looking for below.
All right, gotta get back to cleaning.
Posted by Dan Nied at 12:22 AM | Comments (0)
July 13, 2006
Day 187
I don't want to gain it all back and be airlifted out of my home
So here’s what happened today: Not a whole lot actually.
I got to the gym, but for an interview with a new coach. But after the interview I managed to get on the elliptical for a half hour. So that was nice. However, I did not come close to working out, which puts me a day off schedule.
Working out has been very beneficial for me. In the four months since I started, there is a noticeable difference (to me at least) in my muscle tone. My arms are much more muscular than they were before. There are muscled that I didn’t really know existed. By the way, my forearms are fucking sexy right now. All this from lifting for about 25 minutes two to three times per week. Its not that hard, its not that exhausting, it burns calories and it works for you.
See, lifting is good for you.
But, of course, if I don’t keep losing weight then lifting won’t make a damn bit of difference. After the elliptical today, I was down to just under 277 pounds, which marks a new low point, actually. So yeah, that is pretty sweet. Look, it might take a year or two to get down to 240. There’s no doubt about that possibility. But I’ll keep saying it: as long as the numbers keep going down, one tenth of a pound at a time, I’ll be happy as hell. The key right now is to continue going downward. It doesn’t have to be 70 more pounds in 100 days. More likely, it will be 10 pounds in 40 days. That would be a fantastic leap right now.
Why? Because I couldn’t have been expected (by myself or anyone else) to keep up the pace I was going at in the initial 100 days. That time was lightning in a bottle and I really believe it changed my life.
I was watching something on the discovery channel Sunday night about a guy that lost like 700 pounds. It was the most weight any man had ever lost. But a few years after that, he had gained all the weight back and then some. And for all of his accomplishments, he could never really give anything up.
And I don’t want to be like that guy. I just can’t really do it. But some parts of my story line up with his. He said that, after the got under 200 pounds, he went to Coney Island and had four hot dogs with chili fries. Well, I’ve gone on similar binges (probably bigger ones) in the past few months. I manage to control myself the rest of the time, but those binges signal to me the possibility of recessing back to my old ways.
Basically, I don’t want to get down to 240 and then say “Hey, let’s celebrate” and have that celebration last until the weight comes back. I don’t want to be 240 for a day, then go up to 241, 242, 243… That’s kind of what happened when I hit 265 in college. I started going up immediately before I hit 335 not long after.
So I guess all I can really do is remain strong in the cause here. I can’t avoid eating shitty sometimes (nor would I want to) but I have to realize that I am bigger than that fourth slice of pizza.
Posted by Dan Nied at 02:30 AM | Comments (0)
July 11, 2006
Day 185
I'm pumped
If you had to sum up my mood today in one word, that word would be “enthused.”
First, I put together a second solid eating day in a row, taking in about 1,200 calories and working out when I said I was gonna take the day off. I am enjoying this whole habit I have gotten into of working out when I am bored. Before, I would take a nap or plan an elaborate take out dinner. But now, I just go work out. I think its better for me that way. Also, getting two good days in was important, considering the rut I had fallen into of basically eating well only every other day. Momentum is coming back, hopefully.
Second, I lost a little bit of weight. Remember yesterday I said that, at this point, I don’t care how fast or slow weight comes off, I just want to see continuous progress. Well I am about a pound down today (roughly 277.5) and looking forward to weighing in tomorrow.
Third, I think I have found a place to live in California. There was a lot of stress about where I would live and how much money it would cost. But I managed to find a place (I think) that is only $435 per month with manageable electric bills additional. All told, my math says it should add up to just a little bit more than what I am paying now. So maybe I can actually make use of the $6,000 raise I am going to get from this new job. But then, it IS California, so they’ll probably find some crazy way to drain my money. Oh, the best part about this place I found: It is a half mile from work. So that should save heavily on gas.
Yup, things are turning up Dan. So that’s pretty fucking good right now.
After I found out I have the room (which is in a large Victorian house that will be shared by two 30 year olds that I have never met) it hit me that I am heading to California. I was pumped up like a kid who just hit a little league grand slam. To someone who has never been out west before, which is a category I fall into, there is something magical about the idea of living in California, especially within close proximity to San Francisco. And after this utterly cultureless experience of the last two years (This town feels like a seventh-grade math class) I can’t really contain my feelings about how happy I am to be moving to one of the most culturally progressive areas in the country.
Sure, I might be a half hour out of San Francisco, and I don’t really have any first-hand knowledge of the town of Vallejo, but I have seen the worst America has to offer. It is called Sterling, Colo. So no matter what Vallejo can throw at me, I’ll be ready. It can’t be worse than this town.
The one major obstacle left before the move is cleaning my apartment. If any of you would like to help, please do. I have been putting it off for a week now and things aren’t exactly getting any better.
And the other major worry about the move is the diet. I’m sure I can buy healthy things in the grocery stores, but I am also sure that part of me will want to explore the town and the area as much as possible upon arrival. That could mean restaurants and nights at the bar. Of course, maybe I won’t have anyone to do that with. But let’s hold out hope that my roommates are cool. Of course, I’ll have to find a place to work out. But I probably won’t have the money for a membership for a few months. So I guess I may have to start paying a day rate.
The best thing about living in Colorado is that none of that stuff was a concern. Basically, this was the perfect place to lose weight. There are no good restaurants and no good bars. Plus, I got a free gym membership from work. So everything was kind of set up for success.
But now, I think I might be in a situation more apt for failure.
Interesting.
Posted by Dan Nied at 12:53 AM | Comments (0)
July 10, 2006
Day 184
Struggling with a stagnat presence
There is no doubt in my mind that this is most difficult part of my journey to day.
Right now it is very easy for me to use my past success to rationalize taking days off. After all, I’ve come this far, right? So what kind of big deal is it if I go out to lunch or have a few bagels as a snack? Well, its kind of a big deal.
Now, the occasional meal off isn’t such a bad thing. Its when that one meal leads to the fuck up of an entire day. That’s the bad part.
That’s what happened Saturday. I was covering an event and, without asking, the concession people just served me up a dish of cherry cobbler. It was delicious, sure. But I wasn’t really planning on having it. I took it to be polite.
And that would have been ok, in my mind. But that led to a trip to Subway for a Spicy Italian. Then later that night I had another big sandwich and gave myself stomach pains this morning.
I managed to get back on track Sunday, having a pretty decent day. But still, unless I can string together a long streak of healthy days, I won’t ever get down to 240. And I very much want to get down to 240.
The biggest worry for me right now is my mental state. My lifestyle has changed a great deal, but I still screw up more than I would like. Also, with a move looming in the next two weeks, and no real idea of what my health options will be in this new city (where will I work out?), I have no clue what the next few months will bring.
But that’s part of it, right? A lifestyle change means incorporating those habits into any typical situation. That’s what I am gonna have to do. And you know, there is no timetable for me to get down to 240, but the most important part is that I see continuous progress in the effort. For the last three weeks, I have shuttled between 280 and 277. I am losing and gaining the same three pounds. That’s not progress, that’s nothing.
But hey, at least I am not going up.
Posted by Dan Nied at 12:46 AM | Comments (0)
July 07, 2006
Day??? I've lost track
I'm here
I just wanted to stop in today to tell everyone that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth or anything.
I just got a little lazy this week and kind of decided not to do any blog entries after Monday. I know, sorry.
Basically my week in a nutshell: I have worked out three times so far, eaten ok not great and am definitely seeing this stage of the diet as the most challenging so far.
I am also in the midst of planning a move to San Francisco, and finding a place has been kind of shitty. I have no idea what to say to prospective landlords. I have no idea how much I should pay. Maybe I will just go live in a youth hostel and try to scam some weed and sex from hippie girls. Not THAT's a plan.
So I will be back Monday with something very very interesting.
Posted by Dan Nied at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)
July 03, 2006
Day 178
Movin' on up, movin' on out
What did I eat today? Hmm. I haven’t thought about it in a long time. Let’s do a quick rundown
Breakfast
1 pork chop
Calories: 100
Fat: 1 gram
Lunch
A pound of ground turkey
Calories: 470
Fat: 4 grams
Dinner
Subway Club
Calories: 640
Fat: 12 grams
Snack
2 servings of baby carrots
Calories: 70
Fat: 0 grams
Total Calories: 1,280
Total Fat: 17 grams
It wasn’t a perfect day, but it wasn’t far off. Go me!
Anyway, there is some big news to report. So for the last five months I have pretty much bitched about my situation in life, much of it having to do with the town I live in.
Well, I will only be living here for about two more weeks. Before the end of July, I will be moving about 30 miles North of San Francisco, to a town called Vallejo. Am I pumped? You better fucking believe it.
In a job search that took all of about two weeks, I got one callback, one interview and the desired result. I think I sent out about six resumes total. Contrast this to the last job search, where I sent out at least 50 portfolios, got three callbacks, went on two interviews and got one job after about a year. I guess experience does pay.
My new job will be as a sports reporter for Vallejo’s fine newspaper. I will be covering mostly high schools, but with some college and pro sports mixed in. So it is definitely a step up for me.
This job also relieves some very heavy burdens from my shoulders. First, I get to leave Sterling (before known as Shit Town). That makes it much easier to deal with the people I hate here. Second, it keeps me in the sports journalism business, which I was seriously considering leaving for more money and less rewards. I didn’t get that much more money, but I do get to keep the rewards.
Third, I get to leave Sterling! Actually third would be that I get to move to a place that is a mere 30 mile drive from one of the most culturally influential cities in the country. I actually get to see buildings that are more than three stories high. I won’t have to drive two hours to go see a movie and I might actually meet people who are between 18 and 40. So even though the money is pretty crappy and I may have to get a second job to maintain the cost of living, I am going to an area where I hope to set up shop for at least the next 10 years. And really, all I ever wanted was a second home. Hopefully now I have it.
As for the diet, it might get a little rocky during the move out there It also might get a little rocky on my Sterling farewell tour, which I picture with a few free dinners and more than a few beers. But I know how to maintain, and I’ll be working out as much as I can before I leave. Actually, I am hoping to drop another 5 to 10 pounds before the move. Of course, once I get out to California I’ll probably have to live on tuna sandwiches (with fat free mayo) for a good amount of time. So that might hasten the weight loss. Oddly enough, one of the most important parts of the move is finding a gym to work out in.
I wouldn’t have said that five months ago.
Posted by Dan Nied at 03:09 AM | Comments (0)