Stan's Journey

Hello alligators,

I have been pretty doing well with WW. I haven’t eaten meat for few days which it gave me a great feeling. Today, I went to the Taco Bell because my kid was very hungry after school. I realized that Taco Bell does provide few excellent meals like Fresco Taco and Burrito and reasonable PointsPlus value. I don’t plan to go there often but maybe once or twice a month. One thing about WW I like is that I don’t have to feel deprived. The WW’s guideline showed that most vegetables and fruits are zero PointsPlus value. Oh yeah, I don’t have to count their calories… is it nice? I just read an article that count the calories in everything you eat and drink, because all calories are equal, no matter what food or beverage. Calories are calories. I am not sure how it works. There are few questions that need to be address… you know you can’t say A is made of B or vice versa. I plan to address it at next meeting.

To understand how to lose weight better, we have to start with basic fundamental that is science. Go and study how the anatomy works. I start to question, “Are humans meat eaters or vegetarians by nature?” I don’t know anything, but I do know that everything is interesting if you go into it deep enough. So I dug deeper and of course, I found many interesting theories out there. Here is one of theories I am leaning toward to… there are some intelligent arguments for vegetarianism, but claiming that man is “naturally” herbivorous isn’t one of them. The settled judgment of science is that man is an omnivore, capable of eating both meat and vegetables, much as certain four-year-olds might like to convince their mothers otherwise. Back to the point… If you wish to grow thinner, diminish your dinner. Ha.

To my friends like Jake and Linda… I always think of you guys. You guys motivate me. Thanks buddies! I laughed when I read this quote… thought to share it with you, “I’m in shape. Round is a shape… isn’t it?” –Author Unknown

Later alligators,
Stan

Hello alligators,

Hope you are ready for Monday! It will be my second WW meeting. I read few things about WW online and found few interesting information. I am going to hold this thought until tomorrow. I will ask those questions and of course, I will share it with you guys.

Yesterday, I had roasted vegetables again, but delicious. I haven’t got tired of it yet. I didn’t work out due to the back pain. It frustrated me to hell.  Over Thanksgiving, my wife came down with sinusitis, including a trip to ER. I was on the go until today. Hopefully I will feel much better by tomorrow morning, after dropping off my kid at her school, then I will be able to spin at Y. We will have the sweet potatoes tomorrow. I am looking forward to that.

I can’t wait to share what happen in the meeting tomorrow with you guys.  One more thing before I sign off for tonight. I want to shout out a congratulations at Jake P. for his “Operation Life Change”. Way to go, Jake!

Later alligators,

Stan

 Hello alligators,

Wow… unbelievable, our leftover hasn’t ran out. Still have plenty in the fridge. I was like “oh… I am all ready to tap out.” The leftover won. You know my culture do not like to waste food. That puts the burden on me. I think I should eat all the food then I won’t feel it being wasted. There is a website that dedicated to the people who hate waste, http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/.  There is some good information in the website. Ok, ok alligators, I am going to tap out and throw away those foods.  It tempted me to eat which I don’t need. One of biggest bad habits that I have is I cook too way much and always have the leftovers. I learned something new; I have to prepare and cook with less food than usual. I can reuse those vegetables for another day like cut the cauliflower in half and cook the half. Put away other half in the fridge for another day.  I think it’s more cheap that way than cook the whole thing then buy another one next day.

Tomorrow, I am going to Y. Many of you guys don’t know that I had a major back surgery (Spinal fusion) which I can’t do any lifting or running. Before the surgery, I ran a lot. I finished 5K race in 28 minutes. Now, I haven’t run in almost 6 months. My doctor ordered me to do nothing for up to 12 months for the healing. I became more depressed and relied on food as my comfort. It really frustrated me because I literally can’t do anything like go out and run. Or hit the gym. I lost many pounds but it climbed back to 317 lbs. now. That’s why I joined the WW because I can lose some weight by eating right food. Finally, I got cleared by my doctor to start on stationary cycling and swimming. I did some cycling a day before the Thanksgiving. Tomorrow, I will do the same. Next week, I am going to do light swimming to see if it doesn’t hurt my back. It has been almost three months since my surgery. My back improved a lot faster than I thought. My doctor was surprised to see my quick recovery which he is glad but he is worried that it may hurt me in long term.  Back to the point, damn you, the leftover. You are not my friend anymore. Good-bye, leftover.

Later alligators,

Stan

Hello alligators,

Happy Thanksgiving! I bet all of you already know that the Plymouth Pilgrims were the first to celebrate the Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims were supposed to reach their destination in Jamestown, Virginia but they ran out the beers, I guess someone decided and said, “…screw Jamestown, let’s stop and make more beers.” I think the beers should become the symbol of Thanksgivings. Ha. The historians have suggested that many of the dishes were likely prepared using traditional Native American spices and cooking methods. Because the Pilgrims had no oven and the Mayflower’s sugar supply had dwindled by the fall of 1621, the meal did not feature pies, cakes or other desserts, which have become a hallmark of contemporary celebrations. The main meats on the table were fishes (cod, bass, and other types of fishes) and deer, not turkey. Oh boy (it’s illegal to say “oh boy” in Jonesboro… I am glad I don’t live in Jonesboro), the Weight Watchers would love the first Thanksgiving more than today.

Today, I barely made it within my points for the day plus allowance points (hush alligators, I could not help since I love the modern Thanksgiving included the desserts…damn you, sugar). I have plenty leftover…I am somewhat glad because the turkey has more protein than chicken or beef. I will have to be creative with the turkey leftover tomorrow. Also, I invited my parents to come over for the dinner again, to eat rest of the leftovers tomorrow. If you have a great turkey leftover recipe… share it with me, please.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

Later alligators,
Stan

It’s my second day with the Weight Watchers…when I woke up this morning. I was determined to go out and shop for vegetables and fruits. And I did. Primarily I’m a meat man, although once in a while I toy with a few vegetables. This time, I’m a vegetable man, although once in a while I toy with a few meats.

The vegetables are not cheap nowadays. Tonight, I roasted vegetables. It’s a colorful dish which I enjoyed very much.  As the amateur philosopher, I have to think and analyze what’s wrong with the picture yesterday on what I ate. There are two reasons why I failed to eat vegetables. First, the reason is lazy. Second reason is lazy again… both are not working very well… anyway, I went to the first WW meeting last Monday. I was shocked to see many people who were worried about what others are thinking. You have to be true to yourself, if you worry what others think of you, then you are being given an identity by someone else. I am sure you don’t want anyone else to label you. Funny thing about emotions, we seem not to control it. Willpower sucks but we have to conquer it and yes, we can.  “Energy and persistence conquer all things.” -Benjamin Franklin

I rewarded myself with the WW’s dessert, Dark Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Bars. It was so delicious and awesome… now, I wish I have joined long time ago just for the desserts. I always thought WW’s desserts would be plain and flavorless. Nope, I am wrong. It’s only my second day and many more days to come… I already am excited about the journey.

Later alligators,

Stan

Hello world, my name is Stan. I never thought I would write a blog. I decided to write about my journey to lose weight. I know it will be VERY difficult journey; maybe it will make me a miserable old guy. But…I know if I write about my journey, it may motivate me to reach the goal.  If there is someone out there that could share the feedbacks, welcome! Yes, I am writing the blog about my journey to be fittest and healthy. Wish me good luck.

Day 1- I made through the day without going over the limit points. But…I was frustrated because I didn’t eat any vegetables or fruits. I ate the oatmeal, hot dog with the coleslaw and Pizza Hut’s thin crust with the pepperoni and the chicken alfredo pasta. Tomorrow, I am going to the grocery store and buy load of vegetables and fruits. I shall NOT go out and eat for a while. Without Weight Watchers’ guide, I would never realize that I didn’t eat the vegetables and the fruits today. Damn you, fast food.  I thought of John Wayne’s quote: “Life is tough, but it’s tougher when you’re stupid.” Yes, I am stupid because I didn’t eat the vegetable. It’s my entire fault and I shall not repeat this stupidity again.

Later alligators,

Stan