Okay…let me explain. Life has happened since I last blogged. Lots of life. I was on track big time…losing weight at pretty decent clip then…I got a hairbrained idea that it would be a good idea to buy a foreclosure in Franklin (40 minutes from where we were living previously). Well…that meant long nights and less sleep and lunch times spent with many tasks to help get the house in shape. In addition to all of the work, less sleep etc I was, without a doubt, stress eating. I was eating junk and was doing it to try and help with the stress. While it might have helped me cope it was not good for the weight loss goal.

Through this Julie has been very supportive and trying to get me back in the habit of blogging and my public confessions. It was working so well…until…I had this brilliant idea to uproot my family and move them. This was a crazy idea and I often wonder if it was the right decision.

So…the goal. Looks like I will not hit the intended goal in the time alloted. So…I guess no cruise on the Norwegian Epic (actually I am quite bummed about this. The ship looks incredible and I look forward to reading the reviews when she launches)…which is probably okay because since we got the house ‘extra’ money is pretty much not in the plan. So…all this to say I am back and will continue to blog and update everyone here. Thanks for not giving up on me.

To be honest I am thrilled with this result. This past week and really the past two weeks have been a roller coaster ride. My wife and I have made a big decision that will see us moving and that caused some MAJOR nervous eating this past week. At one point my wife asked me “Are you hungry or are you just eating?” I claimed I was hungry and at that point I probably was since I inhaled my food so fast that my body did not have time to catch up!

I, like so many others, am an emotional eater. If I am watching a hockey game (Go Nashville Predators!) I have to munch on something (luckily I have found my snack and that is popcorn popped in coconut oil. It’s very good and not too bad for you. High in fiber…low in fat and a little goes a long way). When the scale of the decision we made this past week hit us I was led right to food by my emotions. The fact that I am down this week is amazing! I am also battling a major upper respiratory deal that is hampering my ability to do strong cardio work….hopefully this week I can get rid of that as well. Now…if I could only get rid of the emotional eating or get rid of all the emotions!

This past week has also signaled a change in the ultimate reward for my work. More on that in an upcoming post.

Mini Goal – It is time to bust 250 and never look back!

The weight continues to come off albeit at a bit slower pace than I thought. But…truth be told life is different now than it has been in the past. It’s just busy! Overall I am feeling good about the progress just wishing that it was a bit more dramatic. My goal is to be sub 250 next Monday. It would be a great feeling and a nice milestone for sure. If I hit it before then I may post it.

Thanks for those who follow and for those who help keep me accountable. This is not easy but with people watching and helping it makes it a little better!

Okay…so I got some of last weeks gain back but not all of it. Felt good. Have to really ramp it up here though as I have been kind of treading here for a while and not really dropping anything dramatic. We’ll see how it goes.

On a side note: What are your goals for 2010? I have set some work goals and have let my leaders here at work know about them. Still working on the home goals (we need organization, more time in the word, time for just the two of us among other things). Julie and I have talked about sitting down but we have yet to do it…life with the newborn and two other little girls makes it interesting and sometimes at the end of the day you just need to veg! One thing I NEED to do more of is read. I just signed up to be reviewer at BookSneeze for new book releases. This would be one way to help with that goal!

Ouch! Really…that’s the word that comes to mind when I think of the last two weeks. While it is easy to blame it on the Holidays the fact is there is no one to blame but myself. I ate horribly and didn’t work out. That’s it. End of story. When you eat sausage balls, cake, ice cream, mac and cheese, meatballs and popcorn chicken all in one day you really shouldn’t be surprised…and I’m not.

Now life is back to normal. I am back at work and that is where I can typically stay on track. I can keep healthy food around me and snacks at the appropriate time. I will be back on track this week for sure. I am setting an aggressive goal for myself this week to lose 6 pounds to make up for the horrific last two weeks. This is getting to be serious and I can’t have any more ‘time off’ like I did the last two weeks. If I am to hit my EPIC goal then this has got to be kicked into overdrive!

It has been two weeks since the last weigh in but here I am…I must admit that I am pleased with these results considering all the things that happened since the last weigh in:
- My wife and I had our third girl…Lily Anne
- Didn’t work out for NINE days
- Two nights with wife at the hospital…tried to eat healthy
- Visit from Lily’s grandparents from Michigan…tried to eat healthy again!
- A nine pound Honey Baked Ham was given to us by Dave as part of an incredible week leading up to our Christmas Party
- Company Christmas Party
- Team Christmas Party

So…as you can see there were lots of obstacles over the last 9 days or so but I made some good choices along the way. The best part is that I NEVER felt like I was starving or denying myself anything. This week it’s back to working out and trying to keep the momentum moving forward. It’s going to be a tough two week stretch with Christmas and New Years coming up but I will try to knock a few more pounds off before 2010 hits.

Overall not a bad week…I will take 3.5 pounds without a doubt. Especially considering that my well meaning in-laws brought Costco Cake into the house (read THIS post to get my thoughts on Costco cake). I will admit to eating a piece of the butter infested, sugar injected, frosting covered goodness last night. Also on the ‘birthday menu’ last night was rib-eye steak…a bit more fatty of a meat than I have been eating lately but it sure was good.

Most people look at their birthday as a free pass and while I did indulge in steak and had a piece of cake I did not go crazy. Sure it was because I knew my weigh in was coming today but, more importantly, because I want to hit my goal. One birthday off is not going to ruin my life but it does get me closer to the finish line…and my cruise on NCL!

My Favorite Mexican food you ask? Well…I know you didn’t ask but I will tell you. It’s steak fajitas from Guapo’s in Arlington VA. Oh my goodness…anytime you order fajitas and they ask you how you want your steak done is a good sign and that is what they do there. Couple that with there fresh tortillas made on the premises and you have a home run! When not in the DC area for business or family we like Pancho’s Place in Spring Hill. Solid food and great service.

Well…I didn’t hit my goal (3.2 pounds) for the week and I realized two things.

1. Thanksgiving is harder than I thought it would be…even without dessert!
I did pretty good but even with the ‘just a taste’ plan in full effect the foods are so rich and high in fat and calories that it makes it nearly impossible to be good. Overall I felt pretty good about my ‘game day performance’ and really wouldn’t change a thing.
2. When you don’t exercise it’s nearly impossible to knock the weight off!
A nasty 24 hour bug knocked me out of working out Tuesday and Wednesday and then I did not drive the 30 minutes back up to the gym over the weekend. This week should be different but a busy schedule is going to cause some on the fly adjustments to be made!

The week ahead…well…this is going to be tough but I am kicking into high gear and calling for a FIVE pound loss this week! Got to get this thing back on track big time! I am not in danger of my EPIC goal failing but I need to make some serious headway!