Day 505 Freedom Revisited and Thin Mint Control

Day 505

Freedom Revisited and Thin Mint Control

I was up really early today. So early in fact, I’m a little embarrassed to say. OK, uh—let’s call it, slightly before 3am. BUT---I did get five hours of sleep, maybe not enough, but fairly normal for me. I’m a mid-afternoon napper, everybody knows this about me. If I answer the phone between three and five pm, I always hear “I didn’t wake you up did I?” Why so early? I had several things to accomplish before 6am. I did my non-weighted squats and sit-ups before my first cup of coffee. It isn’t a big early morning workout by any stretch, but it feels really good to do something first thing, it really does. I’m laying off any movements that put any kind of stress on my arm. It’s about 90% healed, I mean---it feels worlds better, and I’m so relieved it wasn’t something permanent. But I’m being super careful now. We’ll get it to 100% and then we’ll have no mercy, ok…no mercy within reason.

I prepared another egg-white/veggie stuffed Flat Out wrap this morning. It taste good, really good, but one of the main draws for me is the fiber content. 9 grams of fiber packed into one! With my fruits and veggies throughout the day, I’m confident I’m hitting between 25 and 30 grams of fiber per day---and that’s a good thing for various reasons we need not discuss.

I arrived at the studio early to get some work done ahead of the week. I’ve really need to tighten my focus and realize that weight loss writing and speaking isn’t what I do for a living just yet. These words are not mine, but that of the man who signs my paycheck, and I honestly deserved to hear them. I get so wonderfully passionate about weight loss and all of the freedom it allows---and I want that for my family, friends, readers, and anyone who has the weight to lose. I spend a lot of time communicating with people concerning weight loss and I even booked a non-paying corporate weight loss speaking engagement recently for March. But still, radio is what I do, and I do it well. I’m luckier than most. I need to remember that.

I summed up this freedom that fuels my passion on Day 449, here’s an excerpt: The changes in the way I feel cannot be described, I mean---I can try, but how do you describe freedom? Freedom to breathe again, freedom to move without pain, freedom to sit anywhere in any chair I want, freedom to fit into any vehicle I need or want to, freedom to fit, freedom to feel confident in a crowd, freedom to be me, the real me. You see my friend, the real me has been trapped for so long. Oh I was still good old Sean before, but everything I did, everything I said, every single situation was affected by my size when I weighed over 500 pounds. Those restrictions are gone, allowing me to just be me. I don’t have to be embarrassed by my size anymore. Never again will I worry that I might embarrass my kids in public or at their school. They tell me I never did, bless their hearts. The changes people see in my attitude and personality is simply because that insecurity is gone. And we’re not even done yet. Oh the places we'll go with this newfound confidence and freedom---and attitude.

If you’re one who has also experienced this freedom, you already know the feeling I describe, isn’t it amazing? If you’re working toward that freedom, don’t you ever give up my friend, don’t ever settle for less. You deserve to feel this good.

My plans tonight called for a good workout with Courtney. I lifted weights for a half hour, did more non-weighted squats (as I watched the youngsters do big-time weighted squats---I’ll get there!), and I did a treadmill 5K walk/jog. I haven’t really made an effort to increase my running endurance, but it is getting better naturally. I noticed tonight that the running part wasn’t as taxing. I must remember to breathe properly though, yeah---sometimes, for no apparent reason, I try to hold my breath. Hmmm. It was easily the hardest workout I’ve put myself through in the last two weeks. Weigh day is coming on Wednesday---I want to see some numbers. I just can’t accept that I can’t lose some more poundage before I start gaining muscle weight, seriously---it’s there to lose, it is!

I talked to Melissa Walden and she has agreed to write a guest post for this here blog! It’ll be my first ever special guest post! The subject? Metabolism and calories. I’m excited! She’s a very busy person, but said she would be happy to do it and will let me know as soon as it’s ready. Look for it soon!

I couldn’t help but notice a box of Girl Scout Cookies today on the desk of a co-worker. My favorite no less, thin mints. We use to have a restaurant here in town that made homemade ice cream with crushed thin mint cookies. It was the greatest ice cream of all time. If that restaurant were still open, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. I’m kidding, it just might have been a blog devoted to cookies and ice cream. Anyway, Thin Mints---on Gayle’s desk. I simply asked her about them, kind of baiting her to offer me one…and that’s when she said it was a gift from the Girl Scouts. You see, every year---as media, we get a bag of cookies to “sample,” and then we can talk about them on the air. So every year I must eat Thin Mints to remind me of how good they taste. I need to sound genuine on the air, right? I checked the calorie count for the first time today. Four of those little delicious cookies check in at 160. Yes, 40 apiece. I had one. Then one more, then, well---then I confirmed how good they tasted, savored the flavor, enjoyed my 80 calorie indulgence and went about my day. I was done at two Thin Mints. Thin Mint control isn’t something totally easy, but I just couldn’t afford a triple digit calorie allowance for cookies. I just couldn’t do it. And just so my co-workers know---I haven’t hidden several boxes in my studio for future super- secret consumption. That kind of stash is a thing of the past. That Sean doesn't work here anymore.

This new 1800 calorie budget she has me on is very easy to navigate. I know you might feel like slapping me when I talk about having a hard time hitting 1800, but I’ve just been very accustomed to the 1500 a day. I’ve had to make an effort to increase…and now it’s simple. I’ll hit that 1800 everyday easy. I just had to get out of the 1500 calorie pace.

Wow, something special about Day 505 on this journey. It’s just a number that represents where I started. 505 pounds. I’m not really a tattoo kind of guy, I don’t have any, and have never really desired one. I may have mentioned this before, I don't remember, but I’m going to get one. Just one mom, relax! I want a small ‘505’ on my face. I’m kidding!!! No seriously, on my chest over my heart. I want to see that number when I’m getting ready everyday. Right there, close to my heart--as a gentle reminder of where I’ve been. Awwww, now isn't that special?

Thank you for reading. Goodnight and…

Good Choices,
Sean