Mission Accomplished!

I AM FINISHED!

Free Diet and Weight Loss Journal

Several weeks back AJ (A.K.A ToadKing) introduced me to a free online diet and weight loss journal called Fitday. It has really helped me track calories eaten, exercise, and weight loss. It provides some pretty useful reports on your progress and helps you set goals in various areas.

Below is a chart showing my personal weigh loss over the past 4-months (I entered all the information I had been keeping on notebook paper):



Oh yeah, by the way - I'm down 123.5 lbs.! 11.5 lbs. to my ultimate goal!

Anyway, Fitday is very useful...and, somewhat addictive!

Before and After @ 7 Months

Down 113 lbs.

Frosty The Snowman...

The End IS Near!

As I have continued to lose weight people have commented that I appear to be "melting away." So, I thought it would be appropriate to use the picture above for today's update.

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS = 100 lbs.

100 lbs. - WOW! Six months ago I would have never imagined it possible...but, then again, all things are possible through Christ (Philippians 4:13). Today's accomplishment will serve as a testimony to Gods power. You see, back in January our church organized a 21-day Daniel fast. Pastor Travis encourage each participant to have a specific need or purpose for our fast and to pray for God to move in that area. My desire was to lose weight. However, my desire has always been one for which I was only willing to talk about as I consumed a full rack of ribs and drank a 2 liter of Coke.

My prayer was answered as God has given me the dedication, drive, and determination to succeed in loosing the weight.
To God be the Glory!

Weight Loss Update...

Just after my Doctor's visit I had a rough week - some call it a plateau. A few busy weekends, birthday parties, eating out vs. at home, lack of time for exercise, etc. all contributed to me gaining 8.5 lbs. back (going from 246.5 up to 255). Life settled down and after a few weeks of regained self-discipline, running, running, and more running, I lost the 8.5 lbs. and kept cruising. This morning I weighed 239.0 lbs. - 4 lbs. to go to my 100 lbs. milestone!

?? BBQ As An Art ??

I saw this video on Pop Pop Culture, one of the blogs I frequently read - thanks Corky for the amusing posts, and wanted to share it with you. The sad part is that as I watched the video I realized that the BBQ sauce used was actual one of my favorites - Sweet Baby Ray's. MMmmm... makes me want some ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. Hmm, I wonder if this is considered edible art?

An Open Apology to My Pharmaceutical Sales Friends

Based on my visit with the Doctor yesterday, I must make an apology to those whom are employed as Pharmaceutical Sales Reps. Based on my new weight, blood preasure, and cholesterol levels...I doctor instructed me to quit taking one pill and is likely going to change me to a different, smaller dosage of another. So, while I am still supporting the drug industry - it is to a lesser degree now.

The only other significant development is that for the first time in my recent history (15 years) the doctor said if I didn't lose anymore weight, he wouldn't be terribly concerned. However, following standard protocol, I did get the "But, the more you lose, the less likely...."

So onward and DOWNWARD I'll continue to go...

Whats Up Doc?

Today is the big day. In just a few hours I see my family doctor for the first time since December. In the post Going, Going, GONE! I talked about my last visit and the possibility of being placed on diabetic medicine.

Since that time I have worked very hard to lose weight and exercise all with the goal of avoiding the label of diabetic and the possibility of being removed of all other prescriptions I take. Today we shall see how far I've come...

As of this morning I've lost 88.5 lbs. (now 246.5), my waiste size has went from 50" to 42", and I am now able to jog 2-3 miles a day.

Stay tuned...

My Baby

Pressing On!

Today brings the accomplishment of another goal on the journey to 200 lbs. A few months ago, I half jokingly wondered if I could be at 260 lbs. before my next doctors appointment. I then said - with the belief that it wouldn't be possible - a dream would be 250 lbs. Today, with a full week before my scheduled appointment - I tipped the scale at 249.5 lbs. GRAND TOTAL LOSS = 85.5 lbs. in almost exactly 4 months.

I've always wanted to do the following:

First, I'd like to thank God who made all this possible! I'd also like to express my appreciation to my Treadmill (The NordicTrack C2500), the UT TRECS Facility, my family, and of course my coworkers whom continue to find new ways to motivate me.

The next goal - lose 15 lbs. for a total of 100 lbs. by July 1, 2008.

See you at the finish line!

Dilbert Like Office Policy

I received the following "Policy" in an email today and thought it was funny enough (read as true to my situation at work) to share:

Dress Code:

- You are advised to come to work dressed according to your salary.
- If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we will assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a raise.
- If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise.
- If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.
Sick Days:
We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor; you are able to come to work.

Personal Days:
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturdays & Sundays.

Bereavement Leave:
This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend the funeral arrangements. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Bathroom Breaks:
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and a picture will be taken. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the 'Chronic Offenders' category. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch Break:
- Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy.
- Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.
- Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

The Management

This week several of my coworkers and I are traveling back and forth to Chattanooga to conduct interviews for a position we're hiring. The normal course of events when I spend any amount of time in Chattanooga is to find a Sticky Fingers BBQ resteraunt. If your a BBQ sauce fanatic like me, you'll enjoy the 5 different varieties they offer - Tennessee Wiskey being my favorite.

So far this trip has been different...

First of all, in my last blog entry I describe the day of trangression I had over the weekend with sushi. The thought of digging a deeper hole was unbearable. So, I decided to try something different that would offer a much healthier and lower calorie option.

Based on some quick internet research (thank you Google) and the recommendation of some locals, we chose to eat at BoatHouse Rotisserie & Raw Bar for lunch. Having recently taken the plunge and tried raw oysters, clams, and mussels and knowing that they have very few calories, I decided to try the El Scorcho Shellfish Stew and Bread.


The dish looked amazing when they delivered it to the table...the bowl of soup had a tomoto based broth with onions, green peppers, fresh cilantro, and lime juice that had some other sort of spice (it was spciy hot!). The bowl was garnished with fresh avacado and slices of lime. Included in the soup was 3 oysters, 4 mussels, 4 clams, and 2 LARGE shrimp. A perfect sized meal that (minus the avacado that I left as decoration due to the calories) was low in calories and very tasty.

I'd recommend this place as the food was very good, the atmosphere was good - especially since it is located on the river and offers a pretty decent view...

81 Steps Forward - 2 Steps Back

OK, So the fact that I'm human was confirmed again this weekend...after loosing 81 pounds, I had a moment of weakness this weekend and visited Makino's All-You-Can-Eat Japanease Sushi Buffet. One plate lead to the second and on to the third! The total damage - 3.5lbs. Ouch!

So, Sunday, I worked the treadmill really hard and brought the gain down to only two pounds. Man was that SUSHI good!

59.25% = One Big Dumbbell

Today's weigh in confirmed that I've reached another milestone in my epic quest to lose 135lbs. As of this morning I have now lost 80.5 lbs. in just under 4 months. As a short term goal I'm trying to get to < 250 before May 22 - my next doctor's appointment - as I hope to get off (or reduce the dosage) of my medications.

"If You Want It Done Right...Do It Yourself"

My last few posts have been regarding the disappointing or mediocre BBQ I've had of late. So, with spring sprung, and summer quickly upon us, perhaps I'll have to get motivated and make some BBQ myself. As further motivation, I recently celebrated my 33rd birthday - for which I received various gifts of money for which I had no specific plans. Thats all changed!

The other day I ran to Kroger to pick up a few items for my wife. As I was heading to the checkout, I came across a small section of gas grills that caught my eye. Thats when I discovered my next purchase...The Char-Griller Duo. This unit is the best of all worlds - a gas grill - a charcoal grill - and, with a $60 attachment, a texas-style smoker.



My goal this week is to clean off the back deck at the house, preasure wash it, and remove my old grill and chairs. All of which to provide my soon to be new friend a nice and clean new home...

:)

Here's to a happy and productive summer of endless grilled / smoked items.

The Search for Smoke Leads South

After my disappointing experience at Ott's BBQ in Knoxville on Friday, the family headed out to Cleveland, TN on Saturday as my cousin was graduating from Lee University. After all the festivities finished, including a small family reunion and a brief tour around the alma matter, we decided to visit a local BBQ joint as the taste for BBQ had not fully been quenched on the previous day.

The wife and kids has eaten at a place called Jordan's BBQ before on one of their trips to visit Uncle Brad. My oldest had enjoyed a peanut butter and banana sandwich her last visit and aggressively suggested we go back their so she could partake of another. Having never been there myself, and the fact that my wife said it was good, I was agreeable.

The facility was what I would expect for a locally owned BBQ joint, had great atmosphere, and smelled of smoke! Ah, now this is how its supposed to be... Anyway, I ordered the combo dinner with ribs and a smoked chicken breast, corn-on-the-cob, and their hot slaw. Notice the semi healthy option for a side dish... Even better is that when the food came out, it actually covered the plate and didn't cost nearly as much as the trips to Ott's.

I have to say, I'm much more of a baby back ribs kind of person and Jordan's serves spareribs. Nevertheless, their ribs were very tender, had a good sauce (not great), and had a semi smokey flavor. The smoked chicken breast was very moist and tender, yet again, just a slightly smokey taste. The sides, well, they were sides...not a huge fan of the hot slaw and the corn was .... corn.

I would certainly eat there again and it was much better than Ott's. However, my top three or four BBQ favorite eating destinations are still secure in their rankings...

Ott's to keep driving!

Being a BBQ enthusist, I've been eager for the famed Ott's BBQ to reopen. For months I've saw blogs of folks recounting just how great the sauce was. Having opened last week, the Prodigal Pig, yours truly, made the trip over the hill (If the wind blows just right I can smell the smoker cooking) to see what this Ott's was all about.

The renovations to the resteraunt looked fantastic - although somewhat upscale from many of the BBQ joints I've frequented. Since it was a nice evening, the family decided to sit outside on the patio. Having two smaller kids, I gave my wife my order and then took the kids outside to get situated.

I should have know something was wrong with the place shortly after my wife appeared on the patio with "the" look. You know the look, the one where something was expensive or where she just encountered bad service of some sort. Turns out that in order to finance the renovations, Ott's has set their prices too high and skimped on the amount of meat they include.

Having recently acquired a taste for french food, I still held out hope in that sometimes small portions of excellent quality food more than make up the difference. Since I've been on a diet and exercise campaigne, I didn't really need the USUAL amount of pork I have been known to consume. Which brings me to another negative point...not a single available side dish had the hint of being healty (no side salad, green beans, corn-on-the-cob, etc.). So I opened up the sandwhich and was amazed at the lack of pork. Nevertheless, I charged on. The first bite of my sandwhich was nothing spectacular, in fact, not even half-way good. The pulled pork had very little, if any, smokey flavor. Further, the meat had large pieces of fat still attached. Hoping that the sauce would add value to the meat, I grabbed a bottle and covered the bun liberally...what a mistake. The sauce, to me, had an overwhelming pepper taste...

So, my first trip (and perhaps only) to Ott's was a HUGE disappointment! As the title suggests, perhaps next time I "Ott's" to just keep driving...for further down the road is Buddy's BBQ which, in my humble opinion, is MUCH MUCH better and less expensive. Better yet, continue on to Famous Dave's or the Bread of Heaven.

The Florida Trip In Review

We Ate!




Rachel learned to drive! :(



Jenna sought help to be released from the evil puppy!

Not quite the man I used to be...

After 10 days away from home and the comfort of my normal exercise/diet routine, I got back home on Saturday --- not looking forwared to greeting my trusty digital scale! After all, I ate most everything I wanted while on vacation with only a hint of self-control, mostly after my encounter with the 75 year old track star grandmother.

Evidentally the morning runs and constant walking associated with being at Disney went a long way towards burning off the extra calroies I consumed. I got back home Saturday, jumped on the scale, and to my pleasant surprise I neither gained nor lost any weight! That was a huge accomplishment given the temptations and lack of self-control I had at times on our trip.

3 Days later, a really intense workout or two later (I can certainly tell a big difference in my stamina and running speed after Florida), and back to the comforts of my normal diet plan, I've lost 4lbs. That brings my grand total weight loss to 72.5 lbs. - now just 62.5 lbs. from my ultimate goal of 200 lbs.

When I first began this journey, I thought 135 lbs. was an impossible mountain to climb -- however, I'm reminded by Phillipians 4:13 that "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!"

The Old Grey Mare...

I suppose it is just another day. After all, it seems like any other day - I'm stuck in a conference center room listening to a lecture on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards auditing techniques. Even better, tonight I get the "pleasure" of taking the family to Disney's Animal Kingdom (never been there before) and smell animal droppings.

Maybe its the fact I'm now on day 10 of being away from home or maybe its a proportional dose of being a scrooge that comes with another year of life experience (today is my 33rd birthday)...whatever the reason, it really does feel like a normal day. I feel older, but thankfully in better shape and much lighter than this time last year. Hey, I even passed up granny today on my morning run and maintained the lead throughout... All-in-all, I look forward to another year - one that brings greater accomplishments in my personal health, spiritual growth, and further enjoying my family.

High Quality Bait, Err Sushi

Kimonos, located inside the Disney Swan Resort Hotel (Kimonos Information), has excellent sushi. The atmosphere is very pleasing, service is great, and the fish is top quality. I could have eaten the entire boat (see picture above) myself. MMMmmm...here's to top notch Sushi bars!

...and miles to go before I sleep!

This morning I gained a new motivation in my pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Over the past few months I've worked hard to lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise regularly. So, as usual, I got up early to begin my day with exercise and a light breakfast. The hotel (Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort) that I'm staying at is situated near Disney's EPCOT and Hollywood Studio theme parks, in addition to the Disney Boardwalk and several other Disney Resorts. All of these properties are connected by a very nice and wide walkway - landscaped to the 9's - and very well maintained.

Having so many different walkways, I tried a new route today that lead me along the waterway behind the Disney Boardwalk towards Hollywood Studios. Walking briskly, I approached the park and suddenly knew someone was about to pass me jogging - so I moved over. Suddenly, I realized that, despite my progress in exercise, I still have a long way to go....

I was being passed by a jogging grandmother who had to be 75 years old. To make matters worse, I decided that if she can jog at her age like that, surely I can keep up with her. So, for the next 2 miles, I ran as hard as I could to catch her, walk a little to catch my breath, run again to catch up, and then gasp for breath for a minute or two. At one point I actually passed her and gave myself a comfortable lead - for which moments later she GRACEFULLY passed me and kept gaining separation.

So, like one of my favorite poems suggests, I have miles to go before I sleep....

GO GO GRANNY!

Dining at Disney

Yesterday, while I was in class, the girls went to Disney's Magic Kingdom for the day. After class was finished, I hoped on the bus from our hotel and headed over to spend a little time with them in the park. Aside from spending time with them and watching them laugh and be excited about various activities, the highlight of my evening was a turkey leg. A SMOKED TURKEY LEG! That took two hands to hold...

It was extremely good! I hope I get another before our trip is over!

The Mouse Tax - With An Economic Stimulus Package

Often times I've heard people refer to their trip to Disney World as having to pay "the mouse tax." Having two small children, both girls, I know the love they have of the Disney princesses and all the other characters. In the past, I have considered Disney as an option for vacation and always decided that it is just too expensive. The ticket prices are through the roof and food is outrageous. To further complicate the scenario, I can't think of ANYTHING I'd love to do LESS than walk around a theme park with screaming kids in 90 degree weather for miles upon miles - AND have to pay close to $100 for the PLEASURE.

I know, this is where the wife calls me scrooge or some other loving adjective...

So, when my employer decided to send me to a training course in Orlando at the Disney Swan and Dolphin resort, originally, I wasn't too excited. Nevertheless, I knew I had to take one for the team and take the family along. After all, what kind of dad would I be if I could take my girls to Disney, and, have most of the cost picked up by my employer (hotel, transportation, and my meals)?

As I mentioned in a recent post, I've been really working hard over the past three months to lose weight. Having exercised a considerable amount as part of this effort, I'm anxious now to see how well I can handle the endless walking.

I arrived mid afternoon today and got settled into my room - the girls are coming tomorrow so the oldest doesn't miss too much school. To my own surprise, I decided to take a walk and find the exercise room. After a 4 mile walk and a small workout, I'm actually excited about being here and spending time with my family (when I'm not in my class - ;) and enjoying Disney through their eyes versus thinking WHEN ARE WE JUST GONNA SIT DOWN - ENOUGH ALREADY.

Its sad to think how many memories I may have spoiled or never made because I was too overweight or tired to get out there with my girls and just have fun.

So, while it took an economic stimulus package from my employer to get me here, I am looking forward to paying the mouse tax and making some new lasting memories with my girls.

WAIT! Don't Hesitate!

This morning as I was walking on the Treadmill, I had a revelation. The Bible states that "They that WAIT upon the Lord shall renew their strength..." The part that we often miss is that once he says GO, we are not supposed to hesitate. Obedience requires immediate action, no second guessing...

With that in mind, I saw on WBIR (local Knoxville news station) last night that my beloved BBQ joint (Bread of Heaven) has reopened for business. I've WAITED nearly three months for them to reopen...and...today, I will not HESITATE to renew my love of their BBQ chicken and greens.

See the report at the following URL:

Bread of Heaven Video on WBIR

P.S. - This apology goes out to my treadmill for what I am about to require of you to compensate for my trip to BBQ Heaven!

Going...Going...GONE!

As one can easily see, the frequency in which I have taken time to blog over the past few months has dwindled to almost nothing. You see back in December I had the old annual physical. A physical, you know, where the doctor says you need more exercise, you need to eat a better diet, blah, blah, blah...

When the nurse weighed me I was horrified with the number she wrote down - in fact I think I got whiplash double checking to make sure my eyes hadn't suddenly failed me... Sad to say, I was at my all time highest weight of 335lbs. Being 6'2", I hide the weight pretty well as most people wouldn't beleive I weight THAT much. Nevertheless, it is true.

To top it off, the nurse called me at home the next day to say that based on my blood work, the doctor wanted to start me on medication as I'm showing the beginning signs of being diebetic. Having a long family history of hypertention and diabeties, I knew I didn't want that to deal with.

In January I made a committment to myself and my wife and kids to change. I began dieting and exercising. In February I purchased a treadmill and added both a morning and evening walk to my schedule. At the end of March I joined the exercise facility at my place of employment...

Today, April 8, 2008 - a little over 3 months from the beginning - I can say GONE to 60lbs.

Thats right I weighed 274.5lbs. at this morning's weigh in! 60lbs. Thats more that my 6 year old weighs, heavier than a bag of concrete mix, thats more than 7 gallon jugs of milk (a gallon of milk weight 8.5lbs.). No wonder I have so much more energy.

So, if you need an execuse for my lack of posting or question my committment, just suffice it to say that I'm prolly on the treadmill or at the gym working more of this insane weight off. My goal is to be down to 260lbs. when I go back to my doctor at the end of May. The ultimate goal is to be down to around 200lbs.

Being a Berean - The Importance

ACTS 17:11 Calls those from Berea a more noble people for they received the word of God AND searched the scriptures to verify the truth of what they were taught. Today, more than ever, we need to adopt that principle in our daily lives. I taught a Sunday School class this weekend using the following scriptures/points. I also showed the video below to demonstrate the perverted teachings and beliefs that modern culture presents. My friends, the end times are upon us...

WHY IS STUDYING GOD’S WORD SO IMPORTANT?

(Matthew 24:11; Matthew 24:24; 2 Peter 2:1)

- These scriptures warn that false teachings will work to lead us away from God.
- Aside from false teachings, we also must guard ourselves from false preachers/teachers/apostles.

(2 Corinthians 11:4,13; Galatians 1:6-9)

- The teaching that circumcision and keeping the Law are necessary for salvation is condemned (Gal. 5:2-4; Phil. 3:2).
- On the other side, teaching that liberty in Christ gives us excuse for licentiousness is also condemned (Jude 4).
- The denial of Jesus Christ's coming in the flesh is regarded as from the spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:1-6).
- There are warnings about people who cause dissensions by teaching doctrine directly opposed to what Christians already know to be true (Rom. 16:17; Tit. 3:10-11).
- There are warnings about those who claim to love God but do not love God's people (1 John 4:20; 5:1), and who deliberately break away from the church on the basis of perverted doctrine (1 John 2:19).
- Finally, there are warnings against adding to or taking away from the words of prophetic Scripture (Rev. 22:18-19) or twisting the Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:16).

Looking over these warnings from Scripture, we may classify heresies into six major categories:

1. Heresies about revelation — teachings that distort, deny, or add to Scripture in a way that leads people to destruction; false claims to apostolic or prophetic authority.
2. Heresies about God — teachings that promote false gods or idolatrous distortions of the true God.
3. Heresies about Christ — denials of His unique Lordship, His genuine humanity, His true identity.
4. Heresies about salvation — teaching legalism or licentiousness; denying the gospel of Christ's death and resurrection; and so forth.
5. Heresies about the church — deliberate attempts to lead people away from the fellowship of true Christians; utter rejection of the church.
6. Heresies about the future — false predictions for which divine authority is claimed; claims that Christ's return has taken place; and the like.

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Hang Drum Blues

So the other day I was on YouTube and ran across this video:

I want want of these! Apparently they are next to impossible to find as only two companies in the world make them..

A Day of Mourning!

One of my favorite local BBQ joints will be closed for the foreseeable future due to an overnight fire...I'm terribly depressed.

Bread of Heaven Catches Fire

:(

"It's all greek to me..."

As one would expect, the journey to a particular destination sometimes includes detours. As I mentioned in previous posts, I've been studying early church history and various apologetics to better understand the foundation of my beliefs. One of the themes I keep seeing presented by skeptics is that accuracy has been lost in translation from the original manuscripts to the modern english bible. Perhaps the only way to PERSONALLY settle this dispute in my mind would be to learn the original language.

Ironically, for quite some time, I have heard numerous preachers state "in the greek it means..." or "the word X is only used Y times and it always means..." during their messages. Having never really considered how such statements are researched, I have always assumed their correctness at face value and assumed this must have required significant study on the ministers part.

A little over two weeks ago I began researching various resources to learn greek. I've discovered a couple great items that have aided my learning process...

Biblegreekvpod is a free video podcast, available on iTunes, that offers short videos as introduction to various grammatical aspects of the language.

Teknia Software, along with the "Basics of Biblical Greek - Grammer" and Basics of Biblical Greek - Workbook" are great books to fill in the blanks not answered in the video podcasts.

Greek Bible Study is an online bible that uses the "Basics of Biblical Greek - Grammer" to create a graduated reader system for greek students. Very useful in testing your new skills.