Day #152 - Travel Series Part 10c - The Comfort of Home

The one thing I love about traveling constantly for work, is that I get to see all these different places just about every week. I was in Florida a few weeks ago, Las Vegas this week, and next week I am traveling out to San Francisco. But there is absolutely nothing in this world that can beat the feeling of arriving home after a long day of traveling. The sense of comfort that I feel when I walk through my front door is second to none. And the best part about my traveling this week, is that the event in Vegas was on a Thursday and I just arrived home about 5 minutes ago. This means that actually get to have a full weekend at home! This is the first time I will have a full weekend at home since the last week in September!

Knowing that Patty and I had a 5:00 pm flight out of Vegas today, made it a little easier for us to get packed and check out of the hotel. But before we did so, I wanted to make sure that I got my workout in because I know by the time I arrived home tonight, I was not going to be in any mood to lift weights. So I ended up taking advantage of the last free fitness center pass and man did I have a great workout. After that portion of my day was over, I made my way back to the room to help Patty pack. After we were checked out of our room, we decided to grab a quick healthy lunch and to spend a little more time gambling before we had to catch our flight. I don't know if luck was on our side but we played our wedding date on the roulette table a couple of times and won about 4 times doing so!

Anyway, it is very late and I am absolutely exhausted by the traveling and the affect the time zone difference has had on my body the last few days. The trip was a great success! The event went very well, we saw a decent amount of Vegas in only a day and a half, I ate pretty healthy, and exercised both days I was there. But I am glad that I am home, especially for my favorite holiday of the year. Until tomorrow my friends, have a great night!

With that being said, let's get to the details of the day:

Meals of the Day (The Heavy Man - 36 Points)
(I am currently following the Weight Watchers Points System)

Lunch - Turkey on a spinach wrap with a little mayo, 1 slice of bacon and a side of chips = Points 16
Snacks During the Day - 2 health bars, 2 serving of beef jerky, and 4 eggo nutrigrain waffles = Points 15
Dinner - Grilled Chicken sandwich = Points 7

Total Points Eaten Today = 38 Points (2 points over my daily limit)

Exercise

Today I executed the weight lifting and strength training portion of my workout routine: Dumbbell Press w/ stability ball, Lat Pull Down, and Leg Press (4 sets of each x 15 reps), Decline Dumbbell Press, Lateral Raises, and Triceps Push Downs (4 sets of each x 15 reps), Close Grip Pull Downs, Alternating Front Raises, and Alternating Single Leg Extensions (4 sets of each x 15 reps), and Stability Ball Crunches, Alternating Dumbbell Curls, and Dumbbell Side Bends (4 sets of each x 15 reps each). Tomorrow I will be doing cardio.

Day #152 - Weigh-In = 238.8 lbs

Day #152 Weigh-In



Day #152 Front Shot





Day #151 - Travel Series Part 10b - Jet Lagged but Still Moving

I woke up this morning feeling like it was Friday. This jet lag, that I have developed, has gotten me all messed up. I woke up at 6 am Vegas time because my body is so used to waking up at 9:00 am New Jersey time. As soon as I woke up, I decided to check my emails and sure enough, the work day had already started back home and I had to jump on some things that needed attention. Needless to say, everything was completed before my event.

Of course when you think of Vegas, you automatically think of gambling and alcohol. But the one thing that most people forget about, is the food and the buffet restaurants that lie deep within the heart of almost every hotel  / casino. Patty and I had received 2 free buffet coupons when we checked into our hotel yesterday. And when you are on the boss' dime, any chance you get to save some money  is a plus. So knowing that he would not be happy if we turned down a free meal, I walked onto the buffet line knowing that I was not going to break. Actually I ended up eating pretty healthy, which made me happy as I walked out.

When lunch time rolled around, I knew that it was going to be hard to find a healthy meal to eat. After searching our hotel, we stumbled across a deli that was located in the sports betting section of the hotel. Don't let the location of the deli fool you, food was great, the atmosphere was great, and I ended up eating healthy once again. After lunch was over, I decided to head to the gym to workout before Patty and I had to leave for our event. Working out early also helped me get it out of the way, so Patty and I could spend a little time in downtown Las Vegas and actually relax for a change. Let's just say that the fitness center was so amazing, that when I asked where I could find a vending machine to purchase water, they handed me a bottle for free and told me to have a nice day!

Our event tonight ended up running until 10:30 pm Vegas time. Which translates to 1:30 am New Jersey time. And believe me, my body was still on Jersey time because I was exhausted. But I did make a promise to Patty that I would take her out for a little while, because who knew when we were going to make our way back to Vegas. Anyway, while enjoying the main Vegas Strip, we were trying to find a place to eat. And to my amazement, a lot of the restaurants were already closing. We ended up finding a grill, on the strip, that was open and by this time it was already 11:30 pm. I would of eaten a cow if I had the opportunity. But I ended up eating a plain old cheese burger with a side of fries. It wasn't my ideal dinner but I was to tired to argue with myself. So to be on the safe side, I will just count that meal as a cheat meal for the week. I had gone almost two weeks without a cheat meal and that is a positive step in my book. Hopefully I can go a little longer this time without having to use another cheat meal again.

Vegas was definitely fun but I would recommend trying to site see after your jet lag has worn off. Anyway, it is currently 3:00 am Vegas time / 6:00 am Jersey time. I think it is time for this guy to get some sleep before his flight tomorrow back home.

With that being said, let's get to the details of the day:

Meals of the Day (The Heavy Man - 36 Points)
(I am currently following the Weight Watchers Points System)

Breakfast - 2 servings of egg whites, 1 small flour tortilla, 1 pieces of whole wheat toast, and a banana
Lunch - 1 serving of deli turkey on a spinach wrap with 2 slices of american cheese and an apple
Dinner - 1 Cheese burger with half a side of fries

* I did not count my daily points today because I had a cheat meal with Patty tonight in down town Vegas. Which wasn't that bad to tell you the truth. I think I walked it off while trying to get back to my hotel.

Exercise

Today I ran for 30 mins on the treadmill at the hotel gym. I also walked the entire Vegas strip tonight after a long day of work and an event that didn't end until 10:30 pm. Tomorrow I will be executing the weight lifting and strength training portion of my workout routine.

Day #151 - Weigh-In = 237.6 lbs

Day #151 Weigh-In

Day #151 Front Shot

Day #150 - The Heavy Man, Travel Series Part 10a - Heading to Vegas

Another travel day is here again. I feel like I just got home from Virginia and now I am on the move yet again. This week's business travel has Patty and I going to Las Vegas, NV. I am excited about this trip for 2 reasons. The first is because Patty has never been to Vegas before and I am excited to show her around when we get a free moment. The second reason is well...... its Vegas! It is not everyday when a person can say that they are going to Vegas for business. We have an event scheduled for tomorrow night (Thursday) at 7:00 pm PST and we don't leave until about 4:00 pm on Friday. So I think we will have a little time to ourselves.

The only thing I don't like about traveling to the west coast is the time zone difference. Right now it is currently 11:50 pm where I am at. But at home, in New Jersey, it is 2:50 am. So you could only imagine how exhausted I am right now trying to compose today's post. The trip here was a quick 5 1/2 hours by direct flight on Jet Blue Airlines, which by the way has Direct TV on board. I was actually able to watch the World Series while flying! It was amazing. To be honest with you, I would rather spend 5 1/2 hours on a plane watching TV, then drive 5 1/2 hours and listen to music. After we landed, it actually took us roughly an hour and a half to get our car and arrive at the hotel. Luckily Patty and I found a 24 hour Subway on the way to the hotel to grab dinner at. And if anyone is wondering if the airport in Vegas has slot machines, the answer is yes.

Anyway, my eating went very well today. I managed to eat healthy the entire day but did not make it to the gym. I have trouble some times making it to the gym on travel days because I am so busy. However, I am very excited to explore the fitness center in the hotel I am staying at. The package that Patty and I got includes 2 free gym passes. I am guessing that the gym is going to be the best hotel gym I have worked out in to date. Anyway, I am exhausted and I can definitely tell that I am going to be jet lagged come tomorrow morning. I will let you all know how Patty enjoys Vegas in tomorrow's post. Until then, have a great day everyone.

With that being said, let's get to the details of the day:

Meals of Day (The Heavy Man - 36 Points)
(I am currently following the Weight Watchers Points System)

Breakfast - 4 Eggo nutrigrain waffles = Points 4
Snack During the Day - Healthy Snack pack on the plane = Points 5
Early Afternoon - 1 serving of London Broil and Baked Macaroni and Cheese (Weight Watchers Recipe) = Points 9
Late Afternoon - 1 Turkey and cranberry sandwich with a side of baked chips and a 100 cal brownie = Points 11
Dinner - (1) 6'' Turkey sub on whole wheat bread with a slice of american cheese and a serving of baked chips = Points 9

Total Points Eaten Today = 38 Points (2 points over my daily limit)

Exercise

I did not have a chance to get to the gym. I was in the office the entire first half of my day and then I traveled the rest. I did not get into my hotel room until 11:50 pm PST / 2:50 am EST. I will be doing cardio tomorrow.

Day #150 - Weigh-In = 237.6 lbs

Day #150 Weigh-In

Day #150 Front Shot

Day #149 - If it is Still Working..... Keep on Doing It

Thank you to everyone who commented on yesterday's post. To recap the post, yesterday I asked the question, "Should I set a goal weight to reach for my wedding day?" And I appreciate all of the help and suggestions I received from everyone. Just about everyone agreed that I should stick to what I am doing because it is working for me. When I originally started this mission, I wanted to get in the best shape of my life by my wedding day and that is not a bad goal to have. However, stating my goal in those words does not actually mean it is a tangible goal. And to be honest, who knows if the shape I am in by my wedding is the best shape I can possibly get into for the rest of my life. So I agree that setting a goal weight by my wedding day might not be the most important thing. I should still strive to be in great shape regardless. And come to think of it, who says my mission has to stop by my wedding day. If I a not satisfied with what kind of shape I am in by the wedding, I am still going to work hard to complete the weight loss program. I already know that I am in this new lifestyle for the long haul. I think Joni put it best in her comment on yesterday's post, "You will know what is right for you when you get there." I couldn't agree more.

I did however come into the day wanting to make a slight change with the mission. I decided that it was time to switch up the weight lifting portion of my workout routine so my body wouldn't get complacent. So, I went back to my friend, the personal trainer, to see what he recommended. I had explained to him how I have been doing his cardio based workout routine for roughly the last 5 weeks and I thought it was time for a change to make the workout fresh and exciting. He told me that he had the perfect solution for me. I am still executing my weight lifting and strength training workouts with a cardio base, however this time around I will be using more of the stability ball as well as alternating reps between my left side and right side of my body. Adding these elements to my routine will help get my core more involved and it will help to add more reps into the mix as well.

So with this new workout plan put it place, I headed straight for the gym. Adding the stability and alternating aspects to my workout, made my stay in the gym a little longer because I had to get used to keeping my balance on the ball and alternating sides added more reps. I can honestly tell you all that tonight's workout had me sweating more then I have ever sweat before during a workout. I can definitely tell that I hit my core hard today as well because my entire middle section is tight. I think I will be feeling sore come tomorrow morning.

With that being said, let's get to the details of the day:

Meals of the Day (The Heavy Man - 36 Points)
(I am currently following the Weight Watchers Points System)

Breakfast - 4 Eggo nutrigrain waffles = Points 4
Snacks During the Day - 2 rice cakes, 2 pears, and 1 serving of tostitos = Points 6
Lunch - 1 foot long Chicken Teriyaki sub on whole wheat bread with 2 slices of american cheese and a serving of baked chips = Points 18
Dinner - 1 serving of London Broil with a serving of whole wheat pasta and parmesan cheese = Points 8

Total Points Eaten Today = 36 Points (1 point under my daily limit)

Exercise

Today I executed my new weight lifting and strength training routine: Dumbbell Press on Stability Ball, Alternating Single Arm Pull Downs, and Alternating Single Leg Press (4 sets of each x 15 reps each), Half Stability Ball Push Ups, Half Stability Ball Lateral Raises, and Triceps Kickbacks with Resistance Band (4 sets of each x 15 reps), Alternating Single Arm Rows, Alternating Single Arm Front Raises, and Alternating Single Leg Extensions (4 sets of each x 15 reps each), and Planks, Alternating Single Arm Dumbbell Curls, and High to Low Cable Chops (4 sets of each x 15 reps each). Tomorrow I will be doing cardio.

Day #149 - Weigh-In = 237.8 lbs

Day #149 Weigh-In

Day #149 Front Shot

Day #148 - Should I Set an Overall Goal Weight?

Today was scheduled to be a weight lifting day, but I really didn't feel like being restricted inside of four walls. It was so nice outside today / tonight that I decided to push my weight lifting day back to tomorrow and to go running outside. I'll tell you what, since I have started running on a consistent basis outside, I have been hooked. I actually get excited when it is a cardio day. In the past I would have feared these days, but now I welcome them. I also didn't feel like running the same route tonight, that I have been for the last few weeks. So I decided to switch it up a little and went back to the original route that started the running outside movement. And this time, there was a different outcome. The first time I ran outside I couldn't even make it back the entire way and I ended up walking back to my apartment. But this time, I made it to the destination point and back without stopping at all. It took me about 30 mins to complete this task. I know it wasn't the scheduled workout for tonight, but any workout is better then no workout.

I find that I think an awful lot when I run. Running and working out in general, allows me to step away from the everyday stresses and gives me an outlet to clear my head. Anyway, as I was running tonight, I was thinking about how much weight I have lost so far and what weight I will be at by the time my wedding day is here. Thinking about this, lead to me thinking about people commenting on how they notice a difference in my appearance. And thinking about that, lead to me thinking about a question that I get asked quite a bit, every time I talk about weight loss with anyone. And that question is, "What is your goal weight?"

I started this mission with the intention of getting into the best shape of my life by my wedding day. I have mentioned a few times in the past that how much weight I lose, doesn't really matter to me. Just as long as I am healthy and happy with myself, is what matters. However, I have been getting into setting small goals lately. These goals have been giving me extra motivation, every time I accomplish them. But when it comes down to it, I never really established my main goal definitively. Of course the whole point of this mission is to get into the best shape of my life by my wedding. But how do I really know if I have achieved that or not by the time my wedding day comes around. In a way, I can argue that every day that goes by is the best shape I have ever been in, because it really is. Or should I put a weigh-in amount into the equation and strive to reach that by my wedding day? But then how do I know what my ideal weight is? Is it 80 lbs lost or 100 lbs lost? Can my body actually reach 202 lbs and look healthy? I really don't have the exact answer to these questions. All I know is that what I have been doing for the last 5 months has been working and I am reaching weight ranges that I have not been in for a long time.

I would like to know what everyone thinks about this subject. I know that having a goal weight is important but shouldn't I be working towards getting healthier in general? Or should I set a goal weight and have something to aim for? But I am afraid that if I don't reach it by the time my wedding days in here, will I be disappointed with myself for not being able to do so? I know there will be some disappointment but not enough to make me want to give up trying for the rest of my life. Please take a second to comment and let me know what you all think. Should I not even worry about a goal weight or should I at least set one to have something tangible to reach for?

With that being said, let's get to the details of the day:

Meals of the Day (The Heavy Man - 36 Points)
(I am currently following the Weight Watchers Points System)

Breakfast - 4 Eggo nutirgrain waffles = Points 4
Snacks During the Day - 1 pear, 1 serving of baked tostitos, and 1 Weight Watchers ice cream bar = Points 6
Early Afternoon - 2 Boca veggie burgers with 2 slices of Weight Watchers american cheese on Weight Watchers flat rye bread with a side of baked chips = Points 9
Late Afternoon - 1 Boca veggie burger with 1 slice of Weight Watchers american cheese on Weight Watchers flat rye bread with a side of baked chips = Points 6
Dinner - 1 piece of grilled chicken, 1 serving of whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce , and 1 reduced fat crescent roll= Points 9
Dessert - 1 Weight Watchers ice cream cup = Points 2

Total Points Eaten Today = 36 Points

Exercise

Today I decided to push my weight lifting routine back to tomorrow and I went running outside. I ran for 30 minutes without stopping.

Day #148 - Weigh-In = 237.4 lbs

Day #148 Weigh-In

Day #148 Front Shot

Day #147 - Travel Series Part 9d - Homeward Bound

Another weekend has come to an end. Patty and I have safely arrived home but are not ready for the work week to start at all. It always seems to be the same thing every Sunday night, creating a plan of attack for the work week, eating dinner, working out, and going to sleep. It feels too much like every other night during the week. The eating healthy and working out, of course, are good things. But knowing that the weekend has come to an end and Monday morning is just a few hours away, is the part that stinks. On the other hand, I could be going into an office every Monday morning, into a job that I don't like. I really get full range, in my company, to be as creative as I want to be to develop sporting events that will be shown on national TV. I mean not every person gets to say that. So it that case, I like doing what I do and I enjoy being able to travel to places that I wouldn't be able to, if I didn't have this job. Maybe if the weekend was 3 days long, that way I have enough time to wind down and clear my mind so I can hit the week at 100%. Because even though I put a lot of hours and days into what I do, I still enjoy coming up with the finished product.

Traveling home today, was like being trapped in a small box, waiting to break out. Patty and I had a great time with her family this weekend after our event had finished in Hampton, VA. However, the car ride home always seems to be the worst part. I know that we have a ton of things to get done before we can call it a night and sitting in the car, waiting 3 hours until we can complete those things, can make me stir crazy. Regardless, Patty and I arrived home at 6:15pm tonight, which gave us enough time to get our check list out of the way. And I will only give you one guess as to what I did first...... As soon I walked through the door of our apartment, I threw our stuff to the side and went straight to my dresser to change into a pair of shorts. Yes my friends, I went running outside. You see, I weighed in this morning at 238.4 lbs, which just so happens to be the lightest I have weighed in thus far for my mission!! And actually seeing that I managed to break through the 239 lb range, made me want to keep the scale going in the right direction even more.

It is always a great feeling to see that you have gone down in weight. It shows me that even though I was traveling, I still managed to eat healthy and workout, as if I was still at home. I am sure that not giving into a cheat meal yesterday helped out as well. I am excited about seeing 238.4 lbs on the scale this morning but I know that it could change at any moment if I slip up. I  am determined to stay focused and to keep on pushing towards my goal. My wedding is starting to get closer and come hell or high water, I am going to be in the best shape of my life as Patty walks down that aisle to meet me at the alter.

With that being said, let's get to the details of the day:

Meals of the Day (The Heavy Man - 36 Points)
(I am currently following the Weight Watchers Points System)

Breakfast - Egg whites on 2 slices of wheat bread with 3 pieces of turkey bacon and 1 slice of american cheese = Points 10
Snacks During the Day - 2 mini pretzels and a serving of beef jerky = Points 6
Lunch - 2 slices of wheat bread with a slice of american cheese, 2 pieces of turkey bacon, and an apple = Points 9
Dinner - 1 serving of homemade Beef Stroganoff (Weight Watchers Recipe) = Points 9
Dessert - 1 Weight Watchers ice cream cup = Points 2

Total Points Eaten Today = 36 Points

Exercise

Today I ran for 30 minutes straight outside without stopping. Tomorrow I will be jumping right back into the weight lifting and strength training portion of my workout routine.

Day #147 - Weigh-In = 238.4 lbs

Day #147 Weigh-In



Day #147 Front Shot

Day #146 - Travel Series Part 9c - A Little Time to Relax

Today was a much needed day of relaxing and having a little personal time. Patty and I woke up in Virginia this morning, ready start our day of traveling and spending some time with her family. However, before we left the hotel, I decided to do something that I have not done in a while. I decided to workout this morning. I attempted a few times in the past to try and establish a morning workout routine but have come up unsuccessful at doing so. I just had to face the facts that I am not a morning person. However, I did discover that working out after work, every day, has given me a way to deal with stress and to get my mind focused. Anyway, the workout went extremely well this morning. I ended up executing a weight lifting session this morning after not being able to do so yesterday. And let me tell you, the gym at the hotel we were staying at was probably one of the best hotel gyms I have ever seen. It had everything from free weights to cardio machines and was definitely a huge improvement from the gym I happened to encounter last week on the road. Needless to say, I am glad that I conducted my workout this morning because we had another long day of traveling yet again today.

While on the road, Patty and I had seen some cool sights. We actually drove on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel down in Virginia which just so happens to be a very interesting structure. It is a very long road that combines both bridges and tunnels as a means of crossing the bay. While traveling across the bridge-tunnel, Patty and I decided to stop and have lunch at the restaurant located right in the middle. Lately, I have been incorporating a cheat meal into my weight loss program to try and keep myself sane during the week. I have been participating in the these cheat meals usually on Saturday, however I decided that I was going to stay clear of the cheat meal today. And to make a long story short, I did a great job today in doing so. I was very happy with myself for staying on track with the mission and not giving into the cheat meal. Anyway, below are a few pictures of our journey across the bridge-tunnel.

Even though there was a lot of traveling today, it ended up being a nice relaxing day. I exercised this morning, ate healthy the entire day, and did a little site seeing on our way home. Not bad at all.

With that being said, let's get to the details of the day:

Meals of the Day (The Heavy Man - 36 Points)

(I am currently following the Weight Watchers Points System)

Lunch - 2 pieces of grilled chicken, with a cup of New England Clam Chowder, fresh mozzarella, and a few french fries = Estimated Points 17

Snacks During the Day - 2 mini pretzels, 2 servings of beef jerky, and 1 mini pretzel bag = Points 8

Dinner - 1 1/2 servings of baked chicken, side of corn, and a side of mashed potatoes = Points 10

Total Points Eaten Today = 35 Points (1 point under my daily limit)

Exercise

Today I executed the weight lifting and strength training portion of my workout routine: Dumbbell Press, Seated Row, and Side Lunges (4 sets of each x 15 reps), Lying Dumbbell Flyes, Shoulder Dumbbell Press, and Bicep Hammers (4 sets of each x 15 reps each), Straight Arm Push Downs, Lateral Raises, and Stability Ball Squats (4 sets of each x 15 reps each), and Stability Ball Crunches, Triceps Push Downs, and Dumbbell Side Bends (4 sets of each x 15 reps each). Tomorrow I will be doing cardio.

Day #146 - Weigh-In = 239.2 lbs

Day #146 Weigh-In



Day #146 Front Shot