Fast Fitty preview

 Well, my next event is about a week and a half out. It will be my longest race of the year, and my longest ride of the year all rolled into one. 

Fast Fitty is a gravel race that is exactly what the title says. It is 50 miles...and it is fast. But I am only half-fast....so.....a half-fast finish is expected.  haha!

There are other options to choose from. You can do the Shorty, that comes in around 20 miles. Or you can do the Speedy, which clocks around 36 miles. I am a sucker for pain, so I do the long course....Fast Fitty. Ironically enough, its closer to 54 miles....but what are a few miles between friends? 

As of right now there are 8 clydes signed up for the Fitty. Last year there were only 4 finishers. The winner averaged 16.5 mph. The gap to 2nd place was a full mile per hour...or a 15.5 average. The time difference was about 13 minutes between the top 2 steps. Third was only a couple minutes later, with a 15.3 average. So logic tells me....I will have to average at least 15.5 to even stand a chance. To have a better chance, I would need to be closer to 16 mph. 

My time would have to be 3:22 to average that fast. With that in mind, I want to give some context as to why this is a super steep goal. I have done Fast Fitty three times since it started. It has been a mixed bag of results for me over those three attempts. 

First Attempt: 2020

I distinctly remember sitting on the side of the road and waiting for the SAG vehicle to pick me up. I was under 10 miles to the finish....but I was gassed. Eventually when the car didn't come....I struggled my way across the finish line. It was an ugly finishing time over 5 hours. UGLY. It was hot, I was out of shape, it was covid years, yada, yada, yada. 

I finished....but it wasn't by choice. lol. I was forced to finish because a few people were struggling worse than me that year. 

Second attempt: 2021

My second time at this event went much better. I took nearly an hour and fifteen minutes off of my time from 2020. That is taking an average from 11.5 to 14.5. I felt good on the bike that day. While it wasn't easy, I was happy with the results. This gave me hope for better outcomes in the future! 

Third attempt: 2023

This year wasn't terrible either. However, I did backslide. My average speed dipped back to 13.5 and my time was about 15 minutes slower than 2021. That is ok.....my riding has been chaotic over the years. I did this race because its a fun and fairly flat course. 

So that leads us to next weekend. I once again will make the East to Charlotte. I will line up and do what I can. The biggest obstacle...is the 23 minutes from my PR to my new goal time. That is 30 seconds a mile I need to pull in order to achieve my goal. 

30....seconds....a mile. Whew. Seems steep, but not outrageous when I look at things a bit deeper. Here are some things to consider.

1. I am lighter. This is a given at this point. I should be faster just based on that alone.

2. I am faster overall on my gravel rides than I have been in years past.

3. Who cares what the outcome is? Only me.....because my opinion is the only one that matters.

Some factors that bring a steep goal into a realistic perspective are listed next. 

a. my gravel rides have gotten faster, but are still not touching 16 mph when elevation is involved. 

b. My body doesn't cooperate all the time. I have good days and bad. I haven't been riding as much as I would like, so my fitness is ok....but not race level for this distance. 

c. I tend to fade over 30 miles. Its consistent. I get to 25 and the tanks get low....speed dips. Being able to sustain a race pace for 3 hours will be rough. I will try, but that is all I can do if the body has other ideas. 

All I can do is go race. The results will be what they are.

I am hoping to have a good start and latch on to a group. I don't want to ride in a huge group, because I am out of practice. But a group of 5-10 would be great. If I can hang on for the first 30 miles that will be a huge help is holding my speed higher while not blowing all my energy. I HAVE to find a group to ride with. 54 solo miles would be brutal for me. I don't mind stretches of riding alone, and I have done this event pretty much alone every time....I just know a group is going to help. So finding a group is my main goal at the start. I will start as hard as I can without blowing up and then hold on as long as I can until I just can't anymore. Easy enough? lol.

I will make sure I have plenty of nutrition for a 4 hour ride....and enough energy to keep the levels high into the finish. My goal time is officially 3:36. I would love to break 3:30, but I want to be realistic. The goal is 15mph average. If I hit 15.5 or faster it will be icing on the cake. I know it won't be easy, but I will do what I can and see what happens.

If anyone wants to come and pull me for 50 miles that would be greatly appreciated. You can take turns, you can throw a rope out of the back of a truck, you can use a horse and lasso if needed. ROFL! 

Keep the mindset right, and things will fall into place. Even if I miss my goals, I am passing everyone on the couch. I am planning one last test ride this weekend. It will be on the Dirty Donut course. It is shorter and flatter, but will give me a good idea of how my legs will hold up under a higher pace. Wish me luck. 

Keep moving forward.

Step 1: Admitting you have a problem

 Its easy to admit. I won't deny it. I never have. I am what can only be described as an "emotional eater". You would think I was Italian.

Sad....eat...you'll feel better.

Happy.....sweet....lets eat!

Celebrate. Eat.

Bored. Eat. 

Stressed.....eat!!!!

Bury whatever feelings you are having under a pile of food. The sweeter the better. Well, not always. Snacks....chips...crackers and cheese...candy bowl...ice cream....pretzels....peanut butter pretzels....cheese dips...salsas....street corn dip....hell....give a big salad.

As long as I am eating, I am good. 

But that isn't good. Eating like that it what got me to over 300lbs and miserable. I don't really want to go down that road again.

But....some habits die hard. 

We have had a bit of additional stress lately. Many reasons, but all are inconsequential at the moment. Lets say life is happening a little harder than normal right now. Fair?

I bring this up because I am finding it easier to grab a snack here or there and really eat shit that I don't need.....because I find comfort there. That short burst of endorphins helps me get through to the next moment. Unfortunately those also endorphins come with a shit-load of empty calories. 

Do you know what empty calories add up to? 

Its nothing good. 

Add the empty calories into the lack of riding and that makes the deal even worse. Its a perfect storm for shit to go sideways. Thankfully I am fully aware of this situation....and while I have had a few bad days here and there....overall I am doing 'ok'. 

That being said....it was a bit of a panic when I stepped on the scale on Monday. Weight had ticked up by a few pounds from the previous week. While not the end of the world, it was an indicator that I have been partaking in the stress eating more than I should be. In general I cannot eat much, but I can eat every few hours. So if every few hours I put in a candy bar or chips or peanut butter filled pretzels....its not going to end well. 

With another race coming in a few weeks....it is indeed time to buckle down and ramp up. Buckle down on the garbage that I shouldn't be eating. Ramp up on the riding. Keep up with off the bike routine. The formula isn't difficult.....but the struggle is real.

This is a new line in the sand. Kill those old habits. Keep developing new positive habits. Get back into the swing of the weights and cadence of the bike. Eat clean. Be happy.

Big things on the horizon. Just gotta get through the current rough patch. 

Get out and ride! 

A matter of perception

For lunch I usually bring the same thing everyday. More days than not...lets say. I will have this in my lunch box.

Protein Shake

Salad

Salad Dressing (zero sugar)

Cheese Stick

Greek Yogurt

I usually eat a banana on my way into work. Then when I get to work I will drink the protein shake. Around 10 I have the cheese stick. Noon, salad. Then at 3ish I will have my yogurt. This is how I get steady protein every couple of hours and don't get as hungry. 

At my work, we have to go past Security to get into the building. They check bags and, in my case, lunch boxes. Every day for the past few months I get a "good to go" from one of our security guards. But...a few weeks ago it changed.

He looks at my lunch and goes "dude, I gotta ask"....and pauses. 

Here it comes.......the judgement from still being overweight and eating a healthy lunch every day. Like how does that happen. 

after the pause he continues ".....I see you with your protein shake and salad, healthy lunch every day....so what the hell else do you eat.....I mean....don't take this the wrong way but......."

And I cut him off. I smiled at him and told him I knew what he was thinking:

"why is this guy putting all this protein in his system and eating healthy all day just to go home and eat like garbage the rest of the day....this dude could be skinnier if he would eat like this all of the time"

I explained that I eat like this because I am down 80 pounds and I want to continue to lose more. His face changed a bit. I went on to explain that we have chicken, steak, or burgers most nights. But I still eat pizza, and other things...just with extreme moderation. 

He smiled and goes "well that is awesome man.....I was gonna give you some major shit". hahaha. 

His story is that he is a competitive body builder. So he is jacked and he eats a lot of rice and protein. He told me congrats and now asks me how things are going. 

You see people post the picture below floating around facebook.

Its funny how true it is with anything we deal with. He had no clue I was down 80 pounds. He was comfortable enough to ask me, and he found out the history. Not everyone will be open about the history, but I am because this journey is not over. 

Marathon. Not a sprint.

I get closer every day. The goal hasn't changed. I will get there. I just thought it was funny how he approached the conversation and wanted to share.

I had a solid ride on the trainer last night. Might do a spin tonight. I am planning a longer gravel ride tomorrow. Keep moving forward. 

Back at it

 After the Addison Oaks race I took some time off the bike. We had a trip to Cedar Point, and then 4th of July...so it was a busy week. I did walk over 8 miles per day each day we were at Cedar Point, so I still had some calories burned, just not on the bike.

The Sunday after the 4th I decided I needed to get on the trainer for a while. I felt pretty good overall, just getting the legs moving again. I was trying to do a climb portal climb....but it kept kicking me on Col Du Tourmalet....and there is no way I was in the mood for that. lol. Instead I just rode a bit and called it a day.

Wednesday I got out for some local gravel. I have a decent route that I can ride. Not hilly. Minimal car travel. Good gravel. No dogs. I didn't get a location on my computer, so I was riding blind. There is something to be said about that. Riding with no computer, no speed, no heart rate, no idea on distance. I did check my phone eventually to see how far I was. I was roughly 9.7 miles in, so I rode a bit further and turned back. I got home and was pleased with my effort over 22 miles. Not my fastest, but a solid effort.

Sunday I got up and headed to Kal-Haven for a longer ride. My buddy DW was there and off we went. We rode a comfortable pace, navigating our way around other riders, many walkers, a group of runners, and even 2 downed trees. Its always a pleasure to ride with DW. We have both had some health concerns, some worse than others. But we are both grateful to be alive and doing this sport we love. 

When we reached Gobles, about 13 miles in, DW took a breather and headed back towards the car. I soldiered on towards Bloomingdale. They have done a lot of work on the trail here, and the surface is renewed. I pressed onward until I hit the 25 mile mark, and it was time to turn back towards the car.

As I worked my way back towards Kalamazoo my mind started to wander. I was settled into my pace and because this is a rail-trail....its easy to lose focus. Well, not so much losing focus....more or less just checking out and allow the mind to wander to other things. Life, work, the ocean, future jobs, everything. But then my mind would snap back and the calculating was starting.

When I got back to Bloomingdale I knew I had 18 miles to go. Legs felt pretty good here, but I was starting to not feel the best. I ate a mini cliff bar and forged ahead. I was remembering riding this little section with my daughters. How we would ride here, get a snack, and head back. I miss those days. The girls are grown up and being adults....with kids and lives of their own. Just one of those places my mind went.

Eventually I was approaching Gobles. There were to bike packers riding side by side and talking. I called out a pass and scared them. They didn't know I was coming, but startling them wasn't my goal. lol. Still, I snuck past them and rolled into Gobles. This meant about 13 miles to go. The next stretch isn't terrible, with some minor descents to ease up the stress on the legs. This is one of the hardest things about Kal-Haven.....its just flat. You are on the pedals for miles with no real changes. Your legs start to beg for a change, up or down, just to change the feel. 

10 to go, my mind started to tell me that I was going to struggle. It was screaming "you haven't done more than 41 miles recently".....and subtly reminding me that my endurance has been focused on my mountain bike races, and not this longer style of gravel. Then my stomach not feeling great, my stress was growing. 

With 5 to go I was super happy that I was closing in on the finish. I was dreading the final climb out of the river valley, but it isn't awful. I just knew it was coming, so I was preparing for it. When that did start I was running on fumes. I settled into an easy pace and just did what I could. I had to traverse a tree, and then a second one. But those few seconds off of the bike were helpful. It gave me legs a little rest, as well as a mental distraction. The last grind feels long. So a little break was needed. 

I crossed the last road before the parking lot and pressed to the finish. I was done. Gassed. Shaky. Dead. I started the car, cranked the air, and finished loading the bike. I sat there for a good 10 minutes in the AC letting the shakes work their way out through my finger tips. Ugly. Done. 

I had clipped off 50 miles for the first time this year. My longest ride was 41 out on the Dirty Donut course. I don't think the distance was the issue, I think it was just the flat. At least on some of the other routes I ride there are hills. Both ups and downs to give the legs some variety. Sure you push the climbs, but then you get some recovery too. Kal-Haven offers miles of mindless pedal mashing, and it is a love-hate relationship for that very reason. You think it will be easy because there are no hills, but that is the same reason its becomes difficult. Maybe by the end of this year I will attempt a full ride again, but we will see. 

This was my Longest ride since LJ100 in 2023. That is weird to me. I do know I got burned out mentally because of the broken frame and how that season ended. Then in 2024 I had 2 surgeries....but it is crazy that it has been 2 years since I passed the 50 mile mark. I am happy with my ride, but it does show me that I have a lot of work to do. It also shows me how delusional I was to think I could do LJ100 this year. I am very glad I had the capacity to mentally accept where I am, versus where I want to be.

As far as my weight, it is still a work in progress. I am 40 pounds away from my ultimate goal. I am 25 away from my main goal. Slow and steady wins the race. I am far from perfect, but I am so much better than I ever was. I will keep going, keep getting stronger, keep moving forward.

Addison Oaks Summer Classic RECAP

 Here we go with another recap. 

Addison Oaks was my 4th race, but it was the 6th race in the Michigan Off Road Series. I missed Island lake and Maybury, so this was my only trip across the Mitten. I was up too early. I didn't get a restless sleep. For some reason I was nervous about this race. Maybe it was the drive. Maybe it was that I haven't ridden at Addison in 10 years. Maybe it was pile of Sport Clydes that were pre-registered. Who knows. At any rate, here we go.

I left the house around 7am. This event is close to 3 hours away from me. I had zero issues in my morning travels. I got to Addison around 10am. I threw on my shoes and headed to registration. I was there just in time to see the Experts start. I will tell you this, they are fast. lol. I picked up my number plate and watched the rest of the starts and headed back to the car. 

When I got back and put my plate on I found this number two randomly laying on the ground. I was hoping it was a premonition as to how I would finish. (it wasn't). 

Since I had plenty of time I found some shade and just tried to relax. I could feel that my blood pressure was up. I just slowed my breathing and did my best to chill out for about 45 minutes. 

I geared up around 11 and headed out to roll a bit. I didn't do anything special. I just rolled and looked around. It was pushing 90 at the start, so I didn't want to over do it. Eventually I rolled up to the start area and waited to line up. This is truly where I believe part of my issues started. I got to the pavilion around 11:50. They started waves every minute, and clydes were the last of the men. So I was close to 20 minutes between my warm up and my start. Historically I don't do well when I am warm....stop...and try to ride hard again. Legs don't cooperate. So that was not great. Anyway....

3, 2, 1....GO

The start was pretty good. It is a grassy section that gives way to a short pavement trail before turning into gravel. Oh, and its uphill all the way to the singletrack. I was doing ok, I hit the trail in 5th place. That was my first goal. So the start was good. 

I held on for a bit, but then we had a little pile up and I got separated. A few guys snuck by before I could get by and I had to chase. I was pushing super hard. So hard that my heart rate was the highest I have ever recorded. With the heat, I had to back off. 

The trail is a lot of fun. But I just didn't have the gumption today to crush it. Riding a trail blind can be hard. A video can show you what it looks like, but its a whole different animal when you come hot into a corner that you don't know. I have ridden here, but like I said before it was 9 years ago. My memory wasn't working at all. lol. I was just riding as hard as I could. I was in my rhythm, but not full tilt race effort because I didn't want to die.

The climbing mainly comes in the second half of the lap. There is a nice blacktop section where you can fly for a bit, and then dive back into the trails. The closer you get to the end, the more climbing you find. You are met with The Wall that is just a nasty punch in the face when you are already maxed out. You get rewarded with a super fast section before the finish. 

I bombed that section and the trail opened up to blacktop. After a short stint I was back in the grass and trying to ride hard. My first lap was 34:22. My goal was sub 35 minute laps, so I made it for the first one. 

I was wanting to drink more, but I was feeling full. Things were just not adding up for a good day for me. But, I pressed on. The first climb was rough. When I finally got to the top I just settled back in and pressed onward. Before I knew it I was back at the black top section. I am sure a lot happened. 

I do know with about a mile to go I got caught by another clyde. Ugh.....I tried to hold on....but he had caught me and recovered for a bit before passing. So I was dragging him along while he recovered so he could leave me behind. lol. Dammit! 

The  woods finally gave way and I could see the finish line. I crossed with a time of 1:12:15. Not terrible, but not great. My lap times were 34 followed up by a 37. Had I been able to drop a 35 I would have landed in 7th place. Instead, I had to settle for 9th. Not the worst, but I was hoping for better. All I can do is use this to get better. 

Overall it was still a fun day. The drive home was less impressive. More cars and a lot more impatient drivers. I made it safely home. The drive was the worst part. 6 hours in the car for just over an hour of riding. lol. It is part of of this whole thing.

Big Thank you to Fun Promotions and Clint River Area Mountain biking for a fun event! 

I input the results into my calculator to see where I stand in the series. If I look at only qualified riders, I am sitting firmly in 2nd place. Just looking at overalls, I do get bumped to 3rd. I would like a podium spot in the series....that would make this suffering worth it. lol. 

Next series race will be Traverse City Trails Festival in September. I do have at least 1 gravel race before then. I might try to sneak in another. We shall see what happens.

All we can do is keep moving forward! 

Addison Oaks Summer Classic PREVIEW

 It is once again race week for me. On Sunday I will gear up and head east to Leonard, MI. This is the plan, barring any circumstances change. :)

It has been a long time since I have ridden at Addison Oaks. It was 9 years ago, back when this race was in the fall. I honestly don't know when it changed, but that really doesn't matter. Because it has been so long, I don't remember much of the course. I have vague flickers of the parking lot and the finish area, but it has changed as well. 

Maybe I over analyze things. Maybe I like to be prepared. I just like to have an idea of what I will have to deal with when I start a race. Well, I like to have plans even for my regular rides. That fear of the unknown is something I struggle with. lol. Or....I just like to be prepared. Yeah, that's it. I like to have my plans laid out and go from there. Not really a fly by the seat of your pants person. Anyway...here we go.

Addison Oaks Summer Classic

Clockwise direction

This event is the fundraiser for CRAMBA. This is the Clinton River Area chapter of the IMBA. This will be race #6 in the Michigan Off Road Championship. 

I had a nice conversation with a friend of mine that knows this course pretty well. Jimmy and I used to race against each other for many years back in the CPS days of the MMBA. He has since moved south, but he took the time to give me some greatly appreciated tips. Was also good to catch up with him, been a while. Time, as usual, flies.

Jimmy pointed out that the course hasn't changed much, other than the start. The start used to go against the grain of the finish. It would create two way traffic on the bridge. The initial climb was then singletrack as well. It was tighter and nastier than the new entry.

Now, the start is a wide grassy area. After a few turns the grass turns to a short section of pavement before entering the woods on a gravel trail. It is still a climb, and will surely put the legs to the test early. This wide climb should create the spacing for the singletrack and break apart the starting group.

At the top of the climb the course takes a left into the singletrack. This is where the old and new courses match up. With heart rate maxed out, just gotta keep pushing on this first section. Its still a bit uphill, there are segments of relief. Nothing super tight in here, just regular singletrack with a few small rock gardens. Looks like room to pass (or be passed) if needed in this first segment. Eventually the woods open up and it seems like you can see a long ways ahead, being able to keep riders in views.

There is a longer bridge over the swamp that throws you into a small climb before a solid descent. Rest the legs here if you can, just don't lose any speed! Eventually the trail opens up into a wider section. Good place to take a drink, or hammer down and get around someone. This is a flowy section where speed can be carried.. That ends soon enough and the trail narrows back down again. A long straight away gives you a view of riders in front of you, and then another open area does the same.  But when you cross the bridge there is a punchy climb, so be ready. Hit the base hard and you should be able to carry the hill.

After some more trail you hit your first paved section. A nice wide blacktop trail that has a bit of elevation gain. Kick back into the woods and its a flowy curvy section with another climb. Seems to be a long climb out of here too. Based on what I see it just keeps going up up up. Not a steep section, but some climbing for sure. Not saying it doesn't get steep in some areas, but for the most part the climbs are just grinders. 

This last section is where a lot of the climbing seems to be. They look to be the most difficult on the course. In most cases you can see them coming, so keep those eyes down the trail. UP the trail? Hmm. keep watching the trail. lol.

Bomb the descent towards the lake and carry the next hill. It looks like some curves that need to be carried. They will steal your momentum, so smooth is king here. Keep climbing up away from the lake, your legs will be screaming here. This last section has more roots than the rest of the trail too, on top of the bridges and rocky areas. 

Then you hit The Wall. It starts slow, and just gets more gross the higher you get. It flattens out for a second, then goes up some more. Then you start a downhill and see the funky rock that has a hard left after it. A bit more climbing and the lap is coming to a close. The legs finally get a break and there is some good downhill for a bit. Another wide section gives way to the last black top segment that crossed the bridge and kicks you back into the grass towards the finish area. Time for another lap!

Nothing really seems to sneak up on you. There are a few climbs straight out of corners, so momentum and smooth lines are important. Gotta hold that speed into the corners to help make the hills smaller. There are a lot of wooden bridges out there, so if it rains at all....be alert. Don't need anyone eating shit on a bridge. 

For me, it will be 2 laps. This is around 14 miles total with under 1000 feet of climbing. With a lot of the climbing in the later part of the lap, it will be interesting coming into the finish. People will be getting tired when the hills really start. Need to temper the efforts on the first section and save the gas for the final couple of miles.....if I can. 

Finish times seem pretty fast....so it should be interesting to see what happens. The start will be key. I would like to be top 3 heading into the woods. I hope the group disassembles itself like it did at the Custer Stampede. I was able to slide into 3rd when we hit the woods and build enough of a gap to not be pressured the entire race. That is my goal again here. There are certain areas where I can take a peek back and see if anyone is coming, but my focus will be forward. If I worry too much about who is coming, I can be distracted and ride sloppy. 

Based on the finishing times from last year I will need to be sub 35 min laps to be top 5. The winner last year nearly broke an hour on his 2 laps. I know I don't ride that fast. I am hoping the distance is a bit shorter than the claimed 7.25, because that makes more sense for the higher speeds. Based on my strava results from many years ago....the laps seem to be sub 6 miles. I should be able to shave time off of my old PR from 2016. I was probably 40 pounds heavier than I am now, so that gives me some hope. My last average time would have landed me in 8th last year. So, that again makes me optimistic for a higher finish. 

If CG (current leader) doesn't show up I will need to place 3rd to pass him in the series. My goal, will be to podium again. I will be shooting for Gold, but I will take anything in the top 3. The temps will surely play a factor. Thankfully I am not as big as I was, so I should be ok. I plan to do a few outside rides this week to get acclimated. 

All of this adds up nothing until the say "3, 2, 1....go!!!!" on Sunday. Maybe some beasts will show up and tear my legs off. Maybe it rains and makes conditions awful. Fort Custer turned against me when the rain showed up. Maybe the body won't be in the mood. A lot of things can happen. I just know I will do what I can to be successful and enjoy the ride. 

At the end of the day I want a safe ride. And I want to win. But I really really want to move up the points list in the series as well. I am currently 3rd (by my calculations). If you reorder because one guy is actually qualified, I drop to 4th. After this next race multiple people will be qualified so the order will change again. Should be an interesting day as I am chasing new foes around. Not quite like old times, but it is good to be back in the woods. 

Goal time will be sub 1:10. That is 35 minute laps. I would love to say 1:06 and 33 minute laps, but that might be a stretch. I guess we find out on Sunday.  (Like I said, podium is the main goal). 

 

Weight update

 

After a flurry of weight loss posts early on, I have slowed down. It has been a while since I have given an honest update, so I figured it has been time.

How it started

It started off difficult. Not having real food for so long was brutal. But the weight was falling off so it was worth it. The further I got out from my procedure the easier it got. I was heavy. While I had dropped weight from time to time, I always gained it back. I would get to a milestone and then shoot back up. Work life, home life, bad habits, and stress all added in to how I got to where I was. After some discussion and introspection, I knew it was time to make a change. Having a near death experience in 2019 helped make it an easier decision. However, that stint in the hospital wasn't enough to force me into making the changes that needed to be made. I was pushing 300 pounds. I was in terrible shape. I was still trying, but I was not doing great. 

I hit my max in 2022. I stepped on the scale at 308 pounds. For someone that is 6'1" that is well over 100 pounds overweight. Ideal weight is 185. I am bigger framed, so anything sub 200 is healthy for me. I was 180 when I got married in 1998. When my oldest daughter was born I was 185, but had just broken my foot. That was 1999. I shot back to 220 pretty quickly when I changed from working out and playing basketball a few days a week, so sitting on my ass. 

I know this was the timeframe that my weight started to creep. I was working far from home. I would eat breakfast in the car, go to a buffet for lunch (3 days a week on avg.), snack on the way home, and eat a late dinner before ultimately heading to bed on a full stomach. Terrible factors that all contributed to that trend towards 3 bills. 

How its going

Today, I am still progressing. I am still learning. I am far from perfect. Good days and bad days. Good decisions and bad decisions. More good than bad. I can safely say that I am the lightest I have been since around 2001. Ultimately my goal is to be back under 200. The doctors tell me that 220 will be a healthy weight for me, but I want be lighter. I want to be sub 200, and I will keep working until I get there. I am getting closer every day.....well....on the average I am getting closer every week. 

I did get stuck for a bit when I plateaued around 230. I hit 230 and lingered within a few pounds for nearly 5 weeks before I finally broke through. I am not much beyond that mark, but I was sitting at 227 this week. Since I broke that barrier I have gotten back to around a pound per week. I know this will fluctuate, but any trend towards my goal is positive. Even a .25 loss is still a loss that gets me closer to where I want to be.

In general I eat the same thing during the week at work. I have a protein shake, some fruit, a salad for lunch, a cheese stick for a snack, and a high protein Greek yogurt. Sounds boring, but consistency is important. Dinners range to anything really. Chicken, sometimes pasta, sometimes chicken tenders. But food is different now. I can't eat some things I used to. Also, have to eat slower and smaller amounts. Most of the time I am good with that. Some days my brain fights me for all its worth. My stomach will be full, and my brain is like "but I want more" and that battle continues. Its a literal food addiction. Much like alcoholism or a drug addiction....our bodies don't want or need major quantities....but our brain is screaming as loud as it can to be fed. 

But like I said, more good days than bad. I still have ice cream and candy sometimes. I just have to be careful how much. I know its not good for me, but some days you need a treat. I am fully aware of my addiction, and sometimes I trend back to how I was. But I don't want to be that person anymore. So I give in some days, but not every day. And I fight back by telling myself that it is ok, tomorrow is another day. Learn from this, don't beat yourself up and end up back at 300 pounds again.

 

Perspective

Based on the image above you can see how much volume 5 lbs of fat is. It takes up some space, and it just looks gross. Being that I am down 70 pounds.....I am much smaller than I was. My clothes fit differently than they used to. Some are not great, and will have to be replaced sooner rather than later. Others work for now, but if I reach my goal they will need to be replaced as well. All good things.

I wanted to show the fat vs muscle to show the difference. A 350 pound strong man, like Eddie Hall, is mainly muscle. They are massive dudes with low body fat. I was a 300 pound guy with more fat than muscle, so being able to shed that fat has been life changing for me. I am lighter. My heath is better. I am stronger. I am just better overall. 

I also wanted to show what 70 pounds looks like to help people understand the gravity, or weight, that has been removed from my body. 

Below are 14 bags of flour that equal 70 pounds. If you have ever picked up a 5 pound bag of flour or sugar you know how heavy they are. So pick up 2. Now pick up 5. 

Now 10. Can you hold them all? You have a 50 pound bag of concrete you have to carry around with you. Add 4 more bags and you are at the 70 pounds I have dropped. From how I see it, its still unbelievable. I cannot believe that I used to carry that amount of weight around with me. (at my heaviest you can add 2 more bags). 

I hope this makes sense. Like I said, I wanted to give an update on where I am and where I am going. I still have many of these bags to go to reach my ultimate goal. I will take a scoop out every week, slowly moving that scale to where I want to be. Slowly but surely. 

Every day....we keep moving forward.