Eating, Not Where You Shoot for Fastest Time

I mentioned before I was switching how/what I eat.  I didn't want to "diet" I wanted to still eat the things I like, enjoy a pint, Jack and coke, or pint of Jack,  but not totally alter my eating habits.  I know there are changes that need to be made.  Additions as well as subtractions in the whole scheme of what I decide to toss down my gullet.
If you want recipes, low-fat food, what fits where in the ever evolving food pyramid, you wont find it here.  I will still have ice cream, which I believe in the current pyramid is just right of Guinness and on top of chicken finger sub.
Two of my biggest issues are quantity and late night snacks.  I come from a retail background and with limited or short breaks, I would finish a meal in 52.1 seconds.  Actually, I think the speed originated from having to finish so my sister didn't steal it.  I eat so quickly I don't know I am full until I have 3 servings too much of something and sit on the couch 20 minutes later wondering if I might literally start shooting shirt buttons across the room.  Look out kids, Dads shooting, duck and cover the 37 pounds of General Tso might have been a tad too much.  Just like running I have to learn to pace meals.  I figured this out easy a few weeks ago when I bolted out of my driveway at speeds a professional marathoner would be proud of only to get a block away and wonder if I am going to have to crawl home.  I pace now running, a bit of run, a little walk, slower run, faster walk.  I'm not getting dizzy or passing out 4 houses down now.  Why is it then that dinner is a sprint?  My wife sits down and I'm putting my plate in the sink cause I am finished, and I already had seconds of some.  Yeah, I eat fast.  When I think about it and take my time I find I am full with usually 1 serving and maybe a little too full at that.  I give my stomach time to tell my brain "fatty, we can't hold anymore down here, we're gonna blow!".  A good steady pace.  Be the tortoise, you don't see fat turtles, they eat too slow to gain weight.
My other problem is eating well past the recommended magic hour of 7pm.  Give or take, they, the skinny experts that do everything right and have 6-packs, say no eating after 7.  I guess if you go to bed at a normal time and don't stay up writing blogs then 7 is a good time to stop eating.  Of course, if you stay up late doing whatever and are really hungry you could probably eat something good for you like veggies.  Nope, late night eating demands something that is going to add onto your pounds so parts of your body that shouldn't shake from simple tasks like brushing your teeth jiggle in such a way to rival St. Nick.  That's how you late night snack if you are going to.  So, to those that have duties that keep you up after 9-10pm.  Try first to drink lots of water, they say that fills you up, tricks your body into thinking you are full.  Well, someone told my body long ago about that trick, doesn't work for me.  It laughs and says "sure, we are all set, no need to actually taste anything or have density to satisfy your hunger".  Seeing that does nothing for me, except make be get up from the computer on an all to regular basis like a pregnant lady at 9months with an 8 pound baby on her bladder, I choose to eat.  No, just like pacing at dinner, I need to find my trick here.  I don't know, maybe put the 5 scoops of cookie dough down and grab something a little better.  See, I still want to eat at these hours.  I don't want to make a wholesale change to what I do, I just need to adjust.  With the changes, including running or whatever exercise (you would think writing about running, health, losing weight I could spell exercise and not have to hit backspace 6 times cause spell check tells me I'm wrong) I should drop down to a better weight.
If you are looking at getting healthier, maybe you don't need to lose weight, just want to tone up, I hate you if that is the case, maybe you need to lose both your daughters baby weight and your wife's pregnancy weight, no matter your situation, you don't have to just rely on twigs, nuts, and dandelion leaves.  Just start with small adjustments and you will see some results.
Before I let you go, I have said before I really appreciate your time here and love to hear about what you are doing, things you have tried, or just how you feel about my witty literature (your words not mine)(ok mine).  I wanted to share 2 quick things.  First there is a guy that for whatever reason, not saying it was me, I have no idea why but glad to hear, this guy has started going to the gym, consecutive days, almost a week now I think.  That is great to hear, from no working out to finding himself there day in and out, great start!!!!!!   The second thing, comes from a lass that told me reading this inspires her to start running again.  That is awesome, not the reason I tell you, I tell you because she doesn't know if she can fit runs into her schedule, but may be able to get some long walks in pulling a wagon behind her.  As she said, might be little but steps in the right direction.  So true, something is better than nothing.
So I bid you farewell now, don't listen to anyone I work with if they say I brought in 2 dozen donuts for them today.....they lie.  Take care, keep the messages, comments and views coming.
Thanks - Joel

Running is FUN????

No running past two days.  I'm a bit surprised but very glad to say, that makes me a bit sad.  I know I have only been running a couple weeks, but I have quickly grown to look forward to abusing myself.  I am by no means saying I am a "runner", yet.  I am at this point someone who really enjoys bolting, yeah right bolting, around the neighborhood.  I have tons to learn and a lots of miles to log, but I am really excited to look down the road and see what I have in store.

I could have run one of the past two days but didn't due to weather and not having the proper attire.  Go ahead, say it, yeah I live and have live in this great Western New York weather my whole life, I can stand a little cold.  I could,  I just don't want to after the last run.   I have found I have no pants.  No not standing in front of an audience just in my undies, I have nothing to run in.  Two days I have searched for a pair of spandex like pants that I used to wear under my goalie equipment for hockey.  Sadly, not only could I not fine those hot little pants but, I cannot find my goalie equipment.  Ill have to make a missing poster.  Alright, back on course.  So, no pants = no runny runny for me.  Some one told me to go to the gym and run on the treadmill.  HA I say to that.  I am spoiled by the open road and few long weeks I have been beating a path on the asphalt.  Well, ok, I just like outdoor running better than indoor.  I have no idea what I will do next November or December.  I am still pantless and because I am a little cheap and feel the summer weather will break soon, I am not going to buy a pair.  

Now I have a bit of and conundrum, treadmill, no running or "dorm pants".  You know the plaid, cotton, drawstring pj like pants.  None of those 3 seem all that great of an idea to me.  So then it hits me getting out of my car after work tonight, heading into my abode.  Soccer socks!!!!  I have no idea why it came to me, I wasn't thinking of a solution at that point, wasn't even thinking of running.  That my friends is my world.  Random things at random times pop in my head.  Ask my family, or the poor guys that sit near me at work.  Yeah, probably scare people a bit. 

I have my solution.  A pair or two of those bad boys will cover most if not all of the leg that isn't covered by my shorts.  Sweet.  So now, tomorrow, I will run.  I am not 100% that my solution is really all that great but, it is better than nothing below the shorts or not running at all.  As I am sure you have guessed, I will let you know how I fair.  

Tonight's little post has no lesson hidden, advice, or example, unless you found one, then tell me.  I just wanted to write tonight.  I guess these are starting to be similar, the blogging and running.  I want to do more and more of each, don't care what people think of the end result as long as I can enjoy doing it.  

Once again, thanks for stopping by, I really do enjoy seeing the comments, messages and having people stop me to talk or ask about this.  Keep them coming, keep checking back and just for fun, share with someone else, either cause you found something you liked or just to say look at monkey boy hammer those keys and see the jibberish that flows from that.  And, if you don't want to comment here but want to share something, ask something or just tell me I am a clown, I have many means to get your message. In case you missed, here are links to follow, friend, +1 or message me

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Have a good day - Joel

So, I am up to 2 miles.  Not going at breakneck speeds and there is walking involved, no shame in walking.  I figure only gotta multiply that by 13.1 and I'm running a marathon.  13 isn't bad.  My wife loves that number.  My daughter was born on that day (it was a Friday too).  13 x 2, easy math, no problem.  That is until you actually think about that number in a distance or see where you would have to go in Google Maps to get there.  Ok, I might be getting a bit ahead of myself here.  I'm thinking we start a bit smaller.  2 x 1, then we will maybe up that to 2 x 1.25....you're getting the idea.
Anyway, I went out today.  I was ready as I have missed a day or so, no big deal, just kind of excited to go today.  2 miles, Ill be done in 30 mins including stretching after.  Did anyone go outside today?  Say around 9:30am?  It was a bit cold, wasn't ready for that.  No worries,  I started running, not winter cold out I'm ok.  Shortly after, I started walking???  I just did this, I ran much further last time, before I had to walk.  That's fine, I'll chalk it up to my bare, pasty white legs not wanting to move cause of the chilled breeze hitting them.  Get 'em a little loose, then I'll continue like the other day.  No I won't.  I continue just like I started run a little then walk a little, well a little more than I ran.  I continue that pace until I reach my driveway.
During the run, I started to get a little bothered that it is such a difference from the last run.  I'm not worried if I don't improve every time I go to zip around the neighborhood, even if I dip a little no biggie, just keep plugging along (or for those of you that have seen Finding Nemo in your best Dory "just keep swimming, just keep swimming.  Yeah if you have seen the movie, you now hate me cause that is in your head the rest of the day).  So no worries if I don't break my own records here but, I still think not good.  It starts to get to me a bit as the walking continues.  I'm not happy with today.  Then for whatever reason, I thought, you know, there are good and bad days.  With that, there will be real good days and of course then, to keep the balance of life, real bad days.  Today wasn't a horrible day by any stretch.  I am still very glad I went out.
I have no idea what changed in my mind.  I am glad I was able to come to the realization that it is going to happen, there will be bad runs.  Wait, bad days of running, better.  I would rather have a bad day of running than the previous.
Even if you aren't running, biking, walking or any working out, keep that in mind.  Every day cannot be your best.  You are going to have good or bad work days, good or bad days with friends, it makes things more interesting.  I think it would be kind of boring knowing every day was going to be middle of the road.  Yeah, you don't have to worry about those evil bad days but, you will never get to have that I'm on top of the world, everything is going my way type of day either.
I chose to share today with you not to say the sun will come out tomorrow, don't think it will, I looked at the weather, gonna start making that a habit on running days.  I wanted to share this mostly for those starting, struggling, or debating on working out.  If you get turned off by something, especially if its a certain type of activity you really look forward to, it can lead to you turning away from that activity and possibly not finding something to fill it.
I got home today, not bothered that it took me longer or that I had to walk a good part of it but, wanting to go again.  Not so I can kick today's run in the teeth, just so I can get out there again.  To do something that I enjoy that should help me lose a bit of this jiggle Santa and I share.  When you are in the midst of something you normally enjoy and for whatever reason it sucks the life from you this time, use the fact that next time you will be back in love with doing it to get you through.

Well last week I gave you a challenge.  By the overwhelming response of comments I got back I see that went well.  So, if you did change something last week, how did it go?  Did you follow that change for the week?  Jill, did you get back on the point tracking bandwagon?  Like I said up top, I'm at 2 miles.  I said I was going to change from 1 mile to 1.5-2.
Have a good day - Joel

Enjoy it, You Will Continue it

So like I said before, I get bored kinda easy with things.  I hit the gym like a champ, 2 straight weeks, yup, now I'm in shape.  Sadly the same shape as when I started but a shape none the less.  I needed to do something else I was getting tired of the gym even though it has to be part of what I am trying to achieve.  I knew my goal was to get healthier, to lose weight, to make some changes.  The means to that, running.  I wanted to be a runner.   I wasn't crazy enough to think I could just go out and hit the open trail.  I knew that pounding the pavement at my weight is a good way to make my spine and everything from hips down revolt against me and leave me crying by the roadside.  I have to drop some excess baggage.   I am well over the allotted carry on weight.  ***Sir we are going to have to ask you to check that additional weight, that isn't allowed on this flight to Skinnyville***
So, I got the inspiration from a few little DVDs.  A small thanks to a work pal for those, in hindsight, he hates me.  Yup, I was gonna try this "crazy" workout.  If you want a humbling experience as a male that might be overweight, or obese by the evil medical standards but, can still be fairly active in many sporting arenas, get a workout program where the ladies are powering through the reps and you are lying on the floor in a pool of your own perspiration trying to raise up to get into position for what is supposed to be a push-up but the best you can hope for is kneeling and moving your arms up and down praying they don't give out and you break your nose when you hit the floor.  Yeah and that was the "test" to track your progress.  Oddly enough, I liked it.  Of course that was after I was done and in the stretch/cool down phase.  I still made the decision to turn on the next video the following day.  Yup, even more ladies (and guys) hammering out these silly activities, although the ladies were less of the stopping and resting than the guys on there.  I continued that fun, and realized, I am having such a tough time doing these that I am starting to not want to fire up the self-abuse.  I wasn't looking to quit, I wasn't tossing in the towel (although for 1 month getting bored with the gym and workout video probably seems I'm not to far from that).  I was not wanting to get up and do the activities to make me lighter so I could run.
That's when my wife said, just go run.  Silly girl, while she isn't one that is afraid of sweat, working out or sports, she was never a runner.  (Although with her running club now she is covering more distance that I am).  Why would I listen to her.  I know so much more about how to lose weight, what is good or bad, how to train......so I ran.  I told you before, 1 mile.  I am no where near my running weight, this is too early in my scheme of being buff to run.  I am so glad I didn't listen to what she said and decided to run ::cough::  Its what I needed.  It sucks in so many ways.  I don't go as fast or far as I think I should.  I hurt a little more than I think I should, I curse each incline and breeze in my face but, when I get home, I say that was great, let's do this again.
If this mess of writing hasn't portrayed to you a meaning, Ill just say it.  Find what you like to love doing to lose weight.  My wife started with Zumba classes and such, loves them.  Changed to running with a small side of weights and hopes to toss one of the Zumba classed back in the mix.  I bounced from a couple of things till my over sized butt landed in running shoes.
Yes any type of working out for the normal person is going to be a chore.  If you are not one of the lucky and crazy few that wants to induce fits of pain and shortness of breath by some sort of workout, you have to find something to keep you coming back.  When you find that activity, change up your diet to suit your needs, then you are there.  Then you will see the scale smile back at you.  If you like doing something, it wont be a hard decision.  You will say "self, today I am going to run, I am in need of less of me hanging about my stomach area and this is something I like to do, and something that will help me lose those mean, nasty additions I don't remember ordering".  You know what your self will say in response????  It will say "Let's kill this"!!!!!!
Thank you again, as always I greatly appreciate every person that takes time to hop on and read.  It makes me want to come back to the keyboard.  If you have something to say please, post in the comments.  I would love to hear from you.  If you know someone that you think will enjoy this as much as you do, share it.
-Joel

I Got Sneaks but I Need a New Pair

Hello again!  Some more time travel.  Last time we talked, well I did and you listened, I was telling you about my 1st mile.  Lets now jump to Yesterday when I made the plunge.  I went and got a new pair of kicks.  Yes, I do run faster and jump higher.  I am not going to really give advice here.  I will relay stories, things I read/learn/hear for those that are looking to run, try to make you at least smile and keep trying to inspire those Alaskians (no offense meant if that is the wrong title).  As I was saying, I wont REALLY give advice here, that means I still can if I feel the need.  So, if you are going to do any kind of workout/training/running program.  1. Really, asking your doc isn't a bad idea.  2. Reading and learning all you can prior to jumping into a big change in what you are doing is a good idea, will help you to be more effective in what you are doing and help to keep you from getting injured.  3. Get the proper equipment, in my case for this, sneakers.  The most important, just ahead of socks (and those tight spandex biker shorts, very important for me saves from chafing).  Actually I think my iPod is just above the socks.
So, instead of heading to a shop that has 50,000 pairs in racks and racks where you hope you talk to someone that knows the difference, I headed to a shop that really specializes in running, all facets.  I got measured, did a little cat walk so they could tell how my feet hit the ground and was presented with 3 pairs.  The ones in the pic were the 1st pair.  Felt great.  I tried the other 2, they were good but, these were a winning pair.
I took them out for a spin yesterday and, to my pleasure, a certain pain I had been having was almost non-existent.  I'm sure the pain was caused by my previous sneakers, a little old but still working.  So lovingly referred to by my wife as "little more than flip-flops".  It made the run that much more enjoyable.
Ok, that's all for now, just wanted to show off my new ride.  Until next time, I challenge you to pick one thing you are going to change.  No matter how big or small.  If its eating 1 helping at a meal instead of two, going for a walk around the block after dinner, or on a break at work.  Doesn't matter, everyone can find something.  Let me know in the comments what you picked and how it worked for you.  This is my week to up my run from 1 mile to 1.5 and maybe 2 by the end of the week.  Ill let you know.  Also if you enjoy my ramblings, pass it along.  Good night.  -Joel

1 Mile, I Got That

Back again.  If you are making a repeat visit here, thanks.  Careful though it may become a routine for you.  So, I have told you a bit on the beginning of this journey.  It really is still in its infancy so you are the lucky ones that get to read all this before I become an internet celeb.  Yeah, ahem.....

After my wife and I decided to do the biggest winner (loser) competition and I started hitting the gym and eating better, I got bored, fast.  It happens.  I was looking for something a bit different, not sure why, the gym seemed to be working well.  I ventured the path of DVD workout.  I won't name it here but I will say it is a crazy program.  After plugging in a few videos and realizing  how out of shape I really am, I decided I should hold off on that until I can do more than 4 push-ups (real ones, not the kiddie ones).  The program has merit and will be a great thing to do I am kind of looking forward to it.  I'm sure 60 days of complete hell will be awesome.

Now I was bored with the gym and scared of hitting play on the DVD.  What then will I do?  How will I get that trim and slender body besides using Photoshop?  I will take the easy way out, run.  Grab my  iPod lace up my kicks and run all over the neighborhood.  Nothing to it, I was a track star, I can run.  

Run #1.....Music going, chill in the April air, my path all set (you see my wife is already at this point running in a club and on her own so I used her route).  So start with 1 mile, nothing, 4 trips around a track, 1/8 the length that Eminem took in his movie.  I got this.  So I start at a good trot, don't want to over do it, want to make sure I can still scamper along.  And after the 1st block we are walking.  Yup, ole track star here almost passed out before the 100m dash, let alone 1 mile.  Who had the stupid idea of running.  So after realizing I am not going to get a 10 minute mile, I resign to walk/jog/walk/jog.  I get home, yes it was the same day, about 20 mins later, my mile complete.  My legs and lungs both feel like they were rubbed in napalm.

Ok, so I get it.  I'm not 17 and 160lbs.  I may not feel it in my head or act all the time but, I'm all grown-up.  Dunno when that happened but apparently you have to trade in any endurance and muscle tone you had in exchange for love handles and your grandfathers knees.  So what am I getting at here?  Why give you the free pass to my private humiliation (well me and the people looking out the front windows laughing at the tubby that thinks he can run a mile).  I am telling you this so you can laugh at me, really, its hilarious, I wish it was on camera.  Also so if you do venture to get back in shape you can rest easy that its not just you getting out of breath just opening the gym doors.  If you are lucky enough to be in the shape you want to be, and have fought to get back there well, then you can remember the time early on in your change that you wanted to crawl back on the couch, eat a giant steak and cheese sub and put your work out gear on the lawn for the next garage sale.

Well enough for now, I'm getting winded again.  Thanks again for coming.  

I'm branching out.  I pulled the little bird out of moth balls and started to tweet again.  Yup, those on twitter, @joelrcannon.  Google+, add me to your circle, just on the right there.  Many of you came from Facebook but its Joel Cannon.  As always you can leave comments below.  Someone else besides my wife....getting a little embarrassing.  Love you dear!

-Joel

Change, not just what lives with pocket lint

Thanks everyone for taking a look here at my maiden voyage in blogging.  Hope you enjoy.  So as stated  before, this is a record of my journey in hopeful weight loss.  I'm not afraid to post that I was tipping the scale at a cleverly disguised 250lbs.  That is a bit higher than the doc would like me to be, my "ideal" weight is somewhere around 160...yeah sure doc, Ill hit that.  I'm not here to tell you this diet, fad, pill or, excersise routine is the magic way to lose the unwanted girth.  There are really only one thing that is a true, proven, way to get and keep the weight off.  Change. I'm fat, I will continue to be fat unless I do something different.
I am not going to count every calorie that passes my lips, I am not going to starve myself, I am not going to turn into a muscle head.  After some long discussions with myself (those happen more than I would like to admit), I made the decision to do something crazy....make some changes.  I will eat better, not like a rabbit, not like a model but like I want to, with some adjustments.  I will work out.  Anything is better than I what I do...nothing.
I guess I am a bit ahead of myself, prior to the self-conversations, there was a reason that led to those.  My wonderful wife asked me to take part of a biggest winner competition.  I like biggest loser named competition, that way everyone feels good.  In a winner competition, there is only one 1st place.  In a loser competition, the biggest loser is the winner and the other people lose, just not as much so, everyone is happy.  Kinda like when you were a kid and no matter how horrible you did in that competition you still got a ribbon or small cheap trophy just for showing up.  Anyway, I was asked, I said I would with the stern promise that I would actually try.  That was about 2 months ago, well I tried and my wife did as well.  I did ok, she did great (and is still doing great) and we didn't win.  That wasn't the reason to do it though, it was to get a start on a healthier life.  (Yeah and that is what I still tell my wife, just for a change, I didn't do it to get my hands on the prize money, and until now, I think she still believed me).
Fine now you are caught up, back to the 2nd paragraph.  I needed to change, I needed to drop some weight, I needed liposuction.  Not liposuction but I'm so damn lazy I didn't want to work out.  Seeing I didn't have a genie or any non-exerting spells, I dusted off my gym card, grabbed my ipod, laced my sneakers and headed to the gym.  I went 2 weeks 5 or 6 days of each of those weeks.  A little running on the elliptical, weight lifting and stretching.  We ate better and did the smaller meals/snacks through the day instead of the 2-3 big hearty meals.  In those 2 weeks, I dumped 10lbs.
Yup, a good start, I was ready to be in my speedo on the Beaver Island Beaches by late May.  Well there's something you will never unsee.  So, that's how this started, and now, that's what lead to this blog I am doing everything in my power to force you to keep reading.
Pass this along, share and keep the comment, yes comment, coming.  Thank you to my wonderful wife for commenting on my blog.
Don't forget to laugh today. - Joel

Intro, yup creative

Hello, if you know me, great, you can know me better, if you don't know me, I have no idea how you got here but, welcome.  I hope in some way I make the next few minutes, hours, days, or in some small part your life better.
Why am I doing this, why am I putting in a blog my journey from an XXL wearing guy to what I hope is  much smaller?  Easy, I have always wanted to write a blog.  Why not write about the great things in my life?  Because then I would be upset if you didn't read them.  Why then, if I drop the weight I want to, do I not see this as a great thing?  I do, I just don't care if you read this like I would if I talked about my great wife or 2 extremely entertaining daughters (not at 3am though) or something as important.
I won't lead you to believe that I am, ever thought of myself or, strive to be a great or interesting writer, so, If you see grammatical blunders, spelling errors or any such thing, I will say now sorry but, I warned you.  To piggy back on that, I am scattered.  My mind, she doesn't always stay on one continuous track.  If my the tales I spin seem more like a drunken spider web....well....I hope then you are at least entertained by my ramblings.
For the final, I think, part of my intro to the blog from Fatty McFatterson to Johnny Skinny pants I say, thank you for taking the time to read and share this with me.  I know there are funnier, more interesting, and all around better blogs but, I'm not doing this thinking it will lead to a best selling book, I'm just doing it cause.
Again, if it makes you smile or change something for the better or just generally doesn't make you want to stab yourself in the eye with the weapon of your choosing, great, I am just knocking 1 more thing off my bucket list.   -Joel