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Saturday, 2 July 2016

Princess Health and July 2nd, 2016 Truly Epic. Princessiccia

Princess Health and July 2nd, 2016 Truly Epic. Princessiccia

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July 2nd, 2016 Truly Epic

Maybe the clock was wrong. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was 12:30pm and I was waking after ten solid hours of sleep. I usually wake after seven or eight hours, naturally. I must have needed it because I was out, sound.

The super late start to my day did tilt it somewhat. This tilting of the day affects my food schedule and plan. I adjusted well and got on with enjoying really nice Saturday.

I left early evening for my hometown. I picked up mom and we attended a huge Independence Day Weekend Party at my cousin Rick's place. The party was truly epic. Mom visited with Aunt Connie and I visited with my cousin Steve from Minnesota. There was a bunch of food choices at this big event. I selected some pulled pork, a homemade bean dip thingy, blue corn tortilla chips and an ounce of sharp cheddar I had brought along. I also brought my digital food scale. (see tweets below for pics from tonight's celebration)

Planning, preparing and packing. I did those things, making sure I had a backup plan for food, in the man bag, ready to go. My planning isn't too elaborate. I base it on a very simple idea. I make sure I have: What I need, when I need, where I need.

Mom and I have planned a great few days together. Tomorrow night, we're going to the big John Conlee concert. I'm introducing Conlee on stage, then after the show, mom will get a chance to meet this country music legend! Monday is 4th of July activities, then Tuesday we're celebrating Noah's and mom's birthday at a combined party.

I maintained the integrity of my maintenance calorie budget, I remained abstinent from refined sugar, I was connected in active support communications and I met my minimum water goal.

It was an exceptional day!

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Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean

Friday, 1 July 2016

Princess Health and July 1st, 2016 Just Be Yourself. Princessiccia

Princess Health and July 1st, 2016 Just Be Yourself. Princessiccia

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July 1st, 2016 Just Be Yourself

Most things in life benefit from the advice, "just be yourself, take it slow, baby steps--and you'll make it just fine." This is solid advice 99% of us would agree on for most every situation/circumstance, yet--when it comes to weight loss, the old diet mentality doesn't start that way.

As a child, my weight climbed steadily, and the more it did, the more mom became terrified. I was alarmed, mainly because mom was so shaken from the sobering doctor's office weigh-ins, not because of the weight issues. Countless doctor visits ended with a diet plan--printed, outlined--meals, snacks, and everything--right there in black and white. Eat these things from now on and in these quantities and that'll fix the weight problem, was the message. This process repeats all over the world, all the time--special plans, perfect food lists, eat this, don't eat that--try this new program or pill or surgery--and here's your food menu--stick with this...and oh, by the way, start this in the morning. Good luck!

Some of the most intelligent people in the world come up with the most amazing plans. And still, in most cases, they forget the importance of advice they would most likely and very automatically give someone for a non-weight loss related issue. Take it slow...baby steps, you'll make it--just be yourself.

The plans, procedures, and menus are designed to work. And they do. But too often, the human element isn't factored into the equation. All of the focus is poured into the plan because, well--if you do the plan you'll lose weight! So, yeah-- do it!!

Basically, here's the challenge: Wake up tomorrow a completely different person. Wake up tomorrow free of a lifetime of old food behaviors--and do the plan. Don't ask questions--just do it. Don't be yourself. Don't honor "where you are." Turn a 180 and hold on tight so it doesn't become a 360. It's never easy because face it, losing weight is hard--so get tough and get it done.

Uh, that never worked for me---ever. 

I'd still be over 500 pounds or dead had I not stopped the diet mentality merry-go-round in September 2008.

The gradual evolution of good choices, within a budget--was, for me--a way of flipping the ratio, as I like to call it. Instead of putting 80% of the focus on the food and exercise, I placed it at about 20%--and placed 80% on the mental/emotional elements necessary for consistent positive progress. Because seriously, without consistency, the plan doesn't matter--whatever it is, it needs consistency to work or be proven ineffective.

Allowing for natural growth, baby steps--being myself, honoring where I was--even if it included calorie counted fast food meals in the beginning, made it possible to gain consistency for the first time in my life. And the mental space created by this 80/20 approach gave me the room I needed to explore the deeper issues and patterns that helped keep me "in the food" all those years.

I talked to mom the other day while she was watching a very popular daytime television show hosted by a well-respected television personality who has written multiple weight loss books. The guest on the show was someone who had hundreds and hundreds of pounds to lose--and there, this well-respected celebrity host/doctor was giving this poor man the hardline advice--and telling him what he had to do, and the plan. And you know his intentions were fine. But again--when it comes to weight loss, why do many in the world--even the experts, miss the human element??

I was absolutely appalled by the approach. I told mom--"oh my, I can't believe that--uhg--I'd go toe to toe with him on this and I'd win, I guarantee." And yes, I speak the expression "uhg."

And no...this isn't a case of Sean getting over-confident. I'm grounded in the most wonderful ways. I just know what I know to be true based on my experiences. And also based on successful stories from countless others.

I only have today. I'm never immune to relapse/regain. My success isn't a given. It requires a practice each day. it never requires perfection--but it does require consistent practice. It's been a lot of practice. And it doesn't make perfect and it doesn't guarantee anything.

But if I continue practicing exceptional self-care--and I remain connected spiritually and I remain connected in good support circles--then by golly, I just might have a good chance.

One thing's for sure. However I evolve from here, I'll do it while being myself, taking it slow with baby steps and honoring where I am along the way. I'll not compare or judge my path against anyone else's path. I will honor the fallible nature of my unique humanness.

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I donated blood today! It felt so good to do it again. Every single time, I'm reminded of 500 pound days, when raging high blood pressure disqualified me from donating on several occasions.
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These vitals...I'm incredibly grateful. Apparently, I have an athletic heart. I'm not sure it's necessarily athletic--it was once trained to keep up with the pressures of a 500 pound body--and now, in comparison, it isn't challenged.  It's either athletic or bored. I'll take either one, or both.

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Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean

Thursday, 30 June 2016

Princess Health and June 30th, 2016 ThrowBack Thursday. Princessiccia

Princess Health and June 30th, 2016 ThrowBack Thursday. Princessiccia

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June 30th, 2016 ThrowBack Thursday

I'm looking forward to tomorrow night when I'll have more time to write.

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**ThrowBack Thursday** This photo was the very first "before" picture I shared on this blog, years ago.
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Recent speaking engagement photo. Big difference!

I'm dropping in bed earlier than last night--and that's a wonderful thing. I'm hitting the pillow having maintained the integrity of my calorie budget, I've remained abstinent from refined sugar, I participated in support exchanges and I've met my daily water goal.

Long day--but it's done and was done well.

I'll be donating blood while on the air tomorrow at a big annual blood drive. The All-American Fish Fry Blood Drive with the Oklahoma Blood Institute includes a fried catfish meal. I'm planning on having a measured amount! I'm really looking forward to donating blood. It's been too long since my last donation. Every time I donate, I remember the days of being turned away because of raging high blood pressure within my 500-pound body. It feels so good to be at a healthy weight with normal blood pressure. My goodness, I'm blessed and grateful.

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Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean

Wednesday, 29 June 2016

Princess Health and June 29th, 2016 Tweets Only. Princessiccia

Princess Health and June 29th, 2016 Tweets Only. Princessiccia

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June 29th, 2016 Tweets Only

Tweets only, at the end of a very long day.

I maintained the integrity of my calorie budget, I remained abstinent from refined sugar, I engaged in excellent support communications and I exceeded my water goal.

Dropping in bed!

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Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean

Tuesday, 28 June 2016

Princess Health and June 28th, 2016 For The Good Of It All. Princessiccia

Princess Health and June 28th, 2016 For The Good Of It All. Princessiccia

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June 28th, 2016 For The Good Of It All

I remember how dark it was a few years ago. The darkness wasn't just because I was steadily regaining and feeling completely out of control. It was dark because the more I gained, the more I lost the grip on my hopes, dreams, and plans for better days.

What happened during that time?

I was over-confident. In this confidence, I was vulnerable. When life took some curves, I wasn't ready to lean into the curves. I had declined a safety net. I had too much pride and ego, too much "I got this down." Too much. And at the same time...

I was willfully and intentionally disconnected from support. I was willfully and intentionally disconnected from accountability. 

I had so much more to learn.

Totally disconnecting from everything was the only way I could fall hard enough--and be humbled enough, to see what I needed to fully appreciate.

Of course, that's in hindsight. In the middle of it all, I wasn't grateful.

I was fearful, terrified, hurt, sad, disappointed, and full of shame, guilt, and embarrassment.

Letting all that negative stuff go and mining the fall for the good of it all, was challenging.

I'm monumentally grateful for the opportunity to learn and do it differently.

I'm grateful for the second, third and eighth chances I've been given. Some don't get as many. I'm blessed.

If you ever question why I do what I do each day: The weighing and measuring, the logging, the pictures, the tweets, the support connections, and writing this blog every day, without fail.

I do it because I need the daily guidance. There's an illusion that makes it seem like I'm some kind of weight loss and maintenance machine. That illusion suggests that I must have it all figured out.

I'm certainly not a machine and I don't have it all figured out.

The things I do each day are like rails of support guiding me through each day.

The learning never stops. The growing never stops. If these things ever come to a stop, again, that's when the darkness comes. But I don't live in fear of the darkness. I live embracing the light. I live with an open mind. I live in a grateful state.

Today, I maintained the integrity of my maintenance calorie budget. I remained abstinent from refined sugar. I exceeded my daily water goal. And I stayed connected with support.

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Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean

Monday, 27 June 2016

Princess Health and June 27th, 2016 At The Very Least. Princessiccia

Princess Health and June 27th, 2016 At The Very Least. Princessiccia

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June 27th, 2016 At The Very Least

I found a way to tilt my schedule today. I'm not sure how, but I did--and here it is, way too late for me.

I'm making this a "Tweets Only."

But at the very least--each and every day, one of my primary goals is to hit the pillow knowing, for certain, that...

I maintained the integrity of my weight maintenance calorie budget. I remained abstinent from refined sugar. I met my water goal and I remained connected in active support communications.

I achieved that primary goal.

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Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean

Sunday, 26 June 2016

Princess Health and June 26th, 2016 No Exaggeration. Princessiccia

Princess Health and June 26th, 2016 No Exaggeration. Princessiccia

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June 26th, 2016 No Exaggeration

Today was my Aunt Kelli's birthday and her 4th wedding anniversary with Tim. We all gathered at a buffet style restaurant to celebrate the occasion.
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Pictures with Mom, Kelli, Tim and my uncle Keith.

I finished brunch less than two hours before this get-together. I opted to simply order a water and enjoy the visit. Everyone in the family knows what I do and how I do it-- and they know me well enough to know, if I choose to visit only, without eating--there's a reason and it isn't a big deal. It was a great visit--and that was the point of the trip in the first place. Had I not slept in so well, I would have eaten breakfast at an early enough time, allowing for a meal at the restaurant. But I didn't get up early enough--and I didn't want to wait too long before eating. I believe I handled the situation well.

I love it how my family doesn't take it personal when I decline food or have chosen something else for my food plan on a particular day. They automatically know it isn't personal and it doesn't take away from the most important elements of our time together.

No longer in the food fog, I'm able to truly enjoy moments with family at gatherings like this with a deeper appreciation for their time. During my 500 pound days, the food was the main focus--the main event--the reason we were going to whatever restaurant...oh yeah--bring it on... family and friends? Oh, sure--they'll be there, too---but did you see the hot rolls and cookies?? And I think they just put out some fresh fried chicken--watch out, do you want some? I wish that dramatization was an exaggeration. It really isn't. Oh hey--there's so and so--haven't seen them in ten years--wow... Hey, is that mac and cheese over there---jackpot!!! Seriously, no exaggeration.

I couldn't stay in Stillwater long. I drove through a big thunderstorm to get back in town and to the studio for on-air severe weather coverage. The threat passed and I was free to hit the gym for a good workout. I made a store run--then home to prepare dinner.

I sincerely appreciate all the positive feedback on yesterday's "The Click Is Created" post. Living "in our click" each day--one day at a time, nurturing it--protecting it, is what keeps it clicking. One thing I didn't mention in yesterday's post is how, just as we live "in the click" we create, we also have the ability to step out of the click if we choose. I stepped out of mine once and re-gained 164 pounds. This further supports the "click is created" philosophy--it can also be ignored, refused--denied. The click isn't a single happening where suddenly everything is crystal clear. The click is a product of the daily practices we make important.

Today: I maintained the integrity of my calorie budget. I remained abstinent from refined sugar. I exceeded my daily water goal. I participated in support communications. And I worked out at the gym with a solid level 20-30 min elliptical session.

I'm blessed. I'm grateful.  

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Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
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