How did I do in the Turkey Challenge

For those who have been reading, you all know that I was working on a Turkey Challenge through Weight Watchers Online. The idea of this challenge was to have three goals. One was a weight loss goal. The second goal was a personal goal. The third goal was to change something in your life (or something close to this).

My goals were:

Goal 1: To lose 15 lbs in 7 weeks. I lost 24.6 lbs in 7 weeks! Goal Met!

Goal 2: To walk 70 miles in 7 weeks, this meant 10 miles a week! I walked 174.19 miles in 7 weeks, meaning I walked over 25 miles a week. I guess those elipticals and I have become friends!

Goal 3: To clean and organize my apartment 15 minutes a day for a total of 960 minutes. This goal I came up short, actually just over 4 hours short or 240 minutes short. I completed 718 minutes out of the 960 minutes. I still think this is a great achievement for me, as A I hate to clean and second I can't organize unless I want to and I organize enough at work, that I don't want to when I'm home.

Not that I'm making up excuses for Goal 3 but I would rather take the first two then the last one any day. I'm proud of myself and the effort that was put fourth to complete a challenge and to have some what GREAT results! I am very interested in getting into a "new me by 2009" challenge, but I'm not so sure if I will do a Weight Watchers Challenge, or a Blog Challenge. Stay tuned for my next part of my journey!

"Let's eat and be healthy"

~Nathan

Taste Of Home Healthy Cooking

I don't what is with my obsession with magazines about health. I guess when you are dedicated to something like I am to my journey, you do get obsessed. Anyways I went to Barnes & Noble and picked up another magazine. Taste Of Home Healthy Cooking. I'm going to give you my view on this magazine. The issue that I picked up was the Special Holiday Issue that is to be sold until January 12, 2009. I guess I expected this magazine to have the same format of Weight Watchers did in theirs. Actually not even close. This magazine gives you about 75 different recipes of foods you will want. There are recipes for Chicken Pot Pie for about 9 points which is a complete meal to Beef Stew which is only 7 points per serving. I know these may sound high, but this is your whole dinner. There are some great low point desserts and appetizers in here. I really thought the magazine did an awesome job with the recipes. Where this magazine lacks is articles about healthy cooking or healthy alternatives to your every day recipes. If you are looking for a bundle of cheap recipes, this is your resource.

Get it for only $3.99

I give it 4 Stars out of 5 Stars!

"Let's eat and be healthy"

~Nathan

Marie Antoinette Award

I am pleased to announce that I received the Marie Antoinette Award. This award is given to "real people, real blogs" and I received the award thanks to Lynne http://lynne-is-on-a-mission.blogspot.com/ who I met when she happened to show up one day and left a comment. Since that moment we have become a support line for each other. The other nomination came from Estela http://lasttime-atbat.blogspot.com/ who I met through Lynne. Estela found my blog through Lynne's webpage. Since then we have been supportive in each others weight loss journey.

I keep this blog as a piece of mind in my weight loss journey. On Weight Watchers I have met a lot of women, and very few men. I think it is important for men to have a view on their weight loss journey, and what is going through our minds in regards to life. The rules are listed below to nominate another blogger:

The Rules:
1. Please put the logo in your blog
2. Place a link from the person, from whom you received the award
3. Nominate at least 7 or more
4. Put the links of those on your blog
5. Leave a message on their blog to let them know

My nominations are

Kerrin from Girl On A Mission http://thisgirlonamission.blogspot.com/ . I met Kerrin, when she showed up on my webpage. She lives in MD, and is roughly my age. I have learned a few things from Kerrin such as planning my menu's ahead of time, to save time and to save money. Something I never use to do. She is a big Supporter! Thank you Kerrin, you deserve this award!

Pamela from Uncovering Pamela http://www.uncoveringpamela.com/ . I met Pamela once again when she showed up on my webpage. I really feel a connection to her since she has gone from being in the 300's to now being in 180's. This is something that I'm looking to do myself.

Havie from My Name Is Havalah http://havie23.blogspot.com/ is a young lady who is lives in New Zealand. Once again she found my blog through Weight Watchers. It is nice that I can inspire across the sea, and I like encouraging her as she is a nice young lady!

Aline from A Journey in New Zealand http://liloufrenchie.blogspot.com/ is another young lady who is living in New Zealand but I think she is originally from Switzerland. Another great person to get another view from.

Lynne from I'm On A Mission http://lynne-is-on-a-mission.blogspot.com/ . She has been a big supporter, and I really appreciate her always checking up on me.

Estela from Last Time At Bat http://lasttime-atbat.blogspot.com/ . Estela has been another big supporter, as she fights through her own weight loss.

Carlos from You're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat http://carlosthelarger.blogspot.com/ is someone who I met through Kerrin, and he writes some funny entries, and is another guy's view!

I want to congratulate each person for being there for me. You all do a great job on your blogs, and I ask that you keep up the great work!

"Let's eat and be healthy"

~Nathan

Why Must there??

You know you always here how people must argue on the Holidays. I don' t understand why must there be arguing. I always dodge it because I usually don't get into those traps with my family. This year I wasn't so good. I was going through the food line, and there was this fruit salad (that turned out to be Waldorf salad). I asked my sister in law (who made it) what was in it. She turned around and said "just eat it". I said under my breath but in a normal tone facing the food line, "then I guess I won't then". I am not going to eat something that I don't know what is in the item, I mean how can I be accountable for this item, if I don't know what is in it.

Then there was dessert. I brought some Weight Watchers items for me to eat during that time. So my family sat down and eat my mother's famous mini cheesecakes. I reached over to my aunt and said this is only 2 points and I hate to see how many are in your small dessert. That is when my sister in law said "What does it matter, just eat your food, who cares"! Let's just say it was hard for me to bite my tongue on that. There was a ton of alarms and nasty comments coming to mind in system over load. I just didn't want a huge family fight to happen at my mother's.

All I can say is that some people do choose one way of life. Then there are those who choose to be healthy. I'm writing this to keep everyone motivate, as if you have family who aren't supportive "like mine" then I know it can be tough to stay on track, but YOU must continue, because you make a decision to CHANGE!

"Let's eat and be healthy"

~Nathan

I'm Working on it

Just for those who already know, I was nominated twice for the Marie Antoinette Award from Lynne and Estela. I appreciate the nomination, as I strive to talk about what is important for me. It is the Holidays but I will be working on getting this up in full swing by the weekend.

Once again,

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

"Let's eat and be healthy"

~Nathan

Wish You and Your Family all a....

I wanted to take the time before I head out to my bowling league this evening, that I took the time to wish each and everyone one of you who celebrate Thanksgiving a very Happy, Healthy, and Safe Thanksgiving. Enjoy the holiday, and as always

"Let's eat and be healthy"

~Nathan

Why Did I Cry, No One Got Hurt?

Why did I cry today, no one got hurt? Was I emotional or was this a victory. Wait was does the victory and no one getting hurt have in common, well continue to read and you are about to find out. Well the story is long, but I'll give you what I read in High School to do my English Papers, they are called "Cliff Notes". The story goes like this I started my weight loss journey and my new lifestyle and a very endeared committment on September 3, 2008. I have been going to the gym about 5 times a week, and have been eating my points. Well I guess the story starts a little further back then that. On April 16, 2007 I took my current job and I weighed 274lbs. 1 yr and 5 months later I had gained 64lbs. I was at 338 lbs and had never been this big. My clothes were tearing apart by the mass of my weight, I couldn't walk stairs, but I could still eat like no tomorrow. Then one day I said I'm tired of being big and that was on September 3, 2008. I have worked my heart out and been eating on my new lifestyle. This morning I climbed on the scale to see my new weight of 298.4lbs. I haven't seen a weight figure that started with a 2 in about 19 months. That is when the tears started to fall. It was true, that dedication and my biggest fan could work through anything to get anything I WANTED done! We still have a lot of work to do. I have lost a total of 39.6lbs in 12 weeks, and have less then 100lbs to lose to reach my goal. Guess what I cried but at the end of the day nobody got hurt except for my body being in pain (good pain) from my workout this morning. It is a great feeling. What is every a sweeter victory is that my goal was to be less than 300 lbs by January 1, 2009. I guess 2009 has come early for me. I have a lot to be thankful for tomorrow. Great health, Great Family, I still have a Job, and I have my Great Weight Loss!

Cheers to a Healthy Life!

"Let's eat and be healthy"

~Nathan

Weight Watchers Magazine

I have been on this big kick to get more and more recipes. I seriously think I have a new found fetish/sickness. I just want more and more. The funny thing this use to happy when with food. I would just want more and more. I guess I have issues…lol. But then again who doesn’t. Anyways this isn’t about trying to solve or diagnosis if I have an issue. It is really in regards to the Weight Watchers Magazine that is on the news stand for a low price of $3.95. Now I’m not pushing you to get it (even though I think you should), I’m just going to give you my opinion (isn’t that what I’m here for, to give you my opinion/view). Anyways I purchased my first edition the other night at Barnes & Noble. I sat down and went page by page, and seriously it felt like a thriller book, as I wanted more and more. I feel asleep with it in my arms, and woke up the next morning reading more. It was filled with great options and tips for the holiday season. For example to eat 10 green olives versus consuming a handful of nuts. It showed you the point value. There was great gift ideas in there for those who are falling on tough times ( now I’m not stupid the country is fallen on tough times). It gave you templates to give out as gift cards, with phrases like “Personal Fashion Expert on your next shopping spree”. What a great idea for those who can’t really afford those gifts for family members. Then I got to my favorite section, can you guess it, yup you got it…RECIPES, there had to be like 20 different recipes, and I can’t wait to start trying them. I enjoyed the magazine that I will be getting the subscription sent to my house.

I give it 5 Stars out of 5 Stars!

“Let’s eat and be healthy”

~Nathan

I Have More Friends Today Then Yesterday!

I have more friends today then I did yesterday. What I really meant to say is that today at the gym I felt there was more of a mix of people then usually. Nothing against the people that go to my gym, but at 630am usually I find a lot of retirees. At 730am I find a lot of stay at home wives. If I go later, it is a great mix, and if I go earlier than 630am I usually find myself around a lot of business men and woman along with the occasional “meat head”. Here nor there, I just found it to really be interesting after 3 months of my new lifestyle that there would be a different mix especially on a holiday week. Of course I had my retirees but I also had a decent mix of younger people like me (which always leave the option of possible eye candy). It was a great feeling to see all these people out and working out so early in the morning. I just didn’t understand where they came from. I expect a huge pick up in membership at the beginning of 2009 as people will set goals for 2009. Then soon after 2 months I will see these new influx of friends slowly disappear as they go back to their way of life. I had to write about it as I really was shocked that I had more friends today then I did yesterday!

“Let’s eat and be healthy”

~Nathan

Is there a Polite Way to Release Air?

Now before you decide to dive into this entry please know that this is a guy writing this blog, and I sometimes write about guy things, even though they apply to everyday life for both males and females. Here we go with the entry. Is there a polite way to release air? What the title fails to mention is I’m referring to the thing that no one likes to talk about, that we all do each and probably every day, and that is “passing gas”. Is there a polite way to do this. Now before most of you say, yes go to the bathroom. Let me lay out the situation. Last night I was home working on my weekly goals, and that is too cook a couple of meals this week. I’m home with my Weight Watchers Cook Book the one that is Take Out Tonight, or something close to that. Anyways I found this great recipe for Turkey Enchilada Casserole. I made this recipe which I will supply in another entry for all of you. I ate it for dinner last night, and then went to work out this morning. Here I am all excited about this workout, and I get on my elliptical. I’m on there for about 12 minutes when I realize I need to release air. I mean I don’t want to get off, but what am I to do. I mean seriously do I actually get off my machine and clean it off and go all the way down the stairs to the men’s room to release this air. Boy what a possible long journey to just release some air. Let’s face it for those who go to a gym, you know when you walk in you can smell the sweat…LOL….Here I am in the debate of my life to either make a decision where I will have to endure the pain, or feel the possible shame. Well I have to say right or wrong, yes or no, I had to endure the possible shame, as I affected the air quality for possible patrons of my gym. Now there was no one in my general area, but who knows whether or not you could smell that air in another place.

My question I pose to my readers is how would you handled yourself?

“Let’s eat and be healthy”

~Nathan