Another Week and a Little Progress!

   Although getting up at 5:00 or 5:30 am is really hard sometimes, I think my biggest problem is controlling my eating.  I'm still eating way too much crap and portions that could easily feed two people.  If I can get that under control and gain some willpower, I'll do much better.  Becky's been helping out by fixing much more healthy dinners which is great because I will eat just about anything she puts in front of me!  What really worries me is that we are going away for the weekend with some friends to ride ATVs and relax and yes, eat, eat, eat.  That seems to be the social thing to do and it is our entertainment.  It's just got to stop somewhere!     
    We're going to Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) in a couple of weeks to an all-inclusive resort with endless food and ice cream just sitting around waiting to be eaten!   I call this "free food" and around it, I have no will power!!!  My goal is to not gain any weight over the next few weeks but I'm not sure if I can lose any.  Wish me luck and say a prayer that I won't get mistakenly harpooned on the beach while we're gone!!
    Becky and I are starting to split orders at restaurants and I think that helps as well as I'm starting to take my lunch to work with me which gives me more control over what I eat.  That helps alot.   
    I'm enjoying the exercise once I get myself out of bed.  Since August 2nd, I've only missed one day and that was Becky's birthday!!  YAY!  I feel good about the walking and although I'm starting slow, I will continue to do it!  I'm on a business trip right now and for the next two mornings, I will be in hotels and will have to get up early to walk.  Should be fun!   The walking is making me feel so much better and although I don't go too far (2.5 - 3.5 miles), just getting up and doing it makes all the difference!  Maybe Becky and I can soon get some bikes and diversify our workouts!!
   Okay, lets talk about progress.... I weighed in this morning at 255 lbs even.  That's 6+ lbs since I started!  Woopeeee!   Actually I feel great about that since I want to go slow and ease into this lifetime routine.  So far, so good!  I've noticed a couple of things already that are showing a little progress... one, my clothes are not quite as snug and two, I can actually bend over and pick things up off the floor!  I know that sounds dumb but it has been a little difficult to do that in the shape I've been in.  This week I walked almost 18 miles, averaged about 3.9 miles/hour, had an average heart rate of about 125 or so and feel pretty good about that!   
    My blood sugar has been much better since exercising with my A1C down to 5.3 or something.  That's great since last winter, it was over 7 officially making me diabetic!  Now, the doc is talking about reducing my meds which is also great!  Speaking of meds, I would like to get off all of them or at least reduce them significantly.  Between prescription drugs and vitamins/supplements, I take about 20 pills a day and use inhalers (Advair) to boot!  Yuck!  I feel like I'm having to fill myself will medication to stay alive!  If I don't die from heart failure, I'll probably die from choking on one of those pills!
   Sleep!  I'm still not getting enough of it.  I stay up too late and get up too early!  I need at least 7 hours and I'm only getting about 5.5 or 6.  That's not healthy and by the end of the day, I'm draggin'! 
    Motivation to continue to do this is coming from friends and family.  Thanks for all of the encouragement and kind words, it keeps me going.  One of the things that also helps me is remembering my Grandpa Johnny.  For some reason when I'm walking and struggling to stay motivated, I hear his voice saying "Atsee-Idee!" 
   Grampa Johnny lived next door to me and was one of my best friends growing up.  He taught me many wise lessons in my youth. He died just after Becky and I were married.  I remember the phone call from my Dad and I remember the tears and sorrow I felt and still do after 30+ years.
   The lessons however live on and on.  He and my father taught me how to work and how to finish what I started.  After completing a job, Grampa would always step back, look and appreciate the finished product no matter what it was.  Painting a barn, digging a ditch, picking corn, snipping beans; it didn’t matter, he would always take a minute or two to stop and survey his work.  When I would complete a job or he caught me working and being the least bit productive, he would always say “atsee-idee”.  For years I didn’t know what that meant but I always knew it was a term of endearment and praise for the work I was doing or at least an acknowledgment that I was doing it right.  I can’t remember how old I was when someone finally told me that “atsee-idee” was his way of saying “That’s the idea”, meaning you’re doing okay, you’re doing it right, keep up the good work!
   So here I am now, 30+ years later and I can still hear him saying, "atsee-idee" and I get out of bed and I keep walking!  And, it makes me happy and makes me feel better.
    See ya next week!