Jamie has joined forces with
sister Donna-Louise
to ensure they're both around to watch their children grow up.
Update 10
Whoops! Didn’t find the time to enter my diary this week!
Update 9
Whoops! Didn’t find the time to enter my diary this week!
Update 8
I have now been running for two weeks and I am happy to say that I am progressing well. Three months ago, I was walking at a very slow, turtle-like pace of about 4.5km/hr. A little over two weeks ago I started jogging at a very slight pace of 7.5km/hr. This week, I ran at 15.5km/hr and I feel great! Yes the knees are sore, as are the ankles, but for once pain is my friend. I am mobile again, more mobile than I have been this century.
About 18 months ago I was playing touch footy. What I thought at the time was running was really just a quick shuffle. What I have been doing this week is actually running. Good rhythm, good pace, good sweat. I am surprised to hear myself say this, but I am actually enjoying it too! While I have been running I have been remembering all the things I couldn’t have done three weeks ago but can now do, including running to the train or bus, running into the surf, running to the shops, running from the restaurant without paying (joking!), running out of time – alright that might not have anything to do with the physical version but you get my drift. The world is a different place now I am running. I feel like I am now keeping up. No, that is wrong. I am now setting the pace.
I weighed in at 150.4kg at the gym, which was a loss of 2.1kg for the week. An overall loss of 31.6kg and I am not even close to wanting to finish this journey. I am loving my new lifestyle and my new abilities. I am wearing a 4XL shirt for the first time in 4 years and I feel fit and strong. I am turning into an athlete. Jamie’s no longer a couch potato!
Update 7
This week was very disappointing. I worked hard at the gym but didn’t focus well enough on my nutrition. I had fallen into a trap where I think I can eat whatever I like providing I don't exceed my daily calorie intake so I thought it might be OK (sometimes) to eat 1500 calories of chocolate a day and nothing else. It's not OK. What was I thinking? It’s like I haven’t learned anything over the past couple of months. And because I was eating small fun size pieces of chocolate throughout the day, it didn’t really register just how much I was consuming until I really added it all up. I was horrified to find that they added up to almost half a block of Cadbury’s chocolate (an old favourite). That is ridiculous. I have been patting myself on the back saying that I haven’t broken the diet or been tempted since day one. How wrong am I?
While I still had a weight loss last week of 1.1kg, I have now realised that it could have been much more if I had been smart. The online club meal suggestions only ever mentioned one Caramello Koala. It didn’t mention four or five. I didn’t concentrate on the lesson and I have paid the price. While I do know that when I hit my goal weight I can have an off day and make up for it in the gym, my current behaviour won’t see me achieve my goals.
So, the lesson is learned. The chocolate I ate on Saturday meant I had to exercise for an additional 90 minutes to work it off. That’s on top of my normal session. I don’t have time to be stupid like that and make up for it in the gym.
On a positive note for last week, I started doing some serious running for the first time since the last century. While it was very sore, I completed it and I am able to tick another goal off my list.
So next week is back on track. It’s not a big secret. Energy in has to be less than energy out. Simple. Follow the plan and succeed. Of course following my mission statement and remembering it daily is crucial: “My mission is to find the body that Mother Nature intended, not what McNature provided”. Here we go.
Update 6
One of the best things about this journey of losing weight is the discovery of one’s self will and determination. I have always thought of myself as a ‘glass half full’ guy and I guess this experience has reinforced that belief. However, while I have been a ‘glass half full’ guy I haven’t been a ‘glass full full’ guy. This means that while I am confident in my own abilities I have always had some doubts, especially when it comes to making the positive decisions such as good food choices and exercising.
I now make those smart decisions and while I am not yet a ‘glass full full’ guy I think I am a ‘glass almost full’ guy. I am not afraid of exercising anymore. In fact, I crave it. I am not afraid of choosing the wrong food anymore. In fact, I look forward to a good meal. Am I perfect when it comes to these areas? No. I don’t want to be either. Sometimes I know I could push myself a little harder at the gym; another second, another minute, another push-up, another set of reps. There is more I can do sometimes but I am satisfied I am doing a lot more than I ever did.
Sometimes I add a little treat to my meals. Some chips, extra fruit, perhaps a little piece of chocolate, some BBQ sauce to my steak, but that is OK as well. You can have your treats but only providing it is in moderation. I don’t have a treat every day and in honesty I don’t want one, but it is good to know that when I want one, I have worked hard for it and I enjoy it.
It was great this week to catch up with the Second Chance team in Sydney. As the biggest guy in the comp I am now at the weight of some of the boys at the start, so to see their progress and know that that is in my future is a good reminder of what is to come with hard work.
Have a great week!
Update 5
I started working out with a second trainer on Tuesday night. Her name is Ollie and she has a very different training routine to my other trainer, Mick. I think this is great as I am getting lots of variety in the gym. I will work out with Mick for two sessions a week (boxing, most likely) and then Ollie will take up another two sessions a week. When you add in my group training with Team ‘Jack’ (Lanae, Karen, Craig, Mick and Ollie) which accounts for two or three sessions a week, I am sure I will keep the momentum going.
I am only 2kg off my first goal weight as provided by The Biggest Loser Club, so I am very keen to hit this mini goal this week.
I was a little disappointed to learn that both Donna-Louise and I need to lose 20% of our starting weight each to be eligible to attend the Finale. I really feel that Donna is going to struggle to get there, no matter what I say or do. I can’t let that make me lose my own focus. I still intend to be The Biggest Loser overall, whether I make the Finale or not. Donna-Louise said that she is glad that she knows the end date for the Second Chance Challenge competition now as she feels it helps to give her some more focus, but I have a different attitude. I plan to use the end date as the time when I hit my final goal weight and then I will switch to maintenance mode. So, Finale is end of stage one. Stage two will continue exactly as before except for the competition and although the competition will be over for some of us, it won’t be for me. This is the long-term strategy for long-term weight loss and then maintenance. I can do it.
Update 4
This last week has been a bit frustrating. Although I had a weight loss of 1.9kg, most of this didn’t come off until the weekend. On Tuesday I went to see my physio to have my foot looked at (I strained a tendon in my left foot which is making walking and running really painful). The physio ordered me to rest for two weeks, but I said that wasn’t possible so I have been working around it, mainly by spending some time in the pool. I suppose with a loss of 1.9kg and having an injury as well, I should be happy with things, but I feel I am behind where I wanted to be by this stage in the competition.
I am not eating all of the 2500 calories I am allowed. Each night I have been having a Caramello Koala or two as I figured that as I had calories to spare, why shouldn’t I give myself a little treat late at night? Before I would have devoured a 250g block of chocolate no problems, whereas two Koalas weigh 40 grams so at least I have learned that you can have a little indulgence every now and then, but by moderating intake you can still ‘have your cake and eat it,’ so to speak.
Week six is about to begin and as it is the last week of holidays, I need to step up the gym and pool work. Today I bought a pair of flippers and some goggles so I can swim properly at the pool instead of just doing walking laps. I didn’t take a photo at the end of week four but I will take one this week as I can finally start to see a change in my shape. I suppose that a 14kg loss has to have an impact at some point!
Update 3
This week I had a weight loss of 2.5kg and it was a little disappointing. If I take the whole Second Chance Challenge competition out of the frame though I know that I am learning the skills I need to last me a life time of good health. OK, who am I kidding? I know that really I want to be The Biggest Loser out of all 20 of us in the Second Chance team. It is very important that I stay focused and start to sweat more.
I injured my foot at the gym the other day and after two days of rest I hoped it would be fine for the weekend sessions at the gym. Unfortunately it isn't better so I have organised a trip to the physiotherapist next week to get back on the mend.
I have enjoyed the gym and I have been doing plenty of boxing with my trainer, Mick (watch out for my hook and uppercut!) and I will be hitting the pool tomorrow for the first time (gotta dust off those togs).
Food wise, I didn't follow the program exactly for the week for a range of reasons including the lack of time, location and also because I didn’t like some of the menu plan options either. I am signing off now at the end of week four and weighing 12.1kg less than I did at the start. See you next week with hopefully 15kg or more gone from my weight forever!
Update 2
Well, week two is over and done and there have been no dramas in keeping up my focus and staying with my plan. This week I learned that I can easily swap one meal for another. For example, because I don’t like prawns, I swapped the prawns recipe on Friday for another meal that I had and have enjoyed before.
My challenge this week was to drink enough water and in the week ahead I aim to get to the gym for four hours a day. I am taking a few weeks of holiday now so I will make sure that I am hitting as close to 2500 calories each day so I have the energy to hit the gym hard.
While I was walking to the office on Thursday, I tripped and grazed my elbow and palms. I’m surprised that cars behind me didn’t bump into each other (I bet the drivers were in fits of laughter) and I half expected Greenpeace to show up and try to rescue me! All jokes aside, my left arm has been pretty sore for the last two days so I think I might have bruised it. Hopefully it is minor.
Around 18 months ago was the time that I first tried to lose weight and after the weigh-in today, the scales show that I am 400g heavier than I was then. What a wasted 18 months this has been. I promise I won’t waste any more of my life.
Well enough from me. Operation ‘Slim Jim’ is in full swing and week three for me is when it will really begin; my gym program is starting.
Keep smiling. See you next week!
Update 1
At the end of the first day of the first week, I feel it all went pretty well. Felt a little hungry at different times of the day, but I think that the secret is to eat small meals regularly. I have set an alarm to go off on my phone at 10.30am to remind me to have morning tea and again at 2.30pm for afternoon tea. I am getting into the habit of parking the car farther away from my office so I can get a walk in before and after my work day.
This week, I was faced with a big test as I attended a course for a few days. Food was provided and lunch on the first day meant I could choose from chicken, beef and heaps of green vegies. I skipped the dessert as well as morning and afternoon teas and munched on the fruit I had brought along instead. Temptations are all around (namely the mini Drumstick ice creams!), but right now I have the self control to say ‘no!’ Even though I am finding that I am not using all my calorie allowance for the day so, theoretically, I could have a small dessert to catch the numbers up, I know that I would be playing with fire and one small dessert could lead to much more. I don't need it, I don't crave it, I don't want it. It's as simple as that.
Today the lunch that was served was terrible. There was nothing there that I would ever eat including sushi. I opted for chicken curry (yuk!), which I forced myself to eat. I had to fill up with three bread rolls (small ones). I am proud of myself because normally I would have chosen white rolls, but I chose wholemeal instead and they were actually pretty nice.
So the big test happens this weekend. I won’t have any distractions like work and courses to take my mind off track. So, if I get through this weekend – sorry, when I get through this weekend – then I will have passed the seven day mark and there will be NO looking back. See you tomorrow, diary.
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Well it’s the weekend and my first full day at home and no probs. I mowed the lawn today as well. Normally I would do the front today and then the back on the following week but I pushed myself to do both and I ‘whipper snippered’ as well. I felt pretty strong doing it and so very happy with my energy levels. I ate when I should and what I should. The recommended fish and chips were great. I’ve never had grilled fish before and after I smothered it in lemon juice it was great. I didn’t eat anywhere near the same amount of chips I normally would either, but with a big salad I had plenty to eat. I think that The Biggest Loser Club Meal Replacement Program is excellent. For too long now I have eaten the same foods over and over, so it is also nice to have some variety.
Oh, lost 3.8kg after six days. Pretty happy with that considering the strange week with all of the course interruptions. Bring on week two starting tomorrow, which is my last week of work. Then I have four weeks off. That part of the journey starts the full-time fitness segment.
See you next time!