Big fat update 11

Date I started trying to lose weight: 7/8/07
Starting weight: 205-209 lbs.
Goal weight: 158-162 lbs.
Current weight: 167 lbs.
Total pounds lost so far: 38 lbs.

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I have started to use the elliptical first thing in the morning for 30 minutes. Periodically throughout the day, I lift dumbbells or do push ups. This combination seems to have re-awakened my metabolism because the weight is dropping quickly again.

I'm getting very close to my goal weight. We are taking a family vacation in a couple months and I expect to have fully reached my goal by then.

It has been almost 5 months since I started this effort. Crazy how quickly the time has elapsed.

One liability at a time

Exterior picture of my new Civic.

Have you ever read a piece of popular literature and been surprised by the impact it had on your outlook? I recently read, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki. People have been encouraging me to read it for quite some time and I finally got around to it.

I'm not going to list every last detail of the book, but one of the major ideas that I took away from it is the idea of "reducing financial liabilities" and "building financial assets." Kiyosaki states that this is one of the main ways to build a better financial portfolio. Most people never get ahead financially because they don't think in these terms.

Once I finished reading the book, I took a look at my monthly expenses and started some serious pruning. I figured out how to save $200 / month right away. Then I gave a little thought to what I drive. I was spending a lot of money each month (between payment, insurance and gas) to drive a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser that I have had since July 2006. I decided to look for something that would be much more economical. After visiting five local dealerships, I found a 2005 Honda Civic with only 13,000 miles. I made the trade and after everything was said and done, I saved an additional $350 / month. That's a total of $550 / month in savings.

I still think there are a few more things I can prune from my monthly budget. Once the pruning is done, I plan to take the savings and invest them in some local real estate. Specifically, I hope to buy a few "double-block" houses in the Wilkes-Barre area. The goal is to start creating sources of "passive income" that can be reinvested into other sources of "passive income."

I have also made the decision to sell my 1990 Mazda Miata, a fun, but unecessary monthly expense. I listed it on AutoTrader.com and was just contacted by someone who is interested in buying it. Pray that it sells.

So that's what I'm up to and I think it's going to work.

Interior picture of my Civic.

Big fat update 10

Date I started trying to lose weight: 7/8/07
Starting weight: 205-209 lbs.
Goal weight: 158-162 lbs.
Current weight: 169 lbs.
Total pounds lost so far: 36 lbs.

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This is an update that I'm really excited about. If you remember, when I first started this "project" during the Summer, I was shooting for 165 lbs. That seemed reasonable to me at the time, but I repeatedly chose to revise my goal once I tasted success. It feels good to be in the 160's.

I don't know what kind of effect Thanksgiving is going to have on these numbers. I am disciplined with what I'm eating, but I'm not going to deny myself any of the foods or desserts on the Thanksgiving table.... even if it sets me back a little.

I need to exercise more consistently. I'm becoming a slacker in that area and I need to regain the discipline I had a few months ago. I think the fact that the weather has turned cold is causing me to revert to "hibernation mode."

Deas Vail

I recently heard the song "Rewind" by Deas Vail. I love their sound. I looked everywhere to find their CD, but came up short. I couldn't even find it online, but to my surprise our local Christian Bookstore had a copy tucked in the back of the CD racks. Even better was the $7.99 price tag.

Be sure to check this group out. You won't be disappointed.

Nifty update

This is a picture of me sitting with my mother and grandmother at Nifty Fifty's.

I finally did it. I finally found an opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Nifty Fifty's in Philadelphia.

On Monday, I needed to take my grandmother to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in downtown Philly. I wasn't sure exactly how to get to Nifty Fifty's from there, but I figured I would be able to figure it out.

After her testing and x-rays were complete, we set out on our trek to find the best restaurant in southeast Pennsylvania. Believe it or not, I don't think I made a single wrong turn.

I ordered the chili-cheese burger, onion rings and a strawberry banana shake. I made sure to take a few pictures so I could share the experience with you. We even bought t-shirts before we left. I felt like such a tourist (although I'm not sure Philly could ever be much of a tourism hub).

You can read a little more about my history with Nifty Fifty's by clicking here. And if you think of it, please remember to pray for my grandmother (Ruby) on November 26th. She is having open heart surgery to repair a valve. Thanks.

Waterbed

This is too funny.

I found it on a friend's Facebook and couldn't resist linking to it.

Big fat update 9

Date I started trying to lose weight: 7/8/07
Starting weight: 205-209 lbs.
Goal weight: 158-162 lbs.
Current weight: 170 lbs.
Total pounds lost so far: 35 lbs.

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As you can see from the time lapse since the last "Big fat update," the pounds are coming off much slower now. I feel like I'm in the home stretch. I'm confident that within a couple more months, I will reach my goal.

I was actually surprised that I reached 170 this week. This past weekend, we hosted a Husband & Wife retreat at PMBC and I ate snacks constantly. I stepped on the scale, mentally prepared to see a weight increase, but was pleasantly surprised with just the opposite.

In fact, I'm starting to wonder if I should totally change my diet philosophy and get back to eating Peanut M&M's, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, pumpkin pie and cashews whenever I want. It seemed to work this weekend. Note for those who are hyper-literal: I'm kidding AND I'm about to go walk four miles.

Dumbest statistic ever

Most evenings, the Food Network airs a show called "Unwrapped." Andrea and I enjoy watching it together and learning the history and production techniques that go into making the things we eat.

The episode that we're currently watching is dedicated to the topic of "pie." I like pie. I like it better than cake. I like it better than pudding. In some contexts, I probably even like it better than ice cream. Crazy, I know.

Yet even though I am genuinely interested in pie, I can't excuse the dumbest statistic Unwrapped has ever revealed. According to tonight's show, "The average American eats six pieces of pie every year."

That's a statistic? What a waste of research.

I find it interesting when they tell me things like, "If you place every M&M ever made, end to end, the line would stretch to Mars and back." Or, "The Romans were the first to invent a goat cheese pie."

But telling me that the average American eats a slice of pie every two months is just about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Why would you bother telling us that? That's as significant as telling us something like, "The average American celebrates Thanksgiving once a year."

I'm wondering if Unwrapped is the first show to fall victim to the writer's strike.

Worst thing on the menu: The Deluxe Breakfast

I recently read that McDonald's has a breakfast meal that tops 90 grams of fat. They don't have that detailed on their website so I'm not certain if that's valid.

The worst thing they have listed is their Deluxe Breakfast. According to their nutrition facts, the Deluxe Breakfast boasts a total of 1,140 calories and 59 grams of fat. Keep in mind, that's before adding butter or syrup.

I'm convinced that just about anyone can lose weight if they are willing to walk more and give up eating fast food all-together.