I've been trying to cut out the beers during weekdays. That's certainly not unreasonable. The trouble with that is the weather just took a turn for the fantastic here. So much so, that i've begun to consider breaking out my shorts. Because, well, i look damned hot in shorts and work boots. (actually, no one looks good in shorts and work boots) Anyways, i've been trying to resist the urge to have a beer out on the deck except i've been waiting all winter to put that deck to good use and it is really calling to me. The deck, probably more than the beer.
Over the weekend, we went to celebrate a friends birthday. It wasn't a big affair but the fact that we hadn't gotten together with these people for a while inspired me to have not one, not two, but three Caesars. That wasn't the best decision. It wasn't the best decision, but it wasn't the worst thing for my diet that i put into my mouth Friday night. My buddy made deep fried chocolate bars. I had two. And yes, they were awesome.
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| ....and carny food shall be your undoing |
What do you get when you have three Caesars and two deep fried chocolate bars over the course of one evening? Back to 189 pounds, that's what. Not to mention the fact that i am currently in a bit of a friendly competition with Brett Minor over at The Transformed Non-Conformist to try to lose 13 pounds before the end of June. Eating like that isn't going to get me there. OK, it's not really a competition, more of a mutual support thing but he just informed me that he's ready to start hitting the gym now and me, on the verge of spending 14 hours a day sitting in a tractor isn't doing me any favors. If i have any plans of getting into my suit of awesome before the end of June, diet is the one thing i need to get a better grip on. I'm about 2 weeks into this and i've lost one pound......yesh!
Now, i realize that i'm in my mid forties. The chance of me actually having any discernible abs, without spending hours a day in the gym is not really a reality. I'd just like to look a little better and hopefully, feel a little better about myself in turn.
If i could do that, i might even consider wearing THIS, over the course of the summer.
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| this goes way better with work boots than shorts! |
............because you can't help but be awesome if you are wearing a work kilt!
I hate posts that make me hungry! I've never had deep fried chocolate but it sure sounds good! I love my food, that's all there is to it!
ReplyDeleteI also love my grill and having beers on my deck. I am weak and have long given up on the pish posh challenge. Don't be weak like me!
And I choose not to comment on the work kilt! lol
I'm still trying to do the weight loss thing. I have a goal and that helps.
DeleteIt's hard to believe but the chocolate bars remain intact inside the batter.
You are intimidated by the kilt? :)
I squeed at the thought of shorts and work boots - I am assuming cut-off jean shorts, right? And then I nearly swooned at the utili-kilt and work boot idea! Whoa! You sure know the way to a girl's heart! I've been after my husband for years to wear a kilt for me - so far no such luck!
ReplyDeleteAs for the diet...well...shucks, I'm trying that one out myself - not Pish Posh's but just getting back into better eating and exercising habits. Having a garden to putter in has helped a bit. But the homemade chocolate chip cookies are totally my downfall!
Keep trying and don't get too discouraged. A few years ago I lost a huge amount of weight (and of course since gained it back) but I found that if I allowed myself one day where I knew I would get some kind of treat - salty or sweet didn't matter, either was a treat - then I was much better during the week!
My wife and i used to have free Sundays. The day, not the dessert. Not to splurge but to take off from dieting. I'm a little worried that I may not make my deadline with free Sundays in play.
DeleteCookies are my weakness as well. I love ginger snaps.
The work-kilt idea just seems so cool to me. :)
The battle of the bulge is indeed a never-ending struggle. The trick is to start each day new, no matter what happened yesterday or what you ate that you maybe should have eaten less of or avoided. Too much feeling deprived is a sure road to failure. I think we could easily take up a collection here to get you to post a picture of you in the work kilt... nothing says sexy like a guy in a kilt! My husband is 1/2 Irish and 1/2 Scottish and I've tried to convince him of that too... even if they are reputed to be a bit drafty! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm not aware of any Irish or Scottish heritage in me. If it helps, i can be ken-inaMcTractor? I like Scotch, does that work?
DeleteI'm thinking a bit of a cooling draft in the summer, might be a pleasant thing? :)
I started at the gym today, but will need a few sessions to get into a regular routine. I was getting frustrated at first until I realized that you shouldn't weigh yourself every day. Crazy fluctuations. So now I am only going to weigh in once a week.
ReplyDeleteThis past weekend was my son's birthday and a friend had a cookout earlier that day, so I may have lost ground on whatever progress I had made.
The up and down can be rather discouraging. I've been trying to weigh on Sunday mornings. It might not be the best plan though as i was hoping, to perhaps have at least a light beer on the weekend. I might need to weigh sometime during the week.
DeleteHere's the thing. I went to a supermarket yesterday that had all this imported food - and now I understand why it's so hard to lose weight in the west! Wow! Everything is so full of calories it's amazing. The only way I've been able to do so well is because I just cook for myself - and don't eat any processed food. Not because I'm against it - just because I can't get it. If I were in the States this whole losing weight project would be so hard! Ken, come to India ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe need to see you looking hot in your shorts and boots ;-)
DeleteI'm not so sure about that. I'll see if i can get a good one this summer.
DeleteI think it's going to be a little easier now that my wife is not working such long hours and back on her diet as well. It's easier if she cooks healthy things. If this doesn't work, India it is! :)
DeleteDeal!
DeleteI'm telling you, you can still get abs! You don't need youth, or a gym. Probably do need less fried chocolate, but hey, this is the weather for outdoor food :) Maybe 2 instead of 3 Caesars and a little salad instead of the second helping. But either way you're a man and you do labor - you need a good meal.
ReplyDeleteBut there are things you can do before work, after work, while working, that can help burn love handles and define abs. I think it's easier for a guy too, honestly :)
Even mopping the floor on your hands and knees works your abs ;) jump rope, crunches, knee to chest lifts while in the push up position, twists.
I've been mixing in some of those ab exercises that you shared so it's a start anyways. And you're right, i think it's a lot earier for a guy. I always feel bad if my loss for the week is greater than for my wife.
DeleteSalads....definately more salads! :)
LOVE the work outfits (either work for me too)! And yes, the food mentioned made me gain 3 pounds just looking at the PICTURE! LMAO!!
ReplyDeleteOn the diet aspect: I am SERIOUSLY thinking the food industry is killing us. When I was watching my weight the durn food commercials just killed me. Chocolate commercials, Dairy Queen commercials, etc. NASTY!
~ Sheri
They just looked so good. They would have been even better if they had a stick in them! There's nothing better than food on a stick!
Delete......actually, food on a stick could be the reason i need to be on a diet in the first place?
I had typos...I hate typos and grammatical errors. So I am fixing and reposting.
ReplyDeleteI am still in the mighty throes of finishing last minute semester things, and as I sit here in the middle of my LAST portfolio to get through (eyes are going buggy looking at all these.....) I thought to myself that I needed a 'ken' break and ran over to see if there was an update. (I have your comments on my posts awaiting moderation...I haven't done anything in the last few days over at the hammock, and until this week is over, it will have to hang empty...(*sniff)
Where do I start?!?!
I think I will begin with my favorite line:
"The trouble with that is the weather just took a turn for the fantastic here."
I love this, and bless your heart (Southernism), you live somewhere that you are JUST NOW getting to consider shorts?! I'd die.
This time of year poses all sorts of conundrums for dieting...it's that time where we want to look better/wear less clothing but it is also the time of year where the opportunities to eat bonafide, number one, grade A country-fried CRAP is upon us. What to do, what to do? The beers on the deck? I think you're on the right track with limiting those during the week, and can you possibly enjoy a lighter version? I know - I am partial to a more stout lager, but have had to all but give them up (*drat) due to gluten and other things.
But let me sit down with you a minute.....FRIED CHOCOLATE BARS?!?! Are you serious? Never heard of such and I think I just grew two pants sizes thinking about that and looking at the picture. Wowza. Yet, I am one that is not into 'diets' per se. I have had quite a couple of decades of struggle with weight/body image issues and I think that I can finally say, in the grand ol' decade of my 40's, that I am finally comfortable in my own skin and have a healthy perspective on all of this. I hope to post about my perspective soon. I have so many ideas for writing and look forward to the summer and lots of writing. That being said, I say eat a fried chocolate bar...or maybe not the whole bar (or two) but have half and eat it veeeery slowly so as to really savor and enjoy the lingering chocolate warm gooey dance upon the tongue...and you just might not need the whole thing (or 2). :-)
It is very possible to get decent abs back in our 40s. Don't give up. You can do it. I have had some health hurdles this past year, so exercise has been hit or miss, at best, but as I have been getting better/stronger, I am ready to hit it again and will do so very very soon. I have a 10k this summer, and that is always motivating for me to know I have to be ready for those.
Shorts and work boots? Hmmmm....a thought to ponder...:) I say go for it.
Overall, i'd have to say that my forties have been a lot healthier that my thirties, for sure. Just some bad habits creeping slowly back in after i lost a bunch of weight a few years ago.
DeleteWe're trying different ideas for the grill in an effort to eat better, like grilling different vegetables. Some of those are pretty good. I'm still a meat eater though, i'm just working on portion control on that.
Don't be bothered if it takes a while to comment. I've been having trouble to get around to everyone the last week or so myself. I'll keep checking when i have time.
.....a "ken break", i like that. :)
I gain weight in the winter and tend to loose weight in the summer. So for me there is the season of baggy pants, and the season of not so baggy pants.
ReplyDeleteHammering post holes through solid rock sounds like a pretty good workout to me. Although it sounds like a lot of work as well! :)
DeleteI got here via another blog and wow can I relate. I have certain foods that derail me too. I sometimes hate the scale and want to throw it out the window! I am pretty sure with your determination you'll be wearing kilts in no time!!
ReplyDeleteSo nice to have you stop by. I try not to let the speed bumps derail me. Your blog is certainly an inspirational story. I'll be adding you to my list. :)
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