Resolution Inspiration: Three Stories

Making a New Year's Resolution to lose weight?  Here are three stories that moved me in some way recently.  Not all have a happy ending, but I'm betting one of them will help you to have a happy ending yourself.

Harry's Lesson
A professor of mine once said, "Are you touched? Or are you moved?" (to do something)  Ann from "Ann is Living Large No More" wrote a moving tribute to a friend who died a year ago from a massive heart attack. Only in his 50s, he had a lot to live for. Tragically, he was losing weight, but not with the urgency he needed to become healthy.  An inspiring lesson for all of us.

Matt's "Aha Moment"
I can't imagine how depressing it would be if we didn't know weight loss could be successfully achieved. Fortunately, we have so many positive examples. Here's yet another success story of how one man found his "aha moment" and changed his life forever.

Dennis' "Real World" Diet
One interesting and unique weight loss blog I have turned a few people on to is Father Dennis Day's. He's my mother-in-law's priest in Idaho, and he's fighting the fight and blogging about it like the rest of us. Father Day started his adventure at a dangerous 360 pounds in his 60s. His risk factors have kept him off the Medifast diet, but I think the common sense diet approach his nutritionist devised makes a lot of sense - and he's lost 44 pounds in less than four months! If you're looking for a healthy eating plan for the new year, there's a lot to learn from Dennis' post.

Happy New Year everybody.  Make it a healthy one!

My Personal Mission Statement

I've read many personal management books over the years (Stephen Covey, David Allen, etc.) Several have recommended adopting your own, personal "mission statement," just as most organizations have. I had never done so, however, until now. Why? Because the increasing demands and opportunities of work, family, and life in the current day have me feeling less focused and in control of where I'm going and how I'm influencing others in positive and productive ways.

While Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People introduced many people to personal mission statements more than 20 years ago, they're all the more important in this age of distraction, with unceasing work email accessible at all waking hours through Blackberrys and VPN and an infinite offering of web sites and satellite TV at home. Leo Babauta's new book Focus doesn't explicitly recommend personal mission statements, but reading it recently made me think about how important knowing your personal mission is to maintaining focus in life.

Without further delay, here's my personal mission statement:

Be a great father/family member/friend. Be a great husband. Recognize fatherhood is fleeting and make the most of it. Cultivate and maintain long-term friendships and family relationships. 

Be great at making a difference. Do important work and be great at it. Seek opportunities to make a difference. Be generous in ways that make a difference.

Take great care of myself. Acquire a healthy weight and lifestyle. Make it possible to accomplish the rest of my mission for a long, long time.

Have a great life. Enjoy life. Do things that are worth doing.  Don't just "pass the time."

You can see how a mission can build focus. Mine is broad enough to encompass family, work, and personal goals, yet it screens out unfocused pursuits. Can using the Internet be a part of my mission? Yes, if I'm improving the quality of my life, making deep connections with others, or doing something that makes a difference. But if I'm mindlessly surfing, no. Reading my favorite baseball blogs for new ways to appreciate the game? Yes. Reading every news story about a star player's contract negotiations? No way.

Missions are supposed to provide focus and help you to improve. I'm not great in any of the four areas above, by the way. But having named them and written them down, I'm a little closer.

Heard of personal mission statements, but haven't written one? Try writing your own personal mission statement today.

Lose Weight with Cheesesteaks!

Hello everybody! Thanks for letting me take a couple of weeks off of blogging. After a frantic period of work and kid events, we packed up and headed to my hometown of Philadelphia for the week leading up to Christmas, getting out of town just ahead of the big storm.  In fact, we didn't even see a flake while we were there.

It was a great week, though.  In addition to time with my parents and my brother and sister-in-law (watching the Eagles "miracle" victory over the Giants on TV!), we really got around. Shannon and I had a night downtown, hearing the Wanamaker Organ at Macy's, passing the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall on foot on Chestnut Street, and eating at Reading Terminal Market.  The day culminated in a walk around the Philadelphia Museum of Art. (Hint: this has something to do with my "fitness event" announcement next week.)

Next up was a visit to three different families in the Maryland/D.C. area (though unfortunately not Tish), including a very cool spontaneous visit to the National Christmas Tree on the White House's south lawn.

Having not been to Philly in a year and a half, we kind of over did it (though all of it was wonderful). Basically, we packed in as much nostalgia as possible.

Well, guess what else I overdid in a sense of nostalgia?  Cheesesteaks. And hoagies. And soft pretzels.  And many things seasonal, as well (my mom makes eggnog with butterscotch schnapps, among other things).  Like the tour of the mid-Atlantic region, each stop was satisfying, yet together they left me feeling sluggish and rundown. I was sure I had gained at least five pounds.

But amazingly, I actually lost a half-pound.  A regular Festivus miracle!  The weight loss gods work in mysterious ways.  Now, I did exercise a lot on the trip.  I walked several times, rode the exercise bike during our stay downtown, and even took some cuts at an indoor batting cage with the kids.  And I almost entirely avoided chain restaurants and fast food.  Those things could get the credit.

But clearly, the cheesesteaks deserve the credit. In my experience, have one wit whiz, one wit onions and peppers, and split a Buffalo chicken with your wife (but don't tell anyone from South Philly about the last one). Spread that out over a week, and you'll lose a half pound. It worked for me. (Individual results may vary.)

Blogging the Next Two Weeks

Hi everyone.  I've decided to lay low for the next two weeks.  I'll back to a normal blogging schedule after Christmas.

This month has been crazy for us. The two snow days Thanksgiving week and holiday closures/furlough later this month has compacted my work schedule pretty bad.  My wife is a professional musician who it seems works whatever nights/weekends I'm not this time of year.  And our ten year old is in basketball and music, both very active in the weeks leading up to the holidays. I've noticed many of you are busy, too. So hopefully this will work out for all of us.

Two quick updates:

I am so sore (but for a good reason).  At the encouragement of a fellow blogger, I'm considering entering a fitness event in March. Saturday, I did a simulation of half the event just to see if I could really do it.  The test went better than I expected, but when I woke up Sunday morning, I was walking like an 85 year old!

I'll make a decision about the event soon and let you know all about it - this could be a huge boost to my fitness, and boy do I need it right now.

December 27-31 will be "Unclutterer" week in my house.  As I alluded to in my post on confronting clutter, I believe extra pounds around the waist and extra stuff around the house may share a root cause of "Future Me will take care of that."  Since I wrote that post, I have read Unclutter Your Life in One Week, by Erin Doland of the Unclutterer blog.  I'll review the book at the beginning of the week and then take advantage of the office being closed to implement many of Doland's practices for uncluttering your home.

Look for blogging the week after Christmas with a full report on my uncluttering experience and updates on the Pounds Off Playoff Final Four, which starts December 19!

Have a great holiday season everybody!

IKEA Cykel: Star Wars Character or Awesomest Company Present Ever?

Bonus bike for all IKEA employees

Years ago I was appointed MC of our office's holiday luncheon. It was one of those deals where I didn't step forward so much as everybody else stepped back. Every year, I try to be bad enough to get fired from hosting duties, while doing nothing that would get me fired from my actual job. Every year, I get reappointed.

Last year, I held a contest that was based on a radio bit called "IKEA product or Star Wars character?" Let's face it, if you didn't know Mace Windu was a Star Wars character, you might think it was the name of an IKEA modular sofa, or that Pax Drammen (a wardrobe) was a Jedi leader. (here's more)  You might not be surprised to hear that a sci-fi geek from the IT department won.

Well, next year I might be hosting the IKEA employee luncheon, because I think it is crazy awesome that all 12,400 IKEA employees are getting a BIKE for their bonus!  (pictured)  Click through to read the details.  The internet buzz is that it's probably a functional, not high end ride, but I think it's cool anyway.

And yes, some assembly is required.

Pounds Off Profile: Tenor Marco Panuccio

Mark Panuccio was a big talent in a big body. A rising tenor in the world of opera, Panuccio weighed in at 300 pounds.  And despite the common beliefs about rotund opera stars, today directors want singers who look good and can move around on stage. Would be leading men at 300 pounds need not apply.

Luckily for Panuccio, a few years ago he asked a fellow singer to dinner opposite her Weight Watchers meeting time. He suggested she blow off WW, but instead she challenged him to join and started a 10 week weight loss contest. He joined Weight Watchers, won the contest, and ended up losing 150 pounds and dropping to a size 32 waist from a 58. by eating healthy and working out with a trainer.  Check out his handsome mug now.

There's a great local news feature on Panuccio with the story of his loss and the positive impact on his career.

P.S. Mark has changed his name to Marco. It reminds me of a classical music conductor from Texas who works in California, with a British accent. So kids, to get ahead in the world of classical music, it helps to have talent and practice, but if you can also be thin and get your European on, then we're talking!

Photo by David Woo

How Weight Loss Bloggers Bust Plateaus

The last few weeks I've noticed that my body seems to be fighting to hold it's current size. When I go a while without eating, instead of feeling hungry or feeling like my body is drawing down on its reserves to fuel me, lately I've just been feeling sapped. It's as if my body is telling me, "You've taken enough out of your fat reserves. I won't let you starve. You need to get your energy from food." The fact that I am nowhere remotely near starvation doesn't seem to matter. I'm half-Irish and maybe this is how my ancestors made it through the potato famine. But it's working against me right now.

It's called a plateau, and I've been on one for three months. I lost .2 pounds last week.  Woo-frickin'-hoo.

So I've decided the best thing I could do for myself - and for you - is to research what our fellow bloggers have done to break out of plateaus. I entered "plateau" into my Google Reader search box and it returned 303 results. Whoa! Probably 80% were people frustrated with what I'm currently up against. 

But many of our fellow bloggers have busted through plateaus and written about their experience. Here are some of the most helpful posts I found:

When the Scale Won't Move by Diane at Fit to the Finish

• Prepare mentally and change calories, nutrient balance, etc. to get through plateaus. 

Beating a Weight Loss Plateau by Tyler at 344 Pounds

• Add intensity to exercise, eat fewer processed foods, and make healthier lifestyle choices.

Plateau Busting by Kerri at Adventures in Dietland

• Change things up, increase protein/decrease carbs, and track calories religiously.

Busting That Plateau and Email Q+A by Lisa of 110 Pounds and Counting

• Change up your eating and exercise, reduce your calorie intake, and eat fewer processed foods. 

Finally!!! by Mama Laughlin 

• Keep doing what you're doing and don't give up.

Breaking Through the Plateau from The Heavy Man's Diary

• Switch it up with a new cardio routine.

Plateau Busting by Amanda at It's About the Walls

• Keep eating right, jump start exercise, and never give up.

Here's what I take away from all of these informative and inspiring weight loss bloggers:

• Weight loss plateaus are normal parts of the journey. As Diane writes, be mentally prepared for plateaus.Your body is seeking equilibrium and for a lot of reasons, that's actually a good thing.  It's just not helpful when you want to see a lower number on the scale. 
• Assess your current eating. Double check to see if you're allowing yourself extra food "off the record." Has your weight loss stopped because you're not following your plan as rigorously - in which case get back on your plan - or because you are truly on a plateau?
• Never give up. Plateaus are inevitable and they can be trying on your patience and morale. But a huge consistent message of people who lose lots and keep it off is that they never give up and never go back. However, that doesn't mean doing the exact same thing...
• Change your eating or exercise routine to start a new phase. I wish I had more solid research to refer you to, but over and over and over again you find people who change their eating plan or workout regimen and jump start their weight loss. Maybe it's just a coincidence and they would have started losing again anyway, but I'm guessing there's something to it.

You're either on a plateau or your next plateau is coming. Put this great advice from our fellow bloggers to work and overcome it!

Photo credit Scott Ingram

Confronting Clutter

I've been reading some minimalist blogs lately - Zen Habits and Unclutterer - and I have been struck by how out of control environments and out of control eating have in common. At the root of both it seems is procrastination, choosing the immediate pleasure over your long-term best interests. Why file those papers when you could read an enticing email? Why stop eating now when you could get desert today and start your diet tomorrow? You can see the shared mindset. Maybe I recognize this so easily because I have embodied both behaviors for too long.

Before you say, "Wow, Alan is a frickin' genius!", I must admit I'm not the first to have this revelation. In fact, when I searched "clutter" in my Google Reader account, it returned 81 hits! Here's a sample:

• Debby has a simple recipe for decluttering that really works, and a weight loss analogy, in her post Clutter Control.
• Ryan has great before and after pics in Confession: I'm a Sorta-Hoarder.
• Laine tackled her paper clutter with help from home organization blog FlyLady in Making Progress in More Ways than One.
• Katy explained how clutter causes stress in her household in her post Clutter.
• Lyn gives the topic her epic treatment in The Cleansing.
• Cindy also writes thoughtfully about clutter in Kick Clutter to the Curb.
• Kathleen cites the book Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat in her post Decluttering.
• Diane shows off an awesome dress in Why Did I Keep This?

Convinced? Motivated? Here's a great post from Simple Organized Life on decluttering to get started. Speaking of which, I'd better get going! ;-)

Congratulations to Clyde on Winning the Throwdown! (for now)

Congratulations to Big Clyde on winning our November "Throwdown!" Challenge. A month ago, we agreed to join this challenge put together by Raegun and Katie. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

It wasn't the best month for me, weight loss wise. (Hint: that's euphemism for a gain.) I actually had a three pound gain for the month. That's a big disappointment. And I feel the worst for not pushing Clyde. (Maybe I could have saved his IPod Touch!)

But all is not lost. Here are a few things I did accomplish in November:

• No big gain. I've probably had big gains each of the past seven Novembers. In addition to the peril that is Thanksgiving (week), I have a conference every fall that is basically a three day buffet, with snacks buffets between meals and big dinners out.
• Exercising again. I basically stopped exercising at some point in September. This month, I've set a goal of 150 minutes per week and made it the last few weeks with walking, sports with the kids, and a few frigid bike rides.
• Down over October 24. I made the critical "error" of losing five pounds the week before my initial weigh in. If you make October 24 my baseline, instead of October 31, I'm actually down about three pounds.

Congratulations again, Clyde. Now go and earn your IPod Touch back!

Update: Clyde has just extended our challenge through December! So call of the engraver, the "Throwdown!" trophy is still up for grabs!