Month: December 2018

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Days 363-365

Happy New Years eve! I can hardly believe the year has gone by.

On the Eve of 2019, it gives some time to reflect on how 2018 ended up being.

When I look back to where I was 1 year ago, I am pretty proud of myself. It was not easy to get here, and the road ahead looks just as tough, if not that much harder.

Last year, I was truly over with being the super unhealthy version of me. It was just one of those moments hen I just have had enough. Plenty of times in the past, I was at this point too. This time, I hope to never have to repeat being there. I’ve always struggled with my weight. I never really tried to “diet” so much. I would change eating habits a bit.

Whole 30 was something I did a few times. It did work out really well. The only problem I had, was it felt like something I could not stick with forever. It scared me to think I would never be able to have pizza again, or many other things. It felt very restrictive. I did learn quite a bit during my Whole 30 adventures though. The book was a good read. It was the first time that I saw the mention of learning when you are actually hunger, vs just thinking you are hungry.

I didn’t try eating Paleo. Not really. I would have some things that were Paleo style eating. Still, I hated it though. I hated the name. The food we eat today is drastically different from what our ancestors had access to. I looked into trying it out, but it just didn’t sit right with me.

Even before my Whole 30 trials, I did a lower carb diet. I had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I attended a few nutritional classes, and they first talked about going lower carb. This was like 40-60 grams of carbs per meal I think, with 15 grams for some snacks. So very high carbs compared to Keto, but a lot lower when looking at a standard america type diet. This worked OK for me for awhile. It is what I was doing when I previously dropped down to the 260 lbs range.

Nothing worked like Keto has worked for me. I know that a lot of people say Keto is super restrictive. A lot like I felt about Paleo. I started this year off keeping things quite simple. Chicken and Salads were my go to meal for a month or two. Eventually I found places like Headbangerskitchen.com and Ketoconnect.net I started branching out my food choices, and it seemed great.

Not only was a eating better food for myself, it was really good tasting as well. I also found that for the first time ever, I had some appetite control. Even today, there can be times when I have to say “Oh, I better eat”. I still get hunger cravings of course, and it is harder when those trigger foods are in the house. Still though, I haven’t caved in. 🙂

This last year, I was able to come off Keto for vacation. I enjoyed my time in New York, and enjoyed all the food. Jumping back to Keto was pretty easy for me after that.

There are still some foods, that there just isn’t a keto version. At some point, I’ll probably come off keto a but so I can enjoy some popcorn or something like that. For now though, I am full on Keto mode.

Happy New Years!

I figured I would get in one last post this year. I plan on having my big post tomorrow with the 2018 summary. Today I just wanted to reflect a bit. Hopefully, people were able to stick with their goals last year, and hit all new hits in 2019. I am thankful for having people actual take time to ready my posts. Happy New Years everyone!

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Days 345-362

I am still here!

Everything seemed to be going fine, until it just wasn’t.

The last couple of weeks have been rough. The mind can quickly just kind of shut everything down. The holidays in general can be rough. Fighting off all the foods, plus dealing with no money.

Still, I made sure the wife and kids had gifts under the tree. I was also able to keep it keto.

Oddly enough, I have been eating more, staying up later, and even stopped walking or exercising much in the last couple of weeks. Still, I lost weight. My conclusion to this, is that I may have been trying to ear too few calories again. I have hit my lowest weight again. 257.6 lbs. The last time I was this exact weight was October 10, 2014. So celebrate the victories I can haha.

I am prepping for the start of the new year. Thinking of what I want to get done health wise. There are only a few days left of this year, and with all the struggles, I have made it. I stuck to my guns. I kept that New Years resolution I had at the start of 2018.

Technically, I am going to start on the 31st. The new Nerdfitness challenge will begin on the 7th. My plan is to stick closer to 2,000 calories each day. I want to focus on getting 10,000 steps each day. One rest day. I also want to get in workouts and running. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Next year, I want to be able to do a pull up. So my workouts will help to build up to that goal. Along with my diet, I want to continue to lose more weight as well. Next step is hitting below 250. Then 225. Then possibly, I can hit that Onederland territory. Honestly, I would be happy being a pretty fit 185-200 area.

So here we are, on the eve on a new year. How did your 2018 wind up? I am pretty proud of how I have done this year, despite feeling I could have done much more. It has been a great learning process along the way as well. Who knows, maybe I will get my wife on board with Keto. She has been talking about it. 🙂

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Days 342-344

Well, the weekend caught me slippin’ haha.

I ended up gaining 0.7 lbs this week. Really just the last couple of days. I was down to 260.1 lbs Saturday morning. So maybe it is just extra water weight.

I ended up letting Saturday, and Sunday be rest days. Just Sunday was suppose to be my rest day. This meant that I skipped my 3rd run for the week. 😦

I was just tired. I procrastinated, and then it caused me to not be able to get in my run. 

Still, I did get some things done around the house. At least there was some work done haha.

Sunday was my Match Club Holiday party. I bowled lousy, but still had fun. Someone brought some home made goodies for people to enjoy.


All stuff I would love to jump into. I was good though, and avoided the temptation.

After bowling, we hit the catering. We get Boston Market food. It end up being really good usually. This time was no exception.  I ended up making myself a decent plate of food.

I picked out a couple of carrot slices and broccoli from the steamed veggies. 3 pieces of turkey breast, 3 pieces of ham, and a little bit of cranberry sauce. I figured I should be OK carb wise to have that little bit. I didn’t full track, just because I couldn’t find it all in chronometer, and didn’t really want to guess anyhow.

Week Summary

Food:
12/03 – 1586 Calories, 9 net carbs. 1613 calories remaining.
12/04 – 1699 Calories, 16 net carbs. 1129 Calories remaining.
12/05 – 1571 Calories, 12 net carbs. 1062 Calories remaining.
12/06 – 1567 Calories, 5 net carbs. 1355 Calories remaining.
12/07 – 1752 Calories, 9 net carbs. 1090 Calories remaining.
12/08 – 1568 Calories, 14 net carbs. 303 calories remaining.
12/09 –  Did not track fully. 

Sleep:
12/04 – 11:36 PM to 7:00 AM. 6 hrs 59 mins. 16 x awake for 25 mins.
12/05 – 11:24 PM to 6:32 AM. 6 hrs 39 mins. 13 x awake for 29 mins.
12/06 – 11:48 PM to 6:47 AM. 5 hrs 51 mins. 15 x awake for 1 hr 8 mins.
12/07 – 11:26 PM to 7:00 AM. 6 hrs 59 mins. 16 x awake for 35 mins.
12/08 – 11:41 PM to 8:00 AM 7 hrs 54 mins. 17 x awake for 25 mins.
12/09 – 11:30 PM to 8:24 AM. 8 hrs 1 min. 15 x awake for 53 mins.
12/10 – 11:43 PM to 6:59 AM. 6 hrs 26 mins. 15 x awake for 50 mins.

I had some real rough nights of sleep this week, but also some decent ones this weekend. I did not ready the last couple of nights as well.

Exercise:
I missed one run this week, but I did get in all my workouts. I added in some other exercises too, just to change it up some.

12/03 – 13,343 steps. 102 active minutes. No run scheduled.
12/04 – 10,423 steps. 77 active minutes. C25k Week 2 Day 1 finished.
12/05 – 10,682 steps. 95 active minutes.
12/06 – 10,262 steps. 65 active minutes. C25k Week 2 Day 2 finished.
12/07 – 11,379 steps. 108 active minutes.
12/08 – 3,841 steps. 0 active minutes. Run not done.
12/09 – 5,651 steps. 15 active minutes. 

12/03:
3 x 10 squats
3 x 10 elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)
3 x 10 Doorway Body weight Row
3 x 10 each arm Dumbbell rows. 25 lbs

12/05:
3 x 10 Dumbbell rows. 25 lbs
3 x 10 Overhead Dumbbell extensions  15 lbs each hand.
3 x 10 Dumbbell Curls 15 lbs each arm.
3 x 10 Elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)

12/07:
3 x 10 squats
3 x 10 elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)
3 x 10 Doorway Body weight Row
3 x 10 each arm Dumbbell rows. 25 lbs

This Week

I need to try to kick this back up to 11! I did get my workout in today. So now I need to get back to running tomorrow.

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Day 341

Well, last night was a little better sleep.

11:26 PM to 7:00 AM. 6 hrs 59 mins. 16 x awake for 35 mins. I still woke up a few times. I’m not sure if it is all me, or me reacting to my wife getting up as well. Apparently neither one of use are getting the best sleep these last couple of days.

Still, today was better overall. I wasn’t as tired out. I got in my steps for the day already. I also got in my workout today. Just did my normal workout.

3 x 10 Dumbbell rows. 25 lbs
3 x 10 Overhead Dumbbell extensions  15 lbs each hand.
3 x 10 Dumbbell Curls 15 lbs each arm.
3 x 10 Elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)

Last couple of days…

Food:
12/05 – 1571 Calories, 12 net carbs. 1062 Calories remaining.
12/06 – 1567 Calories, 5 net carbs. 1355 Calories remaining.

Sleep:
12/06 – 11:48 PM to 6:47 AM. 5 hrs 51 mins. 15 x awake for 1 hr 8 mins.
12/07 – 11:26 PM to 7:00 AM. 6 hrs 59 mins. 16 x awake for 35 mins.

I did get in my reading down each night. Just need to have that nice restful sleep 😉

Exercise:
12/05 – 10,682 steps. 95 active minutes.
12/06 – 10,262 steps. 65 active minutes. C25k Week 2 Day 2 finished.

Workout on the 5th:
3 x 10 Dumbbell rows. 25 lbs
3 x 10 Overhead Dumbbell extensions  15 lbs each hand.
3 x 10 Dumbbell Curls 15 lbs each arm.
3 x 10 Elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)

It wasn’t easy, but I got in my run on the 6th.

Next few days

I have to get some food made. All of my convenience food is gone 😉 I will have the Bowling Holiday match club meetup on my rest day. Still yet to decide how I shall handle the food. 

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Day 340

Just in case you all had any ideas about needing sleep, you are wrong. 🙂

Last night, was one of the worst sleeps I have had.

11:48 PM to 6:47 AM. 5 hrs 51 mins. 15 x awake for 1 hr 8 mins. It felt like I woke up much more then that. It took awhile to get to sleep, then I was up before one, then up again at two something. Then 4 something. 5:30, and eventually I just got up at 6:30. The dog was pacing and wanting to go out for whatever reasons too. My wife was handling that.

With sleep being this bad, it very much effected my attitude and ability to want to do anything today.

This morning, I dropped my son off at school. I then went to the park I run at. It took me a bit, but I talked myself into doing it.

Every run was a trial. Each run “Just quit” “Too tired”. I pushed on though. I finished it. I hoped it was enough to push me through the rest of the day.

I suppose it was enough. I am super tired still. I bowled alright, but was really too tired for that. Ended up struggling.

I pushed off a lot of my stuff today, but am squeezing it all in here at the end.

Pretty short post, but I wanted to get it in. I hope tonight, I can get some rest!

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Day 339

Today was workout day. I decided to change it up a bit. I figured I have been doing so much with my legs, (running and walking, plus squats on workout days) that I should switch it up. So I did a some push pull type exercises with some dumbbells.

3 x 10 Dumbbell rows. 25 lbs
3 x 10 Overhead Dumbbell extensions  15 lbs each hand.
3 x 10 Dumbbell Curls 15 lbs each arm.
3 x 10 Elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)

It has been a long time since I have done some of these. I am already a little sore. 🙂 

Tomorrow is run day again.

Yesterday

Everything seemed to go well yesterday. Started up Week 2 of the C25k app. My lungs were on fire the last 3 running intervals, but it was all good. It just makes me worry about if I will be ready for the next week after this. I have faith in the training!

Food:

1699 Calories, 16 net carbs. 1129 Calories remaining. I did feel a bit hungry surprisingly. I might need to schedule more food vs saving room for keto ice cream. Naw 😉

Sleep:

11:24 PM to 6:32 AM. 6 hrs 39 mins. Awake 13 x 29 minutes. Man, these last few nights I am been getting up early. 4-5 ish. This morning was 5:30 AM. I decided to try to still get back to sleep. Sort of worked for a few minutes. I did get my reading done without issue.

Exercise:

10,423 steps. 77 active minutes. C25k Rundouble Week 2 Day 1 completed.

Tomorrow

We got running to get in tomorrow, plus the usual 10,000 step goal. It will also be bowling later. At some point, I need to get to storage and get out some Christmas stuff too. Busy times!

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Day 338

Today, my lungs were on fire! 😉

I finished Week 2 Day 1 of the RunDouble C25k app this morning.

After that, I went for a walk around the park as well. I did not go on my second walk, so I still have a couple hundred steps to hit my 10,000 step goal.

I am feeling a bit sore. I can tell I am using my body a lot more now. I might just make Sunday a real rest and recovery day. I’ll just have to focus on eating light that day. I guess I will see how I feel on Sunday 🙂

This coming Saturday, I am bowling with out Match Club. We are having our Holiday get together. So just our club. Bowling a No-Tap tournament style. No-Tap means if you knock down 9 pins in the first ball, it counts as a strike.

There is going to be lots of food. Much of which, I can’t have. The biggest problem I see, is trying to guess my portions when I try to put them into Chronometer. I think I might just fast until then, or just have a light snack before going there. 

Yesterday

Pretty much hit all my goals yesterday for health stuff. 

Food:

1586 Calories, 9 net carbs. 1613 calories remaining. Could have eaten a few more calories last night, but I didn’t want to over extend without knowing how much I could do. I was a little hunger later on, but that just have been in my head.

Sleep:

11:36 PM to 7:00 AM. 6 hrs 59 mins. 16 x awake for 25 minutes. I got reading on time, and headed to bed with plenty of time. This is like the third night in a row I have woke up between 4 and 5 AM. Don’t know what’s up with that. Still better sleep then I had the previous couple of nights. 

Exercise:
I took a little longer in the day to get to my workouts, but I did get it in there.

3 x 10 squats
3 x 10 elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)
3 x 10 Doorway Body weight Row
3 x 10 each arm Dumbbell rows. 25 lbs

This week

Just got to keep on going this week. I’l like to at least do as well as I did last week! 🙂

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Day 337

Here it is, Monday wrap up time!

Overall, I felt like this was one of my best weeks all year. I got in my runs despite the rain. I got in my step goal all week. I even put in over 8,000 steps on my “rest day”. Then, I also did my workouts. One in the complex gym.

All of this, and I hit my goal of 1000 of greater calories deficit.

The one thing I might change this week, is just to have the goal of not having a surplus on rest day. Then I actually can rest. 😉

Weight Loss

January 1st, 2018 to December 3rd, 2018

This week I did it. I broke into the 100 lbs lost category. 102.5 lbs since January 1st. 2.8 lbs this week. 257 lbs is my all time low (that I can recall in adulthood). I hope to be able to hit that before my Nerdfitness challenge is over. (December 23rd) It is weird to be thinking of the new year already, but I hope to enter it at my lowest weight!

Food
11/26 – 1921 Calories, 11 g net carbs. Calories remaining 1916
11/27 – 2038 Calories, 10 net carbs. 1022 calories remaining
11/28 – 1926 Calories, 11 g net carbs. 1088 calories remaining.
11/29 – 1671 Calories, 8 net carbs. 1482 Calories remaining
11/30 – 1743 Calories, 9 net carbs.  1140 Calories remaining
12/01 – 1862 Calories, 12 net carbs. 1100 Calories remaining.
12/02 – 1330 Calories, 14 net carbs. 1162 Calories remaining. 

Each day, I did it. Some days I was able to eat quite a bit. Other days, I stayed lower. It seemed to be OK though. I did one meal yesterday. The others I usually have 2.

Sleep
11/27 – 11:35 PM to 6:59 AM. 7 hrs 5 mins. 12 x awake for 19 mins.
11/28 – 11:25 PM to 7:00 AM. 7 hrs 11 mins. 13 x awake for 24 mins.
11/29 – 11:37 PM to 7:01 AM. 6 hrs 54 mins. Awake for 30 mins.
11/30 – 11:39 PM to 6:35 AM. 6 hrs 27 mins. 15 x awake for 29 mins.
12/01 – 11:41 PM to 8:00 AM. 7 hrs 2 mins
12/02 – 11:48 PM to 5:25 AM. 5 hrs 3 mins. 11 x awake for 34 minutes
12/03 – 11:51 PM to 7:00 AM. 6 hrs 38 mins. 18 x awake for 31 mins.

Last couple of nights, I had a little trouble getting to sleep. I was in bed on time each night, and I did get in my reading before hand. Most nights this week, I had decent sleep. Hopefully, I will return to that.

Exercise

11/26 – 13,574 steps total. 118 active minutes
11/27 – 10,083 steps. 114 active minutes (C25k Week 1 Day 1 finished)
11/28 – 11,543 steps. 124 active minutes
11/29 – 10,825 steps. 62 active minutes (C25k Week 1 Day 2 finished)
11/30 – 11,128 steps, 103 active minutes
12/01 – 10,821 steps. 108 Active minutes. (C25k Week 1 Day 3 finished)
12/02 – 8,571 steps, 90 active minutes (rest day)

I got it all in this week. Barely made steps on Tuesday. Still got in over 8,000 steps on rest day. I did run all 3 scheduled days. I also was able to get in all my workouts.

11/26:
3 x 10 squats
3 x 10 elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)
3 x 10 Doorway Body weight Row
3 x 10 each arm Dumbbell rows. 25 lbs

11/28:
3 x 10 body weight squats
3 x 10 elevated push ups (on the dumbbell rack)
3 x 10 one are dumbbell rows each arm (25 lbs)
3 x 10 lat pull down bar. on set was 50 lbs each side. 2 sets were 70 lbs each side. 

11/30:
3 x 10 squats
3 x 10 elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)
3 x 10 Doorway Body weight Row
3 x 10 each arm Dumbbell rows. 25lbs

This week

More of the same! I need to keep this momentum rolling. I feel a bit behind today, but hopefully, can get all caught up.

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Day 336

It is rest day for me. Though, I didn’t really rest that much. 

This morning I headed out to walk around Lake Elizabeth. About 7,000 steps total. I didn’t push it or anything though. Mostly played some Pokemon Go while getting in some steps. 

Then came home and made my food for the night. Fasted until just about 3:45 PM. I made myself a Chicken Crust pizza, plus a nice sized salad. Then finished off with some ice cream. 😉 Still within my calories thanks to the steps this morning.

Yesterday

I got in my run, and overall, it was a successful day.

Food:

1862 Calories, 12 net carbs. 1100 Calories remaining.

Sleep:

11:48 PM to 5:25 AM. 5 hrs 3 mins. 11 x awake for 34 minutes. I got to reading on time, and headed off to bed with plenty of time too. I was in bed by 11:35 PM, but struggled to get to sleep.

Not the greatest night of sleep, but I tried haha.

Exercise:

10,821 steps. 108 Active minutes. C25k Week 1 Day 3 completed. On to week 2!

Tomorrow

Start of the new week tomorrow. Back to the normal grind. I’ll get up a week in review post. I’ll have to get all my items done, and have bowling too. Busy busy!

My Journey to a Healthy Me, Day 335

Time for the weekend! Almost time for rest day Sunday. 🙂

This morning I did not get up with my alarm apparently. I wanted to get up and try running before we went off to my son’s bowling. With that not happening, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.

After bowling, we went to grab a few items from the store, then headed home. I ate, and debated in my head about maybe doing things tonight, or not at all. There was some rainfall as well happening. The rain cleared up. I checked the weather app, and saw there shouldn’t be any more for at least a few hours. It was time to seize the moment. 🙂

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Sun is out, time to get on my run 😂

A post shared by William R. Tate (@wrtate) on

I finished off my run. Week 1 day 3 of the Rundouble C25k finished! I even tried to run harder on the last interval. I got that 9:23 min/mile mark. No way I am ready to sustain that yet haha. I figured it was late enough, that I went ahead and just continued walking around the track I was running at. Until I was at 10,000 steps.

I was certainly wiped out, and ready to come home and eat. 

I also got in my shipment of ice cream yesterday. 🙂 It is nice to have a good day of working out, and finish it off with some great ice cream. 

I have Chocolate Chip Cookie dough flavor this time. It is pretty good. I really enjoyed the Mint Chocolate chip last time. I don’t have any Rebel Creamery near me in stores, so I have to order by the case at their website.

Yesterday

All in all, a good day. I weighed in, and finally broke the 100 lbs lost this year mark. It seems like things are really working out well this week. I have been hard at it with watching what I eat, and making sure I get in the work with workouts and running.

Food:

1743 Calories, 9 net carbs.  1140 Calories remaining.

Sleep:
Fitbit was weird, and didn’t produce a great sleep graph. I think it had something to do with me deleting part of it. It had a gab from 3-7 am. So no graph, but I still have most the numbers.

11:41 PM to 8:00 AM. 7 hrs 2 mins. I got in my reading, and was off to be on time.

Exercise:
11,128 steps, 103 active minutes. No run scheduled.

Got my workout done in my apartment. 
3 x 10 squats
3 x 10 elevated push ups (against the kitchen counter)
3 x 10 Doorway Body weight Row
3 x 10 each arm Dumbbell rows. 25 lbs

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is rest day. Boy, I feel like I need it too! I still plan to walk a little bit though. I just don’t want to push hard for 10,000. The Pokemon Community weekend is still going on. I think I will probably just go walk around the nearby Lake Elizabeth, while I play some Pokemon Go. Then I just need to make sure I don’t consume too much food, and I should be good to go. I might even go with a longer fast, then Hit up One meal tomorrow.