Woot! Weight loss.

I got on the scale this morning, and I am now at 339.6 lbs. That's down from 360 when I started Weight Watchers. It hasn't been as difficult as I thought, for the most part. 25 more pounds will put me at my August 2006 weight of 315. That's what I weighed when I began my current job. 20 pounds more from there, and I can begin running a little bit. At that point, the weight should really start to come off. Boy, I am excited.

Making the most of things.

I was visiting Breda's blog today, when I stumbled across this little gem she posted.



Very thought-provoking. Thanks, Breda.

Where do we begin?

I've mentioned before the role of education in the saving of our Republic, and I think we all recognize, at some level, that we must reclaim education if we are to reclaim our country. Where do we start, though? Do we abandon our current careers, go back to school for teaching certificates, and spend 20 years trying to teach the next generation self-reliance?

I don't think so. Certainly, for young people, that might be a viable option, and it is an admirable one. However, we need action that produces faster results than that. To that end, I have suggestions...

Make a new shooter. Find a friend, family member or co-worker who is not a gun-owner, and work to make them one. It has been written that power comes from the barrel of a gun. Well, so can freedom. My own political rebirth and journey toward freedom began with shooting. As a new shooter learns more about guns, he/she learns about the absurd patchwork of laws governing them. Guns breed a desire for freedom, and that is your ally.

Subvert the work your local school district has done. When a young person in your life begins spouting the nonsense which passes for truth these days, correct them. Not with condescension or snotty remarks, but firmly, and provide sources they can check for themselves. When they learn they've been lied to about one thing, it will make them look more critically at other information. Failure to teach critical thinking has been the oppositions greatest success.

Above all, homeschool your own children. It isn't as hard as you might think. If you never allow the rot to gain a foothold, you don't need to dig it out of their brains.

It will take dedication, perseverance and a lot of patience, but freedom can be brought back to this nation.

My weight loss journey begins...

Yesterday, I wrote the following elsewhere...

After high school, I slowly put on weight. I ran a lot in high school, and was trim at 185lbs, 5'7". My healthiest weight since was in the police academy in 2003. I was 5'10", and 295 lbs, up 10 lbs from when I went in, but in considerably better shape. I was running three miles a day, and up to 6 on alternate days. Quite a monster, until I tore up my knee going over a wall during training. Having a bum knee really makes the weight go up. In May of '06 I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, put two and two together and figured out I'd had it since I was in the academy. It came on with the extra muscle I put on my chest. It stayed when my chest got fat.
Got up to 360 in August of '05. I decided something had to be done. Got down to 315 by August of '06, then took a desk job. I fought with my weight since then, doing pretty good the first year, only putting on 15 lbs. Last year, I caught a particularly nasty bug that severely reduced my activity capacity. I was back up to 360 last week. Not gonna do it anymore. I just need to drop enough weight to be able to run again. Down to say, 290. Then I can shed the rest. My goal is 240, though 215 would be nice.
I had a physical last winter, at 350. Other than my weight, the doctor was shocked at my overall good health. Blood pressure is normal, cholesterol good, no other warning signs of any bad stuff. I don't like the way I look or feel at this weight. I want to be around for my daughter. I want to feel like I did in the Academy again.

This would be easy if it were something I could quit cold turkey. I can drop bad habits, but I can't stop eating altogether, clearly. My insanely busy schedule complicates matters. When I don't get enough sleep, it's damned hard to get any exercise.

I joined Weight Watchers today. Got a work buddy on it, too.

We'll see what happens. As of today, I am 357 lbs. It would be nice if one or two of y'all could keep on my ass about this.

Oh yeah. How'd I drop from 360 to 315 in a year? I had a job in a titanium foundry, slingin' airplane parts. 10 hour days carrying 60-85 lbs housings will take the weight off, let me tell ya....truth be told, I only worked that job six months, so yeah. 45 lb loss in six months...

Then, today....

Well, the first day went well. I was out and about, so I ended up hitting Burger King for my first meal, used half my points there, even with choosing healthier options. Kept an eye on what I ate thew rest of the day, and ended up coming in exactly at my points limit. Wasn't terribly hungry, even when I woke up this morning, but I definitely felt more energized than usual. Must be the extra veggies. Hmm, think I'll blog this.

Anyhow, I finished brunch a while ago, and I am at just under half my allotment of points for today. I also have more than my daily points in extra "activity" points, as well as flex points they give me for the week. Haven't felt a burning need to use them, though. Knowing they are there helps.

A bit different from my usual freedom oriented stuff. Only, not so different, when you think about it. Here, I speak of freeing myself from unneeded weight, from the daily troubles of a fat man, in a world designed for smaller people.