My Fiddleback Challenge

How about posting up weekly or bi weekly updates on how it is going? Could help keep you focused!
 
Awesome challenge! The first two weeks are the hardest, then it becomes just part of your life and you do it naturally. The most important part is consistency, usually the "Oh I haven't had cake in 3 years, I'll just eat this delicious looking one all by myself in 15 minutes" is a bad idea, trust me...

Best of luck!
 
plue said:
Awesome challenge! The first two weeks are the hardest, then it becomes just part of your life and you do it naturally. The most important part is consistency, usually the "Oh I haven't had cake in 3 years, I'll just eat this delicious looking one all by myself in 15 minutes" is a bad idea, trust me...

Best of luck!
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Ha! I'll have to keep that cake thing in mind. I DO have a soft spot for baked goods.... 😄
 
Hi Pastor Michael,

Just wanted to send you my humble goodwishes and encouragement as well. I was little overweight throughout my teens cause I loved eating so much even though i played sports throughout the year, and really put on some major pounds when I got to college. By the time I graduated, I was around 230~240 at just little over 5'10". Today, I hover around 170. Part of what I meditated on quite a bit is my body being a temple, and that I must take care of it and strengthen it so that I may do His will when called upon. I'd like to share Hebrews chapter 11, and hope you'll be encouraged with how men and women, through faith, persevered through various obstacles.
 
catalystman80 said:
Hi Pastor Michael,

Just wanted to send you my humble goodwishes and encouragement as well. I was little overweight throughout my teens cause I loved eating so much even though i played sports throughout the year, and really put on some major pounds when I got to college. By the time I graduated, I was around 230~240 at just little over 5'10". Today, I hover around 170. Part of what I meditated on quite a bit is my body being a temple, and that I must take care of it and strengthen it so that I may do His will when called upon. I'd like to share Hebrews chapter 11, and hope you'll be encouraged with how men and women, through faith, persevered through various obstacles.
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Thanks catlystman80, for your thoughts and support.
 
RRaconteur said:
Good idea, Whitty! I was wondering if that would be ok. Should I keep posting to this thread?
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I would post right here! Maybe in the future we could have a challenge based on the same concept!
 
whitty said:
I would post right here! Maybe in the future we could have a challenge based on the same concept!
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To be fair, we should do the opposite in the future, who can put on the most weight. I'm too skinny to lose any more weight, but I'd eat a lot of cake for a Fiddleback!
 
Well, I've been snowed in today and it's going to keep it up overnight, so I thought this is as good a time as any to do an update. My primary focus right now is decreasing consumption and increasing activity (duh!). That means smaller portions, no seconds, and only one sweet a day. I've actually done pretty well on this front. I've begun to feel less inclined to over eat in general, which makes cutting back a little less painful. The days I broke my rules were high stress days, so I'm going to have to watch that in the future.

I've been less diligent about increasing activity. Initially I was walking a mile or so a day with the pooch (he loved it!), but then a cold spell blew in. Then I was walking on the frau's treadmill for even farther, but that is insanely boring, even when watching tv. Haven't done that the last few days, bit I've been making a lot of hospital visits and taking the stairs and intentionally parking farther away to force myself to walk. Been shoveling a good bit of snow today too. Overall, I'm probably doing better than I deserve to.

Rather than counting "up" what was lost, I'm going to count down to my deadline:

146 days and 15 pounds to my first Fiddleback.
 
Michael,

Great start Brother! Sounds like you've been overcoming obstacles like snow and using it to your advantage.

Confession Time:

The high stress days are what do me in too. Almost 2 years ago now I finally decided to get off my butt and take care of myself for my wife, kids and me. Lost 70 lbs and felt great. Had another 20 to go to get to my ultimate goal. These last few months life got stressful and I started breaking my promises to myself. Crazy work schedules and stress had me at my computer nonstop, eating junk, not getting outside and not sleeping. I put close to 30 of that hard earned weight back on and had another wake up call. I've started doing Taekwondo with my 9 yr old son, hitting the gym and have kicked the diet back into gear (and locked up the liquor cabinet).

My goal is to get back in shape enough by summer season that I can start doing some more back-country backpacking and haul some of these Fiddleback around on some extended trips.

Here's to goals being met!

Nathan
 
Hi Pastor. Don't know what activities you are doing for weight loss, or if you are doing it by diet alone. Resistance training really burns fat well, the reason for this is because the muscles burn fat while you are working out, and continue to do so long after you are done as they heal. Cardio is great too, but it's not as effective on its own by a long shot.
Hope you reach your goals and then some!
 
thurin said:
Michael,

Great start Brother! Sounds like you've been overcoming obstacles like snow and using it to your advantage.

Confession Time:

The high stress days are what do me in too. Almost 2 years ago now I finally decided to get off my butt and take care of myself for my wife, kids and me. Lost 70 lbs and felt great. Had another 20 to go to get to my ultimate goal. These last few months life got stressful and I started breaking my promises to myself. Crazy work schedules and stress had me at my computer nonstop, eating junk, not getting outside and not sleeping. I put close to 30 of that hard earned weight back on and had another wake up call. I've started doing Taekwondo with my 9 yr old son, hitting the gym and have kicked the diet back into gear (and locked up the liquor cabinet).

My goal is to get back in shape enough by summer season that I can start doing some more back-country backpacking and haul some of these Fiddleback around on some extended trips.

Here's to goals being met!

Nathan
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Thanks for the support, Nathan. Sounds like your motivations are pretty similar to my own. I've learned that I do great when I WANT to do great. But when stress is high and/or interpersonal conflict is great, I just don't care. I just don't want to do it, so I don't. This is in itself a source of anxiety for me (irony of ironies) in that this whole process is starting to feel....tedious. I know I'm not really that far into it, but I think the next couple weeks are going to be trying. Maybe I'll change my screensaver to pics of Fiddlebacks....


dcycleman said:
Hi Pastor. Don't know what activities you are doing for weight loss, or if you are doing it by diet alone. Resistance training really burns fat well, the reason for this is because the muscles burn fat while you are working out, and continue to do so long after you are done as they heal. Cardio is great too, but it's not as effective on its own by a long shot.
Hope you reach your goals and then some!
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Thanks dcycleman. I'm married to a fitness freak, so I have already been turned onto this little secret. I've been so sedentary so long, I'm trying to focus on simply increasing activity before I move to more intense "exercise." I've jumped into an exercise plan before I was ready before, and found it incredibly painful and frustrating. Then again, maybe that's just my excuse....


Michael
 
Pastor,
Sounds like you are making sensible, incremental changes and that is a sure path to success! Small steps on solid ground.
I am sitting in front of a pc and drinking a soda.... but then I sit in front of a PC for a living. I have long been a soda addict and have learned to limit myself to one a day but non would be even better. Pressure just adds up and the sugar/caffeine helps power me through it :(

Bill
 
Thanks Bill. My father has worked a high-stress computer job my entire life, and one of the saddest things he has ever said to me is that he had hoped I could escape that fate. He's intensely proud of me, but like all parents, also intensely protective. I am sitting in front of a computer or with a book MUCH more than I would like. I'm actually trying some new things professionally in order to reorient myself away from being dominantly sedentary. We'll see how it goes. Change is hard.
 
plue said:
To be fair, we should do the opposite in the future, who can put on the most weight. I'm too skinny to lose any more weight, but I'd eat a lot of cake for a Fiddleback!
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I'm with plue! I lost 271lbs (yes) and could stand to gain a couple of dozen back. :o

Michael, congrats on getting busy taking care of yourself. It truly is a difficult, rewarding and important endeavor. Please don't beat yourself up if you slip or if it simply doesn't work out. I know how hard it is, and how tempting it is to be angry with yourself when you struggle. All of that said, 20lbs should be doable for sure, especially if your wife is on board. Try cooking for both of you exclusively. My family would starve to death if I did. :D

Good luck to you. I'll be here to cheer you on!

Anthony
 
Awesome endeavor, Michael! You've gotten some great advice, seem to have the best possible support at home, and off to a great start.
If I may, allow me to share as one "baked goods" victim to another … it's just like budgeting or saving or coupon clipping … every cookie counts …

* Please add me to the list for the "kick in" club … I'll help too!

~ Edge
 
newyork said:
I'll help too if someone pokes me when the time comes.
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Ed G said:
* Please add me to the list for the "kick in" club … I'll help too!

~ Edge
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I continue to be blown away by the generosity of all of you! I was chatting with the Frau about this just yesterday and remarked, "Gee, given my profession I shouldn't be so surprised when random strangers extend uncommon kindness and generosity." But I am. Each and every time I am. Guess that's part of why I do what I do.

Michael
 
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